Any freshman's first day of classes is bound to be a trial of endurance, but Lin Xiu spent almost the entire day daydreaming, and time flew by.
The twilight glow poured into the classroom like romantic fairy-tale magic, filling the air with a deeply youthful atmosphere.
Just as his eyes drifted back from the window to the blackboard, the teacher uttered the very last sentence before the end of class.
Lin Xiu walked down the corridor. After-school students bustled about in chattering groups of twos and threes. Li Wei had already left for a student council meeting before the final class even ended.
Judging by the dismissal time, she should have finished her meeting and already be waiting at the agreed-upon spot for the young man to arrive.
The students at Heixia First Academy were somewhat different from those in many other regions; their academic system was much more specialized, and the requirements for coursework and graduation were not determined entirely by written exams. It was practically on par with a university.
Because of this, the area outside the campus after class naturally exuded a vibrant energy. Amidst the noisy street crowds, Lin Xiu spotted Li Wei standing right beside the traffic light at the intersection at a single glance.
Just as he walked toward her, Li Wei suddenly turned around and grabbed Lin Xiu's hand.
This electrifying sensation struck straight to his heart. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this a warmth capable of melting ice and snow in an instant.
Could she actually be... a little... cute?
The aloof persona he had built in his mind began to crumble as "strange words" welled up inside him.
...Wait, was this her prediction?
Otherwise, this coincidence defied all reason.
With a chaotic mind and a look of sheer bewilderment, the very first thing that popped into his head was his real name—a name he felt didn't sound good at all, yet was branded into his "soul" by his father and could not be shaken off—
Ran Linsrueldan Xiunaveton (Ran Linxiu for short, hence the pseudonym "Lin Xiu").
He had no idea why he suddenly thought of that, until the silver-haired beauty in front of him forcibly pulled him along, dragging him across the street and sprinting wildly toward a narrow alley, did his ability to think slowly return.
"Wait! Where are you taking me? And how did you know I was right behind you?"
The young man's words received only a simple reply.
"To the place you're renting, of course."
"???"
The sound of panting broke the heavy silence. Lin Xiu realized he seemed to have walked into a trap, but he had no way of figuring out how he had given himself away.
The humbling fact that he was truly terrible at lying felt a bit too humiliating.
Jogging all the way through the oncoming crowd, the sunset in the distance of his field of vision let out one final burst of purple light before being quickly replaced by the dim tones of the city's night lights.
What else could he do...
No matter how calmly he thought about it, there was no better strategy left than to continue deceiving her with words. But did playing hardball ever work on her anyway?
The answer had already surfaced deep in his heart.
The beautiful girl slowly came to a halt, but her tightly clasped hand showed no intention of letting go.
Turning the next corner ahead would bring them to the Erleston District (the location he had casually looked up last time to deal with Li Wei).
She turned slightly, facing Lin Xiu directly, her sapphire-like pupils silently capturing the young man's last remaining stubborness.
"You don't mind treating me to dinner too, right?"
A smile.
Her amusement was evidently taking over her heart, and she was barely holding back. No matter how you looked at it, this had to be on purpose.
"Please, we only settled the place yesterday, the house is still full of luggage, clothes, and God knows what unpacked—it's completely inappropriate."
Lin Xiu had probably never responded so politely to such an "initiative-taking" "guest" in his entire life.
"I'll just help you sort that out, then. It'll save you from exhausting yourself over these little trifles and ruining your focus for classes tomorrow. You were zoning out a lot today, and I saw every bit of it."
"…………? So Madame President knows how to use skills like 'visual stalking'—which hardly befits her status—to look after transfer students."
Lin Xiu retorted coldly. Though not particularly sharp, it was enough to send ripples through the heart of a young woman like Li Wei.
Stymied by the remark, Li Wei turned back around to face forward, standing right beside him. Her fingers unconsciously drifted closer to the young man's wrist, ready for a "surprise attack."
"The term 'visual stalking' is utterly boorish. I was merely fulfilling my duties as student council president. If you feel uncomfortable and don't want a beauty's special attention, you're more than welcome to take it up with Louis Fede."
With that, the two continued walking toward Miya Garden.
To a high-class young lady of Western upbringing like Li Wei, the crisp footsteps on the night road sounded like the tempo of a high-end waltz, but to Lin Xiu, it was the countdown to stepping into a "storm."
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Li Wei asked with a taunt.
The most terrifying thing about an open plot was the "spell damage" of knowing your execution date was coming and being utterly powerless to stop it.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I'm talking about you. It's only the second day we've met, yet you've already accepted a demand like mine with such nonchalant ease?""Naturally, if the president says one, I wouldn't dare say two."
"You really are quite cute, aren't you?"
Lin Xiu's pace slowed down involuntarily, and his once sharp gaze began to drift. Even his rapidly whirring brain could not save him from this comical situation.
Where to walk next was a problem even more unsolvable than higher mathematics.
"Tired? Why are you walking so slowly?" Li Wei turned her head, looking up and down at the stubborn-mouthed, lying youth beside her.
"With a Witch right next to me, of course I'm so nervous I can't walk."
This offhand metaphor accidentally caused Li Wei to break out in a cold sweat.
*W-Witch?! How does he know?!*
Though hard to believe, Li Wei's defensive instincts manifested immediately. She instinctively froze in her tracks, triggering a defensive spell out of pure reflex.
"Hmm? What do you mean by Witch?"
A light sweat beaded on the girl's forehead, though it was completely invisible in the dark.
"I didn't mean it as an insult. I just felt your aura had that kind of vibe, so it slipped out."
"Oh... Actually, I don't mind being called that," Li Wei said, letting out a sigh of relief with a hint of smugness.
Not only did she not mind, she actually liked it quite a bit.
Lin Xiu knew that continuing to wander like this would lead nowhere. Perhaps telling Li Wei the truth sooner rather than later wouldn't cause trouble with the school.
"Look here..."
The youth had barely begun speaking when he was interrupted by the "Witch" beside him.
"Tell me, are you planning to tour the entire garden? Hm?"
Li Wei spun around, walked briskly up to Lin Xiu, and stared straight into his eyes with a coercive expression as she walked backward.
"To be honest, I really couldn't find the house. But it's not like I deliberately wanted to hide the truth. After all, coming to a strange place like Heixia and getting robbed isn't exactly a glorious thing, even if you wouldn't believe it anyway."
Expressionless.
His flat words were intertwined with a sincere response. Defeated, he lowered his head and turned his face away, looking as if he were saying, "Do with me as you please."
"How much money did you lose?"
"Nine thousand."
"Heh, what a big spender. Let me tell you, forget about Heixia City, all of Anmi isn't a safe place. You're lucky it was just money they took; if they were after your life, you'd already be cashing out."
Of course, the danger mentioned in her words fundamentally came from her own race, a secret the Witch could not yet reveal."I know about that. I asked around about the theft last night, and I certainly don't want to just throw these nine thousand yuan away."
Lin Xiu sighed, leaned against a railing, and blankly stared up at the starry sky above the light pollution.
The sparse stars in the nocturnal vault of heaven could not compete with any modern spectacle, yet they would still catch the eye of someone who cared to look.
Li Wei fell silent for a few seconds, launching a surprise attack while Lin Xiu's thoughts were once again in disarray.
————She grabbed his hand and bolted toward a more secluded direction.
He had no idea where she found such immense strength.
And he had even less idea how a girl who had never once held a boy's hand could muster the courage to take this inexplicable step.
*Perhaps... even I find it strange myself. But it simply has this kind of magic. Ordinary people and ordinary things can become extraordinary and out of the ordinary.*
Li Wei ran with a smile on her face.
Her flowing white hair naturally brushed past the young man's face, making as little logical sense as everything else that had happened today, yet exuding an alluring charm.
The beautiful girl's school uniform fluttered open in the wind, and her white knee-high socks and short skirt were undoubtedly breathtakingly lovely.
"You aren't one of those scoundrels who stole my money, are you! Why are you so practiced at holding my hand!"
Being dragged around hither and thither completely unprepared and with zero agency of his own was certainly not something Lin Xiu was willing to accept.
Though his words bluntly vented his anger, his gasping breaths only made what he said sound comical and cute.
"Practiced? What practice, I don't even know the basic grip. Besides, if you don't mind, the spare rooms in my Ancient Mansion can be your resting place for the time being."
"??? Huh? No wait? What did you say?"
In all his seventeen years of life, Lin Xiu had never heard such words.
"Idol, I mean—from now on, you're living with me, and note that there's no option to refuse! This is an order, not a request."
The breathless sensation rushing to his head, coupled with the girl's increasingly firm grip, left him powerless to respond.
The secluded path had actually been pre-set with psychological suggestion and expulsion barriers, securing a safe route for the Witch's "cohabiting roommate."
The moon grew much brighter. On the path leading to the legendary Ancient Mansion in the outskirts of the Erleston District, the silhouettes of the youth and the maiden were exceptionally striking.