Chapter 299: First Kiss

Several kilometers away from the research institute.

High in the sky.

A creature that looked like a little pixie drifted through the air.

She had a fluffy fox tail trailing behind her, rabbit ears on her head, and an anxious expression as she flew forward, occasionally glancing back over her shoulder. Her big, watery eyes were filled with a tangled mix of deep envy and fear.

That guy who treated me as emergency rations must have been a former Infernal Species, right? And yet that magical girl actually killed him on the spot!

So terrifying!

To think this strange world could nurture such a powerful chosen magical girl...

She flew for a long, long time. Only when she seemed to finally confirm that no pursuers were following did she slowly come to a stop, letting out a long sigh of relief. Her big fluffy tail swayed back and forth, and her small face bore an expression of tearful emotion.

"Wuu... I'm finally free!"

But she quickly wiped her tears and put on a determined expression, as if she were about to swear allegiance to something.

Although she had no idea where this world was or why she had inexplicably ended up here.

No matter where she was, she absolutely had to complete her mission!

Use every trick at her disposal to lead those pure-hearted girls around in circles!

This world seemed completely different from her original one, with tremendous potential. Sign contracts with them, collect energy, and advancing to become a Nightmare Seed in the future was just a matter of time!

She let out a silly laugh, placing her small paws on her cheeks.

"Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho~"

What a wonderful feeling!

————————————

On the commercial street of the West District's central shopping area.

The rain had come quickly and left just as fast, leaving the air with a fresh, cool trace of having been washed clean.

The boy and the girl walked out side by side through the glass door, standing on the street, when they suddenly heard a clamor of voices.

Xia Yao followed the sound, gazing at the curious crowd gathering in the distance.

Although the Sixth Division had already set up warning lines, draped enormous black cloth over the scene, and begun clearing the area and dispersing citizens, she naturally knew what the crowd was stirring about.

It was because of that monster pinned to the ground by Lin Guang's dinner fork.

She instinctively shrank her neck, quickly withdrew her gaze, and her body unconsciously leaned toward Lin Guang as she looked at his face.

It was still that same poker face that never showed any expression, but looking at it now, she suddenly didn't feel afraid anymore.

Xia Yao gazed into his eyes, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly for some reason: "Walk with me."

And so.

The two of them walked away from the noisy direction, strolling aimlessly along the commercial street. Warm yellow light spilled from the display windows on both sides, and their shadows fell on the rain-soaked pavement, as if overlapping into one.

Uncle An stood far away in the shadows, watching the two walking side by side.

"..."

As they walked, Xia Yao suddenly let out a long breath.

"So many crazy things happened tonight... it's got me wondering whether I'm awake or dreaming."

She made a funny face: "Don't tell me you're not surprised at all, First-Grade Sorcerer?"

"..."

Lin Guang acted as if he couldn't be bothered to respond... or maybe he just didn't know how to answer so he simply didn't.

Xia Yao was already used to it by now.

Then...

"...!!"

She suddenly caught on, turning her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the boy's profile.

Xia Yao seemed to have finally figured something out.

— This blockhead never leaves home normally, so why would he agree so readily today to accompany her out for a meal?

And then connecting it to all the dangerous events that happened in Wind Capital tonight...

"Hey!"

She blurted out: "Did you already sense something would happen tonight, and that's why you agreed to go on a date with me?"

"Were you protecting me?"

"..."

The boy didn't answer, only gave her a slight sideways glare.

But a suddenly radiant smile bloomed on Xia Yao's pretty face.

She had long since understood this blockhead's ways.

He was easy to read, if he didn't deny something directly, or if he deflected with a roundabout answer, then it was as good as an admission.

He really was protecting her!

In that moment, the joy in Xia Yao's heart was about to overflow.

— I really am special in his eyes!

She didn't know where the courage came from, but with flushed cheeks, she abruptly leaned in, rose on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on the boy's cheek.

Mwah.

Leaving a faint glossy trace of lip balm.

Lin Guang rarely froze in place, and it took him a full two seconds to react.

And then...

An unmistakable look of disgust actually appeared on the boy's poker face. He raised the back of his hand and wiped the spot where he'd been kissed twice.

— Damn, this is bad.

Once she starts this, this woman is going to get more and more brazen every time they meet.

Xia Yao, embarrassed and furious, grabbed his shoulder and shook him: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"That was my first kiss! Show some respect!"

"..."

A kiss on the cheek counts as a first kiss?

Seeing his disgusted expression, Xia Yao gnashed her teeth and jabbed him hard in the side.

But after the jab, she suddenly paused.

For some reason, the disgusted look on this blockhead's face seemed a little familiar.

She felt like she'd just seen it somewhere?

...

More than an hour later.

The night deepened.

Inside a high-rise luxury flat located in the golden heart of Wind Capital's city center.

The sound of the smart door lock opening rang out, and the black-haired girl staggered into the two-hundred-square-meter duplex apartment.

The motion-sensor light at the entryway flickered on, and the entire apartment lit up.

Beneath the tall, vaulted ceilings were floors of expensive marble and cold modernist metal fixtures. A premium fragrance diffused through the air, yet what was conspicuously absent was any trace of warmth or lived-in life.

"I'm home..."

Xia Yao took off her high heels, her slightly tired voice echoing through the empty living room, met only by a few dull reverberations.

— Uncle An didn't live in her home, but next door, only about five minutes away on foot.

Close enough, but what she still had to face every day was an empty room.

Still...

No matter how empty, it was better than that larger, more luxurious, yet colder villa.

After all, that place had long since ceased to be anything that could be called a home.

After her mother passed away, her father and brother busied themselves with Yanxia Group affairs all day long, and the number of times they came home could be counted on one hand.

Over a year ago, she'd had a huge fight with her family and finally won the right to live on her own outside.

"..."

Xia Yao suddenly let out a sigh.

If it were before, facing this empty house, she might have only felt a habitual numbness.

But today...

On this night that had been filled with so much wonder and excitement, with her mood originally floating on cloud nine like a balloon, the moment she returned to that empty room, she suddenly felt hollow and lonely.