Chapter 172: If I Don’t Call You, Don’t Open Your Eyes

By evening.

The streets of Graystone Town were coated in a warm orange-red glow by the setting sun.

At this moment, Lance and Cecilia were walking one behind the other along the stone-paved road leading toward the small courtyard Lance rented.

Cecilia lightly hooked her fingers onto the corner of Lance’s clothes as she closely followed behind him step by step.

The girl had obviously dressed up carefully today.

She had taken off the dusty coarse cloth cloak she usually wore and changed into a plain white waist-fitted dress.

Her silver long hair was obediently tied behind her head with a light blue ribbon, revealing a slender fair swan-like neck.

Although this morning, in front of her roommate Yuna, she had looked like a little lioness fiercely protecting her food and displaying powerful determination to defend her territory—

Now that she was truly walking in front of Lance, the imposing aura of an official partner instantly leaked away completely.

She had turned back into that soft, adorable, restrained good girl who would blush uncontrollably from simply looking at Lance one extra time.

Of course, a large part of this frequent blushing came from the fact that whenever she saw Lance’s back, her mind would uncontrollably replay everything that had happened last night inside the Historical Projection.

Those scenes were simply too embarrassing.

And Lance, walking ahead of her, could naturally sense the subtle atmosphere coming from behind him as well.

However, when he had seen Cecilia at White Oak Manor this afternoon, although her gaze had been evasive, she had not shown any sense of distance or rejection.

That allowed the stone hanging in Lance’s heart to finally fall.

He now already possessed about eighty percent confidence regarding how Cecilia viewed him.

As for why Cecilia had changed into such a beautiful outfit today—

It was entirely because when Lance had gone to visit her this afternoon, he casually invited her and Yuna to his house tonight as guests.

Lance had only said that he wanted to cook something delicious to celebrate their safe return and had not revealed in advance the surprise of celebrating her birthday.

But during the conversation, Yuna had unintentionally revealed a piece of news.

Because the internship mission had already ended ahead of schedule, they would be leaving Graystone Town tomorrow morning and returning to White River City.

This news did not only surprise Lance.

Even Cecilia herself had been kept completely in the dark. It was also the first time she had heard about the arrangement for the internship ending early.

The instant she heard the news, a visible trace of panic flashed through the Half-Elf girl’s eyes.

She had not mentally prepared herself at all for temporarily separating from Senior.

Clearly, today was the very day she had finally made up her mind to become Senior’s proper and rightful partner.

Yet the very first piece of news she received was that the two of them were about to face separation.

Fortunately, Lance immediately sensed the change in her emotions and comforted her gently at once.

He told the girl that although they would temporarily part ways, White River City was not especially far from Graystone Town.

And he promised that once he finished handling the matters currently on hand, he would definitely visit White River City often in the future to have meals together with her and Yuna.

Not only that, the two of them could also maintain contact through writing letters using the Guild’s messengers.

Additionally, Violet Academy had fixed long vacations every year, and when that time came, Cecilia could completely come to Graystone Town to find him whenever she wanted.

Only after hearing these concrete promises did the anxiety of impending separation inside Cecilia’s heart ease slightly.

Just as Lance was preparing to bring the two girls home—

Yuna suddenly smacked her forehead.

She said that tonight she still needed to attend a farewell dinner gathering with Valeria’s party, and she genuinely could not spare the time, so she would not go to Lance’s house to join the fun.

After expressing her apologies—

Yuna turned around, faced away from Lance, and crazily winked at Cecilia.

Cecilia instantly understood her roommate’s meaning.

Yuna was deliberately creating an opportunity for them to spend time alone together. She was helping push things along.

Thinking of this, Cecilia’s heart could not help becoming a little more joyful.

She secretly made up her mind.

Before tonight’s dinner ended, she at least had to obtain Senior’s personal promise and confirm her place in his heart.

So with a blushing face, she asked Lance whether he could give her a little time to tidy herself up.

After obtaining Lance’s agreement, she ran back to her room and carefully dressed herself up.

She wanted to show Senior her most beautiful side during this brief internship that was about to end.

Rather than continuing to leave him with the impression of a dusty rookie all the time like before.

And thus came the current scene on the street.

By the time the two of them arrived at the small courtyard Lance rented, the setting sun had already completely sunk beneath the endless mountain ranges.

The magical street lamps along the town roads lit up one after another.

Lance pushed open the wooden door and brought Cecilia into the house.

He skillfully lit the lamp, and warm orange-yellow light immediately illuminated the first-floor living room.

“Today is a special day.”

Lance turned his head and looked at the still somewhat restrained girl.

“Wait here for a moment. I’m going to prepare something.”

Cecilia obediently nodded.

While waiting, she placed both hands behind her back and curiously looked around like a kitten.

This was her first time ever coming to Senior’s home.

The arrangement inside the house was extremely simple and tidy, carrying the neat atmosphere unique to a single man.

Not long afterward, Lance walked out from the kitchen.

He walked in front of the girl and gently instructed her.

“Sit on this chair first, then close your eyes. If I don’t call you, absolutely don’t open them.”

Hearing this strange request, Cecilia blinked her eyes.

But she still obediently nodded and followed his instructions, walking over to the wooden chair Lance pointed at before sitting down, placing both hands on her knees and tightly closing her eyes.

Because she had lost the interference of sight—

Her hearing and sense of smell instead became exceptionally sharp.

Inside the quiet living room, she could even clearly hear the accelerated beating of her own heart within her chest.

“Thump, thump.”

What exactly was Senior planning to do?

Her mind uncontrollably began imagining all kinds of romantic scenes from the novels Yuna read.

But very soon, she heard Senior’s light footsteps moving back and forth throughout the room.

Immediately afterward, a sweet creamy fragrance mixed with the scent of freshly baked wheat drifted leisurely into her nose.

Then she felt the surrounding air seemingly become slightly colder, while the entire room appeared to suddenly darken.

Even with her eyes closed, she could sense the change in the external lighting, leaving only a faint flickering point of light before her eyes.

“Alright, you can open them now.”

Hearing Lance’s familiar voice, Cecilia slowly opened her eyes.

What entered her vision was an exquisite round cake placed on the living room table.

At the very center of the cake was a slender candle quietly burning.

The lights in the room had already been turned off.

Only that faint candlelight gently swayed within the dim atmosphere.

Under the illumination of that orange-yellow glow, Lance’s face carrying a gentle smile appeared especially tender.

“This is…”

Cecilia looked at the item on the table somewhat blankly.

Within this world’s traditional culture, people only held grand celebrations for coming-of-age ceremonies, advancement rituals, or religious festivals.

There simply did not exist any concept of celebrating birthdays here.