Su Nian’s life followed a specific rhythm…
For the following three days, during the daylight hours.
Her pristine and noble Mentor uniform was a brilliant star that almost no one in Academy City dared to look at directly.
She traveled by Giant Dragon, hovering over the Red Maple Magic Academy.
In that uniform, she appeared like a bright moon hanging high in the sky, inviolable and sacred.
Dozens of elders who had dedicated their lives to magic were arguing incessantly over the stability of the final few energy circuits.
No one dared to question her strength or power.
Within the Core Laboratory of the Levitation Magic Circle and the Energy Gathering Magic Circle, Su Nian simply listened quietly.
Her sky-blue eyes reflected the endless, shimmering light flowing over the magic circles.
Only when the debate reached a deadlock did she extend her slender index finger to tap on an obscure runic node.
“A decay overflow of one-thousandth. Change its orientation and use a ‘reverse spiral’ structure to contain it. The issue lies here; the energy produced an overflow of over 77% during the third cycle.”
Her words were a sudden wake-up call.
The entire laboratory fell into a brief, deathly silence, followed by an explosion of whispered realizations.
Her professionalism, her decisiveness, and that innate wisdom and foresight made everyone who worked with her feel a sense of awe.
In their eyes, she was the Star-Moon Saintess.
She was the embodiment of holiness, strength, and absolute authority.
No one knew.
This nearly perfect Lady Saintess also had the side of a young girl.
Merely because of the agreement to move into Chu Tian’s room three days later, her heart would race without warning at the mere thought of it.
She could only use the action of organizing blueprints to quietly press her feverish earlobes with her cool fingertips, forcibly suppressing that throb.
When night fell, the bowstring that had been taut all day would quietly relax.
The moment she stepped through the ornate wrought-iron gates of Shadowmoon Manor, the air in the estate seemed to be under a spell.
It filtered out the noise and reverence of the outside world, leaving only a secret sweetness unique to a couple.
They would dine together.
Chu Tian did not make any further out-of-line moves; he did not even attempt the kiss that had sent her heart into disarray again.
He simply stayed by her side quietly, listening to her talk about the complex magical problems she encountered during the day or the amusing stubbornness of the craftsmen.
His palms were broad and dry, wrapping around her hand and using the thin calluses on his thumb to rhythmically rub the back of her hand, over and over.
That tenderness and patience made Su Nian feel increasingly close to him and fond of him.
Occasionally, Chu Tian would tell one or two cheesy, bad jokes.
They clearly weren’t funny at all—they were even a bit foolish.
But as Su Nian watched his serious expression as he tried his best to make her happy, she couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth curve into a smile she didn’t even notice.
***
The next day, Su Nian and Chu Tian went on another date after finishing their day’s work.
This time, they agreed to cook a meal together in the kitchen.
Since it was an official date, Su Nian relied on the memories of her past life to change into a different outfit, and she temporarily changed her hair color to blue.
She didn’t really know what she should do on a date.
However, she figured that by changing into an unusual outfit, her partner would find it novel and be a bit happier, right?
The result, naturally, was that Chu Tian was extremely pleased, his eyes practically glued to her.
‘Hee hee.’
It seemed she really did have a talent for romance.
As for the cooking portion of the date—mere romance wasn’t difficult at all!
Even though she didn’t have many memories of cooking, she was able to make a great meal (skills purchased from the System).
She wasn’t quite sure why.
Having Chu Tian assist her created a wonderful atmosphere!
Soon, a pot of creamy mushroom soup was finished.
Taking a taste, the aroma of the mushrooms and the creaminess melted on the tip of her tongue, sending a wave of warmth down her throat and into her stomach.
Opposite her, Chu Tian looked at her with a smile that was a mix of pride and satisfaction.
***
By the evening of the third day, the first snow since the start of winter began to fall from the sky.
At first, it was just fine particles of snow swirling in the halo of the streetlights.
Soon, it turned into a heavy, fluttering downpour of snowflakes, silently and gently covering the entire world.
The entire Shadowmoon Manor was wrapped in a heavy, pure silver coat within a single hour.
The temperature plummeted accordingly.
During dinner, the fire in the massive fireplace in the dining room burned brightly, the wood crackling and casting a warm glow on their cheeks.
Su Nian wore only a thin, cream-colored cashmere sweater, yet the tip of her nose turned slightly red from the chill seeping through the window glass.
Chu Tian’s voice reached Su Nian’s ears clearly, piercing through the sound of the burning fireplace.
“My constant-temperature ventilation magic circle has finished its calibration. It can be officially put into use tonight. The heavy snow has caused the temperature to drop, so it seems the completion of the magic circle was just in time.”
Su Nian’s movement with her spoon came to a sudden halt.
The edge of the silver spoon tapped lightly against the inner wall of the bone china soup bowl, making a faint, crisp sound.
The agreement that had caused her to toss and turn with a racing heart had finally arrived.
According to the promise, she was to move into Chu Tian’s room tonight.
What was meant to come had finally come.
‘Ugh…’
‘I’m so embarrassed.’
“I understand. I’m actually quite interested in that magic circle, so I’ll go take a look later,” Su Nian explained solemnly, naturally wanting to hide her panicked heart.
She couldn’t possibly say she was looking forward to moving into Chu Tian’s room!
That would be far too unreserved and unladylike!
After finishing her meal, Su Nian buried her chin in her sweater, hiding part of the blush caused by her shyness.
Before Chu Tian could speak, she fled back to her room.
This wouldn’t do.
She had to go back to her room and calm down; she was too nervous.
The bedroom door closed behind her.
“Click.”
A soft sound isolated everything outside the door.
The world was cut in half at this moment.
Outside the door was the quiet corridor of Shadowmoon Manor, the jumping flames in the fireplace, and the silent winter snow falling outside the window.
Inside the door, there was only her and the heavy, drum-like pounding of her heart.
She moved her stiff body to the dressing table and sat down.
In the mirror, the girl’s cheeks were burning with a crimson flush like two ripe apples.
The blush even spread to her small earlobes, dyeing the soft flesh there a translucent pink.
Her sky-blue eyes were currently shimmering like water, appearing somewhat unfocused due to the intense fluctuation of her emotions.
Deep in her pupils, there was an unhideable panic and a sliver of expectation that she didn’t even dare to examine closely.
She raised her hand, her fingertips uncontrollably and gently stroking her lips.
There, the temperature of that kiss from three days ago seemed to linger.
It had been domineering and powerful, carrying an irresistible sense of possessiveness.
She didn’t look like the Magic Mentor whose word was law in the magic laboratory, nor did she look like the Star-Moon Saintess who had saved Academy City.
Instead, she looked like… a young girl with a heart full of spring.
The clean and crisp scent on Chu Tian, mixed with the faint smell of sunlight, had arrogantly and irresistibly invaded all her senses.
When she was kissed by Chu Tian… her legs had turned weak, and she could barely stand.
That kiss seemed to have awakened some strange, long-dormant instinct in her body.
This realization made her whole body tremble.
If she went to his room tonight…
Would she be… kissed like that again?
Would things more excessive than a kiss happen?
Thinking of this, Su Nian felt as if her head was about to steam with white smoke.
She abruptly pulled her hand back as if her lips were a piece of red-hot iron.
On the wall, every tick of the long, thin second hand on the clock sounded like a small hammer, precisely striking her nerves.
It was urging her.
The time for the agreement was approaching.
She finally stood up as if making a final decision, took a deep breath, and opened the wardrobe door.
Rows of beautiful and exquisite nightgowns shimmered with the unique luster of silk and lace under the soft light of the magic lamps.
There were black lace slip dresses as light as cicada wings, carrying the allure of a mature woman; there were pink short nightgowns covered in cute ruffles, full of adorable style.
Her fingertips brushed over those thin fabrics, feeling the coolness of the silk and the texture of the lace.
Ultimately, her hand bypassed all the sexy or cute styles without hesitation and stopped at the gown furthest inside.
It was a nearly pure white silk nightgown.
The style was conservative to the extreme.
It had long sleeves and a high collar, strictly covering her collarbones.
The skirt was wide and heavy, hanging all the way to her ankles, capable of wrapping her entire body up.
‘For the first time living in the same room as Chu Tian, it’s better to be elegant and ladylike…’
After putting on the gown, she looked at herself in the mirror again.
The pure white nightgown made the crimson of her cheeks look even more startling, and even her small earlobes were burning a translucent pink.
No.
This wouldn’t do.
She felt like a shivering little lamb about to be sent into a wolf’s mouth.
Something was still missing.
Her gaze swept frantically around the room and finally landed on the huge, cloud-like soft pillow on the bed.
It was what she usually leaned against when reading.
She walked over and practically pounced onto the bed, pulling the giant pillow tightly and forcefully into her arms.
The soft cotton filling deformed under her pressure.
That familiar touch and the volume that could almost cover her entire upper body finally gave her a trace of security.
She buried her face deep into the pillow, greedily breathing in the clean scent of cotton and sunlight.
“I’m just… just going to experience the effects of the constant-temperature ventilation magic circle.”
She spoke to her reflection in the mirror in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum, whispering her defense.
The voice was so quiet that even she could barely hear it clearly.
“Right, that’s it. It’s not a lamb entering a tiger’s den, nor is it giving myself away.”
She repeated it again, as if trying to convince the panicked girl in the mirror.
“As a Magic Mentor, experiencing the latest magical technological achievements is only natural.”
“This is work. This is research.”
Clutching the giant pillow that was nearly as large as her upper body, she moved toward the door one step at a time, as if she were wearing boots filled with lead.
Her hand touched the cold doorknob.
She opened the door.
The corridor outside was empty and quiet, so silent that she could hear the sound of snowflakes hitting the windows.
After walking more than a dozen steps, she arrived at the door to Chu Tian’s room.
To be precise, this would be her and Chu Tian’s room in the future.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
She knocked on the door.