Yiserin inhaled the sweet fragrance in the air, glancing around to pinpoint its source, hardly believing it could be coming from Ian, who stood before her.
Ian watched Yiserin linger in front of him, unsure what she was up to.
This person had just taken his seat, and now she was hovering around him—wasn’t that a bit disrespectful?
“Excuse me, what are you doing?” Ian hadn’t heard Flora’s earlier words, so he had no idea why Yiserin had suddenly approached him. He looked at her, puzzled.
Hearing Ian’s question, Yiserin’s expression grew uneasy. Instead of answering directly, she fixed her sapphire-blue eyes on his face.
Her stare made Ian feel utterly unnerved. Why does everyone I meet today keep staring at my face? he thought. First Sephiroth, now Yiserin.
Could it be because I’m just too handsome, and they can’t look away? Ian speculated.
But he quickly dismissed the idea. This was an orange novel world, and the girls around Chiye, one of the heroines, weren’t for him to pursue. Besides, Sephiroth had said Yiserin was into girls.
Seeing Yiserin’s persistent gaze, as if trying to see through him, Ian couldn’t take it anymore. “Excuse me, is there something special about my face? Why do you keep staring?”
At his words, Yiserin quickly shifted her blue eyes elsewhere.
“I’m Yiserin, a second-year at Saint Roland Magic Academy. May I get to know you?” Yiserin said without a hint of awkwardness, her face beaming with a sunny smile.
According to The Master of Romance’s Guide, a warm smile during introductions was a quick way to build rapport.
“I’m Ian, also a second-year at Saint Roland,” Ian replied briefly, keeping his introduction short.
“Um, Ian, can I ask you something?” Yiserin ventured cautiously.
Ian was baffled by her request. He couldn’t imagine what she’d want to ask. They’d never interacted before.
He’d only met Yiserin today—what could he possibly know that she’d want to find out?
Though puzzled, Ian nodded out of courtesy, signaling she could ask her question.
Instead of asking outright, Yiserin seemed to consider something, then leaned close to Ian’s ear and whispered, “Are you a girl?”
At first, Yiserin had thought Ian was undeniably male, but then it hit her—could he be cross-dressing too?
After all, she herself was disguised as a boy, so why couldn’t Ian be?
Perhaps Ian’s cross-dressing skills were so masterful that Yiserin couldn’t discern his true gender.
Her own disguise was to pursue girls, so what was Ian’s motive? Could it be the same as hers?
Though her roommates were also cross-dressing, none shared her romantic goals, which had disappointed her.
Now, with someone who might be cross-dressing standing before her, Yiserin hoped their reasons aligned.
Based on her Beautiful Girl Radar, Ian’s attractiveness was at least on par with Flora’s, if not more to her taste.
Her radar had never failed her, which only boosted her confidence.
Yiserin asked quietly to protect Ian’s privacy.
If Ian was cross-dressing, he surely had his reasons, even if they differed from hers. Respecting privacy was key to building favor.
When Ian heard Yiserin’s whisper, it felt like the sky had fallen.
How is it that no one else noticed my secret, but you did? Even Sephiroth hadn’t picked up on it.
Ian couldn’t fathom why Yiserin asked this. After racking his brain, the only explanation was that she’d somehow uncovered his secret.
This was their first meeting, wasn’t it? Even if they’d crossed paths before, Ian’s bloodline activation had only happened this morning. How could she know?
Ian’s mind spun, unable to figure out how Yiserin had seen through him.
Despite the turmoil raging inside, he kept his composure on the surface.
After today’s string of events, Ian felt numb. Nothing in this world could surprise him anymore.
His shock reserves had been depleted.
Today, he’d been activated by the system, transforming into a demonic-aura-filled dragonling.
Then he’d nearly been killed by Ethelrina.
While helping Lillian get alone time with Ethelrina, he’d offended Flora.
Next, Chiye had dragged him to this awful restaurant, where Flora, in retaliation, ordered a table full of dark cuisine.
Then he encountered a demon spy, and now his female form, Iana, was on the verge of being exposed by Yiserin.
Ian couldn’t help but wonder why he was so unlucky. His day’s experiences could fill a novel.
Though he was venting internally, Ian didn’t forget to answer Yiserin’s question. “I’m not a girl. I’m absolutely, positively a boy.”
Hearing his response, Yiserin clearly didn’t buy it. Her Beautiful Girl Radar had never been wrong in her year at the academy.
That unwavering trust made her certain Ian was a beautiful girl. She assumed Ian was hiding her identity due to some unspeakable secret.
Yiserin shot Ian a knowing look, as if saying, I get it—you have your reasons for not revealing yourself.
Seeing her expression, Ian knew she hadn’t taken his words seriously.
Fine, if she thinks I’m a girl, let her. As long as I avoid her in the future, it’s fine.
Flora, watching the two whispering, frowned in confusion. “Didn’t I tell her to ask Ian if she could try the Watermelon Stir-Fried with Pork?”
“Why’s Yiserin taking so long to come back?”
“Could Ian actually be reluctant to share it?”
Though Flora thought it unlikely, it seemed the best explanation.