Over the next few days, Su Nian discovered that ever since she completely abandoned those ridiculous “plans,” her days didn’t seem… all that difficult to endure anymore.
She no longer schemed to provoke the Horned Demon, nor did she intentionally resist the constantly climbing Favorability.
She simply submissively accepted all of the Horned Demon Lord’s demands, allowing that man to handle her however he pleased.
***
In the afternoon, at the Magic Academy.
Sunlight streamed through the massive, arched, stained-glass windows of Su Nian’s private Magic Tower.
She was reclining on a soft sofa by the window, wearing a loose white linen dress.
The fabric clung softly to her body, outlining lazy yet breathtaking curves.
Her long golden hair was unrestrained, cascading over her shoulders and back like molten gold thread.
This was a rare moment of peace.
The thought of returning to Shadowmoon Manor that evening to accompany that bastard… and his nonsense.
‘Ugh…’
The Magic Phone’s light screen suddenly flickered to life, breaking the silence of the room with a crisp ringtone.
It was Amy.
Su Nian tapped the screen to connect.
“Su-Bao! Have you heard? The Magic Phone actually allows several people to talk at the same time now! It’s amazing!”
Amy’s bustling voice came from the light screen, carrying the unpolished liveliness typical of a young girl.
The screen split in two as Lise’s face joined in.
“We just learned how to use it and hurried to find you!” Amy’s voice was filled with excitement, and she was gesticulating wildly.
“We can chat like this every day from now on!”
Looking at her two friends chattering on the light screen, a trace of a genuine, heartfelt smile finally melted onto Su Nian’s usually frozen, beautiful face.
The smile was like spring snow thawing, making her whole being seem vivid.
“Yes, it is quite nice,” Su Nian replied softly.
“How are your magic classes going? Have you mastered basic mana guidance yet?”
“Of course! Let me tell you, I successfully condensed a light ball for the first time today! Although it was only the size of a fist, the Mentor praised me for being very talented!” Amy puffed out her small chest, her face full of pride.
“As for Lise, she’s even more impressive. Her Fireball Technique is already quite powerful!”
Listening to her friends share the simple joy of learning magic for the first time, Su Nian’s mood lightened.
This pure happiness, untainted by interests or calculations, was one of her few comforts in this cold world.
However, this tranquility was soon broken.
Without warning, a tall shadow appeared silently behind her.
Su Nian’s body stiffened instantly.
She didn’t even need to turn around.
That familiar, aggressive, and imperious aura — exclusive to that man — had already reached her.
‘The Horned Demon Master… Why is he here again?’
“…Su Nian? Why aren’t you talking?”
In the light screen, Amy sensed her silence and tilted her head in confusion.
Su Nian forced herself to keep her voice steady, “It’s… it’s nothing. I just thought of a difficult magic problem and got distracted.”
Before she could finish, a warm, large hand pressed against her smooth, white back through the thin layer of white linen.
The warmth of his palm carried an irresistible force.
The hand did not stop there; it began to wander toward her front.
“Mng…”
A muffled groan, suppressed with all her might, leaked from the depths of her throat.
She bit her lower lip hard to keep a cry from escaping.
‘Where is that hand… stopping?!’
“A magic problem? Then we definitely can’t help.” Lise and Amy on the screen were completely oblivious.
“Mo Yuan Sir should be able to help Miss Su Nian,” Lise sighed, her tone full of admiration.
“Mm… probably.”
Su Nian’s voice carried a faint, unmistakable tremble.
She complained frantically in her heart, ‘That man is already here, and he definitely didn’t come to solve some magic problem.’
“I… I have some things to handle here. Let’s… let’s talk later.”
She endured the strange sensation, desperate not to let any odd noises slip.
After speaking hurriedly, her fingertips tapped the screen frantically until the connection finally cut.
As the light faded, all the strength seemed to drain from Su Nian’s body.
She whipped her head around and glared at the culprit, her sky-blue eyes filled with shame and towering rage.
“How can you be like this! You pervert!”
She squeezed those words through her teeth.
Even though she had decided not to provoke the Horned Demon and had entered a “lying flat” phase, this guy was getting more and more excessive.
Previously, she only had to face him at Shadowmoon Manor at night.
But now, it wasn’t even evening yet, and they weren’t at the manor.
‘Damn it!’
He practically treated Red Maple Magic Academy as his own backyard, coming and going as he pleased.
And to do this while she was in a group chat with her friends…
Luckily, they hadn’t noticed.
If Lise and Amy had seen this, her image as the “Star-Moon Saintess” would have completely collapsed.
Chu Tian didn’t care about her glare at all; instead, he let out a low chuckle.
The muffled sound vibrated near her ear.
He leaned down, his hot breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe.
His voice was full of wicked playfulness, “Heh, let’s not talk about those things. We should study a real magic problem.”
“Humiliation Value increased by 80,000”
“Annoyance Value +80,000”
***
Night, Shadowmoon Manor.
Moonlight fell like water over the meticulously manicured courtyard.
The evening breeze carried the sweet scent of roses from afar; everything was serene and beautiful.
However, in the shadow of a tall rockery in the garden, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Su Nian braced one hand against the cold, rough stone of the rockery, her knuckles white from the pressure.
She used her other hand to cover her mouth tightly, trying to suppress the sounds threatening to burst from her throat.
Behind her was that familiar man…
This place… it wasn’t far from the pebble path up ahead.
She could even clearly hear the laughter and low conversation of the maids nearby.
She heard the soft “rustle” of their soft-soled shoes hitting the stone path.
Every sound felt like a heavy hammer striking her heart.
If just one person accidentally veered off the path… she might be discovered.
She couldn’t imagine the consequences.
The Star-Moon Saintess who saved Academy City.
The Magic Tutor revered by thousands of students.
The high-and-mighty Magic Feather Fantasy idol.
These halos — the image she had worked so hard to build — would crumble in an instant.
Yet, the fear of swaying wildly on the edge of discovery, this extreme shame, caused an unimaginable shudder to rise from deep within her body…
“Nng…”
‘The Horned Demon… the Horned Demon Lord is too cruel. He has no regard for the time or place…’
The man’s breath puffed against her ear, deep and raspy, carrying a searing heat.
“Do you like it here?”
Su Nian didn’t answer; she couldn’t.
She only buried her head deeper, trying to hide herself within this shadow from which there was no escape.
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