On the way to the restaurant.
Su Nian was still pondering how to deal with Chu Tian.
Taking him away from Matthew was just the first step.
From now on, this man before her would be the captain of Magic Feather Fantasy guard-she would inevitably have to interact with him.
So…
She needed to figure something out.
She absolutely couldn’t let Chu Tian spill the beans to everyone in Magic Feather Fantasy about what she had done in Flash Town.
Ugh!
One wrong step leads to another.
Back then, she had only deceived Chu Tian and “borrowed” his money and weapons-promising to return to Flash Town in a month-to complete the system’s mission.
She had thought that after taking revenge on the lowly horned demon, she could quickly return the money and weapons to Chu Tian.
But how could she have known she would lose the battle, not only turning into a girl but also becoming that bastard horned demon’s spoils of war, reduced to his slave?
After barely escaping and teleporting to the Academy City, she had completely forgotten about Chu Tian.
Whatever.
No use dwelling on the past.
From now on, she would never fall to such depths again.
In the future, she would be a dazzling superstar, a wildly popular magical girl idol-Su Nian!
To complete her idol mission and to continue staying in Magic Feather Fantasy, she had to placate the man before her.
Lost in thought, Su Nian walked side by side with Chu Tian on their way to the restaurant.
Along the way, the surrounding passersby naturally noticed them.
Or rather, the person on the posters.
The elegant and breathtaking golden-haired girl—the core idol of Magic Feather Fantasy!
Soon enough, many people began envying Chu Tian’s position, walking side by side with such a famous beauty, especially since she was rumored to be a noble mage.
Just as Chu Tian was feeling miserable, thinking Su Nian despised eating with him, the system’s notifications chimed in.
“Ding! Absorbed envy. Provocation Points +8.”
“Ding! Absorbed envy. Provocation Points +12.”
“Ding! Absorbed envy. Provocation Points +II.”
“Ding! Absorbed envy. Provocation Points +15.”
Chu Tian froze slightly at the system’s voice before glancing around, finally realizing the situation.
No wonder he was being envied as he was walking beside Su Nian.
So that’s how it was.
For a moment, Chu Tian’s emotions were complicated.
Absorbing the jealousy around him filled him with pride and satisfaction, but it also twisted with the bitterness of feeling unwanted by Su Nian.
Doranpa Restaurant.
“We’re here!” Su Nian pointed at the restaurant’s sign.
It was said to be a famous eatery in the Academy City-one she had never been able to justify visiting alone before.
But now, since this was both a thank-you to Chu Tian and compensation for helping her cover the truth, she had to treat him to something nice.
That’s why she had brought him to this place, even if the bill would sting a little.
Seated at a table for two, Su Nian elegantly ordered two servings of Doranpa’s signature dishes.
“Chu Tian, what brought you to the Academy City?” she probed casually.
Now that they were outside Magic Feather Fantasy, there was no need to keep up the embarrassing “Brother Chu Tian” act.
“To be the guard captain,” Chu Tian replied, gesturing at his current attire.
Compared to the twisted and dejected state when he first left Magic Feather Fantasy, Chu Tian’s mood had improved somewhat after absorbing a wave of envy.
Su Nian was momentarily stunned.
It suddenly occurred to her that Matthew’s promotional campaign this time covered 32 cities across the continent.
Which meant…
This silly boy Chu Tian before her had likely come specifically to sign up as Magic Feather Fantasy’s guard captain after seeing the promotional posters.
For a moment.
Su Nian didn’t quite know what to say, her emotions in turmoil.
After brief consideration, she reached a conclusion.
This guy was trying to hit on her!
Hmph hmph hmph~.
In his dreams!
The beautiful and noble magical girl idol could only be completely possessed by herself-men should just step aside.
“Ding dong, absorbed disdainful emotions, irritation value +21.”
Chu Tian was practically going crazy at this moment.
Just because he mentioned coming to the academy city to be a guard captain, he was being looked down upon by this girl again?
This made no sense!
At that moment.
The thread of rationality or what could be called the normal approach to winning over the girl before him-began tightening once more, possibly on the verge of snapping completely.
And then… initiating another plan.
Su Nian looked at Chu Tian with some confusion.
This man’s mood was so unpredictable-one moment normal, the next looking somewhat disappointed.
Was there something wrong with him?
Never mind, the food was here.
Time to eat.
She’d ordered a lot, and since she’d promised to pay, there was no way she’d let it go to waste.
But…
Su Nian still maintained her so-called elegance.
After all, she was now a public figure of Magic Feather Fantasy, with her debut performance imminent.
She had to maintain a perfect image.
The meal ended quickly.
“I’m heading back to the inn first. Here are 2 gold coins to repay you. I’ll return the rest of what I owe as soon as possible. The weapon you gave me, I’ll bring it to you tomorrow,” Su Nian said as she stood up.
Clearly.
Without any missions, she had no desire for further interaction or contact with this man.
From how things looked now, Chu Tian’s attitude toward her was decent enough.
He probably wouldn’t tell everyone at Magic Feather Fantasy about what happened in Flash Town and use it against her.
“There’s no hurry about the money. As for the weapon, you can keep it for self-defense. I already have a new weapon that suits me,” Chu Tian replied, pointing to the sword at his side.
That [Sword of Malice]…
It was the key to finding you, so you’d better hold onto it.
“Alright then, thank you, Chu Tian,” Su Nian thanked him again, instinctively flashing a smile.
A weapon he’d given her…
Well, might as well keep it.
Maybe she’d want to switch back to being a knight or pursue a magic-warrior hybrid path in the future.
She could always give him some armor as a return gift later.
“Let me walk you back to the inn. As the guard captain, it’s my duty,” Chu Tian offered again.
“Sure,” Su Nian agreed without much thought.
The inn wasn’t far anyway-if he wanted to escort her, so be it.
Chu Tian’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Perhaps this girl didn’t dislike him as much as he thought.
She’d accepted his weapon and was willing to let him walk her home.
True, he had absorbed her disdainful emotions.
But…
What if she actually had more positive feelings toward him?
After all, the system could only absorb negative emotions.
What if?
Moreover, he’d clearly seen Su Nian smile at him just now.
Perhaps there was still a possibility for them to become a couple…
Just then.
A little girl passed by on the roadside, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands as she called out to sell them.
The autumn night wasn’t warm, and the girl shivered, hunching her shoulders against the cold.
In that instant.
Chu Tian felt both pity for the little girl and simultaneously conceived a bold idea-maybe the girl beside him didn’t dislike him as much as he thought.
If…
If he were to give Su Nian a bouquet of flowers, would she accept it?