Chapter 365: A Heart-Pounding “Date”!

She should have felt exhausted by the massive scope of the plan to reshape the world.

After a busy day of coordinating various factions and pushing forward a plan capable of changing the world, her heart was instead filled with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and excitement. 

Su Nian walked with a light step, her long boots clicking against the flagstone path in a crisp, rhythmic cadence. 

The corners of her lips were curling upward unconsciously.

Home.

Today, that word seemed to have been given an entirely new meaning.

‘Is it because… someone is waiting for me at home?’ The thought surfaced uncontrollably, making Su Nian’s cheeks flush slightly.

She could imagine how she looked right now — surely like a silly girl who had fallen head over heels in love, her IQ plummeting.

But she did not care.

The feeling was novel, and it was wonderful.

She liked it.

As the elegant silhouette of Shadowmoon Manor appeared at the end of her vision, Su Nian took a deep breath, trying to calm her traitorous heartbeat.

Today, she was dressed in a sharp, white Mentor uniform.

The well-tailored top accentuated her slender waist, while her knee-length skirt revealed straight, well-proportioned calves clad in black stockings and matched with practical long boots.

This was the attire of the Star-Moon Saintess and Mentor Su Nian.

It was dignified and elegant, carrying a hint of inviolable holiness and majesty.

However, the thought that she might change into clothes intended only for his eyes once she got home caused ripples to form in the lake of her heart once more.

As the guards of Shadowmoon Manor pushed open the heavy, carved gates, the Head Maid, Rita, led a group of maids in a respectful bow, offering natural and kind smiles.

“Miss Su Nian, you have returned.”

Su Nian nodded somewhat shyly. 

Her gaze was immediately and firmly drawn to the figure on the sofa.

Chu Tian pretended to hear the commotion and only then put down the magic book in his hands. 

In reality, he had been looking around the whole time; the magic book on his face had actually been upside down.

“You’re back.”

Two simple words, yet they acted like a warm current, instantly dispersing all of Su Nian’s fatigue.

“Mhm.”

Su Nian gave a soft reply, feeling her heart start to misbehave again.

This was their first reunion after a busy day since they had officially started dating.

In the atmosphere, besides the sweetness of yesterday, there was an added sense of stable domesticity belonging to a couple.

Chu Tian naturally took the coat she removed, his movements as practiced as if he had done it a thousand times before.

“You must be hungry. Dinner is ready.”

Dinner was sumptuous and quiet.

The only sound in the dining room was the crisp clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates.

Su Nian took small bites of the exquisite food, the deliciousness making her squint her crescent-moon eyes.

‘Mmm… the food is so good.’

As she ate, she told Chu Tian about the things she had encountered while out. 

When she spoke of the progress the Star-Moon Magic Academy was making on the Floating Fortress project, she swayed her head happily.

Naturally, such an adorable scene did not escape the eyes of the man sitting across from her.

Listening to the progress of Su Nian’s outing, the approval and pride in Chu Tian’s eyes were undisguised. 

His praise brought her more joy than anyone else’s compliments ever could.

The meal concluded in this warm and sweet atmosphere.

“I knew you could do it.”

***

She returned to her room, but her heart, which had been racing since they officially started dating, showed no signs of calming down.

Sitting before the vanity, she looked at her reflection — her flushed cheeks and the shimmering light in her eyes.

They were dating.

So, between a couple… what should they do now?

Each go back to their rooms, say goodnight, and go to sleep? 

Su Nian shook her head, rejecting that option immediately.

That would be too… distant. 

After all, according to all the “evidence,” they used to be so close they could sleep in the same bed.

It was still early.

A thought rose uncontrollably from the depths of her heart, making her cheeks burn.

She wanted to be with him.

Not in the dining room, not in the hallway, but in a place… that belonged only to the two of them, somewhere more private and quiet.

‘Go to his room?’

The moment the idea appeared, Su Nian ruthlessly snuffed it out.

‘No, no! Too proactive!’

She had only just agreed to date him; she couldn’t just show up at his door. 

That would be too unladylike.

Even if she were to do that…

It certainly couldn’t be on the first day.

But if she didn’t go, would this wonderful day just end like this?

Su Nian’s gaze drifted toward the window.

The moonlight was like water, gently spilling into the manor’s quiet garden, coating the flowers swaying in the night breeze with a holy silver glow.

Su Nian’s eyes suddenly lit up.

There were flowers, moonlight, the evening breeze, and a meticulously manicured lawn with winding paths.

It was the perfect date spot.

‘Yes, that was it!’

She longed for a formal date that belonged only to her and him.

Having made up her mind, Su Nian immediately went into action.

She opened her wardrobe, her eyes scanning the beautiful dresses.

The uniforms she wore as the Star-Moon Saintess and Academy Mentor were too dignified and serious.

Her everyday casual clothes seemed a bit too relaxed.

Finally, her fingertips stopped on a moon-white silk gown.

The style of the dress was simple and elegant, without any extra decorations save for a thin silver belt tied at the waist.

The silky fabric was like flowing moonlight, perfectly outlining the girl’s well-proportioned figure without being overly revealing.

It was pure and holy, yet it carried a hazy allure that seemed to bloom only under the moon.

She changed into the gown and selected a pair of silver high heels from the shoe rack that weren’t too tall.

Standing before the full-length mirror, she inspected her reflection.

Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. 

The moon-white gown complemented her snow-white skin, and her azure eyes shone in the light as if filled with stars.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves and expectations.

Then, she called for the maid, Emma.

“Go… go tell Mr…. Mr. Mo Yuan.”

Su Nian’s voice was very soft, carrying an undetectable hint of shyness.

“Tell him I’m waiting for him in the back garden. Oh, as for the reason, just say it’s a dat — “

In the end, she was too embarrassed to say the word “date,” so she just made up a random excuse.

“Aiyoo, anyway, just help me make up a reason. You understand what I mean, right?”

Emma should be able to understand her meaning, right?

She had already set the location for their meeting in the back garden.

Emma the maid bowed respectfully and left quickly.

However, this loyal maid had a tiny bit of a misunderstanding regarding her lady’s intentions.

Who was Miss Su Nian?

She was the Star-Moon Saintess who had saved Academy City! 

She was a Magic Mentor with unfathomable strength! 

She was a powerful existence that even the Demon Race feared!

‘Why would such a person change her clothes after dinner to meet Mr. Mo Yuan in the empty back garden in the dead of night?’

What could it be for?

Miss Su Nian had started to say “duel” or something similar…

Clearly… it was a challenge!

‘Miss Su Nian didn’t want to waste a single second in order to make herself stronger! Miss Su Nian is truly admirable!’

The light of worship sparkled in the maid’s eyes.

Carrying this reverence, she jogged all the way to the master bedroom and delivered her “interpreted” message to Chu Tian.

“Sir, Miss Su Nian is waiting for you in the back garden.”

“She said she wants to discuss some matters regarding strength improvement with you.”

As a maid specifically assigned to take care of Su Nian, she naturally hoped Su Nian would reach the peak. 

Thus, she currently looked as though Miss Su Nian was certain to win.

Chu Tian was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

Then, seeing Emma’s expression, he naturally misunderstood Su Nian’s intent.

It seemed… she had come to find him for a sparring match.

He knew it. 

His Little Nian was never an ordinary girl who would indulge in pleasure.

Even though they had just confirmed their relationship, the thing most on her mind was still how to fight the Demon Race.

She truly was the woman he had chosen.

Chu Tian nodded, a sense of pride swelling in his heart.

This diligence and tenacity were… just too cute.

Since they were discussing strength, he naturally had to take the most serious attitude.

“Fine, I’ll go right now.”

He walked into the walk-in closet. 

Instead of choosing any casual clothes, he changed directly into his most frequently worn black combat suit.

The tight leather armor outlined his smooth and explosive muscle lines. 

His forearms and calves were bound with sturdy bracers and greaves, a longsword hung at his waist, and heavy military boots were on his feet.

This was an outfit created purely for battle.

He even stretched his wrists and ankles, performing some simple warm-up exercises in preparation for a heart-pounding “sparring session.”

***

In the back garden.

The night breeze carried the fragrance of Night Epiphyllums, fluttering the hem of Su Nian’s moon-white gown.

She stood alone in the garden, the sound of her heartbeat exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Before this, she had even had someone decorate the spot where she was waiting.

‘When Chu Tian arrives and sees my careful dressing and preparation, what kind of expression will he have?’

They would walk under the moonlight and talk about trivial things.

Perhaps Chu Tian would hold her hand again, just as he had in the hallway.

The thought made the temperature of Su Nian’s cheeks rise.

She waited and waited.

Finally, the sound of footsteps came from the path.

‘He’s here!’

Su Nian worked hard to make her smile look perfect and gentle, and then she slowly turned around.

Su Nian’s heart skipped a beat, and her fingers nervously pinched her skirt.

The smile froze on her face.

That was not the sound of leather shoes stepping on stone.

It was a heavy “clank” accompanied by the friction of metal.

Under the moonlight, Chu Tian’s tall figure appeared.

Chu Tian was not wearing the white shirt she had imagined, nor was he wearing casual formal wear.

He was wearing a set of black combat leather armor that shimmered with a metallic luster.

Chu Tian’s stride was steady, his gaze sharp, and his entire body radiated a murderous aura as if he were preparing to head to a battlefield.

He looked at Su Nian and gave her a bright, encouraging smile.

“Come!”

Su Nian: “???”

“Let me see your current strength.”

At that moment, the entire world seemed to fall into a terrifying silence.

One was dressed in an evening gown, prepared for a date.

The other was dressed in battle armor, prepared for combat.

The two of them stood under the moonlight, looking at each other from a distance.