The night was deep.
The moonlight flickered faintly.
In the empty sky, a strong wind seemed to sweep through, rustling the trees of the white Holy City.
Inside the banquet hall, brass chandeliers illuminated the grand hall brightly, even causing the tiles to shimmer faintly.
Xu Xi glanced at the nobles exchanging toasts and laughter.
Shaking his head, he chose a quiet corner to sit alone.
He disliked noise.
He only wanted to wait for the return of the Hero, curious about what she intended to do.
"It feels like... my back is starting to sweat."
"Is it too hot?"
Xu Xi pondered, quietly observing the lavishly dressed figures engaged in lively discussions across the banquet hall, while soothing, cheerful music flowed in the background.
Some had begun to dance.
Young men and women, their eyes alight with the excitement of newfound affection, twirled across the floor after just a single glance.
"May I..."
"W-what am I doing here?"
"This is strange..."
A noblewoman in elegant attire approached Xu Xi, intending to invite him, but after taking only a few steps, she turned away in confusion.
Subtly, Xu Xi felt another sharp sting in his back.
He seemed to have become invisible—though seated in the hall, no one disturbed him, especially not the young, radiant women.
"Great Sorcerer, I've returned."
About six or seven minutes later, the Hero finally reappeared.
Her figure materialized soundlessly beside Xu Xi, bypassing the entrance entirely.
"Have you finished your business, Servia?"
"Yes, Great Sorcerer."
The girl stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly forward as she faced the seated Xu Xi, her smile dazzlingly bright.
Xu Xi was curious.
What had his Hero gone off to do?
But Servia didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she raised a finger to her lips, tilting her head slightly.
"It's a secret, Great Sorcerer."
"A secret?"
"Mhm. I’ll reveal the answer soon. But before that—"
Warm as the sun.
Radiant as a gem.
The golden-haired girl took a deep breath, her fingers lightly pressing against her chest as if steeling herself.
Finally, mustering her courage, she made a bold request under Xu Xi’s surprised gaze:
"Great Sorcerer... would you dance with me?"
Her flushed cheeks betrayed pure, innocent shyness—yet also held a glimmer of anticipation.
This was a side of Servia Xu Xi had never seen before: her face as red as autumn’s ripest apple.
Beautiful. Breathtaking.
Xu Xi paused for a moment before his eyes softened, a gentle smile forming. "Of course, Servia."
Amid the glow of lanterns and the height of festivities, Xu Xi reached out to accept the Hero’s invitation.
"Wait, Great Sorcerer!"
"Let me make this more proper!"
Servia hastily waved her hands, taking another deep breath.
Her heart raced.
Her breaths came quick.
Steadying herself, she lightly pinched the edges of her skirt, curtsying gracefully with her back to the dazzling hall lights, facing Xu Xi:
"Honorable Great Sorcerer... may I have this dance?"
Her emerald-green eyes blinked.
Lively. Hopeful.
"Of course, fair Lady Servia," Xu Xi replied, extending his hand to clasp her soft fingers.
Now, he thought he understood.
Why his Hero had chosen this banquet. Behind her fearless demeanor lay a girl’s delicate thoughtfulness.
They didn’t join the crowded center of the hall.
This unique dance unfolded in the quiet corner—hands intertwined, steps clumsy, a dance far from elegant.
Xu Xi was no dancer.
He’d never had reason to practice.
His movements were stiff.
"Servia, you should’ve told me earlier. I could’ve at least practiced."
"It’s alright, Great Sorcerer."
"Truthfully... I’m not very good either."
Servia, raised in nobility, trained in elite etiquette—could she really be unskilled in dance?
Xu Xi doubted it.
But soon, Servia proved her words true with her performance.
"W-wait, Great Sorcerer!"
"I’m so sorry—I stepped on you!"
"Ah! I’m falling—!"
Servia lost her balance.
Mid-dance, she swayed backward, only for Xu Xi to swiftly pull her back into his arms.
"Thank goodness you’re here, Great Sorcerer..."
Servia frowned, distressed by her own clumsiness.
"Servia, take it slow. No need to rush."
Xu Xi’s reassurance worked. The girl steadied herself, gradually matching the music’s rhythm, moving in sync with him.
Step.
Turn.
Glide.
Imperfect motions led to occasional bumps, and more than once, Servia stumbled straight into Xu Xi’s embrace.
After much fumbling,
By the time the music looped a third time, the dance was finally complete.
"I never thought dancing could be so exhausting."
Xu Xi wiped beads of sweat from his brow.
He could still manage.
Yet Servia—who had once stormed the Demon King’s castle in a single night—now seemed far more drained, barely able to stand without leaning against Xu Xi’s shoulder.
"Servia, is this enough?"
Xu Xi fetched a towel, drying their sweat.
"...There’s one more thing."
"Great Sorcerer, do you remember the secret I mentioned?"
"I think it’s time to show you," Servia said, pulling Xu Xi toward a small balcony on the outskirts.
The banquet hall was too crowded.
Too lively.
She didn’t want to reveal her mystery in such a place.
Up the steps.
Through the corridor.
They arrived at a secluded platform.
No one else was here—just a stone railing enclosing a tiny space beneath the starry sky, overlooking distant city lights.
A cool breeze swirled in the air,
Refreshing, soothing Xu Xi’s fatigue.
He watched as moonlight bathed the golden-haired girl before him, highlighting her hesitant shyness and the boldness of her parted lips.
"Great Sorcerer."
"Will you accept this?"
Under the hazy night sky,
Servia unveiled her treasure.
A small, polished emerald, encased within a hollow locket—well-preserved, unremarkable yet precious.
Softly, she explained its origin:
A childhood "treasure" found by a little girl who dreamed of becoming a Hero.
She had cherished it all her youth.
Now,
She wished to give it to Xu Xi.
"Servia... are you sure?" Xu Xi hesitated.
"Yes," Servia smiled. "I’ve already found something far more precious, Great Sorcerer."
A childhood dream.
A lonely self.
A fragile fantasy.
All intangible thoughts condensed within a tiny gemstone.
Retrieved by the brave warrior Servia.
She extended it toward Xu Xi's left ring finger.
With a resonant hum, a ring materialized on its own, merging seamlessly with the small emerald—an eternal vow, indivisible.
"Ah, right, one more thing."
"Great Sorcerer, look~~~"
As if suddenly remembering, Servia stretched out her left hand, fingers shimmering with a faint glow. There, she wore a ring—the spatial ring Xu Xi had gifted her in the sorcerer's realm.
Now, the warrior adjusted its position.
From her left index finger to her left ring finger.
Just like Xu Xi's.
"Indeed, the ring you gave me, Great Sorcerer, belongs best in this place."
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
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his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
ave】 Shen Qingling was a man with peerless looks, a cunning mind, and the ability to play both the aloof noble and the innocent sweetheart—a master of seduction who could outplay any player. But after an untimely death, he found himself bound to a system and transmigrated into the tragic "true young master" of a melodramatic novel. In the original story, his childhood sweetheart treated him as a backup plan, his fiancée swore to break off their engagement for the sake of the "fake young master," and his own sister saw him as the family's disgrace. He was nothing more than a rat everyone wanted to stomp on. System 077: "Your mission is to change the original fate and conquer the goddesses." Shen Qingling: "Thanks for the invite. If seduction had tiers, I’d be max level." His childhood sweetheart knelt, begging for forgiveness: "Qingling, I was wrong. Please give me another chance." His ex-fiancée refused to marry anyone else: "Shen Qingling, I was blind before. In this life, I’ll marry no one but you." A yandere CEO went mad for love: "Shen Qingling, you can only like me. I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine!" His green-tea sister clung to him daily: "Brother, look at me, won’t you? I’m more obedient than them—I love you the most~" At first, they scorned and trampled on him. Later, they burned themselves like moths to a flame, all for his sake. His looks were his weapon, his sweet words the bait—heroines obsessed over him, villains turned to madness for him. Shen Qingling became a true male siren, igniting battlefield after battlefield of women fighting for his affection. Years later, when System 077—now one of the elites—was asked how to become as outstanding as it, it lazily exhaled a smoke ring and replied: "Just know how to cheer ‘666’ at the right time."
