How come you're so experienced

Under the guidance of the Old Granny, Luo Wei and Tilis arrived at a bustling neighborhood near the lower city.

Since it was a very important annual festival, through the windows, one could see that every household was preparing a New Year's Eve dinner.

Holding Tilis's hand, Luo Wei chatted and walked through the maze of alleys, while the noise gradually drowned out their conversation.

Tilis curiously looked around. The streets and alleys were bustling at the moment. Because of the steam pipes that blocked out the sky, even on a snowy day, there was a crowd on the streets.

People gambling together argued when someone lost, some were so drunk they were babbling incoherently, and children chattering excitedly were having snowball fights, their faces full of joy.

Amidst the rising steam, the air was filled with the aroma of food. Even at this time, some vendors had not packed up their stalls, with late-night snacks prepared for night shift workers coming off their shifts.

Tilis, looking at such a lively scene, her beautiful purple eyes slightly lost in thought.

Luo Wei, however, only had eyes for her.

Warm light filtered through frosted windows, casting a warm glow on Tilis's face, giving the usually aloof witch a rare touch of mundanity.

This quiet version of Tilis was much cuter than the obsessive one she usually was in reality.

If she could always be like this, how wonderful it would be...

Shaking his head, Luo Wei tightened his grip on Tilis’s hand and continued following the Old Granny, who was walking ahead.

Seeing that Tilis was not saying much, the Old Granny assumed she didn’t like the place.

“I’m sorry, little lady,” her tone carrying an apology, “our place is indeed a bit messy, not like where you young masters and misses usually live, but don’t worry, our house is always kept clean. There won’t be any strange smells there.”

Tilis quickly waved her hands.

“It’s okay, Granny! I’m not bothered by that at all!”

She didn't dislike the living conditions of Granny Xue; when she was being hunted by the church, she had lived in even worse environments. She was just observing the living conditions of the people here, as she was always accustomed to observing everything she saw.

“Granny, we’re not exactly young masters or misses,” Luo Wei said with a chuckle, “we’re just ordinary kids from ordinary families. I’m looking forward to your New Year’s feast, too!”

The Old Granny finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face lighting up with a kind smile.

“Good, good! You must be hungry. Let’s move quickly, I’ll get started on preparing the food!”

“Sounds great!” Luo Wei quickly followed.

Tilis smiled brightly, hooking her arm with Luo Wei’s.

“Why do you always call yourself ordinary? You’re anything but ordinary,” she teased.

“Am I not? I’m just a regular guy—no exotic talents, no magical powers, just read some random books,” Luo Wei responded with a smile, “You’d think I was ordinary, right?”

“Goodness has nothing to do with strength!” Tilis, unlike the secrecy-obsessed faction, firmly believed in this. It was why she aligned more with Gould’s philosophy when it came to her teacher’s and Gould’s ideological divide.

Furthermore, to Tilis, Luo Wei was anything but ordinary. He was a very special, very unique, almost indescribable existence...

“So, are you complimenting me?” Luo Wei exaggerated his expression playfully, “Tilis, the genius shining like a star, is actually complimenting someone?”

“Stop exaggerating!” Tilis rolled her eyes, “When haven’t I ever complimented you…”

Luo Wei’s smile faded.

“Not once. Not only that, but you always call me stupid.”

After some thought, Tilis realized that was indeed true.

Her little face scrunched up in dissatisfaction. Could it be her fault? Luo Wei’s schoolwork at Callen University was so simple to her, they might as well have been children’s worksheets. She could never understand what those fools at the university were so busy with every day.

So much so, that some of them even fail exams? In their magical fraternity, they wouldn’t last two days!

But seeing the pout on Luo Wei’s face, Tilis hesitated for a moment and softly asked,

“Then, should I compliment you more from now on?”

Luo Wei tilted his head, “If it’s insincere, forget about it.”

Tilis giggled, reached out to ruffle Luo Wei’s hair, but stopped herself, realizing she couldn’t reach.

“It’s true, don’t be mad~”

Luo Wei glanced at her.

“Then tell me, what else do I have going for me?”

Under Luo Wei’s expectant gaze, Tilis’s big, round eyes rolled.

“Well…”

She grinned, “You’re handsome!”

Not shying away from the compliment, Luo Wei said with unabashed confidence, “That’s the least of my merits though.”

Tilis suddenly realized that thick-skinnedness was also one of his strengths.

“Anything else?” Luo Wei wouldn’t let it go.

“Hmm, let me think…” Tilis looked up at the beautiful snow falling from the sky.

“Oh…” she nodded, tickled at the thought, “you’re handsome and really know how to make girls happy. Otherwise, how did today’s date happen? I couldn’t even think of so many romantic ideas!”

At that, Tilis paused suddenly.

Bewildered, she took a closer look at Luo Wei. It struck her that something seemed a bit off.

“Wait…,” she narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “what’s your secret to knowing so many dating tricks? How could you be so experienced with all of this?”

Luo Wei was caught off guard.

In that moment, he felt the Dream World tremble faintly.

Uh-oh! Tilis’s suspicion could cause the world to collapse!

Internally he cursed his own bad luck. Of all things, why did he ask for compliments?

Just then, saving him from the precipice, the Old Granny interrupted their conversation.

“Here we are, finally home! Come on in!”

Luo Wei quickly clapped his hand on his stomach.

“Granny! You’re really my savior!”

The Old Granny turned back, amused, and looked at him.

“I see you must be really hungry! Come here, quickly! Tilis, little missy, come in!”

“Oh…” After giving Luo Wei another suspicious look, Tilis obediently followed the Old Granny inside the house.

The shaking of the world stopped.

Luo Wei let out a breath of relief, heaving the heavy relief internally.

Following the Old Granny into her home, Luo Wei noticed that although the room wasn’t big, it was quite crowded.

Three middle-aged women were busy preparing ingredients, and around them, chattering noisily, were five children. When they spotted Luo Wei and Tilis, two unfamiliar faces, their expressions lit up with curiosity.

The Old Granny introduced Luo Wei and Tilis to her family, recounting their deeds that brought down the local gang’s reign. The children’s eyes grew bright and sparkly as her words unfolded, then they warmly surrounded the two of them.

“Did the brother really beat the bad guys? He’s so cool!”

“Is he an almighty one? I’ve heard my dad say that there are many almighties in the city that secretly protect us. How powerful and stylish they must be!”

Luo Wei chuckled, stroking the boy’s head, hinting at the complexity within the city: as sure as a few protect you, there are plenty lurking in the shadows…

“Your idolized big brother here isn’t an almighty though, this sister beside me carries that revered status,” purred Luo Wei spontaneously, turning his head playfully to Tilis’ dire contact.

Stimulated by his dedication from across the room, Tilis released an impactful expression of helplessness suddenly.