Being with Alice, Lin Lei felt a surge of joy welling up from the depths of his heart. Unnoticed, a whole night passed. Neither Lin Lei nor Alice felt any fatigue from missing a night's sleep.
A faint fish-belly white appeared on the horizon, and a hazy, bluish light began to fill the world between heaven and earth.
"Dawn is breaking, Alice. I should go first," Lin Lei said, standing up.
"Mm," Alice replied softly.
Alice stood as well, watching Lin Lei with a look of reluctance to part. Lin Lei smiled, placed his hands on the ground, and with a swirl of air currents around his body, floated down to the street like a falling leaf.
When Lin Lei returned to Blue Water Paradise, his good brothers had already woken up, and he was thoroughly "interrogated" by Yeru and the others.
Back at Ernst Academy, Lin Lei continued his rigorous training as always. However, during his rest periods, he often found his thoughts drifting to Alice. He had a feeling, as if he had been struck by the arrow of the God of Love.
Yulan Calendar, Year 9997, November 29th, evening.
Alice had been waiting directly in front of her house since early. After waiting for a while, she spotted Lin Lei's figure at the far end of Ganmo Road and immediately ran over.
"Big Brother Lin Lei," Alice called out excitedly. After a month apart, seeing him again, she couldn't suppress the excitement in her heart.
Lin Lei's heart was also racing with excitement; after all, it had been a month. But right now, he felt a thrill: "Although I didn't tell Alice when we'd meet again, she's here waiting for me today."
During their last conversation, Lin Lei had learned that Weilin Magic Academy's holidays were the first and second of each month. Alice was cutting class now to meet him, and Lin Lei understood what that meant.
"Lin Lei, come on! This time, be a bit braver," Derinkoort's voice echoed in Lin Lei's mind.
Lin Lei silently resolved himself. He didn't want to endure another month of waiting.
"Alice, why are you outside today? Not on the balcony?" Lin Lei and Alice walked side-by-side down the street. Alice laughed. "We can't exactly hide out on the balcony forever, can we?"
Lin Lei imagined the two of them hiding on the balcony and couldn't help but smile.
"Right, what about your father? Does he not care that you're out so late?" Lin Lei asked.
"Him?" Alice curled her lip. "My father's a drunk and a gambler. He probably doesn't even know when he'll stumble back home himself, let alone worry about me!"
"Big Brother Lin Lei, I grew up here in Fenn City. It's huge, and there are probably lots of places you haven't seen yet. Come on, I'll show you!" Alice said cheerfully.
And so, Lin Lei and Alice walked together along the streets. It was already winter; December and January on the Yulan Continent were the coldest months, and the evening wind was quite chilly. There weren't many pedestrians on the streets.
But Lin Lei and Alice walked and talked, oblivious to everyone else.
"Huh? Is it snowing?" Alice looked up at the night sky, noticing snowflakes drifting down slowly. "I love snow the most. This is the first snow of winter this year."
"I like snow too," Lin Lei said, tilting his head back as a snowflake landed on his cheek and melted.
Walking on a snowy night with the girl he loved was incredibly romantic. The two strolled through the streets of Fenn City just like that.
"Big Brother Lin Lei, do you have a girlfriend?" Alice suddenly asked, then added lightly, "Someone as amazing as you definitely does."
"No, absolutely not," Lin Lei answered immediately.
Alice fell silent after hearing his response, seeming lost in thought.
"Alice, do you have a boyfriend?" Lin Lei deliberated for a long while before finally asking the question.
Alice's face flushed instantly, the blush even reaching her neck, though it was impossible to see clearly in the dim nighttime light. "Who would want me as a girlfriend?" she said.
"Oh."