The air in the terrace garden fell very quiet.
Both of their expressions held a touch of embarrassment.
Only the slow, gentle strains of a harp, drifting from who knew where, lingered in the air, as if coaxing the midsummer breeze beneath the night sky to flow along with the music.
Hyperion feigned composure, but her pursed lips trembled constantly. Recalling what had just happened, she felt tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
She had actually done that right in front of Ikerite Academy... no, the news would probably spread across the entire Hutton Kingdom.
Right now, Hyperion didn't dare imagine how Ikerite Academy was reacting.
Yet she was certain that this incident between her and Lanqi would spark wild, rampant gossip across the school—after all, the scandalous rumors about Dean Loren served as a glaring precedent.
It was always like this between her and Lanqi.
Most of the time, they got along splendidly.
Occasionally, when something sudden happened and they realized, *their relationship isn't like this,* or *maybe they crossed a line, or perhaps they didn't,* it was as if breathing and blinking had switched to manual control—they couldn't even perform the most basic actions.
Normally, without a second thought, they could talk about anything and everything without caring that the other was of the opposite sex; in short, they were on wonderful terms.
Fortunately, on this summer terrace, the night view stretched wide and open. Aside from each other, there was plenty of scenery to distract their attention.
Finally.
"Lanqi," Hyperion said, her eyes cast downward.
"Hmm?" Lanqi looked at Hyperion beside him.
Usually at times like this, he would wait until Hyperion had recovered a bit before comforting her, but this time she was the first to speak.
"Actually, I'm not the type who blushes easily, because ever since I was a child, I've been used to everyone's stares. Maybe it's because I have demon blood running through half of me, but I can always stay calm and aloof. Even when I try to act more like an emotional human girl, part of it is probably just an act."
As she spoke, she gradually raised her head and looked into his eyes.
There was no need to speak the rest aloud.
Her burning red cheeks had already explained everything—
The reason she changed was all because of him.
Rows of neatly pruned exotic flora of the Demon Realm swayed gently in the garden breeze, shimmering with a subtle sheen as if whispering secrets of the night sky.
Having spoken her truth, Hyperion seemed to exhale in relief, noticeably relaxing as she leaned against the terrace railing, gazing out at the estate and the sea.
"When I first met you, I thought you were a cool, distant girl. Even though you were reliable as a teammate and very friendly to me, it always felt like getting truly close to you wouldn't be easy."
Following her gaze toward the distance, Lanqi rested his arms against the stone balustrade, speaking slowly beside her as if murmuring to himself, "I never expected that, somewhere along the way, whether it was getting used to having you by my side every day or subconsciously refusing to imagine what life would be like without you here..."
They returned to their usual state once more, chatting easily again.
Every now and then, they glanced at each other, seeming to ponder some unresolved question, yet all the awkwardness had vanished without a trace.
They didn't even notice that behind them, at the entrance to the third-floor terrace, Boss Cat had already pushed open the door using telekinetic magic to call them for dinner.
Boss Cat stepped onto the terrace's wooden deck, peering in bewilderment at the backs of the two chatting away.
Although in Boss Cat's eyes, this was how Lanqi and Hyperion usually interacted, it couldn't help feeling that today, their shoulders were leaning just a sliver closer together.
Still, calculating from the time it had spent cooking, Hyperion had only been awake a short while. Lanqi had simply led her downstairs; it was impossible for any progress to have occurred between them in such a brief span.
"Meow, meow, meow, as much as I hate to interrupt, it's getting very late!"
Boss Cat never interrupted the young man and woman's conversations—unless it was truly far too late to eat.
Besides, Hyperion had slept most of the day without even eating lunch. Going hungry like that was bad for her health.
Yet neither of them noticed it.
"Meow, meow..."
Boss Cat gazed at the two conversing freely under the starlit sky.
Down by the terrace railing, the clamor from the restaurant below could be heard; calling out to them from this far across the terrace indeed made it difficult for them to hear.
"Meow!"
Boss Cat crept closer, meowing now and then and deliberately making all sorts of thumps on the floorboards, stopping just short of knocking over a chair.
At last, it confirmed that these two were deaf to the world.
A faint blush lingered on Hyperion's face like makeup, making her look all the lovelier.
And Lanqi was no longer quite so dignified; every now and then, he let out a heartfelt laugh, looking like a spirited boy who had just struck treasure.
Boss Cat turned its head and sighed.
It walked back, deciding not to disturb them any further. Since there happened to be tables and chairs in the terrace garden, it might as well serve as their waiter once again and bring the dishes up to them.
Before long, amidst the busy movements of the little black fuzzball in the night, candleholders and dinner were neatly arranged on the textured jet-black dining table in the garden terrace.
Lights danced in the corners of the terrace. The crystal clarity of hand-carved ice, the sheen of the wine bottle, and the steam rising from freshly served dishes all looked even more stunning under the refracted glow.
Boss Cat scampered up to their feet.
"Dinner is served, meow!"
The little black cat tilted its head up, speaking to them in its tender voice.
At the exact same time, as though waking from a dream, Lanqi and Hyperion looked down and noticed Boss Cat's pitch-black silhouette and the solitary pair of bright eyes gleaming in the night.
Turning around, they discovered that the dining table on the terrace garden had been completely transformed.
The open-air panoramic view served as the dining table's backdrop; only now did it truly strike them that they were dining in a palace restaurant by a brilliantly illuminated bay.
"Thank you, Boss Cat," Lanqi and Hyperion said warmly to the cat, walking toward the table and taking their seats on opposite sides of the square table.
As night settled in, specks of starlight seemed to reflect across the table, lending the scene an air both whimsical and dreamlike.
"Guests, please take a look at this first, meow."
Using telekinetic magic, Boss Cat floated a diamond-patterned black leather guide onto the table, presenting the preview menu of tonight's dinner with utmost professionalism and ceremony.
Lanqi opened the menu and placed it before Hyperion so she could see.
Currently on the table was an appetizer of freshly seared beef sliced into bite-sized morsels, sprinkled with herbs, fried saltwort leaves, and translucent pear slices, all laid atop a thin slice of dark rye bread.
Beside it was a dish of pan-seared venison: thick cuts marinated in salt and black pepper, seared until the crust was crisp and fragrant while remaining tender within, interleaved with delicate shavings of black truffle.
"Isn't this the dinner we had back at the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant? Boss Cat, when did you learn to cook Demon Realm cuisine?"
Halfway through glancing over the menu, Hyperion already realized what kind of dinner Lanqi had asked Boss Cat to prepare for them.
Chapter 590