Chapter 17 The Date

Lan Qi walked out of the headmaster's office with firm steps.

Outside the door, the hallway was softly and clearly lit, the deep red lacquered wood floor forming a beautiful pattern of light and shadow.

Pula Nai stood quietly, a smile appearing on his face when he saw Lan Qi.

"Pula Nai, I'm leaving work early today. Prepare yourself a little; we'll be leaving tomorrow."

Lan Qi lightly patted Pula Nai on the shoulder as he walked past.

"Yes, I wish you a pleasant date."

Pula Nai stood still and saluted Lan Qi.

"How do you always know everything?"

Lan Qi turned back in surprise.

"Because you look happy."

Pula Nai's voice was filled with relief.

"Alright, go and rest. Goodbye, Pula Nai."

Lan Qi returned the smile, his tone lighter than usual, and waved goodbye to Pula Nai.

He walked along the corridor towards the stairs.

The stone steps of the staircase were ancient and solid, each level carved with the Hongmonde Building's unique deep gray reliefs. Lan Qi's footsteps echoed in the stairwell, seeming a little faster than usual.

Stepping out of the Hongmonde Administrative Building, Lan Qi was greeted by the spring sunshine and fresh air.

He followed the path, heading north towards the lake.

The trees were lush, the birds sang, and the sunlight streamed through the treetops, shining on Lan Qi and adding a bit of lightness and joy to his steps.

He walked along.

Soon.

The azure lake next to the northernmost church of the Prothos Royal Magic Academy came into view.

The spring sun filled the lakeside, coating everything in a light golden halo.

Lan Qi's footsteps left faint traces on the soft grass.

The lake shimmered, and a gentle breeze carried the moist scent of flower dew.

In that sunny landscape with a wide perspective, he saw a slender figure.

She stood by the lake, wearing a light white dress, the skirt gently swaying in the wind, like ripples on the lake.

Her loose, light-colored, smooth long hair was blown by the breeze. She raised her hand to hold it down, the sunlight shining through her hair, reflecting a gentle halo and adding a hazy purity to her back.

Sigrid stood quietly, seemingly admiring the lake and the distant scenery.

"..."

When Sigrid sensed a slight movement, she slowly turned around and met Lan Qi's gaze in the distance.

A warm smile bloomed on her face, her eyes sparkling with welcoming light.

"Sorry to keep you waiting; the disguise took a little time."

Lan Qi came to her side and said.

"It's okay, it looks good, worth the wait. I knew you'd change into this black-haired, green-eyed look."

Sigrid's voice was soft and melodious, like a spring breeze gently brushing the lake.

"..."

Lan Qi returned a smile.

"Still smiling, still smiling. I've advised you several times not to change into this appearance anymore. Are you trying to get more girls on the road to look at you?"

She suddenly pointed at Lan Qi, frowning sternly as if changing faces, and criticized him.

"But."

Before Lan Qi could explain anything.

"So, don't let me catch you making eye contact with other girls today. They can look at you, but you're not allowed to look at them, understand?"

Sigrid's words were teasing, but with a hint of warning, reminiscent of her dissatisfaction.

"So, you mean I can only look at you today."

Lan Qi shook his head helplessly and spread his hands.

Hearing this, Sigrid stared at Lan Qi in disbelief, then immediately turned around and walked quickly towards the south side of the campus.

"What's wrong?"

Lan Qi naturally followed beside Sigrid and asked.

"Some things you don't need to translate; it's enough if you understand them in your heart, otherwise, it'll make everyone very awkward."

She glared at Lan Qi fiercely and quickened her pace a bit.

Lan Qi chased after her with a smile. They walked and talked, discussing some trivial topics, the daily life and new look of the school, and some light-hearted topics, such as the spring flowers they had just seen and the scenery by the lake.

The two seemed to have returned to the time when they traveled together in the snowy field, able to chat endlessly as long as they were together, which made Cat Boss speechless.

However, Cat Boss wasn't here today; Antanas had taken it away early in the morning.

Walking along the school road, the voices of the two echoed in the empty north residential area.

The newly grown leaves in the residential courtyards on both sides of the campus road shimmered with emerald green light in the sun, and the plants in the flowerbeds competed for beauty. The long-lost spring atmosphere permeated every corner.

Suddenly.

At the end of the road, there was a series of sounds of wheels rolling over the road and a faint cat meow.

"Meow!!"

The abrupt laughter and childish screams were particularly clear in the spring fragrance, startling a flock of birds.

A sightseeing sleigh car came from around the corner, drifting through the bend, the fallen leaves unable to hide the smiles on their faces.

"Being fast on the curves is what really matters!"

The black fox in front was pulling the car all the way, its ear tips burning with golden flames, and its powerful footprints left uneven golden shadows on the asphalt road.

Antanas held the reins, her face with the most brilliant smile.

Sinora maintained a lady-like, calm posture even while sitting in the speeding fox car.

Sitting between the two great demon race members was Zestira, who had been taking care of the big fox during this time. She looked expressionless, but sitting between her two older sisters, she was obviously very happy.

As the first student that Lan Qi recruited in the southern town after arriving in the Northern Continent, although no teacher had been tutoring her in magic engineering recently, correspondingly, three senior professors would come to visit and teach her magic by the way.

During this time, Zestira had become familiar with the other three professors and admired them especially, always feeling that they had the temperament of a great demon race.

After Antanas discovered the two figures on the road, she immediately slowed down and stopped the fox car beside them.

"Eh? What, Boss, are you on a date with an unfamiliar student?!"

She asked in surprise, holding the black kitten.

Or rather, the big fox took the initiative to run towards them the moment it saw Lan Qi and Sid, then affectionately rubbed its head against them.

"Hey, Antanas..."

Sinora quickly grabbed Antanas's sleeve, knowing that Antanas was asking knowingly.

"Teacher?"

It was only at this moment that Zestira suddenly realized that the black-haired, green-eyed youth was her teacher, Mr. Rocky.

"Hmm?"

Sigrid's lips curled up slightly.

She deliberately looked at Lan Qi standing next to her with measuring eyes, waiting for his answer.

"So, what's going on? Can you reveal a little?"

Antanas smiled slyly, looking like a reporter, and held up an air microphone to ask.

"You're wrong."

Lan Qi said solemnly and clearly,

"I'm not your boss; I'm Lan Qi Welford, a first-year student at the Prothos Royal Magic Academy."

"..."

This answer made Sigrid smile even more. He didn't deny the date.

Hearing Lan Qi's answer, Antanas raised both hands and held the cat boss over her head, cheering.

"You two, have a nice date!"

Under Antanas's blessing, the fox car was driven even faster.

Lan Qi and Sigrid looked at each other helplessly, watched the fox car disappear at the end of the road, and then turned around and started walking towards the school gate again.

"Speaking of which, the campus has changed again."

Sigrid observed the changes in the Prothos Royal Magic Academy compared to half a month ago.

Although Headmaster Rocky McCarthy was about to retire.

But his works of art left in the school will forever become a legendary tale of the Prothos Empire.

If this guy's attitude and level of painting could be as proper and dedicated as his architectural design, then perhaps he would leave a good collection for his own museum.

Sigrid thought.

"This is probably my last job in this school."

Lan Qi recalled many things that happened after coming to the Northern Continent.

You don't feel it too much when you experience it.

But when you're about to leave, looking back makes you feel that every moment is beautiful.

As they chatted, the two walked out of the school gate and onto the streets of Helum.

The southern district of Helum is a bustling area, far more lively than the campus. The skyscrapers and shops on the street had already opened for business in the morning. The residents of Helum walked by, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, spending this weekend.

Crossing this street, the two walked along the city's river, the water shimmering with azure light.

This river in the south of Helum is no ordinary river; it flows with liquid mineral springs containing magical energy, which is unusually attractive to magic artisans.

However, this time, Lan Qi didn't focus on the river; he always looked at Sigrid.

Sigrid had turned into Sid's appearance again today, and instead of the rather capable attire, she had put on a more girlish dress.

"How do I look today?"

Sigrid asked, walking and twirling her skirt, letting Lan Qi see her all over.

"..."

Lan Qi tilted his head in confusion.

"Don't I look good?"

Sigrid asked hesitantly, feeling that Lan Qi's eyes seemed to be saying, "You look very much like a woman today."

She was worried that her blood pressure would explode if she asked any further.

"I still think you look best in your original appearance."

Lan Qi replied seriously.

"..."

This made Sigrid slightly stunned, then quickly coughed lightly, covering up her half-second pause just now.

"...Then I'll change back to my original appearance in a slightly less crowded place and let you see it."

Sigrid moved a little closer and said to Lan Qi.

After speaking, she flicked her long hair.

"But today, you'll have to bear with it for a while and date Sid, not Sigrid."

Sigrid added, feigning regret.

"Doesn't that mean I still have to calculate affection points? If it's low, you won't give me the stone slab."

Lan Qi felt that Sigrid's examiner-like eyes were about to start scoring him again.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Sigrid put her index finger against her lips and thought.

Yeah. That's right.

She thought to herself, but didn't say it out loud, letting him figure it out himself.

"So, are you Sigrid or Sid today?"

Lan Qi decided that he had to figure out this question.

In fact, he hadn't figured out Sigrid's definition standard at the end of that month he spent with Sigrid in the north of the empire.

"Uh."

Hearing this, Sigrid didn't speak at first, as if thinking about how to make up a convincing explanation.

Gradually, she realized that she couldn't seem to make one up.

Finally.

"I'm Sid, a second-year student at the Prothos Royal Magic Academy, nineteen years old this year. Look, this is my student monthly pass."

Sigrid blinked her left eye and said to Lan Qi energetically.

"..."

Lan Qi choked. He, who had always followed the rules, was being fooled by incomprehensible rules for the first time, and for so long.

"Are you actively reporting your fake student status to the headmaster?"

Having worked in the education industry for so long, it was the first time he had seen such an arrogant student as Sigrid.

"Try revoking my student status."

She lowered her voice a little, approached and poked Lan Qi, with a hint of warning and even threat.

"No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Lan Qi shook his head.

"Speaking of which, it's been so long since we've seen each other. Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Sigrid suddenly asked, as if she had thought of something.

"Congratulations, Bishop, for being one step closer to the ninth rank..."

Lan Qi cupped his fist and turned to Sigrid to congratulate her.

"Fifth rank."

Sigrid's clear voice interrupted his words.

"Being one step closer to the ninth rank..."

Lan Qi paused for a moment and continued.

"Fifth rank!"

Sigrid emphasized again, glaring at Lan Qi, not letting him finish speaking.

She knew what this guy wanted to say!

Better not to congratulate!

"Sid is at the fifth rank, always at the fifth rank. If you work hard, you might be stronger than her."

Sigrid crossed her arms and turned her gaze away, murmuring while looking at the lake.

"What do you mean? Can you explain it specifically?"

"Affection points deducted."

The two stepped onto the bridge over the river, and after crossing it, it was another block.

The sunlight slanted down next to the high-rise buildings, and aerial gardens supported by transparent magic barriers floated in the air, with singing plants and glowing ghosts swaying in the gardens with the wind.

They passed under the aerial gardens without worrying that the aerial gardens would suddenly fall.

"Where are we going next?"

Sigrid followed Lan Qi's gaze, looked at the aerial gardens, and then asked.

"There's a weekend performance in the aerial gardens today. For lunch, we'll go to Fourth Avenue in Helum. I have a reservation-free card for all the restaurants there. You can choose which one to go to. I don't have any plans for the afternoon. I feel like planning the itinerary too full would create a kind of pressure. Let's just wander around Helum as we feel. If you're willing, I have audience tickets for the *Helum Evening Show* program in the evening. Do you want to go together?"

Lan Qi tapped his fingers lightly and explained to Sigrid in a slow and methodical manner.

If a date is aimless and lacks reservations, the actual experience is likely to be encountering various queues, and finally just killing time boringly.

Especially since today is Saturday in Helum.

"How did you arrange the itinerary?"

Sigrid was a little surprised.

This feeling of a mature man in his thirties is really strange.

She originally thought that Lan Qi had prepared nothing, because she had suddenly finished her work and rushed back without notifying Lan Qi in advance, and came to the Hongmonde Building as soon as possible.

It seems that she can add some affection points to him today.

"You found out."

Lan Qi took out a small notebook from his pocket.

On it was a serious travel guide to Helum.

And the title of the chapter he opened read – *A Helum Travel Guide That Even a 3-Year-Old Child Wouldn't Get Lost In*

Seeing this, Sigrid suddenly smiled in relief.

She was laughed at.

(End of this chapter)