"...It's… almost dawn…"
Xu Feiyan tilted her head slightly, gazing out through the car window.
The sky was beginning to brighten. Morning light spilled across her fair, delicate face, painting it with a soft blush.
"So… should we call it here?" Akira asked with a faint smile.
"You still haven't…!?"
Xu Feiyan's eyes widened, excitement flashing through them—followed immediately by a trace of fear for what might come next.
Seeing the panic in her expression, Akira only smiled meaningfully.
If he could, he would have gladly spent the entire day like this with her.
But the sky was already turning pale. The nearby residents would soon wake.
He had no intention of letting a crowd gather outside—even if the car windows were tinted dark enough to hide what was happening within.
"That's about enough. Let's go get some breakfast."
Akira loosened his hold on Xu Feiyan. As much as he enjoyed the moment, he wasn't about to send his woman to the hospital on her first night.
"I think… I need to clean up…"
Xu Feiyan glanced down at her long, pale legs. The faint traces of dried crimson made her expression subtly tense.
There was a bathing area in her shop.
But Cheng Lan and the others were still inside.
If they saw her like this…
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
Akira quickly put on his shirt and stepped out of the car, heading into the shop.
"…What is he planning?" Xu Feiyan remained in the car, watching the entrance with curiosity.
Her beautiful amber eyes shimmered with anticipation.
How exactly was he going to get Cheng Lan and the others out?
Before long, the door opened again.
Voices drifted out—
"You woke us up just to treat us to breakfast?"
"Ahh~ I'm still so sleepy~"
"But if you're paying, I guess I can accept~"
"Did Sister Xu really say we get a day off today?"
"..."
Surrounding Akira, the girls bombarded him with questions.
He answered them one by one.
"Of course I'm treating. Order whatever you like."
"Don't worry, today's a paid day off."
"Is two hundred enough for breakfast?" he asked, pulling out two crisp hundred-yuan bills.
"More than enough!" Cheng Lan grinned, snatching the money. "Thanks!"
"Then hurry up and go. Breakfast tastes best fresh," Akira said, waving them off.
"You're not coming?" one of the girls asked, puzzled.
"I'm not hungry," he replied with a smile.
But the moment that smile appeared—
The girl's legs suddenly went stiff, and she toppled backward like a fallen board.
"Hey! Lan Xin, what's wrong!?"
"Heart attack!?"
"Pfft! She just got too excited seeing a handsome guy!"
"Quick, carry her out—don't cause trouble here!"
"..."
The group hurriedly dragged the fainted girl away.
As Cheng Lan left, she waved back at Akira.
"We'll be back in about an hour~ bye~"
"…Oh."
Akira wasn't sure why she felt the need to tell him that, but he didn't think much of it.
However, before they got far—
His sharp hearing picked up their hushed whispers.
"They're totally going to take advantage of us being gone, right?"
"Probably in the bathroom!"
"With the morning sunlight… wow, that'd be amazing!"
"Keep it down, idiot!"
"Whatever, let's just go eat first."
"I want KFC breakfast!"
"..."
Watching their retreating figures, Akira muttered, "...They know?"
Thinking back…
Last night had been a bit too intense.
Xu Feiyan might not have noticed—she had been completely immersed—
But Akira had.
He could clearly feel the car shaking and rocking.
Thankfully, she had driven an SUV this time, not that supercar from before.
Speaking of which…
She owned quite a few cars.
At least three or four, from what he'd seen.
"Being rich really is nice…"
Akira shrugged with a smile and quickly returned to the car.
Opening the door, he said, "They're gone. Let's head inside."
"Mm…"
Xu Feiyan nodded slightly, about to step out—
When suddenly, Akira scooped her up in a bridal carry.
"W-wait?"
Her thoughts instantly became a mess.
This was the first time in her life someone had carried her like this.
But as his strong hands supported her soft waist—
Her panic melted away.
Her gaze fixed on him, unblinking, as he carried her into the shop.
"Where's the bath?"
After closing the door, Akira asked.
"Over there."
Xu Feiyan raised a hand, pointing the way.
After a brief search, he found the bathing area deep inside the shop.
But calling it a bathroom was an understatement.
It was more like a bathhouse.
The square pool spanned around fifteen square meters—large enough to accommodate ten people comfortably.
"Sit here for a moment."
Akira placed Xu Feiyan onto a lounge chair, then walked over and turned on the water.
Hot and cold streams filled the pool simultaneously.
Within minutes, steam rose in soft white waves.
"Alright."
After testing the temperature, he turned—
And froze.
At some point, Xu Feiyan had already removed her clothes.
Perhaps the dim lighting in the car had concealed it—
But now, he could finally see her fully.
Her flawless skin, tinged with faint traces of red, was even more alluring than pure white.
"Stop staring. You're joining me."
Xu Feiyan shot him a glance, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved her lips.
"Alright. As you wish."
Akira shrugged, swiftly removing his own clothes.
Unlike her, he made no effort to cover himself.
Xu Feiyan, on the other hand, wrapped herself lightly in a bath towel, lending her form a hazy, teasing allure.
"Haa…"
Akira sank into the water.
The warmth instantly restored his exhausted body.
Naturally—
That sacred radiance began to stir once more.
But remembering Xu Feiyan's condition, he restrained himself.
This was reality.
Xu Feiyan wasn't Ivsha or Lucia.
She was human.
She couldn't withstand the full brilliance of that "holy light."
Unless…
Akira's gaze sharpened slightly.
If the game had altered his body—
Then Xu Feiyan's should have changed as well.
His brows furrowed as he considered the possibility.
They had spent at least four hours together the previous night.
Even with her usual yoga and fitness routine—
There was no way an ordinary person could endure that.
The only reasonable explanation—
Was that she had also received enhancements from the game.
"What are you thinking about?"
Xu Feiyan's voice came softly beside his ear.
She had moved closer without him noticing.
"Just thinking about something." Akira turned, his gaze drifting across her form.
The damp towel clung to her flushed skin, a sight almost intoxicating.
"What is it?"
"Whether this game… can affect reality."
"And whether the Magic Continent… truly exists."
Despite his wandering gaze, his tone was serious.
"That theory's been discussed among high-level players," Xu Feiyan replied, revealing some insider information. "But there's no proof. Physical stats may improve slightly, but still remain within human limits. Even top guilds are still… just human."
"High-level players?"
Akira frowned slightly.
Everyone seemed to have these player groups.
Xu Feiyan had one. Liu Xue had one.
Except him.
Maybe he really was lacking in social connections.
"Yes. Only guilds with A-rank potential are invited," she explained. "Though honestly, they're just regular players who spend more money."
"I see."
Akira nodded thoughtfully.
"So what do you think?" he asked.
"Me?" Xu Feiyan smiled faintly. "If the game ever becomes reality… I believe Petiko and the others will protect me—their guild master—and help me survive in a dangerous world."
"Then you don't have to worry. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe."
Akira wrapped an arm around her slender waist, smiling.
"Oh?"
Xu Feiyan glanced at him from the corner of her eye, saying nothing.
But her heartbeat quickened.
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
Akira caught it instantly.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Looks like I'll have to show President Xu what I'm really capable of."
With that, he pressed closer.
"Wait!"
"Akira! This is the bath—!"
She tried to protest.
But his movements were far too smooth.
He skipped straight to the point.
"The bath? Isn't that even better?"
Akira smiled, just about to begin—
When his phone rang.
"…Who is it? At a time like this?"
He frowned, picking it up.
"Liu Xue?"
He narrowed his eyes.
It was barely seven in the morning.
Why was she calling now?
He glanced down at Xu Feiyan, then at the phone.
"Give me a second."
"Hmph."
Xu Feiyan rolled her eyes—but bit her lip, saying nothing.
Their "battle" had already resumed.
"Hello? Liu Xue, what's up?"
Akira answered.
At the same time—
He shifted slightly.
Xu Feiyan: "???"
Can you focus on the call!?
Liu Xue: "Akira! Big news!"
"Again?" Akira asked casually, idly playing with Xu Feiyan's silky hair.
Liu Xue: "It really is! I got invited to the high-level player group! The one only A-rank potential guilds can join! You're in it too, right?"
Akira frowned. "Are you mocking me?"
Liu Xue: "Of course not! You reaching A-rank is only a matter of time. It's weird they didn't invite you…"
"That is weird," he said with a chuckle.
Liu Xue: "I heard the Immortal Consort Guild's leader is in that group too. One of the admins."
"Oh? You mean Xu Feiyan."
Akira glanced down at her in the water, smiling faintly.
Liu Xue: "Yeah! Aren't you close? I even saw you get into her car before…"
"We're very close," Akira replied, rubbing his nose.
Right?
President Xu?
Xu Feiyan: "Idiot… not now—mmh~"
Liu Xue: "Was that… a weird sound?"
"You heard wrong. Anyway, I've got something to do. Talk later."
Liu Xue: "Oh, okay! Go ahead~"
Beep.
Akira ended the call.
Then he smiled, pulling Xu Feiyan into his arms.
"Now… let's get back to business."
(What follows is an extended "holy war" scene—omitted.)
…
"Did they succeed?"
Inside the Rose Manor, Idis leaned by the window, admiring the starry sky unique to the Star Kingdom.
"Yes."
Not far away, Mary's shadow knelt, reporting faithfully.
"The Waning Moon Priest failed in the Moon Dream. The Moon God Empire's upper ranks are in turmoil—they won't be able to interfere in the Star Kingdom's civil war anytime soon."
"Excellent~"
A faint smile curved Idis's lips.
"Now that the Sun Church, Moon God Empire, Elf Kingdom, and Dragon Holy Nation can't intervene… it's time we expand the war."
"My lady… you mean phase two?" Mary asked carefully.
"Yes."
Idis nodded.
"Prepare them."
"On the wedding day… I want to see the stars fall."
"Understood."
…
"Feiyan? President Xu? Hey—wake up."
Akira looked down at Xu Feiyan, who had fainted in his arms.
Probably the heat from the bath, he figured.
Definitely not his fault.
"I'll take you home."
He lifted her out of the water, dressed her, and called a taxi.
Just as they left—
Cheng Lan and the others returned.
"Ahh~ free breakfast is the best~"
"Since we're full, how about a bath?"
"Let's go! I need to wash off the alcohol smell."
Excited, they rushed into the bath area.
The moment they opened the door—
They all froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
After a long silence, they exchanged glances.
"…Wait."
"…Why is the bathwater… golden?"