Stolen Kiss

Zhang Hao gave a dry cough. "Well... I have things to attend to, so I'll be going."

He turned and walked away quickly, his pace hurried, a completely different person from when he arrived.

As he reached the doorway, he tripped over the threshold and stumbled.

Lin Qingxue watched his retreating back and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She turned to look at Song Chen, who was looking down at his badge with a helpless expression. "Is this badge really that useful?"

Lin Qingxue laughed even harder. "You're only just realizing that now?"

The two of them walked out of the clothing store, carrying bags of all shapes and sizes.

The sky was growing dark, and the streetlights on both sides of the road flickered on one by one.

She held the plush rabbit, he carried the clothing bags, and they walked side by side in the twilight.

"Are you happy today?" Song Chen asked.

Lin Qingxue nodded. "Extremely happy."

She hugged the rabbit a little tighter. "From childhood until now, today has been the best day of my life."

She stopped walking and turned to look at him. "Song Chen, do you know? I used to think I was working so hard, training until late every night, practicing my martial arts over and over, watching my blood-qi value climb higher and higher. But no matter how hard I tried, my father always said it wasn't enough, that I was still far behind."

"Then I met you. Your blood-qi value was only 0.6, yet you never admitted defeat."

"You got back up every time you were knocked down, and you ignored the mockery. You taught me that effort isn't meant to be shown to others."

She lowered her head, her voice growing softer. "So, thank you."

Song Chen looked at her.

He wanted to say so many things—that she was also excellent, that she didn't need to care about others' opinions, that in his eyes, she had always been wonderful.

But the words caught in his throat.

Then, he felt something brush against his cheek.

It was very light.

As light as a petal falling onto the surface of water.

By the time he realized what happened, Lin Qingxue had already stepped back, her face as red as a ripe apple.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at him.

She stammered, "I... I didn't mean..."

Song Chen stood rooted to the spot, his heart beating a little faster, just as it did when facing beasts in the Wilderness.

He touched the spot where he had been kissed; a trace of warmth still lingered there.

He suddenly smiled.

"Wait a moment."

Lin Qingxue looked up at him, puzzled.

Song Chen took a deep breath and raised his right hand.

Purple lightning surged from his palm. Instead of striking a target with its usual ferocity, it gathered gently and slowly in the air.

The lightning transformed into countless tiny specks of light, drifting toward the night sky.

The specks rose higher and higher, gradually outlining a shape against the deep blue canopy.

It was a rabbit.

A round, chubby rabbit holding a carrot.

It was identical to the one she was holding in her arms.

Lin Qingxue tilted her head back, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape.

The purple electric rabbit rotated slowly in the night sky, every detail clearly visible: the round ears, the plump body, the short limbs.

"So beautiful..." she murmured.

Song Chen didn't stop.

He used both hands, and more lightning surged into the sky.

Beside the rabbit, a blade appeared. It wasn't just any blade; it was the exact likeness of the standard-issue combat knife she had given him back then.

The blade was wreathed in tiny flickers of electricity, like a flowing galaxy.

Then came the stars.

Countless tiny sparks of lightning turned into a sky full of stars, covering the space above the entire street.

Purple, silver, and pale blue, like a galaxy pouring down.

Everyone on the street stopped in their tracks, looking up at the wondrous sight.

"My god..." someone exclaimed.

"Who did this?"

"Lightning Ability, at least a B-rank Lightning Ability."

"Look at the badge on his chest, Sky Thunder Blade, he's Sky Thunder Blade!"

Lin Qingxue stood where she was, head tilted back, tears sliding down silently.

Purple starlight reflected in her eyes, as if she held the entire galaxy within them.

"Song Chen..." she whispered.

Song Chen withdrew his hand, the lightning slowly dissipating.

The starlight fell bit by bit, like a purple rain.

"Whenever you want to see it, you can."

Lin Qingxue wiped her eyes and nodded vigorously.

"Mm!"

In the distance, someone raised a communicator to capture the scene.

Others began to applaud, and whistles drifted from the street corner. An old man chuckled, "Youth is truly wonderful."

Lin Qingxue blushed, clutching the rabbit as she hurried forward. After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at him: "Let's go!"

Song Chen followed her.

The night was gentle, the starlight brilliant.

Their shadows overlapped under the streetlights, separated, and overlapped again.

After walking for a while, she suddenly said softly: "Song Chen."

"Hm?"

"In tomorrow's practical exam, you will definitely be the best."

Song Chen looked at her earnest profile and smiled.

"I will."

She nodded and hugged the rabbit tighter.

The streetlights receded one by one, and the pedestrians on the street gradually thinned out.

The two walked side by side, neither speaking. But there was something indescribable in the air, sweeter than the scent of flowers, brighter than the starlight.

An hour later.

When Song Chen pushed open the front door, the living room lights were on.

Li Xiuying was sitting on the sofa watching TV; hearing the door, she immediately turned her head.

Her gaze swept over the bags in his hands, then landed on the new clothes he was wearing, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.

"You're back?"

"Mm."

"Did you have a good time?"

"It was alright."

Li Xiuying's smile deepened.

She stood up, walked slowly over to him, and took the bags from his hands. While organizing them, she said nonchalantly: "That Lin Qingxue girl, I've seen her; she's quite nice."

Song Chen didn't respond.

Song Zhengye poked his head out from the kitchen, holding a teacup: "Have you eaten?"

"I have."

"Then get some rest early; you have to assemble tomorrow."

He glanced at his son, his gaze lingering on his face for a second. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded: "Go on."

Song Chen acknowledged him and walked toward his room.

As he reached the door, he heard his mother whispering behind him: "Old Song, look at the boy, his face is even flushed."

His father's voice was even lower: "Don't talk nonsense."

Then came two stifled laughs.

Song Chen closed the door, stood in the darkness, and touched his face.

It was indeed a little warm.

The next morning, when Song Chen opened his eyes, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

He lay on the bed staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, then rolled over to sit up and began to get dressed.

When he walked into the living room, Li Xiuying had already set out breakfast. She stood by the table, clutching a tissue, and smiled the moment she saw him.

"Eat plenty, you have to test all day today."

Song Chen sat down and finished his meal quietly.

Li Xiuying watched from the side, occasionally adding food to his bowl, her hand trembling slightly.

Song Zhengye sat opposite them, holding a teacup. He barely ate, his gaze fixed on his son in a long, heavy silence.

After finishing the meal, Song Chen stood up. "I'm leaving."

Li Xiuying nodded, her eyes rimmed with red. "Do your best."

Song Zhengye set down his teacup, stood up, and walked over to him.

He looked into his son's eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, then reached out and gave his shoulder a firm, heavy pat.

"Go."

Just that one word.

Song Chen nodded, turned, and walked out the door.