Chapter 40: The Enigmatic Encounter

Upon leaving his room, Zhang Luan walked through a narrow corridor and arrived at Nan Fenghua’s room next door. He fidgeted with the thin card in his hand and knocked on the door. After a while, a groggy voice responded, “Um… who is it?” The sleepy tone indicated she had been in bed.

“It’s me, Zhang Luan. I need to talk to you.”

As soon as he spoke, he heard a thud from inside the room, as if something had fallen to the floor.

“Are you okay?”

Zhang Luan hesitated, wondering if he should open the door and check. Just then, the door opened, and she stood there in a thin pink nightgown, her face flushed.

“When did you wake up, Zhang Luan? It’s so late. What’s up?”

She partially covered her exposed skin. Her nightgown was revealing, and it was obvious she didn’t usually wear it. She must have hurriedly put it on because Zhang Luan had come unexpectedly. Her exposure made her feel embarrassed, replacing her usual clingy behavior with a sense of modesty, a trait of her gift called “Self?” Perhaps something had changed, making this once-single personality trait now multifaceted.

“I just woke up. Did you fall out of bed? Your forehead looks bruised,” Zhang Luan said, trying not to laugh as he looked at the red mark on her forehead. He could tell from the thud he heard that she had fallen to the floor.

Nan Fenghua blushed deeply, burying her face in her ample chest, biting her lip as her face turned a bright red.

“N-no, I just bumped into the nightstand. Please come in, it’s a bit chilly out here…”

Inviting a handsome young man into her room late at night could easily lead to misunderstandings. As he entered, a fragrant aroma filled the air, coming from a night-blooming flower on the windowsill, its gentle light adding to the room’s enchantment.

“That smells amazing. What is it?”

“Oh, that’s a gift from my godmother when I was little. It’s called a Dream Night Bloom. It purifies the air and prevents nightmares. Do you want one?”

Zhang Luan shook his head. “No, I don’t need one. I just wanted to know what it was.”

He sat on a soft bear-shaped couch, which was surprisingly warm. Pinching the bear’s small hand, Zhang Luan thought of Aruola’s room in the magic tower, which also had an absurd number of bear plushies.

“Do all girls like bear plushies?”

“Well, sometimes I sit here when I sneak snacks. It’s cozy. I’ll go make some tea for you.”

Nan Fenghua adjusted her slipping strap and walked over to the table in her fluffy bunny slippers. It was clear she didn’t use the tea set often, as the heating magic nearly burned her.

Zhang Luan smiled helplessly at her clumsiness and walked over to her, holding her trembling hands.

“I won’t eat you. Why are you so nervous? You weren’t like this in the day.”

Nan Fenghua’s body trembled as if she had been shocked, her face turning redder by the second. Zhang Luan ignored her reaction and poured two cups of hot water, returning to the soft bear couch to drink.

“I… I don’t know why I’m like this. Thinking back, I wasn’t myself during the day… I…”

She became flustered and almost started crying.

“Hey, don’t cry. It’s like I did something to you. I haven’t even done anything since I got here.”

Zhang Luan looked at her, bewildered. How could Nan Fenghua’s personality have changed so drastically in just one day? It was clear her gift, “Self?”, had activated again.

“(Sobs) I’m sorry…”

Her helpless appearance made him want to pinch her cheeks, but he wasn’t here to tease her. He stood up, grabbed her shoulders, and gently pushed her onto the soft bed. She breathed heavily, as if she had done something exhausting.

“I… I’m only fifteen… It’s not like I’m ready…”

Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice soft and vulnerable, begging to be comforted. Despite her words, there was a hint of anticipation in her tone.

Zhang Luan looked at her strangely and pulled out the thin card, pressing it against her forehead. The card transformed into a fine gold thread, entering both their chests. Zhang Luan felt a warmth spread through him, and the air became soothing. The Dream Night Bloom’s gentle light seemed even more enchanting.

He got up, stretched, and watched as Nan Fenghua passed out, already lost in a peaceful dream. Her lips curled into a smile, indicating a pleasant dream. He sighed, covered her with a blanket, and thought, “Does she really think I’m some kind of pervert? I wouldn’t touch a fifteen-year-old, even if I like pretty girls.”

He opened his interface. This was the first time he had experienced such a link effect with the card, and he was eager to find out more. A voice in his head filled him with anticipation.

[Bound Card Target: Nan Fenghua]

[Binding Initiated]

[Please select the desired Binding Gift, as multiple bindings are available]

Binding 1: [Saint] – Allies with this binding gain the “Courage” effect, increasing all attributes by 20% and providing an additional 50% fear resistance.

Binding 2: [Dreamer] – The holder of this binding gains a 50% increase in speech effects (brainwashing, faith, mental control, taunting, etc.) when on the same side.

Binding 3: [Desirer] – Increases binding effects on targets with the same binding by 100%, with no possibility of evasion or resistance.