Chapter 81: Double Date

“Noah-senpai, let’s go on a date!”

Anna’s red eyes sparkled with excitement.

But Noah’s lips twitched, and she said dryly, “You know your words could carry into the bedroom, right?”

“Then bring little Luoyao along~”

Noah raised a brow. “A foursome? Sure, I’m game. Just wait.”

“Huh? No, no, no, that’s not what I meant!”

Anna grabbed Noah’s arm, hurriedly explaining, “Xiaan’s coming too.”

“A four-way date? Wow, Anna, I didn’t know you were so open-minded.”

“Noah-senpai, can you pause the dirty thoughts for a few minutes and listen to me?”

Noah grinned. “Kidding, kidding. What’s the deal?”

“I… want to go to the back hills with Xiaan.”

“Then go. You know the way.”

“But I’ve never gone out with a girl before. You get it, right? It’s kind of nerve-wracking. So I thought bringing another familiar couple would make it less awkward.”

Noah squinted, studying Anna thoughtfully.

After a moment, the silver-haired vampire said slyly, “Anna-chan, you’re not… catching feelings for Xiaan, are you?”

“N-No way!”

“No way?”

“Okay, maybe a little.”

Anna pinched her thumb and forefinger together, gesturing “just a bit,” and said, “Only a tiny bit, okay?”

Noah didn’t buy this “tiny bit” nonsense.

You either liked someone or you didn’t—no middle ground.

But she understood Anna’s hesitation.

With Yelan in the castle, cracking down on “early romances,” and Noah’s recent stint in the Well of Atonement as a cautionary tale, Anna was naturally wary.

Going out alone with Xiaan would be nerve-wracking and awkward for her.

Plus, it looked too much like a “date.”

A vampire like Anna didn’t need to be so chummy with her blood s*ave, did she?

No reason for it.

So if she was always hanging out with Xiaan, what else could it be but feelings?

For these reasons, Anna decided to drag Noah and Luoyao along as a cover.

“Noah-senpai, please, you have to say yes!”

Seeing Noah stay silent, Anna grabbed her wrist, her voice tinged with a sob.

“Alright, alright, I didn’t say no. Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying. Xiaan said the cute act works wonders on cool-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside types like you.” Anna flashed a toothy grin.

“Oh.” Noah pursed her lips. “Go get ready with Xiaan. Meet us at the castle’s back gate in ten minutes.”

“Okay~”

Anna bounced off.

Noah closed the door—finally repaired—and returned to the bedroom.

“Come on, get dressed. We’re going on a four-person date.”

Noah opened the wardrobe, tossing some casual clothes onto the bed.

“Four-person date? What, like mahjong?”

Luoyao slipped off her nightgown, teasing as she changed.

“Anna and Xiaan want to stroll in the back hills but are scared of Mother catching them, so they want us to tag along as cover.”

Noah put on a black denim jacket over a white tank top, pairing it with short shorts that showed off her long, slender legs.

Luoyao stuck to her usual soft, forest-girl style: a knitted cardigan in earthy tones and a knee-length dark brown skirt.

“You’re making me wear a skirt to hike?” Luoyao questioned.

“It’s fine. The trails are easy. Plus, you look great in skirts.”

“Hmph, smooth talker.”

“Oh? Don’t you know how smooth my lips and tongue are? Or do you need a reminder?”

Luoyao scurried to the door in her bunny slippers. “Three sentences, and you’re back to your old tricks.

I bet you’ll find some secluded spot in the hills and… do that to me.”

“We haven’t tried it outdoors yet. Maybe this is our chance…”

“Enough! Let’s go!”

Hand in hand, they headed to the castle’s back gate, where Anna and Xiaan were waiting.

“Evening, Luoyao. You look much better,” Xiaan greeted.

“Yeah, I’ve mostly recovered. Why do you and your little mistress need us as third wheels for your date?” Luoyao teased with a smile.

Xiaan flustered, waving her hands. “No, no, it’s not a date! We’re just… just…”

“Just looking for a quiet spot to hold hands, step on crunchy leaves, and climb to the hilltop to see tonight’s big, round moon, right?”

“Exactly!”

“Isn’t that a date?”

Xiaan bristled. “I said it’s not!”

“Fine, fine, not a date.” Luoyao laughed, linking arms with Xiaan.

She turned to Noah and Anna. “Let’s race to the halfway point!”

With that, Luoyao tugged Xiaan’s wrist, and they jogged toward the hills.

Wearing skirts, both moved slowly, but it was just for fun.

The “race” was to spice up the outing; winning didn’t matter.

“Let’s go too,” Noah said.

“Mm-hmm.”

The evening breeze was cool, chilling Noah’s exposed legs.

But she’d made sure Luoyao wore a knitted cardigan and long skirt to stay warm.

As Luoyao had said, they crunched through fallen leaves, the crisp sound echoing as they leisurely headed toward the hilltop.

The “human team” up ahead snapped photos while walking.

Though the nighttime scenery wasn’t as vibrant as daytime, it was all new and exciting for their first visit.

The “vampire team” trailed behind, fondly watching their partners’ backs.

“Noah-senpai, how did you confess to Luoyao?” Anna asked suddenly.

“Confess?”

Noah searched her mind, filled with suggestive thoughts about Luoyao, for the word “confession.”

Nothing came up.

“I don’t think I ever confessed,” Noah said.

“No confession? Then how did you get together?”

Noah shrugged. “It was simple. We hooked up, fell in love, got caught for ‘early romance,’ and then…”

She stopped, clapping her hands together. “Then we were locked in.”

Anna sweat-dropped. “That… rough approach probably wouldn’t work for me.”

“Love’s the one thing you can’t perfectly replicate. Everyone’s different.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Don’t rush things with Xiaan. Take it slow.

You’ll find each other’s flaws as you spend time together.

Before committing, make sure you can handle those flaws. That’s how you last,” Noah said.

“Got it.”

Noah smiled, patting Anna’s head. “You’ve definitely got a thing for your little blood s*ave.”

This time, Anna didn’t deny it right away.

She gazed at Xiaan’s back, a smile spreading across her face as she said softly, “Yeah. I like her.”