Small and large fireworks exploded, as various couples either kissed briefly or for an extended period, whispered sweet nothings, and cheered.
Finally, the largest firework exploded in the sky.
The sounds of fireworks, cheers, and heartbeats started to mix confusingly.
As Alicia looked down after exclaiming at the fireworks, her eyes met Eric’s.
He seemed to have been watching her all along.
Then, the bright smile on Alicia’s face began to fade as tension built.
“······.”
“······.”
Eventually, all the fireworks died down.
The surroundings darkened, and people started to leave, sharing their impressions.
“Ah.”
Alicia let out a small sighlike sound.
A reminder to herself to snap out of the illusion that they had become a real couple during the fireworks.
Wanting to leave the scene quickly, Alicia tried to move out of Eric’s arms.
Or tried to.
“?”
Eric was still holding her firmly, causing her to lift her head in confusion.
The moment their eyes met, Eric overlapped their lips.
Alicia’s lips were much softer and more delicate than he had imagined when he had covertly tasted them before.
Moreover, they were sweet.
Despite saying just a few hours ago that he didn’t like sweets, he couldn’t part from her.
Gradually, Eric’s tender and gentle movements inside her mouth began to ease Alicia’s tension.
Eric’s sudden firm grip electrified her.
In the end, feeling her strength leave her, Alicia tightly grabbed Eric’s jacket.
People who were leaving started to murmur upon seeing them, sending cheers and jeers.
It didn’t matter. They were already the talk of the empire, so they were used to such attention wherever they went.
And they were now focused on each other, caring for nothing else.
()
After training, Eric was drinking water when Allen approached and slumped down next to him.
“Wow, really senior, go easy.”
“Would that be training then?”
“Still, I am the vicecaptain. It’s embarrassing in front of the guys.”
“Then get stronger.”
“You make it sound easy.”
Annoyed by Eric’s nonchalant replies, Allen got up and took a water bottle.
“Really, I can’t catch your stabbing timing. How do you come in so fast? It’s heavy yet fast?”
“Is it?”
“It surprises me every time, annoyingly.”
Watching Allen fuss, clearly annoyed for losing again, Eric chuckled.
“Oh, so did you enjoy your date?”
“Huh?”
“The fireworks near the lake. You went with my sisterinlaw.”
“How did you know that?”
“We were deployed there for security, didn’t you know? You approved it yourself.”
He had completely forgotten. It had been completely erased from his mind.
“The rumors are out. During the kiss time, both of you [dash].”
“Pff[dash].”
Eric finally spat out the water.
“Oh, senior, that’s disgusting.”
Wiping off the sprayed water with a grimace, Allen continued speaking soon after.
“But you did it after the fireworks ended?”
“……”
Embarrassed, Eric closed his mouth but inwardly he was so embarrassed he was furious.
‘Did you see all of it? Were you only watching that while I sent you for security? Even when there are frequent harassment cases. This is negligence on duty.’
Unaware of Eric’s thoughts, Allen kept talking beside him.
“Your attack timing is amazing but you can’t even time that right according to the guys [dash].”
Allen stopped talking and closed his mouth, feeling a dark aura coming from the side.
“Senior?”
“……”
Reading Eric’s silent mood, Allen gradually stepped back, heeding his instincts’ warnings.
“Senior, is the training over?”
“……”
Leaving a stillsilent Eric behind, Allen immediately left the spot.
“You can’t even time that right [dash].”
The last thing Allen said echoed in Eric’s mind.
‘No, it’s not that. I did it on purpose.’
The fireworks had been conflicting.
Whether it was okay to kiss Alicia based on what he felt.
He hoped Alicia wouldn’t misunderstand it as a fleeting feeling prompted by the atmosphere.
So he had deliberately let the time pass.
But.
‘Could Alicia think the same way?’
“Ugh.”
Eric grabbed his head with both hands.
Even if Alicia thinks the same way, he can no longer explain or excuse it.
The mood that had been good a little while ago had plummeted in an instant.
()
Alicia had stopped by the Grand Library to return a book she had borrowed before.
“Hello.”
“Welcome, Miss Alicia. Have you finished reading already?”
“Yes. Here.”
Alicia handed the book to the librarian.
“May I browse other books as well?”
“Of course. But you know, right? You must not go beyond the red line.”
“I know.”
Nodding, Alicia went into the aisles.
While contemplating, Alicia scanned book titles until she stopped at one.
Reaching for the book placed above, she heard a voice from behind.
“Interested in magic, Miss Lancaster?”
Startled by the voice coming from behind her, she turned around.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
