Chapter 456: Chapter 121: Want a Shot?_2
He had slept from the morning and only woke up when the sun set, and the twilight filled the sky.
The first to wake up was Link.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jasmine who was just like an octopus, coiled around him, sound asleep. He refrained from moving, so as not to disturb the girl.
Looking at the girl sprawled out on his chest, her ear peeking out from her hair, he couldn’t help but find her especially adorable.
He had the urge to pinch her.
While looking at her, Link got lost in his thoughts.
How did their relationship develop to this extent?
Link questioned himself in his heart, and then reminisced about his interactions with Jasmine.
The first time they met was at Viscount Holliday’s castle.
Jasmine demonstrated how to conduct a Wizard Qualifications test in front of many kids.
At that moment, Jasmine displayed a maturity and poise that did not quite match her age.
Compared to other children her age in the Viscount Holliday’s territory, her behavior was surprisingly different.
Her attitude shift when getting off the ship made a deep impression on him.
She went from acting as a normal stranger to suddenly intimating that she had feelings for him. Her approach was awkward and childish.
After enrolling in school, she showed ambition but also exhibited her playful side.
It wasn’t until the unpleasant incident at the picnic by the lake for members of the New Blood Mutual Aid Association that she put away her playful demeanor and focused on her studies.
The change began then.
While Jasmine originally only wanted to latch onto Link for academic guidance and convenience;
Link initially saw Jasmine as a caged “canary” that could spice up his mundane daily life.
But who would have thought that young girls always have a poetic sentiment.
As Jasmine entered puberty, she subconsciously started having feelings for Link.
Back then, she was always following Link around, spending her days with him.
And, there’s no denying that Link did stand out among his peers.
Naturally, Jasmine’s feelings towards Link began to change.
From manipulating him to becoming dependent on him, from feigning seduction to gradually becoming shy.
What was initially fake admiration evolved into genuine and undeniable affection.
The coy tricks she had learned from a young age were completely thrown out the window.
She was happy enough just being at Link’s side, no interest in making sly comments or remarks.
Perhaps this explained why Jasmine liked to lament that she had wrapped herself around Link’s finger.
And what about Link?
When did Link have a change of heart and stop adhering to his “three no’s womanizer” strategy?
Probably when he went on his month-long solitary cultivation in the Apprentice-level Cultivation Secret Realm, then returned to find that Jasmine had taken a risk and used the immature “Chatterbone Worm Solution” from Wizard Selene to forcefully elevate her wizard qualifications.
The moment he had this thought, Jasmine woke up with a little whimper, interrupting his train of thought.
Stretched out both arms with a satisfying yawn, rolled around in comfort.
Once her body loosened up, Jasmine started making the next move to get out of bed.
“Oh my.”
Laying her hands on Link’s chest, she tried to prop herself up, only to find they had gone numb, and fell back down again.
Coincidentally, she had moved her body upwards to get up.
And thanks to that, when she fell back onto Link, it was exactly lip to lip.
A kiss landed with a mua sound.
“Stop it! Hmph!”
A moment later, Jasmine propped herself up again, gave an indignant huff, held her head high, and sauntered out of the transparent canopy.
Without a trace of shyness, she looked like a foxy thief who had just stolen a chicken.
“So, this is what they call ‘tsundere’, right?”
Link sighed and also got up to head to the dining room, intending to treat his stomach.
Having been away for a few days, he hadn’t had a good meal and felt very wronged.
The next day, early in the morning,
Link drove the Phantom Coupe to first drop Jasmine off at the Senior Division, then drove back to the North District, heading towards Wizard Selene’s Villa.
Since he was already back, he had to report in.
It was still early, and Wizard Selene hadn’t left for the Potion shop yet.
“You’re back already? How are things?”
In the living room, Wizard Selene greeted Link after he sat down, asking him this question first.
Link thought about it and replied seriously,
“It’s complicated!
The main thing is the huge disparities among people.
What I treasure might just be a disposable toy in some people’s eyes.
What is an adventurous exploration fraught with danger for me might just be a some people’s trials.”
On hearing this, Wizard Selene smiled slightly, “Is this not something you knew long ago? Why are you suddenly feeling so emotional?”
Link replied, “Perhaps it’s because I only knew about it before, but now I’ve personally experienced it.”
“Hmm…”
Wizard Selene chuckled a few times, and then asked, “So what do you plan to do next? Accept her invitation?”
Clearly, Wizard Selene had some understanding about the methods someone like Sandra Diomand would use to recruit her “subordinates”.
Perhaps she had encountered a similar situation before?
With a serious expression, Link said, “By leveraging an opportunity, I made clear my intentions; thus, she didn’t extend an invitation to me.”
“Hmm…”
Wizard Selene pondered for a moment, thought it over, and said, “That’s quite normal. Anytime she remembers that she could use you, she can simply call upon you again. If and when you have spare time, could you really say no? Thus, whether she extends an invitation or not, and whether you sign an agreement or not, isn’t really a big difference.”