Knock knock.

A knock sounded at the suite door. Rosen frowned. He hadn’t ordered room service yet. Curious, he walked over and peered through the peephole. Outside stood a man in a black suit with delicate features, flanked by several guards.

After a quick scan, sensing no threat, Rosen opened the door. "May I ask what brings you here?"

The man placed a hand over his left chest, bowed slightly. "Where might Miss Yuhan He be?"

Rosen tensed instantly. Lin Ming, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded, glanced over. He called to the sulking Yuhan He beside him. "Hey! Someone’s for you!"

"Don’t call me ‘hey’!" Yuhan He snapped. "Leave me alone. I’m feeling down!" She hunched lower, still dejected.

Lin Ming stared, speechless. Was skipping one night out really that tragic? Tomorrow would work fine.

Rosen’s hands drifted to the sword at his waist. "Who are you? How did you find us? State your business—or my blade won’t hold back."

The visitor didn’t flinch. He smiled, holding back the guards who bristled at the threat. Leaning forward slightly, he addressed Rosen. "My apologies for the rudeness. I’ll answer everything. First, I’m Darknight, Deputy of the City Lord. May we speak inside?"

*City Lord’s men.* Rosen hesitated, then lowered his hands. "Mr. Darknight, please enter. All of you."

He ushered them in. Darknight sat on the single sofa opposite Lin Ming’s. The guards stood rigidly at his sides.

"Coffee, thank you," Darknight said smoothly.

"Ah… one moment!" Rosen’s eye twitched. How presumptuous. But he went to prepare it.

Darknight’s lips tightened seeing Lin Ming sprawled lazily on the plush sofa. His eyebrow jumped spotting Yuhan He crouched beside it, still moping. He smoothed his expression, voice gentle. "Miss Yuhan, I have urgent business. Might you spare a moment?"

Yuhan He "…………" stayed silent.

Darknight’s smile froze. Ignored? He turned to Lin Ming. "You must be Azure Spirit Academy’s star student. Your name?"

Lin Ming didn’t sit up. He lazily flicked a glance. "Lin Ming. Told you. Don’t bother me."

"Pfft." Guards behind Darknight stifled giggles. They’d never seen him flustered.

"Hmph!" Darknight shot them a glare. They snapped upright, silent.

His composure frayed. As Deputy, all bowed to him—even fools backed down after hearing his title. Yet these two? One ignored him utterly; the other radiated disdain. His temper flared. But he remembered his mission. *Breathe.*

"Your coffee, sir," Rosen placed a cup before Darknight.

"Thank you." Darknight didn’t touch it. Rosen ignored that. "How did you track us? And why are you here?"

Darknight saw Rosen as the only sane one. No more stalling. "Simple. The city gate security check logged you. And—"

"Huh? Security?" Lin Ming drawled from the sofa. "I skipped it."

"What? But you were at the gate!" Rosen stared, shocked.

"Ah, that? Fees cost money," Lin Ming shrugged. "I found a quiet spot on the wall. Climbed over."

"Hey! You’re from Azure Spirit Academy—and you dodged the fee?!" Darknight slammed the table, roaring.

*Damn it!* Darknight realized. *That’s why an unreported student appeared!* He recalled the wall’s height—hundreds of meters—and gaped at Lin Ming. The guards mirrored his shock.

Yuhan He perked up. "Grandpa, that wall’s super high, right?"

"Miss, you’re back!" Rosen beamed. Because of *that*, they never explored cities properly. No wonder she’d been so down. "Yes, but I’m not surprised he climbed it. Not after he intercepted my Blade Draw Technique. Though… I never thought he’d be this cheap."

"Stingy?!" Lin Ming sat up, indignant. "This is smart budgeting! Saving where you can!"

Everyone’s eyes said plainly: *You’re just cheap.*

Lin Ming regretted speaking. His cool image—ruined. He flopped back, facing the sofa, pretending to sleep.

"Ahem!" Darknight coughed sharply. Lin Ming’s interruption and stunt had derailed him. All eyes turned to him—except Lin Ming’s.

"My purpose," Darknight stated firmly, "is to invite Miss Yuhan He to a concert."

"A concert?!"