After Yuhan He pushed the door open and entered, she glanced around and frowned slightly. "Why is this room so tiny? And Senior didn’t even lock the door!"

She took only a few steps inside and saw a plain bed. Lin Ming lay on it in his Academy uniform, shoes still on. Yuhan He stared, speechless. "Senior, you sleep without changing, and you didn’t even take off your shoes."

Hands on her hips, she eyed Lin Ming, drooling and totally unpresentable, sprawled on the bed. He mumbled in his sleep, "Mine… all mine…"

Her cheek twitched a little. Even she knew that a strong one would react when someone approached. Yet Lin Ming slept soundly.

"Honestly, Senior, how can you be so defenseless?" Yuhan He looked at the sleeping Lin Ming, helpless.

In truth, Lin Ming wasn’t careless. When he first saw Yuhan He, that silver hair made her presence stick in his subconscious. He’d lowered his guard to her. Anyone else? He’d have punched them out of the city.

Yuhan He stepped closer, ready to nudge him awake. Then she saw that conspicuous white hair tuft on his head. It froze her. Unlike the rest, it gleamed, yet felt like something was missing.

She bent down and studied the tuft carefully. It was pure white, even at the roots. The hairs around it were faintly pale as well, like life was slipping away.

As she pondered, Lin Ming suddenly wrapped his arms around her. She jolted in shock.

He held her close against his chest. She could feel the strong heartbeat thudding there. Her cheeks flushed. She stammered, "S-Senior, wh-what are you… doing? L-let me go."

(Senior, what is he doing? Yesterday, right out of the Duel Arena, he looked like a money grubber asking me for payment. Now he’s just hugging me! D-did Senior… realize his feelings? What if he confesses?)

Held tight, her thoughts spun. Her face was crimson.

In Lin Ming’s dream, a huge bag of Gold Coins dangled in front of him, swaying shamelessly. Hmph. He was Lin Ming, the Academy’s Profit Seeker. No way he’d miss that chance. He grabbed it in one go. It felt odd… soft. Whatever. Hugging that “big bag of Gold Coins,” he murmured, "You’re mine. Heh-heh."

Yuhan He: "…!!!!"

(Eek eek eek! He said it! What do I do? So embarrassing. So… domineering!)

Hearing his muttered sleep-talk—she didn’t know it was a dream—her brain almost crashed. Smoke practically puffed from her head. Her voice trembled. "S-Senior…"

"Mine…"

Her brain ran out of capacity. (Yuhan He, agree? Or… agree? Hey! You’re a lady. Don’t be so easy! You’ve known Senior for two days. He’s handsome, strong, and the type who manages a household—super stingy.) (Huh, no real flaws… Maybe just say yes… Yuhan He, what are you thinking—)

"This bag of money is mine. No one’s taking it. Heh-heh-heh."

Just as she spiraled into wild thoughts, Lin Ming blurted something outrageous.

"Eh!" Her face froze at the word. (Wait—money?) Her head tilted up mechanically. She saw Lin Ming’s sleeping face.

Suddenly everything clicked. He was dreaming. Realizing her own fantasies, she burned with shame and wished she could crawl into a hole.

"Money! Mine." Lin Ming tightened his arms again.

"…" Hearing it again, she confirmed she’d been delusional. She screamed, unleashing even her main Magic. "Ah!! Senior, you idiot!"

Her cry pierced the sky. Clouds above the City Lord’s Mansion burst into a neat ring. The Mansion’s glass windows spidered with cracks. This was top-quality glass, not cheap stuff. And it still cracked. Terrifying.

At the restaurant, Rosen jumped at the sound. (Damn, using Magic just to yell at a sleeping guy. Kid, not bad.)

"What happened?" Song Dugu flinched at the noise and turned to ask Rosen.

"No… nothing… pfft." Rosen’s eyes curved, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He snickered inwardly. (Heh-heh-heh. If I’m right, she’s yelling outside your door. With the young lady’s Magic power… tsk tsk. Kid, how are your ears? Hahaha!)

…

"Crap—ah! My ears! I’m gonna go deaf." The moment her shout hit, a terrifying wave slammed into his ears. He snapped awake, clutched them, and writhed on the bed in pain.

Meanwhile, Yuhan He slipped out of his arms. She straightened her clothes and, flushed with shame and anger, watched him roll on the bed.

After a bit, Lin Ming felt slightly better. A Rank physique, indeed. He glared at Yuhan He by the bed. "What the hell, Junior, what are you doing?"

"Hmph! I’ve been calling you for ages!" Arms crossed, face still flushed, she complained.

"Come on! That last shout—you used Magic, didn’t you? Do you know how dangerous that is? My ears hurt!" Lin Ming sat on the bed, rubbing them, disgruntled.

"You just… just…" Hearing his annoyed tone, her face went red. She wanted to say it, but remembering her own daydream, she choked.

"Just… what? Say it!" Lin Ming pressed his ears, urging her.

"You just… grabbed me. And hugged me!" She forced it out. She turned as red as a boiled crab, covered her face, and crouched down. (So embarrassing. I’m remembering my stupid fantasy again!)

"Uh." A bead of cold sweat slid down Lin Ming’s forehead.