Conquer the other worlds with abandon, they've fallen in love with me!

She came down a few minutes later, her steps light and quick, her face beaming with undisguised joy.

"Vera agreed! She said... she wants me to properly 'assist' you~"

Lilia's pronunciation of the last few words was a bit unsteady, and her gaze drifted elsewhere, clearly indicating that Vera's original words were not that simple.

Lin Yu knew perfectly well what was going on, but didn't say anything.

"Are you ready?" Lin Yu straightened up.

Lilia shook her head, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

"Um... Mr. Lin Yu, could you wait a moment? I need to go back to my room to get something, it'll be quick!"

Lin Yu nodded: "Go ahead."

"Okay! I'll be right back!" Lilia seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then turned and ran upstairs, her footsteps disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Lin Yu leaned against the front desk, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd in the lobby, waiting patiently.

About five minutes later, light footsteps could be heard again on the stairs.

Lilia came downstairs; she had changed her clothes and was now carrying a handbag.

Lin Yu looked at Lilia's somewhat mysterious expression but didn't say anything more.

He said calmly, "Let's go."

"kindness!"

After leaving the guild, Lilia naturally walked to Lin Yu's side, and the two walked side by side.

The sunlight was lovely, shining on her pink hair, giving it a soft sheen.

She gripped the straps of her handbag with both hands, her steps light and quick, occasionally stealing a glance at Lin Yu's hands hanging at his sides.

That hand was long and clean, with distinct knuckles.

This was the same hand yesterday—both nimble and fierce…

Lilia's face flushed again.

She watched as Lin Yu's hand swayed gently with the rhythm of his walk, very close to hers.

She felt a tickle in her heart, her fingers curled up, wanting to reach out and hold it, but she was too shy. Several times she mustered up her courage, but then withdrew.

He could only grip his bag strap even tighter, until his knuckles turned white.

Lin Yu took in all her little actions. After walking past a street corner, he suddenly stopped.

"Ah!" Lilia, who was following behind Lin Yu and staring at his hands, didn't notice and bumped into his solid back. Her small nose felt a little sore from the impact.

"Watch where you're going, Lilia," Lin Yu said, turning around with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"I'm sorry!" Lilia covered her nose, her eyes welling up with tears from the soreness, looking both pitiful and adorable.

Lin Yu looked at her, then suddenly stretched out his hand, palm up, in front of her.

"Hold my hand," he said calmly, "don't get lost."

Lilia froze, staring at Lin Yu's hand in front of her, her heart pounding faster.

She bit her lip, two blushes rising to her cheeks, and then slowly, tentatively, placed her slightly cool little hand on it.

Lin Yu closed his fingers, enveloping her entire hand in his warm, dry palm.

In that instant, Lilia felt a slight electric current surge from her fingertips throughout her body, a tingling, numb sensation.

She lowered her head, but couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth in a wide smile.

However, after taking a few steps, Lilia suddenly remembered something.

She looked up, a sly glint in her eyes, then pulled Lin Yu's hand forcefully, took half a step ahead of him, and turned back to give him a sweet smile:

"Wait a minute, Mr. Lin Yu~ You clearly said I was going to show you the way!"

She shook their clasped hands, her tone tinged with a hint of smugness and coquettishness:

"So, you're the one who needs to hold on tight to me and not lose me~"

Looking at her radiant profile and the subtle glint in her eyes, Lin Yu didn't object. He simply let her pull him along, slowing his pace to match her rhythm.

The trips to the herbalist and the gem shop went smoothly.

Lin Yu was generous and didn't haggle, quickly buying the "Moonlight Moss" and a small bag of "Shining Magic Crystals".

Lilia obediently followed beside him, watching Lin Yu talk to the shop owner, inspect the goods, and pay. She thought his serious profile was particularly handsome.

When Lin Yu came out of the alchemy workshop, he had two small bags in his hands.

Lilia blinked and naturally extended her hand to him:

"Mr. Lin Yu, please leave your things here with me."

Lin Yu glanced at her and handed her the things in his hand.

Lilia then put all of these things into her handbag.

"This was a gift from Vera. It's enchanted with spatial expansion magic, so it can hold a lot of things!"

Lilia offered her explanation with a flourish, then blushed and added:

"However... speaking of being good at pretending, Mr. Lin Yu also praised me yesterday, saying that although I'm short, I'm very good at it..."

When it came to the last few words, Lilia didn't know how to express herself anymore.

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. She immediately shrank back like a quail, but tightened her grip on his arm.

Seemingly feeling a little awkward, Lilia changed the subject:

"Mr. Lin Yu, if you ever make a lot of magic potions in the future, you might consider getting one of these bags."

A knowing smile flashed across Lin Yu's eyes, but he didn't expose her clumsy attempt to change the subject or her sudden shyness.

He casually replied, following her lead, "Yeah, it's quite convenient. I'll get one when I've made a lot of medicine."

"Right, right!" Lilia immediately chimed in, as if grasping at a lifeline, her voice even becoming lighter:

"That way you won't have to carry such a heavy bag when you go out!"

As she spoke, she naturally slung her handbag over her arm, and then, with her free hand, she quietly and tentatively reached out to take Lin Yu's hand, which had just been released.

Lin Yu watched Lilia's little gesture, but didn't dodge, letting her warm fingers hook around his.

The two held hands and walked along the street toward the forest on the west side of the town.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze ruffled Lilia's pink hair.

After walking for a while, Lin Yu seemed to suddenly remember something, slowed his pace a little, and turned slightly to get closer to Lilia.

He lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe and neck, bringing a slight tingling sensation.

"By the way," Lin Yu said in a low voice, with a hint of inquiry in it:

"When you took this bag out at the guild earlier, you seemed... a little mysterious?"

Lilia's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"In your bag..."

Lin Yu's gaze fell on the seemingly ordinary small handbag in her arm, then he looked up at her face, which was now flushed, and slowly asked:

"Did they put something special in there?"

Lilia's heart skipped a beat.

She felt Lin Yu's gaze was almost tangible, making her face burn and her heart race.

She dared not look Lin Yu in the eye, her gaze drifting to a clump of wildflowers by the roadside, her fingers unconsciously tightening around Lin Yu's sleeve.

"No, it's nothing..." Her voice was a little weak, with obvious guilt.

"Really?" Lin Yu's voice was tinged with amusement as he leaned closer, almost touching her ear.

Lilia's ears were so red they looked like they were burning.

She bit her lower lip, then suddenly seemed to have made up her mind, turned her head, and quickly kissed Lin Yu on the cheek again.

Then, taking advantage of the moment he was slightly stunned, she pulled his hand hard and quickened her pace.

"Well, you'll see soon enough!" Her voice was soft and quick, carrying an undisguised shyness and a hint of anticipation.

"Let's hurry, let's go to the forest!"

Liya didn't give Lin Yu a chance to ask any more questions. She took his hand and almost dragged him forward.

Her skirt fluttered gently with each step, her side ponytail bounced on her shoulder, leaving only a reddened earlobe and a back view that, while trying to appear calm, clearly quickened her pace.

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at Lilia's slender waist, her shapely curves, and the pair of straight, fair legs beneath her skirt from behind.

He let the girl pull him along.