In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 108

"Of course." Dongye nodded. Anyway, with the salary he got without working, the cost here was nothing. "Whether you want to come here or anywhere else, I'll accompany you."

She smiled, as if she had received a precious promise: "Well, but I'm not that capricious. It's too wasteful to spend money in places like this. I can't come here often. As long as you have time to accompany me, it doesn't matter where we are!"

Even before paying the bill, Ruiko felt the prices here wouldn't be low. If she came to places like this frequently, the expenses would definitely be considerable. Ruiko felt she couldn't let Higashino spend too much; she was content as long as he was there.

"Oh, Ruizi, you're trying to save me money? Looks like you'll definitely be a good wife who can save money in the future."

"Ah, wife and such..." Ruiko's earlobes were tinged with pink, and her face was as red as an enticing apple, so red that one would want to take a bite.

Soon, the food was served. The strawberry pancakes with tears were topped with fresh cream and strawberry slices, and looked especially tempting.

As Ruiko chatted with Higashino, she gradually recovered from her earlier shyness. She picked up her fork, carefully cut off a small piece, put it in her mouth, and her eyes instantly narrowed: "Delicious!"

Seeing her satisfied expression, Dongye felt relieved. He picked up his black tea, took a small sip, but his gaze never left her.

"Aren't you going to eat, senpai?" Ruiko noticed that his sandwich was barely touched.

"It's more interesting to watch you eat."

"Eh?!" Ruiko blushed and quickly lowered her head. "Don't, don't stare at me..."

Higashino Yu chuckled and gently wiped away a bit of cream from the corner of her mouth with his thumb: "You got some."

Tears welled up, her face flushed even more, and her hand holding the fork faltered slightly. "Th-thank you..."

Ruiko couldn't help but think of Higashino's words, "a good wife," after what he had just done. Ruiko secretly glanced up at Higashino's profile, her heartbeat clearly audible in her ear.

At this moment, she wished time could slow down.

Chapter 138 An Afternoon Stroll and Gifts

No matter how much you wish time could drag on, it will eventually come to an end.

During their casual conversation, the two leisurely finished all their food.

After finishing lunch, Ruiko leaned back in her chair contentedly and gently patted her stomach: "Ah...so full."

Looking at her languid appearance, Higashino couldn't help but tease, "A Level 2 ability user, even your dessert fighting power has increased?"

After the first item was served, Higashino asked the waiter to bring two of the restaurant's signature desserts.

This also allowed Higashino to successfully "make" Ruiko's belly bigger, and now it looks a little bulging.

He was still a little curious about how it felt, but when Higashino hinted at this just as they were finishing their meal, Ruiko rejected him without hesitation.

"No, that's not it!" Ruiko puffed out her cheeks. "It's because Senpai insisted on ordering more; wasting food is shameful!"

Of course, it tastes good, which is also one of the main reasons.

As for why she felt embarrassed but couldn't bear to refuse when Higashino fed her later, that was also somewhat related.

She looked down at the cheongsam she was wearing and sighed with regret, "It's a pity that I can't jump around like I usually do when I'm dressed like this, otherwise it would be too inelegant."

Wearing this outfit, Ruiko wanted to project an elegant demeanor befitting her current appearance.

"Let's go for a walk then." Higashino stood up and extended his hand to her. "It'll help with digestion."

Tears lit up her eyes, and she immediately grabbed his hand and stood up: "Okay!"

After paying the bill, the two left the restaurant and took the elevator back to the ground floor.

The afternoon sun was still bright, there weren't many pedestrians on the street, and a gentle breeze brought a refreshing feeling.

Ruiko linked arms with Higashino Yu, their high heels clicking crisply on the stone pavement, their skirts swaying gently with each step.

She does look very elegant like this, but she might look even better if she put her hair up in an updo.

"Senior, where do we go next?" she asked, looking up.

"Let's just stroll around." Higashino's gaze swept across the street. "You're dressed so nicely, I should let you show it off a little longer."

Although only girls passing by would notice it, and even if they did see it, they would mostly ignore it and forget about it as soon as they turned their heads.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she muttered under her breath, "...It was clearly meant to be worn for my senior."

Higashino heard this and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Of course he knew that Lei Zi was dressed up specifically for him.

She even suppressed the shame of being watched by others, just so that others could see that Higashino had such an excellent girlfriend.

How could he not like such tears?

After walking for a while, she suddenly looked up as if she remembered something: "Speaking of which, senior, you seem to be about twenty years old, right?"

Higashino nodded: "Yes."

"Eh—I can't tell at all!" Ruiko tilted her head and examined his profile. "You don't look like him at all, senpai."

When Ruiko first met him at the hospital, she thought Higashino was a high school student, and at that time, Hatsuharu called him "senpai".

Later, I wondered why Haru kept calling her "senpai" and secretly asked her, since they were clearly boyfriend and girlfriend.

As it turned out, Haru's explanation was that she was used to calling him that, so after that, she also started calling Higashino-senpai.

After making a promise with Higashino, I found out that he had already graduated from university and was working as a school doctor in Tokiwadai.

A Level 5 Originium user, he graduated from university early with a doctorate, making him a super genius. His parents also seem to be doctors, and he's handsome, just like the male lead in a TV series.

"Doesn't it look like it?" Higashino stroked his chin, looking for his stubble. "I think I'm quite mature."

Actually, when I was in college, I was told more than once that I looked young. It's probably because my skin is fairer than most people's, which makes me look younger.

He grew a beard to make himself look more mature. After all, as a doctor, looking too young makes it harder for patients to trust you.

Moreover, due to his vacation and laziness before the time travel, his beard hadn't been groomed for a while, making him look even more mature.

Anyway, he remembers it very clearly and will never forget that Mikoto called him "uncle" when they first met.

That's why he never grew a beard again after arriving in Academy City.

Ruizi chuckled: "It's not a matter of maturity! If you wore a school uniform, no one would doubt that you were a high school student!"

"Uh..." Higashino was speechless for a moment, "Maybe it's because I'm too young."

“But senior’s height definitely doesn’t seem like that of a high school student.” Ruiko pointed on her tiptoes. “He’s much taller than all the basketball players in our school.”

"My height is indeed a bit taller than the average here." Although 183 cm is not particularly tall in Xia Country, it is definitely not short either, probably above average.

In a place like Xiao Rizi, such a height is definitely outstanding.

"But actually, I haven't grown any taller since high school, and I wasn't very tall in junior high either, you could even say I was a bit short?"

Suddenly, Ruiko's eyes lit up as she thought of something: "Huh, were you short in junior high? That must have been pretty...!"

She quickly covered her mouth, but the corners of her eyes betrayed her thoughts.

She had seen photos of Higashino as a child; he was very cute. He probably wasn't much different in junior high either.

"What is it?" Higashino flicked her forehead in annoyance.

"Back then, I was often told 'cute' instead of 'handsome' by girls, which was quite bothersome."

Boys generally develop later than girls. For example, Ruiko's development is actually quite good now; her genitals are already starting to take shape, as Higashino certainly experienced during his punishment last time.

Boys generally develop earlier during high school, though this isn't always the case; some may develop earlier.

"Wow! So even you have these kinds of worries, senpai!" Ruiko excitedly shook his arm. "And now? Are you still bothered by being called cute?"

“Now…” Higashino deliberately dragged out his words, looking at Ruiko’s expectant expression, “I don’t find it annoying to be told cute things by a Level 2 girlfriend.”

"S-Senpai is so mean!" Ruiko's face flushed red. "And I never said senpai was cute!"

They're all praising how handsome the senior is, okay? Being cute is out of the question for a senior who's already grown up.

"Really? Then who was laughing so happily just now?"

“That’s…that’s because…” Ruiko stammered, lowering her head, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration, “That’s right! Senpai must have been very popular in high school, right? After all, you’re so…so…”

"So what?"

"It's...that one..." Ruiko's voice trailed off, "...it's beautiful..."

Higashino couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Thank you for the compliment. But actually, I wasn't. I was a rather introverted person back then."

After his parents passed away, and for various reasons, he remained distrustful of outsiders.

My personality only started to improve after I started going to university and got into anime and manga, but I still retained some of the typical otaku traits.

For example, being too much of a homebody, having little resistance to their favorite anime characters (beautiful girls), and loving to play games.

"Really?" Ruizi looked at him suspiciously.

"Of course, but after meeting you all, my personality has actually become more outgoing."

Or perhaps he's become even more lecherous?

"Senior..." she whispered, "You are doing very well now. Keep it up. I will... no, we will always be with you."

Higashino paused for a moment, then smiled gently: "Yes, thank you. The past is the past."

The two smiled at each other and continued walking slowly along the sun-drenched street.

A gentle breeze carries a faint floral fragrance, as if time itself has softened at this moment.

The two strolled slowly along the shopping street, occasionally stopping to look at the merchandise in the shop windows.

Ruiko was curious about everything, especially the exquisite trinkets and cute dolls, but instead of rushing into the store excitedly as usual, she maintained an elegant gait, only her gaze lingering on the pretty items for a few more seconds.

Today, she needs to maintain her elegance and bid farewell to her usual carefree self.

Dongye noticed her gaze and suddenly stopped in his tracks: "Wait for me."

"Eh? Senior?" Before Ruiko could react, he had already turned around and walked into a jewelry store.

Not long after, Higashino came out of the store, holding a small box in his hand.

"Here you go." He handed the box to Leizi.

Tears of confusion took the box, opened it, and inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a small blue star pendant hanging from the chain.

"This is...?" She opened her eyes wide.

"This is for you," Higashino said with a smile, "to celebrate your official becoming a Level 2 Ability User."

Ruiko paused for a few seconds, then carefully picked up the bracelet and played with it with it happily: "Senior...can I really accept this?"

"of course."

Ruiko took a deep breath, trying to suppress the excitement in her heart, and handed him the bracelet: "Then... senior, please help me put it on?"

Higashino Yu took the bracelet and gently fastened it to her wrist. The silver bracelet accentuated her fair skin, making it look exceptionally delicate.

Tears welled up as she raised her hand, the star pendant sparkling in the sunlight. She couldn't help but smile: "So beautiful!"

"It suits you very well," Higashino Yu commented.

Ruiko looked at the star on her wrist, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and quickly kissed Higashino Yu on the cheek: "Thank you, senpai!"

Higashino Yu was slightly taken aback, then chuckled: "So happy?"

"Of course!" Ruiko nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "After all, this is a gift from my senior, so I will definitely cherish it!"

"There will be many more times in the future."

Tears welled up in her eyes, then suddenly smiled slyly: "Next time I want something even more expensive!"

Higashino Yu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? During Level 3?"

"That's right!" Ruiko clenched her fist, full of confidence. "When I reach Level 3, my senior will give me something even better!"

"make a deal."

The two smiled at each other and continued their stroll along the street.

Chapter 139 You've been enhanced! Go deliver it!

The two strolled leisurely along the shopping street. Every now and then, Leizi would look down at the star bracelet on her wrist, and the corners of her mouth would involuntarily turn up.

This wasn't the first time she'd received a gift from Higashino, but since it was their first date alone, and a gift to celebrate his skill advancement, it held even greater significance.