The old house left behind by Lu Chen's "parents" wasn't far from the sea.
For dinner, they chose a Western restaurant by the harbor—a cozy place with a great view of the bay and city lights.
It was Lu Chen's first time taking Ei out shopping. Actually, it was a night full of firsts, and he was certain the system would ping him with a notification soon.
Though... thinking about achievements in a moment like this did seem like a bit of a buzzkill.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sound of waves lapping at the dock could be heard clearly. Far-off fishing boats dotted the horizon, blurring the line between stars and sea.
Lu Chen pulled his gaze back from the distance and looked across the table. No matter how beautiful the scenery was, it couldn't compare to Miss Ei, dressed up for the evening.
Well, "dressed up" just meant she'd tucked a delicate purple flower clip on the right side of her hair.
Normally, that spot would've held the fan ornament inherited from her sister, Raiden Makoto, along with a gentian flower.
Tonight, she wore the beige trench coat Lu Chen had bought her.
Just as he had imagined—it fit her perfectly. Long hair flowing to her waist, a tall, elegant figure... she looked like a glamorous star from a fashion ad in the city.
If no one pointed it out, no one would ever guess she was a time traveler.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"You." Lu Chen rested his chin on his hand, openly admiring her.
The restaurant's warm lighting made Raiden Ei's skin appear almost translucent. He could clearly see her delicate collarbone.
"Don't stare like that..."
Faced with Lu Chen's direct gaze, Raiden Ei instinctively glanced around.
There were only a few other diners, and even with soft jazz playing in the background, the restaurant felt very quiet.
The Raiden Shogun, so cold and stern in the eyes of others, was now averting her eyes shyly.
"Why do I feel like I'm being a creep..." Lu Chen muttered, then shrugged. "Alright, I'll stop teasing you."
Raiden Ei hesitated, then finally met his gaze again.
"Let's eat."
Ignoring the faint blush on her cheek, Lu Chen pointed at the tiramisu on the table. It was cloyingly sweet—the kind only Ei could enjoy.
"Mm."
She took a bite with her fork, and a look of quiet delight bloomed on her face.
Like she'd just tasted something truly exquisite.
Her first bite was graceful. Then came a second, a third, a fourth...
By the time the entire slice was gone, not even a crumb left, Lu Chen was dumbfounded.
He gulped, his throat moving.
Was it really that good?
He ordered a portion for himself...
Then casually pushed his sago pudding toward her. "Here, this one's for you too."
"You're not eating?" she asked, puzzled.
"I feel full just watching you enjoy it."
"Smooth talker."
"Are you gonna eat it or not? If not, I'm taking it back!" Lu Chen raised his hand theatrically.
"Eat!"
Raiden Ei lowered her head and focused on the bowl of sago pudding he had pushed over. The fragrance of coconut and milk drifted up, and the glistening, plump pearls called out to her.
It smelled delicious.
It had to be sweet.
Her cherry-pink lips moved ever so slightly, then she elegantly scooped up her first bite.
Then another. And another. And another. And another...
Before long, the entire bowl was gone—not a single drop of syrup left.
A guy sitting diagonally across the room stared at them in shock. Lu Chen flashed him a proud grin.
The meaning behind the smile was clear: See that? My girl can eat! Pretty amazing, huh?
The guy turned and glanced at his own girlfriend.
Ignoring the awkward couple, Lu Chen went back to watching Ei. Maybe it was years of military discipline, but she ate quickly—especially when it came to her favorite sweets.
The amazing thing was, even with that speed, she still looked perfectly graceful.
Elegant. Truly elegant.jpg
[Achievement Unlocked: Seaside Rose]
[Condition: Create a romantic moment for Raiden Ei by the sea.]
[Reward: 150 Primogems, 150,000 yuan in real-world currency]
As he quietly admired her, the system notification popped up. This reward was clearly more generous than usual.
With the 40 Primogems he had left, he could make another wish.
Not bad.
After a relaxed and satisfying meal, they paid the bill and stepped out of the restaurant together.
The last traces of sunset had faded. The sea and sky merged into an indescribable, chaotic blur.
Just as they exited the restaurant, Lu Chen spotted a few girls from Haizhou Academy.
They wore school uniforms and held hands as they chatted, walking toward a nearby diner.
One of them—a short-haired girl—glanced over and froze, surprise flashing across her face.
Their eyes met, and Lu Chen realized it was Zhao Xiaohan from his class.
The same girl "Lu Chen" had confessed to.
Here to eat? He looked toward the street below. There were lots of cozy little BBQ joints—cheap and perfect for students.
"Someone you know?" Raiden Ei followed his gaze.
The girl looked at Lu Chen briefly, then stared at Raiden Ei, studying her carefully.
Only after her friends called her a few times did she come back to her senses. Realizing it was impolite to stare, she gave Lu Chen a slight nod in greeting.
Lu Chen nodded back and watched the group of girls disappear into the restaurant.
"She's a classmate," he explained. "Also a student at Haizhou Academy."
"I see," Raiden Ei replied lightly, though she remembered the girl's face.
"If everything goes smoothly, you'll be wearing that same uniform and going to school with me."
Raiden Ei, who didn't even understand what a school uniform was, nodded blankly.
On the way over, the towering buildings and bustling traffic had left her quiet for a long time.
This world was completely foreign to her. So unfamiliar it was hard to process.
Without Lu Chen by her side, she probably would've panicked.
Even if she was the Raiden Shogun.
Looking at Lu Chen's thin silhouette ahead of her, she felt no fear—only a sense of safety.
Because he was there with her.
With the sea breeze brushing past them, his voice rang out clearly.
"What are you thinking about?"
"You."
"For real?" Lu Chen blinked, then noticed the faintest smile tugging at Ei's lips.
He curled his own lips into a smirk. "Even you're cracking jokes now? Oh, Makoto, the world's gone to hell... nobody's proper anymore..."
Raiden Ei rolled her eyes.
The ocean breeze tossed her long hair into the air, and the colorful lights around them painted it with hues of every shade.
With that vivid expression on her face, she looked like a spark from a firework—fleeting and beautiful.
Lu Chen blinked, caught off guard for another 0.5 seconds.
Then he snapped back with a playful grin.
"Today's a great day to strike it rich."
"Why?"
Lu Chen's Electro Treasure Compass lit up. He pulled it from his system inventory and held it in his hand.
[If a Electro attribute character is present, search efficiency increases threefold.] All thanks to Ei walking beside him.
The compass needle trembled, then pointed toward the sea.
"Let's go! We're hunting for treasure!"