Leo and Lia made their way to his dormitory, blissfully unaware that a storm of excitement was brewing online at the academy forum regarding their unexpected encounter.
---
*Online Chat*
*"Did you hear? Our beloved idol was spotted chatting with a girl!"*
*"I heard from my friend that it was that mysterious girl, the one who's kind of an enigma!"*
*"Seriously, how did that girl manage to catch his eye? She's such a... well, you know..."*
Much of the discussion centered around dissing Lia, while many of the comments were fueled by jealousy and unrequited crushes.
*"Ugh! Why couldn't that be me?"*
*"Ahhh, I wish I were in her place! Just imagine him looking at you!"*
*"Hehe, can you picture what that girl is thinking right now?"*
While the entire academy buzzed with excitement and Jealousy over he girl the others just happy for their idol's newfound connection, the two central figures in all this chatter—Leo and Lia—were just sitting there, caught in a moment that felt both sweet and awkward.
"Umm, Leo, so I guess I'm your girlfriend now?" Lia finally broke the silence, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink.
"Yeah," Leo replied with a grin that only made Lia blush even more.
"Um, are you sure about this? I mean, I'm not exactly strong or anything…" she said, her voice timid.
"So?" Leo moved closer, leaning in so he could whisper in her ear, "You're cute. Just let me take care of the rest."
Lia nodded, but inside, her mind was racing with an array of thoughts—most of them teasingly naughty. She couldn't help but think of countless romantic scenarios that made her giggle internally.
"Hey, Lia, if you're not comfortable sharing the bed with me, I can find you another room," Leo offered when he noticed her quiet demeanor.
"Huh? No way! I want to stay with you!" She responded a bit too quickly, her enthusiasm causing Leo to laugh.
"Hahaha!" His laughter was warm, making her feel at ease as he hugged her gently.
"Lia," he said softly.
"Yes?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but even though we just met earlier today," he added quietly, though Lia could still hear him, "you're already filling the void in my heart."
"Hey, you know what, Leo? I never actually imagined you hugging me like this," she said, surprising even herself with the confidence that surged through her, a stark contrast to her earlier blushing.
"I mean, you're ranked one and I'm just a lower-ranked student," she laughed a little, "but I love this feeling—though I sometimes feel unworthy of you."
"Even if you have other girls after you, please don't leave me, okay?" she added cautiously, her voice laced with vulnerability.
"Huh? Why on Earth would I want anyone else when I have you?" he whispered, an undertone of seduction in his voice.
"Honestly, I don't know why, but my shyness just melts away whenever I'm with you," she admitted, pulling him back into a hug.
"Oh," Leo seemed momentarily taken aback by the embrace but quickly returned it, holding her warmly.
"Ahh, you smell so good," Lia said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You smell pretty good yourself," Leo replied, a playful grin on his face.
Lia found herself thinking, 'His scent has this magnetic pull, like it's irresistible to girls—gosh, I'm almost feeling a bit fluttery.' She couldn't express those thoughts out loud, though; embarrassment washed over her as she recalled how new this connection was and didn't want him to think less of her.
They continued to hug, oblivious to the outside world, losing track of time. After what felt like an hour, Leo quietly murmured, "Lia, it's about time for bed."
"Okay," she said reluctantly, pulling away from their comforting embrace, her face reflecting a touch of sadness at the separation.
"If you want more hugs, I'd be happy to oblige," he offered with a warm smile.
"Then can we hug while we sleep?" her happiness returned at the thought.
"Of course! Come here," Leo said as he lay back on the bed.
"Right!" Lia responded eagerly, lying down on her side to face him.
"Sleep well," he whispered, wrapping her in his embrace.
"Sweet dreams to you too," she said, snuggling into his chest. It was surreal for her to realize that just hours ago she had been crying, and now she was in a relationship with the academy's top student, feeling a sense of comfort that diminished her shyness around him.
---
*Meanwhile, Kevin's Pov*
As Leo and Lia were navigating their new relationship, Kevin was occupied with his system, diving deep into the implications of Leo's budding romance.
"Haha, System! You didn't see this coming, did you?" Kevin laughed, a sparkle of amusement in his eyes.
*"No, I certainly didn't expect the Child of Void to fall in love like that,"* the system retorted, sharing in his surprise.
"But are you sure that girl he's fallen for is just an ordinary girl? I can't shake off the feeling that she's special in some way," he posed thoughtfully, recalling the photos and the emotions Leo had displayed in the picture tat someone secretly took.
*"We'll find out tomorrow. My scanning abilities are top-notch. The only exceptions are the Child of Void and the Children of Cosmos and Celestial beings. But when it comes to understanding people, my skills are unmatched,"* she declared casually.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's see if you can scan him tomorrow," Kevin replied, his skepticism dripping with teasing.
"By the way, if you can scan anyone apart from the three Seers' offspring, what about Sun Wukong's stats?" Kevin asked, his curiosity piqued.
*"I can indeed scan the Great Sage, but just for his stats. His abilities remain beyond the realm of existence,"* the system admitted, sounding a bit embarrassed by her limitations.
"What do you mean outside of existence?" Kevin probed, eager to explore the limits of their knowledge.