The morning sun had fully risen by the time Lin Yue and Mo Chen reached the bus stop.
They sat side by side on the metal bench.
Well—she sat.
He sat beside her.
Looking unrealistically perfect.
That was the problem.
Lin Yue noticed it first.
Two high school girls standing nearby kept whispering.
Then giggling.
Then openly staring.
One of them even took out her phone.
Lin Yue frowned.
Why are they looking at me like that?
She glanced down at herself.
Normal clothes.
Normal hair.
Nothing strange.
Then she slowly turned her head.
Mo Chen sat calmly, legs crossed, hands resting loosely on his knees.
Even in simple black clothing, he looked like he had stepped out of a magazine cover.
Tall.
Sharp jawline.
Eyes slightly cold yet magnetic.
Oh.
That's why.
She sighed internally.
"Can you… maybe look less noticeable?" she muttered under her breath.
"I am sitting," he replied calmly.
"That's not the problem."
Before she could say more, the bus arrived with a loud hiss.
The doors opened.
She stood up quickly, tapping her transportation card on the scanner.
Beep.
Entry confirmed.
She moved inside and found a standing space.
Mo Chen followed behind her casually.
The bus driver suddenly shouted from the front.
"Hey! Young man! Buy a ticket!"
Lin Yue froze.
Slowly… she turned around.
The bus driver was staring directly at Mo Chen.
Other passengers were looking at him too.
Seeing him.
Her brain stopped.
You can see him?!
Mo Chen looked mildly annoyed.
"She will pay for me," he said calmly, gesturing toward Lin Yue.
Her jaw dropped.
The driver frowned. "Miss, are you pretending not to know him?"
Lin Yue stared at the driver.
"You… you can see him?"
The driver blinked. "Of course I can see him. Do you think I'm blind?"
Passengers started murmuring.
Lin Yue's face turned red instantly.
"S-Sorry! Sorry! I'll pay!"
She quickly tapped her card again.
Beep.
Mo Chen walked past her as if nothing unusual had happened and calmly sat near the window.
Lin Yue stood frozen for two seconds.
Then rushed to sit beside him.
Before she could—
A young woman stepped forward shyly.
"Excuse me… can I sit here?" she asked Mo Chen.
Lin Yue narrowed her eyes.
Mo Chen didn't even glance at the woman.
"She will sit here," he said calmly, pointing at Lin Yue.
The tone wasn't loud.
But it was absolute.
The girl froze awkwardly and stepped back.
Lin Yue's heart skipped.
Why does that sound so… possessive?
She quickly sat beside him before someone else tried.
The bus began moving.
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Then Lin Yue whispered urgently,
"Explain."
He didn't look at her.
"You ask many questions."
"You said no one could see you!"
"That was before."
She frowned.
"Before what?"
"Before I chose to be seen."
Her brain struggled to process.
"You can control who sees you?"
"Yes."
"Why hide before?"
"Because weakness invites enemies."
She leaned closer.
"So now?"
"I prefer clarity."
She blinked.
"So you just casually decided to exist in public?"
"Yes."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"This is my normal life. You can't just appear in it like a movie character!"
He turned slightly toward her.
"Your life ceased being normal the moment you awakened me."
Her mouth opened—
Closed.
…Fair point.
She crossed her arms.
"You have enemies?"
"Many."
"And now they can see you?"
"If I hide, they search harder."
"If I show myself, they hesitate."
She muttered, "So everyone's staring at you instead of me…"
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
The bus finally reached her stop.
They stepped down together.
Her rented apartment complex stood across the street.
Not luxurious.
But comfortable.
She pointed.
"I live there."
Mo Chen observed the tall building calmly.
"You will stay here," she clarified quickly.
"Yes."
"That wasn't a suggestion!"
"It was."
She groaned.
They entered the building.
The elevator displayed a large sign:
Out of Service.
She sighed heavily.
"Maintenance. Again."
"Which floor?"
"Sixth."
He looked at the staircase.
"Very well."
She rolled her eyes and began climbing.
Halfway up, she was already tired.
"You know… teleportation exists."
"I will not waste power."
"You say that a lot."
By the fifth floor, she was breathing heavily.
Mo Chen looked completely unaffected.
Finally, she reached her door.
"Room 506," she said proudly.
Before she could unlock it—
Mo Chen placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
The world blurred.
Suddenly—
They stood directly in front of her door.
She blinked.
"…You did that on purpose."
He looked neutral.
"You appeared fatigued."
Her exhaustion vanished instantly.
"This is amazing! It's my first time reaching home without being tired!"
She laughed happily.
Then quickly unlocked the door with her keypad.
The door opened.
Mo Chen stepped inside first.
Silence.
Lin Yue winced.
The apartment was exactly as she remembered.
Clothes draped over chairs.
Books stacked unevenly.
Snacks on the coffee table.
Research notes scattered everywhere.
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"See? It's messy. You can still change your mind."
Mo Chen looked around calmly.
"It is acceptable."
"Acceptable?!"
He raised his hand casually.
Snap.
The room trembled faintly.
Clothes folded themselves neatly.
Papers sorted into stacks.
Trash flew into the bin.
Dust vanished.
Within seconds, the apartment looked professionally cleaned.
Lin Yue stared in shock.
"…Marry me."
He looked at her.
"That word holds legal implication."
She burst into laughter.
"I'm joking!"
She spun around happily.
"This is incredible! You're officially hired as my house assistant."
"I am not your servant."
"You live here rent-free."
He did not argue.
She walked closer, curiosity returning.
"There's something I still don't understand."
"What."
"You were sealed a thousand years ago."
"Yes."
"So how do you know about buses, apartments, card scanners?"
He looked at her steadily.
"When I awakened, I observed."
"You observed… the entire modern world?"
"I process information quickly."
She blinked.
"You downloaded reality?"
"If you wish to phrase it that way."
She laughed again.
"If you have this ability, you can help me with research! Ancient artifacts, lost seals—"
Before she could finish—
Mo Chen stepped closer.
She instinctively stepped back.
He stepped forward again.
She retreated until her back touched the wall.
Her breath caught.
He placed one hand beside her head.
Then the other.
Caging her between his arms.
Too close.
Her heart pounded violently.
The air grew warmer.
"You are bold when distant," he murmured softly.
"But nervous when close."
Her face turned red.
"I—I'm not nervous."
"Your heartbeat disagrees."
She swallowed.
His face was only inches away.
His crimson eyes had softened slightly.
Dangerous.
Yet strangely gentle.
"Lin Yue," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
"You invited me."
"I did not—!"
"You allowed me."
Her mind went blank.
The distance between them felt charged.
Like something invisible pulling tighter.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
And she realized something frightening.
She wasn't afraid.
Not of him.
Not of his power.
Not of the enemies he mentioned.
She was afraid of how natural this felt.
End of Chapter 5...