Raven's eyes widened more.
"I—"
"You—"
Stammering.
Face burning.
Around them—
"DID HE JUST—"
"OH MY GOD!"
"HE TOUCHED HER LIPS!"
"CUPCAKE?!"
Phones out everywhere.
Alex leaned back.
Relaxed.
Raven buried her face in her arms.
On the desk.
Hand touched her lips.
Where he tapped.
.....
Back row—
Ethan's fist clenched.
Face dark.
Rex half-stood.
"That BASTARD—"
Ethan grabbed his arm.
"Sit."
Rex sat back down.
Still fuming.
"We just let him—"
"No."
Ethan's voice cold.
He held up his phone.
Screen showing the recording.
Alex glowing.
Alex tearing the test.
Alex shouting at Mr. Zhang.
All of it.
Crystal clear.
Ethan smiled.
Slow.
Cold.
"This..."
He zoomed in on Alex's face.
"Is gold."
Rex leaned over.
"What are you—"
"The Education Bureau."
Ethan said quietly.
"Our family has connections."
He started typing.
"Publicly challenging a teacher."
"Destroying school property."
"Disruptive behavior."
His fingers moved fast.
"I'll add some... context."
Rex's eyes lit up.
"You mean—"
"Exaggerate a bit."
Ethan nodded.
"Make it look worse."
"Say he threatened Mr. Zhang."
"Created a hostile environment."
"Endangered other students with that light."
He kept typing.
"The Bureau takes this stuff seriously."
He hit send.
Attached the video.
With a detailed report.
"Done."
Put his phone away.
Smiled.
"At minimum..."
"He gets suspended."
"At best?"
"Expelled."
He leaned back.
"And with our family's influence..."
"We can even make ..."
"Every school in the city..."
"Puts him on a blacklist."
Ethan looked at Alex.
Still relaxed.
Still smiling.
Still bothering Raven.
"Enjoy your moment."
Ethan thought.
"It's your last one."
....
Alex leaned over.
Closer to Raven.
She was still hiding her face.
"Tutoring?"
He said casually.
"I'll pass."
"But if it's a date..."
"I could consider it."
Raven's hands pressed harder against her face.
"You're so..."
Muffled voice.
"So greasy..."
"So cheesy..."
Alex ignored that completely.
"After school then."
"See you."
1 hour later.
The bell rang.
Class over.
Students getting up.
Packing bags.
Alex turned back.
Looked at Raven.
Winked.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"OHHHHH!"
More shouts.
"DID YOU SEE THAT?!"
"HE WINKED AT HER!"
"The ice queen!"
"Just got picked up!"
"In one class period!"
"And she's BLUSHING!"
Students rushing out.
Spreading the news.
"You won't believe what happened—"
"Alex and Raven—"
"I got it on video—"
The whole school would know by lunch.
Back row—
Rex watched this.
Face twitching.
"I can do that too."
He muttered.
Stood up.
Looked around.
Spotted a rich girl.
Pretty.
Designer clothes.
Walked over.
He leaned on her desk.
Tried to sound smooth.
Voice went high.
Breathy.
Like Alex's teasing tone.
"Cupcake~"
He said.
"Wanna go on a date?"
The girl looked up.
Stared at him.
Face blank.
Then—
SLAP!
Right across his face.
"Creep!"
She grabbed her bag.
Walked away fast.
Rex stood there.
Hand on his cheek.
Red mark forming.
Students around laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Did he just—"
"He tried to copy Alex!"
"Epic fail!"
Ethan watched.
Shook his head.
Idiots everywhere.
After school—
Alex stood outside.
Wind blowing.
Facing the sun.
Eyes closed.
Relaxed.
Footsteps.
Hesitant.
Slow.
He opened his eyes.
Raven.
Walking toward him.
Twisting her hands together.
Looking down.
Face still a bit red.
She stopped a few steps away.
"..."
Alex smiled.
"Why so nervous?"
Raven looked up.
Then away.
"I don't know."
Voice quiet.
"Maybe because..."
"This is my first time..."
"Going out with a guy."
Alex's smile widened.
"First time?"
"I'm honored."
He suddenly spread his arms wide.
Looked at the sun.
Shouted:
"WAKE UP IN THE MORNING!"
"EMBRACE THE SUN!"
Then started dancing.
Spinning.
Arms waving.
Completely ridiculous.
Random moves.
Students walking by stopped.
Stared.
"What the..."
"Is that—"
"The slime guy?"
"What's he doing?"
More people gathering.
Pointing.
Some laughing.
Some recording.
Someone recognized Raven.
"Wait!"
"That's the school beauty!"
"The ice queen!"
"She's with HIM?!"
"The F rank slime guy?!"
"No way..."
"They're really together?"
Whispers spreading.
Fast.
Raven's face went red.
Not from blushing.
From embarrassment.
She grabbed Alex's arm.
"Stop!"
Pulled him.
"Stop dancing!"
"Everyone's looking!"
"Can't you just be normal?!"
Alex stopped.
Looked at her.
Still smiling.
"Looks like..."
"My charm is too strong."
"You can't wait for this date to start."
Raven's eye twitched.
"That's NOT—"
She took a breath.
"Just..."
"Just act normal."
"Please."
"For five minutes."
Alex shrugged.
"Normal is boring."
But he stopped dancing.
Offered his arm.
"Shall we?"
"My cupcake?"
Raven flushed, hesitated, but after all.
She put her hand on his arm.
Then—
Options appeared.
[Option One: Take her to a luxury restaurant for dinner]
Reward: Small amount of spiritual power
[Option Two: Take her to watch a gay-themed movie]
Reward: Charge +1
[Option Three: Take her to a romantic grove in the woods]
Reward: Slime all attributes +10%!
Alex looked at Option One.
Luxury restaurant.
Small spiritual power.
Too normal.
Too boring.
Pass.
Option Two.
Gay movie.
Charge upgrade was decent.
But still too normal.
Too mainstream.
Not his style.
Option Three.
The grove.
10% to ALL attributes?
He paused.
That's...
A lot.
Way more than usual.
With Gigantification at Level 3...
This could push his slime past 7 meters.
Maybe even 8.
His eyes narrowed.
Just a date.
Why such a huge reward?
He thought back.
Previous options.
The dangerous ones.
Near-death situations.
Those had big rewards too.
"So this date..."
He muttered.
"Won't be simple."
He checked his abilities mentally.
Slime combat power: Strong.
Three skills ready.
Teleportation potion: Check.
Explosion potion: Check.
Wilson's token: Check.
Faith power from believers: Growing.
Plus Raven herself.
Grade's number one.
S+ Ice Dragon.
Not weak at all.
And...
She's a rich young lady.
They always have protection.
Hidden bodyguards.
Alex looked at her.
"Raven."
"Do you have..."
"Like a bodyguard?"
"Following us?"
Raven glanced at him.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
Alex said casually.
She hesitated.
Then nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"My family's butler."
"He follows me everywhere."
"For safety."
She looked embarrassed.
"He's very strong."
Alex nodded.
Relaxed a bit.
Good.
Backup.
Strong backup.
If something happens...
They won't be alone.
He grinned.
"Alright then."
"Let's go to the grove."
Raven's eyes went wide.
"WHAT?!"
She stopped walking.
Pulled her arm back.
"The grove?!"
Face turning red.
"What are you planning to do?!"
"Let's go to the grove."
Raven's eyes went wide.
"WHAT?!"
She stopped walking.
Pulled her arm back.
"The grove?!"
Face turning red.
"What are you planning to do?!"
Her voice shrill.
"We just started dating!"
"And you want to go to the WOODS?!"
Alex smiled.
Calm.
Stepped closer.
"Picture this."
His voice soft.
"We walk along the lake."
"Water reflecting the moonlight."
"Gentle ripples."
"Peaceful."
Raven's expression softened slightly.
Still suspicious.
But listening.
"The moon overhead."
Alex continued.
"Silver light falling on us."
"Illuminating your face."
He gestured gently.
"Birds singing their evening songs."
"Flowers blooming along the path."
"Their fragrance in the air."
Raven's face was still red.
But her eyes.
A bit dreamy now.
"That does sound..."
She trailed off.
"Just us."
Alex said.
"No crowds."
"No phones recording."
"No gossip."
He looked at her.
"Just you and me."
"Under the stars."
"Talking."
"Walking."
"Getting to know each other."
He stepped closer.
Voice quieter now.
"The moonlight on the water."
"The cool breeze."
He reached for her hand.
Held it gently.
"Your hand in mine."
Paused.
"Isn't that what a first date should be?"
"Something to remember?"
Raven bit her lip.
Looked down at their hands.
Back up at his face.
Away again.
"I..."
Her cheeks flushed.
"Fine."
Barely audible.
Then louder.
"But just walking!"
She pulled her hand back.
Pointed at his chest.
"That's it!"
"Nothing else!"