Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Quinn

Even though Lana knew there was a high chance that Quinn and Lucian weren’t directly connected, an unease still lingered in her chest.

The corridor felt oddly quiet, the faint smell of polished stone and old incense clinging to the air.

’Even if they’re not connected openly… there’s always the possibility of something the world doesn’t know yet,’ she thought, her fingers unconsciously curling at her side.

Before she could sink further into her thoughts, Quinn’s voice cut through the silence.

“Are you alright?”

Lana blinked and snapped back to reality.

She lifted her gaze, forcing her expression to remain calm. “I’m fine.”

Her reply was quick, almost dismissive, but her curiosity burned beneath the surface.

’Who exactly are you in this life?’ she wondered.

She had known him in her previous life, yet that knowledge meant nothing here.

In this timeline, he was still a stranger.

So she pretended not to recognize him at all.

Quinn smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting with an ease that suggested confidence. “I’m a member of the mystic department.”

Lana nodded politely. “I’m thrilled to meet you.”

Quinn chuckled softly. “The feeling is mutual.”

He hesitated for a brief moment before continuing, his tone shifting slightly.

“There’s something I wanted to confirm. If it’s alright, I’ll ask directly.”

Lana tilted her head. “Go ahead.”

“I heard from a special friend, Richard, that your mystic energy changed from blue to yellow.” His gaze sharpened. “I came to see if it was true.”

Lana didn’t bother answering verbally. She raised her hand, and at the tip of her fingers, a warm golden glow bloomed.

The yellow mystical energy shimmered gently, casting soft reflections on the corridor walls.

Quinn nodded at first, composed, but when he looked closer, a flicker of surprise, and unmistakable admiration, flashed through his eyes.

He masked it quickly, yet Lana caught it all. She couldn’t help but smile softly.

“So,” she said, lowering her hand, “you’re here to attend lectures from now on?”

Quinn nodded.

“Until now, I took everything lightly. I hadn’t found a competitor who could truly challenge me.”

His lips curved with interest. “But now, I’ve found someone who surpassed me in just two months.”

Lana chuckled, her laughter light yet edged with confidence.

“If that’s what you call being surpassed, then what’s coming next is something you won’t even be able to imagine.”

Quinn laughed as well, clearly amused.

“I’ve always liked confident women.” His voice softened.

“I once said I liked someone just like you… beautiful, intelligent, talented, and knowing exactly when to advance and when to retreat. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Lana’s smile faded slightly.

“I’m not misunderstanding anything,” she replied calmly.

“Even if you told me you liked me, it wouldn’t change anything. I already like someone else. So you should give up on me.”

A trace of interest flickered through Quinn’s eyes, quickly followed by disbelief. He hadn’t expected that response at all.

’This doesn’t make sense,’ he thought.

There were countless women who wanted to be with him, some even knowing that he wasn’t interested in them.

His wealth, talent, and status usually erased resistance.

He had even assumed Lana was interested in him, especially after this strange encounter where she appeared unclothed, vulnerable, almost as if waiting.

He had expected softness.

Not this sharp edge.

’I misjudged her,’ he realized. ’She’s nothing like the others.’

He narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly asked,

“If you’re truly uninterested in me, then why are you naked now, standing in the hallways?”

Lana burst into laughter, clear and unrestrained.

“First of all, we’re not close enough for you to question me like that.” She met his gaze evenly.

“Second, if you’re asking out of concern for propriety, then I’ll answer: what happened was a circumstance only someone with yellow mystical energy would understand.”

Quinn immediately realized she was taunting him and laughed aloud. “You’re incredibly bold.”

“And far smarter than people who throw themselves at you,” Lana replied lightly.

She stood up and adjusted her clothes, smoothing the fabric with practiced ease.

Throughout it all, Quinn’s gaze never left her.

She paused, then shot him a look with a raised eyebrow.

“Do you have no shame at all? Staring while I’m fixing my clothes?”

Quinn snorted. “If you were that embarrassed, you should’ve left.”

Lana laughed again, her eyes glinting with challenge.

“You sound salty about not being the first one to convert your mystic energy from blue to yellow.”

Quinn stepped closer, raising an eyebrow.

His eyes, so similar to Lucian’s, only a shade lighter, were undeniably attractive.

Those eyes had made countless hearts race, countless people fall.

He leaned in slightly and spoke softly.

“I don’t understand why you’re so determined to prove that everything I say comes from jealousy.”

Lana shrugged.

“If I don’t, what if you start blaming me instead?”

Quinn was about to respond when Lana suddenly turned away and began walking off.

A strange panic stirred in his chest.

He didn’t understand it himself, but he hated seeing her leave. It wasn’t romantic interest, at least; that’s what he told himself.

She was simply… interesting. Far too interesting to let the conversation end like this.

From Lana’s expression, though, it was clear she had no intention of continuing.

He inhaled deeply. “You’re leaving without even saying goodbye?”

Lana paused and turned back. “Aren’t you attending the lecture now?”

Quinn frowned. “I am.”

She smiled faintly. “Then we’ll meet every day anyway. Why make it sound like a farewell?”

Her words made perfect sense.

Quinn watched her walk away, his mood oddly light.

For a fleeting moment, a dangerous thought crossed his mind…

’How would this sharp-tongued girl react if she knew I’m her greatest rival?’

Lana didn’t know it yet, but even though Quinn hadn’t converted his energy to yellow, he possessed something far more dangerous.

Every time he crossed a measured rank, he unlocked a new superpower.

As he walked away, he murmured under his breath, “One day, you’ll come to me and admit defeat.”

Yet, just moments later, his thoughts drifted back to the girl he had seen earlier, the one with cascading silver hair and angelic silver eyes.

For a brief second, he had truly believed an angel had fallen from the sky and mistakenly landed in the university.

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