Tiana lowered her head, voice barely above a whisper. “Can I hug you?”

“Huh?” The request caught him completely off guard.

Her cheeks flushed pink, eyes still fixed on the floor.

Hearing no response for a few seconds, Tiana gave in to the pressure.

“It’s okay, I underst—”

Before she could finish, Ethan’s arms wrapped around her like a warm blanket on a freezing night.

Something inside him responded before his mind could catch up.

Tiana stiffened for a split second, then melted against him, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as if afraid he might disappear again.

Days of sadness, and regret—all of it poured into this single embrace.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” she whispered against his chest, voice cracking. “You just… walked away. No goodbye, no nothing.”

Ethan tightened his grip, his chin resting on top of her head. The scent of her hair—faintly floral, triggered flashes of memories that weren’t quite his.

Study sessions under oak trees. Shared meals during exam week. The look on her face when the talent crystal had remained dark for him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, meaning it more than he’d expected to. Her pain was real, regardless of who had caused it.

Tiana pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, tears glistening on her lashes. “I’ve missed you, idiot…”

Before he could formulate an answer, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his cheek.

The kiss was brief, hesitant—a question more than a declaration. When she pulled away, her eyes searched his face for a reaction.

Ethan stood frozen, his mind racing to catch up with his thundering heart. This wasn’t part of the plan.

None of this was part of the plan. He was meant to lay low till he made it to at least silver rank so that he could make sure he was safe from harm.

“That was… unexpected,” He whispered.

…

District One

Inside Han Wei’s mansion.

The mansion was adorned with valuables, whether it was marble floors, crystal chandeliers or beast heads that were hung like trophies.

And in the centre of Han Wei’s private chamber, absolute chaos erupted.

“WHERE IS HE?!” Han hurled an antique table against the wall.

The rosewood masterpiece—hand-carved by a famous artisan and worth more than most Low-tier magic weapons, shattered on impact.

His personal attendant Lin Zhao flinched but maintained his composure. Twenty years serving the Han family had taught him when to speak and when to stay silent.

“Calm down, young master,” he finally ventured when Han paused to catch his breath. “He will definitely be found. I’ve already dispatched our information network with his description. He can’t hide forever.”

Han’s face twisted with rage, a purple bruise blooming on his jaw where Ethan had struck him. “Not good enough. I want every team we have looking for him. Every. Single. One.”

“But the beast tide preparations—”

“I DON’T CARE!”

Han grabbed a priceless vase and smashed it against the floor. “Find him. Find anyone related to him. Parents, siblings—I want his entire lineage in front of me.”

His voice dropped to a whisper, somehow more terrifying than his shouting. “I will burn them all alive while he watches. He made me—a general’s son—into a laughingstock. I’ll repay him tenfold.”

Lin Zhao bowed deeply. “Of course, young master.”

When the attendant left, Han collapsed into his chair, fingers tracing the bruise on his jaw.

He had suffered public humiliation.

The one thing the Han family could not tolerate.

His father would return from the emergency council meeting soon.

…

“Will you be alright?” Ethan said, feeling slightly worried that Han Wei would do something to her due to his actions.

Tiana nodded with a soft smile.

“Don’t worry, if he had the power to do something to me, he would have done it before,”

Ethan nodded, although he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Seriously. He can’t touch me. So basically, it’s like this. I can’t completely shoo him away, and he can’t force me to do anything against my will. So we are stuck in this loop of me always rejecting him, and him always coming back.”

After a few rounds of convincing, Ethan nodded.

“Alright. I have a friend in the third district, I will stay at his place for a while. I will visit you every now and then, so don’t worry.”

Tiana nodded, her eyes glancing at him worriedly whilst his hands warmed hers.

“Stay safe, okay?” She whispered, as they hugged, her arms unable to completely wrap around his thick, wide back.

“You too,” Ethan said, before giving her forehead a kiss and leaving through the door.

After closing the door behind him, Ethan pulled on his hood making his face obscure from vision.

Ethan then took the stairs to head down, he didn’t want to meet anyone inside the elevator.

After descending the stairs, Ethan paused in the building’s lobby.

‘I will wait for someone to leave with me, just in case someone is still watching, I can decoy myself with them.’

Minutes later, a young mother emerged from her apartment, pushing a child’s buggy. Perfect.

“Excuse me?” Ethan approached, voice soft and unthreatening.

The woman was startled. “Y-yes?”

“Hi, I’m a new neighbour. Heard your footsteps. Could you guide me outside? I’m blind,” Ethan lied smoothly, keeping his eyes unfocused. “Haven’t memorized the layout yet.”

“Oh! Of course.” Sympathy replaced suspicion instantly. “Do you need me to hold you?”

“If possible, thank you.”

She took his arm gently, guiding him toward the exit while talking soothingly to both him and her child.

Outside, the watcher’s gaze flicked to Ethan briefly, then dismissed him upon seeing the woman and child.

‘Not my target,’ his expression clearly said.

‘Amateur,’ Ethan thought having already caught him through his peripherals, maintaining his blind-man act until they reached the main street.

“Thank you so much,” he told the woman. “I can manage from here.”

“Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”

“Positive. You’ve been very kind.”

Once she disappeared into the crowd, Ethan slipped into an alley,.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep