In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 107

"It really...it really works! Just like...just like this!"

She pointed excitedly at the piece of paper. As if sensing her surging emotions, the paper suddenly began to spin faster, creating a small airflow that even slightly deflected the trajectory of the nearby raindrops!

“Level 2, the basic application of ‘Air Force Mastery’.” Higashino Yu nodded affirmatively, looking at the expression on Ruiko’s face that was a mixture of ecstasy, shock, and disbelief, and a sense of accomplishment rose in his heart. “Congratulations, Ruiko Saten, from now on you are a Level 2 esper.”

Although Ruiko had been given abilities before, they were only Level 1 and temporary, lasting less than two months before disappearing.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Unable to contain her excitement any longer, Ruiko screamed and threw herself into Higashino Yu's arms again. This time, it wasn't a coquettish embrace, but a powerful and excited hug filled with joy.

"Senior! Higashino-senpai! You're amazing! Really! You really did it! Permanently! Level 2! Wow—!"

She hugged him, jumping and skipping like a child who had just gotten a perfect score on their first test, her joyful voice filling the pavilion.

Higashino Yu was jolted by her bump, but he smiled helplessly and indulgently as he caught his energetic girlfriend. He gently patted her back: "Alright, alright, if you jump any more, the pavilion will collapse. Your abilities have just stabilized, so don't get too excited or you'll lose control."

Ruiko calmed down slightly, but the blush on her face and the light in her eyes were more dazzling than any lamplight. She released him, took a step back, and couldn't suppress her smile: "Okay, okay! Well... now that my abilities are upgraded," she tilted her head, winked mischievously, and held out her hand. "Now, can we go on a date? Level 2 Ruiko Saten formally extends an invitation to you!"

Higashino looked at her outstretched hand, at the pure joy and anticipation in her eyes. He gently took her hand in his, feeling the warmth of her touch.

“Let’s go.” He led her out of the park. “Let’s celebrate with our new Level 2 girlfriend today…”

Chapter 136: Lei Zi in a Cheongsam is amazing!

Higashino Yu and Saten Ruiko walked side by side on their way to their date. Ruiko would occasionally steal glances at Higashino beside her, her steps light as she celebrated her promotion to Level 2.

"Senior~"

Tears suddenly stopped, and she asked mysteriously.

"I remember you mentioned that you are from the Xia Kingdom, right?"

"um, yes."

Higashino nodded, a hint of curiosity flashing through his mind.

"great!"

Lei Zi clapped her hands, a big smile spreading across her face, filled with undisguised excitement.

"I thought that since you are from Xia, you must like things with Xia style! So, when I was shopping with Chu Chun a while ago, I saw a super beautiful 'Xia style' dress and bought it right away!"

She hesitated for a long time before buying that dress. When she tried it on at the beginning of spring, she thought it was too daring and not suitable for a date at all.

However, after learning through various websites that boys in Xia Country seemed to have a special fondness for this kind of clothing, and she was also very much looking forward to Higashino's reaction when he saw it, she bought it without hesitation after trying it on.

"I was planning to wear this on a special occasion... but my senior helped me so much today, I can't wait any longer! Wait for me a minute!"

She pointed to the student dormitory building that was just a stone's throw away, and the two of them unknowingly walked to the vicinity of the dormitory building where Ruiko lived: "I just happened to be passing by the dormitory! Senior, can you wait for me downstairs? I'll be changed quickly and give you a surprise!"

She held up one finger, emphasizing the word "surprise," her cheeks slightly flushed, displaying the delicate charm and shyness unique to young girls.

Higashino was touched by her vivid emotions and smiled as he ruffled her soft black hair: "Okay, I'm looking forward to seeing Ruiko's 'Summer Country Style' surprise."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Leizi turned and ran into the apartment building like a gust of wind.

Higashino waited by the shade of a tree downstairs. He recalled the hopeful and excited look in Ruiko's eyes after she gained her powers, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

What kind of new clothes will Ruiko wear? He was also filled with anticipation. Judging from her confident demeanor just now, she must be quite confident about her new clothes.

About twenty minutes later, Ruizi came out of the apartment.

Higashino's gaze unconsciously drifted over, and then his breath seemed to catch in his throat for a moment.

Lei Zi stood gracefully at the entrance of the apartment lobby, looking stunningly beautiful in the summer sunlight.

The dress she was wearing—no, it should be called a cheongsam.

This is a cheongsam, or rather a long dress in the style of a cheongsam, with smooth and elegant lines that perfectly hug her budding youthful curves.

The skirt features a striking high slit on one side, extending to mid-thigh, subtly revealing long, slender, and fair legs with each step. The skirt drapes naturally, swaying gracefully with every movement.

She wasn't wearing socks; instead, her slender feet were adorned with a pair of blue high heels in the same color family, decorated with delicate textures, which steadily supported her elegance.

This modified cheongsam-style long dress, full of oriental elements, perfectly matches the youthful and vibrant temperament of Ruizi.

Higashino Yu was momentarily lost in thought.

Stunning? Undoubtedly. The cool tones of light blue and purple accentuated her snow-white skin, while the elegant cut of the dress made her stand tall and graceful. The swaying of the skirt and the glimpse of spring revealed as she walked intertwined innocence with a touch of subtle sexiness.

The only downside is that there seem to be safety shorts underneath, but that's to be expected, as it would be too easy to expose oneself without safety shorts on such an outfit.

She stood in the foyer with a hint of shyness, one hand perhaps unconsciously gathering the hem of her skirt, like a delicate figure in a painting.

Is this her understanding of "Xia style"? Although the cheongsam is indeed a traditional garment of the Xia Dynasty, wearing it on a date is far too flashy.

Seeing Higashino staring blankly at her without saying a word for a long time, Ruiko's cheeks flushed even more. She took a deep breath, trying to overcome her nervousness, and walked gracefully to Higashino.

The long dress shimmered softly with each step, its hem swaying gently. She tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes looking at him with seven parts anticipation and three parts trepidation: "Senior... what do you think? Is it pretty? Doesn't it have a very... Xia Kingdom style?"

She was a little nervous. Although her senior's eyes seemed to be shining just now, his silent attitude made her unsure of Higashino's specific thoughts.

Higashino forced himself to come back to his senses from the shock and looked into Ruiko's eyes, which were filled with sincere expectation.

She looked absolutely stunning, like the first snow kissed by moonlight—pure and captivating.

"nice..."

Higashino's voice was filled with heartfelt admiration.

"Raiko, you look absolutely stunning in that outfit... like you stepped out of a painting."

He paused, then added earnestly with his eyes.

"This...this style is very unique, and it suits you very well."

When Leizi received the affirmation and praise, her eyes instantly lit up with a star-like brilliance. All her shyness and trepidation were washed away by immense joy. She couldn't help but happily twirl around on the spot, and the purple flowers on her skirt seemed to dance along with her.

"I'm glad you like it, senior! I was worried you might find it strange or unattractive!"

Her smile was as dazzling as the early summer sun.

She glanced down at the train and high slit of her long dress, then looked up a little embarrassed: "It's just... I feel like I have to be more careful when I walk, and I can't skip around like I usually do."

"really."

Higashino said, finally finding an opening to express himself, and pointed with a wry smile to the beautiful long skirt and high slit.

"This outfit... is very pretty, but it might not be suitable for the amusement park or promenade we originally planned to go to. It's too eye-catching, and it won't be very convenient to play on any of the rides while wearing it... there might be a wardrobe malfunction."

He tried to be as tactful as possible.

Ruiko suddenly realized, looked down and tugged at the hem of her shimmering skirt, then glanced at her beautiful high heels, stuck out her tongue, and gave a mischievous yet slightly annoyed expression: "Ugh! Oh, senpai, why are you paying attention to that kind of thing!"

She lightly punched Higashino's chest with her small hand, and Ruiko deliberately hooked the slit in his shirt with her finger.

"I was wearing my safety shorts properly!"

She never usually wears safety shorts, but this outfit was so revealing that she bought a pair today to avoid being taken advantage of by strangers.

She looked up, then immediately put on a nonchalant smile, her eyes filled with trust and reliance as she looked at Higashino Yu.

"Anyway, the surprise is that I want to wear it for my senior! And my senior will definitely have a way to prevent me from showing too much skin, right? Where should we go next? Senior can decide, I'll listen to you!"

He smiled and extended his hand: "There's definitely a way. Next, I'll take you to a place that matches your 'Moonlight Battle Robe.' I know a new rooftop dessert shop has opened in the Seventh School District."

As she spoke, she added a special interpretation to Leizi's cheongsam, making it appear to outsiders as the kind of garment that seemed like it might accidentally expose her, but in reality, it wouldn't.

Just like the skirt worn by the black rabbit in the children's cartoon, it has a certain absolute concept of preventing wardrobe malfunctions.

Tears lit up: "Dessert? In the air? That's amazing!"

Without hesitation, she placed her hand in Higashino's palm, letting their hands overlap.

"Then let's go!"

Chapter 137 Tears Will Be a Good Wife

Higashino Yu held Saten Ruiko's hand as they stood in front of the elevator, waiting to go to the observation restaurant on the top floor.

Leizi lowered her head slightly, looking at the "Summer Style" cheongsam she had specially chosen for the date, and then secretly glanced at Dongye's profile, her heart beating faster involuntarily.

She had never worn such a special outfit to a public occasion before, let alone chosen it specifically for him. The cheongsam was indeed eye-catching, attracting too many glances along the way, making her somewhat regretful.

Strangely, all the people looking at her on the street were women, while the men seemed to treat her like she wasn't there, not even glancing at her, which relieved her.

And this was, of course, Higashino's doing. His girlfriend was already so nervous, so by using his abilities to make her less noticeable, her anxiety eased considerably.

Moreover, men are quite interesting creatures. They want their girlfriends to dress sexy and beautiful, but they don't want other men to see them. They may say they don't care, but their jealousy is just as strong as women's.

Higashino, being a little selfish, naturally didn't want too many strange men to see Ruiko's captivating appearance.

Her skirt swayed gently with her movements, and her high heels made a crisp sound on the marble floor, making her walk carefully with each step.

"Nervous?" Dongye noticed her unease and turned his head to ask.

"N-no, no!" Ruiko immediately straightened her back, trying to appear more composed. "It's just... it's my first time wearing such high heels, and I'm not used to it."

After all, as a student, she would never normally have the opportunity to wear high heels out shopping. Usually, Ruizi would be quite interested in all kinds of beautiful high heels, but after wearing them today, all her illusions vanished—these shoes are typical examples of shoes that look good but are impractical.

Higashino chuckled and tightened his grip on her hand slightly: "Don't worry, I won't let you fall."

The elevator doors slid open silently, and the two stepped into the spacious cabin. Ruiko instinctively moved closer to Higashino. The elevator ascended rapidly, and through the glass walls, the scenery of Academy City gradually shrank, the streets becoming thin lines, and the crowds turning into tiny black dots.

"Wow..." Ruiko couldn't help but press her face against the glass, pointing excitedly outside, "It's so high! Looking down from here, the whole Academy City looks so small!"

Higashino stood behind her, his gaze fixed on her excited profile. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a soft, warm glow on her hair and eyelashes. Her smile was pure and bright, as if it had never been tainted by any gloom.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"Yes!" Ruiko nodded vigorously, turned around, and her eyes curved into crescents. "Senior, did you specifically investigate this place? How did you know about such a wonderful spot!"

"Hmm, I did some research specifically for today's date!" He knew Ruiko liked exciting or romantic places, but her outfit today wasn't really suitable for a place with thrills. He'd noticed this rooftop restaurant in a magazine a while ago. The photos were very appealing, and Higashino had already considered it as one of their date options.

"I think this restaurant goes very well with your outfit today."

"Huh, really? Hehe..." Ruizi was very satisfied with her choice today. Senior really liked the "Xia Guofeng" clothes.

The elevator stopped with a "ding" and the doors slowly opened.

The view is of a semi-open-air rooftop garden restaurant, surrounded by a transparent glass railing. In the center are elegant white tables and chairs, covered with light-colored tablecloths and adorned with fresh bouquets. Sunlight filters through the translucent parasols, creating an interplay of light and shadow that lends the space an elegant and tranquil feel.

"Welcome." A female waitress in a black uniform greeted them with a smile. "Do you two have a reservation?"

"Yu Higashino, I've reserved a window seat."

After checking the list, the waiter politely led the way: "Please follow me."

Ruiko followed behind Higashino Yu, walking very lightly, afraid that the sound of her high heels would break the tranquility.

The two were quickly led to a table near a glass railing, offering a superb view overlooking the entire Seventh School District.

"Please sit down." The waiter pulled out a chair, and Ruizi sat down carefully.

Higashino sat down opposite her, took the menu, and handed it to her: "What would you like to eat?"

Ruiko took the menu, her eyes quickly scanning the options, then a troubled expression appeared on her face: "Hmm... they all look so delicious, I can't choose..."

"Then order one of each?" Dongye raised an eyebrow. This was his most effective way of dealing with indecisiveness. If he didn't know how to choose, he'd have them all—that was his motto! He held the same view when it came to girls; he wouldn't give up on anyone he wanted. He was that kind of greedy and shameless guy. After all, he had this ability; if he were still hesitant and timid, wouldn't he have gained it for nothing?

"I think these are all pretty good..."

"No, no!" Ruizi shook her head hurriedly, afraid that Higashino would just let the waiter bring out all the dishes in the house. "How could we possibly finish all of this!"

"Then choose your favorite."

After hesitating for a while, Ruiko finally ordered a strawberry pancake and an iced lemon tea. Higashino, on the other hand, ordered a black tea and a sandwich.

After the waiter left, Ruiko relaxed a bit, rested her hands on the table, and looked out the window with her chin in her hands.

“Senior…” she suddenly spoke up, “Have you ever come to places like this with other people before?”

“How could that be?” Higashino Yu picked up his water glass and took a sip. “This is my first time here too.”

"Oh, what an honor! My first time is with you, senior..." Ruiko smiled happily. She was really happy to have her first date with Higashino in a place like this. "I've only ever seen such high-class restaurants in TV dramas before. I never thought I'd actually be sitting in one on a date."

Looking into her sparkling eyes, Dongye couldn't help but smile: "What's the big deal? If you want to come again in the future, I can come with you anytime I have time."

Ruiko blinked, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Then... can I come with you again next time, senpai?"