The Mighty Mage-Chapter 490: Love Her

"You came," she said softly, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "I was worried you’d change your mind."

"I said I’d come," Long Yifan replied coolly. His tone was distant but not rude.

Encouraged, Li Mian reached out to hold his hand, her fingers lightly brushing his. "I’m really glad you—"

He stepped back immediately, expression freezing. His voice dropped. "Don’t touch me."

Li Mian blinked, stunned. "W-what?"

"Respect yourself," he said flatly. "And respect me."

Her breath caught in her throat. Eyes stinging, she turned away quickly so he wouldn’t see the way her smile cracked. Around her, no one seemed to notice—but one person did.

Bai Qing.

Standing nearby, Bai Qing took a sip from her cup and gave a small, amused smirk. She walked over casually, as if she had seen nothing at all. But Li Mian knew better.

"Rough night?" Bai Qing asked lightly.

Li Mian didn’t answer.

Bai Qing tilted her head, her voice dropping just a little. "You know, Yifan didn’t use to be so cold. Maybe it’s because of Gu Jin."

Li Mian turned sharply. "What do you mean?"

Bai Qing shrugged. "I mean, everyone can see he pays attention to her. Doesn’t even try to hide it."

Li Mian’s hands clenched. "That doesn’t mean anything."

"Maybe," Bai Qing said, sipping again.

"But if you want him to see you differently, you need to be bold. You can’t just follow him around like a lost puppy."

Li Mian frowned. "So what do you suggest?"

There was a brief silence.

Then Bai Qing leaned in closer, lowering her voice.

"There’s a spot behind the garden. Quiet, hidden. If you can talk to him alone, really alone, maybe he’ll open up."

Li Mian hesitated. "Why would he even come with me?"

Bai Qing smiled. "Don’t invite him. Spike his drink. Just go there and wait."

Li Mian looked unsure.

"Think about it," Bai Qing said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "You said it’s your birthday wish, right? Don’t waste it."

Li Mian bit her lip but nodded. "Fine. I’ll go."

.......................

Later that night, the party grew louder. More students danced, drinks flowed freely, and laughter rose to the ceiling like smoke.

Li Mian quietly made her way toward Long Yifan, carrying two cups.

"Captain, you’ve been standing in the corner all night," she said cheerfully. "At least take something to drink."

Long Yifan didn’t smile. "No, thanks."

"Come on," she said, offering him one of the cups. "Captain, you fought so well earlier. Don’t you think you deserve a toast?"

He took the cup, eyeing the liquid inside. Then, still holding it, he glanced sideways.

"You didn’t drink from yours," he said flatly.

Li Mian blinked. "What?"

"You offered me a drink, but your cup’s full. That’s suspicious."

Her smile tightened. "You think I’d poison you?"

"I don’t know," Long Yifan replied calmly. "What if it is drugged and you drag me into some secluded alley?"

Though he was powerful, Long Yifan didn’t want to invoke any peach blossom. His fiancée wouldn’t care and might even ignore him.

Thinking so, his eyes turned toward Gu Jin, who had worn a black dress, her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her red eyes were tinged with softness as she looked at her fellow teammates joking around.

Beautiful.

......................

"Not a fan of crowds either?"

The voice was smooth, low, and carried a slight British accent. Gu Jin turned slightly, her gaze meeting a tall figure with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes.

Ethan Drake.

Captain of the English combat team.

He looked as calm and emotionless as she did, which was rare. Most people either flinched under her gaze or tried too hard to please her.

"I suppose not," Gu Jin replied flatly.

"I noticed you during the last round," Ethan said. "Your alchemy was... impressive. Efficient. Dangerous."

Gu Jin gave him a blank look. "I was just doing what I had to."

Ethan stepped closer, just enough to be polite, not enough to invade her space. "And you do it better than most people here. I like that."

Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to flatter me?"

His lips quirked slightly. "I don’t flatter. I state facts."

There was a brief silence.

"Still," he continued, "I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better. Would you like to exchange numbers?"

Gu Jin blinked slowly. She didn’t answer right away. Her red eyes flicked to the side, almost instinctively.

Across the room, she met Long Yifan’s gaze.

He was staring at her.

Correction—he was glaring at Ethan.

Gu Jin looked away quickly, her face still blank.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," she said finally, turning her attention back to Ethan.

Ethan studied her for a moment, expression unreadable. "Why not? You’re clearly not interested in anyone else here."

Before Gu Jin could respond, another voice cut in.

"She doesn’t exchange numbers."

The voice was cool. Polite. But underneath it was steel.

Ethan and Gu Jin both turned to see Long Yifan standing beside them.

He didn’t look at Ethan. His eyes were on Gu Jin, softening slightly as he spoke, though he kept his expression controlled.

"She doesn’t like giving her number to people she just met," Long Yifan continued.

Gu Jin narrowed her eyes. "I can speak for myself."

"I know," Long Yifan said gently, almost too gentle for someone who had just barged into the conversation.

"But I also know you hate repeating yourself."

Ethan’s eyes flicked between them, catching the undercurrent instantly. He raised an eyebrow. "You’re close?"

Long Yifan looked straight at him. "I’m her fiancé."

The air seemed to shift.

"Just a fiancé, whom I don’t love." Gu Jin corrected mercilessly.

That stung.

Long Yifan’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t argue. He simply nodded, accepting the correction.

"I see," Ethan said, coolly. "Interesting dynamic."

He turned back to Gu Jin. "Still. My offer stands. If you change your mind—"

"She won’t," Long Yifan said quickly.

Ethan glanced at him. "I wasn’t speaking to you."

Long Yifan’s eyes sharpened, but he didn’t raise his voice. Not in front of Gu Jin.

Instead, he turned back to her, his tone calm but low.

"I don’t like people bothering you," he said softly. "Especially when they have... unclear intentions."

Gu Jin looked at him for a long moment. "You don’t get to decide who talks to me."

"I know." His voice was even lower now, just for her. "But I still worry."

For a moment, they just looked at each other. The party sounds faded into the background. The music, the laughter, the lights—they all blurred.

Ethan took the hint.

"Enjoy your night, Gu Jin," he said. "You too... fiancé."

He walked away, leaving a tense silence behind him.

Gu Jin exhaled slowly. "You didn’t have to interfere."

"I did," Long Yifan said. "He doesn’t deserve you."

"No one does," she said simply, brushing past him.

Long Yifan stood still for a moment after Gu Jin brushed past him. Her words echoed in his ears.

"No one does."

It wasn’t even angry. Just cold. Distant.

Final.

He pressed his lips into a thin line, chest tight. The noise of the party swirled around him, but it felt like he was underwater—disconnected, slow, dull.

A waiter passed by holding a tray of drinks. Long Yifan didn’t usually touch alcohol at social events, but tonight...

He needed something to drown the ache in his chest.

He reached out, grabbed a glass of wine, and downed it in one long swallow. The taste was bitter, sharp.

He turned and dropped onto the sofa nearby, resting his elbow on the armrest, hand over his eyes. He didn’t want to be seen like this. Not by Gu Jin.

Not by anyone.

Two minutes later, a strange warmth started to spread through his limbs. It wasn’t the wine. No, it was something else.

His breath quickened. His skin prickled. Heat rolled down his spine like fire. His muscles tightened, and a strange fog started filling his mind.

"What...?"

His eyes widened.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

He tried to stand but stumbled forward, gripping the edge of the table to keep from falling. His heart was pounding, sweat dampening his collar.

"I’ve been... drugged?"

Across the ballroom, hidden among a group of laughing students, Bai Qing took a sip of her drink, her eyes glinting with satisfaction.

She leaned toward Li Mian, who stood beside her, visibly tense.

"It worked," Bai Qing whispered with a smirk. "He drank it."

Li Mian swallowed hard. Her hands were shaking slightly. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Bai Qing’s smile didn’t fade. "Of course. You wanted to get closer to him, didn’t you? This is your chance."

Li Mian looked over at Long Yifan. He was barely holding himself up, struggling to move toward the hallway. Her heart twisted.

"He looks like he’s in pain..."

"He’ll be fine," Bai Qing said smoothly.

"You’re helping him, Mian. He’s been stuck on Gu Jin for too long. That kind of one-sided love—" she clicked her tongue, "—only leads to heartbreak."

Li Mian’s lips trembled. "But he loves her..."