It was already the latter half of the night, but the long street outside was still brightly lit.
In a spacious, elegantly decorated apartment, a silent vortex appeared in the room, and a blonde girl in lace pajamas, holding a delicate box, suddenly materialized.
"Barbara?"
Ken looked at Barbara in her current outfit, a bit surprised.
Compared to her usual priestess attire, Barbara was now wearing a white lace nightgown, her golden hair cascading behind her, glowing softly under the light.
The long lace nightgown reached her calves. Because of the silky material, it looked somewhat transparent, and one could vaguely see what was underneath.
"M-Mr. Ken… why… why did a door suddenly appear with no warning?"
Barbara's face was as red as an apple, her voice tinged with the slightest hint of tears.
A few minutes ago, she really did have an impulse to come to Blue Star and ask Ken about those white stockings.
Was she overthinking things, or… did he really have feelings for her?
But it was only a fleeting impulse—she didn't really dare to confront him directly.
Unexpectedly, as soon as that impulse arose, the vortex door appeared in her room, and even the gift box in her hand was brought along to Blue Star by force.
Her current appearance was honestly a bit too embarrassing.
"Because we're friends now. So whenever you really want to come to Blue Star, the vortex door brings you to me."
At this, Ken raised an eyebrow and asked: "So… Miss Barbara, what brings you here so late at night?"
So that's how it works...
Barbara felt a brief moment of regret, but seeing the handsome man before her and thinking of her current predicament, she decided to just bite the bullet and say, "Th-this is for you!"
The delicate gift box was soft and comfortable to the touch.
After taking it, Ken opened the box and saw inside a brand new pair of… white stockings.
"?"
The moment Ken saw the stockings, he looked up at Barbara.
She came to deliver him stockings in the middle of the night, crossing worlds?
And this style was clearly Barbara's own exclusive type.
"Yesterday, in the study, I saw… I saw those white stockings. I thought they were mine, so I took them away… That pair was dirty, so I wanted to give you a clean pair in return."
Barbara's face was burning.
Although she was Mondstadt's shining idol in the eyes of the city, Barbara had always been a bit shy and introverted.
This was the first time she'd ever been so bold.
And it was in front of a man she'd only known for two days.
In the past, Barbara never believed in things like love at first sight happening to her.
But the instant she saw Ken, and after tasting the food he made, she had to admit she felt something.
Then, seeing that used pair of stockings in Ken's study had thrown her heart into chaos.
"M-Mr. Ken, I… I'll go now!"
After mustering her courage to say all that, Barbara turned and tried to run toward the vortex door.
But after only two steps, Ken caught her, spinning her around to face him. Their eyes locked, hearts pounding.
"You were right. That pair was indeed your stockings."
With things at this stage, if Ken remained indifferent, he'd be less than human.
As for Barbara's feelings? That was within Ken's expectations.
Men are attracted to beautiful girls; it's only natural. And women are the same. Especially since he had a system that improved his physique and charisma far beyond normal people—he was basically a ladykiller for girls just awakening to romance.
"M-Mr. Ken…" Barbara instinctively struggled, but after a few tries, she lost her strength. Their faces were mere inches apart, breath mingling.
Suddenly, Ken's foot caught on the edge of the rug. He stumbled forward, lips crashing into Barbara's in an accidental kiss. Both their eyes widened in shock, but neither pulled away.
After a moment of hesitation, Ken deepened the kiss. His tongue teased the seam of her lips, coaxing them open. Barbara whimpered softly as his tongue slipped inside, exploring every inch of her sweet mouth. Their tongues danced and twirled together in a passionate frenzy.
It was then that Ken realized Barbara liked Cecilia-flavored lipstick. The taste of her lips was intoxicating, driving him wild with lust. His hands roamed her body, squeezing her soft curves as she melted against him.
Gurgle...
Suddenly, a stomach growl broke the mood.
Barbara blushed, subconsciously touching her stomach. She hadn't eaten dinner because she'd been so preoccupied, and now she was hungry.
"Hungry? I happen to have some spicy dried fish and Sweet Madame here."
Having obtained so many Sweet Flowers, Ken naturally wanted to try out Mondstadt's recipes.
As for the spicy dried fish… that was Barbara's favorite.
"Mmm… so tasty!"
The spicy dried fish tingled her lips, and Barbara squinted her beautiful eyes, stars practically sparkling around her.
Although tonight had been impulsive and strange, and her heart was a bit uneasy, she couldn't deny she kind of liked this feeling.
It was like she'd lived by the rules for years, and finally let go for once.
It felt amazing.
Eating her favorite spicy dried fish, Barbara felt like her happiness was overflowing.
Ken was a bit hungry too, so he ate some Sweet Madame.
As expected of a system reward, this chicken might not sing, dance, rap, or play basketball, but its taste and texture were top-notch.
After a satisfying meal, Ken and Barbara just chatted for a while, their conversation flowing easily in the cozy glow of the night. Every so often, Ken would lean in just a little closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief, his laughter lingering in the air. He made sure to keep things light—a teasing comment here, a gentle brush of his hand against hers there—never pushing too far, but always letting her know he was interested.
Barbara, on the other hand, felt conflicted. With every playful glance and flirtatious smile from Ken, her heart fluttered in ways she'd never felt before. She was surprised that someone as shy as herself had done something so crazy—laughing so freely, daring to meet his gaze, even letting her fingers linger on his arm a moment longer than necessary. In those moments, she seemed like a different person.
But at the same time, there were certain things about Ken she just couldn't resist. His presence felt magnetic, drawing her in with every word and touch. As the conversation grew softer and the room felt smaller, Ken's hand found hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. He leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper as he teased her about her shyness, and Barbara felt herself blush.
Then, almost without thinking, she tilted her face up toward his. Ken paused, giving her a chance to pull away—but she didn't. Instead, she closed the distance, their lips meeting in a gentle, lingering kiss that sent a thrill through her. It was sweet and tentative, a perfect reflection of her newness to romance, but behind it was a promise of more.
It was like he had a magical aura that made Barbara, inexperienced in love, unable to resist. And for that moment, she didn't want to.
After a while…
Barbara hugged her knees, her voice trembling as she spoke.
...
...
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