Mo Fan's brain short-circuited as he felt Qin Yu'er's warm embrace. His mischievous grin vanished, replaced with panic as his arms hovered awkwardly in the air. His heart pounded wildly, and he felt like he was a fish out of water, flapping uselessly.
What's with this situation of him and Older women in the car?!
"W-Wait, what are you doing?!" he stammered, his voice jumping an octave higher than usual. His face flushed crimson, an expression that was rare for someone as confident—and often shameless—as Mo Fan.
Qin Yu'er chuckled softly, her head resting gently against his shoulder. Her usual playful warmth had returned, though there was a strange, fleeting tenderness in her eyes. "You're always trying to act tough and cool, but you get so flustered when someone does something unexpected," she said, her voice light but with a hint of affection.
"I—this—I mean, what the heck?!" Mo Fan spluttered, his thoughts scrambling for coherence. "This is not how things are supposed to go! Aren't you supposed to tease me, not hug me?!"
Qin Yu'er pulled back slightly, her arms still loosely around him. Her smile widened as she caught sight of his beet-red face. "And why can't I hug you? Hmm?" she teased, tilting her head. "Isn't that what big sisters do for their little brothers when they've done something good?"
"That's not the point! You're making it weird!" Mo Fan protested, though he still hadn't moved an inch. His flustered demeanour only deepened when he realized his hands were still hovering awkwardly, not knowing where to place them. "And who said you're my sister?!"
Qin Yu'er laughed, the sound melodious and disarming. She let go and sat back in her seat, watching him struggle to regain his composure. "You're so easy to mess with, Mo Fan. It's adorable," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes now.
Mo Fan groaned, covering his face with his hands. "You're impossible," he muttered, but his lips betrayed a small, sheepish smile. "One day, I'll get you back for this."
As Qin Yu'er watched him sulk, her playful expression softened for a moment. She turned her gaze to the window, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.
_Zhankong... forgive me. I shouldn't have done that._ Her heart ached with a mixture of guilt and... confusion?
Though her feelings for Zhankong were unwavering, the way Mo Fan had protected her and supported her so sincerely had caused her heart to flutter, if only for a fleeting moment.
Qin Yu'er closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unexpected flutter in her chest.
When she opened them again, she found Mo Fan had also regained his composure, leaning back in his seat with his chin resting on his knuckles, his gaze directed out the window. His faint smile seemed calm, almost serene, and for a moment, Qin Yu'er's heart skipped a beat.
But she quickly dismissed the feeling, shaking her head slightly to rid herself of the thought. Her usual playful demeanour returned as she gave a teasing grin. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry for making you so uncomfortable," she said, but the twinkle in her eyes suggested she wasn't entirely repentant.
However, the teasing didn't stop there. She leaned forward and poked his shoulder, then gently prodded his stomach with a finger, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "But I have to admit, you've got quite firm muscles, Mo Fan. Who knew?"
Mo Fan looked at her with an incredulous expression, "For god's sake, Mr. Zhang, this pervert is harassing me now! Please take me to the police station!"
"Oh my! To call my concern as harassment, I'm just a concerned big sister~" Qin Yu'er just retorted with a playful grin.
Mr. Zhang, ever the professional chauffeur, kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, but Mo Fan could have sworn he saw the faintest hint of a smirk reflected in the rear-view mirror.
...
...
South Korea, Seoul – Gangnam.
A massive, swirling blue portal stood in the middle of the highway, its violent rotations casting an eerie glow over the bustling streets.
The energy force emanating from the portal was unlike anything the city had ever experienced—a pulsating, almost otherworldly power that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. The air crackled with magic, thick with an energy so intense it could be felt in the bones of anyone nearby.
The Magic Association Chairman of South Korea appeared at the scene, walking with a calm, composed gait.
Despite his age, his posture was straight and imposing, radiating a sense of authority and strength like hero's dignity. His hair, now completely white, flowed like a silver cloak as he approached the rift in the fabric of space.
Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked every bit the powerful figure he was, his aura radiating an overwhelming presence that seemed to dwarf the swirling portal before him. The magic surrounding him was far stronger than the portal's chaotic power, a stark contrast to the unpredictable force before him.
The portal had grown significantly since its first appearance which big enough for a train to pass, now large enough to allow a cargo airplane to pass through.
The increase in size was alarming, and as the Chairman stepped closer, he extended his hand, preparing to investigate further.
Crackle!!
However, as his fingers made contact with the shimmering blue surface, a sudden, forceful repelling force halted his movement, pushing his hand back.
"Hmm..." The Chairman murmured, eyes narrowing. He withdrew his hand slowly, his expression grave. "It's been three days already." His calm demeanour was betraying the deep concern building inside him.
A young man in a black suit approached quickly, holding a tablet in his hand. His face was tight with worry as he spoke.
"Chairman, we've received an urgent report from the Magic Research Organization."
The Chairman gestured for him to speak, his sharp gaze never leaving the portal. The young man quickly handed over the tablet.
The Chairman read the report in silence, his brow furrowing further with every line. The document detailed the continuous expansion of the portal's size and the intensification of the magical energy it emitted. The rate at which it was growing meant that it wouldn't take long before the portal surpassed the power of a forbidden mage, and that was only the beginning.
The report also stated that the repelling force surrounding the portal made any further research impossible. The strange, unknown energy inside was far too dangerous, and if it continued to grow unchecked, the result could be catastrophic. The power that lay within the portal could potentially explode with a force far greater than a Forbidden Curse.
A Forbidden Curse, the report explained, was akin to a nuclear explosion—an annihilating, uncontrollable force of magic that could level an entire city. The potential for such an explosion in the middle of Seoul, a sprawling metropolis with millions of residents, would be devastating, not only in terms of human life but also the country's economy and infrastructure. The implications were too dire to ignore.
The Chairman exhaled sharply, his mind racing through possible solutions. He knew that no matter where people fled, they would be unable to escape the destruction that a Forbidden Curse-level explosion would bring. The size of the city, the millions of lives at stake—it was a ticking time bomb, and there was little time left to act.
"...Gather all the Space and Dimensional Elements Forbidden Mages, and summon the Super Mages. Raise the Forbidden Flag," the Chairman commanded, his voice heavy with resolve.
The urgency in his tone was unmistakable. The situation had reached a critical point.
"...And evacuate everyone within a 30-kilometer radius," he added, his eyes narrowing in determination.
The young man with the tablet, still grim, looked up at him. "What's the ETA?"
The Chairman glanced back at the portal, his face hardening as he took in the ominous sight. "Soon... very soon."
As the words left his lips, a silent alarm seemed to echo through the air, resonating with the growing intensity of the portal. The Chairman's expression remained stoic, but deep within, he knew time was running out.