Ability No. 88: Mind Searching
Reads deep thoughts in a person's mind, even those forgotten by the individual.
Cost: A heartfelt confession!!
...
Leon Chen really wanted to curse the person who designed this cost a hundred times over...
If he ever got the chance, he would definitely ask Lina how this cost was determined—it was absolutely ridiculous. At this moment, while silently cursing, Leon had no choice but to adopt a deeply affectionate demeanor, looking at Angelina Dream with a "genuine expression of love."
It took Angelina a while to close her mouth, and Leon eagerly anticipated her rejection to free him from this torment—after all, according to the cost, all he needed to do was confess.
Whether she accepted or rejected didn't matter. But to his surprise, Angelina didn't reject him; instead, she exclaimed, "Leon, what are you saying?!"
"I'm saying that you are the only person in this life whom I'll ever..." Leon felt his stomach churn. It wasn't because Angelina was the target of his confession; in fact, confessing to the world's top idol was every man's dream. But the words just felt awkward.
What made Leon even more frustrated was that he possessed the world's finest acting skills, and his confession was spot-on. Every glance, every gesture, even each breath, perfectly drew people into an irresistible enchantment.
Heaven must have been playing tricks on him, for the window that was originally closed opened once again. The wind and snowflakes swirled around Leon and Angelina, creating an otherworldly scene. What is romance? This was it.
Leon gently took off his coat and draped it over Angelina's shoulders to shield her from the cold.
Angelina was screaming inside. This is insane, insane...
Leon, however, was growing increasingly anxious. Hurry up and reject me, he thought.
For most women, or even those who consider themselves experts at playing with men's hearts, Leon's confession would have moved them. But Angelina was the world's top idol—she had seen it all and was a master of disguise. Yet, compared to Leon's genuine performance, she was a step behind and found herself confused by his confession.
If it had been anyone else, Angelina might not have hesitated to kick them away. Unfortunately, Leon's honest and harmless face instilled a sense of security. Coupled with his breathtaking driving skill and his earlier protection, only a heart of stone could resist.
What Leon hoped for most was that Angelina would remember he had a "girlfriend." But instead, she said something that made him want to spit blood:
"Even though Lily told me she's your fake girlfriend... why do you like me? I thought you didn't like me... although I don't really dislike you..."
Without thinking, Leon responded, "The greatest distance in the world isn't when I'm by your side, and you don't know I love you, but when I'm standing in front of you, yet I can't truly see you... You're a superstar, and I'm just an ordinary person. We're like parallel lines that can never meet, but after what just happened, I realized that while parallel lines may not intersect, they're always alongside each other. If I don't want to understand you, how can I see you clearly? That's why I'm confessing... I hope you..."
This line of reasoning left Angelina entranced. She bit her lip, her pale cheeks flushing slightly.
Oh no, Leon thought, hoping that Serena Su and Lily Lin would come to the rescue soon.
As if gathering great courage, Angelina asked, "If you're sincere, would you dare to kiss me?"
"Huh??" Leon was shocked by the question.
"This is my first kiss. If you dare to kiss me, you'll have to take responsibility... But if you're lying... hmm..."
Does this foolish woman not realize she's walking into the lion's den? Leon was speechless internally.
The British poet Shelley once said, "A kiss is the meeting of souls on lovers' lips." The great Shakespeare also said, "A kiss is the seal of love's contract." Clearly, Angelina saw her first kiss as a precious symbol.
She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling in the wind.
Leon's expression darkened. Who could have predicted Angelina would set such a condition? While stealing the first kiss of the world's top idol was enticing, Leon would rather not get involved in any trouble. However, the mental cost compelled him to lean forward.
Buddha, Allah, Jesus... save me.
Leon slowly approached Angelina's lips, suddenly recalling his Steel Will ability. His mind stirred. At this point, he had no choice but to use it once more.
Steel Will successfully activated. The two conflicting wills left Leon struggling as he continued to draw closer.
Angelina's fragrance had never been so distinct, enveloping his senses.
In the middle of winter, a cold sweat trickled down his back.
Whoosh!
Just as their lips were mere centimeters apart, Steel Will finally counteracted the brain's command. At that moment, Leon felt like he had returned from hell to heaven, experiencing an extreme sense of relief.
There's a saying in China—"Just when all seems lost, there's a sudden turn of events!"
Before Leon could celebrate, he suddenly felt a force push him from behind, catching him off guard. He instinctively leaned forward. The few centimeters separating their lips instantly vanished.
Their lips met, and although Leon had stolen many girls' first kisses before, this time was different.
When Leon kissed Angelina, her body tensed, and her soft lips clung to his like a magnet, leading to an intense, fiery exchange of kisses. Meanwhile, the Spiritualist, having helped create the opportunity, was promptly knocked unconscious by Leon.
The villa's lights flickered back on. When Leon and Angelina returned to the hall, the two masters of acting and disguise behaved as if nothing had happened. No one would have guessed that during the brief power outage, a "heart-wrenching" love tragedy had unfolded. Even if it were told, no one would believe it.
"What happened?" Serena Su, ever sensitive as a Saint Hunter, sensed something was off. Her female intuition told her that Angelina had undergone some subtle chemical change.
"Nothing much. We just had a guest," Leon said, dragging the man out.
Serena raised an eyebrow, observing the man with a neutral expression.
"Is everyone else okay?" Angelina asked nervously.
"They're just unconscious," Lily Lin explained softly.
Angelina breathed a sigh of relief and kicked the Spiritualist. "What an idiot. I'll definitely find out who he is!"
"Leave this to me," Leon stopped her. Although the Spiritualist's thoughts were tough to crack, and even with mind reading, Leon only gleaned a little, he had a lead. This incident was clearly aimed at him, so he didn't want Angelina involved. This wasn't her world!
"Oh~!" Angelina obediently complied, trusting Leon's judgment, which surprised Lily, while Serena frowned even deeper.
Having just received a confession, Angelina took Leon's actions as a form of care, and she smiled sweetly. Leon felt like rolling his eyes—he decided to let things take their course with Angelina. After all, Leon believed that this superstar's feelings were just a passing impulse that would fade over time.
That night, some tossed and turned, some lay awake, some gazed at the night sky in contemplation, and some slept soundly.
The next morning, when Leon woke up, the villa had returned to normal. Angelina's assistant and bodyguards had no idea what had happened last night. When asked, they just said they felt heavy-eyed and fell asleep.
Considering that Angelina's bodyguards were all ex-military professionals, the fact that they had no chance to resist made Leon realize the power of the Spiritualist. As for the Spiritualist, Leon had put him in a semi-conscious state using bio-electric control.
Leon had a plan for this assassin.
Stepping out onto the balcony, he looked out at the world covered in a blanket of snow, glistening white. The snowflakes had softened since the previous night's storm.
Though staying at Angelina's private villa wasn't bad, Lily had class that morning. Unlike Leon, she was a freshman, and the first semester was always the most challenging, with the looming final exams being crucial. Angelina didn't insist they stay, only smiling as she said she'd take care of Lily's album and that she should visit whenever she had time.
After loading the Lamborghini, Leon threw the unconscious man into the trunk. Angelina, worried, asked, "Are you sure we shouldn't call the police? This guy seems really strange."
"Call the police? I'll handle this," Leon nodded. He couldn't be sure what the police could do with a Spiritualist, but he didn't mind placating Angelina.
After saying their goodbyes, the sports car sped off.
Watching the car disappear from view, Angelina held her forehead and sighed, "I must have caught a cold last night to have done something like that."
"Angelina, what happened last night?" her manager asked curiously.
"Oh, if I told you I'm considering dating, what would you think, Assistant Han?" Angelina blinked, asking.
Assistant Han's face immediately showed panic. "Angelina, it's too early for you to start dating. You've only been in the industry for a few years. This is the time to build your fan base. Dating now could have serious consequences. This is absolutely not okay!"
Angelina nonchalantly pouted.
Her assistant quickly reassured her, "It's not in line with your image, and it could put a lot of pressure on your partner. He might not be able to handle it and could break down."
She was well aware of Angelina's popularity and the scrutiny over her private life. In fact, many up-and-coming stars had tried to use her for publicity, only to be drowned in public backlash.
Assistant Han remembered a handsome male star who attempted to be linked to Angelina in a scandal. The next day, wherever he went, he was booed. Within seven days, the star almost went mad and had to apologize. After that, few dared to target Angelina.
"Do you think Leon could break under pressure?" Angelina casually asked.
"He's a pretty honest kid. Probably not..." Assistant Han said, then stopped, staring at Angelina.
"What's wrong? Is it that hard to imagine him being my boyfriend?" Angelina continued to smile.
Her manager spoke frankly, "Of course. Angelina, in your world, he doesn't belong. You two are from completely different worlds..."
The manager didn't know about Leon's actions, only thinking he was there because of Lily Lin.
But for Angelina, who had been stunned by her brief encounters with Leon, "Maybe in his world, I don't belong..." Angelina mused, her lips curving into a playful smile as she turned and walked back into the villa.
Outside, it was getting colder.