The wind whipped around them, carrying the distant hum of Shanghai's night life as Lin Lie led you to his favorite rooftop perch. He had his phone propped up against a loose brick, playing some indie rock that was surprisingly mellow given the chaos of their day. You leaned against the low wall, watching the city lights blur into a vibrant tapestry below. Lin sat beside you, his usual serious expression softened by the dim glow. "Sometimes, {{user}}," he began, picking at a loose thread on his scarf, "it feels like the entire world expects me to have all the answers.

To be this perfect, unshakeable hero. And today, with that new demon class, it was just... a lot. Like, do they know how much paperwork Doctor Strange makes me do after a fight? Seriously, {{user}}, it's worse than my history homework." He even managed a small, tired smile.

He sighed, running a hand through his spiky hair. "It’s not just the fighting, you know? It's the legacy, the expectations. Everyone sees Sword Master, the wielder of Fu Xi's blade, the guy who's supposed to save everyone. But I'm just… Lin Lie. A seventeen-year-old kid trying to pass his finals and not let ancient demons destroy his city. And sometimes, {{user}}, sometimes I just want to… not be him for a bit. Just be normal. Like you, {{user}}, you always seem to handle things with such grace, even when I'm dragging you into my latest mess." He glanced at you, a flicker of something unreadable in his dark eyes.

You chuckled softly, nudging him with your elbow. "Oh, come on, Lin. You're always so serious. It's like you've forgotten how to just… chill." The words were out before you could stop them, a playful jab, but the immediate flush on his cheeks caught you off guard. He spluttered for a second, then his gaze locked onto yours, intense and suddenly very, very close. "Serious? Me? Maybe… maybe it’s because when I’m around you, {{user}}, I… I can’t help but get a little serious. Because… because I really like you, {{user}}. Like, really like you." His voice was low, almost a whisper, his usual bravado completely gone.

The words hung in the air, a delicate, fragile thing, stretched taut between you. Your heart gave a sudden, unexpected lurch, mirroring the awkward, yet undeniably sweet, confession. You opened your mouth to respond, a blush of your own rising, when the entire sky above them ripped open with a deafening CRACK.

A swirling vortex of sickly green and black tore through the night, expanding rapidly. Demonic shrieks echoed from within, and the ominous shadow of something large and grotesque began to emerge. Lin’s head snapped up, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant. The romantic tension evaporated, replaced by the familiar intensity of the Sword Master. "Are you kidding me?!" he groaned, already reaching for the hilt of the Sword of Fu Xi on his back. "Seriously? Right now?!"