After a bit of probing during her conversation with Chidori's mother, Lin Luo finally pieced together the whole situation. When Chidori traversed dimensions, she hadn't stopped the timeline like Mikoto, nor had she reversed it upon return like Tohsaka Rin. Instead, she had merely secured a perfect excuse to study abroad in the Celestial Dynasty (Tianchao).

Who provided this excuse? Aside from the Heart of the World, there could be no other possibility.

After traversing, Chidori's greatest worry wasn't her own predicament, but how her family would fare. Since she could remember, she knew her parents' relationship wasn't good; they argued every few days, a state that persisted until her younger brother was born, indirectly fostering her combative nature.

However, with the impending demolition of the cherry blossom grove her brother loved, the family's troubles suddenly multiplied. Her transfer to Kouka High School was partly to experience a normal girl's life, but the more critical reason was to protect the cherry blossom grove her brother cherished.

But with her dimensional travel, all of that came to naught. The cherry blossom grove was certainly doomed, and her parents' relationship would likely change due to her absence. Given these concerns, what kind of wish might she have made in such a scenario?

The answer was simple: to ensure the cherry blossom grove her brother loved would not be torn down, to prevent her parents from worrying over her disappearance, and to wish for her family to live more harmoniously and happily.

The Heart of the World is inherently a creator of miracles. Experts at the Celestial Tier can remain unaffected by a singular world view, and the Heart of the World is something even those at the Third Realm's Celestial Tier strive to possess. If it can influence timelines, achieving such small feats is effortless.

Thus, the instant Chidori traversed, her small wish was immediately granted. Not only was the cherry blossom grove saved from demolition, but Mrs. Wen also became more affectionate than ever, filling the house with laughter daily. As for Chidori herself, she was spared her family's worry under the false pretense of studying abroad in the Celestial Dynasty. Even if she maintained no contact with home for these six months, the Heart of the World's power would not diminish in the slightest.

In fact, Lin Luo felt that her parents should have been more worried about Chidori going to the Celestial Dynasty, considering even Bear Grylls, who stands at the apex of the food chain, couldn't withstand the Periodic Table of the Celestial Dynasty.

Learning all this, Lin Luo was no longer surprised, while Chidori felt a surge of emotion so intense it almost brought tears of joy. The wish she had painstakingly hoped for was fulfilled so easily. If the price for this happiness was stepping into the perilous situation of the God War, she would accept it with gratitude and without regret!

"I'm sorry, I need to use the restroom for a moment." Chidori wanted to cry out of sheer joy, but she couldn't in front of her mother, so she used the excuse of going to the washroom to leave.

Only Lin Luo and Chidori's mother remained in the living room. Chidori’s mother would not waste such a golden opportunity. She fixed Lin Luo with a gaze reserved for scrutinizing a prospective son-in-law. "When did you and Chidori first meet?"

Lin Luo felt immense pressure under her stare, sweat beading on his forehead as he replied, "About half a year."

"Oh, so that means you met right around the time Chidori arrived in the Celestial Dynasty." Chidori's mother nodded, then pressed on, "And when did you two start dating?"

"Not long ago," Lin Luo continued to evade, keeping his answer vague.

"Have you slept together? Done intimate things." "Not yet." Lin Luo couldn't help but wipe his brow. He had to admit that mothers in Country 11 were incredibly formidable—first Naye’s mother, and now Chidori’s mother.

"Why not? Don't you like Chidori?" Upon hearing that Lin Luo hadn't touched her daughter, Chidori's mother wasn't pleased; instead, she questioned him in a low voice.

Lin Luo was under staggering pressure… I want to, but I haven't found the opportunity!

He desperately wanted to say that, and he suspected Chidori's mother would be happy to hear it. However, if Chidori overheard, it would spell trouble. He could only say, "Of course I like Chidori, but doing those things requires her consent. If I forced myself, I'd be kicked out."

Chidori's mother scrutinized him up and down. Seeing he didn't seem to be lying, her tone softened considerably, and she sighed, "It's normal for boys your age in the throes of puberty not to understand a girl's heart. But you should know, if Chidori truly likes you, she absolutely wouldn't refuse."

I know that, Lin Luo grumbled inwardly, only murmuring assent aloud.

"But you must have kissed, right?"

This didn't require bluffing; he could answer truthfully. "We have kissed already."

Chidori's mother nodded and continued her interrogation. "I recall the Chairman of your Celestial Dynasty once said a phrase: 'Dating without the intent to marry is hooliganism.' May I ask, what is your purpose in dating Chidori?"

The Chairman is mighty! The Chairman is supreme!

Lin Luo nearly sputtered. He hadn't expected the Chairman's saying to be so widely known in Country 11, but answering was pressure-free. "That's a given! I am dating Chidori with the intent of marrying her!"

Chidori's mother, relentless, continued to push her daughter. "Then when do you plan to marry my Chidori?"

"I respect Chidori's opinion. Whenever she says we should marry, that's when we will. However, she isn't eighteen yet; it might be a bit early right now," Lin Luo replied calmly, having grown accustomed to conversing with this future mother-in-law. It was only then that he seemed to recall he had already compromised several girls under eighteen.

The mother-in-law nodded. "Age is not an issue. If you genuinely intend to marry Chidori, you might as well hasten the process and cook the rice into a meal now. What do you think?"

Great, great, I love cooked rice!

Lin Luo gave a five-limbed endorsement to his mother-in-law's suggestion, though outwardly he needed to maintain some decorum. "Chidori's opinion is very important. I think we must discuss it with her first."

"That's why I said, just push her down!" The mother-in-law looked at him with the exasperation of someone disappointed in iron not turning into steel, continuing her shameless encouragement of Lin Luo. "Better to strike while the iron is hot. My husband and son won't be back for the next couple of days. I will create an opportunity for you tonight. You must seize it properly, do you understand?"

"...Then I'll leave everything to you, Auntie." Lin Luo's mouth twitched slightly.

"What did you call me?" Chidori's mother’s face hardened; she was clearly displeased.

Lin Luo caught on immediately, respectfully correcting himself, "I apologize, Mother-in-law."

"That's better." The mother-in-law's face instantly lit up with delight.

"What were you two talking about?" Sakagami Chidori emerged at the perfect moment, just as the conversation in the living room concluded. Seeing both Lin Luo and her mother smiling broadly, she asked out of curiosity.

"Nothing much, just talking about life goals," Lin Luo said casually, though inwardly he fumed: Your mother just gave me a royal decree to take you down tonight. I can only obey out of deference.

The mother-in-law, meanwhile, stood up, pulled her daughter next to Lin Luo, and laughed, "Chidori, you and your boyfriend chat slowly. Mommy is going to make you both a good, replenishing dinner tonight." Lin Luo thought: Yes, replenish so we have strength tonight.

"Mom!" Chidori wasn't as shameless as her mother. Just the words "boyfriend" made her blush with shyness, prompting an involuntary tsundere reaction.

However, her tsundere focus was misplaced. While she was blushing, her mother had already tied on an apron and stepped into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Only a pair of teenagers in the bloom of youth remained in the living room. Instructed by the mother-in-law, Lin Luo grew much bolder, leaning close to the girl and getting handsy. Chidori, unaware that her mother had already sold her out, was terrified of being seen, putting her under immense pressure.

Thanks to the mother-in-law's meticulous efforts, dinner was ready soon. At the dining table, seeing Lin Luo occasionally placing food into Chidori's bowl, the mother-in-law found her prospective son-in-law more pleasing by the moment. Her daughter marrying him would be absolutely no issue.

Chidori had initially wanted to hide Lin Luo's true identity, but realizing her mother already held a preconceived notion, she knew further explanation was useless and abandoned the thought. She tossed aside her usual girlish reserve, abandoning her usual domineering attitude to reveal a gentle femininity.

Chidori did this primarily to show her mother she was happy, but gradually, as the atmosphere at the table warmed, she herself couldn't determine if this newfound gentleness was real or fake. The only certainty was that she felt no resistance to it—and was quite happy.

After dinner, the three sat in the living room chatting about daily topics. The mother-in-law was most concerned with Lin Luo and Chidori's school life, inquiring about every single detail. The two cooperated smoothly, managing not to reveal any slip-ups.

Though the absence of her father and brother left Chidori slightly disappointed, the fact that she still had time left in this world meant there would still be opportunities to see them.

Not long after, seeing the lateness of the hour, the mother-in-law brought the conversation to a close. She first went to run the bathwater, and while Chidori was bathing, she prepared her daughter and son-in-law's "bridal chamber" while giving Lin Luo further instructions.

After bathing, Chidori returned to her room to rest and sleep. But as she approached the bed, she suddenly felt something was amiss—she noticed two sets of bedding in her single bed!

"This… no way?"

Chidori froze for a moment, then realized what it implied, her face instantly flushing crimson.

Though inexperienced, she understood what this meant. Her heart filled with awkward apprehension. Regardless, this was all happening too fast.

The sudden realization instantly banished her sleepiness. Lying under the covers, she couldn't drift off.

Ten minutes later, she suddenly heard footsteps outside her door and immediately strained her ears.

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and get in! Chidori is waiting for you!" Hearing her mother's voice from outside the door, Chidori nearly fainted.