"If you really want me to address you normally, then I will oblige, Kyle!"
Xi Yue finally spoke his name.
For a brief moment, Kyle simply looked at her before the corners of his mouth lifted into a satisfied smile. It was such a small thing, merely having someone address him by his first name, yet he felt as though he had just accomplished something extraordinary.
’Finally! The first wall is broken. Let’s just proceed to the next step.’
He was genuinely pleased.
Hearing his name from the mouth of a Jianghu beauty was an achievement in itself, at least in Kyle’s opinion. Until now, Xi Yue had treated him with the sort of reverence usually reserved for distinguished seniors or powerful martial artists. Even though they were practically the same age, that difference in their treatment had created an invisible distance between them.
Now, however, that distance had begun to shrink.
Of course, he wasn’t naive enough to believe that one small change would instantly erase all her reservations. Xi Yue still regarded him as her benefactor, and the difference in their standing probably remained deeply ingrained in her mind.
Nevertheless, such things could change naturally with time.
The closer they became, the more comfortable she would feel around him. Eventually, the formalities would become unnecessary, and he could interact with her without constantly being reminded of his supposed status.
That was precisely what he wanted.
Besides, there was something unexpectedly pleasing about hearing her say his name.
It wasn’t as though she had spoken it with any particular affection. If anything, her voice carried a faint trace of shyness, as though she were still getting accustomed to the unfamiliarity of addressing him so casually.
Yet that only made it more appealing to his ears.
It reminded him of the first time Lira had called his name in that lovely voice of hers. Back then, too, hearing his name from someone he liked had produced a peculiar feeling of satisfaction.
Xi Yue hadn’t said it lovingly, but the gentle hesitation in her voice had its own charm.
’I like how shy she gets when saying my name.’
Kyle looked at her, taking in her appearance beneath the moonlight.
The moon hung high above the courtyard, illuminating the traditional buildings and casting soft shadows across the stone pathways. Its silvery glow fell upon Xi Yue’s fair skin, making it appear even more radiant than usual.
Her pink lips and faintly flushed cheeks stood out beneath the gentle light, while her black eyes seemed particularly striking against her delicate features.
For a moment, Kyle couldn’t help admiring the view.
She was already beautiful, but something about the moonlight made her seem almost otherworldly, as though she were a personification of the moon itself.
’Not bad. Not bad at all.’
He couldn’t complain about the scenery, either.
"Thanks for using my first name instead of those useless honorifics. I prefer being addressed naturally. It makes me feel comfortable, to say the least."
Kyle chuckled lightly, hoping to put her at ease.
He didn’t want her to feel as though she had committed some terrible offense by addressing him casually. If anything, he wanted her to understand that he genuinely preferred it this way.
"If it makes you feel welcome, then I will gladly use your name," Xi Yue replied.
As she spoke, she began to bow slightly toward him.
Kyle immediately noticed the movement and raised his hand.
"Why are you bowing?"
His expression turned somewhat helpless.
"When I said I didn’t want you to use honorifics, I meant in every way, both verbally and physically. There’s no need for you to bow down to me for everything. Just make yourself comfortable, too."
He waved his hand, stopping her before she could complete the gesture.
It was precisely this sort of thing he wanted to avoid. There was little point in asking her to abandon formalities if she continued to express the same deference through every movement.
"You don’t have to force yourself to show me physical respect, either. At least not when we’re in private."
Kyle leaned back in his rocking chair, careful not to strain his still-healing wounds.
"Just be casual and normal with me. There’s no need for such unnecessary stuff."
He reiterated his point, making it clear that he didn’t want her to feel obligated to demonstrate respect whenever they interacted.
After all, he wasn’t some emperor sitting on a throne, waiting for everyone to bow before him.
Well, not yet, anyway.
’Heh. Who knows what might happen if I actually become influential enough in this world?’
The thought amused him, but he quickly dismissed it. He had more pressing matters to consider than imagining himself surrounded by people bowing at his feet.
For now, getting Xi Yue comfortable around him was already progress.
"Yes, if you say so... Kyle."
She nodded, finally using his name again.
However, there was a slight pause before she said it, as though she were contemplating whether she should really address him so casually. The hesitation was brief, but Kyle noticed it nonetheless.
He didn’t comment on it.
’Well, she’ll get used to it eventually.’
He had only just convinced her to drop the honorifics. Expecting her to change her habits immediately would be unreasonable, even by his standards.
Still, he couldn’t afford to take things too slowly.
After all, he didn’t have an unlimited amount of time in this world. Thanks to the dimensional travel system, he had roughly ninety days to explore, increase his influence, and obtain as many rewards as possible.
More than a day had already passed since his arrival.
Although that might sound like plenty of time, Kyle knew better than to waste it all in a small village. If he wanted to increase his influence substantially, he would eventually need to venture into larger cities, encounter more people, and explore what this world had to offer.
There were opportunities waiting beyond these quiet streets, and he intended to find them.
Naturally, his ambitions weren’t limited to increasing his influence or collecting rewards. He wanted to experience this world properly, record interesting content, and enjoy the opportunities that had never been available to him on Earth.
He had no intention of spending his entire stay recovering in a guesthouse.
"Thanks. Make yourself comfortable, and don’t worry about anything, alright, Yue’er?"
Kyle smiled at her while gently rocking in his chair.
"Yes, Kyle."
Her response still carried a hint of hesitation, but he was satisfied.
For now, he had managed to get her to say his name without an honorific. That was enough progress for one evening.
The rest could come naturally with time.
After all, he had only just begun.