As they walked, Su Mu couldn't help but notice the attention Xu'er and she herself drew. 

Heads turned, not just male heads, but people of all sorts. 

There was an undeniable magnetism about the half-Succubus, a blend of stunning beauty and an almost palpable aura of subtle danger. 

And Su Mu, walking beside her, felt like she was caught in that captivating orbit. 

However, even walking alone, she knew her own captivating and seductive body would likely draw attention.

Soon, Xu'er swept her along, past storefronts that shimmered with illusionary displays, boutiques whose windows showcased clothing that seemed woven from moonlight and shadows, and jewelry shops where gems pulsed with their own internal spiritual light. 

The air around this part of the district was thick with the scent radiated by expensive spiritual plants and flowers, combined with the low murmur of small birds.

"Xu'er, this is… really not necessary, my clothes are fine, aren't they?" Su Mu protested faintly, feeling a little overwhelmed. The Su family was well-off, but this level of casual opulence was something else.

"Nonsense, you have an incredible figure," Xu'er trilled, waving a dismissive hand. "Missy. It's a crime to always hide it under sensible things." 

"Think of it as… an investment in our evening. Besides," she leaned in, her voice a low, conspiratorial whisper, "seeing you try on beautiful things? That's part of my fun."

Su Mu's cheeks warmed, but she couldn't suppress a small smile. Xu'er was incorrigibly bold as ever.

As they walked, Su Mu subtly focused on her abilities. Her Empathic Siphon ability was quietly thrumming.

The high concentration of people created an undercurrent of diverse emotions like shoppers' excitement, merchants' focused determination, the subtle superiority of the wealthy customers, and the lustful stares directed at her and Xu'er, which was a constant, low-level feed.

Her Source Power ticked up slowly, from 5.8% to 6.1% as they navigated the crowds.

[ Source Power: 6.1% ]

It wasn't a fast gain, but it was steady. 

"Being out in the city like this, with so many people around... It's a slow but constant trickle," Su Mu thought. 

Then Xu'er laughed at something a street vendor called out, her arm brushing against Su Mu's, and the percentage ticked up a tiny fraction more. 

"And being close to her definitely amplifies it, even when she's not... actively exuding strong emotions."

She risked a quick, subtle scan of Xu'er again with her Insight Digitization. The panel remained mostly the same, still partially obscured.

[ Target: Xu'er ]

[ ... ]

[ Emotional State: Anticipation (High), Amusement, Affection ]

[ ... ]

"Anticipation (High)?" Su Mu's internal voice hitched. 

That was new. And slightly terrifying. And also... undeniably exciting. 

The Su Yang part of her brain was still waving red flags, as this was his first date ever, but the Su Mu part was blushing and finding it hard to look away from the graceful sway of Xu'er's hips as they walked.

"You're quiet, Missy," Xu'er observed, her voice pulling Su Mu from her thoughts. "Second thoughts about that drink? Or just overwhelmed by my company?"

Su Mu managed a small smile. "Just... taking it all in. Monster City is a lot more... intense than Silver Moon."

"Ah, Silver Moon," Xu'er said with a faint, almost dismissive wave of her hand. 

"Quiet, pretty, probably a bit boring for a girl like you, don't you think? You belong somewhere with a bit more... spice." 

She squeezed Su Mu's arm gently. "Don't worry, I'll show you all the best spices this city has to offer."

The promise in her voice and the look in her eyes made Su Mu's heart do another little acrobatic flip again. 

This "drink" was definitely going to be more than just a casual chat.

Their first stop was a boutique that seemed to shimmer with its own internal light. 

The sign, written in elegant, flowing script, read "Midnight Bloom." 

The mannequins in the window were draped in daring, intricate lingerie and evening wear that made the outfits at RomantiX seem almost tame.

Enchanted silks and fabrics in deep jewel tones and blacks hung on minimalist racks or were displayed on velvet-lined pedestals.

"Now," Xu'er said, her eyes gleaming as she scanned the items. 

"Let's find something that truly does justice to that," she gestured vaguely at Su Mu's figure, "and is worthy of a proper night out in Monster City."

Before Su Mu could protest further, Xu'er was already pulling a slinky, black lace dress from a rack, holding it up against Su Mu with a critical, appraising eye. 

"Hmm, a classic, but maybe too... predictable for your first time?" she mused, then her gaze landed on a bustier displayed on a mannequin. 

It was crafted from what looked like woven shadows, shot through with threads of silver that caught the light.

"Oh, this has potential," Xu'er purred, her fingers tracing the delicate boning.

Su Mu's Insight Digitization flickered to life almost involuntarily as Xu'er held the bustier closer.

[ Item: Nocturne Embrace Bustier ] 

[ Type: Enchanted Apparel (Lv 1) ] 

[ Upgrade Experience: 0/10 ] 

[ Material: Shadow-Silk (Spiritually Infused), Moon-Silver Boning ] 

[ Effect: Minor Allure Aura (Increases wearer's perceived charm by ~5%), Minor Comfort Weave (Adapts to body temperature) ] 

[ Evaluation: Possesses latent spiritual pathways. Gains one point of Item upgrade experience for every one hour actively worn while channeling spiritual energy. ]

"Upgrade experience... just by wearing it?" Su Mu blinked. The evaluation note was particularly intriguing. 'This? Can even clothes be upgraded?'

"What do you think, Missy?" Xu'er asked, noticing Su Mu's focused gaze on the garment. "With your silver hair, it would be divine."

Su Mu felt a blush creep up her neck again. "It's beautiful, Xu'er, but..."

The Su Yang part of Su Mu was still thinking this was all moving way too fast, that a bustier made of "Shadow-Silk" was the kind of thing heroines in the fantasy games he used to develop might wear, not him—or, well, her.

"No 'buts'," Xu'er said firmly, her eyes sparkling. "Tonight, we celebrate your first day and our... new friendship." She winked. "My treat."

Before Su Mu could protest further, Xu'er was already selecting other items, her taste impeccable and unerringly sexy, not just for Su Mu but also for herself.

For Su Mu, she picked out a pair of sheer, shadow-black stockings with intricate silver embroidery that climbed up the thigh, designed to complement the bustier. 

Then, a wispy, floor-length robe of translucent midnight-blue silk, "For a touch of mystery, before the reveal," Xu'er murmured with a sly grin. 

She also found a delicate silver chain with a tiny, teardrop pendant that Su Mu's Insight Digitization flagged as having a Minor Calming Aura (Reduces mental stress by ~3%).

For herself, Xu'er chose a blood-red corset that looked even more dramatic than the black one, paired with a dangerously short skirt made of what seemed to be overlapping black feathers. 

She also picked up a pair of impossibly high-heeled boots that laced up to her knees, their heels sharp enough to be considered weapons.

Su Mu watched, a little dazed, as the sales assistant, a woman with elegant cat-like eyes and a knowing smile, expertly gathered their selections. 

The Su Yang part of her was doing mental calculations of the cost and wincing internally.

"Are you sure about all this, Xu'er?" Su Mu asked quietly, as they followed the assistant to a private fitting area, sumptuously decorated with velvet drapes and soft lighting.

Xu'er turned, placing a hand lightly on Su Mu's arm. 

"Missy," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle for a moment. "Let me spoil you a little. It's what friends do. Besides," her usual teasing smirk returned, "I have excellent taste, don't I?"

"You certainly have…" Su Mu couldn't help but laugh.

As Xu'er disappeared into one of the fitting rooms with her chosen outfit, Su Mu went into another. 

The Nocturne Embrace Bustier and the other items lay on a velvet chaise lounge.

Her Source Power had ticked up to [ Source Power: 9.3% ] during their short shopping foray, the excitement and interactions in the high-end boutique providing a subtle but steady stream of energy.

Taking a deep breath, Su Mu began to change. 

This time, the process felt a little less alien. The bustier, when she put it on, felt like a second skin – restrictive, yes, but also strangely comfortable. 

The shadow-silk was cool and smooth, and the moon-silver boning seemed to align her posture, making her feel taller, more poised. 

The sheer stockings whispered against her skin as she drew them up, and the teardrop pendant felt cool against her throat.

When she looked in the mirror, the transformation was even more profound than with the RomantiX uniform.

The Allure Aura the bustier was supposed to have, might have been subtle, but she certainly felt more captivating.

"Well, Su Yang," she murmured to her reflection, a strange smile playing on her lips, "you definitely wouldn't recognize yourself now."

Just then, the curtain to her fitting room swished aside. 

Xu'er stood there, already changed into her own dramatic ensemble. 

The blood-red corset cinched her waist to an almost impossible degree, pushing her already generous bust even higher. 

The feathered skirt was a playful, audacious touch, and the knee-high, high-heeled boots made her legs look impossibly long and powerful. 

She looked like a warrior queen of the night, breathtaking and formidable.

Her purplish eyes widened slightly as she took in Su Mu's appearance. A slow, appreciative smirk spread across her lips.

"Missy," Xu'er breathed, her voice a low purr that vibrated in the air. "If I said you looked good before, I was clearly underselling it. You look… like a sin I can't wait to commit."