Comprehensive comics! Succubus system! Redeem Ruby at the beginning!

Love? No way! Wouldn’t it be nice to just get the girl’s body?

As long as Xiao Wen has in-depth communication with beautiful girls, he can become stronger and gain special abilities.

What’s there to say? Just then, there was a lost Ruby on the side of the road.

Hoshino Ruby: Well, it feels like all the holes in my body and mind have been filled.

Arima Kana: Let go of Ruby! Wait, why are you looking at me like that?

Goto Ichiri: Well, this is not okay, no…

Kitagawa Umi: Are you going to help me make clothes, or help me…take off clothes?

Kisara: You, you are mine, don’t leave me…

Nanakusa: I only want your blood, your…

In the harem where sex is the only thing that matters, how can Xiao Wen realize his dream of building a crystal palace?

Comprehensive comics! Succubus system! Redeem Ruby at the beginning!
Chapter 1: Taking advantage of the situation and capturing Ruby
The night sky of Shibuya, Tokyo, looks like it was splashed with ink.
Sewage flowed freely along the streets, mixed with the sour smell of garbage, which was disgusting.
Xiao Wen made an irritable “tsk” sound. The cold moisture quickly seeped through the fabric and stuck sticky to his calves, adding a layer of gloom to his already gloomy mood.
“It’s fucking unlucky.”
He cursed under his breath and kicked an overturned trash can blocking the alley entrance in anger.
It has been more than ten years since he traveled to this anime world, and his life has been so dull.
Now he just wants to find a quiet and dry place to daydream.
However, just as he turned to leave, the corner of his eye was caught by an extremely dazzling golden light next to a trash can deep in the alley.
The footsteps paused.
Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes, taking advantage of the neon light distorted by rain and cast from the distant tall buildings.
That’s a person.
A girl huddled in dirty water.
She was wearing an idol-style stage costume, but the bright colors were now completely stained by mud and rain. The soaked fabric tightly wrapped around her slender waist, outlining her immature but already quite suggestive curves.
The hem of her skirt stuck pitifully to the cold ground, and her bare legs beneath the skirt were frozen blue in the dirty water and trembling slightly.
Her wet golden hair stuck to her pale cheeks like discarded seaweed.
The most shocking thing is her eyes.
Those starry eyes that once drove countless otakus crazy now looked terribly empty.
The pure black pupils lost their focus, staring blankly and intently at a small puddle of turbid water in front of them.
She was like an expensive doll that had been maliciously smashed and thrown into the mud, fragile, desperate, and devoid of all vitality.
“…The doctor…is dead…”
Faint whispers with a heavy sobbing tone flowed out intermittently from her trembling lips, and were shattered by the sound of rain.
“…These are all… lies… woo…”
The rain washed over her mercilessly, flowing down her golden hair, pale cheeks, slender neck, and finally sinking into her wet collar.
The sight was so miserable that even the most hard-hearted person would be moved.
But Xiao Wen is not.
He scoffed, walked a few steps towards her and squatted down.
The black umbrella in his hand tilted forward, just enough to shield the girl from the heavy rain that was raging above her head.
A cold shadow descended, and the girl seemed to slowly notice someone approaching.
She raised her delicate yet despair-filled face blankly.
“Tears?”
Xiao Wen’s voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the rain curtain. “What’s the point of flowing more of something cheaper than this rain?”
He recognized the girl in front of him, Ruby Hoshino, a member of B Komachi, a world-famous idol.
Since traveling to this chaotic world, this is the first time I have come into contact with a two-dimensional girl like this.
Ruby’s hollow black eyes moved slightly, as if she couldn’t understand what he said.
He suddenly stretched out his hand, and with unquestionable strength, pinched Ruby’s small chin, forcing her dilated pupils to meet his bottomless black eyes.
“Do you really want to meet that person?”
The corners of his mouth curved up, “Then stand up and follow me.”
The moment he finished speaking——
[Buzz!]A cold, emotionless mechanical voice exploded in his mind without warning.
[Ultra-high concentration of SSS-level ‘despair’ emotional energy detected! Energy source locked: Hoshino Ruby! Binding conditions met!][Succubus Savior System is binding… Binding successful! ][Newbie Reward: Unlock the skill ‘Emotional Resonance Lv1’! You can guide, absorb, and transform strong emotional energy through physical contact!]A flood of information instantly flooded into Xiao Wen’s mind, his body suddenly stiffened, and his mind went blank.
And in the brief moment when he was distracted, as if a drowning man had grabbed the only piece of driftwood, Ruby Hoshino, who was curled up on the ground, let out a whimper like a baby animal, and threw herself into Xiao Wen’s arms without caring about anything else.
“It’s cold… so cold… hold me tight… please…”
The girl’s cold and trembling body pressed tightly against him, and her hot breath filled with despair sprayed randomly on his neck. The cold rain and warm tears instantly soaked the clothes on his chest.
The cool, soft, slightly trembling touch in my arms and the cold prompt sound of the system intertwined together, forming a strange impact.
An extremely complicated emotion flashed across Xiao Wen’s eyes, but was replaced by deeper irritation the next second.
“trouble!”
He cursed softly and suddenly pulled off his relatively dry black coat. He wrapped the wet, cold, and shivering Ruby up like a dumpling without saying a word, revealing only her pale, fragile little face and wet blond hair.
Then, he put his arms through her legs and back, and with a force, he lifted her up horizontally.
The girl was as light as a feather, yet so fragile that she seemed to break at the slightest touch.
“Listen,” Xiao Wen held her in his arms and strode out of the dark, damp alley. His voice was exceptionally clear and unmistakable in the rain. “Idols shine brightly on the stage, making thousands of people scream! They’re not like you, hiding in the gutter and rotting in the garbage!”
The cold rain hit his face. He held this “trouble” that fell from the sky in his arms and walked into the depths of the neon without looking back, looking for a “battlefield” where he could shelter from the rain.
Ten minutes later, in the top floor suite of a luxury hotel.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the night view of Tokyo, still shrouded in heavy rain and dimly lit, looks like a flowing dark oil painting.
In the bathroom, warm steam rose up, dispelling the coldness from the outside.
Ruby Hoshino curled up in the warm water. The hot water soaked her cold body. Her pale skin gradually turned an attractive pink, and her tense nerves seemed to relax a little.
She closed her eyes, tiny water droplets hanging on her long eyelashes, which were trembling slightly.
Xiao Wen stood by the bathtub and wrung out a soft white towel in his hand.
He just bent down and was about to wipe her face——
A cold, steamy little hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.
Xiao Wen paused and looked up.
Ruby opened her eyes at some point.
Those black eyes that were empty and desperate just now seemed to have been thrown into sparks, and rekindled a faint but strange glow.
It was no longer pure despair, but a mixture of confusion, vulnerability and… some kind of indescribable longing.
She tilted her little face up, and in the steam, her already breathtakingly beautiful face became even more hazy and seductive.
She parted her cherry lips slightly, and asked with a barely perceptible tremor in her voice:
“You…you want to…come and fill the hole in my…heart?”
Her eyes were straightforward and pure, with an almost sacrificial invitation, yet so fragile that it made people’s hearts tremble.
Xiao Wen’s pupils shrank slightly, and then the corners of his mouth twisted.
That’s right, that’s right.
Love? I don’t even want to talk about it. I just want my body. Thank you.
He pounced without hesitation, pinning down Ruby, who seemed to have just broken free from despair.
The rain outside the window intensified, its dense raindrops pounding against the glass curtain wall like they were about to completely drown the entire city. The steam in the bathroom grew thicker, blurring the boundaries.
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ActivityRegister as a Filo member and receive 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 2: I Only Want My Body (Old Version)
In the suite’s spacious bedroom, only a dim wall lamp was on, and the light was ambiguous and hazy.
The air still lingered with the faint fragrance of shower gel and a hint of moisture unique to a young girl.
Ruby Hoshino changed into a pure white bathrobe provided by the hotel. The overly large robe covered her slender body loosely, with the neckline slightly open, revealing a small piece of delicate collarbone and round shoulders.
The wet blonde hair was casually wrapped in a towel, with water droplets still dripping from the ends of the hair, which fell on the bathrobe and spread out dark water stains.
She stood barefoot on the soft carpet, feeling a little uneasy, like a deer that had strayed into unfamiliar territory.
Xiao Wen stood in front of her. He didn’t say anything, but stretched out his right hand, palm down, and hovered it about ten centimeters above Ruby’s heart.
[Succubus System Lv1, activated. Target: Hoshino Ruby. Targeted Energy Source: Past Life Obsession (Despair).]The next second, something strange happened.
Strands of extremely fine, life-like blue light seeped out from Ruby’s heart.
They circled and struggled, and were slowly pulled out of Ruby’s body, and finally sank into Xiao Wen’s suspended palm.
As the energy was drained away, Ruby’s body trembled slightly.
She subconsciously raised her hand to cover her heart, but stopped mid-air. The loose neckline of her bathrobe slipped slightly due to this movement, revealing more fair and smooth skin and a faintly alluring ravine.
Her breathing became a little rapid, and the curve of her chest rising and falling with her breathing appeared particularly clear in the dim light.
“Don’t move.” Xiao Wen’s voice was low and carried an unquestionable command. “You are in a very bad condition now. I have no interest in living corpses.”
Ruby bit her lower lip, trying to endure the complex feeling of emptiness that was forcibly stripped away from her body and the strange sense of relief that followed.
Finally, when the last ray of deep blue was completely extracted and absorbed, Xiao Wen withdrew his hand.
Almost at the same moment, Ruby raised her head sharply.
The black mist attached to her starry eyes quickly faded and dissipated like the tide.
Instead, there is a pair of starry eyes shining with “love”.
There, the light of life was rekindled, although it was still very weak, it was extremely pure.
[Ding! Successfully absorbed SSS-level ‘Past Life Obsession (Despair)’ energy! Energy purity: 100%!][Unlocks the host’s passive skill: ‘Stage Succubus’ (Basic)! Effect: The host’s (Ruby Hoshino) stage performance will enhance her appeal, attraction, and emotional resonance with the audience! Her charm aura also expands in range!][Energy conversion in progress…Host’s physical condition slightly improved.]System prompts flashed by one after another. Xiao Wen frowned slightly, feeling a faint warmth surge through his body.
This feeling…is not bad.
Ruby, who has regained her life, seems to be still immersed in a strange trance of loss and recovery.
The pain of the doctor’s departure still lingered in her mind, but the sting was not as excruciating.
Just like when a loved one leaves, it will be sad at first, but as time goes by, it will fade away.
Now, Ruby felt as if she had spent more than 30 years in thin air. Although the doctor’s departure was still sad, it was no longer as painful as it was during the day.
She subconsciously and softly hummed a melody – it was the nursery rhyme that the gentle doctor in her memory used to hum most often when he coaxed her to sleep at her bedside in her previous life.
The sound was like a feather, gently scratching Xiao Wen’s eardrum.
“Tsk, wait a minute!”
He interrupted her abruptly, his tone filled with habitual impatience, his brows furrowed, as if the singing was some kind of irritating noise. “I helped you, and you’re just humming here? Not even a token of your appreciation?”
Ruby’s singing stopped abruptly at his sudden scolding. She opened her pink eyes wide like a frightened little rabbit and looked at him somewhat bewilderedly. The little bit of color that had just returned to her face seemed to be fading again.
Xiao Wen scratched his hair irritably, his eyes sweeping over her dripping golden hair and thin bathrobe.
He turned around, rummaged through the cabinet next to him, and then forced a hair dryer into Ruby’s hands.
“Here! What if you catch a cold or fever with wet hair? What if it delays your training for tomorrow? Blow it dry quickly!”
Ruby held the hair dryer and blinked as she saw him shoving the tool into her mouth fiercely.
An extremely tiny, yet extremely real arc quietly crept up the corner of her mouth.
“Thank you, what is your name?”
Ruby bowed slightly, while Xiao Wen waved his hand impatiently.
“Is it important? If you love eggs, why do you need to know the name of the hen that laid them?”
Ruby was slightly stunned, “But, you helped me…”
“It was because you were willing to sacrifice yourself back then that I reluctantly agreed. And you haven’t paid off my debt yet. From now on, I’ll call on you whenever I need you.”
Xiao Wen said so.
He has no interest in love or anything like that.
What a bullshit love, it’s worthless to him.
The so-called marriage is nothing more than the legal prostitution of the bourgeoisie, and love is nothing more than a warm-up before prostitution.
For him, it is better to get a beautiful body directly than to spend time and effort to maintain a relationship.
For example, the girl in front of you, Ruby Hoshino.
Xiao Wen had no feelings for her. If she had not been extremely vulnerable and could be taken down at any time, he would not have paid any attention to this girl.
“Where’s your brother? I’ll take you back when it’s daybreak.”
Ruby, who had just been feeling sad because of Xiao Wen’s harsh words, showed a look of surprise when she heard this.
“Brother… I don’t have a brother. I am the only daughter of my mother.”
“What?”
Xiao Wen frowned, this was inconsistent with his memory.
Ruby didn’t look like she was lying.
But he soon realized that the Ruby Hoshino in this world didn’t seem to have any brother.
At least those Bunshun magazines never talked about this aspect, otherwise they would have known about it given their level of knowledge.
Since the doctor didn’t reincarnate, that’s just fine..
An evil smile appeared on Xiao Wen’s lips.
The Ruby in front of him was his alone.
“Um, sir… can I go to bed, please? I feel very tired today.”
Ruby fidgeted a little, her legs clamped together, her body trembling slightly unnaturally, and her cheeks flushed.
After all, she was only a sixteen-year-old girl, and it was her first time experiencing such a thing, so she felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Xiao Wen opened his mouth. Logically, he shouldn’t have any sympathy for this humanoid FJB.
However, considering Ruby’s current physical condition, it is obviously inappropriate to act rashly.
There is a long way to go, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future, there is no need to waste a moment.
Thinking of this, Xiao Wen nodded, and Ruby seemed a little excited. She put on a bath towel and prepared to go to the bedroom to sleep.
“etc.”
Suddenly, Xiao Wen called her and stuffed a few pills into Ruby’s hand.
“It’s a painkiller. Take it and you’ll have a good sleep.”
Seeing Xiao Wen’s seemingly disgusted face, and then looking at the pill lying in the palm of her hand, Ruby was silent for a moment, and then smiled like a blooming flower.
“Thank you, sir.”
After saying that, she skipped off to sleep, leaving Xiao Wen alone in the living room.
Xiao Wen stared at the lights outside through the floor-to-ceiling window, seeming to be lost in thought.
It’s a pity that he doesn’t have the habit of smoking, otherwise he would really like to have a cigarette at this time.
He felt no guilt for taking Ruby down while she was vulnerable.
When a girl resists, a gentleman brakes, but a scumbag doesn’t brake. In the end, the girl becomes a scumbag. This is the truth.
He had read a story about a famous beauty who, when proposed to by a group of men, only chose the most masculine one. It had nothing to do with masculinity, but because she was pregnant with his child.
As long as he can plant the seed in Ruby’s body, one day, Ruby’s heart will be completely won by him.
What’s more, Xiao Wen didn’t care about Ruby’s heart, he just wanted to get Ruby’s body.
As long as there is a body to vent the desire, it will be fine.
“Um, Mr. Noname, could you bring me some clothes for tomorrow?”
“What a hassle!”
Xiao Wen, whose thoughts were interrupted, went to look for clothes while cursing.
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Chapter 3: Brothers, guess what I saw? (Old version)
In the early morning, the heavy rain had just stopped, and the air was filled with a moist freshness and a hint of coolness.
On the streets of Shibuya, in a 24-hour convenience store, a clerk was yawning loudly and sleepily tidying up the shelves that had been messed up by the night shift customers.
“Ding Dong–” The crisp sound of the automatic door opening broke the tranquility of the early morning.
The clerk subconsciously raised his head, habitually forced a professional smile, and prepared to shout out the phrase he repeated countless times every day: “Welcome…”
The last word “Lin” was stuck in his throat.
His eyes widened instantly and his mouth opened unconsciously, wide enough to fit an egg.
All the sleepiness was instantly dispelled by the scene before me.
The girl who walked in from the door was like a ray of light that had strayed into the mortal world.
She was only wearing a black men’s shirt that was obviously too big for her. The fabric was soft, but it made her figure look even thinner.
The hem of the shirt reached mid-thigh, like a short skirt, revealing only a pair of straight, slender, smooth and flawless calves.
She was barefoot in a pair of disposable white hotel slippers that clearly didn’t fit her. Her small ankles were as delicate as carefully carved works of art, and seemed a little fragile on the cold floor.
The long golden hair was not carefully groomed, and was casually draped over the shoulders. A few strands of hair were still slightly wet and curled, exuding a soft and warm luster under the morning light slanting in from the door.
She had no makeup on her face, her skin was so white that it was almost transparent, and she had the fragile feeling of porcelain that had just been baptized by wind and rain.
The most breathtaking thing is the pair of crimson eyes, which are as pure as rubies dipped in a clear spring.
She seemed completely immersed in her own world, unaware of the clerk’s petrified gaze, and walked straight to the refrigerated shelf.
Her eyes were fixed on a box of tuna rice balls on the top shelf. She stood on tiptoe slightly and stretched her arms to reach it.
This action caused the wide collar of her shirt to inevitably slide to one side, revealing half of her round and smooth shoulders and a small section of her delicate and attractive collarbone.
“Snap!”
The waiter dropped the oden box he was holding onto the floor, spilling the soup and meatballs all over the floor. The sticky soup splashed onto his trouser legs. This sudden noise finally startled the girl.
Hoshino Ruby finally reached the lunch box. She turned around, her crimson eyes filled with a hint of confusion and questioning. She subconsciously looked towards the cashier, as if silently asking, “What’s wrong?”
The convenience store’s surveillance camera faithfully and without emotion recorded this scene that was destined to explode on the Internet:
The girl pinched the small rice ball box with her fingertips, tilted her head slightly, and her crimson eyes that could reflect the starry sky contained moisture like the lingering morning mist. She looked blankly in the direction of the camera (the cash register) with innocence and unconscious sexiness.
The loose black men’s shirt made her look like a child wearing adult clothes, which further highlighted her slenderness. Under the hem, her pair of smooth long legs were dazzlingly white in the cold morning light, like the finest mutton-fat jade.
After Ruby paid (using the change Xiao Wen gave her), and walked away quickly like a frightened deer with the rice ball in her hand, the clerk, who was stunned by this sudden “beauty attack”, suddenly came to his senses.
He hurriedly rushed to the surveillance computer, captured the miraculous image, and with trembling fingers, posted it to the idol forums and social media platforms he frequented, along with the incoherent text:
“Brothers!!! Wake up!!! Guess who I met on the morning shift today?! I swear it wasn’t photoshopped! It was a surveillance video!!! Hoshino Ruby!!! The real person!!! So beautiful!!! That shirt… Holy crap!!! [Picture][Picture][Picture]”
This low-resolution, even slightly overlooked surveillance screenshot was like a nuclear bomb dropped into a calm lake. In less than half an hour, it instantly detonated the entire internet!
#Hoshino Ruby’s beauty is resurrected! #
#ShirtGate! Mysterious men’s shirt sparks online speculation! #
#B Komachi’s statement is a smokescreen? Ruby is so beautiful that she glows! #
#Missing idol buys rice balls at a convenience store early in the morning! The goddess of broken beauty descends! #
The trending search list instantly dominated! Every topic was followed by a blood-red, glaring word “explosion”!
The comment section under that screenshot was completely overwhelmed, with tens of thousands of comments being refreshed every minute at an astonishing rate:
“Holy shit, holy shit! I thought everyone in the entertainment industry was a makeup genius, but this is her natural look??? This is her f*cking natural look??? Even the gods must have worked so hard to descend to earth!!”
“This brokenness! This vulnerability! This sexiness shone through innocence! It’s so beautiful it makes my heart stop! Ruby, my wife!!”
“Draw your sword! Ruby is mine! Mine!”
“The shirt! The point is the shirt! Which wild man’s shirt is it?! Come out and fight me!!”
“B Komachi’s official team is here to take the fall! This is called ‘temporary suspension due to mental issues’? She’s so beautiful she’s glowing, okay?!”
“This leg… this collarbone… this confused look… and this foot… awsl! Sister, step on me! (bushi)”
“Am I the only one who noticed that she was wearing slippers with bare feet? It’s so heartbreaking! But…Shashasha…this feeling of being broken is amazing!”
“Ruby-chan looks so tiny and adorable! Whose shirt is that?! I’m so protective!”
Inside the hotel suite.
Xiao Wen picked up the remote control with an expressionless face and turned off the TV with a “beep.” On the screen, the entertainment news anchor was still excitedly analyzing the “shirt gate” incident. Various exaggerated headlines and the convenience store screenshot played in a loop, and the noisy voice suddenly stopped.
He had just put down the remote control and had no time to turn around when he heard a rapid, clacking sound of slippers coming from the direction of the bedroom, coming closer and closer, with a kind of panic that was almost like excitement.
Hoshino Ruby rushed out of the bedroom barefoot (her slippers probably fell off while she was running) like a whirlwind wrapped in golden sunlight.
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, even her small earlobes were dyed pink, and her iconic crimson eyes were surprisingly bright at this moment.
She was even panting slightly because she ran too fast, and the wide collar of her shirt rose and fell with her breathing, revealing more delicate collarbone lines.
“Xiao…Xiao Wen! Look! Look at this!” She almost put the phone screen in front of Xiao Wen’s eyes, and her fingertips turned slightly white due to the force.
The trending topic on the screen, #HoshinoRuby’s Godly Face Resurrected! #, was at the top of the list, followed by the blood-red word “Explode.” Below it were a dense stream of enthusiastic praise and exclamations from fans.
“So many people…so many people say that I…” Her voice trembled slightly with excitement and disbelief, a little tearful, yet filled with indescribable excitement. “Can I…can I really…?”
She raised her little face and looked at Xiao Wen eagerly, “Standing on the stage again… Can I… Can I do it? Everyone… Everyone seems to… still like me?”
Xiao Wen’s gaze shifted from the little face, ablaze with excitement, to the tiny screen of his phone. The comments scrolling across the screen were filled with enthusiasm and amazement, and words like “wife,” “beauty goddess,” and “shattered feeling” flashed across his eyes.
He did not give a gentle and encouraging smile as fans imagined, nor did he say any words of comfort or affirmation.
His face still had that expressionless, even a little cold look.
He reached out his hand, but instead of caressing her cheek or shoulder to comfort her, his hand went straight to her beautiful, smooth, and slightly damp blonde hair.
Then – rub it hard!
The action was rude, even with a hint of obvious disgust, and in an instant, Ruby’s carefully groomed blonde hair was messed up into a messy ball of golden wool.
“It’s so noisy.” He withdrew his hand, as if he was just brushing away an annoying feather, and put it into his trouser pocket smoothly.
“We’ll talk about the stage later.”
Ruby was stunned by his rubbing. The stars in her eyes seemed to be dispersed for a moment by this rough action. Her little mouth opened slightly and she looked at him blankly.
Xiao Wen’s eyes swept over her bare feet, then glanced at the half-eaten rice ball package on the bedside table, and continued in that matter-of-fact tone, as if he was urging someone to pay a debt:
“Now, go and pay me for the rice balls and last night’s room fee.”
He paused and added, with a slightly “teaching” tone: “If you want to be an idol, learn to pay your own bills first. Don’t try to shirk my money.”
Ruby: “…………”
The stars in his eyes were completely replaced by an emotion called “speechless”.
She looked at Xiao Wen’s self-righteous “creditor” face, felt the mess of hair on her head, puffed up her cheeks, and muttered in a low voice with a bit of resentment and grievance, like a squirrel whose pine cones were stolen:
“…Stingy.”
Chapter 4: Open the door if you can! (Old version)
The afternoon sun shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm spots of light on the polished floor of the suite’s living room.
Ruby curled up on the large sofa, hugging a pillow, watching the idol music show rebroadcast on TV with relish, humming a few lines from time to time, and her toes unconsciously curled and stretched in the sunlight.
The loose shirt still covered her body, making her look like a child who had stolen adult clothes, yet she had a unique kind of lazy sexiness.
“Hey, you’re not going today? Aren’t you afraid your colleagues will come looking for you?”
“Just think of it as a day off for myself. I think Kana will understand.”
As she spoke, Ruby pulled out a bag of potato chips from behind her back, opened it, and chewed it carefully.
“If you want to eat snacks, sit up and don’t lie on the sofa and make them everywhere…”
Seeing that Ruby completely ignored his words, Xiao Wen didn’t bother to pay attention to her. He sat on the single sofa next to him, closed his eyes and rested, as if he was digesting the energy absorbed by his system.
The despair energy from Ruby last night was so overwhelming that Xiao Wen couldn’t fully digest it. Ruby’s order alone was enough to keep him from starving for a month.
But Xiao Wen’s lower house obviously didn’t think so. He wanted more than just Ruby.
The peaceful (and expensive) times didn’t last long.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!”
A violent bang suddenly exploded, almost smashing through the solid wooden door.
The door panel was shaking violently, as if it would collapse under the weight in the next second.
Even the dust on the door frame was shaken off.
“Open the door! I know you’re in there! Open the door! Hand Ruby over!!”
From outside the door came a girl’s sharp, angry roar that was almost broken.
It was Arimakana.
The loud sound of banging on the door and Kana’s roar instantly broke the silence in the room.
Ruby, who had just been saying she wasn’t afraid, was suddenly frightened like a frightened rabbit. She jumped up from the sofa and the pillow in her arms fell to the ground.
Her crimson eyes were instantly filled with panic and nervousness: “Kana… Kana-chan?!”
Xiao Wen slowly opened his eyes. There was no trace of surprise in his dark eyes, only a hint of annoyance at being disturbed.
He stood up slowly, straightened his collar, and even had a hint of amusement on his face, as if he was watching a good show.
“Tsk, trouble has come to my door.”
The banging and yelling outside the door became even more frantic: “Open the door! Asshole! What did you do to Ruby?! Open the door!”
Xiao Wen just put his hand on the door handle and turned the door lock——
“Bang!!!”
The door was slammed open by a huge force from the outside.
A petite red figure rushed in like a cannonball.
There was Magana, Ruby’s teammate in B Komachi, whose eyes were red at the moment, like a completely enraged lion cub.
She slammed the screen of her mobile phone in front of Xiao Wen who had just turned around.
On the screen, there was an extremely clear photo.
The photos were obviously taken secretly in the hotel bathroom.
In the center of the picture, Ruby Hoshino closed her eyes and curled up quietly in a huge jacuzzi filled with steam.
The long golden hair was wet and scattered on the smooth and round shoulders and collarbones, with water droplets dripping from the ends of the hair.
The entire scene was filled with a fragile, tranquil, and incredibly alluring atmosphere. It was exactly the scene that had taken place last night, not long after Xiao Wen left the bathroom!
“Xiao Wen! You bastard! Beast!!”
Kana’s voice was hoarse and trembling with extreme anger and worry. She grabbed Xiao Wen’s collar tightly, “What did you do to Ruby?! Huh?! She didn’t answer my calls or reply to my Lines! The agency said she was suspended from all activities due to ‘psychological problems’! And what happened?! The hostess disappeared all night, and she was in a place like this with a bastard like you?! What’s with this photo?! What obscene things did you do to her?! Tell me!”
She roared at Xiao Wen like a mother animal protecting her cubs.
Xiao Wen had no reaction to Kana’s roar. Rather, he was more curious about how Kana knew his name.
Could it be through that Kurokawa Akane? That’s quite humorous.
“Kana-chan! No! You misunderstood!”
When Ruby saw the photo, her face turned pale instantly and she rushed forward anxiously to explain.
At this moment, Xiao Wen moved.
Instead of pushing away the furious Kana, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Ruby, who was eager to explain and looked flustered.
Amid Ruby’s exclamation and Kana’s astonished gaze, Xiao Wen held Ruby in his arms and put his arm around her waist.
“What did you do?” Xiao Wen lowered his head slightly, his chin almost resting on Ruby’s soft blonde hair.
He looked up at Kana, who was standing nearby with a look of shock, anger, and disbelief on her face, and a provocative arc appeared on the corner of his mouth. “As you can see, I’m just helping her relieve stress. Is that okay?”
His grip around Ruby’s waist tightened slightly, bringing their bodies closer together.
The collar of Ruby’s wide shirt dropped a little further because of this action, revealing more tempting skin.
Xiao Wen’s eyes swept across Kana’s face unscrupulously, with naked amusement:
“What’s up? Miss Arima, you look so excited… Do you need some ‘magic replenishment’ too? The price is very cheap and the service is excellent.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “service in place” and glanced ambiguously at Kana’s chest, which was heaving violently with anger.
“Shameless!! Obscene!!!”
She raised her hand and, with all her strength, slapped Xiao Wen’s face, which had a hateful smile on it.
“Kana-chan! Don’t—!”
Ruby screamed. She had never seen Kana so angry.
At the moment when the slap was about to land on Xiao Wen’s face——
“Hmm—”
Xiao Wen raised his hand and gently grabbed Kana’s wrist, then pulled her over and held her close to him, just like Ruby.
Kana blinked, seemingly not realizing what had just happened.
I don’t know why, but when my body was pressed against Xiao Wen’s, I didn’t feel that angry anymore.
“Kana-chan! You misunderstood! This…Mr. Xiao, he is not a bad person!”
Seeing that Kana seemed to calm down, Ruby hurriedly explained, and at the same time glanced at Xiao Wen with resentment, as if questioning him why she didn’t know Xiao Wen’s name, but Kana could recognize him when they met for the first time.
“Ruby, you’re still making excuses for him. I…”
Kana, whose anger was rekindled, was stunned when she saw Ruby’s eyes sparkling with hope and happiness.
Looking at this… although I don’t know what happened, it seems that Ruby has really been freed from that state?
“Kana-chan, I…”
Ruby took a deep breath and looked directly into Kana’s completely stunned eyes, which were filled with shock and confusion.
“I’m fine and happy now. I’m so happy now… that I can light up the entire Tokyo Dome! Kana-chan!”
“Varied–“
Kana’s raised arm froze in mid-air, and the slap could no longer land.
She stared blankly at her best friend, seeing the dazzling light in Ruby’s eyes that she had never seen before, so bright that it made her panic.
Is this… is this still the sensitive and fragile Hoshino Ruby she knows, who needs her protection at all times?
Kana froze in place, as if under a spell, her mind blank.
For the first time, she felt as if she had never really known this close friend with whom she spent every day.
She didn’t even try to break free from Xiao Wen’s restraints immediately.
“You…Xiao Wen, I will remember you!”
Finally, when Xiao Wen’s patience was almost exhausted, Kana finally reacted, broke free from Xiao Wen, and then dragged the dazed Ruby and ran out the door.
While running, Kana did not forget to turn back and wave his fist at Xiao Wen as a warning.
Even this warning had no lethal effect on Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen did not stop them, but watched them leave.
Kana couldn’t move for the time being. There was no system prompt when she got closer just now. It seemed that the time was not right yet.
Ruby has already used it once, so let’s go see her in a couple of days.
So, who’s next…
Xiao Wen was thinking, when suddenly, he heard a voice that sounded like someone complaining:
“Really? Why is the quality of cosplay costumes bought online so bad? I should have hired someone to make them…”
Just as he finished speaking, a fair-skinned and beautiful girl walked out of the room opposite Xiao Wen, holding a thick stack of cosplay costumes.
That is…Kitagawa Umi?
And it seems that she hasn’t met the boy who can make a cosplay costume for her yet?
Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth.
The next prey has been found.
Three things to do when reading: read, collect, and reward!
Chapter 5: The Prey that Came to Your Door (Old Version)
Akihabara in the afternoon is bustling with people, filled with the noise and vitality unique to the two-dimensional world.
The sunlight shines through the gaps between the tall buildings, illuminating the dazzling array of anime signs and the hurried otakus.
Xiao Wen put his hands in his pockets and strolled slowly on the central avenue, his eyes seemingly casually sweeping over the exquisite models and posters in the street windows.
Ruby was being “protected” by Kana for the time being, but it didn’t matter, she still had plenty of energy. He needed new… “ingredients.”
For example, the one I saw this morning, if nothing unexpected happens…
At this moment, the crowd in front suddenly broke into a commotion, accompanied by a few exclamations and suppressed laughter.
“Wow—!”
“No way?!”
“Look over there!”
Xiao Wen looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young girl standing frozen in place, at a loss, at the door of an anime-themed cafe not far away. Her pretty face was flushed red, almost bleeding.
The girl was tall and voluptuous, with dazzling golden hair tied into a high ponytail that swung lively as she moved frantically. She was wearing an extremely ornate and elaborate Gothic Lolita-style costume, with layers of lace and ribbons that accentuated her already impressive figure even more alluringly.
However, what attracted the most attention at this moment was the shocking crack on her lower back.
It was obvious that the low-quality fabric could not withstand her movement of bending down to pick up something, or the stitching itself was not strong. In any case, the OS suit was torn directly at the waist connection, and the tear was more than ten centimeters long.
The black safety pants underneath and a small section of white, smooth, and seductively curved skin on her waist were exposed defenselessly to the afternoon sun in Akihabara and countless gazes.
The girl, Kitagawa Umi, had a blank mind at this moment. The huge sense of shame and helplessness made her beautiful amber eyes instantly covered with a layer of mist.
She subconsciously tried to cover the tear on her back with her hands in vain, but this action made the already tight fabric on her chest groan under the weight, and her plump curves were exposed, making her even more eye-catching.
The gazes from all around her pierced her like needles, and the sounds of whispers and mobile phone cameras made her wish she could disappear right where she was.
“Oh… It’s over… How could this happen…” Hai Meng’s voice was filled with tears, and she was anxious and angry, and her golden ponytail was a little wilted.
She specially wore the newly arrived “Lilith, Queen of the Night” COS costume to attend the fan meeting today, but she made such a fool of herself before she even entered the venue!
Just when Hai Meng was filled with shame and anger, and was considering whether to rush into the alley next to her and hide, a figure walked through the crowd of onlookers as if strolling in the garden and came in front of her, just blocking most of the prying eyes.
The man who came was tall and slender, wearing a simple black T-shirt and trousers. It was Xiao Wen.
He glanced calmly at Hai Meng’s bewildered appearance. “Do you need help?”
Hai Meng raised her head suddenly as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw, and her amber eyes instantly lit up with hope:
“You…can you help me?!” She nodded eagerly, speaking rapidly, “The clothes! The clothes are torn! It’s at the back! Please! If you can just block it temporarily or…or sew it up! I have a sewing kit! It’s in my bag!”
She frantically tried to rummage through her huge COS prop bag.
“Give me the sewing kit.”
Xiao Wen spoke concisely and at the same time naturally turned sideways, using his body to more completely block Hai Meng’s back and isolate him from more malicious gazes.
Hai Meng quickly took out a small pink sewing kit from her bag and handed it over.
Xiao Wen took the sewing kit, opened it and took a look. It was full of needles and threads, as well as a few spare small buttons.
“Turn around and don’t move.” His tone was full of unquestionable command.
Hai Meng immediately turned around like an obedient primary school student, with her back to Xiao Wen. She nervously grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands, her body tense and she even held her breath.
He did not act immediately, but first carefully observed the location, direction and texture of the tear.
That focused gaze seemed to carry some kind of substantial warmth as it lingered on Hai Meng’s exposed skin at the waist, making her feel as if that skin was gently scratched by a feather, numb and itchy, and her body trembled slightly uncontrollably.
[A strong mixture of “shame” and “anticipation” has been detected…meets the energy absorption criteria…][[Passionate Gaze] passively activated… The target’s local body temperature rises by 0.5°C…]The prompt from the Succubus system flashed through Xiao Wen’s mind.
A barely perceptible smile flashed across his eyes. Very good, the energy response is very active.
Then he moved. He picked up a tiny sewing needle between his fingertips and threaded it with black thread, a color similar to the clothes.
The movements were so fast that they almost left an afterimage! The needle tip precisely penetrated the fabric at the edge of the tear, deftly weaving, pulling, and tying knots.
His fingers would occasionally and inevitably brush against Hai Meng’s exposed skin. The slightly cool touch intertwined with the warmth brought by the “passionate gaze”, forming a strange, heart-pounding stimulation.
“Um…” Hai Meng couldn’t help but let out a very light, trembling whimper, and her body shook even more violently.
She could clearly feel the needle and thread traced across her skin, and the occasional tingling sensation of her calloused fingertips. This feeling… was so strange! It made her even more flustered than being watched!
Xiao Wen’s movements did not pause at all, as if he did not hear the whimper.
He focused on the work in his hands, and his stitches were fine and neat, as if the most sophisticated instrument was operating.
At the same time, he was quietly feeling the delicate touch of the skin under his fingertips, as well as the girl’s breathing that rose and fell slightly due to nervousness and shyness.
Less than three minutes.
“Okay.” Xiao Wen’s voice broke the silence.
He bit off the thread neatly and gently smoothed the fabric at the stitched part of Hai Meng’s back with his fingers to make sure there were no wrinkles.
That gentle touch made Hai Meng feel like she was hit by a weak electric current. Her whole body trembled violently and she almost jumped up.
She subconsciously reached behind her – the crack disappeared!
The fabric is perfectly sewn together, with stitches so fine that they are almost invisible!
Only where the fingertips touched, there seemed to still be the warmth of that person’s fingertips and a hint of… strange, blushing comfort?
“That’s…that’s amazing!” Hai Meng turned around abruptly, her face still flushed, but her amber eyes were filled with pure wonder and admiration as she looked at Xiao Wen with sparkling eyes. “You sewed so quickly! And so neatly! It’s like magic! Thank you! You really helped me a lot!”
She jumped on the spot excitedly, her energy instantly returning and her golden ponytail flying.
The onlookers around also exclaimed and quacked.
Xiao Wen watched her change from being on the verge of tears to being full of energy in an instant, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
The emotions change quickly and the energy fluctuations are active, making it a good… “ingredient”.
“It’s just a piece of cake.” He said lightly, handing the sewing kit back to her.
“It’s no small feat! You saved my life!”
Haimeng took the sewing kit, clasped her hands together, and smiled brightly and familiarly, “My name is Kitagawa Haimeng! What’s yours, benefactor?”
“Xiao Wen.”
“Xiao Wen… Sang?” Hai Meng tilted her head and repeated his name, her smile brightening even more. “Thank you so much for today! To thank you, I’ll buy you a drink! I know there’s a great anime cafe nearby!”
She pointed to the store she had almost entered just now, her eyes eager.
Xiao Wen looked at the girl’s energetic smile and her unguarded amber eyes, feeling the positive energy waves of gratitude and excitement emanating from her, and nodded.
“Can.”
The prey seemed happy to walk into the hunting ground on their own.
Chapter 6: Secret Teachings (Old Edition)
The anime cafe has soft lighting and is filled with standees and decorations of various two-dimensional characters.
The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and desserts, as well as soft game music in the background.
Hai Meng was obviously very familiar with this place. She took Xiao Wen to a relatively secluded corner booth as if she knew the place well.
She enthusiastically ordered a bunch of cute desserts and two special drinks.
“Here! Xiao Wensang! This is their signature ‘Brave Special Drink’! It’s super delicious!”
Hai Meng pushed a cup of brightly colored drink decorated with a small sword in front of Xiao Wen, while she herself held a cup of pink “Magical Girl Special Drink”, took a big sip with satisfaction, her cheeks puffed up.
Xiao Wen looked at the fancy drink in front of him, picked up the straw and took a sip without any expression.
Sweet, too sweet.
“Xiao Wensang, your sewing skills are amazing! Did you learn it specifically?”
Hai Meng put down the cup, her amber eyes staring at Xiao Wen curiously, full of inquiry. “Those few strokes just now were so fast, faster than any tailor I’ve ever seen! And the stitches were so dense!”
“Interest.” Xiao Wen simply spit out two words.
Of course, he couldn’t say that the physical enhancement rewarded by the system was comprehensive, including finger flexibility.
Xiao Wen’s eyes fell on the huge COS prop bag that Hai Meng placed on the seat next to him, and the corner of fabric exposed from the zipper gap – it seemed to be another unfinished COS costume.
Hai Meng noticed his gaze and immediately dragged the bag towards him like a treasure and unzipped it.
“Look! These are the characters I’m going to cosplay next! This one is Aunt Himeko from ‘Starry Sky Railway’! This one is Pava from ‘Chainsaw Man’! And this one…”
Xiao Wen looked at these COS costumes of different styles, his eyes moving slightly.
He picked up one of the elven robes from “The Burial of Fulilian” and twisted the slightly rough seams at the cuffs with his fingers. “Here, the stitching is crooked. The stress point is wrong, so it’s easy to break.”
“Eh?!” Hai Meng came over to take a look, and sure enough, the stitching on the cuffs was a little twisted, and looked very amateurish compared to the stitching on other parts of her body.
“Ah! Really! I always feel uncomfortable when I sew here, it’s always wrong…”
“The needlework is wrong.” Xiao Wen put down his clothes and stretched out his hand. “Give me the sewing kit.”
“Oh! Okay!” Hai Meng immediately handed over the pink sewing kit.
Xiao Wen took it and threaded the needle skillfully.
He did not remove the crooked part of Hai Meng’s sewing, but directly sewed a new line parallel to the cuff she had sewn. His movements were still astonishingly fast.
“Look here.” Xiao Wen motioned Hai Meng closer. “Use the backstitch method here. The stitches should be dense and follow the grain of the fabric. Don’t pull hard.”
Hai Meng almost put her face close to Xiao Wen’s hand, looking carefully at the jumping needle tip and nimble fingers.
The two of them were very close, and a few strands of her golden hair even brushed against Xiao Wen’s arm.
[Target’s focus increased… Curiosity arose… Absorbing…][“Passionate Vision” remains active… The target’s temperature steadily rises…]The system’s prompt sounded pleasantly in Xiao Wen’s mind.
Very good, this close-range “teaching” is very effective.
“So that’s how it is! Follow the grain!”
Hai Meng suddenly understood, her eyes sparkling with admiration, “Xiao Wensang, you’re so knowledgeable! I think you’re even better than a professional tailor!”
She couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch the impossibly neat new stitches.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the back of Xiao Wen’s hand, Xiao Wen naturally withdrew his hand, avoiding contact, and showed her the sewn cuffs: “Try it yourself.”
“Huh? Oh! Okay!”
Hai Meng was stunned for a moment, then attracted by the new knowledge. She quickly took the needle and thread and clumsily tried to imitate Xiao Wen’s technique.
She lowered her head, her expression extremely focused, the tip of her small nose was slightly sweaty, and her pink lips were slightly pouting due to the exertion.
Xiao Wen leaned against the back of the sofa in the booth, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on Hai Meng as if they were real.
From the white back of her neck exposed by her lowered head, to the plump curves that rose and fell slightly with her breathing, outlined by the tight T-shirt, to those amber eyes that looked particularly serious because of her concentration…
Every detail exudes youthful vitality and an unconscious temptation.
He seemed to be appreciating a fine work of art, or evaluating the quality of a dish of food.
His fingertips tapped unconsciously on the table, as if recalling the touch of the delicate skin when he was stitching just now.
Hai Meng tried several times, and although it was better than before, it was still crooked.
She raised her head in frustration: “It still doesn’t work… Xiao Wensang, can you show me again? Slower this time?”
Xiao Wen looked at her somewhat frustrated yet expectant eyes and did not refuse.
“Give me your hand.”
Hai Meng didn’t understand what was going on, but she still obediently stretched out her hand holding the needle and thread.
Xiao Wen’s palm, dry and slightly cool, covered the back of her hand, holding it firmly with irresistible force. His other hand gently pinched her fingertips, adjusting her needle-holding posture.
“!!” Hai Meng’s whole body suddenly stiffened!
The warm touch on the back of her hand and fingertips made her brain go blank in an instant!
She could clearly feel the lines on the other person’s palm and the thin calluses on the fingertips.
It was ten times more stimulating than being touched on the back on the street just now!
[Target’s emotions fluctuate violently! “Shame” energy peaks!][The effect of “Passionate Vision” is increased! The target’s body temperature rises by 0.5℃!]“Relax your fingers and keep your wrists tight.”
Xiao Wen’s voice rang right beside her ear, his deep breath brushing against her earlobe faintly. “The needle tip goes in from here, at a forty-five-degree angle. Keep your wrist steady when pulling the thread, don’t shake it.”
He almost half hugged her and taught her step by step.
Hai Meng’s whole body was stiff, her cheeks were as red as ripe tomatoes, and even her ears were stained crimson.
Her body seemed to be under a spell, completely out of control, and could only passively move the needle and thread according to his guidance.
The needle tip moved clumsily on the fabric, but rather than the needle and thread, Hai Meng’s entire senses were focused on the big hand that was wrapped around her hand, and the vague, solid touch on her back.
Too… too close! This distance… this posture… is too much!
“Concentrate.” Xiao Wen seemed to notice that she was distracted, and he slightly tightened the hand that was pinching her fingertips.
“Ah! I’m… sorry!” Hai Meng was like a frightened deer. She quickly forced herself to focus back on needlework, but her violent heartbeat and the heat on her face showed no signs of subsiding.
This “teaching” is even more torturous than torture and… makes my heart beat faster!
Finally, under Xiao Wen’s “close” guidance, Hai Meng managed to sew out a small piece of stitches that were acceptable.
“That’s enough.” Xiao Wen let go of his hand at the right time and kept some distance.
The warm feeling of being wrapped and the strong sense of oppression suddenly disappeared. Hai Meng subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but a feeling of emptiness inexplicably arose in her heart.
She looked at the crooked stitches she had sewn, which were indeed much better than before, and then looked at Xiao Wen’s demonstration which was as perfect as a print. Then she thought of the suffocating “intimate teaching” just now, and her cheeks turned red again.
“Thank…thank you Xiao Wensang…” Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, completely devoid of her usual energy.
Xiao Wen looked at her like this, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
He slowly picked up the sweet “Brave Special Drink” and took a sip.
“If you want to learn, you can come to me later.”
He put down the cup, his tone as calm as if he was talking about the weather, “I’m a little interested in…complex clothing structures.” His eyes swept over the design drawings and semi-finished products that Hai Meng spread out on the seat.
The prey seemed to be interested in the trap and even began to approach it.
Chapter 7: The Girl’s Confused Mind (Old Version)
“Kana-chan…”
In the elevator going downstairs at the hospital, Ruby spoke timidly, her crimson eyes filled with worry and confusion.
After she was forcibly taken out of the hotel, she was taken to the hospital. Kana didn’t say why, but brought her in for a full body examination to see if there were any signs of violence.
After a whole day of checking, there was no evidence that Kana hoped for, nor was there any residue of hallucinogens.
“Are you…are you okay?”
“Am I okay?!” Kana turned her head abruptly, her voice rising with excitement, “Ruby! Do you even know what you’re doing?! That man! That Xiao Wen! Who is he?! How could you be in the same room with him… with him?! For a whole night! And with that photo!!”
She almost yelled.
When Ruby mentioned the bathroom photo, her face turned pale instantly and a huge sense of shame surged in her heart.
She lowered her head, and her long golden hair fell, covering most of her face.
“I… I know this seems strange…” Ruby’s voice was as thin as a mosquito, with a strong nasal tone, “But… Kana-chan, it’s not what you think…”
“It’s not what I thought?!” Kana was almost laughing with anger. She grabbed Ruby’s shoulders and forced her to look up at her. “Ruby! Look at me! You told me that a strange man brought you into a suite in a luxury hotel, and you were wearing his shirt! And there was that photo of you in the bathtub! Tell me, how else could this be?! What did he do to you?! Did he threaten you? Or did he drug you?!”
Kana’s eyes were bloodshot. She couldn’t accept that her best friend, Ruby, whom she had always tried to protect, would fall into such a dangerous situation.
“No! Really not!” Ruby shook her head anxiously, her golden hair flying with her movements. “He didn’t threaten me, nor did he…drug me…”
When she said this, her voice dropped again, and an unnatural blush appeared on her cheeks. “It’s…it’s me…”
“Yourself?!” Kana’s voice suddenly rose. “Ruby! Are you crazy?! Do you know what you’re talking about?! What kind of magic potion did he feed you?!”
She looked at the eager defense in Ruby’s eyes that didn’t seem fake… and even had a hint of dependence, and her heart sank a little bit.
“It’s not a love potion!” Ruby suddenly raised her head, her scarlet eyes looking directly at Kana, flashing with a complex and determined light that Kana had never seen before. “Kana-chan, listen to me! Last night… I was really bad… I went near the place where the doctor in my previous life worked… and then… and then I…”
Her voice choked, and she seemed to be back to that desperate, cold, rainy night. “…and then I met Xiao Wensang.”
“He was the one who…took me away from there.”
Ruby’s voice trembled with fear. “At that time… I felt that the whole world was dark and cold… It was he who gave me a little… warmth.”
“And then?!” Kana stared at her closely, not missing any expression on her face. “He took you to a hotel? And then you…”
“No!” Ruby’s face turned even redder, and she argued eagerly, “He…he helped me…relieve that feeling. In a…very special way.”
She couldn’t explain the system on Xiao Wen in detail, so she could only vaguely say, “Although…although…it was indeed…that they had sex…”
Her voice was almost inaudible, and her head drooped even lower, her fingers unconsciously twisting the overlong sleeves of her shirt. “But… Kana-chan, I can feel that he really… means no harm. He… he helped me drive away the despair that made me want to die. Now I… really feel much better.”
Kana looked at Ruby.
She saw the embarrassment on Ruby’s face, and the complicated light in her eyes when she mentioned Xiao Wen.
There was gratitude, confusion, lingering shyness, and even a hint of…dependence that she herself might not have noticed?
But it is true that there is no longer the empty and dead feeling of despair that I had yesterday.
This huge contrast made Kana’s anger and questioning like a popped balloon, and most of it disappeared in an instant.
She felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
Ruby’s condition did improve, but the price she paid… or the way she experienced it, was something she could not understand or accept at all.
The elevator dinged and arrived at the first floor. The door opened.
Kana took a deep breath, forcing down her surging emotions. She took Ruby’s hand, this time much more gently. “Forget it, it’s getting late. I’ll take you home first.”
The two walked out of the office in silence and hailed a taxi.
After Ruby’s apartment address was announced, the small carriage fell into a depressing silence again.
The street scene outside the window passed by quickly. The bright sunshine could not dispel the low pressure in the car.
Ruby lowered her head, looking at the pair of disposable slippers on her bare feet, and remembered the disgust and a little… well, it was hard to describe the feeling when Xiao Wen ruffled her hair in the convenience store that morning.
He had clearly taken away her most important thing, but he would frown when she was barefoot, and remind her when her hair was wet that she would have a headache and miss training (although he did it in a debt collection way).
He spoke harshly, his eyes always filled with amusement and scrutiny, making her feel exposed, yet… strangely, making her feel at ease?
At least around him, the despair that followed him like a shadow really disappeared.
This contradictory feeling became a tangled mess in her heart.
Is he a good guy, or a bad guy? Is he a jerk who takes advantage of others, or… did he really save her?
“Kana-chan…” Ruby suddenly remembered something, raised her head, and broke the silence, “How did you know…his name is Xiao Wen?”
This question lingered in her mind for a long time.
She herself didn’t know Xiao Wen’s name, and only found out when Kana rushed in and roared.
How did Kana know?
Kana’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
She looked at the street scene passing by outside the window, her eyes flickered, and her tone was a little stiff:
“This… this is not important! What’s important is you! Ruby! What are you going to do now? At the office… and B Komachi…”
“Kana-chan!” Ruby keenly caught Kana’s momentary avoidance. She stared at Kana’s profile stubbornly, “Tell me! How do you know Xiao Wensang? Have you met before?”
She felt strangely concerned. Could it be that Xiao Wensang and Kana-chan…?
“Who knows that bastard?” Kana turned around like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, with an angry look on her face as if something had been exposed. “I… I asked someone to check! Yes! I asked someone to check! You suddenly disappeared and sent those weird messages, so of course I had to find out where you were and who you were with!”
“You asked someone to look it up?” Ruby tilted her head, her crimson eyes filled with confusion. “Who? How could they find the name and address so quickly?”
“Oh! What do you care who I ask to investigate!” Kana scratched her hair irritably and turned her back to Ruby. “Anyway, stay away from that Xiao Wen from now on! He’s not a good person! Do you hear me, Ruby?”
Ruby looked at Kana’s back, who obviously didn’t want to talk anymore, pursed her lips and didn’t ask any more questions.
But the doubts in my heart were like a seed, quietly planted.
What is Kana-chan hiding? Who was the person who helped her find Xiao Wen’s name?
The car soon arrived at the apartment building where Ruby lived.
Kana got out of the car first, opened the door for Ruby, then took out some money from her wallet and handed it to the driver.
Ruby also got out of the car and stood at the familiar door of her home, but she felt as if she was in another world.
“Go upstairs and have a good rest.” Kana’s tone softened a little, but it was still unquestionably tough. “You are not allowed to go anywhere today! In your current state, you are definitely not fit to continue working. I will contact the office and tell them that you are not feeling well and need to rest for a few days. Remember my words, Ruby, don’t have anything to do with that man again!”
She looked Ruby in the eyes, emphasizing seriously.
Ruby opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but seeing the unquestionable worry in Kana’s eyes, she swallowed her words back.
“Yeah…I got it, Kana-chan.”
“Be good.” Kana seemed relieved and reached out to ruffle Ruby’s hair, but she paused halfway, as if she remembered something. In the end, she just patted her shoulder gently and said, “Go upstairs and lock the door. Call me anytime if you have anything.”
Watching Kana turn around and leave, then hail another taxi, Ruby stood there for a long time without moving.
The afterglow of the setting sun stretched her shadow very long.
The loose black shirt that belonged to Xiao Wen fluttered gently in the cool evening breeze.
Chapter 8: Not bad (old version)
the next day.
“Xiao Wensang! Xiao Wensang! Good news!” Hai Meng’s energetic voice rang along with the crisp doorbell.
When Xiao Wen opened the door, he saw a blonde girl standing at the door with a brilliant smile on her face and two colorful tickets waving in her hands.
“Look! I won! Invitation tickets to the Hakone Hot Springs Hotel! For two people!” Hai Meng excitedly shoved the tickets in front of Xiao Wen’s eyes. “It’s the consolation prize I won for that cosplay competition yesterday! I thought I had no chance! I’m so lucky!”
Xiao Wen glanced at the ticket, which had an exquisite hot spring hotel pattern printed on it. “So?”
“So, to thank you for saving me and teaching me how to sew!” Hai Meng clasped her hands together, her amber eyes sparkling as she looked at Xiao Wen with anticipation. “Let’s go together! As a thank you! The hot springs there are super-famous! And the hotel also offers yukata rentals, so we can take lots of beautiful photos!”
[Target Emotion: Excitement, anticipation, with a subtle hint of nervousness… Energy Quality: Excellent…]The Succubus system gave positive feedback.
Xiao Wen looked at Hai Meng’s expectant and defenseless face.
Hot springs? The enclosed space, the lingering steam, the thin yukata…it sounded like a perfect place to gain energy. And he really needed to relax and digest the energy he had recently absorbed.
“Okay.” He nodded.
“Yeah! That’s great!” Hai Meng jumped up happily. “It’s a deal then! I’ll come see you tomorrow morning! Remember to bring a change of clothes!”
Hakone, mountain hot spring hotel.
In the evening, as dusk falls, the mountains are filled with a faint smell of sulfur and the fragrance of grass and trees.
The hotel’s open-air hot springs are divided into men’s and women’s baths, but they are separated only by a natural, not-too-high rock barrier and a dense bamboo forest. The sound of water and faint sounds of conversation can be vaguely heard.
Xiao Wen was wearing a dark blue men’s yukata with a belt tied loosely around his waist, revealing a small area of ​​his muscular chest.
He leaned against the smooth stone beside the hot spring pool and closed his eyes to rest.
The warm spring water wrapped around his body, bringing him an extreme sense of relaxation, and also allowed the various energies absorbed into his body to flow and blend more actively.
[Energy fusion accelerates… “Passionate Vision” proficiency increases…]The system prompts.
At this moment, the sound of water splashing came from the women’s bath next door, along with Hai Meng’s crisp and cheerful voice:
“Xiao Wensang! How’s it going over there? Is the water temperature comfortable?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Wen responded simply.
“The open-air bath here is absolutely amazing! The view is great too!”
Hai Meng seemed to be in a very good mood, and her energy could be felt even through the barrier. “Oh, right! I rented two really nice yukatas! I’ll wear them for you after we finish soaking in the hot springs! One has a cherry blossom pattern, and the other has a goldfish pattern. They’re both perfect for taking photos!”
Xiao Wen opened his eyes, and his gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the barrier of rocks and bamboo forest.
Although he couldn’t see it, his powerful perception could clearly “outline” the graceful outline of the girl next door soaking in the hot spring –
Round shoulders, graceful collarbones, the plump curves immersed in the water, and the skin that looks even more pink and delicate in the hot water… The misty water vapor seems to carry the unique fragrance of a young girl, drifting over in wisps.
[Perception enhanced…Target outline modeling completed…][“Passionate Vision” remotely activated… The target’s surface temperature continues to rise… Energy absorption efficiency increased by 20%…]The system’s feedback was clearer than ever before. This state of “walls having ears,” no, “walls feeling,” actually brought a unique kind of stimulation and… a bounty of energy.
“Xiao Wensang?” Hai Meng didn’t hear a response, so he called out again. His voice was a little doubtful, and he seemed to be moving closer to the barrier.
The sound of the splashing water became clearer. Xiao Wen could even imagine her parting the surface of the water and curiously looking over here, water droplets rolling down her golden hair and smooth skin…
“Yeah, I heard it.” Xiao Wen’s voice was a little deeper than usual, with a hint of lazy hoarseness after being soaked in the hot spring.
“Hehe, that’s good!” Hai Meng didn’t seem to notice anything unusual, and happily went back to the bath, starting to hum an unknown anime song.
After soaking in the hot springs, feeling relaxed and refreshed, the two met in the hotel’s lounge area.
As expected, Hai Meng changed into her rented yukata. One, a pink-and-white gradient printed with dancing cherry blossoms, accentuated her sweetness and femininity; the other, a deep blue with lively goldfish swimming around, added a touch of playfulness and mystery. She spun around in front of Xiao Wen like a butterfly, the hem of her yukata fluttering, revealing her slender, smooth calves and delicate ankles.
“How is it? Does it look good?” Hai Meng looked at Xiao Wen expectantly, her cheeks flushed like a ripe peach because of the heat of the hot spring and the excitement.
Xiao Wen’s gaze wandered over her body unreservedly, from her slender waist outlined by the belt, to her delicate collarbone faintly visible at the neckline of her yukata, to her fair jade feet faintly visible in her clogs… Every part of her exuded the invincible charm of youth and the fresh temptation of just after a bath.
“Not bad.” He gave his evaluation.
Kitagawa Umi is not Ruby, it is almost impossible to achieve it in one go, so take it slow.
[Visual enjoyment…target display desire satisfied…generating pleasurable energy…absorbing…]The system records diligently.
“It’s just good, right?” Hai Meng pouted deliberately, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden.
She skipped over to Xiao Wen and said, “Let’s go, let’s go eat! I heard the kaiseki cuisine at the hotel is amazing!”
Dinner was served in the hotel’s elegant private room, with exquisite dishes laid out one after another.
The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful. Hai Meng chattered about interesting COS stories and complained about the quality of clothes bought online, with a happy glint in her eyes.
Most of the time, Xiao Wen just listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two, but his focused gaze and the occasional smile on his lips made Hai Meng feel very happy.
After a few glasses of sake, Hai Meng’s cheeks flushed even more, her eyes took on a hazy, misty look, and she began to talk even more. She rested her chin on her hand, looking across at Xiao Wen, who was dining quietly but exuding a powerful aura, and suddenly asked, “Xiao Wen-san, what kind of person are you? You seem so mysterious, yet you can sew amazing clothes, and yet you seem so indifferent to everything…”
Xiao Wen put down his chopsticks and looked up at her. Under the light, the girl’s slightly tipsy face was charming and alluring, her amber eyes misted with a layer of water. She looked at him curiously and boldly, with an unconscious temptation.
The collar of the yukata opened slightly because of her movements, revealing a small piece of delicate skin.
“What do you think?” Xiao Wen asked, leaning forward slightly to close the distance. His eyes were probing, yet also tinged with a hint of aggression, as if he wanted to see into her heart.
The sudden close distance made Hai Meng’s heart skip a beat! The drunkenness seemed to have almost completely sobered him up.
“I…I…” Hai Meng was speechless for a moment, her cheeks burning hot. She subconsciously shrank back, her eyes avoiding the viewer in panic.
Although she was usually carefree, facing Xiao Wen’s direct and forceful inquiry, especially with that inexplicable look, she instinctively felt a sense of danger and… shyness. Her bottom line seemed to be sounding an alarm.
Xiao Wen saw her momentary panic and retreat, and the aggression in his eyes faded like a tide, returning to his usual calm. He leaned back in his chair, picked up his wine glass and took a sip.
“Are you full?”
“Ah? Um… um!” Hai Meng nodded quickly and breathed a sigh of relief, but the throbbing in her heart lingered for a long time.
Back in the room (the two of them had separate adjacent rooms), Xiao Wen stood by the window, looking at the quiet night and the outline of the mountains outside.
[Summary of this interaction: Target “Kitagawa Umi” has stable energy absorption and high emotional value. Relationship positioning: Ambiguous friendship (not crossing the line). Benefits: Visual enjoyment (yukata), tactile guidance (needlework), sensory stimulation (hot springs), emotional stimulation (dinner)… Overall evaluation: Grade A ingredient, sustainable “feeding.”]The system gives a detailed report.
Although there was no substantial breakthrough, the “energy” gained from this hot spring trip was already rich enough.
Xiao Wen closed his eyes with satisfaction, feeling the power filling his body.
In the next room, Hai Meng collapsed onto the soft tatami, burying her burning cheeks in the pillow, her heart still pounding. Xiao Wen’s last look… and that strange feeling in the hot spring… what on earth was going on? She kicked her legs in frustration. Nothing had happened, but why did it feel… so strange?
Chapter 9: Goodbye Kiss (Old Version)
In the early morning, the mountains of Hakone are filled with a gauze-like morning mist, bringing a refreshing coolness and the freshness of grass and trees. The hot spring hotel is looming in the mist, like a fairyland.
Xiao Wen had already woken up and was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the room, looking at the outline of the mountains and forests outside the window shrouded in fog.
The “joyful energy” and “shameful energy” in the body become more refined after a night of precipitation and the catalysis of hot springs, like a warm current flowing slowly through the limbs and bones.
[Energy fusion degree increased to 85%… “Passionate Vision” stabilized at Lv2…] The system’s cold prompt tone carried a hint of satisfaction.
The next room was still quiet. Kitagawa Umi seemed to be still asleep.
Xiao Wen didn’t bother her. He changed back into his casual clothes and prepared to go downstairs to walk around the courtyard, and by the way, “digest” the extra gains of this hot spring trip.
His heightened perception allowed him to detect some unusual subtle movements outside the hotel, such as deliberately subdued footsteps and the faint hum of some electronic equipment.
Although faint and far away, it stood out in the quiet mountain morning.
Just as he opened the door and was about to walk out, the door next door was gently opened with a “click”.
Hai Meng rubbed her sleepy eyes and appeared at the door with her long, slightly messy golden hair. She was still wearing the plain yukata provided by the hotel, with the collar slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and a small piece of snow-white skin. She looked lazy and confused, just woke up.
“Ah, Xiao Wensang… Good morning…” Seeing Xiao Wen, Hai Meng was obviously stunned for a moment, and then the memory of last night came back to her instantly. Her cheeks suddenly turned red again, her eyes were a little evasive, and her voice was hoarse from just waking up and with a hint of barely perceptible shyness.
“Good morning.” Xiao Wen paused, his gaze grazing over her flushed face and the slightly open neckline. The morning light streamed through the corridor windows, casting a soft golden hue on her. Her sleepy, drowsy appearance held an unwitting allure. A faint, sweet body fragrance, mingled with the unique aroma of the hot spring hotel, drifted towards him.
[Target Status: Just woken, with some residual emotion (embarrassment/slight embarrassment)… Energy fluctuations are stable… Can be collected…]The system gives an assessment in a timely manner.
“Um… well…” Hai Meng seemed to be about to say something, her fingers unconsciously twisting the waistband of her yukata, looking a little awkward. She recalled Xiao Wen’s aggressive gaze at dinner last night, her own retreat, and the racing heartbeat that followed her sleepless tossing and turning in her room. Now, facing him alone, that strange feeling welled up again.
Xiao Wen didn’t urge her, but just looked at her quietly, his eyes calm, as if nothing had happened last night. But this calmness made Hai Meng even more flustered.
“I… I want to say…” Hai Meng took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to raise her head, and looked directly at Xiao Wen with her amber eyes, “Last night… thank you for accompanying me to the hot spring, and… treating me to dinner.” She paused, the blush on her cheeks deepened, “Also… I’m always… grateful to you for teaching me how to sew clothes.” Her voice became smaller and smaller, and finally turned into a whisper.
“Yeah.” Xiao Wen responded, which was considered as acceptance.
There was a subtle silence in the atmosphere.
The morning breeze blew through the corridor, bringing a cool breeze. Hai Meng subconsciously gathered the collar of her yukata, and this action made the curve of her slightly forward body more obvious.
Xiao Wen’s gaze fell on her pink lips, slightly pursed with nervousness. They were plump and moist, like cherry blossom petals drenched in morning dew. A pure, succubus-inspired urge surged up within him—to taste them, to absorb the emotional energy refined by her nervousness and shyness.
[Collection Suggestion: Target emotional peak critical point… “First Kiss” energy estimated to be A+…]The system’s prompts act as catalysts.
Xiao Wen took a small step forward, and the distance between them instantly closed. His unique, cold and aggressive aura instantly enveloped Hai Meng completely.
Hai Meng’s heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously tried to step back, but the doorframe was behind her, leaving her no way back. She could only look up, gazing at Xiao Wen’s suddenly enlarged face and those dark eyes, so deep they seemed to draw her in. His gaze no longer held the same probing, aggressive intensity from last night. Instead, it held a pure, demonic, and captivating focus as he locked his lips firmly on hers.
“Xiao…Xiao Wensang?” Hai Meng’s voice trembled, her amber eyes filled with panic and… a hint of anticipation that she herself wasn’t aware of. Her body felt like it was nailed to the spot, unable to move.
Xiao Wen didn’t answer. He lowered his head slightly, his breath brushing against Hai Meng’s nose. His movements weren’t gentle; they were filled with an undeniable force. One hand gently cupped the back of her neck, steadying her dodging head, while the other hand naturally wrapped around her waist.
“Ugh—!”
The moment the warm lips with a unique masculine scent covered hers, Hai Meng’s brain completely shut down.
It was as if an electric current instantly ran through her body from the point of contact, making her feel numb all over, and all her senses were focused on the touch brought by those two thin lips.
Xiao Wen’s kiss started with a tentative crush, feeling the softness and slight coolness of the lips.
Hai Meng felt dizzy and drained of all her strength. She passively endured this sudden, deep kiss, her body completely leaning on Xiao Wen’s arms and the door frame behind her.
She began to respond clumsily and cautiously, awkwardly meeting his demands, her hands unconsciously grabbing the lapels of his shirt.
[“First Kiss” energy is being absorbed… Quality: A+! Emotional peak has exceeded critical level!][[Passive Gaze] triggers… The target’s core temperature rises by 1.2°C…]【Energy reserves instantly recharged by 15%! 】
The system prompt sounded more cheerful than ever before.
The kiss didn’t last long, but it felt like a century.
When Xiao Wen finally ended the kiss and slowly pulled away, Hai Meng was still in a trance, her eyes hazy, her cheeks flushed, her chest heaving violently. Her amber eyes were misty, like a layer of fog, filled with an alluring innocence and the afterglow of passion.
Xiao Wen looked at the girl in his arms, who looked like she was ready to be picked. His fingertips could feel the delicate touch and slight trembling of her neck skin.
The succubus’s instincts were clamoring for him to go further, but his strong willpower suppressed the urge.
Kitagawa Umi’s “energy” was delicious and stable. Sustainably feeding it like this was more valuable than extracting it all at once. And… that unusual movement outside the hotel seemed to be getting closer.
He loosened his grip on Hai Meng’s waist, and also released the hand holding the back of her neck, and took a step back, creating some distance. The powerful sense of oppression and the intoxicating aura suddenly disappeared.
Hai Meng felt like she had lost her support, her legs gave way, and she nearly fell. She quickly grabbed the door frame to steady herself. She gasped for breath, her eyes too panicked to look at Xiao Wen. Her face felt so hot it could fry an egg, and her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.
“You…you…” She wanted to question, to scold, but when the words came to her lips they turned into a tiny mosquito-like whimper, with a heavy nasal tone and lingering lust.
Xiao Wen seemed oblivious to her expression, his expression returning to his usual composure, as if the person who had just kissed her passionately wasn’t him. He pulled a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket and quickly wrote down a string of numbers.
“My Line.” He stuffed the note into Hai Meng’s hand, who was still in a daze. His fingertips slid across her tender palm, bringing a subtle electric current. “If you have any problems with your clothes, or… want to learn needlework, you can come to me.” His tone was so flat, as if he was explaining something very ordinary.
Hai Meng subconsciously clenched the note paper that still carried his body temperature. The flamboyant numbers on it were as hot as a branding iron.
“I… I’ll go back first!” She could no longer stand this ambiguous atmosphere that made her heart beat out of control, and she didn’t bother to think about why Xiao Wen suddenly gave her his contact information. Like a frightened rabbit, she turned around abruptly, opened the door of her room, and rushed in. She closed the door with a “bang”, slid down to sit on the ground with her back against the door panel, her heart still beating wildly.
Xiao Wen, standing outside the door, listened to the suppressed, embarrassed, and confused sobs coming from within, and a barely perceptible curve of his lips curved. The prey had been hooked, the contact information bait already cast.
At that moment, his powerful senses detected a very slight, suppressed groan of pain and the subtle sound of metal scraping against grass from the outskirts of the inn’s courtyard, near the direction of the forest path! The energy fluctuations he had sensed before, with their vigilant and sharp aura, suddenly became clearer, and… it seemed as if they were in some kind of trouble?
Xiao Wen’s eyes narrowed slightly, and without stopping, he turned and strode downstairs. It seemed that a new “energy source” had been delivered to his door, and…it was likely of high quality.
He walked briskly through the quiet hotel courtyard in the early morning, following the direction he sensed, and quietly approached the junction of bushes and forests at the edge of the hotel.
Pushing aside a patch of dense ferns covered with morning dew, Xiao Wen’s gaze fixed on a patch of fallen grass.
There, a figure was curled up.
A girl wearing a black special combat uniform, outlining her slender yet powerful figure.
She had neatly cropped hair, the tips dyed a vibrant red. A few strands of red hair were now clung to her smooth forehead by sweat. Her delicate, doll-like face was now furrowed in pain, and her forehead was covered in fine beads of cold sweat. Her left hand tightly grasped her right arm near her shoulder, dark red blood seeping from between her fingers, staining the black fabric of her combat uniform.
What was most striking was her eyes—even amidst the excruciating pain and weakness, they remained incredibly sharp and alert, like a hawk locking onto its prey. At this moment, these eyes were fixed intently on the sudden appearance of Xiao Wen, filled with shock, wariness, and a subtle hint of… help?
At her feet, there were several yellow bullet casings scattered around, as well as a pistol (P90?) with a strange shape and a cold metallic luster.
Xiao Wen’s gaze swept across the wound on her shoulder, then fell on her face which was slightly pale due to blood loss, and finally stopped at her golden-brown eyes which shone brightly even in difficult situations.
Thousands of brocade trees.
One of the Lycoris Organization’s top “Artificial Heart” agents.
At this moment, this “ace” who should have been drinking coffee on the top of Tokyo Tower was hiding in the grass outside the Hakone Hot Spring Hotel like a wounded rabbit.
“Tsk.” Xiao Wen let out an ambiguous sigh, breaking the morning silence. He looked at the forced vigilance and stubbornness in the girl’s eyes, and the playful curve of his mouth reappeared.
The new “ingredients” look… quite delicious, and the situation seems very “interesting”.
Chapter 10: Don’t Move, Jinmu Chitose (Old Version)
In the early morning forest, the mist had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and the fragrance of grass and trees.
In the flattened grass, Jinmu Chitsugu endured the tearing pain in his right shoulder, his golden-brown eyes fixed on the strange man who suddenly appeared.
Danger! This was her first reaction as a Lycoris agent.
The timing and place of this man’s appearance are too weird!
He was wearing casual clothes, but his temperament was cold and deep, and his eyes were terrifyingly calm, as if the wound on her shoulder and the scattered bullet shells were just roadside scenery.
What frightened her even more was that she hadn’t noticed how he got so close!
“Who are you?!” Qianshu’s voice was hoarse due to the pain, and her left hand subconsciously reached for her waist – where her spare pistol should have been hung, but now it was empty.
Xiao Wen did not answer her question.
His gaze lingered on the wound on her shoulder that was bleeding for two seconds, then swept over her pale lips and her body that was trembling slightly due to blood loss.
[Target Status: Penetrating wound to right shoulder, bullet remains, moderate blood loss, severely exhausted… Emotions: Highly alert, in pain, struggling… Energy Quality: S-Rank (Tenacity/Fighting Will/Latent Fear)… Absorption Recommendation: First aid will significantly increase trust and subsequent energy collection efficiency…]The Succubus system’s analysis is fast and accurate.
“If you don’t want to go into shock from excessive blood loss, just shut up.”
He ignored Qianshu’s murderous gaze and squatted down.
“What are you doing?!” Qian Shu was shocked and instinctively swung out his left hand to block, but due to the serious injury, his movement was half a beat slower.
Xiao Wen easily deflected her weak attack, and his right hand grasped her left wrist, which was covering the wound, with such precision like an iron clamp that he could not break free.
At the same time, his left hand reached out and, with a “swish”, tore open the combat uniform fabric around the wound on her right shoulder.
“Ouch!” Qianshu groaned in intense pain as the wound was exposed to the cool air, and cold sweat instantly soaked her temples. She glared at Xiao Wen angrily, her eyes nearly spitting fire, but the dizziness from the blood loss made her resistance increasingly weak.
Xiao Wen’s gaze fell on the wound. It was a clear penetrating wound, with the entrance in front of the shoulder and the exit behind. The bullet must have exited, but it had caused severe lacerations, rupturing muscles and blood vessels, and gushing blood. He frowned slightly.
“It’s a penetrating wound. No major arteries were damaged, but the muscle is severely torn. It needs to be stopped and sutured as soon as possible.”
Xiao Wen made a calm judgment, as if stating an objective fact. He quickly pulled out a simple first aid kit from his backpack.
This is basic preparation. After all, damaged “ingredients” will affect the “taste”.
Seeing the professional first aid kit with the International Red Cross logo, the anger and vigilance in Qianshu’s eyes were replaced by a hint of astonishment. This guy… carries this with him?
Xiao Wen put on disposable medical gloves with quick movements and used an iodine cotton ball to quickly clean the stains around the wound.
The severe pain from the disinfectant irritating the wound made Qianshu’s body tremble violently, and he bit his lower lip tightly to prevent himself from screaming.
“Bear with it.” Xiao Wen’s tone remained cold, but his movements were exceptionally smooth and precise. He took out a hemostatic gauze and applied pressure to the wound, temporarily slowing the bleeding. Then he took out a sterile suture kit and a needle holder.
“You…you’re going to sew here?!” Qian Shu exclaimed in disbelief as he watched him take out professional suturing tools in such a crude environment. This environment, these sanitary conditions…
“Otherwise, by the time you get to the hospital, you’ll have bled out, or your ‘target’ will have caught up with you.” Xiao Wen, without even looking up, had already threaded the sutures. “There’s no anesthetic, so just bear with it.”
Before he could finish his words, the barbed suture needle had already pierced into the torn flesh on Qianshu’s shoulder!
“Ahhh!” Intense, unrelieved pain instantly ripped through her body like an electric current! Qianshu could no longer hold back, letting out a short, stifled cry of pain. Her body violently convulsed, her left hand clutching the grass roots nearby, her knuckles turning white from the strain. Sweat streamed down her forehead, mixing with tears and blurring her vision. This excruciating pain was a hundred times more intense than when she was shot!
Xiao Wen’s face remained expressionless, as if he hadn’t heard her cries of pain. His movements were swift, precise, and steady. The needle holder flew, and the fine suture thread seemed to possess a life of its own, precisely closing the torn muscle and skin layer by layer. His technique was incredibly experienced, even possessing a cold, artistic quality. He completely ignored the girl’s body, trembling with pain beneath him.
[Target’s peak emotion: “Intense pain/fear/strong will” mixed energy dissipates in large quantities… absorbing…][“Passionate Vision” is slightly activated, reducing the target’s local pain nerve sensitivity by 5%…]The system prompted, and at the same time, Xiao Wen was also using the weak “Passionate Vision” ability to slightly relieve her most unbearable nerve pain.
The suturing process was like purgatory for Qianshu. Every time the needle pierced flesh, every time the thread tugged at tissue, it brought excruciating pain. She bit her lip until she could taste blood. Her golden-brown eyes filled with natural tears, but the stubbornness and tenacity that was Lycoris’s trump card remained steadfast within them. She stared at Xiao Wen’s profile, so close to her, as if she wanted to carve this man, who had caused her so much pain, into her very bones.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly. By the time Xiao Wen finally cut the last thread, covered the sutured wound with a dressing, and applied the final pressure bandage, Qian Shu was nearly exhausted, drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of the water. He leaned weakly against the tree trunk behind him, breathing heavily, his eyes a little dazed.
Xiao Wen took off his gloves and packed up his first aid kit. The whole process took less than ten minutes, but it felt like a century to Qian Shu.
“He won’t die for now.” Xiao Wen stood up and looked down at Qian Shu, who was lying limp on the ground. His tone was as calm as if he was reviewing an object. “The wound has been treated very cleanly. Change the dressing on time. Avoid strenuous activities. Remove the stitches in two weeks.”
Qianshu gasped violently, the lingering pain still lingering in her body. She stared at Xiao Wen’s still expressionless face. Her previous anger and vigilance were replaced by a complex mix of emotions—resentment for his brutality, fear of the excruciating pain, but mostly a sense of bewilderment at having survived a catastrophe and shock at this man’s unfathomable depths. Who was he? He possessed uncanny skills, carried professional medical equipment, and possessed suture skills comparable to a field medic. And… facing a “dangerous individual” like her and a gunshot wound, he was so calm, even… indifferent?
“Why…save me?” Qianshu’s voice was hoarse and weak, filled with confusion and vigilance.
“It’s just a matter of convenience.” Xiao Wen’s answer was concise, but his gaze passed her and went deeper into the forest. From there, he could faintly hear subtle, deliberately subdued conversations and footsteps, searching towards them. “Your trouble is here.”
Qianshu’s face paled. She struggled to stand, but the blood loss and the excruciating pain left her powerless. She anxiously glanced in the direction of the sound, then at the pistol and shell casings scattered at her feet. A flicker of despair flashed in her eyes. In her current state, even escaping would be difficult, let alone fighting!
“Three, armed with submachine guns, well-trained, 200 meters away, conducting a fan-shaped search.”
Xiao Wen’s voice reported the information calmly, as if he was stating the weather forecast.
Qianshu suddenly looked up at him, his eyes full of shock.
How did he know?!
Even the number of people and weapons are so clear? !
As Lycoris’s trump card, her perception was far superior to that of ordinary people, but she could only barely detect the movement of someone approaching!
“You…” She was about to speak.
“If you want to survive, tell me the target characteristics and your mission briefing. The more detailed the better.”
Xiao Wen interrupted her, his gaze finally falling back on her face with an unquestionable scrutiny, “Or, you can choose to wait to die here, or be captured.” His tone was calm, but it hit Qian Shu’s heart like a sledgehammer.
Qianshu looked at Xiao Wen’s pair of black eyes that were so deep that they seemed to be able to see through everything, and listened to the searching sounds that were getting closer and closer.
As a top agent, she knows that the situation is stronger than people.
Although the man in front of her was mysterious and even frightened her, at least he did not show any obvious hostility at the moment, and… he had just saved her (although in an extremely brutal way).
In a flash, Qianshu made a decision.
She took a deep breath, suppressed her physical weakness and the doubts in her heart, and whispered in the simplest and fastest language:
“The target is codenamed ‘Viper’, a former defected officer from the Self-Defense Forces special forces, proficient in combat, demolition, and sniping. He’s about 178 cm tall, has a crew cut, and an old scar under his left eye. He’s carrying a hard drive containing important biological weapons research data. Mission: Eliminate the target and recover the hard drive. The other side has support, at least six people, well-equipped. I was ambushed and injured while trying to break out…” She quickly reported the key information without hiding anything.
“Bioweapon data?” Xiao Wen’s eyes flashed with interest. This was an unexpected gain, as it usually contained strong energies of “fear” and “greed.” “The hard drive is with you?”
“He’s not here,” Qianshu shook his head, a trace of annoyance flashing in his eyes. “He took him away. He’s injured in his left leg and has difficulty moving. He probably can’t walk far. The rendezvous point might be at the abandoned observation deck to the north.”
At this moment, the sound of searching footsteps became very clear, and one could even hear a muffled command: “Search carefully! She’s injured and can’t run far! The blood trail stops here!”
Three figures wearing camouflage combat uniforms and holding submachine guns have appeared behind the bushes at the edge of the field of vision, approaching cautiously in a fan shape!
Qianshu’s heart instantly rose to her throat, and her left hand subconsciously reached for the pistol on the ground, but the violent movement affected her shoulder injury, causing her to gasp in pain.
At this critical moment, Xiao Wen moved.
Instead of picking up the gun, he leaned over, put one hand through Qianshu’s knees, and the other hand around her back (avoiding the wound), and with a standard princess hug, he lifted up her light yet powerful body steadily.
“You?!” Qian Shu exclaimed, his body suddenly flew into the air, and he subconsciously hugged Xiao Wen’s neck.
This sudden intimacy made her body stiffen, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably (although it was mostly covered by her paleness). She had never been hugged like this by the opposite sex!
“If you don’t want to be swept into a sieve, shut up and hold on tight.” Xiao Wen’s voice sounded in her ears, with a warm breath, but it was so cold that there was no emotion at all.
Before he finished speaking, his body shot out like a ghost! Instead of moving in a straight line, he took advantage of the dense tree trunks and undulating terrain, and with incredible speed and a strange zigzag route, he rushed towards the depths of the forest, perpendicular to the direction the three militants were searching! His movements were swift and silent, like a cheetah blending into the forest!
Qianshu felt only the whistling of wind in her ears, the scenery before her rapidly receding. The intense feeling of weightlessness made her subconsciously hug Xiao Wen’s neck tightly, burying her face in his solid chest. She could even hear his steady, strong heartbeat. Her heart was filled with shock! This speed! This agility! It completely exceeded human limits! What kind of monster was he?!
Behind them, they heard the militants’ angry shouts and several blind bursts of gunfire. The bullets hit tree trunks and rocks, splashing debris, but they were getting farther and farther away from them.
Xiao Wen carried Qian Shu in his arms, strolling through the rugged mountain forest as effortlessly as if he were strolling in his own backyard. He glanced down at the tense young agent in his arms, her eyes tightly closed. He could feel her body trembling slightly from nervousness and weakness, and her breath, a mixture of blood, sweat, and a hint of a unique, refreshing body fragrance.
[Target Emotion: “Shock/Embarrassment/Weakness/Dependence” mixed energy is steadily absorbed…][Established a preliminary physical connection with S-rank “ingredients”… Energy interaction efficiency improved…]The new “ingredients” might be a little prickly, but… they have enormous potential. A barely perceptible smile played at the corner of Xiao Wen’s mouth, and he, hugging his “temporary partner,” disappeared into the depths of the mist-shrouded mountain forest.
Chapter 11: I’ll Take You to Fight (Old Version)
The morning mist flows slowly through the mountains and forests, like a cold veil, blocking the view and concealing the whereabouts.
Xiao Wen held Qianshu in his arms and moved swiftly and silently through the woods. Every step he took precisely avoided the dead branches and leaves, as if he himself was a part of the forest.
Qianshu was held firmly in his arms, and the initial stiffness and embarrassment were gradually suppressed by the strong instinct for survival and the continuous shock.
She could clearly feel the steady heartbeat from his chest and the rhythm of his muscles as he ran, which formed a strange contrast with his ghostly skills.
The gunshots and shouts behind him had long been thrown away by the dense forest and disappeared.
Xiao Wen’s speed did not slow down at all. He seemed to have a built-in navigation system, and he moved accurately towards the abandoned observation deck in the north through the complex terrain.
Qianshu endured the dull pain from the sutured wound on his shoulder and the dizziness from blood loss, and tried hard to concentrate.
Her mind raced, analyzing the current situation and the mysterious man beside her.
“Put me down.” Her voice was a little hoarse due to weakness, but her tone was unquestionable and firm. “I can walk. This… is too slow.”
More importantly, being carried by a strange man on a mission was a great irony to her identity as Lycoris’s ace.
Xiao Wen glanced down at her, his eyes calm and collected.
He didn’t argue, but stopped suddenly, standing still like a nail.
Then, he loosened his arms and gently lowered Qianfu with an unusually steady movement, letting her lean against a thick tree trunk.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he was hit by a strong dizziness. Qianshu’s eyes went dark and his body swayed. He immediately held on to the tree trunk with his hands and barely managed to stand steady.
The weakness from the blood loss and severe pain was even worse than she had anticipated. She gritted her teeth, cold sweat dripping from her forehead, and stubbornly straightened her back, not letting herself show any sign of weakness.
Xiao Wen looked at her pale face and slightly trembling body without saying a word.
He took out a military water bottle from his backpack, unscrewed the lid and handed it to her.
“Glucose saline solution, to replenish your energy.”
Qianshu looked at him warily and did not answer it immediately.
“Are you afraid it’s poisonous?” Xiao Wen raised his lips with a faint, almost mocking smile. “If I wanted to kill you, it would have been easier to just give you a few more stitches.”
A thousand restraints and one stagnation. Although this is unpleasant to hear, it is the truth.
She no longer hesitated, took the kettle, tilted her head back and took a few big gulps.
The slightly sweet liquid with salt slid into her throat. The cold stimulation made her feel slightly refreshed and the dizziness was relieved a lot.
“Thank you.” She handed the kettle back, her voice still cold, but with significantly less hostility.
Xiao Wen took the kettle and put it away, then looked towards the observation deck.
The fog was still thick, but with his perception, he could clearly “outline” the outline of the abandoned building, and… several figures moving inside.
“The observation deck is a two-story structure, primarily made of concrete, with some rotten wood. Target ‘Viper’ is in the southeast corner of the second floor. He was shot in the left leg, his movements restricted, and he’s being bandaged. He’s been accompanied by two guards armed with assault rifles, guarding the door. Three people are patrolling the first-floor lobby, equipped with submachine guns. There are no fixed outposts on the perimeter, but the field of vision is wide.”
He was like a human radar, calmly reporting intelligence with precise details.
Qianshu was horrified. The level of detail in this intelligence surpassed even Lycoris’s most advanced battlefield reconnaissance system. How did he do it? Could he have X-ray vision?
She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and forced herself to think calmly.
There are five other people on the other side, well-equipped, occupying an advantageous terrain. I am seriously injured, and the identity of the only “helper” is unknown, and the purpose is unknown… If I force my way in, I will be courting death.
“What are your plans?” Qian Shu looked at Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen withdrew his gaze from the observation deck and fell on Qianshu’s face.
“The core of your mission is to recover the hard drive, and eliminating the target is secondary, correct?”
Qianshu hesitated for a moment and nodded.
The biological weapons data on the hard drive is of paramount importance. Target elimination can be postponed, but the hard drive must be recovered.
“Very good.” Xiao Wen took out something from his backpack… something that looked like a small signal jammer, and then took out a black metal cylinder that was only the size of a palm and had a strange shape.
“Create chaos, lure the snake out of its hole, and attack from the east while making a feint to the west.” He said it succinctly.
There’s no need to understand the Succubus system in detail. This backpack basically has everything he needs to obtain energy.
Combined with the “slight” bonus to physical strength provided by the system, he can do anything.
“How?” Qianshu frowned. Signal jamming could only cut off the other party’s communication, but it was not enough to create sufficient chaos.
Xiao Wen didn’t explain, but handed the jammer to Qian Shu: “Here, turn on the maximum power and cover the entire observation deck. Wait for my signal.”
Then, he pointed to a relatively steep area on the west side of the observation deck, covered with jagged rocks and dense shrubs. “You, ambush there. Wait for me to distract the guards on the first floor and at the door, and then you sneak into the second floor from that direction. The window of the target room is broken, and that’s your entrance.”
“Lure the guards away? How do you do that?” Qianshu was even more confused.
The other five people were not fools, how could they be easily led away? And Xiao Wen was only one person.
The playful curve of Xiao Wen’s mouth deepened: “Use a little… trick.”
Qianshu looked at his bottomless eyes, and a chill inexplicably rose from the bottom of her heart.
“I understand.” She tightened her grip on the signal jammer and nodded heavily.
“The signal is… the cry of an owl.” After Xiao Wen finished speaking, his body seemed to blend into the shadow of the thick fog, and he sneaked silently towards the main entrance of the observation deck. His speed was so fast that it almost left an afterimage in Qianshu’s eyes.
Qianshu did not dare to delay. He endured the pain and quickly moved to the ambush point on the west side designated by Xiao Wen.
The location here is secluded, and you can clearly see the broken window on the second floor, and the distance is not too far.
She turned on the signal jammer, and an invisible electromagnetic wave spread out instantly.
Almost at the same time, she vaguely heard a few low curses coming from the observation deck, and the communication was cut off.
Next, we just have to wait for that mysterious “signal”.
Time passed minute by minute, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the forest and Qianshu’s own rapidly beating heart. Every second was an agony.
Could that man… really divert five heavily armed enemies? How exactly would he do that?
Just when all the nerves were stretched to the limit——
“Woo—woo—!”
An extremely shrill wailing sound, like the wails of countless wronged souls, suddenly erupted from the direction of the main entrance of the observation deck.
“What’s that sound?!”
“Enemy attack?!!”
“Alert! Alert!”
There was a sudden commotion in the observation deck.
The three patrolling members on the first floor and the guards at the second floor door were almost simultaneously attracted by the sudden and terrifying sound. They all raised their weapons and looked nervously towards the main entrance where the sound came from.
Immediately afterwards, “Bang! Bang! Bang!” Several dull noises, like the firing of a large-caliber sniper rifle, accompanied by the crackling sound of trees being shattered, came from the dense forest outside the main gate!
“Sniper! There’s a sniper!”
“Outside the main gate! Pin him down!”
The guards were immediately drawn to this “fire attack”.
Now is the time!
Qianshu’s eyes gleamed with brilliance.
Like a cheetah ready to pounce, she endured the shoulder injury and burst out with amazing speed, nimbly climbing up the rugged rocks. Using the cover of bushes, she quietly approached the west wall of the observation deck in a few jumps.
She took a deep breath, kicked the wall hard for leverage, jumped up lightly, and grabbed the edge of the broken window with one hand.
The target “Viper” was indeed still in the room.
He was dragging his injured left leg, struggling to move to the window to check the situation outside, with surprise and anger on his face.
Next to him was a black metal suitcase with a special logo on it – the one containing the hard drive!
A flicker of determination flashed in Qianshu’s eyes! As silently as a cat, she slid through the window and rolled onto the ground the moment she landed, releasing the impact. At the same time, her left hand quickly pulled out the spare tactical dagger hidden on the side of her combat boot!
“Who?!” After all, Viper was a former elite special forces officer, so he reacted very quickly. When he heard the noise, he turned around abruptly, and his right hand subconsciously reached for the pistol at his waist!
But Qianshu is faster than him!
She pounced forward like an arrow, ignoring the tearing pain in her shoulder, and slashed the wrist of Viper’s right hand holding the gun with the dagger in her left hand accurately.
At the same time, he slammed his body into the other person’s arms, using the momentum and weight to knock him to the ground!
“Ah!” Viper’s wrist was cut, the pistol fell out of his hand, and then he was knocked to the ground, which affected his leg injury and made him groan in pain.
Qianshu showed no mercy, his knee rammed hard into his abdomen, while the cold dagger blade was already pressed against his carotid artery!
“Don’t move! Where’s the hard drive?”
A hint of ferocity and unwillingness flashed in Viper’s eyes, but when he felt the coldness of the dagger on his neck and the undisguised murderous intent in Qianshu’s eyes, he finally gave in and pointed at the metal suitcase next to him with difficulty.
Qianshu held the knife in one hand to suppress the viper, and quickly grabbed the suitcase with the other hand and checked that the combination lock was intact.
The core objective of the mission is achieved!
At this moment, the fierce gunfire downstairs suddenly stopped! Then came the guards’ exasperated roars:
“Damn it! I got fooled!”
“It’s fake! It’s a recording and smoke device!”
“Go back quickly! Protect the target!”
Qianshu’s face changed, time was running out.
Without hesitation, she chopped the viper’s neck hard with her knife.
The other party groaned and fainted. She didn’t choose to eliminate the target, and the recovery of the hard drive was the priority!
She grabbed her suitcase and rushed to the broken window without hesitation, ready to evacuate the same way she came!
However, the moment she leaned out of the window, she heard hurried footsteps and the sound of a gun bolt being pulled from downstairs.
A guard was rushing up the stairs to the second-floor corridor, with his gun pointed at the door of the room where she was!
Qianshu’s pupils shrank.
It’s over! It’s too late!
At this critical moment——
“call out!”
An extremely slight sound, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, was heard breaking through the air.
A barely perceptible ray of silver light shot out from the shadows on the other side of the room.
Phew!
It accurately penetrated the neck of the guard who had just rushed to the second floor.
The guard’s body suddenly stiffened, his eyes widened in disbelief, the gun in his hand slipped weakly, and he collapsed to the ground without even being able to scream!
Qianshu’s heart was pounding! She suddenly turned her head to look in the direction of the silver light—
In the shadows in the corner of the room, Xiao Wen stood there like a ghost, playing with a few strangely shaped darts that were flashing with cold light.
When did he get in?! How did he get in?!
“Are you still not leaving? Waiting for them to come up and give you a farewell party?”
Xiao Wen’s voice was tinged with teasing, his eyes sweeping over the suitcase in her hand.
Qianshu came back to his senses instantly, suppressed the fear in his heart, and without hesitation, he hugged the suitcase and nimbly flipped out of the broken window. His figure quickly disappeared into the bushes outside the window.
Xiao Wen glanced at the unconscious Viper on the ground and the guard who was killed by a blow at the door, and then glanced at the noisy footsteps coming from the stairs.
He walked to where the suitcase was originally placed, quickly took out a spare USB flash drive from the viper, and then his body slipped out of an inconspicuous ventilation hole on the other side of the room silently like a shadow blending into the wall, disappearing without a trace.
When the other guards rushed into the room, they saw only the unconscious Viper, his dead companions, and an empty ground.
The hard drive and the target disappeared, as if carried away by ghosts in the mountains and forests. Fear and frustration instantly gripped them.
Chapter 12: I’m Interested in You (Old Version)
Qianshu didn’t know how long she had been running. Only after she was sure that she had completely shaken off the pursuers did she slide down and sit down against a huge ancient tree, gasping for breath.
Sweat had already soaked through her combat uniform, mixed with blood, and stuck to her body stickyly.
She looked around vigilantly. The thick fog was still there and the mountains and forests were dead silent.
Safe for now. She clutched the metal suitcase tightly in her arms, the core of the mission she had exchanged her life for.
At this moment, a figure appeared out of thin air and slowly walked out of the thick fog in front of her.
It was Xiao Wen. He was still wearing his casual clothes, not even a speck of dirt or blood on his body, and his expression was as calm as if he had just been out for a walk.
Qiansu’s nerves tensed instantly, and he subconsciously tightened the dagger at his waist, staring at him with his golden-brown eyes.
“Let me see the hard drive.” Xiao Wen walked a few steps in front of her and stopped, his tone flat, as if asking her for a glass of water.
Qianshu’s eyes glared, and he tightened his grip around the box. “Impossible! This is Lycoris’ top secret!”
How could she possibly hand over something so important to someone with an unknown identity and purpose?
Xiao Wen didn’t seem surprised by her reaction. He just tilted his head slightly, his eyes fixed on her body, which was trembling slightly due to blood loss and severe pain.
“Your wound needs to be re-treated. The stitches may have come undone due to strenuous exercise.”
Only then did Qianshu feel a damp, hot, and sticky sensation on his right shoulder. He looked down and saw that the gauze bandage had been soaked with blood.
The severe pain and dizziness from blood loss came back. She gritted her teeth, trying hard not to collapse.
“Or, you can choose to carry it with you and die here from shock due to excessive blood loss.”
Xiao Wen’s tone remained flat, but it struck Qian Shu’s heart like a heavy hammer.
“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your biological weapons data. I just want to confirm whether it’s worth my effort to save you a second time.”
Qian Shu stared at Xiao Wen’s bottomless black eyes.
Reason told her that this man was extremely dangerous and his words could not be trusted.
But the reality is that in her current condition, it is difficult for her to protect herself, let alone the hard drive.
And… he had indeed saved her just now, more than once.
If it weren’t for him, she would either be a corpse or a prisoner, and the hard drive would have fallen into enemy hands long ago.
The inner struggle swept through like a storm.
In the end, Lycoris’s rationality and desire for life overwhelmed his fear of the unknown.
She took a deep breath, as if using up all her strength, and very slowly pushed the metal suitcase in her arms to Xiao Wen’s feet. This was her greatest compromise and trust.
Xiao Wen didn’t touch the box, but just kicked the lid open gently with his toes.
Inside lay a black hard drive, gleaming with a metallic sheen. His gaze lingered on the hard drive for a few seconds, and the Succubus system’s analysis quickly produced a response:
[The target item contains a high-intensity residual idea of ​​”greed/fear/destruction”… Energy attribute: pollution/chaos… Value: low (absorption is not recommended)].
Sure enough, it was just some dirty desires and seeds of destruction.
A trace of barely perceptible disgust flashed across Xiao Wen’s eyes.
“Rubbish,” he commented lightly, then closed the lid of the box.
Then he took out the first aid kit from the magical backpack again.
Qianshu looked at his disdain for the hard drive and felt inexplicably relieved.
It seems like he’s really not interested.
Xiao Wen squatted down and skillfully untied the blood-stained bandage on Qianshu’s shoulder.
Sure enough, several sutures had broken due to the intense climbing and fighting just now, and the wounds began to bleed again. The surrounding skin and flesh became red, swollen and inflamed due to excessive stretching, which looked shocking.
“Bear with it.” Still the same two words.
Xiao Wen put on gloves and cleaned the wound with disinfectant.
The severe pain caused Qianshu’s body to tremble violently, he groaned, and his forehead was instantly covered with cold sweat.
This time, she did not resist, but just bit her lower lip tightly. Her golden brown eyes were covered with a layer of mist because of the pain, but she stubbornly refused to look away and stared at Xiao Wen’s face.
Xiao Wen’s movements are still precise and efficient
He neatly removed the broken sutures, cleaned the wound again, and then threaded the needle again for a second suture. This time, his movements seemed more… “gentle” than the first time?
Although there was still no anesthetic, the sharp pain of the needle piercing his flesh seemed to be slightly less severe than last time. Qian Shu didn’t know if it was his own illusion or if the other party’s technique had truly changed.
[Local activation of “Passionate Vision”, pain suppression increased to 10%…]The system worked silently. After all, excessive pain leading to shock would affect subsequent “energy output.”
The suturing process was still painful, but with the experience of the first time, Qianshu’s endurance seemed to have improved a lot.
She just tensed her body, occasionally letting out a few suppressed groans of pain from the depths of her throat, and sweat kept sliding down her pale cheeks.
Her eyes never left Xiao Wen’s profile, which was so close to her, trying to find any flaws or intentions on that expressionless face.
After re-bandaging the wound, Xiao Wen packed up his things.
Qianshu felt like he had just been pulled out of the water. He was completely exhausted and leaned against the tree trunk. Even moving a finger was difficult.
“Thank you…” She thanked him weakly, this time with a little more sincerity. Whatever his intentions, he had indeed saved her twice.
Xiao Wen did not respond to her thanks, but took out a few high-energy compressed biscuits and a small bottle of purified water from his backpack and placed them next to her.
“Eat. Replenish my strength.” Then, he walked to a relatively flat and dry rock not far away and sat down, closing his eyes and resting, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
Qianshu looked at the food and water, then at Xiao Wen, who was resting with his eyes closed. Hunger and thirst instantly surged over her. Without hesitation, she picked up a biscuit and nibbled on it, swallowing it with difficulty while dipping it in water.
The cold food slid into the stomach, bringing a sense of warmth and strength.
The forest fell into silence again, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the subtle chewing sounds of thousands of bunches of food.
The thick fog seemed to have thinned a little, and the sunlight struggled to penetrate the clouds, casting mottled spots of light in the woods.
After a long silence, Qianshu finally couldn’t help but speak, breaking the strange silence:
“Who… are you?” This was the biggest question in her mind.
Such bizarre skills, precise intelligence, magical equipment, and an attitude of indifference to life and death… He can’t be an ordinary person.
Xiao Wen slowly opened his eyes, and looked at her with his dark eyes, without any emotion: “A passerby.”
“Just passing by?” Qian Shu was clearly unconvinced, his tone tinged with sarcasm. “Just happened to be carrying professional medical equipment? Just happened to be able to take out five fully armed enemies?”
“Coincidence.” Xiao Wen answered as a matter of course.
Qian Shu was choked by his answer and said angrily, “What’s your purpose? Don’t tell me you just saved someone ‘accidentally’!”
“Energy.” Xiao Wen answered directly this time, but the content was even more confusing.
“Energy?” Qianshu frowned, completely confused as to what he was talking about. Was he referring to money? Or some kind of benefit she didn’t know about?
Xiao Wen didn’t explain. His eyes swept over her with a scrutinizing look, as if assessing the value of an object. “Your ‘energy’ is very special. I’m looking forward to it.”
Qianshu was completely confused. She felt that communicating with this man was like talking to a wall.
She gave up the questioning and asked instead, “That hard drive…you said it was garbage?”
“Data filled with dirty desires and destructive impulses—if that’s not garbage, what is it?”
Xiao Wen’s voice was filled with a barely perceptible chill, “You’re always keen on creating this kind of thing to destroy yourself.”
Qianshu was silent. She couldn’t refute.
If the contents of this hard drive were to leak out, the consequences would be disastrous.
“Will you… return it to me?” Qian Shu asked tentatively. The core of the mission was to recover the hard drive.
Xiao Wen didn’t open his eyes, but said calmly: “It’s at your feet now.”
Qianshu looked down and saw that the metal suitcase had been pushed back to her feet at some point.
He actually didn’t care at all? She was even more confused, but she also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“You saved me twice and did me a great favor. Lycoris will remember this favor.”
Qian Shu said solemnly, “What do you want in return? As long as it is within my authority and does not violate the principles, I can do my best to satisfy you.”
Xiao Wen finally opened his eyes again and looked at her. His gaze had a strange penetrating power, as if he could see directly into the depths of her soul.
“Favors?” A faint, yet meaningful smile appeared on his lips. “I don’t need that kind of thing.”
He stood up, walked in front of Qianshu, and looked down at her condescendingly.
The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on his face.
“Remember how you feel right now.” His voice was low and clear, carrying a strange allure. “If there’s anything I’m interested in, it’s probably… you.”
After saying this, he no longer looked at Qianshu’s stunned expression, turned around, and his figure seemed to blend into the mist in the forest. In a few flashes, he disappeared from Qianshu’s sight, as if he had never appeared.
Qianshu sat alone under the ancient tree, holding a cold metal suitcase, the mottled sunlight shining on her pale face.
The forest remained silent, the mist drifting slowly. The mysterious man was gone, leaving behind a pile of unsolved mysteries and his incomprehensible words.
Who is he?
What is the “energy” he is talking about?
Countless questions swirled in her mind.
Chapter 13: Should I Speak Out? (Old Version)
The thick fog completely dissipated, and the forest returned to its original appearance. Sunlight filtered through the layers of green leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground, dispelling the previous coldness and dead silence. However, the fog in Jinmu Qianshu’s heart did not dissipate.
She rested for a long time, leaning against the massive old tree, clutching her cold metal suitcase. High-energy compressed biscuits and purified water replenished some of her strength, but the weakness from blood loss and the burning pain in her shoulder, even after it had been re-stitched, were constant reminders of the danger she had just endured. Every breath she took against the wound brought a fine, cold sweat to her forehead.
What made her even more uneasy was the man who appeared and disappeared like a ghost – Xiao Wen.
“People passing by… energy… anticipation…” His cold, inexplicable words swirled in her mind like a spell. His bottomless, all-seeing black eyes, his inhumanly precise skills, his reckless disregard for the bloody hard drive… all of this formed a vast mystery that weighed heavily on her mind.
“Who the hell is he?” Qianshu muttered to herself, her golden-brown eyes fixed on the direction Xiao Wen had vanished. There, only swaying tree shadows and an empty forest remained. She glanced down at the box at her feet. Xiao Wen’s description of him as “a piece of trash filled with filthy desires and a urge for destruction” evoked a strange sense of identification. As Lycoris’s ace, she knew the terrifying nature of the data contained within the hard drive. Every mission felt like walking on the edge of an abyss.
But a mission is a mission. Qianshu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her chaotic thoughts and the pain in her body. She struggled to stand up and stretched her legs and feet, which were numb from blood loss.
After confirming the direction, she hugged the suitcase tightly in her arms, endured the shoulder injury, and began to trek down the rugged mountain road. Every step was extremely difficult, and sweat soon soaked her torn combat uniform again, mixed with blood, sticky and heavy.
I don’t know how long I walked, but it gradually got dark.
Finally, beside a relatively secluded mountain road, she saw the agreed rendezvous point – a Lycoris special vehicle disguised as an ordinary logistics truck.
Two Lycoris members in plain clothes but with sharp eyes were standing next to the car. When they saw Qianshu appearing covered in blood and staggering, they immediately approached him vigilantly.
“Senior Chizuka!” One of the young members, a man codenamed “Falcon,” showed shock and worry on his face. “Are you injured? The mission…”
“The hard drive was recovered successfully.” Qian Shu’s voice was a little hoarse. She handed over the suitcase in her arms. The movement affected her wound, causing her to groan and her face to become even paler.
Another member, a female agent codenamed “Nightingale,” immediately stepped forward to support her shaky body. She quickly took the box and scanned it with a special instrument to confirm:
“The target hard drive has been confirmed to be correct, and the biometric lock is intact.” She breathed a sigh of relief, but when she looked at Qianshu’s injuries, her brows furrowed. “Senior, your injuries are serious! The medical team will be here soon!”
“I’m fine… just a minor injury.” Qianshu forced herself to stand straight, not wanting to appear too vulnerable in front of her subordinates. She looked around, making sure it was safe, and then, with Falcon’s help, she got into the back of the truck.
The carriage has been specially modified and equipped with simple medical equipment and communication equipment.
Nightingale immediately took out the first aid kit and prepared to treat Qianshu’s wound again.
“No need,” Jinmu Chitsuga waved her hand to stop Nightingale’s movements, “The wound… has been treated.”
Nightingale and Falcon exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other’s eyes. While the bandage on Qianshu’s shoulder wasn’t particularly aesthetically pleasing, it was expertly done, and the bleeding was effectively stopped, far beyond the reach of hasty self-rescue.
“Have you dealt with it?” Falcon couldn’t help but ask, his tone inquiring. “Senior, did you encounter support along the way? Or… were there other people?”
The last intelligence they received was that Qianzhu was surrounded by at least five well-equipped enemies and was in a critical situation.
Being able to not only survive from such a desperate situation, but also successfully recover the hard drive and treat such a serious wound, this is definitely not something Qianshu could have accomplished alone.
Qianshu’s heart skipped a beat. Xiao Wen’s expressionless face and his mysteriously vanished figure instantly appeared before his eyes.
How could she explain this? A mysterious figure suddenly appeared, possessing inhuman strength, and ignoring Lycoris’s top-secret hard drive? It sounded even more outlandish than a fairy tale.
More importantly, Xiao Wen’s words before he left, “If there’s anything I’m interested in, it’s probably… you,” were like an invisible thorn, making her instinctively want to hide everything about him.
She lowered her eyes, avoiding the probing gazes of her two subordinates, her voice filled with fatigue and deliberate calmness:
“There was no support. The enemy… underestimated my abilities, and I found an opportunity to kill a few of them and break out. I treated the wound… simply myself.”
She lightly skipped over the most dangerous part and deliberately erased Xiao Wen’s existence.
“Counterattack?” Falcon took a breath and looked at Qianshu with awe, “Senior, you are so strong!” He obviously believed Qianshu’s words completely.
Although Nightingale still had a hint of doubt in her eyes (Qianshu’s injuries and the way they were bandaged didn’t seem like “simple treatment”), out of absolute trust and respect for her senior, she didn’t ask any further questions.
“Senior, please take a rest first. The medical team will be at the headquarters soon.” She handed over a bottle of energy drink.
Qian Shu took the drink and sipped it. The cool liquid slid down her dry throat, but it couldn’t calm the turmoil in her heart. She leaned against the cold wall of the carriage, closed her eyes, and tried to dispel the lingering figure in her mind.
Why hide it for him?
Is it gratitude for saving his life? Twice, indeed.
Are they afraid of his mystery and power? Without a doubt.
Or… was it because of his ambiguous yet strangely alluring “expectation”?
Qian Shu couldn’t give a definitive answer. She only knew that the moment she reported to the organization, the name “Xiao Wen” and everything about him were subconsciously and tightly sealed in the deepest part of her heart.
Just as her mind was in turmoil, the communicator rang.
“This is headquarters, ‘Hummingbird’, reporting mission status and location.” A calm and majestic female voice came, it was Lycoris’s commander.
Qianshu immediately collected his thoughts and switched back to his professional ace agent mode, reporting in a steady voice: “‘Hummingbird’ reports that the target hard drive has been successfully recovered and the biometric lock is intact. We encountered an enemy ambush and exchanged fire, killing several enemies and suffering… minor injuries. We are on our way back and are expected to arrive at the headquarters safe house in forty minutes.”
“Very good, ‘Hummingbird’. Return safely and report in detail for the interview.” The commander’s voice was emotionless and he cut off the communication.
Qianshu put down the communicator and looked at the dim mountain forest scenery rapidly receding outside the window. The throbbing in his heart about Xiao Wen was like a stone thrown into a deep pool. Although the ripples gradually subsided, it left an indelible mark in his heart.
The truck sped along the mountain road, carrying the ace agent who had completed the mission, and also the unknown secret in her heart, heading towards the brightly lit city.
As the truck drove out of the mountains and merged into traffic on the edge of the city, Qianshu’s eyes accidentally glanced out the window. At the intersection of a relatively quiet auxiliary road, a familiar figure flashed by.
She was a petite girl wearing a high school uniform. Her short red hair looked a little messy in the evening breeze. She was walking hurriedly on the sidewalk with her head down, and her face seemed to have a worried expression.
Ah, it seems like Magana is from the recently famous idol group B-Komachi?
Qianshu was slightly startled.
A trace of doubt flashed through her mind, but her physical fatigue and the pain of her wounds left her no time to think about it.
The truck quickly passed the intersection, leaving the red figure far behind.
Qianshu leaned back in his chair, slowly closed his eyes, and saved his last bit of energy for the interrogation of the organization that he was about to face.
Shortly after Qianshu’s truck disappeared into the traffic, a figure in casual clothes slowly emerged from the shadows of the intersection. It was Xiao Wen.
His deep gaze calmly swept across the direction where Arima Kana disappeared, then looked at the road where Qianzhu’s truck left, and an elusive arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Oh, are they all on the way?” He murmured to himself, and his figure quietly blended into the deepening twilight.
Chapter 14: Don’t be fooled by him! (Old version)
The city’s neon lights gradually light up, projecting the hustle and bustle and prosperity onto the cold glass curtain wall.
Ruby sat alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the apartment’s living room, hugging her knees, still wearing the loose black shirt that belonged to Xiao Wen.
After Kana left, Ruby was alone in the apartment. It was eerily quiet. The TV was on, playing a loud variety show, but Ruby couldn’t hear a word. Kana’s stern warning was still ringing in her ears: “Don’t have anything to do with that man again!” But…
Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the window. The vast glass curtain wall of the office building opposite reflected the dazzling neon lights like an ever-changing kaleidoscope, yet it failed to capture the chaotic state of her mind.
That man… Xiao Wensang…
Ruby’s fingers unconsciously twisted around the too-long cuffs of her shirt.
The fabric was soft, carrying a strange, masculine, slightly cold scent. This scent seemed to have a magical power, making her involuntarily recall everything from last night – the cold despair, the rough “treatment”, the burning warmth of his palm, and the words “idols should shine on the stage”…
Gratitude? Yes. He was the one who pulled me back from the brink of collapse.
Shame? Intense. The way it was… too direct, too… difficult to talk about.
Confused? The most. Who is he? Why does he have such power?
Why did Kana-chan avoid talking about his name even though she could find it? And… when he looked at her, his eyes were filled with scrutiny and curiosity, as if he was evaluating the value of an object, yet in some subtle ways, he revealed a little…
Things that are hard to describe? Like the feeling of ruffling her hair in the morning, or the words he said in disgust but also reminded her that “wet hair gives me a headache”…
Various emotions intertwined and fermented in her heart like a tangled ball of wool.
She understood that Kana’s concerns and warnings were out of protection for her.
But… Kana-chan, do you really understand the feeling of being swallowed by endless despair?
Can you really understand the feeling of grabbing a life-saving straw when someone extends a hand to you, no matter how strange or unacceptable the way is?
Ruby buried her face in her knees, her blonde hair falling down, covering her confused and vulnerable profile.
The crimson eyes gleamed with a complex light in the shadows.
She felt more lonely than ever before. The truth she couldn’t tell Kana, her uncontrollable curiosity about that mysterious man, and… a sense of dependence that she herself didn’t want to admit, wrapped around her like a vine.
“Ding Dong——”
The crisp doorbell rang suddenly, breaking the silence in the room.
Ruby raised her head sharply like a frightened deer, her heart instantly rising to her throat.
Is… is it him? She subconsciously grasped the collar of her shirt.
“Ruby? It’s me, Kana.” A familiar voice came from outside the door, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue.
It’s Kana-chan… Ruby breathed a sigh of relief, but a sense of loss inexplicably welled up in her heart.
She quickly got up, ran to the door barefoot, took a deep breath, tried to make her expression look natural, and then opened the door.
There was Magana standing outside the door.
She seemed to have just returned from somewhere, her breathing was a little rapid, her face was dusty, and her eyes were more solemn than when we parted that afternoon. She was also holding a convenience store bag.
“Kana-chan?” Ruby was a little surprised and moved aside to let her in. “Why are you back again?”
“I’m worried about you.” Kana walked in and habitually glanced around the small apartment, as if to make sure it was safe.
Her gaze lingered on the conspicuous men’s shirt on Ruby for a moment, and her brows furrowed slightly, but in the end she said nothing, just put the convenience store bag on the table, “I brought you some food.” She pointed to the red spot on Ruby’s wrist where she had scratched it before.
Ruby’s heart warmed: “Thank you Kana-chan…”
“How do you feel? Are you feeling any discomfort?”
Kana walked up to Ruby, her tone a little softer than in the afternoon, but still scrutinizing, as she carefully studied Ruby’s expression and mental state.
“I… I’m fine, really.” Ruby forced a smile, trying to reassure Kana, “I’m just still a little tired…”
“If you’re tired, take a good rest.”
Kana’s tone left no room for doubt. “I’ve asked for leave from the office for you. You stay home and don’t go anywhere! Do you understand?”
Her eyes became sharp again, “Especially… don’t have any contact with that dangerous person again!”
Ruby’s heart sank. This topic again.
She looked at Kana’s serious face, and the words “Xiao Wensang is not a bad person” were stuck in her throat, but she couldn’t say it.
She knew Kana was doing this for her own good, but… this feeling of being forced and isolated made her feel suffocated.
“Kana-chan…” Ruby mustered up her courage, her crimson eyes pleading, “I…I want to know, how did you find out Xiao Wensang’s name? And…you seem…to know him very well?”
This was the biggest question in her mind, and it was also the only question she could ask Kana.
Kana’s body visibly stiffened. She avoided Ruby’s probing gaze, turned and walked towards the kitchen, pretending to pour water, her tone becoming somewhat stiff and vague:
“I told you, it’s not important! I just asked someone to investigate. People like that… have complicated backgrounds and dangerous methods. They’re not the kind you should be associating with. Ruby, you’re too naive and easily deceived!”
“Who did you ask to check? So quickly?” Ruby followed him to the kitchen door, unwilling to give up. “Kana-chan, do you… know him? Or… did he…”
“I don’t know her!” Kana turned around abruptly, her voice rising suddenly, with a hint of irritation from being interrogated and… a hint of barely perceptible panic, “Ruby! Why are you always so obsessed with this?! Your current mission is to take care of your body and adjust your condition! B-Komachi can’t live without you! I… I can’t watch you fall into danger again!”
Her tone was full of strong concern, but it also completely closed the possibility of dialogue.
Seeing the unquestionable protectiveness and deliberate avoidance in Kana’s eyes, Ruby’s heart sank little by little.
She understood that asking further would lead to no results.
Kana-chan is hiding something, and this hiding seems to make her uneasy.
“I understand…” Ruby lowered her head, her long golden hair covering her lost expression, her voice as thin as a mosquito, “I will have a good rest… Don’t worry, Kana-chan.”
Kana felt bad seeing Ruby’s obedient yet obviously worried look. She slowed down her tone, walked forward, and gently patted Ruby’s shoulder:
“Ruby, don’t think too much about it. The past… let it be the past. Get some sleep, and you’ll feel better tomorrow.”
She hesitated for a moment, but then added, “I’ll…come to see you more often.”
“Hmm…” Ruby responded softly without looking up.
Kana gave a few more reminders and looked at the time: “I have something else to do, so I have to leave first. Remember to lock the door, and call me immediately if anything happens.” She picked up her bag and walked towards the door.
Ruby followed her silently and walked her to the door.
Looking at Kana’s back as she changed her shoes, the words “Kana-chan, you have to be careful…” were never said out loud.
“Let’s go.” Kana looked at Ruby for the last time with a complicated look in her eyes, then opened the door, walked out, and closed the door gently.
There was a slight “click” sound and the door was locked.
Ruby leaned against the cold door and slowly slid down to sit on the ground. A huge sense of loneliness overwhelmed her once again.
Kana-chan’s concern is real, but her concealment is also real.
She hugged her knees and sat on the floor of the entrance hall, not moving for a long time.
The neon lights outside the window shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting a shifting strip of light on the floor. Time slipped by little by little.
I don’t know how long it took, but a strong feeling of fatigue came over me.
The combined physical and mental exhaustion made her eyelids feel heavy. Ruby stood up, holding onto the doorframe, and with heavy steps, she walked towards the bedroom like a wandering soul.
She needed to rest. Maybe a good night’s sleep would clear her confused thoughts.
She walked into the bedroom without turning on the light, and groped her way to the bed in the dim light of the city coming in through the window.
Just as she was about to throw back the quilt and lie down——
An extremely slight, almost imperceptible friction sound came from the direction of the bedroom window.
Ruby’s heart skipped a beat.
She turned her head sharply and looked towards the window in horror.
I saw that the tightly closed window with heavy curtains was opened silently by a slender and bony hand more than one meter above the ground.
The city light outside the window outlines a man’s clear and cold profile.
Ruby’s pupils instantly dilated to the extreme.
The great fear made her speechless in an instant and her mind went blank.
She subconsciously took a step back, and her back hit the cold wall heavily, making a dull sound.
The wide collar of her shirt slipped down due to her movements, revealing her round shoulders and dramatically undulating collarbones.
In the silent bedroom, the only sound was her heartbeat, as rapid as a drum.
Chapter 15: Love is too boring (old version)
Time seemed to stand still.
Ruby leaned against the cold wall, her body stiff as a statue frozen in an instant.
She could only stare at the pair of eyes as deep as a cold pool outside the gap in the curtains, her mind completely occupied by extreme fear and disbelief.
Why is he here?! How did he get up here?! What does he want?!
Xiao Wen was hanging outside the window, the night wind ruffling his hair. His gaze swept calmly over Ruby’s body, which was trembling slightly with fright, and slid across her round shoulders and delicate collarbone lines exposed to the air as she stepped back, and finally stopped at her crimson eyes, which were wide open with fear.
After a few seconds of silence, Xiao Wen moved.
He exerted force with one hand, and his body swung lightly as if weightless. With the other hand, he pushed open the window lock, and then fell into the bedroom silently like a feather.
The entire movement was smooth and fast, leaving only an afterimage on Ruby’s retina.
With a soft “bang”, the window was closed again, blocking out the night wind and noise outside.
Xiao Wen stood by the window, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the dim bedroom, completely enveloping Ruby. He carried the cool night air and an indescribable chill, as if from the abyss.
Ruby was almost unable to breathe due to the close pressure. She leaned against the wall, her body shaking even more violently. Her hands subconsciously clenched the hem of the loose shirt on her body, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She opened her mouth, wanting to scream, wanting to ask, but her throat seemed to be strangled by an invisible hand, and only hoarse sounds came out.
“…What…what do you want to do?”
Finally, out of extreme fear, she managed to utter a broken question, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
Xiao Wen didn’t answer immediately. He took a step forward, approaching Ruby.
The distance between the two people was instantly shortened to less than half a meter.
However, the expected brutality did not occur.
Xiao Wen simply stretched out his hand, his movements carrying an unquestionable force, and gently lifted Ruby’s chin with his fingertips, forcing her to raise her head, open her crimson eyes filled with mist and fear, and look directly at him.
“It seems that he has recovered well.”
Xiao Wen’s voice was low and calm, without any emotion, as if he was stating an objective fact.
His eyes roamed over her face, as if checking the condition of an object.
“It’s much better than the desperate look in the rain yesterday.”
These words, so plain and almost cold, were like a bucket of cold water poured on Ruby’s head, but they actually helped her regain some sanity from her extreme fear.
“Let me go…” Ruby’s voice was still trembling, but with a hint of shame and struggle.
She tried to turn her head away from his grip.
Xiao Wen used a little force with his fingers to fix her chin, with just enough force to prevent her from breaking free but without hurting her.
“Arima Gana… is very protective of you.”
He suddenly spoke, changing the subject without warning, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement, “It seems she’s afraid I’ll ‘contaminate’ you again?”
Ruby’s heart skipped a beat! He knew Kana was here?! He’d been watching her the whole time?!
“You…you’re spying on me?!”
Ruby’s voice rose a little with anger, her fear temporarily replaced by a strong sense of violation.
“I’m just passing by and want to take a look.”
Xiao Wen’s answer was still nonchalant, as if to say that the weather was nice today.
He loosened the fingers that were pinching her chin, but his fingertips seemed to slide along her delicate jawline unintentionally to her carotid artery, which was slightly heaving with excitement, feeling the rapid and powerful pulsation.
[Target Emotions: Fear, Anger, Shame… Active Energy Fluctuations… Quality: Excellent…]The succubus system responded faithfully.
The moment those cold fingertips touched the sensitive skin on the side of her neck, Ruby shuddered all over.
Fragments of memories of the forced “treatment” she had received flooded into her mind uncontrollably. Her cheeks flushed instantly and her body became as stiff as a rock.
“You… who are you?”
Ruby’s voice was a little tearful, but more of it was filled with uncontrollable confusion and… a desire to understand that she herself hadn’t even realized.
This mysterious man, who saved her and took away her “first time” in a way that was almost predatory, now appeared in her bedroom like a ghost…
She knew nothing about him, but she seemed to have been completely drawn into some whirlpool by him.
“Who am I?” Xiao Wen seemed to find this question amusing, a faint, mocking arc appearing on the corner of his mouth. “A tool to help you ‘relieve stress’? A jerk who takes advantage of others? Or… a kind person passing by?”
He withdrew his fingers from Ruby’s neck, put his hands back into his pockets, and leaned casually against the wall by the window, but his eyes were still fixed on her.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that the deal is done, and we both get what we need. You get relief, and I get…energy. Between us, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” Ruby repeated these four words, feeling a strong sense of loss and unwillingness in her heart.
She mustered up her courage, took a step forward, and stared directly at Xiao Wen with her crimson eyes, with a hint of stubbornness, “No! This is not right! You saved me, I… I… I can’t just pretend nothing happened! I want to understand you! Why did you appear there? Why do you have that ability? What exactly is this ‘energy’ you mentioned? And… you… you… you… about that kind of thing… why…”
Ruby’s voice got lower and lower, her cheeks getting redder and redder, and she found it difficult to say the following words.
Xiao Wen looked at the girl in front of him who was obviously scared to death but still stubbornly wanted to find out his secret, and his eyes darkened slightly.
Know him? What a luxurious and meaningless idea.
“Understood?” He scoffed. “Hoshino Ruby, put away your naive idol drama heroine fantasies. Our relationship is simple and straightforward—I need your fresh flesh and the ‘energy’ it generates, and you need the ‘healing’ that is relieving me of despair. Transaction completed, payment in full. As for who I am, where I come from, and what abilities I possess… it’s none of your business.”
He paused, looking at Ruby’s face that turned pale instantly and the shattered light in her eyes, without a single wave of emotion in his heart:
“Love? True love? That hypocritical and troublesome thing is nothing more than a ridiculous shackle that humans put on themselves, a scam woven by hormones and the cerebral cortex. Its ultimate goal is nothing more than to serve the lowly biological instinct of reproduction. It wastes time, consumes energy, breeds pain, and is meaningless.”
“I have no interest in that kind of thing at all.”
He took a step forward, closing in on Ruby again, his gaze a naked, assessing scrutiny, from the slenderness of her neck to the subtle undulations of her figure beneath her shirt to her long legs, blindingly white in the dim light.
“Compared to those illusory, self-deceptive emotions,” he lowered his voice, “fresh, young, vibrant flesh, the most primitive, direct warmth, touch, and scent it brings… this is what truly exists, what’s worth ‘savoring’. It’s honest and pure, without deception or betrayal, only the most instinctive reaction and… the most effective exchange of energy.”
Ruby’s face was pale and her body was staggering, as if she had been stripped naked and thrown into the snow. Shame and a cold feeling of being completely objectified instantly overwhelmed her.
However, in this extreme shame and coldness, a strange light suddenly flashed in the depths of Ruby’s scarlet eyes that were wide open in shock.
She caught it so well!
Just as Xiao Wen said this, deep in his eyes, which were as black as ink and seemed to be forever calm, beneath the thick indifference and disgust, a trace of… haze flashed across his eyes very briefly and fleetingly?
This haze appeared so quickly and disappeared so completely. If Ruby had not been completely focused on him at the moment, and if she had not possessed the idol talent of being extremely sensitive to emotions, she would not have been able to detect it at all.
“You…” Ruby almost blurted out, “You… are you lying? What have you been through? Why… why are you looking at me…”
As soon as Ruby finished speaking, all the expressions on Xiao Wen’s face disappeared without a trace.
Ruby felt like she was being stared at by a tiger. Her eyes widened in fear, and her throat seemed to be completely strangled, unable to make a single sound.
This lasted only a moment.
The next moment, the storm in Xiao Wen’s eyes receded like the tide, returning to the bottomless calm.
He didn’t even glance at Ruby, as if she were just an insignificant speck of dust in the corner.
He walked to the window, without looking back, leaving behind a farewell so cold it lacked any warmth:
“Remember my words, Hoshino Ruby. Between us, there is only a deal. Don’t try to get close to something you can’t understand.”
Before he finished speaking, he pushed open the window with one hand, just like when he came. His figure disappeared outside the window in an instant like a ghost blending into the night, leaving only the curtains blown by the wind and the cold air outside the window pouring in.
“Bang!” The window was blown shut by the wind, making a slight sound.
Ruby was the only one left in the bedroom.
She still leaned against the cold wall, her body trembling violently from the sheer terror and the instantaneous threat of death. Her legs gave way, barely able to stand. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her face was as pale as paper.
He… ran away?
Ruby slowly slid down to sit on the cold floor, hugged her knees, and buried her face deep in her arms.
Xiao Wen’s last extremely cold and brutal “remarks” were still echoing in her ears, but at this moment, the waves those words stirred up in her heart were far less shocking than the bottomless haze in his eyes when he instantly lost control.
The night wind seeped in through the gaps in the window that was never closed tightly, blowing the curtains and ruffling Ruby’s messy blonde hair.
Chapter 16: The Girl Who Called Herself a Vampire (Old Version)
The cold night wind was like an invisible blade, cutting Xiao Wen’s cheeks.
After he disappeared from Ruby’s apartment window, he did not land directly on the ground. His figure moved silently between the shadows of the building’s outer wall and the air-conditioning unit, and then landed lightly in a narrow, cluttered alley downstairs.
The alley was filled with the damp and moldy smell, the smell of rotting garbage, and the turbid smell unique to urban nights, a mixture of oil smoke and desire.
This filthy environment strangely calmed the irritation that had been surging in his chest after Ruby had caught a glimpse of the haze.
He hated being seen through, even if it was just a fleeting glimpse that even Ruby herself might not be able to confirm.
“The shackles of hypocrisy…base instincts…”
He whispered the verdict he had made in Ruby’s bedroom, as if trying to convince himself.
His fingertips caressed unconsciously, as if he could still feel the warm touch of Ruby’s carotid artery pulsating violently with fear.
Fresh, real, and full of the pulse of life – this is the only “existence” he needs to confirm.
He put his hands in his trouser pockets, took a step forward, and his figure blended into the deeper night.
I have no destination, just wandering aimlessly, letting the bizarre lights of Tokyo, the city that never sleeps, flow past me.
Flashing neon signs, the noise of drunk people, the lights of speeding cars…
None of this has anything to do with him. He is just a silent observer in this noisy ocean, a succubus who only absorbs “energy”.
Unconsciously, he turned into a more secluded old neighborhood that seemed to have been forgotten by the bustling city.
The street lights were dim, with only one at a distance, and most of the area was swallowed up by thick darkness.
There’s a faint smell of… rust in the air?
No, it’s more like the smell of artificial plasma props that have been left for a long time.
At this moment, a suppressed, somewhat neurotic laugh was heard from deep in the alley ahead, near the garbage dump at the back door of a 24-hour convenience store.
“Hehe… Another poor soul lost in the night… What a delicious scent of despair…”
The voice was crisp and had the unique texture of a young girl, but the tone deliberately imitated some ancient and gloomy accent, which seemed particularly strange.
Xiao Wen stopped and hid in the shadow of the corner. His eyes penetrated the darkness and locked onto the target accurately.
A petite figure in a black Gothic dress was squatting next to the trash can with her back to him.
The long dark purple hair appeared almost black in the dim light, and the ends of the hair were tied up with two exaggerated red bat hair accessories.
She seemed to be talking to herself… over something in the trash can?
“Oh? An expired bento? It exudes the sour smell of death… barely… it can be considered a ‘dark dish’, right? Unfortunately, it’s not the lifeblood we seek…”
The girl spoke in an aria-like tone, shaking her head seriously.
Xiao Wen frowned slightly.
The Succubus system did not respond at all.
The target did not have the familiar energy fluctuations of “despair”, “lust” or “strong emotions”, only an extremely empty, almost performative “middle school” aura.
He lost interest and turned to leave.
“Stop! Insolent mortal!”
The girl turned around suddenly, opened her arms exaggeratedly, and her wide black skirt spread out like bat wings.
She wore a gorgeous mask decorated with fangs and red crystals that covered the upper half of her face, revealing only her small chin and a pair of lips painted with dark purple lipstick, deliberately turned down to show “majesty”.
“How dare you disregard the great ‘Servant of the Night’—Sama Nanakusa! You… are stained with the sweet scent of ‘prey’! And… a hint of unusual ‘darkness’!”
She pointed at Xiao Wen, her voice deliberately lowered, trying to create an air of oppression. “Tell me your name! Mortal! Which demon hunter family are you descended from? Or… a lost kin of ours?”
Xiao Wen turned around and looked at the “vampire girl” in front of him with an expressionless face.
The dim street lights outlined her slender figure and pretentious posture.
Through the eyeholes of the mask, he could see a pair of large eyes that flashed with excitement and… nervousness that was being concealed with great effort.
“Get out of the way.” Xiao Wen’s voice was flat and even colder than the night wind.
“How dare you!” Nanakusa seemed enraged by his disregard. She took a step forward, imitating the graceful steps of a vampire in the movies (albeit a bit stumbling), “I smell it! You bear the ‘mark’ of my ‘prey’! That sweet despair and fear… how intoxicating! Hand her over! Or… become our ‘midnight snack’ tonight!”
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly pulled out a… plastic “vampire fang” dagger with cheap fluorescent paint from under her skirt?
He “pounced” towards Xiao Wen in an extremely exaggerated thrusting posture.
His movements were clumsy and full of flaws, and his speed was so slow that Xiao Wen didn’t even have the interest to dodge.
He simply leaned sideways, and the plastic dagger grazed the edge of his clothes, missing. Nanakusa Nasatsuma, having used too much force and losing her footing in her high heels, let out a startled cry and stumbled forward.
Xiao Wen didn’t even bother to reach out to help her.
With a dull thud, Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse fell heavily onto the cold and dirty ground.
The mask tilted, revealing her smooth forehead and a small part of her cheek, which instantly flushed with pain and shame. The plastic dagger flew out of her hand.
“Ouch…” A suppressed cry of pain.
Xiao Wen stood there, looking down at her condescendingly, his eyes as indifferent as if he was looking at a moth that had hit the glass.
Nanakusa struggled to get up, frantically adjusting her mask, trying to maintain her last bit of “dignity,” but her voice was already filled with tears and panic.
“Damn… damnable witcher! How dare you… how dare you use such a despicable tripwire trap! We… we were careless!”
Xiao Wen was too lazy to act with her anymore, so he turned around and left.
“Don’t go! Stop!” Nanakusa was anxious and ignored the pain. She got up and wanted to chase after him.
However, just as she took a step, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle, causing her to cry out in pain again and fall to one knee.
This time, the mask slipped completely off and fell to the ground.
Under the dim light of the street lamp, the face of a young girl, still childish and filled with pain, embarrassment and deep shame, was exposed.
Tears quickly filled her big eyes, and her purple lipstick was smudged from the fall, making her look a little ridiculous.
She looked at Xiao Wen’s back as he left without any reluctance, then looked at the mask that fell to the ground, and finally looked down at her gorgeous stained skirt and sprained ankle. The huge sense of frustration and grievance overwhelmed her like a tide.
“Ugh…Waaaaaaaaaa——!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse sat on the ground, hugged her knees, and burst into tears like a lost child.
What “Family of the Night”, what “Sir Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse”, all the disguises collapsed in an instant in the face of the reality of embarrassment and complete disregard.
“Liar… all liars… something about night being a vampire’s paradise… something about finding companions… oooo… it’s all fake! No one cares about me… no one even wants to fight… oooooo… it hurts… so embarrassing…”
She cried heart-wrenchingly, tears mixed with the stains on her face and flowed down, completely ruining her carefully applied makeup and revealing her true nature as an ordinary, lonely, and even somewhat clumsy girl.
Xiao Wen stopped.
Not out of pity, but because—
[Detecting a strong mixture of “shame,” “loneliness,” and “despair”…Energy quality: pure (no impurities)…Meets absorption criteria!]The notification tone of the Succubus system carried a hint of surprise and… “surprise”?
He slowly turned around and walked back to the “vampire” girl who was crying so ungracefully.
Nanakusa felt a shadow looming, and her crying stopped. Her big tear-filled eyes raised in horror, looking at the man who had returned, as indifferent as the god of death.
“What…what do you want to do?” She shrank back in fear, her voice nasal and filled with fear.
Xiao Wen squatted down and looked at her straight in the eye. His dark eyes were bottomless in the dim light. He didn’t say anything, but just held out his hand.
Nanakusa was so scared that she closed her eyes, thinking she was going to be beaten.
However, the hand only precisely pinched her sprained ankle.
“Ah! It hurts!” Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse cried out in pain.
He ignored her cries of pain and pressed his fingertips quickly and forcefully on several acupuncture points around her swollen ankle. A faint but distinct warmth flowed through his fingertips, instantly relieving the excruciating pain.
Nanakaze was stunned, forgot to cry, and stared at Xiao Wen blankly.
Xiao Wen withdrew his hand and stood up, still expressionless: “Playing tricks is extremely stupid.”
His voice was cold, and the slight gratitude that had just risen in her heart instantly turned into deeper shame.
“I’m not pretending! I…” Nanakusa Ji subconsciously wanted to refute, but looking at Xiao Wen’s eyes that saw through everything, she couldn’t say the rest of the words.
“Vampire?” Xiao Wen sneered, his mockery undisguised. “You don’t even know basic fighting techniques, you fall down like this just walking, you rely on picking up expired lunch boxes to fill your stomach, and you sit on the ground and cry when you’re ignored… Is this what you call a ‘Follower of the Night’?”
Every word was like a knife, accurately piercing the dream carefully woven by Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse.
“I…I…” Nanakusa’s face flushed red, and she felt so ashamed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. She was indeed not a vampire.
She is just an ordinary girl who is obsessed with vampire culture, cannot find a sense of belonging in reality, and tries to use exaggerated disguise to cover up her inner loneliness and cowardice.
“I… I just…” Nanakusa’s lips trembled, and tears welled up again, but this time it was no longer a performance. Instead, it was filled with the despair and grievance of being completely seen through and having nowhere to hide. “I just… I just want someone to notice me… I want someone… to talk to me… at night… so that I don’t always have to be alone…”
She finally broke down, burying her face deep in her knees, her shoulders twitching violently as she let out suppressed sobs.
“Wuuuu… I’m sorry… I’m not a vampire… I’m a liar… I’m the stupid Nanakusa… Wuuuuu…”
The last disguise was completely torn off, leaving only a lonely soul crying helplessly in a dirty alley on a cold night.
Xiao Wen stood quietly in front of her, looking at her curled up figure.
The succubus system clearly captured the purer and richer energy of loneliness and shame emanating from her, a quality made even more potent by her complete collapse. Compared to Ruby’s despair mingled with obsession, this energy seemed…more “palatable”?
There was no warmth in his eyes, only evaluation and… a hint of interest in finding new “ingredients”.
“Have you cried enough?” he asked indifferently.
Nanakusa stopped crying, raised her head, and looked at him with tears in her eyes, like a frightened rabbit.
“Come with me.” Xiao Wen’s tone left no room for doubt. “Or, stay here and wait to be picked up by the real ‘Night Walker’.”
Chapter 17: The Night is Still Long (Old Version)
Xiao Wen did not take Nanagusa to any mysterious castle or underground bar.
He brought the “former vampire” whose eyes were red and swollen from crying, who walked with a limp and whose body was covered in stains, to the rooftop of a nearby old office building.
This place is far away from the hustle and bustle of the ground, with only the dull roar of the huge central air-conditioning outdoor unit and the never-extinguished city lights of Tokyo forming a flowing sea of ​​light in the distance.
The night wind blew unobstructed, carrying with it the chill peculiar to heights.
Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse shrank her neck because of the cold, hugged her arms, and looked around in confusion and a little fear.
This was nothing like the “night” she had imagined.
“Sit down.” Xiao Wen pointed to a relatively clean cement block near the edge.
Nanakusa hesitated for a moment, but still sat down carefully, far away from the edge.
Her ankle still ached slightly, reminding her of her recent embarrassment.
Xiao Wen leaned casually against a huge air conditioner outdoor unit.
He didn’t look at Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse, but cast his gaze towards the sea of ​​light in the distance.
Silence stretched between the two of them, with only the sound of the wind and the low roar of the machinery.
Nanakusa was fidgeting. She secretly glanced at Xiao Wen’s profile.
He had saved her (albeit violently), taken her away from that embarrassing place, only to bring her to this even emptier, colder place without a word. What on earth was he trying to do?
“Who… who are you?” Nanakusa mustered up the courage and asked softly, her voice still hoarse from crying.
Xiao Wen did not answer.
“Just now…thank you for helping me…” Nanakusa lowered her head and twisted her dirty skirt with her fingers, “Although…although you are right, I am stupid…” Her voice became lower and lower, full of self-loathing.
[Target emotions: Gratitude, inferiority, residual shame… Steady energy output…]Xiao Wen remained silent.
This silence made Nanakusa even more uncomfortable.
She was used to filling the void at night with exaggerated performances, used to talking to herself and playing roles. Real, wordless silence was a torture for her.
She needs a voice and feedback, even if it means being ridiculed.
“Well… it’s so high up here…” She tried to find a topic, her voice dry, “There are so many people down there… like ants…” She pointed at the moving car lights in the distance.
“Noisy.” Xiao Wen finally spoke, his voice calm.
“Huh? Oh… it’s a bit noisy…”
Nanakusa was stunned for a moment, then agreed, but then felt something was wrong, “But… it’s even noisier down there? The honking of cars, the shouting of drunks… here… there’s only the sound of the wind?”
“Noise is the clamor of the crowd. The sound of the wind,” Xiao Wen flicked the ash from his cigarette, “is the echo of loneliness. The latter is purer.”
Nanakusa was stunned.
She looked up at Xiao Wen. He was still looking into the distance, his profile looking particularly lonely in the night.
“Do you… also like to be alone at night?” she asked tentatively.
“Night, reality.” Xiao Wen answered briefly.
There are too many disguises during the day. At night, whether it is the indulgence under the bright lights or the crying in the dark corners, they are closer to the true nature of life.
These words seemed to touch Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse.
She hugged her knees with her chin resting on them, looking at the blurry outline of Tokyo Tower in the distance with a dazed look in her eyes.
“Yes… the night is very real…” She murmured to herself, her voice as soft as a dream. “During the day… everyone has to act like a ‘normal’ person. Going to school, working, smiling, saying things that don’t mean what they say… It’s so tiring. Only at night… only can I put on this mask…”
She subconsciously touched her empty face (the mask had fallen off) and gave a wry smile, “…I can finally… breathe. I can pretend that I’m not that… stupid Nanakusa Nasatsuka… who has no friends at school and is invisible at home.”
She seemed to be talking to Xiao Wen, or perhaps she was talking to herself, pouring out her thoughts that she had never told anyone before.
“Vampires… how cool they are. Powerful, mysterious, immortal, with their own tribe, living gracefully under the moonlight… They don’t have to care about what others think, and they don’t have to worry about being isolated…”
Her voice was filled with longing and… self-mockery. “But… fake is fake after all. Just like those cheap blood plasma packets I bought, I knew it was just sugar water the moment I tasted it. Just like my imitation of aristocratic accent, even the convenience store clerks were too lazy to pay attention to me…”
She smiled self-deprecatingly, tears silently sliding down her cheeks.
“Just now… I was sitting next to that trash can… Actually… I lost my apartment key. The landlady is very fierce, and I’m sure she’ll scold me to death if I go back so late… And… I have no money on me.”
She finally revealed the most embarrassing truth, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s, her face buried in her knees, “What do you mean by ‘dark cuisine’…but actually, I was just too hungry…”
Xiao Wen listened quietly.
The Succubus system faithfully captures the complex emotions of “loneliness”, “inferiority” and “desire to be understood” that are released by the girl during her confession, which continue like a trickle.
These emotions are not strong, but extremely pure.
“Why… do you want to tell me this?” Xiao Wen finally looked at her with a deep gaze.
Nanakusa raised her head and looked at him with tearful eyes, her eyes a little dazed: “I… I don’t know… Maybe… because you saw me at my most embarrassing? Anyway… Anyway, it’s already embarrassing enough… Why don’t you care about a little more?”
She forced a smile that was uglier than crying. “Also…even though your words are harsh…but…it seems…you won’t laugh at me…really?”
She paused, her voice lowered, with a hint of barely perceptible hope: “Or… are you actually… a little bit… lonely? Can… understand a little bit… how I feel?”
Xiao Wen’s heart felt as if it were pricked very lightly by an extremely thin needle.
Understand? Of course he did. He understood loneliness better than anyone.
He looked away, gazing at the city lights again, his voice hard and cold, “Dwelling on it, begging for understanding, will only make you weaker, like tonight, falling into the garbage and crying.”
The hopeful light in Nanakusa’s eyes dimmed instantly.
She lowered her head, her shoulders slumping slightly. Sure enough…it still doesn’t work?
However, Xiao Wen’s next words stunned her.
“But crying is also a kind of truth.”
His voice remained cold. “It’s much more real than wearing a false mask and pretending to be ‘powerful’ on the deserted streets.”
Nanakusa suddenly raised her head and looked at Xiao Wen in disbelief.
Was he…was he…affirming her “truth”? Even the most embarrassing cry?
An indescribable warmth, a mixture of grievance, relief, and a little bit of being understood, instantly broke down her defenses.
Tears welled up again, but this time they were no longer howls of despair, but cries of catharsis and relief.
Xiao Wen didn’t say anything, nor did he look at her. He simply let the girl’s suppressed sobs echo across the empty rooftop, blending with the wind and the hum of machinery, becoming a tiny yet incredibly real note in the vast city’s lonely symphony at night.
[Energy absorption efficiency improved… Target trust initially established…]The system gave positive feedback.
The night is still long.
Chapter 18: The So-Called Song of the Night (Old Version)
Nanakusa didn’t know how long she cried until her throat was hoarse and her tears dried up, leaving only intermittent sobs. The night breeze dried the tear marks on her face, leaving a tight feeling.
She looked up and found that Xiao Wen had left the air conditioner outside the unit at some point and walked to the edge of the roof. He turned his back to her and looked into the distance, his figure almost blending into the night.
She looked at the tall yet lonely figure, a complex wave of emotions welling up in her heart. Fear? Still.
But more than anything, she felt a strange sense of… reassurance. It was as if, on this cold, unfamiliar rooftop, the presence of such a powerful and silent presence gave her a strange sense of security.
My stomach growled at an inopportune moment, and the sound was particularly clear in the silent night.
Nanakusa’s face flushed instantly and she covered her stomach in embarrassment.
Xiao Wen seemed not to hear and still had his back to her.
She huddled there awkwardly, cold and hungry, and the pain in her ankle seemed to intensify.
After venting her emotions just now, the embarrassment of reality surrounded her again like a tide.
I lost my keys, I have no money, I sprained my ankle, my skirt is dirty…what should I do next?
At this moment, a coat with body temperature suddenly fell from the sky and covered her head.
Nanakusa was startled and frantically pulled off her coat. It was Xiao Wen’s simple black jacket.
“Put it on.” He still didn’t turn around. His voice was a little blurred by the night wind, but it was clearly heard by her ears.
Nanakusa was stunned, holding the coat that still retained his body temperature, staring blankly at his back.
An indescribable warmth instantly enveloped her cold body and flowed into her heart.
Silently and carefully, she wrapped the large coat around herself and was instantly surrounded by a reassuring atmosphere.
The aura was just like his person, cold, yet strangely dispelling the chill.
“I…I’ll go get you something to eat.”
Nanakusa said softly, wrapping her coat tightly around her and struggling to stand up. She didn’t want to be a poor thing that was given charity forever.
“Stay.” Xiao Wen’s voice carried an unquestionable command.
Nanakusa’s movements froze.
Xiao Wen was seen supporting himself on the low wall at the edge of the roof with one hand, and his body flipped down lightly as if it were weightless!
“Ah!” Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse was so frightened that her heart stopped and she screamed. She rolled and crawled to the edge and looked down in horror – there were more than ten stories below!
However, there were only empty streets and dim street lights downstairs, so where was Xiao Wen?
Like a true night walker, he disappeared into the shadows of the city.
Nanakusa sat slumped on the edge of the cold roof, her heart still pounding and cold sweat breaking out on her back.
He… who is he? !
A few minutes later, just when Nanakusa was still in shock, a plastic bag filled with something fell steadily on the concrete floor beside her, as if held by an invisible hand.
Inside were hot rice balls, a bottle of mineral water, and… a box of simple bruise spray and plaster.
When Nanakusa looked at these things, her nose felt sore and tears almost fell again.
She silently picked up a rice ball, opened the package, and started eating it in small bites.
The warm rice and fillings dispelled hunger and brought a long-lost sense of security.
After she finished a rice ball, she picked up the spray and sprayed it on her red and swollen ankles a few times.
The cool liquid relieved the pain. She clumsily applied the plaster. Xiao Wen did not appear during the entire process.
Just as she finished treating her ankle and was hugging her knees in a daze, Xiao Wen’s figure appeared again silently like a ghost next to the concrete block where she had just sat.
He was holding a can of iced coffee he had just bought from the vending machine downstairs.
Nanakusa looked at him with a complicated look, one that included gratitude, fear, and a strong curiosity.
“How…how did you get down there? And how did you get back up?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Take the stairs.” Xiao Wen answered calmly, opened the can and took a sip of coffee.
Nanakusa: “…” She glanced at the height of the dozen or so floors and wisely chose to keep her mouth shut.
“Key.” Xiao Wen suddenly spoke.
“ah?”
“Apartment key, lost?” He looked at her.
Nanakusa nods, her eyes dim.
“Hmm… maybe it fell when I was wrestling… or… even earlier? I can’t remember.”
“landlord?”
“Well… Mrs. Fujiwara… she… has a bad temper. She stipulates that no noise can be made after 10 o’clock in the evening, and no late return… If I go back like this…” Nanakusa Nasatsuma shrank her neck, as if she had already heard the roar of the landlady.
Xiao Wen didn’t say anything, took out his cell phone, and tapped the screen quickly a few times.
A few minutes later, he put away his phone. “It’s settled. You can go back tonight. Someone will give you new keys before noon tomorrow.”
Nanakusa was completely stunned: “Solved…solved? How was it solved? You…you know Mrs. Fujiwara?” She couldn’t imagine that the mean old lady would be so easy to talk to.
“It’s solved with money,” Xiao Wen said succinctly. He transferred a “cleaning fee” and “key compensation” to the landlord, which was enough to silence her.
Nanakusa opened her mouth and looked at Xiao Wen’s indifferent profile. The word “thank you” stuck in her throat, feeling so pale. Money… seemed insignificant to him, but to her, it was like timely help.
A huge, unreal feeling of gratitude and… something deeper grew in her heart.
“I…I will pay you back!” she said anxiously.
“Whatever you want.” Xiao Wen didn’t care. This amount of money wasn’t even a fraction of Ruby’s hotel room fee that night.
Silence fell again, but this time, the atmosphere seemed less cold and oppressive.
Nanakusa wrapped herself in his coat, feeling the remaining body warmth and breath, and the pain in her ankle also eased.
She watched Xiao Wen drinking coffee silently and looking at the silhouettes of lights in the distance, and a thought popped up uncontrollably.
“Um…” She mustered up the courage, her voice trembling and tentative, “You…you often…are you like this…alone…at night?”
Xiao Wen paused while drinking his coffee and did not answer.
“I… I mean…” Nanakusa Ji hurriedly explained, her face slightly red, “If you… if you have nothing to do… can you… occasionally… I mean occasionally! Accompany me… to ‘patrol’ at night?” After she said that, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at Xiao Wen’s reaction, her heart pounding.
This request was so abrupt! He would definitely find her annoying and pushing her too far!
However, Xiao Wen was silent for only a few seconds, then he crushed the empty coffee can and threw it into the trash can next to him.
“Why?” he asked, his voice emotionless.
“Because…” Nanakusa raised her head, mustering up the courage to look directly into his deep eyes, “Because… with you… the night seems… not so scary anymore. Although… although you are always cold… but… I feel at ease.”
Her voice was soft, yet filled with a desperate sincerity. “And… I think… you also need someone… to talk to… at night? Even… just to listen to what’s going on?”
Need someone to talk to? He didn’t. The echo of the wind was enough.
But… peace of mind? Hearing this word coming from the mouth of this clumsy, tearful girl who had just fallen into the garbage dump, he actually felt a little… strange.
He looked into her big eyes that were still bright in the night, filled with hope and a hint of timidity.
[Target emotions: Dependence, gratitude, tentative approach… Energy quality shifts toward “positive emotional nourishment”… Absorption efficiency improves…]The systematic analysis is carried out with unprecedented “interest”.
Xiao Wen shifted his gaze and looked at the lights below him, which were still noisy but seemed to be from another world.
“Whatever you say.” He uttered these two words again.
Nanakusa’s eyes lit up instantly, like the brightest stars in the night sky, and a tearful yet incredibly bright smile blossomed on her face.
“Really? Thank you! What’s your name?”
“It doesn’t matter, just call me Mr. Xiao.”
Nanakusa’s smile widened, and she wrapped her coat tightly around her. She felt as if this cold night had finally… gained a little warmth. It was an icy, yet incredibly reassuring warmth.
Chapter 19: How do you want to thank me? (Old version)
Xiao Wen maintained his aloof demeanor, his hands in his pockets, his pace neither fast nor slow, as if he were simply strolling. Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse, like a small animal finding support, cautiously followed him half a pace behind. Sometimes she would lag behind to observe the newly arrived Gothic-style accessories in the roadside windows, then quickly trot to catch up.
She no longer deliberately imitated the vampire’s accent and exaggerated movements, but simply wore her favorite black dress (cleaned). Her hair also returned to its natural dark purple color, with only an inconspicuous skull hairpin as her last connection with the “world of night.”
She still talked a lot, but she was no longer playing a role. Instead, she shared her daily trivialities—which teacher at school was late again, the new manager of the convenience store where she worked was very aggressive, and she saw a very cool black cat on the street…
Xiao Wen mostly just listened in silence, occasionally responding with a very brief “hmm” or “oh” to show that he was listening. But for Nanakusa, this was enough.
She didn’t need his enthusiastic response. Just knowing that he was here, listening, made her feel an unprecedented sense of security and… belonging.
Xiao Wen wasn’t entirely without reward. The pure, dependent, and somewhat clumsily warm “positive emotional” energy emanating from Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse nourished him continuously like a trickle of water.
This energy was not as intense and stimulating as despair or lust, but it was unusually peaceful and stable, with a strange sense of healing, which calmed the slight restlessness in his body caused by absorbing Ruby’s huge energy of despair.
The Succubus system’s evaluation of this new type of “ingredient” continues to rise.
Nanakusa even took Xiao Wen to her favorite “secret base” – a small cemetery behind an abandoned church. It was surprisingly quiet there, with only moonlight and the chirping of insects.
“It’s…quite quiet here, isn’t it?” Nanakusa sat on a collapsed tombstone, swinging her legs as she whispered, “In the past…when I was feeling down, I’d sneak up here. Talking to these mute stones…felt…as if the ‘Dwellers of the Night’ could actually hear me.”
She smiled sheepishly.
Xiao Wen leaned against an old locust tree, looking at the girl’s profile in the moonlight, which was filled with nostalgia and a hint of loneliness.
“What about now?” He asked a rare question.
“Now?” Nanakusa turned her head and looked at him. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “Now… you have to listen to me.” Her smile was clean and pure, with complete trust.
At that moment, Xiao Wen clearly felt that a warmer and purer energy than ever before emanated from Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse, enveloping him like gentle moonlight.
The succubus core in his body even emitted an almost inaudible, satisfied hum.
[Deep trust established…Emotional connection deepened…Energy conversion rate surpassed the threshold…A deeper energy exchange can be attempted (must be voluntary on both sides)…]The system’s prompt carries a hint of “temptation”.
A deeper level? Xiao Wen’s gaze fell on Nanakusa’s lips, which looked particularly soft in the moonlight.
He certainly understood what it meant. This young, fresh body, open to him, exuded an alluring scent.
But… he rarely felt the urge to plunder immediately.
This peaceful, emotionally nourishing flow of energy made him feel… comfortable?
He even enjoyed this way of “eating” which did not require any violent collisions and flowed like a stream.
However, there are always undercurrents beneath the calm.
When they left the cemetery, they passed by the convenience store where Nanakusa worked.
Through the glass window, Nanakusa Nazuna saw the new bald store manager who always caused trouble for her yelling at a female clerk on the night shift, his saliva almost spraying on her face.
The female clerk lowered her head and her shoulders trembled slightly.
Nanakusa’s expression changed instantly, she stopped, clenched her hands into fists, and her body trembled slightly with anger.
“That bastard… is bullying me again!” she whispered through gritted teeth.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
“I…I…” Nanakusa opened her mouth, then lowered her head dejectedly. “Forget it…if I go in…he’ll only scold me more fiercely…and…I’m still on probation…”
Her voice was filled with frustration and self-blame.
At that moment, the convenience store door opened, and the crying female clerk ran out, covering her face. The bald store manager chased her to the door, cursing at her from behind: “Waste! If you can’t do it, get out! Don’t come tomorrow!”
Nanakusa was so angry that she was shaking all over, tears welling up in her eyes. She suddenly looked at Xiao Wen, with a desperate look in her eyes, asking for help: “Mr. Xiao… Can you… Can you…”
Xiao Wen looked at the anger, grievance and powerlessness surging in her eyes, and the familiar energy fluctuations carrying strong negative emotions became active again, even stronger than when she was crying alone before.
He didn’t say anything, but just walked straight to the door of the convenience store.
“Hey! Who are you? We’re closed!” The bald store manager yelled angrily when he saw Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen walked up to him and stopped. He was half a head taller than the store manager, and his cold eyes fell on the other man’s face as if it were real.
The bald store manager was intimidated by his aura, and his arrogance suddenly weakened a bit: “You…what do you want to do?”
Xiao Wen still didn’t say anything, but took out his mobile phone, called up the recording interface, and pressed the play button.
The manager could be clearly heard yelling obscenities at the employees in the store, as well as the threat of “get out if you can’t do it.”
The store manager’s face turned pale in an instant: “You…you recorded it?! What the hell do you want to do?! Delete it! Delete it quickly!” He reached out to grab the phone.
Xiao Wen easily dodged his hand. “Two options. First, I’ll contact the labor inspection department and the media and send them the recording. Second,” he pointed at the pale female clerk next to him who hadn’t left yet, “apologize to her, compensate her according to the contract, and let her leave with dignity. Your choice.”
His voice was not loud, but it carried a suffocating sense of oppression.
The store manager had cold sweat on his forehead as he looked into Xiao Wen’s emotionless eyes.
He weighed the pros and cons, and finally, under Xiao Wen’s cold gaze, he walked up to the female clerk in dejection like a defeated rooster, bowed his head to apologize, and promised compensation.
Nanakusa Nasatsuma stood not far away and witnessed the whole thing.
When the store manager returned to the store dejectedly and the female clerk left wiping her tears, Nanakusa couldn’t hold back any longer and pounced in front of Xiao Wen like a bird returning to its nest, her eyes filled with unprecedented admiration and… a deeper emotion.
“Mr. Xiao! You… you are so amazing!” Her voice trembled with excitement, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her eyes were surprisingly bright. “Thank you! Really… thank you!”
In her excitement, she subconsciously grabbed Xiao Wen’s arm.
The warm, trembling touch came over instantly.
[Target Emotion: Intense admiration, gratitude, dependence upgraded to admiration… Energy fluctuates violently… Quality: Extremely High!]The prompt from the Succubus system trembled with excitement.
Xiao Wen lowered his head, looking at the girl’s hands clutching his arm and the undisguised fiery gaze she cast upon him. Beyond gratitude and admiration, those eyes clearly burned with a young woman’s budding emotions.
The succubus in him was instantly ignited by the fiery emotions and close contact. An intense desire to seize and taste this “flower” that was blooming for him surged over him.
He turned his hand and grabbed Nanakusa’s wrist. The force was not strong, but it was strong enough to not allow anyone to break free.
Nanakusa was startled by his sudden action, but did not struggle. Her face just flushed deeper and her eyes dodged a little in panic, but she couldn’t help but secretly look at him.
“How do you want to thank me?” Xiao Wen’s voice lowered, and his eyes fell on her slightly opened lips as if they were real.
Chapter 20: Kana, follow me! (Old version)
The dazzling incandescent light of the convenience store was left behind and merged back into the dark night, leaving only the dim halo of the street lamp, which cast a blurry circle of light on the wet ground.
The air was filled with the bald store manager’s embarrassed sweat and the smell of gunpowder that was forcefully suppressed by Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen still held Nanaka’s wrist in his hand.
The force was not strong, but it carried an unquestionable sense of control, as if it was as hot as a branding iron, burning through the thin sleeves, burning straight into her skin, and burning into her violently beating heart.
“How do you want to thank me?”
Xiao Wen’s deep voice, like sandpaper sliding across velvet in the night, carried a strange magnetism that instantly captured all of Nanaka’s senses.
He leaned forward slightly, and his handsome face, which was always shrouded in coldness and aloofness, appeared deep-set under the dim streetlight, and even had a hint of… dangerous temptation?
Those bottomless black eyes, like a beast locking onto its prey, stared sharply and aggressively at her lips.
Nanakusa felt all the blood rush to her head, her cheeks burning intensely, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, threatening to burst through her ribs. Her mind was blank, save for those deep eyes so close to her, seemingly containing the entire night sky.
[Target Emotion: Intense admiration, gratitude, dependence escalating to admiration… Energy fluctuates violently… Quality: Extremely high! Approaching peak!]The prompt sound of the Succubus system vibrated with unprecedented excitement, surging through Xiao Wen’s body like an electric current.
This energy, a mixture of pure admiration, dependence and budding love, is hot, pure, and has the unique fragrance of a young girl. It is an extreme temptation to him.
His succubus instinct was completely ignited, and the strong desire to devour surged and roared in his veins, urging him to immediately grab this defenseless flower that bloomed for him.
The fingers that were holding Nanakusa’s wrist unconsciously tightened for a moment, and he felt the rapid beating of her pulse under her skin.
The other hand slowly rose, with an irresistible meaning, as if to caress her hot cheek, or… directly grab the slightly opened, soft lips like newly opened petals.
Nanakusa’s body was stiff, as if it had been cast under a spell.
Reason told her to retreat, as the dangerous distance and atmosphere were far beyond her experience and imagination.
But the body betrayed the will, the feet seemed to have taken root, and even under the aggressive gaze, a kind of almost sacrificial, secret expectation arose.
Her eyelashes trembled violently, and her amber pupils clearly reflected Xiao Wen’s approaching figure. The light in her eyes was a mixture of ignorant shyness, complete trust, and a hint of excitement like a moth to a flame.
Xiao Wen’s breath brushed against her hair, carrying with it his unique, cold and dangerous aura.
The two were so close that Nanakusa could count his drooping eyelashes.
The succubus’s predatory desire for pure emotion almost overwhelmed his self-control.
He tilted his head slightly, moving towards the alluring crimson with a clear goal…
At the moment when their lips were about to touch, and Nanakusa was so nervous that she almost suffocated and closed her eyes—
“——…It’s you?! Xiao Wen?!!”
A sharp female voice, filled with extreme shock, anger and disbelief, suddenly rang out.
The sound came from the shadows at the street corner!
As if a basin of ice water was poured over her head, Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse was instantly awakened from her dazed state. She shrank back suddenly like a frightened rabbit, and pulled back her wrist with force. Her cheeks were red as blood, and she lowered her head in panic, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Xiao Wen’s movements suddenly paused. The surging predatory desire in his eyes receded like a tide, replaced by a disturbed, extremely cold irritation.
Like a beast about to enjoy its meal but disturbed by a fly.
He suddenly turned his head, and his sharp eyes like a knife pierced the source of the sound – the shadow next to the trash can on the corner of the street.
The dim light of the street lamp barely outlined a petite but menacing figure.
The red hair is still eye-catching in the night, like a burning flame.
You Magana stood there, covering his mouth tightly with one hand and pointing at Xiao Wen with the other. His big eyes, which were always full of fighting spirit, were now filled with horror, anger, and a kind of… absurd feeling as if the world was collapsing.
“Xiao Wen! You… bastard! Scum!!”
Kana’s voice was shrill and distorted due to the extreme emotional impact. She dropped the hand covering her mouth, her chest heaving violently, as if she was going to rush over and tear him apart in the next second. “You did this to Ruby… and now to this girl… you… what on earth do you want to do?! How many people have you harmed?!”
She had just finished taping a late-night talk show and was taking a shortcut home, never expecting to see this scene.
She recognized Xiao Wen—the bastard she wished she could grind to dust.
And in his arms, he was holding another girl who he didn’t know at all and looked very young.
The way they were acting just now, it was clear they were about to… kiss?!
Ruby still hadn’t recovered from the trauma he’d caused her, and now she witnessed him assaulting another girl?!
Kana felt a surge of evil fire rushing to her head, burning her to the point where she lost all her sanity!
Xiao Wen looked at Kana’s delicate face which was distorted by anger, and listened to her noisy and harsh accusations. The irritation in his heart at having his “meal” interrupted became even worse.
Ever since that incident at the hotel, this woman had been haunting him, bossing him around with her self-righteous sense of justice and protectiveness, like a fly that couldn’t be shaken off.
Especially at this moment, she destroyed the high-quality energy that was about to reach his mouth.
The pure energy of admiration was interrupted, like the most beautiful music coming to an abrupt end, leaving only harsh noises.
“Shut up.” Xiao Wen’s voice was as cold as the Siberian wind. “Go away.”
“You want me to get out?!” Kana was shaking with anger, as if she had heard a huge joke. She rushed out from the shadows, stood under the light of the street lamp, pointed at Xiao Wen, and her voice trembled with excitement, “It’s you who should get out, you scumbag! Liar! A devil who plays with people’s hearts! You know what you did to Ruby! And now you’re here to harm other girls! I tell you, I will never let you go! I will…”
Before she finished speaking, the last bit of patience in Xiao Wen’s eyes was completely exhausted.
He no longer paid attention to Nanakusa Shepherd, who was still standing there at a loss and about to cry with shame. He moved his body and rushed towards Kana with a gust of cold wind!
“Ah!” Kana didn’t see his movements clearly at all. She only felt a flash before her eyes, and a huge, irresistible force suddenly clamped her arm.
“Let me go! Bastard! What do you want to do?!” Kana was shocked and angry. She struggled desperately and tried to scratch Xiao Wen’s face with her other hand.
But her struggle was like an ant trying to shake a tree in the face of Xiao Wen’s strength.
Xiao Wen completely ignored her resistance, clamped her arms, and dragged her mercilessly and roughly as if she were an inanimate object into a darker and narrower alley next to her, which was filled with debris and trash cans.
“Mr. Xiao…Mr. Xiao!” Nanakusa was stunned by this sudden change and subconsciously wanted to chase after him.
“Don’t follow me.” Xiao Wen’s cold voice came, without even turning back to look at her.
Nanakusa’s footsteps were instantly nailed to the spot.
She watched Xiao Wen dragging the angry and screaming red-haired girl away into the dark alley, and listened to Kana’s angry curses quickly fade away, eventually being swallowed by the darkness of the alley.
She stood there, the evening breeze bringing a chill that made her hug her arms involuntarily.
The cheeks that were hot just now were now cold, leaving only confusion, fear and an abandoned and indescribable sense of loss.
She looked down at her wrist that Xiao Wen had just held. His warmth and strength seemed to still remain there, but she could no longer feel any warmth.
Deep in the dark alley, there were only the rustling sounds of rats running by and Kana’s suppressed sobs and curses.
Chapter 21: Lost Memories (Old Version)
Deep in the alley, it was damp and cold, filled with the sour stench of rotting garbage and the smell of urine.
The only bit of moonlight was cut into a pale line by the towering walls on both sides, and was sparingly sprinkled on the stained ground.
“Let me go! Xiao Wen! You lunatic! Pervert! Murderer!!”
Xiao Wen threw Arimakana hard against the cold and rough brick wall, causing her back to hurt so much that she cried out in pain.
But the anger in her eyes burned even more fiercely, like two flickering will-o’-the-wisp fires, staring intently at the man shrouded in shadows before her.
Xiao Wen’s tall figure completely blocked the faint moonlight, completely enveloping her in cold darkness.
One of his hands gripped her shoulders tightly like an iron clamp, pressing her against the wall, while the other hand was casually placed in his trouser pocket, his posture carrying a condescending indifference and… a hint of exploratory playfulness.
“Speak.” Xiao Wen’s voice was flat, and the cold words hit Kana’s face, “Why?”
“Why?!” Kana stiffened her neck and glared at him with gritted teeth. “You scumbag, you’re ruining girls everywhere. I can’t stand it! I want justice for you! Is this reason enough?!”
“Doing justice for the heavens?” Xiao Wen seemed to have heard an extremely ridiculous joke. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards very slightly, the curve so cold that there was no trace of warmth. “With you?”
He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Kana’s face.
In the darkness, his bottomless black eyes were like the entrance to the abyss, clearly reflecting Kana’s face, which was trying to be calm but unable to hide her panic.
“That time at the hotel,” Xiao Wen’s voice was low and slow, with a cruelty like peeling silk from a cocoon, “you found the room with pinpoint accuracy and called out my name.” His gaze was like an icy probe, piercing deep into Kana’s pupils. “Now, it’s you again. Late at night, on this back street that’s not a main road, you happened to appear next to me and that girl…”
He paused. “Ari Maganai, are you a fly? Or… did you install a locator on me?”
Kana’s heart suddenly shrank!
“I…I asked someone to check it out!”
Kana’s voice rose, a sharp tone that was both timid and powerful. “Ruby’s missing! Of course I have to investigate! I know a lot of powerful… friends! What’s so strange about finding your name and address?!”
“Friend?” Xiao Wen repeated, his cold tone filled with undisguised sarcasm. “Are you so skilled as to bypass the hotel security system and take photos as clear as professional photography in the bathroom of a suite of that level?”
He suddenly tightened his grip on Kana’s shoulders with such force that she gasped in pain. “Tell me, how did your ‘amazing friend’ do that? Hmm?”
Kana’s face turned pale in an instant.
It is also the source that she is most reluctant to mention and even dares not to delve into.
She was so angry at the time that she only wanted to use it as evidence to question Xiao Wen, but she never thought about explaining how strange and impossible the origin of the photo itself was.
“I… I don’t know… The photo was… someone sent it to me anonymously…”
Kana’s voice began to weaken, her eyes became erratic, and she no longer dared to look directly into Xiao Wen’s eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything.
Even she herself felt that this reason was weak.
“Anonymous?” Xiao Wen scoffed, his laughter particularly harsh in the quiet alley. “What a coincidence. So, what about tonight? Which anonymous ‘friend’ told you that I would be at this place at this time, with that girl?”
“I… I was just passing by! It just happened! Is that not okay?!” Kana practically screamed, trying to hide her guilt with her volume. “Tokyo is so small! Do I have to report to you which route I took?!”
“Coincidence?” Xiao Wen suddenly moved closer. “From the hotel in Roppongi to the back alleys in Setagaya… Arimaka, your ‘coincidence’ is incredibly accurate. Or…”
He deliberately prolonged his tone, with an almost cruel understanding, “You have been following me?”
“I didn’t!!” Kana screamed like a cat whose tail was stepped on. She tried with all her strength to push Xiao Wen away, but he was like an ant trying to shake a tree and didn’t move at all.
The huge fear, the shame of being seen through, the embarrassment of having her lies exposed, the worry about Ruby in recent days, the anger towards Xiao Wen, and the complex emotions buried deep in her heart that she herself was unwilling to admit… erupted in her heart like a volcano.
“What do you know?! You know nothing!!” Kana’s tears could no longer be controlled, pouring out like beads from a broken string, a mixture of humiliation and collapse. “Do you think I want to see you?! Do you think I want to care about your nonsense?! I feel sick when I see your face! I want to vomit when I see you with those girls!!”
“Why?” Xiao Wen’s voice was still cold, but the strength of his grip on her shoulders seemed to loosen slightly. He stared at Kana’s collapsed face, not missing any slight change in her expression.
“Why?” Kana raised her tear-stained face and stared through her misty eyes at Xiao Wen’s cold, indifferent face, which seemed to be devoid of any memory. A huge wave of grief, anger, and grievance overwhelmed her. “You ask me why?! Xiao Wen! You cold-blooded monster! Have you forgotten?! Have you forgotten everything completely?!!”
Her voice was hoarse and broken due to extreme emotions, carrying a heart-piercing accusation.
“Ten years ago! Saitama Prefecture! Kasukabe City! Sunshine Nursery School!!”
Kana practically yelled out these place names, each word coming out as if squeezed from between teeth, tinged with blood and tears. “That summer! That little Nai who always followed you around, calling you ‘Brother Wen’ and stuffing you with all the candy she couldn’t bear to eat! Have you fucking forgotten everything?!!”
For the first time, Xiao Wen’s body stiffened uncontrollably and very obviously.
For the first time, an emotion called “shock” and “bewilderment” clearly emerged in his pair of black eyes that seemed to have been frozen for thousands of years.
Kasukabe City? Sunshine Nursery School? Brother Wen? Xiaonai?
To him, these nouns combined together sounded like a foreign language he had never heard before, so unfamiliar that there was not a ripple in the sound.
Deep in his memory, regarding his childhood, there was only a vague wasteland that seemed to be shrouded in thick fog.
He remembered hunger, the cold, being driven away, searching for food in garbage dumps… But “nursery”? “Xiao Nai”? These warm, glowing words seemed like fairy tales.
“What…are you talking about?”
For the first time, Xiao Wen’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty and hesitation. His brows were tightly furrowed as he looked at Kana’s tear-stained face, which was filled with pain and disbelief.
He tried to dig out some relevant fragments from the ruins of memory, but he only touched the cold nothingness.
“Ha…hahaha…” Kana looked at the genuine, unpretentious confusion on his face, and her tears flowed even more violently. “Forgot…you really forgot…you forgot it so completely, Xiao Wen…no, maybe back then, you weren’t called that name at all…”
The anger and accusation in her eyes were gradually replaced by an unfathomable sadness and… a kind of indescribable disappointment.
At this moment——
[Warning! High-concentration, high-purity mixed energy of “sadness” and “loss” detected! Energy source locked: Arima Kana! Energy properties: Highly penetrating, contains fluctuations of deep memory fragments… Quality: SS grade! Extremely rare! Absorption is strongly recommended!]The icy, merciless sound of the Succubus system, like a high-pitched alarm, suddenly exploded in Xiao Wen’s mind! The sound was filled with unprecedented excitement and… greed!
SS-level?! Contains memory fragment fluctuations?!
Xiao Wen’s pupils suddenly contracted.
The hand that was clasping Kana’s shoulder loosened subconsciously a little because of the system’s prompt and his own intense shock.
Kana keenly felt the loosening of the clamp.
She was immersed in great sorrow and the pain of being forgotten, but she instinctively seized this fleeting opportunity.
She used up all her remaining strength, lowered her head suddenly, and bit Xiao Wen’s wrist hard before he could fully retract it.
“Hiss!” Xiao Wen felt pain and subconsciously swung his wrist.
Kana took the opportunity and slipped out from the gap beside him like a slippery fish, running towards the faint light at the entrance of the alley without looking back.
Her figure staggered, with a desperate determination and fear of escaping from hell, and instantly disappeared at the intersection of light and shadow at the entrance of the alley.
Xiao Wen didn’t chase immediately. He stood there, looking down at the clear, bloody teeth marks on his wrist. The pain was slight, far less intense than the turmoil in his heart.
There is Magana…
Sunshine Nursery School…
Xiao Nai…
SS-level sad energy… memory fragments…
These pieces of information were like chaotic puzzle pieces, colliding wildly in his cold mind.
He looked in the direction where Kana disappeared, and the light and shadow at the alleyway flickered in his bottomless black eyes.
The “fly” that kept buzzing and couldn’t be shaken off seemed… to be a little different.
Chapter 22: Who Are You? (Old Version)
There was a slight stinging pain in the wrist, the teeth marks were clear, and the oozing blood beads appeared a dark color in the dim light.
Xiao Wen raised his hand and looked at the circle of “marks” belonging to Arima Kana with an expressionless face.
This little pain was insignificant to him, like a mosquito bite.
What really stirred up a storm in his body was the tsunami-like notification sound from the Succubus system and the garbled information fragments left by the strange woman.
[The SS-level “Sadness/Loss” energy source has left the effective capture range! Energy is dissipating! Tracking and locking are strongly recommended!][Warning: The target energy contains special “memory fragment” fluctuations. Analysis may have unknown effects on the host’s cognitive system! Risk Level: Medium-High! Estimated Return: Extremely High! Please evaluate carefully!]The system’s cold electronic sound was rarely tinged with a hint of human eagerness and… greed.
SS-level energy, like a legendary treasure that only exists in the deep sea, has a fatal attraction to any succubus, let alone a rare species that contains “memory fragments” that may touch his own roots!
Xiao Wen slowly lowered his hand, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the slightly sticky blood.
His gaze penetrated the darkness of the alley and fell on the dimly lit entrance.
Maganai’s tearful eyes, his shrill accusations, and the final look that was a mixture of despair and some indescribable emotions, replayed over and over again in his cold mind like a slow motion.
“Ten years ago… Saitama Prefecture… Kasukabe City… Sunshine Nursery School…”
“Brother Wen… Xiaonai…”
The words were still unfamiliar, blurry and indistinct, as if through a thick layer of frosted glass. He tried hard to recall them, but deep within his memory lay only a cold, dead blank, like a formatted hard drive.
There was no nursery slide, no laughter from his friends, and no “Xiao Nai.” His childhood memories began with hunger, cold, garbage dumps, and pairs of indifferent or disgusted eyes.
Was she mistaken for someone else? An elaborate lie to disturb his mind?
But… that SS-level sadness energy cannot be faked.
It is a kind of loss and pain that goes deep into the bones and permeates the soul, which cannot be achieved by temporary disguised acting.
What’s more, the “memory fragment fluctuations” detected by the system… Could it be that her sadness is really related to herself?
The feeling of irritability came over him like a vine, even worse than when his “meal” was interrupted before.
The feeling that things were out of control made him extremely uncomfortable.
He habitually wanted to suppress this fluctuation with a colder mindset, but the succubus core continued to emit a low hum of desire, like a hungry stomach, because of the temptation of this SS-level energy.
Just then, a burst of small, hesitant footsteps came from the alley.
Xiao Wen instantly suppressed all his outward emotions, returning to his icy appearance of a thousand years, and swept his sharp eyes towards the source of the sound.
It is shepherd’s purse.
She stood timidly at the intersection of light and shadow at the entrance of the alley, half of her body bathed in the dim glow of the street lamp, and the other half hidden in the darkness.
She looked at Xiao Wen, her face still showing a blush and panic, but more of it was worry and uneasiness.
“Mr. Xiao?” Her voice was soft and tentative. “Are you…are you okay? That…red-haired sister…”
Xiao Wen didn’t answer, but just looked at her coldly.
That look made Nanakusa Nasatsuma subconsciously shrink her neck, feeling like she had disturbed the rest of some dangerous being.
“She…she seems very angry…” Nanakusa mustered up the courage to add softly, her fingers twisting the corners of her clothes unconsciously. The faint cries and quarrels in the alley just now made her heart tremble.
“It has nothing to do with you.” Xiao Wen’s voice was cold and he interrupted her.
He took a step and walked straight towards the alley entrance, with a clear goal in mind, passing Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse and heading towards the direction where she had just stood – that was the convenience store where Nanakusa Shepherd worked, and it was also the place where the bald store manager had just been taught a lesson.
Nanakusa was choked by his indifferent attitude. Looking at his tall and straight but distant back, the vague feelings that had just sprouted in her heart because of his “heroic rescue of the beauty” shuddered instantly as if blown by a cold wind.
She bit her lower lip, and finally followed silently, keeping a few steps away, like a silent shadow.
Xiao Wen walked to the entrance of the convenience store. The glass door was closed, and the lights inside were bright. The bald store manager was sitting behind the cash register with a dejected look on his face, obviously still not recovered from the blow he had just suffered.
Seeing Xiao Wen coming back, the store manager was so scared that he jumped up from his chair, his face pale, waving his hands repeatedly, his lips trembling and unable to speak.
Xiao Wen didn’t even look at him. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk, scanning the ground in front of the convenience store, the wall next to it, and the huge green trash can.
He was searching for clues—anything that might point to where Arikana had been hiding or in which direction he had fled.
Soon, his eyes fixed on the ground next to the trash can.
There, something lay quietly.
Not garbage, but a small, inconspicuous, dark blue velvet… scrunchie?
Or more accurately, a hair accessory used to hold a small section of hair.
Xiao Wen walked over, bent down, and picked up the small hairband with two fingers.
It was cool to the touch, with a delicate velvety texture. There seemed to be a faint lingering scent of Arima Gana’s shampoo, mixed with a hint of the salty, astringent aroma of her tears.
[Target remnants detected… Faint energy residue confirmed… Target: Arima Kana…]The system gave a confirmation.
Xiao Wen held the small hairband as if it were a key to a puzzle.
He raised his eyes and looked towards the street where Kana had just disappeared, his gaze as deep as the abyss.
Who is this woman? And who is “Xiao Nai”?
Did that forgotten time in nursery school really exist? If so, why is his memory completely blank? And why is the SS-level energy of sadness connected to him?
More importantly…why did she get that bathroom photo?
Who was behind this, pushing her in front of him accurately time and time again?
He put away the small dark blue hairband, turned around, and ignored the frightened gaze of the convenience store manager behind him and Nanakusa’s hesitant worry.
“Let’s go.” He threw these two words to Nanakusa She’s Purse behind him. His voice was still cold, but it was no longer a complete drive away.
Nanakusa was stunned for a moment, then a faint light flashed in her eyes, and she hurriedly trotted to catch up: “Oh…Oh! Okay, Mr. Xiao!”
Xiao Wen didn’t say anything else, just walked ahead in silence.
His pace was still neither fast nor slow, but Nanakusa could feel that the cold, unapproachable aura emanating from him seemed to be stronger and more…complex than before.
It was as if beneath the calm ice, a turbulent undercurrent was surging.
She didn’t dare to chatter and share trivial matters like before, but just followed behind silently, carefully observing Xiao Wen’s silent silhouette.
The night was still dark, but the atmosphere on the way home was completely different from the ignorant and throbbing “inspection” when coming, and was shrouded in a heavy and strange fog.
Chapter 23: Picked up a little lonely (old version)
After sending away Nanakaocai, who kept looking back and wanted to say something but hesitated, Xiao Wen walked alone on the street late at night.
The city’s neon lights were still flickering, lengthening and shortening his shadow on the cold concrete ground.
Inside his body, the succubus core continued to hum due to the temptation of SS-level energy, mixed with the irritation about Arima Kana’s identity and that blank memory, forming an indescribable feeling of anxiety.
He needed to divert his attention, or… find new “prey” to calm this restlessness.
He deliberately avoided the bustling main road and turned into a relatively quiet back street illuminated only by sparse streetlights. The air was filled with a dull smell of food scraps, damp garbage, and a hint of paint.
Just as he passed an alley full of discarded cardboard boxes, an extremely subtle but unusually clear sound came into his ears.
It’s not the sound of footsteps, nor the chirping of insects.
Is it…guitar?
The sound was soft, as if afraid to disturb the night, intermittent, cautious and tentative, yet strangely penetrating. The melody was uncomplicated, even a bit clumsily repetitive, but the notes that flowed from the plucked strings carried an indescribable, pure, and clean sadness, like a solitary stream flowing under the moonlight, silently soaking into the dark corners.
This voice formed a sharp contrast with his inner anxiety at the moment and instantly attracted his attention.
Xiao Wen paused, his gaze piercing the depths of the alley where the sound originated. It was darker there than outside, the piles of debris forming a natural barrier. In the faint glow of a distant streetlamp, he caught sight of a silhouette that almost blended into the shadows.
A small, huddled figure, with her back to the alley entrance, clutched a guitar case larger than her body. She was wearing a dark, plain tracksuit with a large hood covering her head. She huddled in the corner, as if trying to hide herself in the cracks between the bricks.
It was the dark figure who hurried away holding the guitar.
Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes slightly. Interesting. Deep in this backstreet filled with a sense of decay, such a clear, spring-like melody could be found? Furthermore, the emotional fluctuations emanating from the other person were… quite unique. Not the usual desire, anger, or sadness, but a rich, almost condensed… loneliness and tension?
[A high-purity mixed emotion source of “loneliness/tension” has been detected… Energy rating: A-… The emotional quality is unique, analysis in progress…]The system’s notification tone was analytical. While the A-grade wasn’t as alluring as the SS-grade, it was unique and… seemingly within easy reach.
Xiao Wen silently raised the corners of his mouth, the irritation in his eyes replaced by a hint of interest. He restrained all his presence, like a cheetah blending into the night, stepping silently into the alley. His footsteps were so light that they didn’t even disturb the scraps of paper on the ground.
The closer she got, the clearer the sound became. Her fingering was noticeably awkward, and she even occasionally hit the wrong note, but her intense focus and the natural, unrefined emotion flowing through the melody were unexpectedly moving. She seemed completely absorbed in her own world, oblivious to the danger quietly approaching from behind.
Xiao Wen stopped about five steps away from her, leaning against the cold brick wall, his hands in his trouser pockets, quietly watching the huddled figure. Her hood obscured her face, revealing only a few strands of dark pink hair, which swayed slightly as she plucked the strings. She gripped her guitar tightly, her shoulders slightly hunched, as if the instrument were her only support and protection.
The sound of the piano flowed through the silent alley, sometimes soft and gentle, sometimes with a clumsy leap. Xiao Wen was no connoisseur of music, but the sound strangely soothed the restlessness within him caused by the SS-level energy. The succubus core greedily absorbed the pure loneliness that permeated the air, like a long-dry desert absorbing the sweet rain.
Time ticked by. The shadow seemed to finish a piece, its fingers pausing, the lingering sound of the strings trembling softly in the darkness. She remained in that position, motionless, as if savoring the experience, or gathering the courage to play the next piece. The only sounds in the alley were the faint sounds of distant traffic and her own gentle breathing.
At this moment, Xiao Wen moved. He didn’t mean to scare her, he just felt… it was time to show up.
He took a step forward and stepped on a dead leaf, which made a very slight “crunch” sound.
This sound was like thunder in the quiet alley!
“Wow!”
A short and extremely terrified scream instantly tore the silence apart!
The black shadow seemed to be hit by high voltage electricity, and the whole person suddenly bounced up!
The guitar case in his arms fell to the ground with a loud thud, making a dull sound.
She turned around on the spot like a frightened rabbit at incredible speed, so fast that it even created a gust of wind!
Xiao Wen only saw a face that was almost completely covered by a wide hood and thick bangs, and a pair of emerald green eyes that suddenly widened in the shadows, filled with extreme fear.
Those eyes, like the pupils of a frightened deer in the forest, were pure without a trace of impurities, but at this moment they were completely occupied by pure fear.
Then, before Xiao Wen even had time to open his mouth—
“Bang!”
That tiny figure actually knelt down heavily and firmly in front of him, his forehead hitting the cold, dirty concrete floor!
“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!”
A tearful, trembling apology exploded like a machine gun, its voice sharp and filled with desperate panic, “Did I disturb you?! I, I’ll leave right away! I’ll disappear right away! Please, don’t hit me! And don’t call the police! Please! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!!”
She maintained the sitting posture with her forehead pressed against the ground, and her small body was shaking violently like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, as if she would be torn apart by fear in the next second.
That humble attitude, that apology filled with despair and self-destructive tendencies, made Xiao Wen, who was used to all kinds of scenes, rarely… stunned.
He lowered his head slightly, looking at the shaking “object” on the ground, then looked at the guitar case lying on the ground next to him, and then combined it with the jerky but clear guitar sound just now…
This contrast… isn’t it a bit too big?
Chapter 24: Not Interesting in Looks (Old Version)
For a moment, the only sounds in the alley were the girl’s sobbing, incoherent apologies and the chattering of her teeth. The air seemed frozen, filled with an extremely absurd and awkward atmosphere.
Xiao Wen was silent for a few seconds, looking at the “object” on the ground shaking like a patient in the late stage of Parkinson’s disease, his brows slightly furrowed. This level of fear and inferiority… was almost pathological.
“Get up.” He spoke in a low voice, but with an unquestionable penetrating power that instantly drowned out the girl’s mumbling.
The figure on the ground suddenly froze, and the apology stopped abruptly, but the body shook even more violently.
“I, I, I…” She seemed to want to say something, but the sound of her teeth knocking against each other was clearer than the words.
“I said, get up.” Xiao Wen’s tone became heavier, revealing a hint of impatience at being interrupted. “If you don’t get up, I’ll call the police and report you for disturbing the public.”
“Don’t call the police!!” The girl on the ground screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and suddenly raised her head. Although she remained in a kneeling position, at least her upper body was straight. The large hood slipped down from the violent movement, revealing her full appearance.
Her long, dark pink hair was a bit disheveled, and beneath her thick, straight bangs, she revealed a delicate, oval face. Her skin was almost transparently pale, now flushed with intense fear and shame. Her emerald eyes, like the finest jade, shimmered with fear, panic, and helplessness. Her long eyelashes trembled violently like butterfly wings. Her nose was small and perky, and her lips, a pale cherry blossom color, were now clenched so tightly that they threatened to bleed.
She is indeed a beauty. Her facial features have a fragile and delicate feeling, like the most exquisite doll in the window.
but……
Xiao Wen’s gaze stayed on her face for less than three seconds, then he looked away indifferently.
[Target Emotion Analysis: A mixture of “extreme fear,” “shame,” and “inferiority”… The energy purity is acceptable… but…]The Succubus system paused for a rare moment, as if evaluating something.
[…Target’s “sexual attractiveness” fluctuates slightly…does not meet Core Drive criteria…recommend abandoning…]A cold conclusion echoed in Xiao Wen’s mind.
No desire.
In other words, the intense, almost self-destructive aura of social anxiety and inferiority emanating from her was like a thick cocoon, completely obscuring and even stifling any potential female appeal. The succubus’s instincts told him that this wasn’t a suitable target for “energy.” Forced “feeding” would not only be inefficient, but also risked tainting her with troublesome negative emotions.
“Name.” Xiao Wen didn’t bother to talk nonsense and asked directly.
“Go, Goto Ichiri…” The girl – Goto Ichiri, spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito. She still didn’t dare to look into Xiao Wen’s eyes, her gaze fixed on the ground at his feet.
“Why are you hiding here playing the guitar?” Xiao Wen glanced at the guitar on the ground. The guitar looked expensive, but it wasn’t well maintained, with scratches on the corners of the case.
“I… I…” Goto Ichiri seemed to be asked the most embarrassing question. Her cheeks were red as if they were about to bleed, and her head drooped even lower. “Home… practicing the piano at home will… will disturb the neighbors… the park… there are a lot of people in the park… here… there is no one here…” Her voice became smaller and smaller, and finally it was almost inaudible.
So that’s it. A musical soul completely imprisoned by social phobia. Xiao Wen instantly understood the source of the loneliness in the piano music.
“You play it well.” He made a rare comment, although his tone remained calm.
Goto Ichiri suddenly raised his head, his emerald green eyes instantly gleaming with disbelief, like a drowning man suddenly seeing a piece of driftwood, but was immediately overwhelmed by deeper shame and doubt: “Really? No… It’s impossible… I play the piano terribly… I always make mistakes… The rhythm is also unstable…”
She began to fall into a cycle of self-denial again.
Xiao Wen had no interest in listening to her inner monologue. He turned around and walked towards the alley entrance. Since it was deemed “useless”, there was no need to waste time.
“Ah!” Goto Ichiri saw that he was really leaving, and leaving so decisively and without any reluctance. For some reason, he felt anxious and cried out subconsciously.
Xiao Wen paused, without turning back, but turned his head to the side and gave him a cold look: “Anything else?”
“Um…um…” Goto Ichiri shuddered at his gaze, but her fear was overwhelmed by her immense confusion. “I’m…I’m sorry…I…I just don’t understand…why…you…just now…” She stammered, wanting to ask why he’d asked her to get up after hearing the music, and now suddenly wanted to leave. This sudden change in attitude left her even more bewildered and…frustrated. Was she really so awful that no one would even bother looking at her?
Xiao Wen looked at her confused and hurt expression, like an abandoned puppy, and raised an eyebrow. He never liked to explain, but looking at her pure yet confused green eyes, a straightforward thought that was almost mischievous came to his mind.
He turned around, his hands in his pockets, and looked down at Goto Ichiri, who was still kneeling on the ground and looked even smaller. His voice was clear and indifferent, as if he was stating an objective fact:
“Because you look so unappealing.”
“…” Goto Ichiri was completely frozen, his emerald green pupils suddenly contracted, as if he was frozen into an ice sculpture by these words.
“Too… too… undesirable…” she repeated dully, each word piercing her heart like an icicle. What did this mean? Was she… unattractive? Uninteresting? So… not even worth a second glance?
An unprecedented sense of frustration and shame swept over her like a tsunami.
Even more terrifying than before!
She had always known that she was unlovable and afraid of interacting with others, but being described so bluntly and almost cruelly as having “no desire”…
Tears suddenly welled up uncontrollably, blurring my vision.
She bit her lower lip tightly to prevent herself from crying out loud, but her body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably, as if it would fall apart at any second.
Xiao Wen looked at her as she collapsed instantly, as if her soul had been sucked out, with no emotion in his eyes.
There is no mercy in the succubus’s dictionary, only value judgments.
Without stopping, he turned around and strode out of the dark alley, leaving behind the lonely figure who was completely devastated by the cruel comment, along with the guitar lying on the ground, in the deep darkness behind him.
The light at the alley entrance grew slightly brighter. Xiao Wen had just taken a few steps, about to continue his aimless wandering, when his sharp eyes caught sight of something moving…behind the dense holly bushes in the green belt across the street.
It wasn’t the natural scurrying of a stray cat or dog, but rather a furtive, peek-a-boo feeling. Furthermore, that movement… seemed to be just down the alley?
Xiao Wen didn’t stop, but his gaze, like a hawk, was already locked on the suspicious bush. He calmly adjusted his direction, seemingly casually walking along the sidewalk, but in fact he was rapidly closing the distance to the green belt.
Just when he reached a position almost parallel to the bushes—
“rustle……”
The bushes shook violently! A figure seemed startled and tried to get out from the other side in a panic!
“Who?” Xiao Wen’s low voice sounded, carrying an invisible sense of oppression.
“Wow!” The figure in the bushes let out a short cry of surprise and froze in place.
Then, a head with dazzling short golden hair emerged from the holly branches, with a few blades of grass on the face, and big amber eyes were full of surprise and embarrassment of being caught.
“Uh…hi? What a coincidence, Xiao Wen?” Jinmu Qianshu smiled awkwardly and emerged from the bushes in a somewhat awkward manner, brushing off the grass and dirt on her body. She was wearing a black sportswear that was easy to move in, but now she looked a little dusty.
Xiao Wen looked at the young agent in front of him, with whom he had just collaborated on a mission not long ago, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Why is she here, hiding in the bushes?
Chapter 25: You Are Just Food (Old Version)
“Jinmu Qianshu?” Xiao Wen’s eyes swept over her slightly disheveled body, “What are you doing here? Carrying out a mission?” His voice was still flat, but with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.
She did help a little in the last mission to eliminate the infiltrating spies (mainly helping him fool her boss), and the two of them had a bit of a “friendship” – of course, it was based on pure transactions and mutual benefit.
“A mission? Ahahaha… No, no!” Qianshu waved his hands quickly, forcing a bright but slightly stiff smile. “I just finished a big order, and my boss gave me a short vacation! I’m a freelancer now!”
She emphasized, trying to make herself sound more credible, “I just… I couldn’t sleep at night, so I went out for a walk, and then… uh… I saw a super – cute little wild cat crawling into the grass, so I… um, wanted to see where it hid!” She pointed to the green belt next to her, her eyes wandering.
Xiao Wen looked at her expressionlessly, his eyes seemed to say: Do you think I believe it?
Qianshu felt a little nervous when he looked at her, and touched her nose awkwardly: “Okay, okay… Actually… I’m a little curious.” She moved closer, lowered her voice, and her amber eyes flashed with gossip. “What happened in the alley just now? I seemed to hear a girl crying? And… did you bully her?” She had been hiding in the bushes just now, and vaguely heard Goto Ichiri’s terrified scream and Dogeza’s apology. Later, when Xiao Wen walked out, the cold aura made her subconsciously think of some not-so-good pictures.
“It’s none of your business.” Xiao Wen coldly refused and turned to leave. He had no interest in explanations, especially not in such insignificant prying.
“Hey! Wait a minute!” Qian Shu hurriedly caught up, jumping around him like a golden retriever that couldn’t be shaken off, “Don’t be so cold, Xiao Wen! After all, we can be considered ‘comrades-in-arms’! Last time you helped me deal with that tricky guy, I haven’t thanked you properly yet! Although… although the credit in the end was mine, hehe…” She smiled a little embarrassedly, “But don’t worry! I definitely didn’t reveal your existence! I fooled Uncle Inoue!”
Xiao Wen kept walking, only giving a faint “hmm” as a response. He had no interest in credit, as long as the deal was done.
The two walked side by side along the quiet street, the streetlights stretching and shortening their shadows. Qianshu seemed determined to pester him, constantly trying to find topics to talk about.
“By the way, Xiao Wen, who are you exactly?” Qian Shu tilted his head, curiously examining Xiao Wen’s profile, which was half-lit and half-dark under the streetlight. “Those… abilities you displayed last time were simply inhuman! And the way you handled things… were so clean and efficient, it felt… like a professional.”
She asked tentatively. As an elite agent of Lycoris, she was instinctively wary of and curious about “abnormal” forces. To her, Xiao Wen’s existence was like a fog filled with temptation and extreme danger.
Xiao Wen walked in silence, without answering. The night wind ruffled his hair, revealing his deep, dark eyes.
“Hey, don’t be so stingy!” Qianshu muttered dissatisfiedly, “I’ve told you my ‘secret identity’! In exchange, can you reveal a little bit? For example… where are you from? What did you do before? Why do you have that… um… magical power?” She blinked her big eyes, trying to impress him with “sincerity”.
Xiao Wen finally stopped, turned around, and looked directly at Jinmu Chitsu. The light from the street lamp illuminated his handsome yet cold face.
“Want to know?” He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. His voice was low and had a strange magnetism, like the whisper of a siren tempting sailors to run aground.
Qian Shu’s heart skipped a beat at his sudden approach and those dark eyes that seemed to be able to absorb souls. She subconsciously took a half step back, a trace of vigilance flashing across her face, but more of it was aroused curiosity: “Of course… of course!”
“Okay.” Xiao Wen raised the corner of his mouth with a faint, yet dangerous arc, “But my information is never free. What price are you willing to pay?”
“Price?” Qianshu was stunned for a moment, then understood what he meant. He had made a similar request during their last mission together. A hint of confusion and struggle flashed in her amber eyes.
As an agent, she is well aware of the potential risks of dealing with such a mysterious entity; but as Nishiki Chitsugu, her strong curiosity and a hint of adventurousness in her bones are stirring again.
The price… intimate contact…
Her eyes involuntarily fell on Xiao Wen’s thin lips, which were so close to her. Those lips were beautifully shaped, yet they exuded a coldness that seemed to distance her from others. Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
The girl’s broken sobs in the alley still seemed to echo in my ears… This man was truly dangerous…
But…his secret…is too tempting…
Just as Qianshu was struggling with his inner conflict, Xiao Wen seemed to lose his patience, stood up and prepared to leave.
“Wait!” Qian Shu blurted out. She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. A glimmer of determination flashed in her eyes. She took a step forward and stood on tiptoe!
The next second, a soft and slightly clumsy kiss with the scent of grass and the girl’s body temperature, like a dragonfly touching the water, was gently imprinted on Xiao Wen’s lips!
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Xiao Wen’s body stiffened imperceptibly. He lowered his gaze, observing the girl standing so close to him. Her eyes were tightly closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and her cheeks flushed with nervousness. The touch of her lips was warm and unfamiliar, with a kind of… awkward determination?
[Contact confirmed! A+ grade “curiosity/impulsiveness/nervousness” mixed energy absorption… Energy conversion efficiency: Good…]The system’s prompt sounded calmly, analyzing this sudden “energy source”.
Instantly separate!
Qianshu stepped back as if burned, covering her mouth. Her cheeks were as red as a ripe tomato, and her amber eyes were filled with shock, embarrassment, and a hint of… disbelief. She really… kissed him?! For an answer?!
Xiao Wen raised his hand and slowly rubbed his lower lip with the tip of his thumb, as if savoring the brief, strange feeling. He looked at the embarrassed and annoyed girl in front of him, his eyes devoid of lust, only a hint of amusement and… understanding.
“Now, can you tell me?” Qianshu tried to remain calm, but the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her.
“Of course.” Xiao Wen put his hand down and regained his indifferent expression, as if the kiss had never happened. He looked directly into Qian Shu’s eyes, his voice clear and direct, without any embellishment or concealment:
“I’m helping you only because your body is ‘valuable’ to me. That’s all.”
“What…?!” Qianshu’s eyes widened instantly.
Just because… her body has “value”?
“You…you bastard!” Qian Shu was shaking with anger. He pointed at Xiao Wen, his amber eyes almost spitting fire. “What do you take me for?! A tool?! Or…or…?!”
She was so angry that she couldn’t speak complete sentences.
“Tools?” Xiao Wen seemed to find the word amusing. The curve of his lips deepened slightly, with a cold sneer. “No. Tools at least require maintenance costs. You are just… ‘ingredients’.”
“Food… ingredients?!” Qianshu was completely stunned, her mind going blank. This answer was completely beyond her comprehension.
Beyond anger and shame, a huge sense of absurdity and…uncontrollable curiosity arose again.
Why? Why describe him like that? What kind of monster is he?!
Just then—
“Qianzhu!” A calm and slightly anxious male voice came from the corner of the street.
The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a member of the organization wearing a signature black windbreaker walking quickly towards them with a barely perceptible worry on his face.
Qianshu looked like he had seen a savior, but also like a child who had been caught doing something bad, with a very complicated expression on his face.
The male team member approached, his eyes sharply sweeping over Qian Shu, who looked ashamed and angry, and then fell on Xiao Wen, who was standing next to him with an indifferent expression and a deep breath. His eyes instantly became alert and solemn.
This man… Qian Shu was vague about his words after the last mission, but he exuded a dangerous aura…
“Qianshu, it’s time to return to the team. There is an emergency.” He didn’t ask any more questions, but just said in a deep voice with an unquestionable tone.
Qianshu looked at Inoue, then at Xiao Wen, and gritted his teeth.
She had a lot of questions and anger that she wanted to vent, but in front of Inoue, she could only suppress it. She glared at Xiao Wen fiercely, her eyes seemed to say “this matter is not over”, then turned and walked towards the male team member.
“I know, uncle.” Her voice was muffled.
The male team member gave Xiao Wen a last deep look, his eyes full of warning and inquiry.
Xiao Wen simply stared back calmly, his gaze unmoved. The male team member said nothing more, and with Qian Shu, who kept looking back and a look that said, “Just wait for me,” he quickly disappeared around the corner.
The streets fell silent again.
Xiao Wen stood there, the night wind blowing the loose hair on his forehead.
The warm touch of grass still lingered on her lips, along with the girl’s mixed emotions of anger, shame, and immense confusion. While A+ energy wasn’t top-tier, it was emotionally complex and of acceptable quality.
He shook his head slightly, banishing the image of Nishiki Chitsuka’s angry face from his mind. The curiosity and bottom line of the spy girl were nothing more than a diversion in his eyes.
Keep walking, aimlessly.
The restlessness in the body was calmed down a lot by the “energy replenishment” and Qianshu’s “interlude” just now.
The heaviness brought by the SS-level energy and memory fragments seemed to be temporarily suppressed.
I don’t know how long I walked, passing through several streets that were either busy or deserted, and the architectural style around me gradually became familiar.
He stopped.
In front of me is an apartment building with elegant appearance and strict management.
Under the bright lobby lights, you can see uniformed security guards on duty.
This… is Ruby Hoshino’s apartment.
Xiao Wen’s gaze naturally moved upwards and landed precisely on a window on the upper floor of the apartment building.
The curtains on that window were not completely drawn, leaving a tiny gap.
Behind the gap, a faint, cold light from a mobile phone screen flickered in the darkness.
Faintly, there seemed to be a familiar golden color flashing in the light and shadow.
Xiao Wen stood under the trees opposite the apartment building, his figure completely hidden in the shadows.
He raised his head and stared quietly at the slit through which the faint light came. The depths of his dark eyes were like a deep pool, without any ripples, yet he seemed to have penetrated the barrier of glass and curtains and saw the equally uneasy figure curled up in the dark room.
Ruby…
What is she thinking at this moment?
Chapter 26: Let’s Go Out Together, Ruby (Old Version)
Xiao Wen stood in the shadow downstairs, looking up at the window that was emitting faint light for a full minute.
The golden light flickered, as if the phone screen had gone out. Then there was a subtle rustling, as if the owner had turned over or buried his face in the pillow. Finally, even that faint light disappeared completely, and the window was plunged into complete darkness.
Asleep?
Xiao Wen withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless. He had no intention of going up at this moment.
Pushing too hard, or showing up right after a major mood swing, can backfire.
The “ingredients” of despair require appropriate “fermentation” time, allowing those complex emotions to brew and transform in her heart on their own, in order to produce a more mellow “energy”.
He turned around, and his figure blended silently into the still quiet street, as if he had never appeared.
The next morning.
The sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, painting the room a warm golden hue.
Hoshino Ruby curled up on the bed, her eyelashes trembled a few times, and then slowly opened her eyes.
The crimson eyes did not show the expected redness and fatigue, but were unusually clear.
She looked at the familiar pattern on the ceiling and blinked. Fragments of last night’s chaotic, shameful, cold, yet strangely insightful memories flooded back into her mind.
Xiao Wen…
Ingredients…
The last look in his eyes that almost tore her apart…
And… even earlier, when she questioned him, the gloom in his eyes that was so fast that it almost made people think it was an illusion…?
Ruby sat up suddenly in bed and slapped her cheeks hard with her hands.
“Snap! Snap!”
The crisp sound is particularly obvious in the quiet room.
“I don’t want to think about it anymore!” She whispered as if to cheer herself up. Her voice was still hoarse from waking up, but it revealed a determination to go all out. “Anyway… it’s already like this! It can’t get any worse!”
She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed, her bare feet stepping onto the cool floor as she trotted into the bathroom. The cold water splashed on her face, giving her a jolt and making her more awake. She looked in the mirror at the girl, whose face was slightly pale but whose eyes were remarkably determined, and clenched her fists.
“Ruby Hoshino! Come on! You still have to go to the agency today to discuss your comeback! Don’t let that bastard affect your mood!” She said to herself in the mirror, trying hard to force a full-of-energy smile, although it looked a little forced.
She quickly washed up, changed into light casual clothes, and even put on a rare touch of makeup to cover the faint dark circles under her eyes. She decided to put those things that were confusing her aside for the time being and focus on the things she could control right now—like, getting back on stage.
However, when she picked up her phone and saw that there were no unread messages or missed calls on the screen, a sense of loss deep in her heart, which she herself didn’t want to admit…still peeked out. She shook her head, shaking off this inexplicable emotion.
Just as she was about to go out and buy some breakfast at the convenience store downstairs, the doorbell suddenly rang.
So early? Could it be Kana-chan? Or someone from the office?
Confused, Ruby walked behind the door and looked out through the peephole.
The next second, she froze in place, her pupils shrinking slightly.
The person standing outside the door was neither Kana nor a staff member.
It’s Xiao Wen.
He was still dressed in simple dark clothes, standing tall and straight. In his hand, however, he carried a paper bag, utterly incongruous with his cold demeanor… It was emblazoned with the logo of a well-known nearby store. His face was expressionless, as he simply stared calmly at the door, as if he were simply delivering a package.
Why was he here?! How did he know she lived here? (Although, with his abilities, it shouldn’t be hard to find out.) And… so early? And with… snacks?
Ruby’s heart began to beat uncontrollably. His cold words and the terrifying look in his eyes last night were still fresh in her mind, and now he showed up at her door like nothing had happened, even bringing something?
She took a deep breath, and with trembling fingers she touched the door handle. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally unlocked the door.
The door opened a crack, revealing half of Ruby’s face. She looked at the man outside with complicated eyes, and her voice was filled with a subtle nervousness and vigilance: “…Why are you here?”
Xiao Wen’s eyes swept across her face, accurately capturing the fleeting panic, the forced composure, and the overly energetic facade. He didn’t answer her question, but simply handed her the paper bag, his movements as natural as if he were doing an everyday task.
“Just passing by. Just happened to do that.” His tone was calm.
Ruby instinctively took the bag. A warm sensation filtered through it, revealing what looked like freshly baked taiyaki or daifuku, emitting a faint sweet aroma. She froze, looking down at the bag, then up at Xiao Wen’s expressionless face. Her brain froze.
What…what does this mean? A slap in the face, followed by a sweet reward? Or…a new way of playing a prank?
“You…” Ruby opened her mouth, wanting to ask, “What do you mean by that?” but swallowed the words back. She remembered the glimmer of darkness she had caught last night. An inexplicable urge made her suppress her questioning words.
She pursed her lips, then suddenly raised her head, trying to put on a smile that was even brighter and more “Ruby” than the one she practiced in the mirror just now. It was as if she had completely forgotten the unpleasantness of last night. Her crimson eyes curved into crescents. “Thank you, Xiao Wensang! It just so happens that I haven’t had breakfast yet! Have you eaten yet? Do you want to join us?”
Her tone was brisk, even a little exaggerated, with the sweetness that is unique to idols at work.
Xiao Wen looked at the perfect, unclouded smile on her face, and his eyes paused almost imperceptibly.
This reaction… was a bit unexpected. He had expected no fear, alienation, questioning, or even crying, but instead this… overly enthusiastic response?
[Target Emotion: Nervous, confused, feigning composure, tentative… Complex energy fluctuations… with elements of “performance”…]The system analyzed calmly.
“No.” Xiao Wen looked away, his tone still cold, “See you finish eating. The ‘ingredients’ need to be kept in the best condition. An empty stomach affects the quality of ‘energy’.” He made no secret of his purpose, and even deliberately emphasized the word “ingredients”, as if to remind her, and also as if to remind himself.
If it were the Ruby from yesterday, she would probably turn pale and be deeply shocked when she heard this word.
But at this moment, the smile on Ruby’s face froze for just a fraction of a second, then returned to normal, and even smiled sweeter: “Is that so~ Then I won’t be polite!” She seemed not to have heard the two harsh words at all, and opened the paper bag on her own, took out the still warm and soft cream-filled Taiyaki, and took a big bite in front of Xiao Wen.
“Mmm! Delicious!” She puffed out her cheeks and praised vaguely, her eyes narrowed, with a look of extreme satisfaction. Her acting was perfect – if you ignore her slightly trembling fingertips.
Xiao Wen leaned against the door frame, quietly watching her perform, watching her struggle to swallow her food, trying to maintain a smile, trying to create the illusion of “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m not affected by you at all.” A very faint, barely perceptible interest flashed in his dark eyes.
interesting.
A little tougher than he expected… Or perhaps, a better disguiser?
Ruby quickly “finished” a Taiyaki, clapped her hands, and still smiled brightly: “I’m done! Thank you for breakfast, Xiao Wensang! Um… I have to go to the office, I have something important to discuss today!” She hinted to see the guest off.
Xiao Wen seemed not to understand and stood up: “Yes. I’ll go with you.”
“Ah?” Ruby almost couldn’t hold back her smile. “You…you’re going with me? Why? The office…”
“Supervising the daily status of the ‘ingredients’ and ensuring the stability of the ‘energy’ is necessary.” Xiao Wen said this matter-of-factly, stepping past her and walking naturally into the apartment. “Besides, are you sure you can handle it alone? You won’t be fooled by those shrewd agents using ‘psychological problems’ as an excuse again?”
Her smile finally couldn’t be maintained, the corners of her mouth drooped slightly, and a trace of real worry flashed in her eyes.
Indeed, she was not completely sure whether she could make a smooth comeback. The agency’s concerns and Kana’s overprotection were both problems.
Xiao Wen took in all her subtle changes in mood and understood everything.
He looked around the girlish but slightly messy apartment, his eyes finally landing on a familiar-looking men’s shirt lying on the sofa (the one he had left behind last time).
Ruby followed his gaze, her face flushed, and she quickly rushed over to grab the shirt and tuck it behind her, stammering to explain, “T-well… I was going to wash it and return it to you!”
Xiao Wen didn’t comment, but said calmly: “Ten minutes. Change clothes and go out.”
Ruby watched as he had taken the initiative and sat down on the sofa, took out his cell phone and seemed to be processing something, with no intention of leaving. She could only grit her teeth, grab the clothes she was going to wear outside, and rush into the bedroom to change.
Ten minutes later, Ruby packed up and came out again, with the mask of “energetic idol” on her face again, but there was a bit of helplessness and resignation in her eyes.
The two went downstairs together.
In the morning, there were occasional residents coming in and out of the apartment building. When they saw Ruby appear with a strange man with a cold temperament, they all looked at her with curiosity and inquiry.
Ruby subconsciously tried to keep some distance, but Xiao Wen seemed unaware of it. He even reached out and supported her arm very naturally when she almost missed a step because of nervousness.
His fingers were slightly cool, but his strength was steady. He only made brief contact before releasing it, as if he had just done it casually.
Ruby felt as if she’d been burned, the lingering touch on her arm causing her heart to skip a beat. She quickly glanced at Xiao Wen, only to see him staring blankly ahead, as if he’d just helped a passerby who was about to fall.
…It’s like this again! His words are so harsh, but his actions…
Ruby lowered her head and buried half of her face in her scarf. The speculation in her mind about the “haze” and the awkward “care” at the moment were intertwined, making her more confused about the man beside her.
What kind of person is he…?
Chapter 27: Suspected Spoiled Ingredients (Old Version)
On the way to the office, Ruby tried hard to maintain her calmness on the surface, and even tried to find some safe topics, such as the weather, or the newly opened shops on the street, but Xiao Wen’s responses were always just short “um”, “oh”, or simply silence, which made the atmosphere very awkward for a while.
Ruby gradually gave up communicating and just walked silently, thinking about what to say when she met the senior management of the firm later.
However, she underestimated the power of yesterday’s “convenience store bare-faced trending search.”
Just as she walked near the office building where the firm was located, several paparazzi with telephoto cameras suddenly appeared from nowhere and started taking pictures of her. The cameras even rudely swept towards Xiao Wen who was beside her.
“Ms. Hoshino Ruby! Is this gentleman your friend?”
“Miss Ruby, what do you want to say about last night’s trending search?”
“It’s been rumored that you’ve been taking a break from activities due to mental issues. Why do you seem so well now?”
“Sir, what is your relationship with Miss Ruby?”
Questions came one after another, like a barrage of cannonballs, with undisguised prying and malice.
The flash made Ruby’s eyes hurt. She subconsciously took a step back. The forced vitality on her face disappeared in an instant, leaving only panic and helplessness.
Just then, a shadow appeared in front of her.
Xiao Wen didn’t even make any big movements, just took half a step forward, completely blocking all the shots pointing at Ruby.
He said nothing, but his dark and cold eyes slowly swept over the paparazzi.
There was no anger in those eyes, or even any obvious emotion.
The paparazzi who were still shouting seemed to be strangled by the neck in an instant, and their voices stopped abruptly.
The hand holding the camera froze in mid-air, and a chill inexplicably rose up behind me, as if I was being stared at by an extremely dangerous beast, and I felt fear instinctively.
They subconsciously took a few steps back, not even having the courage to look at each other.
Xiao Wen then withdrew his gaze, as if he was just chasing away a few annoying flies.
He turned his head and said calmly to Ruby, who was still a little dazed behind him, “Let’s go.”
“Ah? Oh…oh!” Ruby came to her senses, lowered her head quickly, and quickly followed his footsteps.
Was he just… protecting her?
“…Thank you.” She whispered softly.
“No need.” Xiao Wen’s answer was still cold and unpleasant. “It’s just to ensure that the ‘toy’ is not disturbed by irrelevant dust and affects the user experience.”
Ruby: “…”
The little bit of emotion that had just risen in my heart was instantly shattered by these words.
Toys?! User experience?!
She puffed up her cheeks in anger and glared at the back of Xiao Wen’s head, wishing she could bite him.
This person! Can’t he just say something nice?! He has to constantly make relationships sound so objectifying!
She took two quick steps and walked side by side with him as if in a fit of anger. She deliberately bumped him lightly with her shoulder (missing the impact), then turned her head to look at the shop windows on the street, facing him with the back of her head to express her dissatisfaction.
Xiao Wen felt her insignificant “resistance”, and the corners of his mouth seemed to curl up extremely slightly, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
The two of them walked into the office building in a strange and somewhat childish awkward state.
With Xiao Wen, a “bodyguard” with a powerful aura and a gaze that could freeze someone, the subsequent process went unexpectedly smoothly. The agent’s prepared arguments and concerns were all left unanswered under Xiao Wen’s emotionless yet oppressive gaze.
In addition, Ruby’s condition had indeed recovered well and her attitude was firm, so the agency finally agreed to her plan to gradually resume her activities, starting with some simple magazine shoots and fan meetings.
When she walked out of the office, Ruby breathed a long sigh of relief, and her first genuine, relaxed smile of the day appeared on her face, as if a huge burden had been lifted from her.
“That’s great! Xiao Wensang! They agreed!” She turned to Xiao Wen excitedly and said, her rosy eyes sparkling as if filled with stars.
Xiao Wen looked at her defenseless, purely happy smile, his eyes moved slightly, but his words were still harsh: “Hmm. It seems that the function of the ‘toy’ has basically recovered, which is worthy of recognition.”
Ruby’s good mood was instantly dashed. She slumped her shoulders and looked at him speechlessly, “Xiao Wensang, can’t you say something nice? Like, ‘Congratulations,’ or something like that?”
“No,” Xiao Wen replied succinctly. “False compliments are meaningless. The truth is, your value to me lies in the ‘energy’ generated by your body and emotions. Whether your acting career is successful or not has nothing to do with me, unless it affects the output of ‘energy’.”
Ruby was so infuriated by his cold, blunt, and logically coherent argument that she was speechless and could only stare at him. After a moment, she seemed to have a sudden thought. Her eyes shifted slyly, and a smile returned to her face, even a hint of coquettishness.
“Then~ in order to make the output of ‘energy’ more stable and of higher quality, shouldn’t the ‘master’ invest appropriately in the ‘toy’s’ mood?”
She tilted her head deliberately, adopting the businesslike tone of an idol addressing her fans. “For example, take your ‘toy’ who just achieved a temporary victory out for a walk, some shopping, some relaxation, some relaxation? That way, your ‘toy’ can stay in top condition and produce even more delicious ‘energy’!”
She felt her face getting hot after she said that, but she still forced herself to look at Xiao Wen, her heart beating nervously, not sure whether this level of “provocation” would anger him.
Xiao Wen lowered his eyes and looked at her, seeing her ears slightly reddened despite trying to appear calm, and the cautious temptation and cunning in her eyes.
He was silent for a few seconds. Just when Ruby thought he was going to sneer and refuse or say something hurtful again, he spoke calmly:
“Sure. Where do you want to go?”
Ruby: “???”
She almost thought she was hallucinating!
He…he actually agreed?! So easily?!
[Target Emotion: Shock, smug joy, disbelief, slight elation at having succeeded… Active energy fluctuations… Quality improvement…]The system prompt sounded at the appropriate time.
Xiao Wen remained calm. Occasionally satisfying harmless requests for “ingredients” would be beneficial for long-term “feeding” and improving energy quality. A very reasonable deal.
“Uh… just… just wander around! Shibuya? Harajuku? Anywhere is fine!”
Ruby said quickly, fearing that he would regret it. A smile brighter than the sun instantly bloomed on her face. She subconsciously reached out and grabbed Xiao Wen’s wrist, pulling him towards the subway station, “Let’s go!”
Her fingers were warm and soft, holding his wrist tightly with the energy of a young girl.
Xiao Wen’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the hand she was holding on to him, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was not used to this kind of physical contact, but in the end he did not shake it off, but just let her pull him and took a step to keep up with her.
“Let go. What a shame.” His tone was filled with disgust.
“No! What if the ‘master’ gets lost, or changes his mind and runs away?” Ruby turned around and made a face at him, holding on tighter and even shaking his arm gently. “The ‘toy’ is very worried about the progress of ‘energy’ collection!”
She discovered that by learning to use his “toy theory” in reverse, she seemed to be able to somewhat silence his infuriating mouth? And… he didn’t seem as completely resistant as he appeared?
Xiao Wen: “…”
He looked at the girl idol in front of him who seemed to have suddenly turned on some strange switch, becoming bold and even a little arrogant, and for the first time he felt a… subtle, indescribable sense of difficulty.
Is this “ingredient”… something wrong?
Chapter 28: What a coincidence! (Old version)
The Shibuya intersection was crowded with people and the noise was deafening.
Ruby was like a bird out of a cage. Although she still remembered her identity as an idol and wore a hat and a mask, her exposed crimson eyes were surprisingly bright, full of curiosity and excitement about everything around her.
She held Xiao Wen’s hand (although Xiao Wen later forcibly pried her hand away from his wrist, he tacitly allowed her to stay within half a step of him) and walked through the dazzling shops and the surging crowds.
“Xiao Wensang, look at that! What a huge doll!”
“Wow! There’s a huge line at that crepe shop! I heard it’s super delicious!”
“Look, look! There’s a street performance over there!”
She chattered, tugging at Xiao Wen’s sleeve from time to time, pointing out various things to him, and was completely immersed in the long-lost freedom and lively atmosphere.
It was as if last night’s breakdown and this morning’s temptation had never happened, and she turned back into the energetic idol Ruby Hoshino – at least on the surface.
Xiao Wen followed her, his brows slightly furrowed, obviously very impatient with this noisy and chaotic environment.
The various emotional fluctuations emanating from the overly dense crowd around him—excitement, fatigue, anxiety, happiness—although faint and chaotic, when they came together, they made him feel a little irritated, as if countless flies were buzzing in his ears.
He prefers a quiet environment that is convenient for “hunting”.
“It’s so noisy.” He complained for the Nth time in a cold voice.
“Oh, this is the breath of life!” Ruby looked back at him with curved eyes, “If you always stay at home or in the hotel, you will get moldy, Xiao Wensang~ Oh, by the way, you are not a human, you are… um, ‘some kind of existence’, maybe you don’t like sunbathing?” She deliberately teased him.
Xiao Wen glanced at her coldly: “Provocation doesn’t work on me. Also, sunlight doesn’t work on me.”
He paused, looking at the endless stream of people before him, and added with a touch of sarcasm, “Besides, the so-called ‘breath of life’ is just a bunch of bodies driven by desire and instinct, meaninglessly gathering and consuming themselves in a limited space and time, eventually turning into dust. What’s there to be excited about?”
She was once again choked by these anti-human and anti-social remarks and was speechless.
This person! How bleak is his outlook on life!
She glared at him angrily, and suddenly saw a small stall selling Taiyaki nearby, and immediately a plan came to her mind.
She ran over to buy one, then stuffed it into Xiao Wen’s hand: “Here! Here you go! Try it! I’ll use this ‘delicious’ thing to shut your mouth! I’ll keep you from saying anything scary again!”
Xiao Wen looked at the steaming, cutely shaped Taiyaki in his hand, then looked at Ruby’s expression that said “Eat it quickly or I’ll get angry with you”, and fell silent for a moment.
[Ordinary food, no energy value, too high in sugar, meaningless to consume.] The system gives an assessment.
But he still lowered his head and took a bite with a blank expression, his eyes as if he was completing a mission.
“How is it? Is it delicious?” Ruby looked at him expectantly.
“Sweet. Greasy. Junk food.” Xiao Wen gave a harsh evaluation, but still finished the rest.
Forget it, she shouldn’t have expected anything nice from this guy! But… he actually finished it? He’s just saying one thing and doing another!
For the rest of the journey, Ruby seemed to be at odds with Xiao Wen’s “poisonous tongue”.
When he saw a nice jewelry store and was pulled in, he commented that it was “flashy and a waste of resources”;
Seeing the couple’s photo booth, she was tempted to use it, but he sneered, “What’s the point of leaving such a stupid low-resolution image?”
Even when she sees a cute puppy on the street and wants to pet it, he will say, “It carries germs, it’s best to stay away from it.”
Ruby was furious at first, but later she felt almost numb and even found it a little funny.
She discovered that if she ignored his harsh words and only looked at his actions—
For example, even though he complained, he still followed her. For example, when the crowd was crowded, he subconsciously used his arm to help her separate the space. For example, when she was staring at the ice cream, even though he said “frozen food hurts your stomach”, he still bought it for her.
You’ll find that this person… isn’t actually that bad? Even… a little weird… um, take care of him?
This discovery made Ruby feel a little strange, a sour and bitter feeling with a hint of warmth spread in her heart. She no longer tried to argue with him, but instead relaxed more and truly enjoyed this rare “leisure time”.
The setting sun casts a warm golden coat over the bustling Shibuya.
Ruby was a little tired from shopping. She was holding a cup of strawberry milkshake that Xiao Wen “disdained” to buy for her, sipping it, and feeling more relaxed than she had in recent times.
Although there was a “human nature complaining machine” around her, strangely, she didn’t find it annoying.
Xiao Wen stood beside her, looking at the neon lights gradually lighting up in the distance. His profile was clearly outlined in the setting sun, less cold and hard as usual, with a hint of indescribable…tranquility?
The energy in his body seemed to slowly settle down after the hustle and bustle of the day.
At this moment, there was a sudden small commotion among the crowd not far ahead, accompanied by a few exclamations and the sound of camera shutters.
“Wow! Look! Is that a cosplayer? So pretty!”
“This is such a realistic look! Is this Lilith from ‘Star Girl’?”
“Golden twintails! Such pale skin! Such long legs!”
Ruby’s attention was also drawn to the scene, and she stood on tiptoe to look. She saw a tall, slender girl standing in the center of the crowd, seemingly taking photos with passersby.
The girl’s long hair was tied into exaggerated twin ponytails, and her hairstyle was extremely exquisite.
She wore an extremely ornate, intricate Gothic Lolita dress, adorned with lace and ribbons, the hem of her skirt held up in a graceful curve by a bustle. Her makeup was delicate, her emerald blue eyes like the purest gemstones, and she wore a bright yet slightly shy smile as she struck a classic pose from anime characters, drawing cheers from the surrounding fans.
That girl’s face…
Ruby blinked, feeling that it looked familiar. It seemed… somewhere.
She subconsciously looked at Xiao Wen beside her.
Xiao Wen’s gaze also fell on the blond cosplayer. His expression didn’t change much, but within those usually calm black eyes, a very subtle hint of…surprise and a kind of…understanding?
The corners of his mouth seemed to curl up slightly in a very faint but meaningful arc.
That blonde girl…Kitagawa Umi.
Xiao Wen recognized her. And he looked…interested.
I didn’t expect to meet her here.
Ruby’s heart skipped a beat. A subtle, inexplicable premonition, one she couldn’t even explain, quietly emerged in her mind.
Xiao Wen’s attention seemed to be completely attracted.
Chapter 29: Threesome (Part 1) (Old Version)
The crowds at Shibuya Crossing seemed like a never-ending vortex, waves of noise rising and falling. However, around the small circle formed around the blonde cosplayer, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Kitagawa Umi’s turquoise eyes, like carefully polished gems, first fell on Xiao Wen, revealing undisguised surprise and a brilliant smile.
But the next second, the smile froze for a few tenths of a second when he saw Ruby, who was standing next to Xiao Wen and whose figure and unique temperament could not be concealed even though she was wearing a hat and a mask.
It was an extremely subtle scrutiny and examination, like the most sophisticated radar scanning quickly.
Women’s instincts, especially when a stranger of the same sex appears next to a man they have a special affection for, are instantly activated.
Ruby felt the gaze, too. Her crimson eyes, through the mask, made a brief mid-air contact with Hai Meng’s azure pupils. She keenly caught the fleeting look of surprise, curiosity, and a fleeting hint of wariness, barely perceptible even to its owner.
This girl… knew Xiao Wensang? And, their relationship seemed unusual? Ruby’s subtle premonition suddenly intensified. Xiao Wensang’s look just now…
Hai Meng was the first to break the brief silence. A brighter, even exaggerated, smile appeared on her face again, and she quickly skipped in front of Xiao Wen, completely ignoring the few fans waiting to take photos with her.
“Xiao Wen-sang! What a coincidence! I can actually meet you here!” Her voice was clear and pleasant, with the naivety and enthusiasm unique to a girl, and her twin ponytails swayed lively with her movements. “Didn’t you say that you don’t like to come to such a lively place?” This sounded like a casual complaint, but in fact it subtly pointed out that this was not the first time she and Xiao Wen met, and they even had some communication.
Xiao Wen’s expression remained calm, and he only nodded slightly, “Occasionally.” His eyes swept over Hai Meng’s extremely gorgeous and intricate COS costume, and he commented, “The clothes are nice, and the reproduction is very high. The stitching is stronger than the last time.”
[Detected that the target “Kitagawa Umi” was experiencing emotions of “joy” and “recognition”, slightly absorbing energy.]The system prompt sounded in Xiao Wen’s mind. “Hmm, not a bad start.”
“Really? Xiao Wensang can see that?!” Hai Meng’s eyes instantly brightened several shades, like a child who had received the highest praise, her cheeks flushed with excitement, “I stayed up for several nights for this dress for Lilith! Every bow and lace was sewn by hand!” She subconsciously straightened her chest, showing off her carefully crafted work, completely forgetting Ruby beside her for the time being.
Ruby stood aside, watching Hai Meng almost cling to Xiao Wen to share her joy. Although Xiao Wen’s expression remained unchanged, he didn’t push her away. Instead, he accurately pointed out the advantages of the clothes… The sour feeling in her heart bubbled up again, like a small bubble bubbling up. She subconsciously took a half step closer to Xiao Wen, almost touching his arm.
This subtle movement was immediately noticed by Hai Meng. Her smile remained unchanged, but the inquiry in her sapphire eyes deepened. As if she had just spotted Ruby, she tilted her head and looked at Xiao Wen with a tone of innocent curiosity: “Xiao Wen-san, is this… your friend? Such a beautiful woman!” Her gaze fell on Ruby, lingering for a moment on her crimson eyes, whose unique charm was hard to conceal even through a mask, and her oversized men’s shirt.
“Yeah.” Xiao Wen’s answer was so brief it bordered on perfunctory, with no intention of elaborating. He even found the subtle, silent aura flowing between the two women somewhat… amusing. It was like two beautiful little animals testing each other’s limits.
[Detected that the target “Ruby Hoshino” is experiencing “slightly bitter” and “ignored” emotions…][Detected that the target “Kitagawa Umi” is experiencing “curiosity” and “comparison” emotions…][Energy mixing absorption… efficiency increased by 15%…]The system’s notifications grew slightly more active. Party strife? It seemed like a good catalyst. A barely perceptible glint of amusement flashed in Xiao Wen’s eyes.
Ruby felt a little embarrassed by Hai Meng’s comment, “What a beautiful temperament!” But her natural and familiar demeanor and the obvious shared topic with Xiao Wen (cosplay costumes) gave her an inexplicable competitive spirit. She took off her mask, revealing a delicate yet slightly tired face (she hadn’t slept well last night). She gave Hai Meng the standard, polite smile of her idol, Hoshino Ruby. “Hello, I’m Hoshino Ruby. I’m Xiao Wen-san’s… friend.” She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then ultimately chose the same words as Xiao Wen, but with a subtle emphasis in her tone.
“Hoshino…Ruby?” Hai Meng blinked her big eyes, as if recalling the name, then suddenly opened her eyes wide, covered her mouth and exclaimed, “Ah! Are you the…that Hoshino Ruby from B Komachi?! That super famous idol?!” Her voice rose in surprise, attracting several fans who had not left yet to look over curiously.
Ruby didn’t expect the other party to recognize her directly. Her heart tightened slightly. She subconsciously glanced around and quickly pulled her mask up again. She nodded awkwardly: “Yes…it’s me…please keep your voice down…”
“Wow! It’s really her! She’s even prettier than on TV!” Hai Meng’s surprise instantly turned into pure excitement and admiration, as if she had completely forgotten the subtle probing just now. “I love you guys, B Komachi! Your stage costumes are so cute, too! Especially when you were the center position, Ruby-chan, that wink! It was absolutely killer!”
She danced excitedly and began to express her fan love incessantly, instantly switching from rival mode to fangirl mode.
This sudden change caught Ruby off guard. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but the slight resentment in her heart was alleviated a lot: “Thank… Thank you for liking it…”
“but……”
Hai Meng suddenly changed the subject again, her blue eyes narrowed again, like a curious cat, her gaze flicking back and forth between Ruby’s obviously ill-fitting men’s shirt and Xiao Wen, her smile becoming somewhat cunning and gossipy, “Ruby-chan and Xiao Wen-san… are they just ‘friends’? ‘Friends’ who go shopping in Shibuya together?” She deliberately prolonged the sound of the word “friends”, which was full of hints.
Ruby’s face flushed crimson, even the tips of her ears. She opened her mouth, but didn’t know how to explain. Should she say she was his “toy”? Or that they had had sex before? Either way, it was too difficult to bring up!
She subconsciously looked at Xiao Wen, with a look of help and a hint of anger in her eyes.
Xiao Wen received her gaze, but had no intention of rescuing her.
He watched at his ease as the more obvious temptations and confrontations between the two girls rose again, feeling the increasingly dense complex emotions in the air, a mixture of shyness, embarrassment, competitiveness and a hint of jealousy, as if he was tasting an appetizer.
[Emotional concentration increases… Energy absorption accelerates…]The system responded happily.
Seeing that Xiao Wen didn’t say anything, Ruby had no choice but to bite the bullet and asked calmly: “Then…what about Miss Hai Meng and Xiao Wensang? They look very familiar…” She tried to throw the question back.
Upon hearing this, Hai Meng’s face immediately flushed with a hint of pride and shyness.
She glanced at Xiao Wen secretly, and seeing that he had no intention of objecting, she moved a little closer to Ruby and said in a voice that seemed to be whispering but was just loud enough for Xiao Wen to hear:
“Xiao Wensang and I…we did have ‘intimate contact’!” She deliberately spoke ambiguously and winked playfully.
“Intimate contact?!” Ruby’s heart sank, her crimson eyes widening instantly as she looked at Xiao Wen in disbelief. They… had… already…? When did this happen? Before she did?
A sense of inexplicable grievance and bitterness suddenly surged into my heart.
Xiao Wen raised his eyebrows, and did not comment on Hai Meng’s vague and imaginative statement.
We did kiss, so that counts as “intimate contact” and there’s nothing wrong with it.
Looking at Ruby’s face that turned pale in an instant and the tears in her eyes, he felt that the taste of energy seemed to be more “rich”.
Hai Meng saw Ruby’s reaction and felt a little proud of herself for having pulled one back. But seeing how devastated she looked, she felt a little guilty. She wasn’t a girl with malicious intentions.
Just at this moment, the sky in the distance was completely dyed red by the sunset, the lights in various parts of Shibuya lit up one by one, and the hustle and bustle of the night market began to gradually replace the noise of the day.
“Ah! It’s almost dark!” Hai Meng clapped her hands, cleverly changing the subject. A vibrant smile appeared on her face again. One hand naturally linked Ruby’s arm, and the other hand pointed to the street not far away where various food stalls were starting to be set up. “Speaking of which, I know there’s a super-good night market nearby! There are a lot of super delicious snacks! Ruby, Xiao Wensang, let’s go together? We’ve met each other anyway, and it’s more lively with more people!”
As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Wen with eyes full of expectation and shook Ruby’s arm: “Right, right? Ruby-chan, come along too! Idols have to relax occasionally and experience the happiness of ordinary people!”
Ruby was still immersed in the shock of the “close contact” and her mind was a little confused. When Hai Meng interrupted her, she nodded subconsciously. By the time she reacted, it was too late.
Hai Meng immediately cheered happily, and then without saying anything, she put one hand on the still confused Ruby, and with the other hand she boldly and tentatively put her hand on Xiao Wen’s arm!
“Okay! It’s settled then! A threesome to Shibuya Night Market! Let’s go!” She acted as if she was announcing some important decision, with a bright smile of victory and anticipation on her face, forcibly forming this extremely delicate team of three.
Xiao Wen felt the completely different yet youthful touches coming from his left and right arms, as well as the more complex emotional fluctuations coming from both sides at the same time – on one side was Ruby’s confusion, sourness and a little bit of unwillingness, and on the other side was Hai Meng’s pride, excitement and a hint of nervous anticipation.
[Energy absorption efficiency increased to 30%…it is recommended to maintain this state.]The system gives the optimal solution.
The corners of Xiao Wen’s mouth finally curled up into a clearly visible arc with amusement and satisfaction.
“Let’s go.” He acquiesced to this attitude of being surrounded by people on both sides, and took the lead to walk towards the night market with bright lights and fragrant aromas.
Ruby and Haimeng looked at each other, and saw some kind of “war has just begun” signal in each other’s eyes, and then they took a step at the same time and kept up with the pace of the man in the middle.
Chapter 30: Threesome (Part 2) (Old Version)
The night market in the back streets of Shibuya seems like another world.
The narrow streets are crowded with all kinds of vendors. Bright bulbs and neon signs make the night as bright as day. The air is filled with the mixed aroma of various food oils, sauces and sugars. The noisy hawking sounds, the diners’ chatting and laughing, and the sizzling sound of food on the iron plate are interwoven into a lively city symphony.
The flow of people was even denser than on the main street, shoulder to shoulder. Xiao Wen was “held hostage” by Ruby and Hai Meng on either side, walking through this noisy sea.
The two girls seemed to have reached a silent understanding, temporarily suppressing their previous temptations and confrontations, and fully immersed themselves in this sudden “three-person date”, or in other words, in a new round of secret competition centered around Xiao Wen.
“Xiao Wensang! Look, look! It’s a candy apple! So big and red! Just like in the comics!”
Hai Meng pointed at a small stall and excitedly shook Xiao Wen’s arm. She almost pressed her entire body against Xiao Wen, and the intricate lace and ribbons of her COS costume rubbed against Xiao Wen from time to time, bringing a gorgeous touch.
“How about we buy one? One for you and one for me!” She raised her face, her blue eyes sparkling in the light, full of anticipation, and she deliberately ignored Ruby on the other side.
[Target “Kitagawa Umi” launches a “coquettish” offensive, generating emotions of “expectation” and “possessiveness”…]Systematic calm analysis.
“That stuff, a mixture of pigment and saccharin.” Xiao Wen commented mercilessly, but his eyes looked in the direction she pointed.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruby on the other side gently tugged at his sleeve.
She pointed to a nearby stall selling grilled squid. Although her voice was not as lively as Hai Meng’s, it carried a soft insistence:
“Xiao Wensang, that… smells pretty good. Want to try it?” She remembered that he didn’t seem to be that averse to “junk food.” At least he finished the taiyaki. Besides, grilled squid… is better than childish candy apples, right? She thought to herself.
[Target “Hoshino Ruby” launches a “considerate” offensive, generating “tentative” and “slightly sour” emotions…]System synchronization update.
Xiao Wen felt the contrasting recommendations and accompanying emotional fluctuations from both sides, as if he were enjoying an interesting duet. His energy intake was steady and efficient.
“Whatever.” He gave a universal answer, throwing the choice back, and at the same time enjoying the slight frustration and stronger desire to perform that resulted from both sides.
“Then it’s candy apples!”
“Let’s grill the squid!”
The two spoke almost at the same time, then looked at each other, and there seemed to be crackling sparks in the air.
“Ruby, apple candies are cuter! They look good in photos too!” Hai Meng tried to convince the other party by using the idol’s professional habits.
“Ms. Haimeng, grilled squid is at least protein, which is healthier than pure sugar.” Ruby tried to analyze rationally.
Just as the argument was about to begin again, Xiao Wen suddenly raised his hand and pointed to another stall: “That one.”
The two looked in the direction he pointed and saw a stall selling chocolate bananas.
“…”Ruby.
“…” Hai Meng.
In the end, each of the three people had a banana covered with thick chocolate sauce and colorful sugar needles in their hands.
Hai Meng pouted, as if she was not very satisfied with Xiao Wen’s choice, but she still took a big bite, and then she was so cold that she stuck out her tongue.
Ruby ate in small bites, glancing at Xiao Wen from time to time. She found it a little funny to see him eating such a sweet thing with an expressionless face.
The rest of the journey turned into a “feeding” competition between the two beautiful girls.
“Xiao Wensang! Try this octopus ball! Ah——”
Hai Meng picked up a steaming meatball with a bamboo stick, blew on it twice, and then boldly put it to Xiao Wen’s mouth. She leaned very close to him with a bright and expectant smile on her face, completely ignoring the envious and jealous looks from the passers-by around her.
Xiao Wen looked at the meatball she handed to her mouth, then looked at her eyes that were filled with the words “eat quickly, eat quickly”, lowered his head, and took a bite from her hand.
[Consumes ordinary food, low energy conversion rate. Absorbs emotions of “joy” and “satisfaction”, medium quality.]The taste is average, but the emotional energy is acceptable.
Ruby watched from the side and pursed her lips.
She saw a shop selling fried noodles and bread nearby, and after thinking for a moment, she went over and bought one. Then she opened the package, broke the bread in half, and handed one half to Xiao Wen, saying softly:
“This…is a pretty big portion. Shall we share it?”
She didn’t feed him directly like Hai Meng did, but her intention was more sharing, with an imperceptible intimacy.
Xiao Wen looked at the half piece of ordinary-looking bread, then looked at Ruby’s eyes which were filled with caution and expectation, and took it.
[Intake of normal food. Absorbs the emotions of “sharing” and “slight possessiveness.” Average to above average quality.]Well, this kind of emotion with a bit of restraint and temptation has its own unique flavor.
Thus, a strange scene unfolded at the night market: a handsome, slender man, aloof and cool, surrounded by two strikingly different yet equally attractive girls, constantly being fed a variety of snacks. The blonde cosplayer on the left was passionate, feeding them boldly and directly; the idol girl on the right (whose face was covered but still possessed a striking presence) was gentle and considerate, sharing with them in a reserved and restrained manner. The man being fed, however, accepted all the treats, his expression calm, as if he were simply completing a task, only for a subtle flicker of pleasure to flicker through the depths of his deep black eyes.
The gazes from the surrounding male passersby had escalated from envy to outright jealousy and disbelief. What on earth had this guy done to deserve this?!
Hai Meng and Ruby also started competing with each other. Whenever Hai Meng bought milk tea, she would drink from the same cup with Xiao Wen, under the pretext of “trying different flavors.”
Ruby bought Taiyaki and insisted that Xiao Wen eat the half that she thought was the sweetest he had ever tasted.
Hai Meng dragged Xiao Wen to play a shooting game, and forced the prize (an ugly doll) on him after he won it;
Ruby took Xiao Wen to see the goldfish stall, pointed at a certain fish and said it looked very much like him (with a dead look in her eyes), and then secretly watched his reaction.
Xiao Wen accepted everything.
Whether it was the lipstick smell left on the milk tea straw, the bitten taiyaki, the ugly and abstract doll, or the unlucky goldfish that was said to look like him.
He was like an absolutely neutral observer, calmly accepting the goodwill (or competition) from both sides, while constantly absorbing the increasingly intense emotional energy generated by it.
Haimeng’s passion, possessiveness, and occasional frustration; Ruby’s gentleness, jealousy, and unyielding stubbornness.
[Energy reserves steadily increase… “Passionate Vision” passive effect slightly increased…]The system continues to report encouraging results.
The biggest beneficiary of this war without gunpowder is obviously Xiao Wen.
He even thought that it would be nice to have such a noisy “team-building” activity occasionally.
As they reached the middle of the night market, they came across a stall with a large crowd. It turned out to be selling all sorts of strange and bizarre masks. Hai Meng was immediately drawn in and pulled the two of them inside.
“Xiao Wensang! Look at this fox mask! It suits you so well!” Hai Meng picked up a white fox half-mask, which was cunning and weird, and stood on tiptoe to put it on Xiao Wen’s face without saying anything.
Xiao Wen did not dodge, allowing the cold mask to cover the upper half of his face.
“Wow! So handsome!” Hai Meng exclaimed, holding her face. She then picked up a cute cat mask and put it on herself. She moved closer to Xiao Wen and made a “V” sign in the mirror provided by the stall owner. “Look! Do we look like a couple from the anime?”
Ruby felt bad as she looked at the two people wearing matching masks and standing very close to each other in the mirror.
She glanced at the stall, silently picked up a black half-mask with golden raven feather patterns, and handed it to Xiao Wen, her voice soft but clear:
“This… seems to suit Xiao Wensang’s temperament better.”
Hai Meng immediately looked at the crow mask, then at the fox mask on Xiao Wen’s face, and pouted: “Obviously the fox is more handsome!”
Xiao Wen looked at the crow mask in Ruby’s hand, then looked through the holes in the fox mask at Ruby’s crimson eyes that were filled with determination and a little uneasiness.
He raised his hand and slowly took off the fox mask on his face, then took the crow mask from Ruby’s hand and put it on.
The cool black feathers felt close to the skin, and the golden patterns flowed under the light.
A small, triumphant glimmer suddenly lit up in Ruby’s eyes.
Hai Meng was stunned for a moment, looking at Xiao Wen, whose temperament became more unpredictable but more attractive after wearing the crow mask. A hint of surprise flashed in her blue eyes, but more of it was dissatisfaction.
She snorted and took off the cat mask on her face: “Hmm… I think crow is cooler…”
Xiao Wen looked through the mask at the wonderful changes in expression on the girls’ faces on both sides, feeling a new round of more intense emotional collisions, and the curve of his mouth quietly widened in the shadows.
Delicious, not just food.
Chapter 31: Threesome (Part 2) (Old Version)
As the night deepened, the number of people in the night market not only did not decrease, but became more crowded.
The noise and the various smells mixed together to create a dizzying atmosphere.
The continuous battles (feeding and fighting) made Ruby and Haimeng a little tired, with beads of sweat on their foreheads. Haimeng’s heavy COS costume was like a steamer, making her cheeks flushed with heat, and she kept fanning herself with her hands.
“Hmm… It’s so hot, I feel like my makeup is going to get ruined…” Hai Meng complained softly, subconsciously wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” Ruby also felt a little stuffy, and wearing a mask made her even more uncomfortable. She needed some space to breathe and sort out her mood that was disturbed by Hai Meng’s initiative and Xiao Wen’s “inaction.”
“I’m going too, I’m going too!” Hai Meng immediately raised her hand, as if she was afraid that she would miss something if she was left alone with Xiao Wen, or she was even more worried that Ruby and Xiao Wen would be alone together.
She took Ruby’s arm and said to Xiao Wen with a smile, “Xiao Wen-san, wait for us! Don’t run around!”
Xiao Wen nodded without comment, leaning against a lamppost nearby where there were relatively few people, and watched the two people holding each other’s arms, seemingly close but with undercurrents flowing as they walked towards the public restroom pointed to by the sign in the distance.
There were quite a few people in the restroom, so we had to queue up. While we were waiting, the atmosphere became subtly awkward.
The superficial harmony that they had maintained in front of Xiao Wen just now seemed a little fragile when only the two of them were left.
Hai Meng was tidying up her messy twin ponytails and hair in front of the not-so-clean mirror in the bathroom, and looking through the mirror at Ruby who was standing a little distance behind her.
His eyes once again fell on Ruby’s shirt, which was obviously a man’s, and the pair of straight, smooth legs beneath the hem of the shirt.
“Ruby-chan,” Hai Meng suddenly spoke, her voice filled with deliberately feigned casualness and curiosity, “Are you and Xiao Wensang… really just ordinary friends?”
She had asked this question on the street before, but the topic was diverted. Now she brought it up again, with a more direct meaning.
Ruby’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She looked up, meeting Hai Meng’s sapphire eyes in the mirror, their glint of inquiry. “Miss Hai Meng, aren’t you also familiar with Xiao Wensang? And even had… ‘intimate contact’ with her?” She returned the question, a subtle hint of caution in her tone.
When Hai Meng heard this, a hint of pride flashed across his face, but he soon became a little embarrassed.
She turned around, leaning against the sink, looking at Ruby and playing with the end of her ponytail. “Actually… it’s not particularly intimate…” She lowered her voice a little, her cheeks flushed. “It’s just… there was one time before, I got into some trouble, and Xiao Wensang helped me, and then… then something happened, and I accidentally… kissed him…”
Her voice got softer and softer as she spoke, but she still managed to act nonchalant. “Oh! It was just an accident! But Xiao Wensang’s lips… were cool, and they felt so strange!”
She sounded as if she were sharing a secret, her tone filled with a mixture of girlish shyness and boasting, carefully observing Ruby’s reaction.
“Kiss… kiss?!”
Although it had been speculated for a long time, the impact was still different when I heard it with my own ears and confirmed it.
So this is what their “intimate contact” meant… Even though it was just an accident, but… it was still a kiss!
She hasn’t even had a deeper relationship with Xiao Wensang yet… well, although they have had a kiss… that kind of affectionate behavior… it seems they haven’t had it yet?
That kind of thing… doesn’t count as kissing, right?
Ruby’s expression kept changing, and her crimson eyes held a complex mix of emotions: surprise, bitterness, and a hint of loss that she herself wasn’t even aware of.
Seeing Ruby’s devastated expression, Hai Meng felt a little proud, but at the same time, she felt a little guilty. She leaned closer and asked in a low voice:
“So… what about Ruby-chan? How far have you and Xiao Wen-sang… gone? You’ve even been wearing his shirts and going shopping together…” Her eyes swept over the shirt again with a hint of meaning, “This isn’t something ordinary friends would do, is it? Could it be that you…?”
She deliberately drew out her tone, her blue eyes full of gossip and curiosity.
Ruby’s face instantly turned red, as if it was about to burn.
She subconsciously grasped the collar of her shirt, her eyes dodging in panic: “No…no! It’s not what you think! This shirt is…because my clothes…are broken! Yes! Broken!”
She made a lame excuse, her heart pounding like a drum.
“Broken?” Hai Meng tilted her head, obviously unconvinced, and her smile turned mischievous, “Oh~ how did it break? Could it be… torn?” She deliberately said in an exaggerated tone, as if she was joking, but her eyes were fixed on Ruby.
Ruby: “!!!” Her mind went blank in an instant.
Seeing Ruby’s cheeks instantly flushed, her head almost smoking, and her panicked look that made her speechless, the smile on Hai Meng’s face gradually faded, and a hint of understanding and… a more complicated look flashed in her blue eyes.
Although she is cheerful and outgoing, she is not a child who knows nothing.
Ruby’s reaction pretty much said it all.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Awkwardness, shyness, a hint of competitive hostility, and a subtle sense of “compassion” (?) permeated the narrow restroom space.
“Ahem…” Hai Meng cleared her throat awkwardly, breaking the silence. Looking at Ruby, who was almost utterly ashamed and angry, she suddenly felt that there was no point in pressing her any further.
She patted Ruby’s shoulder and her tone became a little more serious: “Okay, okay, no more jokes. But… Ruby-chan, Xiao Wen-san… is a little special, right?”
Ruby looked up and looked at her blankly.
“It’s just… I feel like he’s not an ordinary person.” Hai Meng tried hard to organize her words, with confusion and a kind of attraction in her blue eyes. “Sometimes he’s cold and sharp-tongued, as if he doesn’t care about anything. But… sometimes I feel like he’s very reliable, as if he can do anything… and…”
She paused, her cheeks flushed again. “Whenever I get close to him, my heart beats faster and my face gets hot. It’s a very strange feeling…”
Ruby listened silently, feeling the same way. It wasn’t just her heartbeat that accelerated; it was the feeling of her soul being touched, her emotions being forcibly smoothed over and then tangled, leaving her feeling completely lost.
“So,” Hai Meng sighed, as if she had made up her mind, and smiled again, but this smile had a hint of honesty and challenge in it, “It seems that we are both attracted to the same ‘special’ guy, Ruby-chan.”
She reached out her hand, not to hold it, but to gently shake Ruby’s hand. Her eyes became sharp, filled with a fighting spirit that refused to give up.
“Well, from now on, it’s all up to you. I won’t go easy on you just because you’re an idol!”
Ruby was stunned for a moment, seeing the clear fighting spirit and honesty in Hai Meng’s eyes. The panic and shyness in her heart strangely subsided. Yes, dodging and covering up were useless.
This girl has clearly issued a challenge.
She took a deep breath and shook Hai Meng’s hand with her backhand. Although the force was not strong, a hint of Hoshino Ruby’s subtle stubbornness and light reappeared in her crimson eyes. “I won’t give up easily, Miss Hai Meng.”
The two looked at each other, and a kind of tacit understanding of competition was quietly established.
As they walked out of the bathroom one after another, the atmosphere between them seemed to become more subtle.
Back at the lamppost, Xiao Wen was still waiting there, having taken off his crow mask and playing with it in his hands.
He saw the two of them coming back, and his eyes swept between them, keenly aware of the competitive aura that was becoming clearer and more tense.
[Emotional purity increases, jealousy and competitiveness mix, and energy quality increases to excellent.]The system gave a high evaluation.
“You’re so slow. Xiao Wensang, you must be bored waiting for me.” Hai Meng immediately regained her energy and took Xiao Wen’s arm again, as if the conversation in the bathroom just now had never happened.
“Sorry, I kept you waiting.” Ruby also said softly, and stood back to the other side of Xiao Wen. Although she didn’t hold hands, she was closer.
Xiao Wen felt the sharper and more concentrated emotional fluctuations that began to emanate from both sides, like two carefully tuned instruments playing a more passionate melody for him.
“Not bad,” he said calmly, his gaze casting towards the deeper, more ambiguous areas of the night market. “Where to next?”
The night is still long. The feast of energy is far from over.
Chapter 32: How about you guys come together? (Old version)
The night completely enveloped Shibuya, and the neon lights became even more blurred and dazzling.
The crowds at the night market gradually dispersed, but the atmosphere became more ambiguous and restless.
The team of three continued to move forward, but the atmosphere was completely different from the beginning.
The “war” between Hai Meng and Ruby has entered a white-hot stage, almost to the point of fighting for every inch of land.
When buying a drink, one must ask Xiao Wen whose drink is first;
Whenever he saw an interesting stall, he would rush over to it; even when walking, he would subconsciously adjust his pace, trying to get closer to Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen accepted it all and was even happy to see it happen.
He was like a nobleman sitting in the best viewing seat in the Colosseum, leisurely admiring the fierce competition between two beautiful creatures in the audience for his pleasure.
Every deliberate physical contact, every suggestive look, every witty word they said, the emotions of jealousy, competitiveness, shyness, and desire that they triggered, all turned into pure energy that flowed into his body, making him feel unprecedented “satisfaction” and pleasure.
[Energy reserves have reached their current peak… “Passionate Vision” effect increased by 50%… “Emotional Perception” range expanded…]The system kept sending out upgrade-like prompt sounds.
Hai Meng seems to be getting bolder and bolder. Perhaps it’s the courage her cosplay costumes have given her, perhaps it’s the catalysis of the ambiguous atmosphere of the night market, or perhaps it’s Ruby’s presence that has given her a huge sense of crisis.
Her movements became more and more intimate. She almost hung on Xiao Wen’s arm, her body pressed very closely against him. From time to time, she would “accidentally” rub Xiao Wen with a soft part of her body, and whisper in his ear with a breath as sweet as orchid.
Ruby’s eyelids twitched, and her heart was bubbling with sourness.
Her personality is not as extroverted as Hai Meng’s, so she can’t do such bold things, but she is not willing to be outdone.
She would look at Xiao Wen quietly with her pair of crimson eyes filled with moisture, gently pull the corner of his clothes, and call him “Xiao Wensang…” in a soft voice with a bit of grievance and dependence. Occasionally, when she was “accidentally” bumped into by the crowded crowd, she would let out a low cry and lean into his arms, then retreat in a hurry with a red face, leaving behind a faint fragrance.
The two completely different offensive styles gave Xiao Wen double the joy (and energy). He even occasionally added fuel to the fire.
For example, when Hai Meng fed him fried chicken nuggets covered in sauce, he would deliberately lick the corner of his lips, look at Hai Meng’s instantly red face, and then comment lightly: “The sauce is too strong.”
For example, when Ruby handed him a cup of milk tea that she had drunk before, he would drink it slowly through the straw, then look at Ruby’s nervous and expectant expression and say, “It’s too sweet.” But he would finish the milk tea anyway.
This seemingly picky but actually accepting behavior made the two girls even more confused about his attitude, and the competitive fire in their hearts burned even more vigorously.
Finally, the night market came to an end.
Ahead lay a relatively quiet area, the lights dimming and becoming increasingly obscure. Buildings with unique decor and signs flashing “RestHotel” or “LoveMotel” began to appear along the roadside. The air seemed thicker.
The three of them slowed down their pace at the same time.
The fierce open and secret struggles seemed to have come to a temporary halt, and a new, more direct and tense silence spread among the three.
Haimeng and Ruby were both breathing slightly, their cheeks flushed, not sure if it was because of the movement and struggle just now, or because they realized what might happen next.
Their eyes would glance at the signs of love hotels from time to time, then quickly look away, their hearts beating so fast that they seemed like they were about to jump out of their chests.
Finally, almost at the same time, as if they had made a huge decision, they suddenly turned their heads and looked at the man in the middle who had remained calm and composed.
“Xiao Wensang!” Hai Meng spoke first, her voice trembling slightly but trying hard to remain generous and… seductive.
She pointed to a romantic-looking Love Hotel with a wind chime sign not far away, and looked at him with her watery blue eyes. “It’s getting late… and I’m so tired, and this outfit is uncomfortable… Do you want to… go there… and ‘rest’ for a while?”
She deliberately emphasized the word “rest”, which was full of hints. After she finished speaking, her face was already red as if it was about to bleed, but she still forced herself to look at Xiao Wen.
Although she is bold and open, it was her first time to take the initiative to go to a love hotel! It was all forced by this Hoshino Ruby!
Almost at the same time, Ruby also mustered up the courage.
She raised her head, her scarlet eyes staring directly at Xiao Wen. There was no longer the usual timidity and hesitation in them, but instead a desperate calmness and… directness?
Anyway, the most intimate thing has already happened, right?
She took a deep breath, and although her voice was soft, it was remarkably clear: “Xiao Wensang, I’m a little tired too. Do you need… to replenish your ‘energy’?”
After they finished speaking, they both nervously waited for Xiao Wen’s answer. At the same time, they looked at each other vigilantly out of the corner of their eyes, secretly competing in their hearts to see who he would choose.
Xiao Wen’s gaze slowly moved from Hai Meng’s face, which was full of nervous anticipation and trying hard to make a mature and seductive expression, to Ruby’s scarlet eyes, which were shy but unusually calm.
In the air, two completely different yet equally alluring emotional energies were almost condensed into substance—
On one side is Hai Meng’s bold invitation with a youthful sexiness; on the other side is Ruby’s calmness after her experience, with dependence and direct needs.
High concentration of “expectation” emotion! High concentration of “possession” emotion! Mixed “shyness” and “desire”! Energy quality: Excellent!
The system issued an almost excited prompt.
This is simply… a feast that cannot be refused.
Under the nervous gaze of the two people, the corners of Xiao Wen’s mouth slowly curled up.
He didn’t look at any of the hotels, nor did he answer who to choose.
Instead, he stretched out his hands, one hand holding Hai Meng’s waist which was trembling slightly due to nervousness, and the other hand holding Ruby’s slender and flexible shoulders.
Amidst the simultaneous low cries of surprise and confusion from the two, Xiao Wen stretched out his long legs, embraced them with an irresistible force, and walked straight towards the restaurant not far ahead that looked the largest, most luxuriously decorated, and had the brightest sign.
【Royal Premium Couples Hotel】
“No need to choose.”
Xiao Wen’s deep voice rang in the ears of both of them at the same time, like the whisper of a devil, “Since you are both tired and need to ‘rest’… then, let’s go together.”
“Together?!”
Hai Meng and Ruby froze at the same time, their brains seemed to be struck by thunder, and everything went blank in an instant!
They raised their heads in disbelief and looked at each other, seeing in each other’s eyes immense shock, shame, panic, and a hint of… an extremely secret… excitement aroused by this astonishing proposal?
Before they could digest this bombshell, Xiao Wen had already embraced them and strode into the revolving glass door of the hotel.
The front desk staff seemed accustomed to this situation and just smiled and handed over a thick booklet with photos of rooms with various themes.
Xiao Wen didn’t even look at it, and directly threw out a black card. His tone was calm and calm, as if he was ordering a takeaway:
“The biggest suite. With one of those… big enough round beds.”
The staff member smiled knowingly and handled the procedures skillfully.
Hai Meng and Ruby were completely stunned. They were held in Xiao Wen’s arms like two delicate dolls. Their cheeks were as red as cooked shrimps. They didn’t dare to look up at the ambiguous gaze of the front desk staff, let alone look at each other.
Their brains were still frantically processing the staggering amount of information contained in the word “together”.
The formalities were quickly completed. Xiao Wen picked up the room card, embraced the two people who were still in a petrified state, and walked towards the elevator.
The elevator mirror reflected three figures – a cold man, holding two girls with completely different styles but equally stunning on his left and right. One of them was wearing a gorgeous and complicated COS costume, and the other was wearing a loose men’s shirt. The picture was full of a certain taboo and seductive impact.
“Ding——” the elevator reached the top floor.
Xiao Wen opened the door and an extremely luxurious and ridiculously spacious suite appeared before his eyes. In the center of the suite was an enormous round bed covered with black velvet sheets.
The lights are ambiguous and the air is filled with a faint scent of aromatherapy.
He loosened his grip and gently pushed the two girls, who were still lost in thought, into the room.
Then he closed the door behind him.
“Click.” The crisp sound of the lock closing seemed to knock on Haimeng and Ruby’s hearts.
Xiao Wen turned around and looked at the two beautiful girls in the room who were at a loss, their faces blushing as if about to explode, their eyes avoiding each other but unable to help but secretly looking at each other, and the overly large and highly suggestive round bed in the middle.
“So, who will ‘recharge’ first? Or…”
His eyes slowly swept between the two of them, finally landing on the big bed.
“……Together?”
Chapter 34: I’m Angry, the Kind That Can’t Be Coaxed (Old Version)
Inside the suite, time passed quietly, and the sunlight gradually became brighter and hotter, penetrating the gaps in the curtains and casting clear spots of light on the messy bed and carpet.
“Um……”
A soft, hoarse moan filled with fatigue broke the silence in the room.
Kitagawa Umi was the first to struggle to wake up from a deep sleep.
She opened her eyes drowsily, her amber pupils still covered with a layer of mist and confusion.
A hangover-like headache and indescribable aches and pains all over her body instantly overwhelmed her, causing her to frown.
“Hiss… It hurts…” She subconsciously wanted to raise her hand to rub her forehead, but found that her arm was too heavy to lift.
Then, those crazy, absurd, and extremely shameful fragments of memories from last night suddenly flooded into her brain like a tide.
“boom–!”
Hai Meng’s cheeks instantly turned red, and the heat was so intense that it could almost fry an egg.
She suddenly sat up from the bed, and the velvet quilt slipped off her body, revealing her snow-white skin covered with ambiguous marks and the COS costume that had long been in a mess.
“Ahhhhhhhh!” She let out a short and shameful scream, covering her face with her hands. Her toes curled up tightly because of extreme embarrassment, and she wished she could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it immediately!
She! Kitagawa Umi! Actually! Really! With another girl! With Xiao Wensang…!
This, this, this… This is even more outrageous than the most explicit plot in the book!
Although… although the process… is indeed… uh… I can’t think about it anymore!
Her scream also woke up Ruby who was next to her.
Ruby’s long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her misty crimson eyes.
The confusion after waking up only lasted for a few seconds, and then, the equally intense or even more profound memories of last night came back instantly!
Unlike Haimeng’s extroverted and unrestrained personality, Ruby’s sense of shame tends to be more inward-looking and explosive.
Her face turned pale in an instant, and then quickly turned a brighter blush than Hai Meng’s, spreading all the way to her ears, neck, and even her delicate collarbone.
She suddenly pulled up the velvet quilt that had slipped off, and wrapped herself tightly into a cocoon, revealing only a pair of wet eyes filled with shock, embarrassment, and extreme helplessness. She looked cautiously at the equally petrified blonde girl next to her.
The two girls’ eyes met in the air.
Embarrassment, shame, disbelief, and a hint of indescribable… a strange tacit understanding of sympathy?
The air was dead silent for a few seconds.
“You…you’re awake…” Ruby’s voice came out muffled from under the quilt, as thin as a mosquito and with obvious trembling.
“…Yeah.” Hai Meng also peeked out from between her fingers, her voice dry, and she also didn’t dare to look at Ruby, “That… last night… we…” She tried to say something to ease the terrible embarrassment, but found that she had no idea where to start!
Should I say, “We had a great time working together last night”?! What kind of diabolical statement is that!
There was another suffocating silence.
In the end, it was Hai Meng, who was more extroverted, who broke the deadlock first.
She lowered her hand. Although her cheeks were still red as blood, she still cleared her throat with forced composure (although her voice was still a little shaky): “Um…Where’s Xiao Wensang?”
Hearing this, Ruby also subconsciously looked around.
The luxurious and spacious suite was empty. Apart from the two of them and the messy bed, where was the man?
He…left?
Just left like that?!
An indescribable sense of loss and a slight sense of grievance instantly surged into the hearts of the two girls.
Although I knew that the man was cold and heartless, but after such an intimate night, waking up to face only an empty and cold room, this feeling… was still like being poured with a bucket of cold water.
“Sure enough… he just ignores me once he puts on his pants…” Hai Meng curled her lips, her tone full of dissatisfaction and a hint of loss that she herself didn’t even notice. She rubbed her still aching waist, “What a… cold-blooded guy!”
Ruby was wrapped in the quilt, silent, her crimson eyes dimmed a little.
Yes, that’s who he is. From the very beginning. What on earth was I expecting?
Expecting him to stay and say something gentle and comforting? That’s naive.
“But…” Hai Meng suddenly changed the subject, a mixture of aftertaste and embarrassment appearing on her face again, her amber eyes sparkling, “…Xiao Wensang…is really amazing…he doesn’t even look like a human…”
She subconsciously closed her legs, and the heat on her face that had just subsided suddenly rose again.
Ruby’s face instantly turned red! Of course she knew what Hai Meng was referring to!
When Hai Meng said it so bluntly, she felt all the blood in her body rushing to her head!
“Haimeng-chan! Stop…stop talking!” Ruby was so embarrassed that she almost hid her head in the quilt.
“Oh, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about! We’ve all been through that together…”
Hai Meng relaxed a bit, even with a bit of resigned frankness. She leaned closer to Ruby, lowered her voice, and asked curiously, “Hey, Ruby, you… you and Xiao Wensang… were you like this before? He was always so… scary?”
Ruby felt uncomfortable when asked, her eyes evaded, her voice thin as a thread:
“…almost…almost…” She recalled the first time in the hotel on a rainy night. Although the method was different, the feeling of being completely controlled and unable to resist was similar.
“Really…” Hai Meng fell back on the bed, looking at the luxurious crystal chandelier on the ceiling, muttering, “Even though we’re doing the most intimate thing, I always feel so far away from him… It feels like he’s just… enjoying it? Yes, he’s enjoying our reactions, but I’m like an iceberg… Hey, Ruby, do you think Xiao Wensang… does he have a heart? Does he… actually hate us?”
The question left Ruby stunned. Was he heartless? Was he disgusting? She remembered his disdain when he’d ruffled her hair, his harshness when he’d urged her to pay back the money, but she also remembered him tucking her in (though perhaps unintentionally), and the “salvation” he’d offered her when she was most desperate, even if it was just a transaction…
“I… I don’t know…” Ruby’s eyes became even more confused. “He can be very cold and his words can be harsh… but… it seems that he’s not always like that… It feels very complicated…”
“Humph! He’s just a heartless bastard anyway!”
Hai Meng sat up angrily, clenching her fists. She seemed to have made a huge decision. “It’s decided! Next time I see him, I’m going to give him the cold shoulder! Ignore him! Let him have a taste of being ignored!”
Ruby looked at Hai Meng like this and sighed softly.
A cold war? Would it really work on that man? She doubted it.
Just then, Ruby’s eyes accidentally swept across the corner of her pillow.
There seemed to be a small white slip of paper pressed there.
She was slightly startled, then reached out and took the note.
There was only a string of neat numbers on it, a mobile phone number.
There was no signature, no message, and it was written in that person’s usual cold style.
But such a simple note made Ruby’s heart skip a beat.
He… left his contact information?
Does this mean… he’s not planning to disappear completely? At least… he’ll allow them to contact him?
An indescribable, faint joy quietly diluted the loss and grievance in my heart.
“What is it?” Hai Meng came over curiously, and when she saw the number on the note, her eyes widened instantly, “Is this… Xiao Wensang’s phone number?! He left it? For me?” She subconsciously wanted to reach out and take it.
Ruby subconsciously tightened her grip on the note and hid it for a moment.
This subtle movement made both girls stunned.
The air became subtle again.
Hai Meng looked at Ruby’s little action that seemed to protect the food, then looked at the note, and suddenly understood something.
She curled her lips, feeling a little sour inside, but in the end she waved her hand generously: “Alright, alright, I know you were here first! You take it! Humph, I don’t care! We agreed to have a cold war!”
Having said that, she couldn’t help but glance at the note.
Ruby’s face turned red again, and she whispered embarrassedly: “…I’m sorry, Haimeng-chan…I just…”
“It’s okay!” Hai Meng interrupted her, trying to look nonchalant as she jumped off the bed. “Hurry up and clean up! I’m so sticky all over and it’s so uncomfortable! I’m going to go home and take a nice bath! And then change out of these tattered clothes!”
She tried to use her actions to dispel the awkwardness and complicated emotions she felt towards the man that had spread again in the room.
Ruby looked at Hai Meng’s back as she rushed into the bathroom, then looked down at the piece of paper with the number written on it in her hand, and her fingertips tightened slightly.
She was silent for a moment, then threw off the quilt and stood up. Enduring the pain in her body, she picked up the wrinkled black shirt that belonged to Xiao Wen on the ground and put it back on silently. The wide cloth once again covered her slender body and the marks all over her body.
Then she carefully folded the note and put it in the breast pocket of her shirt, close to her skin, as if it were some important amulet.
“I’m going back to the office first.” Ruby said to Hai Meng in the bathroom, her voice regaining some composure. “My agent must be going crazy after being gone for so long.”
As for the Cold War?
Ruby felt for the note in her pocket.
Maybe… let’s wait until she deals with the current trouble first.
That man is like poison. Even though I know it’s dangerous, it’s already… hard to quit.
Chapter 35: A sudden appearance… (Old version)
Xiao Wen did not show much surprise or resistance to Mu Geng’s sudden kiss.
To him, it was more like the prey actively delivering its most delicious part to his mouth.
He accepted this “gift” frankly and savored the unique and pure “lack of love” energy contained in it with great interest.
Lip parting.
Mu seemed to have exhausted all his courage and stepped back suddenly, his cheeks as red as the sunset, his amber eyes filled with panic, shyness and a hint of fear of being rejected.
She hugged the broken doll tightly in her arms, her lips still feeling slightly numb from the touch, and her heart was beating so fast that it almost jumped out of her throat.
What did she just do?! She actually kissed a stranger she had just met for the first time?!
Would he find her frivolous or annoying?
However, the expected rebuke or push-off did not come.
Xiao Wen just looked at her with his bottomless black eyes, raised his hand, and gently wiped the corner of his lips with his fingertips, as if he was savoring something.
Then, he spoke calmly, his voice expressing no emotion:
“Is this how you say ‘need’?”
Kisara’s face turned even redder, almost smoking. She was so ashamed that she stammered, “I’m… I’m sorry! I… I wasn’t… I just… suddenly…”
She spoke more and more confusedly, and finally buried her face in the teddy bear and let out a whine.
“Forget it.” Xiao Wen stood up and looked down at her. “I’m hungry. Do you know of any place to eat nearby?”
This seemingly ordinary question was like a life-saving straw, instantly diverting Kisara’s attention and giving her a way out.
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes lit up, and nodded quickly: “I know! There’s a delicious crepe shop on the corner! I…I often go there…”
Her voice trailed off again, as if she remembered that she could only watch others eat.
“Lead the way.” Xiao Wen said concisely.
“Okay… okay!” Mu seemed to have received some sacred mission. He immediately jumped up from the bench, no longer caring about being shy. Holding his teddy bear, he followed Xiao Wen closely, carefully pointing the way for him.
From this moment on, Mu Geng seemed to have become Xiao Wen’s exclusive little tail.
On the way to the crepe shop, she couldn’t help but sneak closer to Xiao Wen, trying to close the less than half a meter distance. Occasionally, when her arm accidentally touched him, she would jump away like a frightened little rabbit, her cheeks flushed, but after a while, she couldn’t help but get closer again.
After buying the crepes (Xiao Wen paid for it, and Mu Geng initially refused to accept it, but after Xiao Wen gave her a cold glance, she accepted it obediently), she did not focus on the food like an ordinary girl, but ate it in small bites, with most of her attention on Xiao Wen.
Every time he took a bite of the crepe, she blinked her big eyes and watched; every time he took a sip of his drink, she swallowed it subconsciously.
[The emotion of “dependence” continues to arise… accompanied by “admiration” and “satisfaction”… Energy is being steadily absorbed…]The system is running smoothly.
After eating, Xiao Wen had no intention of leaving immediately.
This “lack of love” energy had a fresh and unique taste, and seemed to be endless, which made him interested in continuing to “taste” it. He simply started the so-called “date”.
He took Kisara to the arcade.
Mu Geng was obviously a little timid about such a noisy and lively place. He held on tightly to the corner of Xiao Wen’s clothes, like a kitten afraid of being abandoned.
But when Xiao Wen stuffed a few game coins into her hand and motioned her to play the claw machine, her eyes lit up instantly.
She played very clumsily and could hardly catch any, but every time she failed, she would not be discouraged. Instead, she would look at Xiao Wen with her wet, pleading amber eyes.
Occasionally, when Xiao Wen was in a good mood, he would do it himself once or twice, and he almost always succeeded.
Every time this happened, Kisara would let out a small, adoring exclamation, looking at him as if he were a god, and the energy of “worship” generated was exceptionally pure.
She held the doll she got (an ugly-looking pink octopus) in her arms like a baby, her face flushed with happiness, as if she had received the most precious gift in the world.
Then they went to the cinema.
Xiao Wen randomly picked a romantic movie that was currently showing. In the darkness, Mu Geng’s attention was completely not on the screen.
She first carefully moved the hand holding the doll over little by little, gently touching Xiao Wen’s arm that was placed on the armrest.
Seeing that Xiao Wen didn’t react (he was concentrating on absorbing the various emotional energies emanating from the audience around him), she grew a little bolder. Slowly, bit by bit, she tilted her head over, finally gently and tentatively resting it on Xiao Wen’s shoulder.
At that moment, Xiao Wen could clearly feel her body stiffen instantly, and the pounding of her heartbeat like a drum. Then, a vast and soft feeling of “satisfaction” and “security” surged into him like a warm tide from the point where they touched.
[Touchpoint energy absorption efficiency increased by 200%…Target emotion peaks: “happiness,” “belonging”…]Xiao Wen didn’t push her away; he even adjusted his position to make it more comfortable. This tacit acceptance nearly brought Mu Geng to tears of joy. She nuzzled Xiao Wen’s shoulder, letting out a subtle, contented sigh like a stray cat finally finding its owner. She remained in this position for most of the movie, her breathing gradually becoming more even, and she finally fell into a peaceful sleep.
The movie ended, the lights came on, and Mu Cai woke up drowsily. She found herself sleeping on Xiao Wen’s shoulder, even drooling on his expensive shirt. She was immediately embarrassed and apologized frantically, tears welling up in her eyes.
Xiao Wen just frowned, took out a handkerchief and wiped his shoulder without saying anything. This insignificant reaction was considered a great tolerance and gentleness by Mu Geng.
After an afternoon of “date”, Mu Geng’s dependence and infatuation with Xiao Wen grew exponentially.
She followed Xiao Wen almost every step of the way, her eyes always following him. As long as Xiao Wen’s gaze stayed on her for one more second, she would be happy for a long time.
She would take the initiative to hold Xiao Wen’s hand (although she had to muster up great courage every time), and would secretly and quickly hug his arm when he looked away, and then immediately let go with a blushing face.
She kept making small moves and was extremely clingy, as if trying to make up for the contact and attention she had lost over the past decade. And every contact brought Xiao Wen an excellent energy of “dependence” and “admiration.”
Xiao Wen relished it. This energy was gentle and persistent, like savoring a delicate dessert; without expending too much thought, the other party would actively come forward and offer him the best part.
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the two people very long.
Kigen followed Xiao Wen closely, holding his newly acquired pink octopus doll and the old broken bear. He looked up at his cold profile, his amber eyes filled with admiration and dependence that were almost overflowing.
“Xiao Wen… Sir…” she asked softly with a timid joy, “Today… is the happiest day of my life… Will I be able to see you again in the future…?” She tested cautiously, fearing that this beautiful dream would end.
Xiao Wen glanced down at her. The undisguised, complete admiration and dependence in the girl’s eyes pleased him.
“It depends on my mood.” He gave an ambiguous answer.
But for Kisara, this was enough! Not directly rejecting her meant hope! An extremely bright smile instantly blossomed on her face, and she almost fainted with happiness.
However, this happiness did not last long.
Just as they passed by the door of a Love Hotel with an ambiguous decoration style, Mu Geng, who was immersed in the happiness of his “date” with Xiao Wen, looked at the couples coming in and out, and a bold and embarrassing idea suddenly popped up in his mind.
Today is already so wonderful… If I could get closer to Master Xiao Wen… and make him completely mine… even if it’s just for one night…
Once this thought came to mind, it could no longer be suppressed. The desire to be needed and possessed instantly reached its peak.
She suddenly stopped, mustered up the greatest courage in her life, her face flushed red, her small hands trembling as she grabbed the corner of Xiao Wen’s clothes, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s, but filled with a desperate determination:
“Lord Xiao Wen…um…it’s still early…would you like to…go there…and rest for a while?” She stretched out a slender finger and pointed to the love hotel next to her with a flashing peach heart sign.
Xiao Wen looked in the direction she pointed, his eyebrows raised slightly. Oh? An invitation so soon? This “dessert” was indeed very sensible.
He was about to speak.
Suddenly, a clear and playful female voice came from not far away, breaking the ambiguous atmosphere:
“Oh my? Isn’t this our ‘helpful’ brother Xiao Wen? It’s only been a few days since we last met, and he’s got a girlfriend who’s so…adorable? And brought her to a place like this? He’s so…energetic! I admire him~”
Xiao Wen and Mu Geng turned their heads at the same time.
Not far from the road, in front of a convenience store, a figure was leaning against a vending machine at the door, looking at them with a smile.
She was a petite girl, wearing a sports outfit that made it easy to move around in, holding a lollipop in her mouth, and she stood out against the setting sun. She had a cynical, no-holds-barred smile on her face, and her lively eyes gleamed with a cunning gleam.
It was because of some “accident” that they had met once before, and to some extent, Xiao Wen had “helped” him –
Seven grass shepherd’s purse.
Chapter 36: Don’t Leave! (Old Version)
The afterglow of the setting sun cast an ambiguous warm hue on the sparkling heart-shaped sign of the love hotel.
The invitation that Kisara courageously made was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, which caused huge waves in her heart.
Her cheeks were burning, her fingers were tightly clenching the corner of Xiao Wen’s clothes, and her amber eyes were filled with shyness, desire and a hint of desperate determination, waiting for the judgment to come.
However, the expected answer from Xiao Wen, either acceptance or rejection, did not come.
A clear, playful, and teasing female voice suddenly broke the brewing atmosphere like an inopportune interlude:
This sound…
Not far from the road, at the door of a convenience store, a petite figure was lazily leaning against the vending machine at the door.
The setting sun highlighted her neatly cropped hair and the easy-to-move-in sportswear she was wearing. She held a strawberry-flavored lollipop in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed out, and a cynical, no-holds-barred smile on her face.
There was a cunning and bright light flashing in those smart eyes, and he was looking up and down at Mu Geng who was standing next to Xiao Wen without any hesitation.
Unlike the gloomy and distant feeling she had when they met last time, she seemed to have unloaded some heavy burden at this moment. She exuded a more extroverted, cheerful and even a little bit aggressive aura from the inside out, like a wild cat bathed in the sun and full of curiosity.
This transformation made her already pretty face even more attractive, but also… more “eyesore” – at least in Kisara’s eyes at that moment.
When Xiao Wen saw Nanachao She’s Purse, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
He wasn’t surprised by her appearance and teasing; instead, he found it quite amusing. The energy of this “fun” seemed even more vibrant than before.
But Kisara’s reaction was completely different.
“A new one?” “A cute little girlfriend?” “Full of energy?”
Every word was like a sharp needle, piercing Kisara’s extremely sensitive heart which had just been filled with happiness.
Who is this girl?! Why is she speaking to Master Xiao Wen in that tone?! What does “again” mean?! Does she know Master Xiao Wen?! Are they familiar with each other?!
In an instant, a strong sense of crisis and a kind of anger at having his territory invaded entangled like vines in Mu Geng’s heart!
She almost immediately let go of the hand that was holding the corner of Xiao Wen’s clothes, and instead hugged Xiao Wen’s arm tightly with an almost instinctive and possessive gesture, almost embedding her whole body in his arms, as if declaring her sovereignty.
She raised her head, and her amber eyes, which were originally filled with shyness and dependence, now looked at Nanakusa with vigilance and even a hint of subtle hostility. Her voice became a little sharp:
“Who are you?! What is your relationship with Master Xiao Wen?!”
Nanakusa was stunned for a moment by Kisara’s sudden reaction, which was like a little animal protecting its food, and then the smile on her face became even more playful.
She tilted her head and licked the lollipop, her eyes flicking back and forth between Xiao Wen and Mu Geng who was clinging to him, her tone drawn out, full of deliberate elements:
“Relationship? Hmm… how should I put it? It can be considered as… a relationship where I was ‘helped’ by this ‘helpful’ brother Xiao Wen?”
She deliberately imitated the way Mu Geng addressed Xiao Wen, with obvious sarcasm.
“Help?” Kisara’s heart sank! The word sounded full of infinite ambiguity to her.
What kind of “help” makes them seem so familiar? !
This girl doesn’t seem to be from the same world as Lord Xiao Wen!
Jealousy and panic instantly devoured reason.
Mu Geng turned his head abruptly, looking up at Xiao Wen’s expressionless and stern face, and asked in a crying voice: “
Master Xiao Wen! Is what she said true?! You and her…you…?
She urgently needed an answer, an answer that could disprove her terrible suspicion!
She couldn’t accept that the one and only thing she had just thought she had obtained had suddenly become “one of them”!
However, what Xiao Wen hated most was being forced and questioned.
He lowered his head and looked at Kisara’s eyes, which were slightly red with jealousy and fear. Although the intense emotions surging in them could also generate energy, they were too chaotic and contained negative impurities, and were far less delicious than the pure dependence and admiration before.
He frowned slightly, his tone cold, even with a hint of impatience: “Do I need to explain to you?”
These words were like ice water poured over one’s head, instantly extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Kisara’s eyes.
He’s not denying it! He’s not even bothering to explain!
This tacit attitude made Mu feel more desperate than directly admitting it!
“Why…why don’t you explain…”
Mu Geng’s voice trembled, and the force of his arms around Xiao Wen unconsciously tightened, his nails almost digging into his clothes, “Master Xiao Wen… Tell me! What’s going on between you and her…”
“Hey, little sister,”
Nanakusa couldn’t bear to watch it anymore. Although she found it amusing, she also felt inexplicably unhappy about Kisara’s almost collapsed look – mainly because of Xiao Wen’s cold and indifferent attitude.
She took a few steps forward, a lollipop in her mouth, her hands on her hips, deliberately putting on an attitude of “we’re just very familiar with each other,” and raised her chin towards Mu Geng. “We’re good friends, so what’s there to ask? Brother Xiao Wen helped me a lot, so why can’t I treat him to some candy?”
As she spoke, she actually took out another lollipop from her pocket and pretended to hand it to Xiao Wen.
Her original intention was to annoy this possessive little girl and to “retaliate” a little bit for Xiao Wen’s coldness.
But in the eyes of Kisara, who was on the verge of losing control, her action was undoubtedly a naked provocation and confirmation!
Look! They really know each other well! They’re so familiar with each other that they can just pass things around!
And she called him “Brother Xiao Wen”! Such an intimate name!
“Shut up!” Mu Geng yelled at Nanakusa Nazuna fiercely, his voice shrill and cracking. She was completely overwhelmed by jealousy and turned to Xiao Wen, almost hysterically, “Master Xiao Wen! Tell me! Am I the first one?! Am I the most special one?! You promised to accompany me today!”
She tried to use the memories of today’s “date” to bind Xiao Wen and prove her own uniqueness.
Xiao Wen looked at her paranoid appearance, and a trace of annoyance flashed in his eyes.
This emotion, which carries a strong sense of demand and bondage, has begun to deteriorate.
With a slight struggle, he easily broke free from Mu Geng’s tight grip on him.
Then, under Kisara’s incredulous gaze and Nanakusa’s eagerly awaited gaze, he made a move that no one could have imagined—
He stretched out his hand and very naturally pulled Nanakusa Shepherd, who was still confused and watching the show with a lollipop in her mouth, over and put his arm around her shoulders!
Nanakusa: “!!!”
She froze instantly and the lollipop in her mouth almost fell out!
A strong masculine scent with the smell of sunshine and soapberry instantly enveloped her! Xiao Wen’s arms were strong and powerful, and he hugged her so hard that she stumbled and half of her body fell into his arms!
This sudden intimacy made her mind go blank. Her cheeks flushed red and her heart began to beat uncontrollably! What…what was this guy doing?!
Xiao Wen hugged Nanakusa, whose body was stiff and whose face was flushed red, and looked down at Kisara, who was completely stunned and whose face was as pale as paper. His voice reached her ears clearly:
“The first one? The most special?” He chuckled with undisguised sarcasm, “Did you get something wrong? You…”
His eyes swept meaningfully over the sign of the love hotel next to him, “…She’s not the first woman who wants to go there with me.”
boom–!!!
This sentence, like the ultimate judgment, instantly shattered all of Mu Geng’s fantasies, all of his persistence, and all of his happiness.
Not the first…
Not the most special…
There are many women…
Just like her…wanting to be with him…
The huge blow and indescribable humiliation instantly overwhelmed her like a tsunami.
She staggered back a step, her vision went dark, her ears were buzzing, and she could hardly hear anything.
The world seemed to collapse and shatter before her.
She looked at Nanakusa Shepherd, who was held in Xiao Wen’s arms, blushing as well but seemingly accepting everything, and then looked at Xiao Wen, whose expression was cold and cruel, like a devil…
“Woo…” A very weak, broken sob escaped from her throat. Tears instantly filled her amber eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She bit her lower lip tightly until she could taste a hint of blood.
It turns out…it was all her own wishful thinking…
It turns out…she’s really not special…
It turns out… he doesn’t… care…
After the extreme sadness and despair, a dark, twisted, cold emotion began to grow and spread crazily from the deepest part of her heart like a poisonous vine…
Xiao Wen felt with satisfaction the intense and complex negative energy that suddenly erupted from Mu Geng’s body.
Broken love, extreme humiliation, crazy jealousy, and… the darkness that began to brew.
Although it is not pure enough, it is large enough and strong enough.
He loosened his grip on Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse.
Nanakusa Shepherd’s Purse seemed to be freed from the spell and suddenly jumped to the side, far away from Xiao Wen. She frantically adjusted the lollipop in her mouth, her cheeks as red as the sunset in the sky, and her heartbeat was as fast as if she had just finished a marathon.
She stared at Xiao Wen with wide eyes, then looked at Mu Geng who seemed to be out of his body. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word.
This…this development…isn’t it too exciting?!
Xiao Wen, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She straightened her sleeves that had been wrinkled by Mu Geng just now, and didn’t even look at Mu Geng again, as if she was just a toy that she had lost interest in.
“Let’s go.” He said lightly to the still dazed Nanakusa, as if he really intended to leave.
However, the moment he turned around——
“Don’t leave!!!”
A scream so sharp that it almost tore through the night suddenly came from behind!
Chapter 38: Sneak Attack! (Old Version)
The early morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the Love Hotel’s heavy curtains, sparingly casting a few faint rays of light, illuminating the ambiguity and mess that permeated the room.
Nanakusa woke up with a strong feeling of pain and discomfort.
She opened her eyes blearily, and what came into view was an unfamiliar ceiling decorated with ambiguous patterns.
Memories flooded into my mind like a tide.
“Ouch…” She groaned in pain and tried to sit up suddenly, but fell back heavily because of the severe pain coming from all over her body.
She lifted a corner of the quilt and her face turned pale instantly.
It’s over…it really…happened…
Shame, regret, grievance, and an indescribable complex emotion instantly surged into my heart.
She turned her head sharply and looked to the other side of the bed.
Xiao Wen was already awake and was leaning against the head of the bed, casually wearing the hotel’s bathrobe.
He was holding a mobile phone in his hand, seemingly reading some message. His profile was stern and his expression was indifferent, as if the fierce “battle” last night was just an ordinary night for him, and was not even as attractive as the message on the screen.
Seeing Nanakusa wake up, he just glanced at her lightly. His eyes were calm and without any tenderness or apology, not even a trace of laziness after the desire subsided. There was only a kind of scrutiny as if to see if an item was still usable.
This look made Nanakusa’s heart instantly cold. All the grievances and anger were blocked in her throat, turning into an embarrassing feeling of suffocation.
“Awake?” Xiao Wen put down his phone, his tone as calm as if asking “Have you eaten?” “If you can get up, pack up. It’s time to go.”
Nanakusa couldn’t believe her ears!
He just… took it for granted?! He didn’t even offer the most basic… even a fake greeting?!
A nameless anger suddenly rose in my heart, overshadowing the physical pain and the grievance in my heart.
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at Xiao Wen with all her strength: “Xiao Wen! You bastard! Beast! Son of a bitch! What do you think I am?! A rag to be thrown away after use?!”
The pillow fell softly on Xiao Wen, but he didn’t even frown. He casually swept the pillow aside and looked back at Nanakusa’s red, tearful face. The corners of his mouth curled up in a playful arc:
“What are you doing? Didn’t you take the initiative to pull me at the door yesterday, wanting to compete with her?”
To Xiao Wen, it was really the same as a rag. He didn’t need to wash it himself anyway.
Just beckon them and they will wash it themselves and bring it to you.
Aren’t humans superior to livestock in this respect? They don’t need to be cared for or urged on, and they even increase their productivity at their own expense, even taking pride in it… They’re simply more capable than cattle and horses.
He deliberately distorted the facts, emphasizing the words “initiative” and “struggle.” “Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, you act like you were forced? Nanakusa, does this count as…playing both sides?”
“You——!” Nanakusa was almost choked to death by his words!
Her face instantly turned purple! Yes! She was angry! She was competitive!
But how could she have known it would be real?! And the process would be so… so rough!
“I…I was just…I was just angry!”
She was so angry that she was incoherent, pointing at Xiao Wen with trembling fingers, “Who knew you…you are so…not gentle at all! It hurts, bastard!”
“Oh?” Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow, stood up, and looked down at her, his nightgown tied loosely. “Hurt? I saw that you reacted quite enthusiastically afterwards. You were quite noisy.”
This sentence was like the ultimate killer move, instantly making Nanakusa’s words stuck in her throat.
She suddenly remembered some of her involuntary reactions last night after losing her mind… Oh my God! What on earth did she do and say at that time?!
The huge sense of shame completely overwhelmed her like a tsunami!
She screamed “Ah” and suddenly covered herself with the quilt. She curled up like a boiled shrimp, rolled around on the bed, and wailed meaninglessly:
“Don’t say it! Don’t say it again! Ahhh! I forgot! Forget it now! Xiao Wen, you pervert! Go to hell!”
Xiao Wen watched her rolling around in the quilt like an ostrich, feeling the intense energy of shame and anger she exuded, and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. This “dessert” after breakfast was not bad either.
He stopped teasing her and went into the bathroom to wash up.
When Xiao Wen finished packing and came out, Nanacaocai was already dressed neatly (although her clothes were wrinkled and her movements were awkward), sitting on the edge of the bed with her head lowered, looking like she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.
“Let’s go.” Xiao Wen picked up his coat.
Nanakusa Ratna suddenly raised her head and glared at him, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something harsh, but in the end she just snorted angrily, turned her head, and took the lead in limping towards the door with an extremely unnatural posture.
With every step she took, the physical discomfort made her curse Xiao Wen a thousand times in her heart.
Xiao Wen followed her slowly.
The two walked out of the room in silence, one in front and one behind, crossed the corridor, and took the elevator downstairs.
The front desk staff looked at them with a knowing smile. Nanakusa felt like burying her face in her collar.
She finally walked out of the love hotel that made her feel so ashamed. The cool air in the early morning hit her face, slightly dispelling the depression in her heart.
But the physical discomfort and the memory of last night are still shockingly clear.
Nanakusa stopped, turned around, and glared at the calm man behind her. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out a sentence:
“Xiao Wen! What happened last night… If you dare to tell anyone… I… I will die with you!”
Xiao Wen looked at her timid appearance and found it a little funny. He was just about to tease her a few more times –
Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught a figure quickly shrinking back at the entrance of an alley not far from the side of the hotel!
Although it was only a flash, that familiar long pink hair…
It’s Kisara!
She didn’t leave? She was waiting here?
Almost at the same time Xiao Wen discovered Mu Geng!
A petite red figure suddenly pounced out from the shadows at the alley entrance at an extremely fast speed, like a ghost!
The target was directly aimed at Nanakusa Shepherd, who had just walked out of the hotel door and had her back to the alley!
Those amber eyes burned with madness and resentment all night long, and it seemed as if he was holding something reflective in his hands!
Out of extreme jealousy and resentment, Kisara actually lurked all night, intending to attack Nanakusa!
However, just when Kisara was about to pounce on Nanakusa Nazuna—
Another figure, faster!
Like a cheetah, it rushed out from the shadow of a billboard at the side and rear.
The movements were clean and sharp, with a well-trained edge.
There was an extremely slight, crisp sound of metal mechanisms colliding.
The next moment, a cold and hard object was pressed against the back of Kisara’s head precisely and firmly.
That unique, heart-pounding touch—it was the muzzle of a pistol!
All of Kisara’s movements froze instantly! Her momentum towards Nanakusa was abruptly stopped mid-pounce! It was as if all the blood in her body froze at that moment, and her pupils suddenly shrank to the most dangerous size of a needle tip!
She could clearly feel the thing against the back of her head. If the other person’s fingers moved slightly…
Who is it?!
Xiao Wen’s pupils also shrank slightly. He had no idea that there was such a person hiding nearby!
The opponent’s concealment skills and attack speed are definitely not those of an ordinary person.
Nanakusa was startled by the movement behind her and turned around suddenly. When she saw Kisara standing frozen in place and the figure behind her pointing a gun at her, she gasped in fear and subconsciously hid behind Xiao Wen.
The atmosphere at the scene instantly dropped to freezing point! It was filled with a dangerous atmosphere!
Xiao Wen looked past the stiff Kigen and looked at the man who suddenly appeared and held her with a gun.
Because of the angle, he could only see the man in a sharp black sportswear, outlining his slender and powerful figure. He wore a black baseball cap with the brim pulled low, covering most of his face. Only a small section of his fair chin and tightly pursed, beautifully contoured lips could be seen.
The hand holding the gun was eerily steady, without a trace of trembling.
The other party did not speak immediately, but just pushed the muzzle of the gun harder against the back of Kisara’s head, signaling her to give up resistance completely.
Kisara let out a very tiny, fearful whimper and was completely afraid to move.
Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes, carefully sensing the other person’s presence. A faint, strange smell, a mixture of gunpowder and mint, drifted over. This smell… seemed familiar?
At this moment, the man with the gun seemed to tilt his head slightly, and his eyes from under the brim of his hat seemed to glance at Xiao Wen. Although he couldn’t see his eyes clearly, Xiao Wen could feel that his eyes lingered on him for a moment.
Then, a deliberately low, slightly cold yet uniquely energetic female voice came from under the brim of the hat, with an unquestionable commanding tone:
“If you don’t want your head to explode, just stay still.” This was said to Kisara.
Then, the voice paused, as if hesitating, and added, this time the target seemed to be Xiao Wen, with a somewhat complicated tone, a bit helpless and like a routine:
“Are you… okay? This girl was sneaking around here last night. I thought she was going to do something to you.”
Xiao Wen’s heart skipped a beat. This voice…
He didn’t answer, but walked straight towards the entrance of the alley.
He wanted to see clearly who this “protector” who suddenly appeared was.
Seeing Xiao Wen coming over, the figure holding the gun seemed to nervous for a moment. His hand holding the gun remained steady, but his body posture had slightly adjusted.
Just when Xiao Wen was about to walk in front of her and almost see her face clearly under the brim of her hat——
Mutation regeneration!
Kisara, who had been frozen motionless with a gun pointed at his head, suddenly had a flash of extremely crazy and fierceness in his eyes.
She was like a wild beast that was completely cornered. She desperately ducked down, trying to break free from the gun. At the same time, a cold light flashed in her other hand – it was a small, sharp fruit knife!
——Stabbing straight into the gunman’s waist and abdomen!
The gunman obviously didn’t expect that Mu Geng would dare to fight back in this situation!
But she reacted incredibly quickly! Almost as soon as Mugen moved, she twitched her wrist, switching from resisting to striking, slamming the gun handle into Mugen’s wrist! Simultaneously, her body dodged to the side like a cat!
With a crisp sound of “Snap”, accompanied by Mu Geng’s painful groan, the fruit knife flew out of his hand!
But Mu Geng’s madness was beyond imagination! The severe pain from being hit on the wrist only aroused her deeper ferocity!
She rushed forward without a care in the world, opened her mouth and bit the gunman’s hand! With her other hand, she grabbed at his face, trying to take off the hat that was in the way!
The gunman was clearly caught off guard by this frantic, shrew-like attack, and was too afraid to actually fire. She could only block and dodge while trying to subdue Mu Geng again.
For a moment, two figures were fighting with each other at the entrance of the alley!
Xiao Wen stopped and stood a few steps away, watching this sudden battle calmly.
He was now completely certain of the identity of the gunman. This fighting style, this skill, and the feeling he had just caught a glimpse of…
Finally, after several thrilling dodges and blocks, the gunman seemed completely enraged. She found an opening and struck Kisara’s neck with a crisp, precise knife strike!
“Uh…” Kisara’s movements froze instantly, his eyes rolled back, and he fell down softly, completely losing consciousness.
The gunman breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously reached out to support the collapsed Kisara, preventing her from falling directly to the ground. It was also this action that caused her baseball cap, which had been pulled down low, to finally rise slightly due to inertia, revealing her true face under the brim –
It was a young woman’s face, brimming with energy and valor, with delicate features and fair skin. Most striking were her eyes, as clear and glittering as amethyst, which now gleamed with a sharp and somewhat impatient glint from the recent fight. A few strands of flaxen hair, damp with sweat, plastered to her smooth forehead.
Although her attire and temperament were completely different from usual, Xiao Wen still recognized her at a glance——