Chapter 236
by Golden DragonChapter 236: Rebellious Phase
Residential District.
Neck snapped—a dead Chihuahua, mutt, and poodle.
A scene that would enrage dog lovers.
It also made Jim extremely uncomfortable, because his family owned a Shiba Inu.
Even when he had seen Isaac kill people, his face hadn’t been this pale.
“Boss, what did these three dogs do wrong? Did they bite someone?”
“They kept barking loudly in the early morning, during naps, and in the evening, disturbing the neighbors. The neighbors tried negotiating, but it didn’t work.”
Isaac picked up the dogs’ corpses, wondering if they could be turned into a meal.
The houses in the residential district generally had no soundproofing. If one dog started barking, the piercing noise would wake up everyone nearby. It was normal for people to complain.
But most, fearing awkward neighborly relations, only dared to curse under their breath. Very few actually spoke up openly.
And the law didn’t say you couldn’t own a dog in a non-soundproofed area, did it?
“Then isn’t it the owners’ fault for not training them properly…?”
The dogs themselves didn’t know any better. They were just following instinct. If no one taught them, how would they know when to shut up?
“Yeah, it is the owners’ fault. But Jim, you need to understand—a dog’s life has always been secondary to a human’s. Just like how some search teams will beat unleashed dogs to death on the street for scaring people. What did the dogs do wrong? They don’t know they’re supposed to wear a leash.”
“……”
Jim lowered his head and stayed silent.
“Maybe I should start charging for these kinds of requests. At this rate, we’re turning into a pet detective agency.”
Isaac cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
This mission was a rare case of being requested by someone.
“Please don’t… That kind of money doesn’t feel right…”
“Jim, what money do you think is clean?”
“Money earned the right way is clean.”
Jim didn’t really want to answer, because every time he voiced an opinion, Isaac could counter it with logic.
“You’re right.”
This time, however, Isaac didn’t argue.
If they started monetizing justice, how would they be any different from Night Hawk?
“But Jim, you have to understand… only people who aren’t struggling to survive can afford to care about how clean money is.”
“That’s not entirely true either…”
“Alright, don’t just listen to me. Sticking to your own beliefs isn’t wrong. Didn’t I ask you to draft an operations improvement report earlier? Did you finish it?”
This report would determine whether Jim could get promoted to executive.
“Yeah, it’s done.”
Jim tried not to look at the three dogs Isaac was holding as he pulled a document from his backpack and handed it over.
Isaac flipped it open and took a glance.
《Weapon Concealment》
“In situations where people are subjected to body searches and carrying controlled weapons is difficult, it is recommended that members hide daggers inside gun grips to bypass inspections…”
…Yeah, they’d have to find another way to get Jim that promotion.
Under Jim’s pitiful gaze, Isaac disintegrated the document with a flick of his fingers.
“Jim, have you heard about Meiqiantu Academy’s abnormally high acceptance rate for self-healing ability users?”
“I think it’s to prevent students from defecting to our side, so they prioritize recruiting harmless ability users.”
Fanzui City was the headquarters of Tian Xing Dao, and the organization had a habit of recruiting directly from ability users’ academies.
“But according to an earth-manipulating executive’s investigation, there seems to be a hidden underground level beneath Meiqiantu Academy… If we make a major discovery, I might be able to directly recommend you for promotion.”
“Huh? Are there any other missions?”
That sounded as dangerous as a horror story. Jim much preferred his usual role of standing behind Isaac as an intimidating backup.
“There is. Recently, over 90% of our organization’s members have been arrested by the FBI. The radicals are planning a prison break at Arkham, but you and I both know most members wouldn’t even meet the threshold to be sent there in the first place.”
Isaac said this with a completely straight face.
“…I’ll investigate the basement,” Jim replied.
—
Ding-dong.
“Good evening. I came to check on Xiaoliu—why wasn’t she in class today?”
After a brief greeting, Yiwen brushed past Ji Yueqiu and entered the house.
This time, she deliberately wore androgynous clothing, only fastening a hair bow at the last moment to clarify her gender and secure some alone time with Mi Xiaoliu.
Ji Yueqiu’s eyebrows knitted together as she scrutinized Yiwen’s face.
She wouldn’t even bother questioning why girls these days love cross-dressing, but something about Yiwen reminded her of that internet-famous girl who got cyberbullied two years ago.
Back then, she and her coworkers had joined in mocking that influencer—”Who knows if she privately buttered up her top donor?”—the kind of thing everyone said.
Why bother improving yourself when putting others down was so much more satisfying?
“The young lady is in her room memorizing texts. Or maybe she’s already asleep—she’s been dozing off a lot lately.”
“It’s fine, I’ll do homework with her.” Yiwen patted her stuffed backpack.
Never mind that she hadn’t packed a single book after school.
Who actually did homework any earlier than a last-minute scramble to borrow someone else’s in the morning?
Entering Mi Xiaoliu’s room, Yiwen closed the door behind her and took in the sight of the girl lying in bed.
Dressed in an adorable dinosaur onesie, Mi Xiaoliu was propped against the headboard with a book in hand, her uncorrected eyes half-lidded as her head nodded drowsily.
Compared to the sterile blankness before, the room now held an assortment of knickknacks—many of which looked familiar to Yiwen.
Like that Newton’s cradle.
That one toy had sparked an entire collection of physics-themed decorations, all bought by the school Chairwoman and delivered through Okulet.
The moment Mi Xia showed interest in something, the Chairwoman would order a flood of similar items, much to the detriment of the already cramped room.
Yiwen looked Mi Xiaoliu up and down. “The new pajamas are cute! What color are they?”
“Not wearing.”
Yiwen’s eyes lit up—then dimmed just as fast.
With Mi Xiaoliu’s whole body being toxic, she’d never get to see for herself.
“Wifey, why’d you skip school today?”
Prepared this time, Yiwen pulled out a gas mask from her bag and put it on—no way was she letting her future mother-in-law sabotage her again.
Then, with practiced ease, her right hand naturally gravitated toward Mi Xiaoliu’s left foot.
Mi Xiaoliu’s toes curled as she instinctively drew her leg back, but Yiwen grabbed her ankle and pulled it closer, threading her fingers between the smaller girl’s toes in a mock “handhold,” savoring the softness and warmth like separating pearls.
Pure bliss.
She went for the other foot too.
This was what life was about.
“Sleeping,” Mi Xiaoliu answered honestly.
“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?” Yiwen let go, concerned, and reached to feel Mi Xiaoliu’s forehead.
Just two days ago, she’d visited Beibei, who was still as lively as ever.
Mi Xiaoliu dodged her touch.
This heartless girl—now she’s disgusted by her own feet?!
Yiwen immediately pounced, digging her fingers into Mi Xiaoliu’s sides and tickling mercilessly.
Mi Xiaoliu kicked and squirmed, but Yiwen didn’t get the satisfying reaction she’d hoped for.
“Damn it.”
Her hands and arms up to the elbows were completely numb.
Mother-in-law, enough is enough.
“Way to go, Mommy Heli!” Sasha cheered.
At this rate, she’d literally die on Mi Xiaoliu’s stomach one day.
Yiwen let go.
Freed, Mi Xiaoliu began battering Yiwen with kitten-soft punches.
“Okay, okay, wifey, I’m sorry!”
Yiwen hastily blocked, using her ability to force her numb arms to wrap around Mi Xiaoliu’s waist in an attempt to calm her down.
Why did these hits hurt more than usual? And why wasn’t Mi Xiaoliu calming down? She was still struggling.
“I bought you clothes!”
Specifically, “popsicle”-themed socks.
Mi Xiao liu ignored her, broke free, and pushed Yiwen out of the room.
“…Xiaoliu?”
Yiwen’s heart dropped.
Was she angry?
Why?
This was just their usual playful dynamic.
And it wasn’t even that time of the month for her.
Panicked, Yiwen headbutted the door. “Xiaoliu, I’m sorry! I’ll buy you treats tomorrow, okay?”
No response.
From the kitchen, Ji Yueqiu—midway through peeling potatoes—stared at her with unsettling intensity.
Defeated, Yiwen left, sending Mi Xiaoliu an apology text.
Mi Xiaoliu was perfect in every way—except her eternally blank face made it impossible to gauge her mood.
Sigh.
Note to self: Mi Xiaoliu hates being tickled. Tomorrow, she’d splurge on premium chocolate to make it up to her.
For the first time, she understood why guys complained about relationships being exhausting.
“Master…?”
Even Sasha was confused.
Her master’s temper was usually so nonexistent it was frustrating.
—
Next morning.
After making breakfast, a yawning Ji Yueqiu nudged the blanket-covered lump that was Mi Xiaoliu.
The job was easy—if not for the torturous early wake-ups.
“Young lady, get up and eat. You’ll turn into a couch potato at this rate.”
“Mmm.”
Not an agreement, just a mosquito-sized hum.
“Don’t just ‘mmm’! Did you stay up late on your phone?”
She kept shaking Mi Xiaoliu.
“Mmm.”
“Are you sick? If you are, we should call a doctor. When you grow up, you’ll regret not taking school seriously, just like I—”
…Okay, maybe that lecture didn’t apply to a young mistress who probably owned a siheyuan back home.
Mi Xiaoliu sat up.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Ji Yueqiu reached to lift Mi Xiaoliu’s eyelids.
Mi Xiaoliu swatted at her hand with the same repetitive motion she’d used on Yiwen.
Ji Yueqiu withdrew, wounded.
I wake up at dawn every day to cook for you, and this is the thanks I get?
Fine. Whatever. She was done!
Storming out, she privately messaged Okulet to tattle.
Mi Xiaoliu lay back down, closing her eyes to resume sleeping.
It didn’t work.
Her stomach growled.
After getting dressed, she wandered to the kitchen and inspected Ji Yueqiu’s cooking.
Celery.
No thanks.
Mi Xiaoliu headed downstairs. As she reached the street, an ear-splitting alarm suddenly blared from Okulet’s room, rousing the entire building into a chorus of curses.
She glanced up, removed the pendant from her neck, and balanced it on the sapling of Heli’s newly planted fig tree before heading to the bun shop.
“You again.”
The shop attendant, Art, frowned at the sight of her.
“Let’s make a deal. There’s another breakfast place around the corner that sells meat buns too. From now on, go there. You standing here scares off customers.”
Ever since this kid started coming daily during her “medal phase,” the neighboring shops still remembered the brat who once wore a badge. Some even brought it up to other customers.
Mi Xiaoliu stayed silent, staring at the steamers.
“Tch. Deaf? I’m not selling to you today—or ever. Do us both a favor and leave.”
Art waved her off impatiently.
Why hadn’t he said this earlier? Because either his grandmother had been minding the shop, or the kid had been with an adult.
Mi Xiaoliu walked away.
“Jinx.”
Art lifted the steamer lid—only to find two buns missing.
[Learned that from Ji Yueqiu.]
[Translator’s Note: See the index page for this Novel if you want to see the Amazon Link for the eBooks.]
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