Chapter 36

At the staircase, Kukawa Shizuka stood there with a terrifying expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.

"Shi... Shizuka." Nan Liangxiang let go of Lin Yifan, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Ah, I didn't see anything, you... you continue." Kukawa Shizuka turned to leave.

Nan Liangxiang rushed over and blocked the staircase, somewhat guiltily saying, "Shizuka, it's not what you think. I just wanted to test his loyalty to you, and then..."

"Then what?" Kukawa Shizuka didn't know whether to cry or laugh. She had intended to say that she had nothing to do with Lin Yifan, but seeing her usually calm friend in such a panic, she decided to play along and not explain.

Nan Liangxiang clenched her teeth and fists, her head hanging low, no longer trying to defend herself. "I'm sorry, I meant to test him, but... I fell for him!"

The tomboy was straightforward, offering no further explanation.

Kukawa Shizuka reached out and gently patted Nan Liangxiang's head, smiling. "Dumb adhesive, I'm not angry at all."

Kukawa Shizuka's calm demeanor made Nan Liangxiang feel even more guilty and afraid. She had almost slept with Kukawa's boyfriend, yet this airhead was still smiling, which made Nan Liangxiang feel even more terrified, as if it were the calm before the storm.

"I told you, dumb adhesive! Oh, right, I just got off work and came over. On the way, I bought your favorite Osaka-burn and strawberry daifuku. Hehe!" Kukawa Shizuka held up the bag, still smiling.

Nan Liangxiang cautiously took the bag from her friend, feeling the eerie calm. Why wasn't she exploding?

If Kukawa Shizuka had scolded or hit her, it would have made her feel better, but she was acting as if nothing had happened, even though she had just seen them kissing!

Smelling the aroma from the bag, Lin Yifan's stomach growled. He hadn't eaten lunch and it was already dinner time.

In this strange atmosphere, only Lin Yifan acted as if nothing was wrong, opening the plastic bag and grabbing a piece of Osaka-burn to eat.

Lin Yifan's actions made Nan Liangxiang's forehead sweat even more.

What was going on with this couple? Kukawa Shizuka just smiled silently, while Lin Yifan ate heartily in front of the two women, as if nothing had happened. Only Nan Liangxiang was still agonizing over it.

Kukawa Shizuka, who had been staring at the two, covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her friend was thirty and had no plans to retire or get married. This was the first time she had seen Nan Liangxiang in such a predicament. And just now, it seemed that Nan Liangxiang had initiated the kiss with Lin Yifan.

The atmosphere remained tense as Lin Yifan finished half of the Osaka-burn, burping contentedly. The Japanese pizza had a unique flavor.

Finally, unable to bear the two's nerve-wracking behavior, Nan Liangxiang bowed to Kukawa Shizuka. "I'm sorry! You can hit me or scold me, but I don't want to ruin our years of friendship over this man! Shizuka, I swear, I won't go near him again! I just lost my head and did something unforgivable."

Kukawa Shizuka touched her chin, looking puzzled. "Huh? Why are you apologizing? Liangxiang showed a rare feminine side, and I was always worried she wouldn't find a husband."

Nan Liangxiang was stunned by her words.

What was this? Was she going to give her boyfriend to her friend out of great love?

Ding, ding, ding!

Kukawa Shizuka's phone rang, and the airheaded school doctor, who was usually scatterbrained, picked it up hurriedly. "It's me, yes. Okay, I'll go to the hospital to see the injured students."

Putting down the phone, Kukawa Shizuka waved and said, "I have to go, I need to comfort the injured students."

"Wait, I... I'll take you?" Nan Liangxiang's face stiffened, completely confused by Kukawa Shizuka's actions.

But the airhead had forgotten to explain the situation, and without clarifying things with Nan Liangxiang, she hurried to the door, her chest bouncing as she ran.

Putting on her high heels, Kukawa Shizuka declined, "No need, a taxi is waiting downstairs, and the injured students need me!"

Nan Liangxiang stood at the door, dumbfounded, her hand reaching out but stopping short.

Lin Yifan, who knew the truth, wasn't in a hurry, calmly eating the strawberry daifuku and humming a tune.

After Kukawa Shizuka left, Nan Liangxiang sighed. "Why didn't you explain?"

"What's there to explain? Actually, Kukawa and I are just friends. I made up the relationship to fool you."

Nan Liangxiang, who had been embarrassed, suddenly became furious and stormed upstairs, grabbing Lin Yifan by the collar. "Say that again? Don't think that just because you dumped Shizuka, I'll... I'll..."

"Will what?" Lin Yifan, with a sly look in his eye, was drawing her in. The fake play had turned real.

Nan Liangxiang gradually calmed down from her anger, her eyes returning to their usual sternness. "Nothing, I don't want you to hurt Shizuka. She's a very innocent girl."

"Why don't you believe me?"

Without realizing it, Lin Yifan's hands had found their way to Nan Liangxiang's waist. When he kissed her, she didn't even try to avoid it.

Nan Liangxiang's eyes became hazy, but thinking of Kukawa Shizuka's smile, she immediately pushed Lin Yifan away. "I meant what I said. From now on, you're not allowed to step on the second floor. If you do, I'll break your legs. Go, sleep in the living room downstairs!"

Lin Yifan, who had been pushed away, wiped his mouth and shrugged. "I don't care."

Having eaten and drunk his fill, having a place to sleep was nice, especially in this quiet place. Unlike at the airheaded school doctor's house, where he had to be dragged out of bed at midnight to watch TV, here he didn't have to clean up or wash his underwear.

Lin Yifan didn't think that Nan Liangxiang's kiss meant she liked him. It was just the environment in that warm room that had aroused her desires. This tomboy, who usually only thought about training, easily lost her willpower when she relaxed at home.

Lin Yifan pushed open the bathroom door, glanced at Nan Liangxiang's change of clothes in the corner, but didn't stoop to taking her underwear. After a cold shower, he went to sleep in the living room.

Lying on the sofa, Lin Yifan closed his eyes, thinking about his strategy.

Nan Liangxiang was strong, but she appeared too rarely in the story. He knew she was good with a sniper rifle, but not much else. And she was a mature older sister, making her hard to approach.

The focus should still be on To island Sae, especially since the other players wouldn't be bothering him for now. He needed to make the most of this gap.

Lin Yifan, exhausted from the day, drifted off to sleep, still thinking about his plans.

Meanwhile, in the Infinite City, at the Arbitrators' dojo, a bald, muscular man and Xiao Lao San emerged from the dimensional gate, looking disheveled.

Everyone present looked at the defeated bald man, all showing surprise.

"Third Squad Leader? What happened to you?"

But when they saw that only Xiao Lao San had come out with the bald man, and the other six were missing, they realized something was wrong.

"Did you... did you encounter a hunting team from another group?" Several logistics players rushed over.

The bald man's face turned pale. Though he was embarrassed, he steeled himself to speak. "We... we were defeated."

"Defeated? How is that possible! The other side was just a rookie..."

Xiao Lao San quickly added, "No, it was that guy and To island Sae working together to take us down."

"I don't want to explain too much, I just want to see the Sector Executor." The bald man shook his head and walked to a screen, selecting the contact—Sector Executor of Sector 13.

The screen flickered, and a tall, thin man in a suit and glasses appeared, somewhat resembling Liang Dong.

Crossing his fingers, the Sector Executor spoke solemnly, "Zhou Xin's mission failed?"

"Yes... yes, but Executor! I have a major discovery, Lin Yifan has your cousin Liang Dong's gun!"

The Sector Executor's eyes twitched, but he remained calm. "How can you be sure it's my cousin's gun?"

"The Arbitrators' emblem! I gave that gun to Liang Dong as a gift, and it has our emblem on it! It's also been modified with a special pattern for exorcism bullets!"

The Sector Executor's face darkened. "Understood. Go and capture him. Use two teams to capture him, alive!"