Chapter 37 "Yes, I learn very quickly, no..."
That's what they say, but in the current situation, neither you nor Haku can leave easily. In the end, your scouting trip was also caused by Sasuke. You are sitting next to Sasuke, who is still unconscious, his cheeks are flushed, his eyelashes are trembling slightly, and his lips are moving, uttering meaningless monosyllables.
You said, "It's been so long since I've seen the gift you gave me; it's quite unique."
Sasuke obviously didn't hear what you said, and you didn't expect him to hear you clearly either.
The white clone went out to complete the check-in procedures, which sounded quite legitimate, but in reality, it was just to cast another illusion on the casino staff so that you could spend the night in the casino with peace of mind for the time being.
The room you chose in a hurry has a good location and the furnishings are also satisfactory, so you'll have to make do and stay here for one night.
Bai was on night watch, but because you're a little sensitive to sleeping in unfamiliar beds, your sleep quality wasn't very good. You woke up very early the next morning, which is quite unusual, as you're usually someone who likes to sleep in. But today you didn't have any intention of sleeping in at all, and you got up naturally after waking up.
The only thing that makes you somewhat satisfied is the bright sunshine outside the window today. You open the window halfway to let in some fresh air, and the sunlight streams in. You leave your room and walk into the living room. Sasuke is still fast asleep. You quietly walk up to him and glance down at him.
Her cheeks weren't as red as yesterday, but she still showed no signs of waking up.
Alright, let's observe for a while longer. Not only him, but even his target is still unconscious. The room is quiet. You open the living room window, sit on the single sofa next to the window, bend your legs, and read a book in a posture that is not very friendly to the lumbar spine.
Although it's not healthy, this posture is just so lazy and comfortable. You're looking at a plant encyclopedia, but this isn't your book. You pulled it out of Bai's backpack. He knows a lot about plants. He knows which plants can be used as medicine and which plants are poisonous. He's practically a walking, talking encyclopedia.
Logically speaking, since he's your secretary and has to handle so many work documents for you, he shouldn't have time to supplement his knowledge in other areas. But Bai is someone who can continue to read and enrich himself while perfectly completing the tasks you give him.
It has to be said that if Bai had lived in her previous life, she would definitely have been a good candidate to be a CEO's secretary.
You casually flip through a plant encyclopedia, looking at these just for novelty and interest. Halfway through, you vaguely catch a rustling sound coming from his living room sofa. It's very faint, but because the environment is so quiet, this slight movement is magnified many times. You turn your head, and just then, a gentle breeze blows into the room from outside the window, stirring the light-colored gauze curtains.
The thin gauze curtain, when blown by the wind, is like flower petals rippling in the water, brushing against your cheeks and blurring your profile.
So when Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze shifted from the ceiling to the window, the first thing he saw was your figure, radiating a faint glow in the sunlight. The scene was so beautiful that he subconsciously wondered if he was dreaming.
Because in the past I could only see you through dreams, so this time it will definitely be the same...
But the next second he saw you raise your hand, the hand that once cradled his cheek, stroked his hair, and gently patted his back, parting the hazy curtain.
Thus, the hazy scene became incredibly clear. The boy propped himself up and sat up. He had imagined many scenarios of reuniting with you, but... but he never imagined that he would meet you again in this way.
He stumbles and staggers towards you, looking rather unsteady, but it doesn't matter. He doesn't care about any of that. None of that matters.
The important thing is... you were just a step away from him, and as you were about to reach him, he suddenly stopped, stared at you blankly, and after several seconds, he finally found his voice and asked cautiously, "Are you... really me?"
His voice also changed, though not very noticeably. You noticed that Itachi and Sasuke's voice changes weren't very pronounced.
This question reveals a lot of information. For example, he may have dreamed about you frequently before, so when he woke up and saw you this time, he still thought he was dreaming.
You gaze at Sasuke's face. His downcast eyes bear a resemblance to his older brother, Itachi Uchiha, from certain angles. But you don't hold a grudge against him because of this. Instead, you wave to him, just like before, standing at the school gate and waving to him. Then the young child flies into your arms like a little bird.
He has now grown into a beautiful white bird, but he still retains his original habit of flying into your arms.
The small single sofa wasn't very spacious, even a bit cramped, with two people squeezed in, but you were exceptionally tolerant of him. He turned his head, pressed his ear against your chest, and listened to your heartbeat.
It's a very real heartbeat, so it's real.
He saw you again...
People's minds go blank when faced with immense joy. Sasuke was overwhelmed by joy at that moment. After a long while, he felt he should say something. He raised his head, his hair a little prickly, and said, "Why did you come to the casino?"
"Oh, I just thought it would be fun, so I came." You didn't say you were there to rob someone, well, it's not appropriate to say that to a kid.
Sasuke frowned, not entirely convinced. His eyebrows were delicate, and when he frowned, they resembled his mother Mikoto's by about 50 or 60 percent. He said, "...Never mind." How could he not tell that you were just brushing him off? But...he felt there was no need to dwell on it. After all, being able to see you again was already a great happiness for him.
Huh? You just let it go like that? If it were before, he would have kept asking. It seems he has grown up and matured a lot in terms of personality.
He looks at you quietly, and you can see the deep affection in his clear, bright eyes.
Liking someone is hard to hide. Even if you don't say it, your feelings will show in your eyes. Feeling amused by his gaze, you pinch his cheek and say, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
“I want to see you more, because I know we'll be separated again someday, and I won't be as determined as my brother to bring you back to Konoha,” Sasuke said, emphasizing each word. “Because Konoha isn't really your home, is it?”
Ah... this really surprises you. You raise one eyebrow and say, "Let me guess, are you telling the truth or lying?"
"Of course it's the truth." As he spoke, Sasuke propped himself up on the armrests of the sofa, and said in a muffled voice, "You're doubting me."
You can't blame yourself for this. His brother is a cautionary tale. Blame his brother for taking the wrong path.
"No, I'm just curious why you would say that, Sasuke, since you used to really agree with your brother's approach."
This sounded like he was trying to sow discord between the brothers. You smiled and waited for his reply.
"That was in the past. Even brothers can disagree on the same things." Sasuke said, then asked dejectedly, "Aki, do you still miss your brother now?"
I wouldn't say I miss them, but every time I encounter women throwing themselves at me, I have to seriously think about how to get away.
Sigh, Itachi Uchiha, look at the mess you've made.
You were silent for a while, then reached out and ruffled the boy's hair. It wasn't as smooth as you had imagined. There was nothing you could do about it; he had frizzy hair, so it was impossible for it to be as soft and smooth as his brother's. This was one of Itachi Uchiha's few good qualities.
"Is that so... I thought you would resent me, Sasuke."
After all, your decisive act of abandoning Itachi and running away could easily be misinterpreted by his brother as you abandoning them all, and Sasuke, who has always lived with Itachi, is also very easily influenced by him.
Sasuke wanted to snuggle into your arms, just like when he was a child, but now he's taller than you, so in the end he's the one leaning against you. He said, "At first I was a little resentful of my brother, thinking that he was the one who couldn't keep you."
...
Wait a moment.
Does he know what he's saying?
You thought there was something wrong with your ears.
Sasuke was just saying that his brother was useless and couldn't keep you, right?
You cupped his cheeks in your hands, looked him up and down, and finally said, "Are you really Uchiha Sasuke?"
He pretended to be angry and nudged your palm with the tip of his nose, saying, "It's the real deal."
"But you just said your brother is a disappointment."
“Yes.” He readily agreed. “He only considered his own feelings and thought you two should get married, so he took it upon himself to prepare the wedding. But now I understand, marriage is a shackle for Mingxi, isn’t it?”
He understands quite a lot.
"Moreover, I used to think that you and I were family, but for you, Mingxi, living in the Uchiha clan for more than ten years felt more like being a dependent." He took a deep breath at this point. "So, I also made mistakes. I ignored Mingxi's feelings."
Why do you feel like... in his heart you've become a pitiful ghost who's been living under someone else's roof for over ten years? He's forcibly layered several pitiful filters on you, making you seem like you're in a miserable state.
To be honest, you didn't feel anything about being dependent on others when he said that. After all, you were busy running your shop all those years, working yourself to the bone every day, and you also had to deal with the suitors around you. So you weren't immersed in sadness every day like Sasuke said. It's true that you were calculating money every day.
"And I used to be very willful, always demanding your attention. I only realize now how immature I was back then." He must have caused you a lot of trouble, and yet you still patiently and gently treat him.
At this moment, you finally understand one thing: no matter how normal Sasuke may seem on ordinary days, he is still an Uchiha at heart, an Uchiha with extremely divergent thinking.
The Uchiha clan possesses an innate talent for reading comprehension.
If you let him continue, you'll end up like that blue-eyed orphan living in the stairwell, so you quickly stop and say, "I think you're overthinking it."
Sasuke pursed his lips, his expression stubborn. He stubbornly believed that it was his fault for ignoring your feelings back then, and that the trivial things you did were heinous crimes in his eyes.
You pat him on the shoulder to signal him to stand up. Although he was a little reluctant, he still stood up, but his little finger was still hooked around your little finger.
The movements were so intertwined yet connected.
"Mingxi, are you angry?" he asked again.
You put the plant guide aside and tell him to wash up first and then eat something. Although he is clingy, he is still quite obedient and will do whatever you say.
After he went into the bathroom, Bai returned with breakfast. Seeing that Sasuke was no longer on the living room sofa, he knew that Sasuke had woken up. He heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. He placed the tray on the living room table and asked, "He's awake. How is he?"
"Your body should have recovered." It's just that you're a little mentally confused, but this is a hereditary disease that's difficult to treat.
Bai responded and said, "Cado hasn't lifted its alert mode yet. They're still checking people carefully when they enter or leave the casino." This was information he gathered on his way to get breakfast.
What else can you do? The most dangerous place is the safest place. Just stay here openly, eat and drink for free, and when you leave, you can even pack up some things to take with you.
That's right, that's how you treat your competitors.
You have a very calm mindset. After all, you have seen a lot of ups and downs before and know a lot about the dark side of this world.
Later, you chatted with Haku for a few more minutes. Halfway through the conversation, you heard the bathroom door click open, and Sasuke came out wearing a bathrobe. His wet hair was still dripping, and his usually frizzy hair looked much smoother after being wet. He looked at Haku, didn't remember him, but could tell that you two had a very close relationship.
He asked directly, "Who are you?"
Bai said, "I am Mingxi's assistant."
Assistant...? It sounds quite proper, but what kind of assistant would gaze at their boss with such affectionate eyes?
Therefore, Sasuke didn't quite believe Haku's explanation and asked, "You're a ninja too?"
"Yeah, there's no rule that says a ninja can't be someone else's assistant, right? Oh, by the way, I'm not only Aki's work assistant, but also her life assistant."
A personal assistant? Sasuke suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
The term "personal assistant" leaves much to the imagination. Suppressing his unease, he tried his best to appear nonchalant and said, "I've never heard Mingxi mention you before."
“But I often hear Mingxi talk about you.” Bai’s reply was lukewarm, which really made Sasuke unsure of Bai’s attitude. At this moment, you spoke up and said, “Let’s have breakfast first.”
After breakfast, Sasuke went to check on the mission target. After a night's rest, the target had recovered a little, but was still unconscious. After all, the mission target was just an ordinary person, and his physique was definitely not comparable to Sasuke's as a ninja.
Sasuke then asked you, "Aki, did you stay here to cover for me?" It sounds a bit presumptuous of you to say that, but if it weren't for that, you could have left the casino right now, so... after thinking about it, that's the only possibility.
There's no need to beat around the bush when interacting with Sasuke. After all, Sasuke is straightforward, which is a good thing, much better than the riddle-maker.
"I suppose so," you said.
Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of Sasuke's lips curving slightly upward. He chuckles to himself, and when you look at him, he doesn't immediately wipe his smile away, still looking at you with a beaming smile, as if you've returned to the past.
You haven't gone out much during the day, so you can use this time to deal with the matters of the Land of Alcohol. Sasuke has been by your side the whole time, and you don't mind him looking at your documents. When he saw the words "Land of Alcohol," he said, "On my way here, I passed by a teahouse and the people inside mentioned you, Akira."
"Hmm? People in the teahouse?" You asked with a hint of doubt. "Is that so?" You didn't even look up when you said this. After all, as your sphere of influence expanded, more and more people were affected by you, so it was only natural that some people would talk about you behind your back. You didn't take those people's gossip to heart.
"Yes, I originally planned to go to the Land of Wine after this mission, but I didn't expect to meet you, Aki, here."
Those ninjas are really high-energy; they actually managed to travel a long distance to find you after completing their mission. You definitely couldn't do that.
"What a coincidence." Your answer was so casual that Sasuke noticed it too. He was only slightly annoyed by your somewhat perfunctory attitude, but he wouldn't be angry with you. He pursed his lips and said, "Mingxi, are you very busy now? What have you been doing since you left Konoha?"
If you were to answer his question properly, there would be a lot to say. After leaving Konoha, you made great strides in the outside world and are now a successful and ruthless capitalist. You said, "A lot happened during that time, and I can't explain it to you in a short time. Besides, I'm busy right now."
Bai carried coffee into the study, expertly serving it to you before organizing your files. You would occasionally exchange quiet words.
The atmosphere was calm and harmonious, and no outsider could get involved. Even he couldn't intervene; he could only watch helplessly as you chatted and laughed, feeling like an outsider himself.
Before leaving, Haku glanced at Sasuke and said, "Sasuke-kun, your mission target seemed to be feeling unwell. Would you like to come and check on him?"
This is just an excuse. The target of the mission is indeed feeling a bit unwell, but upon closer inspection, it turns out that this is just a minor issue, and there are other major problems waiting for Sasuke.
Sasuke asked, "Why did you specifically call me here?"
"It's nothing, I just didn't want you to bother Mingxi. Since you can't help her, at least don't cause her any trouble."
Bai's words hit the nail on the head. Yes, it seems like he's been causing you trouble all along. Sasuke felt a little guilty and said, "I'm sorry."
Was he being too sharp? Bai had to observe Sasuke closely and found that he seemed different from the Uchiha who had bothered him before. The biggest difference was that he was easier to communicate with and wouldn't start talking to himself all the time.
Bai wasn't always so aggressive towards everyone; his personality was generally mild. He said, "I should be the one saying that. I was too direct just now, please forgive me. But it's all because some people had been harassing Mingxi before, so I did it just out of caution."
Sasuke's attention was drawn to the "some people" that Haku mentioned. But who were these "some people"?
Sasuke asked, "And who are those people?"
"I'm sorry I can't answer that question, because it's Mingxi's personal privacy, and I have no right to tell you without her permission," Bai replied to Sasuke in a businesslike tone.
Well, Sasuke wasn't angry after hitting a wall. He said, "Then what did you mean by saying that Aki mentioned me before?"
"It means exactly what it says. Mingxi doesn't dislike you, well... you could say she likes you."
Although this affection might be something that Haku could never reach in his lifetime, he still answered Sasuke in a calm tone.
As Sasuke listened, his gaze passed over Haku and went to the study door. He had closed the study door when he left, so he wouldn't be able to see you now.
But it's okay. When night falls, he, unable to sleep, will find you, who is also staying up late. The difference is that the former can't sleep because he's bored, while the latter is staying up late on his own.
You weren't too surprised when you heard the knocking, because when you were in Konoha together, Sasuke would sometimes knock on your door at night, and you would open the door and ask him what was wrong. This time was no different.
You open the door, and Sasuke stands outside, wrapped in a bathrobe. The collar is a little loose, and his collarbone is faintly visible beneath it. You can also smell the faint scent of his shower gel. He says, "I can't sleep."
“I have sleeping pills.”
Sasuke met your gaze and, seeing your smiling eyes, knew you were joking. He laughed along and said, "But I don't want to take sleeping pills."
Okay, he has quite a few requests. Anyway, you're not that sleepy right now because you took a nap this afternoon, and the coffee he made for you was really strong, so you're still quite energetic. So you said, "So what do you want to do?"
Sasuke paused. He thought... he wanted to talk to you, just to hear your voice, just to see you. That was all he wanted.
"I want to hear your voice," he said muffledly and unclearly.
You lean against the door frame. Only a bedside lamp is lit in the bedroom, casting a warm yellow light. Sasuke suddenly wonders if his older brother knocked on your door like this before being accepted by you.
He was startled by his own sudden thought. Why did he think that? He pursed his lips and said, "So, is that okay?"
So, if someone knocks on your door late at night and says they just want to hear your voice, you could be sure they're lying if it were anyone else. But the person who said that is Sasuke, Sasuke who rarely lies. Therefore, you can be sure that he is probably telling the truth.
"Can't you sleep?" you ask.
"Hmm... a little bit, I hope I didn't disturb your rest?" He knocked on your door only after confirming that you were still awake. If you were already asleep, he would never have disturbed you.
"No," you said again. "Are you going to stand at the door the whole time?"
Do you mean you're allowing him into your room? He met your gaze, and perhaps it was the light from the bedside lamp that made your eyes appear so gentle, but he said, "...May I come in?"
"Okay." Why has he become so cautious after not seeing him for so long? It's making you a little uncomfortable.
Sasuke opened the door a little wider and quietly walked into your room. Haku was on night watch tonight. Sasuke glanced at Haku's outer robe on your bedside table. He looked away, as if he had seen something he shouldn't have. Sasuke was no longer as clueless about matters between the sexes as he used to be; he had learned a lot.
So, your relationship with that boy named Bai isn't just that of a boss and subordinate, is it?
He asked, "Is Bai just your assistant, Mingxi?"
"Yes, it sometimes stays with me until I fall asleep," you said casually.
Such a casual remark stirred up a storm in the boy's heart, but he had to pretend to be calm and said, "Then can't I?"
"No, you're still a child." You answered decisively, leaving him no room for negotiation. Sasuke said, "I will grow up properly."
You said "Oh," as if you were just giving a perfunctory answer to a child, "Then I believe you can do it."
"Then can I stay with you while you sleep?" Sasuke was still bothered by this, and you said with amusement, "Are you offering yourself up?"
Sasuke looked away. "Yes, I learn very quickly. I won't let you down."
His tone was so serious, but his cheeks were already burning. You took a step closer to him.
He caught a whiff of your fragrance, lingering around his nose, and said, "So...is it okay?"
"Let's talk about it later then. Hmm, there are quite a few people around me who are eager to offer themselves." The last person to promote themselves like this was Shisui. The Uchiha clan is known for being aloof in Konoha. Why do they all seem to be more proactive than the last?
"Was he supposed to be with you tonight?" Sasuke didn't name names, but you knew he was referring to Haku. You said, "No, he had to keep watch, and I also had trouble sleeping."
As you sit on the bed, leaning against the headboard, continuing to read, the scene feels like a return to the past, back to when you were still in Konoha.
Sasuke sat quietly on the edge of the bed, slowly moving closer to you, as if testing your limits. You couldn't bear to watch any longer, so you closed the book and beckoned to him. At that moment, he moved very nimbly, squeezing his shadow into your arms. Just quietly snuggling against you was enough for him; it made him perfectly content.
"Besides your brother, Shisui is also looking for you, so Aki, you need to be careful," Sasuke suddenly reminded you.
Unfortunately, his reminder came too late, because you had already encountered Zhishui. But fortunately, Zhishui was quite obedient and didn't cause you any trouble. In fact, he was even doing free work for you now. So you felt that maintaining contact with Zhishui for the time being wasn't a bad thing, at least the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
You answered absentmindedly, "I'll keep an eye on it."
Some of her frizzy hair clung tightly to you, and the bedside lamp cast your intertwined shadows. Sasuke softly asked what you had encountered since leaving Konoha. "It's okay if Aki doesn't want to talk about it."
He just wanted to know the stories about you that he had never seen before.
Has the conversation circled back to this issue? Well, you're wide awake anyway, so why not have a good talk with him? You could say, "He'll probably just become a heartless businessman."
“No, Mingxi can’t be a heartless businessman,” Sasuke said firmly. “Even if you did do something, it must have been out of desperation.”
You're genuinely curious about how you appear in Sasuke's eyes. Before you've even said anything, he's already naturally taken your side and started speaking up for you.
"Sasuke seems to think too highly of me. I also have a dark side."
As you spoke, you turned your head, and your smooth, long hair slipped into his collar, feeling cool to the touch, like silk, or like a slender snake in disguise. He looked up, wondering what he should do now.
People who keep saying they're not children anymore are completely blank when it comes to this kind of thing, like a clean sheet of paper that has never been scribbled on.
Lovers express their affection through kissing, but none of the books he'd read explicitly stated which scenarios were suitable for kissing. Romance novels only mentioned that the protagonists gazed at each other for a long time before kissing, but what about the process? Why did they kiss in the first place?
In his opinion, these books are too sloppy and clearly don't want people to learn useful knowledge.
His ample theoretical knowledge vanished under your gaze; his mind went blank, and all he could do was look at you, somewhat awkwardly and naively.
Then I got poked on the forehead.
Huh?
He stared in astonishment, clutching his forehead. Why...why? How could you have picked up his brother's habits too?
His bewildered look greatly amused you, and you chuckled softly. Sasuke sullenly hooked his finger around yours, "Shouldn't we have been... kissing just now?"
His tone became very light when he uttered the word "kiss," and he couldn't even pronounce it clearly.
"And where did you get that conclusion from?"
Sasuke pursed his lips. His features were all beautiful and delicate, even his tightly pursed lips, which were pursed because of his depression, were beautiful. He said, "I... I saw it in a book."
Oh, both brothers like to do their homework in advance, his older brother too, but they both said that theoretical knowledge and practice are two completely different things.
"Is it a romance novel? Ah... I didn't expect you to read romance novels, Sasuke?" You seemed to have caught Sasuke red-handed. "I really didn't expect that."
Sasuke turned his head to the other side, but after a couple of seconds he couldn't help but glance at you out of the corner of his eye, and you were still looking at him with a smile.
Because of his embarrassment, and because you had exposed his feelings, he was both ashamed and annoyed, and blurted out, "Because if it were Mingxi... he should definitely show his best side and be in his best condition to Mingxi, right?"
Um?
Did he learn this from reading novels? Oh well, the world is so chaotic, you can't expect any cultural rating system to exist. You kindly remind him, "You should read less of those random books in the future."
But Sasuke seemed to have a rebellious streak and said, "That's not some random book."
"So where did you find these books?" So who recommended these books to him?
"Found it in my brother's study."
Oh, case solved. It was Itachi Uchiha's reading list. Never mind then.
No, it's not entirely fine either. You said, "The books your brother reads might not be suitable for you."
"But didn't my brother use these books to serve Mingxi back then?"
"No, it's such a hassle. I have to teach your brother myself." You spoke the truth, but your brother did learn very quickly. Compared to Obito Uchiha, he was a typical top student.
Sasuke grasped your hand, his fingers squeezing between yours. "Then Aki can teach me too."
You didn't answer immediately. A few seconds later, you turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into complete darkness. Your conversation with Sasuke also came to an abrupt end. You said, "It's getting late. Let's rest."
You close your eyes, but you can still feel Sasuke quietly watching your profile. You sigh helplessly and say, "I can't sleep with you staring at me like this."
Sasuke readily closed his eyes, and he held your hand from before you fell asleep until you woke up.
Ninjas have very punctual biological clocks, unlike you, who wakes up later the next day after staying up all night.
He must have woken up earlier than you, because when you opened your eyes, his eyes were fixed on you.
As expected, Obito would do the same. The Uchiha clan just likes to stare at others; you get used to it.
"Good morning," you said, propping yourself up to sit up, then slipping on your slippers to go to the bathroom to wash up.
The weather outside is nice today, and there's good news too—the casino's security mode has been lifted. He brought this news back, saying, "So, Mingxi, we should be able to leave now, right?"
Having caught the key words, Sasuke leaned closer, silently observing your every move, and then said, "Mingxi, are you leaving?"
You wipe the water droplets from your chin and say, "Yes, I'm leaving soon. See you later."
Sasuke clenched his fist at his side and then relaxed it. Since you've said that, it means you'll definitely see each other again in the future. So this parting shouldn't be too sad. Reason tells him that separation is inevitable. You have your own things to do. You have your own career in the outside world, which is also your dream. He shouldn't, and can't, ask you to return to Konoha.
It should be okay to come back and visit occasionally, right?
He said, "So, Aki, will you ever come back to Konoha? I mean, I meant Konoha tourism."
"Well...maybe." After all, you're still thinking of setting up an online platform for ninjas to take orders, so you'll have to go back to Konoha sooner or later. It's just that his brother is a bit difficult to deal with. Oh well, you don't need to worry about that when the time comes.
Sasuke walked towards you, saying nervously, "Then I'll look forward to seeing you again, Aki."
Just as you were about to respond, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. You frowned. Wasn't the alert mode supposed to be off? Bai immediately rushed to the door and looked out through the peephole. He said, "The situation outside seems quite chaotic."
He looked through the peephole and saw that the corridor was full of people running away. The commotion downstairs was even greater, because so many people were running that the floor beneath your feet was shaking.
You asked Sasuke to protect the weakened target, while you went to Haku's side. Originally, your purpose in coming to the casino was to find out where the batch of wine from the Land of Alcohol that was adulterated with addictive substances had gone.
The sudden riot reminds you of the documents you found when you were scavenging the underground laboratory in the Land of Wine. They mentioned that these plant extracts could have some side effects, the worst of which was causing users to lose their minds. You think the riot outside is caused by the last batch of wine.
But this is actually a good thing, as it has created a good opportunity for you to escape. If you miss this opportunity, you will probably be subject to strict checks when entering and leaving the casino. So you seize this opportunity, turn around and say to Sasuke standing in the living room, "Well then, see you next time."
Sasuke wanted to ask you, he wanted to ask you, when exactly is the next time you mentioned? But the situation was too chaotic at the moment, and he didn't have time to ask these questions. You had already put on your hat and walked out of the room, blending into the messy crowd. In the blink of an eye, he couldn't find you anymore.
After only a second's pause, Sasuke remembered that he still had a mission to complete, so he left with the person who had regained consciousness.
You embraced Bai, who slipped through the crowd to the casino's exit and left without hesitation, leaving this place of trouble.
Well, although there was a little hiccup during this reconnaissance trip, you still managed to gather the information you wanted, so it wasn't a wasted trip. What's more, you even got to eat and drink for free at the casino these past two days without spending any money, which makes you feel even happier.
Once you've arrived outside the city and are far from the center of chaos, Bai gradually slows down, worried that you might feel unwell if you travel too fast.
You didn't eat breakfast in your haste to escape, and Bai cares about your meals more than you do. So when he suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" you thought something had happened and asked, "What's wrong?" Did he leave something behind?
Bai wouldn't make such a basic mistake. He said, "Mingxi, you haven't even had breakfast yet."
What? It's not a big deal. But looking at his serious expression, you say, "Anyway, I'm not hungry right now."
Bai takes you to a remote town in the Land of Jade. He finds a teahouse and borrows their kitchen to cook you a bowl of porridge. You sit patiently at the shop entrance, holding the porridge of vegetables and lean meat, waiting for it to cool down. This remote town is probably unaware of what is happening in the distant capital. Here, everything is still peaceful and serene.
You scoop up a spoonful of lean meat porridge and say, "After this unexpected incident, Kado will probably upgrade the casino's security system next time."
"Really? Doesn't that make it even more challenging?" You took a sip of porridge and could still laugh. It seems that Kado is probably trying to control the casino's customers with these spiked wines. No wonder he is the seller's biggest customer and was extremely anxious because the goods were not delivered on time.
Bai watched you drink more than half of the lean meat porridge, then you stretched and said, "Let me see what I should do next..."
Before you left the land of wine, you had already planned to find and destroy all the wines that had been sold around the world according to the buyer list.
“This might be a bit troublesome, and it’s a thankless task. Those businessmen who only care about petty profits can’t understand your good intentions, Mingxi.” Bai felt sorry for you. He always felt that the world was not worthy of your kindness. Even though you have done so much for those in distress, there are still people who talk about you behind your back, or even spread rumors, saying that you are a heartless businessman.
Bai gets angry whenever he thinks about these comments. In his opinion, if you are considered heartless, then there are no truly good people in this world.
You straighten your hair and think, "I do things simply because I want to. I don't need anyone else to understand me." As someone who has lived twice, you're mature enough to handle this kind of thing, meaning you don't care about other people's opinions at all.
I don't know what Bai is thinking. When you see him frowning, you always feel like he's put several layers of filters on you. After getting to know Sasuke, you realize that once they add filters to you, there's no stopping them.
No matter what you do, they can always find a suitable reason to explain it away.
This isn't just giving you a way out; it's laying out a red carpet on the steps so you can walk down comfortably.
Bai is the same; you know that in his eyes you are practically perfect.
Getting back to the point, the current situation is not suitable for you to stay in the Land of Jade for long. Unfortunately, the sky, which was clear in the morning, changed its face by noon, turning from sunny to cloudy, and the whole sky was covered by dark, gloomy clouds.
You see traveling in the rain as a miserable experience, and you say, "Forget it, let's wait for the rain to stop before we set off."
They waited until nightfall, during which time the rain barely stopped, and even got heavier and heavier. Now they couldn't go any further. You and Bai packed up and went to check into a nearby hotel. You didn't have a choice, because there was only one hotel in this remote town.
Of course, being in a remote location has its advantages. At least you don't have to worry about a shortage of rooms. Even if you book the best room here, it won't cost much. After you pay, the owner will hand you the key. You walk up the old stairs to the second floor, and the room in the middle is the one you booked.
I opened the door with the key. Ah... this really can't compare to the suites in the casino. Oh well, I'll just have to make do for one night.
In the middle of the night, you were woken up by the sound of thunder outside. Half asleep, you seemed to see a figure standing outside the window. Haku reacted much faster than you. He rushed to the window and saw Deidara, who was soaked by the heavy rain.
"What bad luck! It suddenly started raining when I flew here, and I had a bad feeling that I would run into you here." Deidara opened the window as if he knew the place well, wanting to come straight in, but was stopped by Haku, who said, "Wait a minute."
Then he took a bath towel from the cabinet and tossed it to Deidara, telling him to wipe the water droplets off his body before going inside. Deidara was a little impatient, but he did as he was told. After wiping himself until he was no longer dripping wet, he was finally allowed to enter the house. You were now fully awake. You said, "How did you get here?"
"Because of a mission, but not a mission you gave me, it's a mission from Akatsuki, so I can't tell you, hmm!" Deidara rattled off several missions in one breath, as if reciting a tongue twister. His blond hair, wet and matted, looked rather disheveled. He pulled over a chair and sat down, backwards, elbows against the back, saying, "And what are you doing here?"
"secret."
Deidara gave a soft "tsk" and said, "What are you trying to be mysterious about? I know everything. The casino suddenly became so chaotic, it must have been your doing, right?"
What? How could he think you have such bad intentions?
You said, "No, I was really just passing by, and perhaps our meeting was fate, hmm!"
Upon hearing you mimic his verbal tic again, Deidara averted his gaze and said, "What fate? If fate really exists, then meeting you just means I'm very unlucky."
Looking at Deidara's soaked clothes, you say, "Why don't you change your clothes first, and then take a good look in the mirror and see how disheveled you look?"
What? Does he look really that bad right now? Deidara, who had never paid much attention to his appearance before, ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror because of your words, and then changed into the clothes that Bai had given him, which made him look somewhat presentable.
When Deidara came out of the bathroom, he was still muttering to himself, "Who tells someone to go look in the mirror halfway through a conversation?"
That's what he said. After changing his clothes, he stood in front of you and asked dryly, "Are you finally satisfied now?"
"It's just so-so. If it were someone else who was woken up in the middle of the night, they wouldn't be very satisfied either."
Deidara is clearly a person with little sense of boundaries. In your opinion, the members of Akatsuki are more or less lacking in socialization, so sometimes the things they do are quite childish.
However, a lack of socialization isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card. You're actually a little angry, and you say, "How should I punish you for disturbing my sleep?"
Deidara's gaze darted around, and he said, "Whatever, don't think you can scare me like this."
He's not the kind of person who's easily intimidated, and it's just a punishment, so how scary can it be?
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