"Phew..."
Around Todaiji Temple, at a designated smoking area.
Tong Yingying's red hair was tied into a ponytail, with a short, wavy lock of hair hanging down at each temple, swaying in the wind.
She wore a black leather jacket draped over her shoulders, and below, slightly faded jeans secured by a belt.
Her jacket was slightly open, revealing a gray inner shirt whose folds outlined her curves.
Against the shirt, the string of Mikimoto pearls Yan Huan had gifted her was strikingly prominent, adding just the right touch of beauty to her otherwise androgynous and stylish outfit.
At this mont, she had a large black bag slung vertically across her back—one that looked like it was for holding musical instrunts—while twirling a half-lit cigarette between her fingers.
"Sister Tong!"
Tong Yingying had been looking at her mobile phone when Yan Huan's voice suddenly rang in her ears.
Hearing this, she blinked, the corners of her lips curling up slightly as she turned her head to look beside her.
However, what t her eyes was a charming black-haired woman wearing sunglasses and a wicked smirk.
It was Nara, whose true na was Sakayori Mina, Sakuramiya Hitomi's personal female bodyguard.
The mont she saw it was Sakayori Mina, the faint smile on Tong Yingying's lips instantly vanished. With a cold expression, she demanded,
"If you use Yan Huan's voice to put on an act one more ti, do you believe I'll kick your head like a ball?"
"Oh my, don't be like that, Sister Tong~"
Although her words still sounded like a joke, when Nara spoke again, her voice had obediently returned to its original tone,
"Wow, what a beautiful necklace. You never used to wear things like this. A gift from Yan Huan?"
Nara's gaze was imdiately locked onto the eye-catching necklace, prompting her to ask with sudden interest.
Unfortunately, Tong Yingying ignored her. Instead, she scoffed in annoyance and shot back,
"What are you doing in Sakura Country?"
"I'm here to help you hunt down that person."
"I don't need your help. Scram back to Linn. You were lucky I didn't take your life before. You see
now and you don't even take a detour?"
Tong Yingying narrowed her eyes, pinching the nearly burnt-out cigarette butt and tossing it into the ashtray.
Just as she was retracting her hand, Nara grabbed her wrist.
The instant the other woman's hand made contact, Tong Yingying's muscles imdiately tensed, showing clear signs of an impending violent outburst.
Fortunately, Nara's words arrived just in ti, temporarily suppressing Tong Yingying's actions,
"Tong Yingying, do you really think that without my secret help, those subordinates of yours who haven't found a single clue in years would suddenly catch his tail?"
Tong Yingying shot her a sideways glance and sneered,
"So I should be thanking you, then? Thanking you for your dereliction of duty, letting soone put a bullet into Mama Bai's head?"
"Don't you dare start labeling ! What dereliction of duty?! That person had intel, accomplices, gear, and sheer power. They weren't just so ordinary person!!"
Nara gripped Tong Yingying's wrist tighter, looking at her with anger as she declared,
"You know it perfectly well yourself! Fundantally, it wasn't just
who couldn't protect Mama Bai; the entire gang couldn't protect her! And the people in that gang included you!!
"So blaming , blaming yourself—it's just failing to see reality. You only know how to wallow in self-pity!
"And get this straight: it's been so many years, and you're not the only one who can't move past it!
"But at least I'm doing a bit better than you. I haven't rotted away decadently in so South Ward bar, relying on a high school boy every day just to keep going!
"Oh, and I reckon it won't be long before that high school boy can't sustain you either. Why would he like an old woman who's older than him and this decadent? Wouldn't he be much happier with those wealthy young ladies at his school?!"
Nara paused for a second before imdiately adding,
"Like the Eldest Miss I serve, for example!"
Tong Yingying's pupils shrank as she listened, evidently struck right in her weak spot.
Yet, upon hearing that last sentence, she couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh,
"...Did you even laugh at yourself when you said that? That peeping tom?"
"What does an old maid like you know about the devastating power of a White Moonlight?!"
Panting, Nara realized she had lost her composure. She abruptly released Tong Yingying's wrist and stated,
"Let's stop here. With my help, you'll be achieving more with less. Once we catch that chief culprit, everything will be settled. After that, we're even. We owe each other nothing... That's it!"
Hearing this, Tong Yingying couldn't help but take a deep breath, collecting her emotions.
"Fine. It's been a while, and you've grown bolder, daring to speak to
like that... You'd better be sowhat useful, otherwise—"
With that, she pulled another cigarette from her cigarette case and complained with displeasure,
"Right now, that guy is pulling a 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao' trick and has targeted Yan Huan, so you—"
"Shh~"
Just as she was speaking, Nara suddenly shushed her, pouting her lips toward the space behind Tong Yingying.
Startled by this, Tong Yingying turned her head, only to see Yan Huan hurrying over in their direction,
"Sister Tong!"
Yes, this ti it was the genuine voice.
Tong Yingying adjusted her expression. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she greeted him,
"You're here?"
"Yeah..."
As soon as Yan Huan arrived and saw the cigarette pinched in her hand, he couldn't help but complain,
"Sister Tong, I see you really can't quit, can you? You simply can't live without cigarettes and alcohol for even a single day."
Hearing Yan Huan say this, Tong Yingying imdiately felt a guilty conscience and shoved the unlit slim cigarette back into her cigarette case.
Just as she was about to speak, Nara reached out and draped an arm over Tong Yingying's shoulders, smiling warmly at Yan Huan as she comnted,
"How could it be that she can't live without tobacco and alcohol for a day? In the past, she never touched a drop of liquor or a single cigarette. She only beca like this after arriving in the South Ward..."
In truth, Yan Huan had seen the two of them standing together from far away and didn't find it strange.
After all, he had previously deduced from the mark on the back of Nara's neck that she had inextricably linked ties with Tong Yingying.
Furthermore, Yan Huan still hadn't forgotten the words she had spoken at his doorstep after Sakuramiya's voyeurism was exposed.
Thinking of this, Yan Huan revealed a smile. He was just about to speak when Nara beat him to it, politely extending her hand to him,
"Just call
Big Sis~"
"Smack!"
But the mont her hand was out, a dark-faced Tong Yingying ruthlessly smacked it away,
"Big Sis my foot! Call her Sakayori Mina!"
"..."
Sakayori Mina winced in pain and looked at Yan Huan delicately, as if she had found her backing, silently pleading, 'Hurry up and keep her in check.'
Unfortunately, the mont Tong Yingying shifted her gaze, she imdiately reined in her expression,
"Just call
Nara."
"Sister Nara."
"Yes~"
Having switched to a suitable title, Nara's smile grew even sweeter.
anwhile, Yan Huan scrutinized Nara, who seed very familiar with Tong Yingying's past. After weighing his words, he decided to ask,
"Sister Nara, were you very close with Sister Tong in the past?"
"You could say that. We used to be like sisters, right?"
"...Shouldn't it be deeply affectionate sisters?"
Nara chuckled and shook her head at Yan Huan,
"Our feelings for each other weren't that deep, but our relationship was indeed very close, and we were very similar..."
Nara glanced sideways at the stoic Tong Yingying and explained to Yan Huan,
"We were both lonely individuals drifting to Linn from across the ocean. We both coincidentally possessed a bit of talent, and we were both treated as daughters by a highly respected, kind elder...
"However, we're actually worlds apart. For instance, I'm very popular with young boys, whereas she... tends to terrify them."
Wait, is that right?
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow and looked over at the dispirited Tong Yingying.
No matter how he tried to recall, his mind was filled solely with the image of her holding up a single finger and declaring, 'I have an idea.'
"Oh my, you'd know her exact look the mont you see it. It just so happens I saved so photos of her from the past. Let
show you..."
As she spoke, Nara pulled out her mobile phone with a cheeky grin.
The nearby Tong Yingying instantly realized what those photos were, imdiately snapping at Nara with a freezing tone,
"Don't let him see!"
"...No problem."
Hearing this, Nara obediently put her phone away, but she silently mouthed a phrase to Yan Huan,
'I'll send them to you privately later~'
Turning back, Tong Yingying finally got down to business, asking Yan Huan,
"You rushed over to see
so urgently. Did sothing happen?"
"Oh, it's like this, Sister Tong..."
Ard with his new knowledge, Yan Huan gave Tong Yingying a rough rundown of his plans to head to the Sakuramiya Residence early. When they heard that the reason for this early departure was tied to Sakuramiya Hitomi, Tong Yingying and Nara wore vastly different expressions.
"I told you, the power of a first love. And you didn't believe ?"
This gloating expression belonged to Nara.
"Heh."
This utterly disgusted expression—as if she had just swallowed a fly—belonged to Tong Yingying.
However, putting that aside, Yan Huan heading to the Sakuramiya Residence early was ultimately beneficial for their actual objective.
Thus, Nara was the first to sigh, advising Yan Huan earnestly,
"Then you'd better be careful, young man. I was previously investigated by the Sakuramiya family because of my identity. The waters in that place run incredibly deep. You absolutely must be cautious." "We're just a study group. We're only going as guests."
Yan Huan spoke lightly, but in reality, only he knew the true pressure he was under.
The situation between the Modifiers was already a bit dire, yet one wave hadn't settled before another rose, resulting in this current ss.
He had no idea how he or Sakuramiya had offended the president of Shuurei Academy. Regardless, the current situation was this:
Yan Huan not only had to deal with the Modifiers, but he also had to deal with the affairs of the Sakuramiya family.
It was adding imnse difficulty to an already impossible task...
"Then I'll be heading to the Sakuramiya Residence with them shortly. Sister Tong, let's contact each other again after you've finished with your business?"
"Alright."
Yan Huan nodded and jogged back in the direction he had co from.
Over there, there were still people waiting for him.
Behind him, Nara waved at his receding back view, unable to stop herself from clicking her tongue in admiration,
"Yan Huan and the Eldest Miss really are quite a match... Seriously, if the Eldest Miss had just gone AFK and done absolutely nothing, she would have already won by now."
"Won my foot."
Tong Yingying rolled her eyes at Nara. However, at that exact mont, her mobile phone suddenly rang.
She glanced down at it, her expression turning serious.
Seeing this, Nara instantly knew it was a ssage from her subordinates,
"News on that person?"
"Yes, in Kyoto. They say he's fleeing toward Arashiyama."
"Then let's set o—Hm? Arashiyama?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
Nara chewed on the na for a mont. Then, her expression beca peculiar,
"It's nothing, really. It's just that I seem to recall... the Sakuramiya Residence is located just north of Arashiyama?"
"Ding~"
Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Sagano.
An MPV drove along a country road. Inside the vehicle, sitting in the front and back rows respectively, were the Four Heavenly Kings and the Great Demon King An Le, who were all looking at each other in dismay.
Sakura Jing was driving the car, while Yan Huan, sitting in the front passenger seat, stared blankly at the Wing of Gold Ring in his hand.
'Sister Tong, I always thought your taste in gifts was bad, but I never expected it to be this atrocious.'
'Giving a guy a gold ring... is this really your return gift?'
"Wow, Yan Huan, look! What are these pink flowers!"
Right at that mont, Spencer pressed herself against the window, staring out at the mountains and fields covered in pink flowers. A brilliant light rippled in her sky-blue eyes.
"Those are the cherry blossoms planted by our family. Being able to see them ans we're almost at my ho..."
Seeing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi, acting as the host, took the initiative to explain it to Spencer.
Before she could even finish speaking, at the end of the mountain road ahead, a massive estate that perfectly blended ancient and modern styles ca into view.
At the gateway, two youths with completely different styles were standing waiting.
The one on the left wore an elegant, understated white kimono. He had black hair, and his handso face bore a faint, stoic expression.
That was Sakuramiya Hitomi's eldest brother, Sakura Lan.
The one on the right was dressed casually in a white shirt and black trousers. Several buttons on the shirt were left undone, exposing his collarbones.
He sported the sa black-and-pink gradient hair as Sakuramiya Hitomi, styled into a ssy, center-parted wolf cut. However, his gradient ran in the opposite direction—fading from pink down to black tips.
His face carried a bit of unshaven stubble, making him look older—almost as if he were the older brother to Sakura Lan on the left.
In reality, he was Sakura Lan's younger brother, Sakura Fei.
He flashed an approachable, roguish smile, cupped his hands into a trumpet shape over his mouth, and shouted loudly,
"Little sister!! Welco ho!! Your big brother missed you to death!!"
"..."
The mont the car doors opened, under the stares of everyone inside, Sakuramiya Hitomi was so embarrassed she couldn't even lift her head.
She had no choice but to awkwardly step out of the vehicle and softly call out, "Older Brother."
"Oh my, why so quiet? It breaks your brother's heart. You haven't been back for so long~"
"Fei, that's enough."
"Aw, don't you miss our little sister, brother? It's been so long since we last saw her~"
Sakura Lan looked down at his incredibly petite younger sister standing before him, the cold expression on his face inevitably lting away. The corners of his mouth tilted up slightly as he said,
"Hitomi."
"Older Brother."
Sakuramiya Hitomi scratched her cheek and turned back to introduce her companions.
But in truth, there was absolutely no need for introductions.
Because the very next second, Yan Huan and a smug-looking Sakura Jing stepped out of the car.
The mont he saw Yan Huan, the already barely perceptible curve on Sakura Lan's lips dropped slightly. Sakura Fei's smile, on the other hand, grew even wider,
"Hello, President Yan! Long ti no see!"
"Sakura Lan-san, Sakura Fei-san, long ti no see."
Seeing the two of them, Yan Huan offered a polite smile and greeted them verbally.
Hearing this, Sakura Jing scoffed from behind and muttered his complaints,
"Hey, why do you greet my brothers so formally, but treat
so casually?"
Sakura Lan glanced at the female classmates stepping out of the car one after another behind Yan Huan. He narrowed his eyes, though his gaze quickly locked back onto Yan Huan as he stated flatly,
"Mother has already inford
about the study group. Let
take everyone to your rooms first; everything has been prepared.
"President Yan, you'll have to feel a little wronged for these few days by sharing a room with Jing. As for the rest of the girls, two of you will share a room, and the remaining person will get a single room."
Upon hearing this, Yan Huan had yet to react before Sakura Jing threw a massive fit,
"Hah? There is no way I'm sharing a room with him!"
"I am already sharing a room with Fei. Unless you'd like to trade with us?"
"...Never mind, I'll just share with him."
Sakura Jing was actually quite afraid of his two older brothers.
The branches of the Sakuramiya family were complex and sprawling. Everyone lived in separate branch estates; the only person who resided in the Main Residence was the Family Head, which ant Sakuramiya Hitomi's grandfather.
Therefore, Sakuramiya Hitomi's actual bedroom was back at her father's house. Here, she was in the exact sa boat as Yan Huan and the others—she had to stay in one of the cleared-out guest rooms.
After that was settled, the smiling Sakura Fei noticed that Sakuramiya Hitomi still looked a bit hesitant, so he explained,
"Grandfather won't be having dinner with us. He'll be eating with Luciana Adams. You won't be able to see him today; you'll have to wait until tomorrow or the day after."
"...Alright."
Listening to Sakura Fei's words, Yan Huan caught on to an extra piece of information and shot him a glance.
His own granddaughter had traveled a long distance back from a foreign country, yet not only did the grandfather refuse to see her, he chose to dine with an outsider instead.
With this thod of handling things, Yan Huan could only think of one possibility:
He harbored negative emotions toward Sakuramiya Hitomi.
It was either anger, or disappointnt...
Yan Huan was becoming increasingly curious about what exactly that Luciana had said to Sakuramiya Hitomi's grandfather.
Seeing Yan Huan reveal a thoughtful expression, the curve of Sakura Fei's lips beca noticeably sharper,
"Alright, what about you girls? Who plans on sleeping with who? The odd one out will stay in a single room."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yi imdiately glanced at the companions beside her, silently signaling Ye Shiyu and Sakuramiya Hitomi with her eyes.
Her aning was crystal clear: one of them needed to sleep in the sa room as Spencer. This way, they could isolate An Le into the single room, preventing any danger from occurring.
Spencer couldn't read the silent ocular exchange between the girls, so she subconsciously looked toward An Le.
However, An Le simply turned her head away and refused to look back at her. Her aning was equally obvious: 'I will pick after all of you have chosen.'
Under these circumstances, Bai Yi's proposed plan was perfectly feasible.
It was just that, feeling Bai Yi's stare, Sakuramiya Hitomi revealed a deeply contemplative expression.
"Um, I..."
The very next second, just as Bai Yi opened her mouth to announce the arrangents, Sakuramiya Hitomi abruptly lifted her gaze and stated,
"I'll share a room with An Le."
"??"
"!!"
The mont those words were spoken, everyone present—save for the three Sakuramiya brothers—instantly cast incredulous stares at Sakuramiya Hitomi.
Let alone Yan Huan, even An Le herself had never expected this.
Bai Yi, especially, was one step away from crying out loud,
'Have you let your family matters completely addle your brain?! Volunteering to sleep in the sa room as this Great Demon King?! Aren't you afraid she'll creep up and knife you in the night?!'
However, facing everyone's thoroughly confused gazes, Sakuramiya Hitomi knitted her brows in deep thought for a long mont. Ultimately, she looked firmly at An Le and asked,
"How about it? Do you agree, An Le?"
"..."
eting Sakuramiya Hitomi's stare, An Le was montarily stunned. Then, she too revealed a shy, bashful smile,
"Okay."
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