Chapter 283: Meeting Arrangement

“Amy, quickly open the box on the left. There are antidotes in there. If the monsters bite you, you can use them to neutralize the poison,” said Aiko.

Lei Yin guided the little girl to the box. “Yes, that green thing—pick it up.”

After she grabbed the antidote, Aiko continued directing, “Follow me quickly.” She then controlled her in-game character to open the iron door.

The screen suddenly darkened, then changed. Shortly after, the sound of heavy breathing echoed, and a swarm of green, semi-transparent 3D monsters slowly surrounded them.

The little girl cried out in alarm, “Lei, there are monsters! What should I do now?”

“Don’t panic. Shoot them with your gun. Like this—aim and press this button to fire. See? You can take one down just like that.”

Amy tried it and managed to shoot down a monster. Her face lit up with joy.

While also shooting, Aiko said, “These are just the guard monsters. Soon, a very tough boss monster will appear. I got defeated here last time. You keep shooting; I need to switch weapons.”

Influenced by her tense tone, the little girl kept a serious expression as she continuously fired at the monsters. Seeing this, Lei Yin couldn’t help but find it amusing.

While the two girls, one older and one younger, were completely engrossed and shouting excitedly at the game, Naoko, wearing a light green apron, walked out of the kitchen. “Stop playing now. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat.”

“Just a moment—we’re almost done,” Aiko said, still focused on controlling her game character.

Amy was equally absorbed, following closely behind her.

Lei Yin knew that if he let them continue, the food would go cold. So, he reached out and took the controller from Aiko’s hands, skillfully pulling up the menu to save the game progress.

Aiko reluctantly said, “Hey, let us play a little longer!”

“No more nonsense. Go wash your hands. Saving your progress is already a generous concession.”

Knowing it was futile to argue further, Aiko made a face at him before pulling Amy along to the restroom to wash up.

Lei Yin chuckled and stood up, heading toward the kitchen.

“Need any help?” Lei Yin asked as he walked up behind Naoko and suddenly wrapped his arms around her slim waist.

Naoko turned back and playfully scolded him. “You startled me! Go sit outside; the food will be ready soon.”

Lei Yin leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I don’t know why, but every time you say that, I can only think about how to ‘eat’ you instead.” As he spoke, he tightened his hold on her waist.

Naoko blushed and whispered, “Enough already. Be careful, or Amy might get jealous if she sees.”

Lei Yin couldn’t help but laugh. He kissed her cheek lightly before letting her go. Naoko bit her lip and smiled shyly.

At the dining table, Aiko observed Amy skillfully using chopsticks to eat and remarked with interest, “If Amy didn’t speak, you’d never guess she’s a foreigner. The power of being mixed-race is amazing.”

Naoko replied, “Not really. Didn’t you notice her slightly green-tinted eyes and fairer skin? Her hair is also light brown. If you line her up with other children her age, it’s easy to tell.”

Aiko retorted, “You’re just too observant. Normal people wouldn’t notice those details.”

Naoko smiled. “You’re just too careless. Amy, do you like the food?”

The little girl looked up and clumsily said in Japanese, “Very… delicious.”

Both sisters froze for a moment. Naoko quickly asked, “Masashi, does Amy know Japanese?”

Lei Yin, still eating, replied, “Ailin taught her. Amy can now handle basic daily conversations in Japanese.”

Aiko found this amusing and immediately asked the little girl to say more.

Naoko stopped her. “Let her finish her meal first. Don’t tease her.”

Aiko pouted. “You’re so biased, always treating Amy so well.”

Naoko couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re already a college student, yet you still act like a child.”

Aiko suddenly sighed. “It feels like time is flying by. Today, I saw the senior fourth-year students at school taking graduation photos. It made me feel so complicated. It won’t be long before I, too, leave school like them.”

Lei Yin interjected, “Why think so far ahead? Save your sentiments for your wedding day. Got any plans for this summer?”

“Not yet. Why do you ask?”

Lei Yin shared his plan to organize a trip to Okinawa.

After hearing this, Aiko’s eyes lit up. “Are you serious?”

“Of course. Do I seem like someone who’d joke about this?”

Excited, Aiko asked, “Can I invite Mami and the others too?”

“I already included them in the plan. And if you have a boyfriend, you can invite him as well.”

Aiko grinned cheekily. “I don’t have one now, but it might be fun to find a handsome surfer while we’re in Okinawa. I haven’t been there since I was a kid. It’s so nostalgic! Since you’re my brother-in-law, you’re covering our airfare and accommodations, right?”

“Wow, calling me ‘brother-in-law’ is expensive. Fine, it’s all on me.”

Aiko cheered excitedly, grabbing Amy’s little hand and celebrating.

Lei Yin suddenly smirked at Naoko. “I’d love to see you in a swimsuit again.”

Naoko blushed and lightly scolded, “You’re such a fool.”

After a moment, her expression softened, her eyes brimming with nostalgia.

Perhaps it was in Okinawa where she had truly fallen for this uniquely charismatic man—although, back then, he was just a boy.

※※※

By around 9 PM, Lei Yin prepared to leave Naoko’s apartment.

Seeing that he was leaving, Amy, who had been playing a game with Aiko, immediately dropped her controller and ran to hug him.

Squatting down, Lei Yin patted her head and said, “Little one, stay here for the night. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning. Be sure to listen to Naoko. Got it?”

Amy nodded slightly but continued to cling to his sleeve.

Lei Yin chuckled and pinched her cheek. “Hey, if you don’t let go, how am I supposed to leave?”

Reluctantly, the little girl released her grip.

Lei Yin gently patted her face before standing up and heading to the door.

Amy stood there with her wide eyes, watching him leave.

After Lei Yin’s BMW disappeared down the road, Naoko approached the little girl and reassured her, “Don’t worry. He’ll come to pick you up tomorrow. It’s getting late—how about a bath before bed?”

“Okay,” Amy replied softly with a nod.

From the other room, Aiko shouted, “Amy, hurry! There are so many monsters, and I can’t hold them off alone!”

Naoko, both amused and exasperated, said, “Don’t teach Amy bad habits. She’s still a child and shouldn’t stay up too late. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” She took Amy to the bedroom to fetch a change of clothes.

Left alone, Aiko had no choice but to continue the game by herself.

In the steamy bathroom, Naoko carefully washed Amy’s body while the little girl played with the bubbles in the bathtub.

After a while, Naoko asked, “Amy, did you wash your hair yesterday?”

Amy thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’ll wash it for you, but don’t open your eyes, or the shampoo might sting.”

“Okay.” The little girl obediently nodded.

Naoko led her under the showerhead and wet her hair.

Once done, Naoko smiled and said, “Amy, you’ve grown so much. In a few years, you’ll become a very beautiful young lady.”

Amy didn’t respond but stared at Naoko’s exposed chest, then glanced down at her own flat torso, her expression turning somewhat unhappy.

Seeing this, Naoko couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed the little girl was indeed starting to grow up without realizing it.

As Naoko rinsed her with the showerhead, she said, “Don’t worry. In a few years, yours will grow too. But even now, Amy, you’re adorable.”

“Really?” Amy looked at her seriously.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Naoko.” The little girl happily hugged her.

Naoko felt a surge of warmth seeing how close Amy was to her.

After a while, she suddenly felt a tingling sensation in her chest. Looking down, she saw the little girl curiously kneading her breasts.

“Naoko, these are so soft and comfortable!” Amy said innocently as she continued to squeeze.

“Amy, don’t touch there,” Naoko said, her face turning crimson.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m ticklish.”

Hearing this, the little girl’s eyes sparkled mischievously, and she pressed and kneaded even harder.

“No, Amy, stop touching there… Ah!”

In the living room, Aiko, bored after a game over, muttered to herself while staring at the TV, “What’s taking Naoko and Amy so long in the bath?”

※※※

At the agreed meeting location, Lei Yin arrived at a slightly worn three-story apartment building.

As he prepared to ring the doorbell, he paused as if recalling something. He pulled out a black mask and covered his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

After pressing the doorbell a few times, the door opened, revealing a young woman with striking features.

She hesitated upon seeing the masked man but quickly composed herself. “Masashi?”

“It’s me,” Lei Yin said with a faint smile in his eyes.

Zhang Qian teased, “Why the mask? Aren’t you worried someone might mistake you for a pervert who steals underwear?”

“I just don’t want anyone else to see my face.”

Zhang Qian wondered briefly how he knew there were others in the apartment, but she shrugged it off. “Come in.”

Lei Yin didn’t hesitate and stepped inside.

In the living room, a young man about Zhang Qian’s age was seated on the sofa. When Lei Yin entered, the man immediately stood up.

“Who’s he?” The man’s guarded eyes locked on the masked figure.

“He’s a friend of mine. He might be able to help us,” Zhang Qian replied.

The man frowned. “Why didn’t you discuss this with us before bringing an outsider in?”

Zhang Qian shrugged. “He’s not an outsider. I already consulted Mr. Yang about this, and he approved seeking his help.”

The man said nothing further but kept a wary eye on Lei Yin.

“Masashi, come with me upstairs,” Zhang Qian said.

Lei Yin nodded and followed her up the stairs.

As they passed a room in the second-floor hallway, Lei Yin glanced at the door with a faint smirk before continuing to follow Zhang Qian without comment.

At the end of the hallway, Zhang Qian led Lei Yin into a room that appeared to be a study. Several bookshelves crammed with books made the room feel a bit cramped.

“Since you don’t seem to want others knowing your identity, I hope this room will suffice. Want something to drink?”

“No need to be polite. Just brew me a pot of West Lake Dragon Well tea.”

“This isn’t a tea house, you know. And you call that ‘not being polite’? All we have here is soda or beer. Take your pick.”

Lei Yin retorted, “Not only is someone pointing a gun at me from the shadows, but I also don’t even get a drink of my choice. What kind of hospitality is this? Fine, I’ll take a beer.”

Zhang Qian chuckled. “So, you noticed. Can’t be helped. They’re just nervous since they’ve never met you before. Wait here; I’ll get it for you.” She left to grab a beer.

When she returned and handed him the beer, Lei Yin was about to open it but paused. “Whenever you come to me, it’s never for anything good. You’d better tell me what’s going on first. Otherwise, if I drink this, I might feel obligated to help you.”

“Pfft, stingy as always. Fine, I’ll be upfront. I’m here to ask for your help. This matter doesn’t really concern you, but we’re not confident about handling it alone. That’s why we need an expert like you.”

“An expert? You’re flattering me. Go on, tell me what it is. If I have the time, I might consider helping you.”

“It’s not exactly difficult, but it’s not simple either.”

“Hey, stop beating around the bush.”

“Alright, to put it simply, we need someone to disappear. That’s the task.”

“Who is it that’s worth all this trouble?”

Zhang Qian pulled up a chair, sat in front of him, and softly said a single name.