The three of them hailed a taxi, and Zhou Ming took Jiang Jialie to Fifteenth Street.
They got off in front of a shop with a foreign sign that Jiang Jialie couldn’t read. She pouted and said, “Not even changing the name to Chinese, and they still make money?”
“There’s a Chinese translation underneath. Come on, let’s go in.”
Jiang Jialie looked over the shop’s decor. Below the sign hung a row of Japanese-style lanterns, with the words “Takamagahara” written on the wall. Through the glass, she could see the busy waitstaff and customers enjoying their meals.
Pushing open the door, Jiang Jialie heard the wind chime hanging by the entrance.
Amid the waitstaff’s welcoming calls, Jiang Jialie and Zhou Ming crossed a small path paved with pebbles and arrived at a wooden counter.
A middle-aged chef in a white chef’s hat was making salmon sushi at the counter. Before Jiang Jialie even got close, she could smell the freshly ground wasabi and fish broth.
They requested a private room. Under the waitress’s guidance, Jiang Jialie followed Zhou Ming past the front seating area divided by translucent rattan partitions and entered a room decorated with Japanese paper trim.
After ordering, Jiang Jialie looked at Zhou Ming’s hesitant expression and steeled herself to ask, “Zhou Ming, you… what happened?”
His fingers interlocked, Zhou Ming lowered his head and remained silent.
After a long pause, he told Jiang Jialie everything he had been through.
From that energy beast, to discovering the information inside the ruins, then trying to report it to the Jing’an Alliance, just happening to meet Gadelia, and being asked by Gadelia to come seek Jiang Jialie’s advice.
Zhou Ming told Jiang Jialie almost everything that had happened today.
However, he didn’t mention what had happened between him and Gadelia, nor his special ability to gain new supernatural powers by digesting energy beasts.
After all, what happened with Gadelia was hard for Zhou Ming to put into words.
And as for being able to gain new supernatural powers by digesting energy beasts, he would keep it absolutely secret until he was strong enough.
Later, when he had the time and conditions, Zhou Ming also wanted to test the strength of the powers he had gained, and whether there were limits or caps on acquiring them.
This special ability was Zhou Ming’s trump card. He had to hide it well.
On the other side, Jiang Jialie was already in a state of turmoil.
The energy beast that had triggered the monster tide in their hometown had found them, and had specifically given Zhou Ming a “30-day death countdown”!
Gadelia had told Zhou Ming to go to the underground black market for a mission issued by the Jing’an Alliance to external personnel, to digest energy beasts and improve his strength. Then he had run into a Dust-Resistance-level energy beast and was forced to flee to the Wang family forest farm.
After that, the energy beast attacked the farm. Zhou Ming had to enter the ruins to survive, and found some information there.
Gadelia, you really want to harm my Zhou Ming!
Truly evil to the core!
Jiang Jialie lowered her head, not daring to look at Zhou Ming.
She was just an ordinary girl. Her only impression of the underworld came from fictional content in TV dramas.
But, since you took the initiative to let Zhou Ming come to me for comfort, I’ll temporarily forgive you for getting close to Zhou Ming.
Faced with Zhou Ming’s predicament, Jiang Jialie felt powerless.
“I… don’t know what to do either.”
But combining Gadelia’s words as relayed by Zhou Ming, it seemed Gadelia wanted to stabilize Zhou Ming’s emotions. However, she alone couldn’t convince him.
That’s why she sent him to me!
She wanted me to follow her line of reasoning, first stabilize Zhou Ming’s emotions, and then figure out what to do next?
Biting her lip, Jiang Jialie hesitated.
She was worried about Zhou Ming’s situation.
But if she told Zhou Ming about this, he would definitely push himself to become stronger to protect her, and then keep taking on those missions to digest energy beasts!
I don’t want you to do those dangerous things!
Her hands clenched into fists, Jiang Jialie stole a glance at Zhou Ming.
Looking at his achingly familiar face, the emotions in Jiang Jialie’s heart could no longer be suppressed.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Her eyes reddened, and she suddenly stood up and threw herself into Zhou Ming’s arms, burying her head tightly against his chest.
“I… really want to say, Zhou Ming, don’t worry about anything. As long as we’re together, I’ll be satisfied no matter what!”
Her voice was choked with tears, yet firm.
She was so emotional she could barely control herself, her hands clutching Zhou Ming’s shirt.
Then she lifted her head, forcing a smile on her tear-streaked, aggrieved face.
“But I know you wouldn’t want me to do that! Ever since we were kids, you went against Mom and Dad to protect me. For me, and for yourself, I can’t bring myself to tell you that everything is scary, and we should run away! Run as far as we can, to a place no one can find us, and live a short, happy life together.”
“So, go do what you want to do! I’ll always support you. Forever. No matter how many people are by your side, I will unhesitatingly follow you and love you!”
“Only, only, only you—I don’t want to lose you!”
“I…”
Zhou Ming looked down at Jiang Jialie. He silently reached out and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, trying to make his smile as natural as possible.
“A beautiful girl crying like that is not pretty anymore.”
He paused, then continued, “I understand. Trust me, nothing will happen.”
“I promise.”
“Mm…”
Jiang Jialie nodded vigorously, her reply thick with a nasal tone.
“By the way, clean yourself up. Don’t let others see my adorable little crybaby all messy.”
“Even if my face is tear-streaked, I’m still a beautiful girl!” Jiang Jialie glared at Zhou Ming defiantly.
A few minutes later, the waitress finished serving the dishes.
So Zhou Ming and Jiang Jialie picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
Sashimi, sushi, fried chicken, fried pork cutlet, rice bowls.
At Zhou Ming’s request, the appetizers and main courses were served together.
While eating, Zhou Ming thought about what to do next.
Clearly, Gadelia’s goal in sending him to Jiang Jialie had been achieved.
Through Jiang Jialie’s sincere words bursting out amid intense emotional fluctuations, she had managed to soothe and motivate him.
It also let Jiang Jialie understand the situation, so she wouldn’t be completely helpless if a crisis suddenly arose.
Gadelia had only met Jiang Jialie a few times, yet she had such a precise grasp of her emotions.
After this, I’ll still have to trouble Gadelia.
He had just told himself he wouldn’t ask for her help anymore.
Zhou Ming now understood more deeply the consequences of having no background, no connections, and no strength.
Indeed, he had to work hard to improve his strength.
Set a small goal: first advance to the Dust-Resistance level!
Tasting the delicacies of Takamagahara, Jiang Jialie’s heart gradually calmed, and reason regained the upper hand.
Then she felt deeply embarrassed about her earlier behavior.
Ugh, it wasn’t a life-or-death crisis. Throwing herself into Zhou Ming’s arms and crying, letting him wipe her tears—that was too embarrassing.
But Jiang Jialie was just embarrassed.
She didn’t dislike it; in fact, she felt a little joy and excitement.
Gadelia, you’ve got me completely figured out!
Suddenly, Jiang Jialie thought about Zhou Ming’s situation again.
She couldn’t help but feel disgusted at her own ordinariness.
She couldn’t help Zhou Ming, and she even needed him to divert attention to protect her.
‘I want to stand by your side too.’
‘To face it together with you.’
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