A Romantic Confrontation (2)

Captain's Office.

Retsu Unohana sat at the tea table, watching the two walk in hand in hand, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes. The glint was fleeting, but Liu Ziyun keenly caught it.

"What, you've made up?" Retsu Unohana's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible jealousy. "You're even holding hands. Looks like your path to the harem is one step closer, Liu Ziyun."

Upon hearing this, Isane Kotetsu's face turned cold. He forcefully shook off Liu Ziyun's hand and turned his head to the side. The speed and decisiveness of his action left Liu Ziyun speechless.

Liu Ziyun looked at Retsu Unohana with a pitiful expression, her eyes filled with pleading, grievance, and a hint of helplessness. "Captain, don't be like this. I know you're jealous. Don't worry, I'll be good to you and Isane."

Upon hearing this, Isane Kotetsu glared at him fiercely, her chest trembling with anger. Her eyes held a mixture of rage, resentment, and a complex, indescribable emotion.

Retsu Unohana's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them, like a volcano about to erupt. "Do you want me to kill you?"

Liu Ziyun determined to play the rogue. He steeled himself and said, his voice filled with a resolute, "I don't care! Even if you kill me, I'll still take you both! You're both my precious children!"

Isane Kotetsu's eyes widened upon hearing this, her face filled with disbelief. She never expected that this guy, who usually seemed so cowardly, would dare to say such a thing.

Retsu Unohana squinted, her hand already on the hilt of her Zanpakuto out. The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, reflecting her expressionless face.

Seeing this, Isane Kotetsu quickly stepped forward to stop them. She grabbed Retsu Unohana's hand and said urgently, "Captain! Calm down! We can't fight here! Let's find a secluded place and fight them to the death!"

Seeing her anxious expression, Retsu Unohana's lips curled into a mischievous smile. The smile held a hint of amusement and teasing, "Are you worried about her?"

Isane Kotetsu stammered, his voice trailing off, "How... how could this be! This womanizer should be killed!"

Retsu Unohana sheathed her Zanpakuto and sat down again. She looked at Liu Ziyun, her tone becoming serious. "Alright, Liu Ziyun. You're getting a little cocky now. Aren't you going to play it safe?"

Liu Ziyun scratched his head, looking completely innocent. "No, right? I just want to live a simple life with you guys."

Retsu Unohana raised an eyebrow, her eyes scrutinizing. "Are you planning to settle down with us, or are you thinking of finding more pretty girls to settle down with later?"

Upon hearing this, Isane Kotetsu glared at Liu Ziyun with a dark expression, his eyes conveying a warning, as if to say, "Try saying 'yes' once and for all."

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Liu Ziyun's forehead, pouring down like a waterfall. "Um... um... just the two of you!"

Seeing his guilty look, Retsu Unohana gently shook her head. "Judging from your guilty look, I know you're not being honest."

She paused, her tone becoming more serious. "Okay, what are your plans next?"

Liu Ziyun was taken aback. "What plan? Just to live off you guys?"

Retsu Unohana rolled her eyes at him, a hint of helplessness in her gaze. "What kind of life are you talking about? Life? Don't you understand what I'm asking you?"

Liu Ziyun suddenly realized, his expression changing from confusion to seriousness. "Oh! The thing you were talking about!"

He took a deep breath and began to speak, "I'll continue to lie low. When the Soul Reaper in the World of the Living goes missing, we'll just keep an eye on the Tenth Division Captain. Once he goes to the World of the Living, I'll go with him to monitor how things develop. Nothing else should happen, or if anything does, it'll be later."

Isane Kotetsu listened to their conversation, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. But she didn't ask, simply standing quietly to the side, her heart churning with turmoil.

Retsu Unohana looked at her, her tone softening. "Isane, you're not an outsider. I can tell you some things."

Her expression turned serious, carrying an undeniable authority. "But you must remember—neither I nor Liu Ziyun can mention it in front of you. Otherwise, our secret will be exposed, and we will both die a horrible death, and the Three Worlds will be destroyed."

Isane Kotetsu was startled, the shock leaving her completely stunned. She quickly said, her voice trembling slightly, "Captain, don't worry! I promise I won't say a word!"

Retsu Unohana nodded, her tone softening further. "Isane, don't worry. We're also doing this to protect Soul Society. The Captain-Commander knows that. So, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Isane Kotetsu nodded, a warm feeling welling up inside her. "Okay, I understand, Captain."

Then, she looked at Liu Ziyun with a disappointed and resentful expression, her eyes filled with grievance and accusation. "The captain is still the best to me. That Liu Ziyun guy doesn't say a word to me."

Liu Ziyun instantly broke out in a cold sweat, even more so than before. "This is a huge matter! I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd worry! Isane, don't be angry!"

Retsu Unohana said wistfully, a hint of Isane in her voice, "Yes, she's afraid I'll worry. So she keeps ordering me around, not caring if I'm worried. Sigh... a new generation replaces the old."

Just as Liu Ziyun was about to explain, Isane Kotetsu chimed in. Her voice held a hint of teasing. "That womanizer, he's always so fickle. I wonder who'll replace me in the future. Sigh..."

Hearing their words, Liu Ziyun felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly said, his voice tinged with panic, "You can't do this! I appreciate both new and old! I promise to treat everyone equally..."

Before she could finish speaking, Retsu Unohana interrupted her. Her voice held a hint of smugness. "Oh? Isane, did you hear that? She's fickle, always looking for something new. Looks like we'll have new sisters in the future."

Isane Kotetsu nodded, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Yes. So, Captain, why don't we just cripple him? That way he won't keep thinking about finding new recruits."

Liu Ziyun shocked, his expression changing from panic to terror. "Um... Xiao Lielie! Isane! I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now! No need to see me off!"

After saying that, he turned and fled from the Captain's Office as if his life depended on it, moving so fast that he almost left a blur.

The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing in the silent corridor.

Captain's Office.

Only Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu remained.

They watched Liu Ziyun's retreating figure as if fleeing for his life, then exchanged a smile. In that smile, there was pride, relief, and a hint of indescribable tenderness.

Retsu Unohana picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and looked at Isane Kotetsu: "Isane, judging from your expression, you're willing to become a member of Liu Ziyun's harem."

Isane Kotetsu's face flushed instantly, the red spreading from her cheeks to her neck. She lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer. "Captain... how could that be... besides, Ziyun clearly likes you more..."

Retsu Unohana's face flushed slightly, the blush appearing particularly beautiful on her fair skin. "How could that be? If he liked her, we've known each other for over a hundred years, he would have already made that clear."

Isane Kotetsu looked up at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But he already said he'd make the captain the head of the harem."

Retsu Unohana paused for a moment, then rolled her eyes at her, a hint of shyness in her eyes. "Alright, stop joking around. Go back to work."

Isane Kotetsu, a hint of smugness in his smile, "Oh dear, even the captain's shy. Alright, I'll get back to work."

She turned and walked towards the door.

As she reached the door, she stopped and turned to look at Retsu Unohana. Her eyes held sincerity and earnestness. "Captain, actually... although Ziyun a womanizer, he's truly sincere towards you. I can tell."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and walked out.

Captain's Office.

Only Retsu Unohana remained.

She sat at the tea table, gazing out the window, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. The emotions surged like a tide, leaving her momentarily dazed.

[The little girl has learned to be jealous too...]

A gentle smile curved her lips, a smile filled with satisfaction and affection.

[Sigh... Ziyun, will the future really be as you say? So much has happened in the last hundred years. Can we really live the peaceful life you envision?]

She picked up her teacup and took a small sip. The tea had gone cold, but a warm feeling welled up inside her.

[However... if it's true, I wouldn't mind being the mistress of your harem for a while.]

A smile she had never seen before appeared on her face. In that smile, there was expectation, longing, and a hint of shyness.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right, shining on her and casting a warm glow on her.