Bronya, Black Stockings or White Stockings?

Lin Hai returned to the living room and called a car dealership.

Without agonizing over the choice, he ordered a roomy midsize SUV.

Not only was the interior comfortable, but it could also easily seat seven or eight people, enough to meet his various potential needs in the future.

With the considerable wealth he now possessed,

He had spent less than one-thousandth of the gold Seele and the Underworld had given him.

Lin Hai paid the rush-order fee without hesitation.

Sure enough, a brand-new SUV arrived on time at noon that day and came to a stop downstairs from his home.

Lin Hai took the elevator down, went over to the car, and gave it a cursory inspection before opening the door and climbing into the driver's seat.

He started the engine, feeling the car's steady vibration, then slowly drove onto the street to get a feel for the controls.

The overall driving experience was smooth and comfortable, leaving him very satisfied.

After confirming that the car was in good working order, Lin Hai gripped the Contract Lucky Star linked to Bronya.

Amid a flicker of light, Bronya quietly appeared in the passenger seat.

Bronya's body stiffened at first. A flash of wariness and confusion crossed her eyes, and she instinctively looked around.

When she realized she was inside a moving vehicle and that Lin Hai was beside her, her taut nerves gradually relaxed.

"How... did I get here?"

She turned to look at Lin Hai, her voice full of disbelief.

"I summoned you here."

Lin Hai held the steering wheel, his eyes on the road ahead.

"How did you do it? This... is incredible."

"This is one of the secrets you've always been curious about."

Lin Hai turned his head and gave her a faint smile. "The supplies sent to Belobog were also delivered from my world in a similar way."

Bronya realized that she was now touching upon one of Lin Hai's deepest secrets.

At the same time, a subtle thought quietly surfaced:

Perhaps Sparkle, who was close to him, didn't know this secret.

The thought stirred a trace of competitiveness in Bronya's heart, as though she held a unique advantage in this silent contest.

She unconsciously straightened her back.

Without realizing it, she had already begun to think of herself as Lin Hai's woman.

"I just bought this car, and I'm taking it for a test drive." Lin Hai's voice interrupted her thoughts. "You can try out a way of getting around in my world, too."

"Okay!" Bronya nodded.

But Lin Hai's next words made her pause.

"There's no need to be so reserved here with me... Take off your shoes and relax."

Bronya's cheeks grew warm at once.

How was this telling her not to be reserved?

He clearly had a gentle ulterior motive.

But she hesitated for only a moment before obediently bending down, undoing the buckles on her boots, and gently slipping her delicate feet out.

Bronya even took the initiative to lift one foot slightly, bringing it closer to Lin Hai's hand resting beside the gearshift.

Lin Hai naturally reached out with his right hand and gently took it in his palm.

His left hand continued to control the steering wheel steadily, while his right began to play gently with Bronya's dainty foot.

Bronya neither pulled away nor spoke. She simply turned her head toward the window, silently accepting the intimacy.

A wordless understanding and an intimate air filled the car.

The light at the intersection ahead turned red, and Lin Hai stepped on the brake.

The car came to a smooth stop before the crosswalk.

He turned sideways, lowered his gaze, and looked at Bronya's slightly curled feet.

Without warning, he bent down and kissed the smooth top of her foot.

Bronya's body trembled slightly beyond her control.

A blush quickly spread from her neck to the tips of her ears.

She instinctively wanted to pull her foot back, but in the end, more complicated feelings overcame her natural shyness, and she chose to leave it there.

Bronya's eyes were full of shock, but her subsequent reaction was one of tacit acceptance.

She quickly looked away and gazed out the window, trying to act as though everything were normal, as if the electric sensation from moments ago had never happened.

A trace of surprise also crossed Lin Hai's mind.

He hadn't expected the Silvermane Guard commander, known in Belobog for her cool decisiveness, to show such a compliant side.

Bronya's attention was soon drawn to the scenery passing outside the window.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting warm patches of light. The streets were clean, buildings stood in rows, and pedestrians walked at a leisurely pace.

Peace and happiness.

Perhaps some people didn't consider themselves happy.

But to Bronya, such surroundings were already a source of great happiness.

The city was grand and beautiful, and everything ran in an orderly fashion.

Warm sunshine, pleasant temperatures, no bitter winds, no snow, and no constantly looming struggle for survival...

Everything seemed so beautiful and enchanting.

The sight deeply pained Bronya and also shook her profoundly.

She couldn't help murmuring, her voice tinged with envy and longing, "I really hope that one day... Belobog can become like this too, no longer trapped by snowstorms and the Fragmentum."

"It will change." Lin Hai's voice was firm. He reached out and gently covered the back of her cool hand with his. "We'll work together to change it."

She turned her hand over and clasped Lin Hai's. "Mm, we'll work together."

The car slowly stopped in front of a barbecue restaurant that gave off an enticing aroma.

Lin Hai drove into the underground parking garage, then went around to the passenger side and opened the door for Bronya like a true gentleman.

Bronya bent down and put her boots back on, her usual composure returning as she did so.

After getting out of the car, she looked up at the brightly lit restaurant.

As they entered, a lively hubbub of voices and the warmth of everyday life greeted them.

The dazzling array of dishes on the menu left Bronya a little overwhelmed for a moment.

She had never seen many of the ingredients before.

Lin Hai deftly scanned a code with his phone, reserved a table, and selected some dishes before handing the phone to Bronya.

"See if there's anything you'd like to eat."

Bronya studied the menu carefully and cautiously chose a few things.

Lin Hai then added several specialty snacks, especially the golden, crispy spring rolls and fried ice cream.

He explained softly, "It's hard to enjoy food like this in Belobog, where it's covered in ice and snow all year round."

When the various grilled meats and specialty snacks were brought to the table one after another,

Bronya sampled them carefully.

The warm, delicious food brought her an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Even as she enjoyed it, her thoughts drifted back to Belobog.

She thought of her compatriots still holding out in the bitter cold, and of the people who might still not have enough to eat.

I have to make sure the people of Belobog can all live with enough food and warm clothing, without having to worry all day long.

Bronya ate a small piece of beef, then looked up and said to Lin Hai:

"Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would have been able to taste something this delicious."

Lin Hai said, "As long as you want to, you can eat it every day."

"Thank you!"

"No need to thank me." Lin Hai picked up a small piece of spring roll for Bronya. "Come back with me in the car tonight. I have stockings at home, both white and black. Could you put them on for me to see?"