Seele Couldn't Hold Back

Lin Hai's arms tightened slightly, drawing Seele's light frame into his embrace.

Seele raised her arms of her own accord and wrapped them around his neck.

They were so close that they could clearly feel each other's breath.

Their eyes met, and an unspoken intimacy filled the air, as if even time had slowed for them.

Though this was only their first meeting, Seele felt an indescribable connection with him.

Her favorability of 89 hadn't come from nowhere.

She couldn't shake the feeling that Lin Hai was an old acquaintance who should never have been forgotten.

A thought vaguely surfaced in Lin Hai's mind.

Perhaps it was because, in that game world called Star Rail, he had chosen time and again to meet her, fight alongside her, and listen to her story.

The feelings and time he had invested were now turning into a real bond in some incomprehensible way.

Lin Hai wasn't sure whether his guess was right, and he had no way to verify it.

Seele gently closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly. The gesture of tacit consent seemed like a silent invitation.

Lin Hai hesitated no longer and kissed her lips, calmly and tenderly.

In an instant, the intimate atmosphere grew more heated, turning into a connection more private and stirring.

A moment later, Seele pulled back a little and took a deep breath. As if gathering her courage, she took the initiative again, tilting her head up and quickly kissing him back.

Lin Hai smiled and held her tighter, clearly feeling the supple, vibrant contours of her body.

Seele was a powerful fighter, and he could feel the soft yet distinct lines of muscle on her back and abdomen.

They stayed close for quite a while longer before Seele gently drew her lips away, her eyes glistening.

After composing himself, Lin Hai continued sorting the last batch of supplies into bags, filling three bulging woven sacks in all.

Seele picked up one of the bags and tightened her grip on the Lucky Star, a faint light flowing across it.

With a slight movement of her will, the scenery around her changed in an instant.

The familiar air of the Underworld greeted her: the damp metallic smell and the faint scent of machine oil mixed with dust.

Seele didn't hesitate. She quickly gathered the members of Wildfire and began organizing a larger distribution of supplies.

Immediately afterward, she gripped the star again.

With a flash of light, Lin Hai appeared beside her, pulling the other two heavy bags of supplies.

The residents of the Underworld silently collected food and clothing.

Though no one knew for certain where the supplies had come from, everyone had a vague sense that it had something to do with the strangely dressed young man beside Seele.

People looked at Lin Hai with gratitude and respect, and spoke to him with particular deference.

During a brief pause in the distribution, Lin Hai suddenly remembered something and turned to Seele.

"Are you short on medicine here too?"

Seele's expression immediately grew grave. "Very short! Especially anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers..."

"I'll bring a batch next time I come," Lin Hai said without hesitation.

Seele hurriedly said, "I can find some more gold..."

"No need." Lin Hai shook his head, his tone firm. "That case of gold from before was enough. Leave the medicine to me."

Seele looked at him and finally gave a solemn nod.

Amid the bustle, the distribution of supplies finally came to an end.

The long line gradually shortened until the last portion of food was handed to an elderly person with trembling hands.

People eagerly tore open their packages, especially those containing the glistening, fragrant ham sausages and braised chicken legs.

They ate quickly, yet treasured every bite, chewing carefully as they savored the abundance they had gone so long without.

In the Underworld, not only was food scarce, but even salt and seasonings were precious.

Plenty of fat and rich flavors were an almost luxurious pleasure for them, and every bite brought satisfaction.

Many people cast grateful looks at Seele and Lin Hai as they ate.

Seeing that the distribution was over, Lin Hai quietly withdrew to a secluded spot and gripped the Lucky Star in his hand.

As its faint light shimmered, he vanished from the spot without a sound.

Seele wasted no time. She immediately set off for Wildfire headquarters and gave its leader, Oleg, a detailed report on the entire distribution and the residents' reactions.

When Oleg first heard the report, his expression was stern and his brow furrowed.

"A large quantity of supplies from an unknown source? Could there be a price behind this that we can't afford to pay?"

His voice was low, and his usual caution made him see the risks first.

As he saw it, the Underworld was a tough nut to crack, with resources scarce in the extreme.

It had long been a bone no one wanted to gnaw on, so who would go to so much trouble to set their sights on it?

This sudden kindness instead made him suspicious.

The details of Seele's report, the residents' genuine joy, and the kinds and quantities of supplies gradually dispelled his misgivings.

Even with those concerns, he had to take the difficult living conditions of the Underworld's people into account.

Things couldn't go on like this.

Something had to change!

Lin Hai's arrival and the supplies he had provided were indispensable!

After pondering for a moment, Oleg looked up and said, "I must meet this Mr. Lin Hai in person."

Seele nodded immediately. "I'll let him know and do my best to arrange a meeting."

Oleg then sighed and pressed his fingers to his temples, genuine worry showing on his face.

"Medicine... we've always been especially short of medicine. Many patients can't get treatment in time..."

Seele immediately picked up the thread, her tone assured. "Mr. Lin has already given me a clear promise. He'll bring a batch of medicine to support us next time."

Hearing this, Oleg's expression finally relaxed. He leaned forward, his tone growing steadier.

"We can't, and shouldn't, keep accepting gifts without giving anything in return. Trust goes both ways. If cooperation is to last, it must be built on exchange. We need to find out what he needs and trade fairly with the resources we have."

Recalling Lin Hai's words, Seele replied, "He mentioned that he needs gold. We can use it to exchange for supplies."

Oleg made a decision on the spot. "Good! Since gold is almost useless to us here, gather it up and prepare a whole suitcase of it for him. We must show our sincerity."

The corners of Seele's mouth lifted slightly. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Wildfire quickly got to work, searching for gold across numerous mining areas.

It wasn't difficult, and they met with no real obstacles.

Many people who had received supplies even took the initiative to lead the Wildfire members to various warehouses where gold was stored and open them up.

In the interstellar age, gold could be used to build spaceships and warships that soared through the universe.

In times of peace, gold could be used for trade and decoration.

Only when crisis struck, the Eternal Freeze swept over Belobog, and people lived from day to day with no certainty of survival did gold's value become almost negligible.

A chicken leg could save a person's life.

A gold bar could only be looked at.

Seele collected a whole large suitcase full of gold bars and placed it in a corner of her home, awaiting Lin Hai's next visit.

She recalled kissing Lin Hai, and a thought suddenly occurred to her.

The next time they met, she intended to be bolder and take more initiative, to do things that could be called crazy.

Seele took a deep breath, not quite understanding why she had such thoughts.

But she couldn't hold back her feelings. Deep down, she eagerly anticipated Lin Hai's return.