Are You Two on a Blind Date or Something?

There was no need to remain deadlocked. The goal was to find a plausible excuse to retreat.

Smack.

Rita seemed to slide sideways, instantly grabbing Liu Bai's hand.

"Sir, you are already an adult. You cannot obey every word of some so-called 'older sister.'"

Rita could not simply dismiss Raven's words.

Liu Bai: "..."

Did the two of them really have to drag him into their rivalry?

Still, this feeling was rather like an Asura Arena... and it felt really great.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rita, Rita Rossweisse. And you are?"

Hearing Rita's introduction, Liu Bai turned to look at Raven.

How should he answer? Was it fine to give his name directly?

"My younger brother, Liu Bai—adopted."

Raven stopped walking and once again stood in front of Liu Bai.

She really is obsessed with her little brother.

Liu Bai's questioning glance just now, coupled with Raven's deliberate emphasis on "adopted."

Rita was now seventy percent convinced of their sibling relationship.

Especially that emphasis... did she mean it was legally valid through marriage?

This woman had clearly taken him in with impure intentions!

No matter what Raven was thinking, Rita still wore a smile on her face. Dealing with troublesome children was nothing new to her.

Raven was helpless as well. This was the classic problem of needing countless lies to cover up a single lie.

Yet Rita had personally seen her and Liu Bai together. Raven had no room to back down at all.

She needed to find a way to keep Liu Bai out of this. Anyone could tell Rita would investigate his identity by every means possible once she returned.

"I'll say it again. My brother has no interest in women of unknown origin—"

"Sis, how about we hear what Miss Rita has to say?"

Liu Bai patted Raven's shoulder from behind.

The situation of "two women fighting over one man" had already begun drawing the attention of others.

Liu Bai could also tell that if these two kept snapping at each other, they would only remain deadlocked.

One would not give up on him, while the other would not give up on intelligence that was within reach.

If they continued like this, they would merely wait until one side compromised or ran out of patience.

"...Since you put it that way, little brother, we'll hear her out for now."

"Then wait for me a moment. I still need to buy a few books. Little Gui, come with me."

This girl was actually enjoying the show.

"Sure!"

Guinaifen got up and followed Liu Bai. Once they had walked some distance away, her cheerful expression immediately changed.

"Boss Liu, I really want to write a book called Liu Bai's Earthbound Journey and put it on stage in the Luofu—I think it would definitely be a bestseller."

"Am I finally the protagonist?"

"You are far too much of a protagonist. Compared to you, Little Gui here is practically a nobody." Guinaifen spoke from the bottom of her heart. "The trouble never stops, and neither do the beautiful girls. This is absolutely the kind of plot audiences love—but is it really okay to leave those two there?"

"It's fine. Neither of them has much desire to fight."

"...You bastard, you crossed the line."

When Liu Bai had just left, Raven had still been somewhat dazed. But after only a few seconds, she realized this was an excellent opportunity to test Rita.

Had Liu Bai anticipated this too?

...Could that guy actually be a strategist type?

Regardless, Raven, now fully aware of the situation, still warned Rita with a murderous expression.

"You gave me quite a fright just now." Rita was utterly unmoved by the killing intent. "The man I fell in love with at first sight turning out to be the younger brother of an enemy—how absurd. To me, it is practically Romeo and Juliet."

"What a lie to pull out so casually. Are all women in Schicksal like you, lying as naturally as eating and drinking?"

"Likewise."

Rita replied with a smile.

The moment those words left her mouth, Raven immediately became wary.

Did she know? Should she make a move?

Raven's body tensed.

"See? You have not told Mr. Liu Bai about your own affairs either, have you? If your little brother learned that his older sister was actually a cold-blooded killer who murdered without batting an eye..."

Rita misunderstood the change in Raven's demeanor.

"Though Mr. Liu Bai is very clever as well. Perhaps he has already noticed something? What do you think?"

A meaningful smile appeared on Rita's face.

When she had first met Liu Bai, his words had made Rita feel that he must know something. That was the foundation for why she had pursued him—though she had encountered an unexpected surprise now.

As for an extraterrestrial visitor, Rita had not considered that possibility at all. Would any normal person leave such a hard-won extraterrestrial visitor unattended on the street?

From the very beginning, that option had never existed in Rita's mind. Her logic had always been, "Breach the serpent's nest and search for traces of the extraterrestrial visitor."

"Please rest assured, I bear Mr. Liu Bai no ill will... I only have one question. You took the pot, didn't you?" The smile vanished from Rita's face as her stern gaze met Raven's directly.

"Yes. After I wiped it clean, a genie appeared. No, I suppose it should be called a pot genie. It said I had freed it and that it would grant me three wishes."

"The extraterrestrial visitor?" Rita had no interest in Raven's nonsense—though she was curious what an alien living inside a pot would look like.

"No comment."

Are You Two on a Blind Date Here? ### "I'm back. Sis, did you and Miss Rita have a good chat?"

Only after several minutes did Liu Bai and Guinaifen return. The atmosphere between Rita and Raven had become visibly stiff—though it had not been much better before.

The two of them were the textbook example of people with nothing to say to each other.

As they talked, they began making sarcastic digs at one another over the ideological conflict between World Serpent and Schicksal. It was only because they were in a library that they had not started fighting. If this had been some secluded alley, the two of them would have pulled knives by now.

"Tell me what you dislike, and I can change it."

"I have had a most delightful conversation with your older sister."

Raven looked thoroughly displeased, while Rita appeared comparatively composed—if one ignored the twitching vein on Rita's forehead.

These two were evenly matched when it came to sharp tongues.

"It is getting late. If neither of you minds, how about I treat the three of you to lunch?"

Rita let out a breath and extended an invitation to Liu Bai.

Raven looked at Liu Bai. After realizing that he might be the strategist type, Raven decided to hear his thoughts.

After all, Liu Bai was the key to this "clash."

"Then I'll gladly accept."

"Your... taste isn't bad."

As they entered the family restaurant before them, Raven gave Rita a rare compliment.

This was the restaurant she often visited with Xiao Kong and the others.

"I thought you would choose somewhere like a bar."

"What do you think, Mr. Liu Bai?" Rita completely ignored Raven and looked toward Liu Bai with a smile.

"Miss Rita, you have gone to too much trouble."

Liu Bai answered in a highly formal manner, but Rita showed no dissatisfaction. Guided by the server, the four of them found a place to sit.

Then...

Guinaifen: "..."

One table, two long benches.

The current ratio was three to one.

Across from her sat Rita, Liu Bai, and Raven.

On this side sat Guinaifen alone.

"Emmmm..."

The long benches in a family restaurant were just right for two people, but squeezing three people onto one made things somewhat cramped.

Her Boss was truly a popular handsome man~

Though the current situation was clearly not as simple as being popular.

Guinaifen leisurely watched the three people crowded together across from her.

She had gained more material for her songs.

"Do you really have to squeeze together with someone else's younger brother? Have you no shame?"

"We are all adults. Surely sitting together is not something to be ashamed of?"

Boss looks really pleased... understandable, understandable.

Under Guinaifen's gaze, Liu Bai held out his hand.

"?"

"Admission fee."

"Huh? Wasn't it voluntary tipping?!"

"...By the way, who is this young lady?"

At that moment, Rita curiously shifted her gaze toward the lively, cheerful girl across from her.

This girl did not seem like someone from the Serpent.

"Just an ordinary friend." Liu Bai turned his head to answer, then nudged Raven with his elbow. "Sis, make things easier on me too."

I'll take control of the situation.

Today's situation was absolutely not a problem. There was no real premise for a fight breaking out—but if Raven and Rita continued bickering, that might not remain true.

Especially when people were not thinking clearly, it was easier for them to let something slip.

Liu Bai picked up the menu, asked everyone for their preferences, ordered a few simple dishes, and then looked at Rita. "By the way, Miss Rita, are you a maid for the chamber of commerce?"

"Yes. I was only transferred here from headquarters a few days ago."

Rita had previously displayed her side as a warrior at the chamber of commerce, but she could not directly reveal her identity as a Schicksal Valkyrie. She could only follow along with Liu Bai's words.

Rita had already anticipated Liu Bai's next question—

"You know my sister? Where did you meet?" Liu Bai continued questioning her.

"Of course, through work. As you know, the chamber of commerce is constantly doing business. As for our relationship... well, in my personal opinion, it is rather good? It is just that I truly cannot imagine this woman... having such a handsome younger brother."