Xiao Li Says She'll Kiss, It's a Deal!

Lin Li walked out of the workshop still looking completely bewildered.

She had no idea what Vill-V and that group of people were talking about from beginning to end.

However, as things stood... the problem should be resolved.

"Lin Li, thanks for today! I'll treat you to a meal another time~" Vill-V said with a smile.

"Treat me to a meal? You might as well just give me money," Lin Li grumbled. "I'm not asking for much, just a hundred thousand."

"?"

Vill-V's expression turned strange.

"Wow, you really dare to ask! I'm usually frugal even when I eat out, and you're asking for a hundred thousand right off the bat."

"I've heard you were quite fond of money for a long time, but I didn't expect you to love it this much, truly..."

"Tch, fine, if you're not giving it, then forget it," Lin Li interrupted. "Can I leave now? I don't want to see you at all."

"Don't go! Did I do something wrong?" Vill-V put on a pitiful act.

"You were hiding something from me the entire time, isn't that enough?"

"I wasn't hiding anything. I told you everything I know."

"Liar, you didn't tell me what was in that room just now," Lin Li said irritably.

"Uh, there's nothing much to say about that, it's just a blueprint, a blueprint for The Deepest Place," Vill-V explained.

"Then show it to me."

"You wouldn't understand it," Vill-V said honestly.

"...You bit me when we first met, compensate me for medical expenses," Lin Li changed the subject.

"Eh? Why are we talking about this now? Hmm... I had no choice back then, you were holding on too tight."

"Besides, if we're talking about medical expenses, isn't my hundred-thousand bounty enough for you?"

"It's not enough, I've used it all up. Give it to me quickly."

"Mmm... Then I really can't do anything about it. How about I compensate you later?"

"Really?"

"I promise~"

"Hmph..." A slight curve formed on Lin Li's lips.

Seeing Lin Li like this, Vill-V couldn't help herself and reached out to pat her head.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Lin Li flinched away as if electrocuted, her speed so fast that Vill-V could barely track it.

"What's wrong, you don't want me to touch you?"

"...You could at least say something first."

"Mmm... Then I'll say it now, can I ruffle your hair?"

"No, get lost!" Lin Li shot her a fierce glare and turned to leave.

"Hey, don't go, I'll really treat you to a meal."

"I don't need it!"

"..."

Vill-V looked quite sad, but in reality, she was holding back laughter the entire time.

Only after Lin Li had completely disappeared from her sight did she burst into laughter.

"Tsk, why does Lin Li feel so cute? I can't help but want to pat her head every time..."

"Looks like I need to get some good rest soon."

Lin Li returned to the laboratory.

Mobius glanced at her but ignored her.

Danzhu and Cang Xuan were still engrossed in their work, but they were clearly doing something different from before she left.

It seemed like something else had happened in the meantime, Lin Li thought as she returned to her seat.

It felt like she hadn't done anything on this trip, just spent some time by Vill-V's side and got a general understanding of the next major project.

Well, even if she knew, there was nothing she could do.

She checked her phone; it was already eleven o'clock. She hadn't expected this outing to take two hours.

It felt like a one-hour round trip. Flame-Moth was too big.

Still, if she ran, she might be much faster, but no matter how fast she went, she'd still end up sitting in this chair when she returned, so she might as well walk more.

Speaking of which, sitting for too long like this would probably cause her physical functions to decline, right? Hmm... it seems like she'll need to exercise more in the future.

Lin Li didn't know what she was thinking about.

Elysia hadn't messaged her either. At this time, she was probably getting ready to bring her lunchbox, right?

But she wasn't hungry at all.

So she waited until twelve noon, and the doorbell of the research institute rang right on time.

It could only be said that Elysia knew how to time things perfectly. Perhaps she had arrived much earlier, but had been waiting outside until twelve before ringing the doorbell.

Given Elysia's personality... it wasn't impossible, was it?

Lin Li went to open the door.

Elysia had a smile on her face, a lunchbox in her hand, and her arms outstretched.

Lin Li naturally understood and took the food, then turned to leave.

"..." Elysia's smile froze in place.

She had opened her arms for Xiao Li to hug her! But Xiao Li just took the food and left... It was too infuriating!

"Tsk, it's already noon? Time flies so fast." Mobius seemed to just notice the commotion at the door, clicked her tongue, and turned her head.

"What about mine?" she asked, her tone laced with dissatisfaction.

"What?" Elysia had already walked over to Lin Li and sat down.

"My lunch. You brought one for Lin Li, but not for me?"

Mobius narrowed her eyes and took a closer look. Realizing there was indeed no lunch for her, her gaze became even more dangerous.

"Ah...? Doctor, you didn't tell me to bring one for you."

"So you won't bring it if I don't say it?"

"Mhm, after all, what if Doctor doesn't like it and chases me away..."

"When have I ever chased you away?"

Elysia's pitiable tone really left Mobius unsure how to be angry.

Even though they all knew Elysia was faking it, the other party seemed to possess some kind of magic.

"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Just remember next time," Mobius glared at her and said, "And Danzhu's and Cang Xuan's, you should count them too."

"Then that makes five portions in total. I'm just a little girl, I can't carry them all."

"..."

It did seem reasonable.

But Mobius didn't say anything more to her.

"Lin Li, go get three buckets of instant noodles from the cabinet. Any flavor will do."

"Understood, Doctor."

Lin Li was directed away by Mobius before she even opened her lunchbox.

Elysia puffed out her cheeks and looked at Mobius.

"What? Is there a flower on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" Mobius asked.

Seeing Elysia's frustrated expression, her mood couldn't be better.

She just didn't show it.

"Of course there's no flower. I was just looking because Doctor is getting more and more beautiful, I couldn't help but stare a little longer," Elysia said, turning her head back.

"Heh." Mobius remained noncommittal.

Danzhu and Cang Xuan, smelling the faint scent of gunpowder in the research institute, exchanged glances.

Lin Li walked to Mobius with the three buckets of instant noodles. The latter glanced at her indifferently and said, "Why are you coming to me? Go get hot water, do you expect me to do it?"

"Mm... Okay."

Lin Li didn't dare to complain and worked diligently.

"Xiao Li, I'll help you."

Elysia couldn't stand it any longer and joined Lin Li.

Mobius watched the two of them with interest, then glanced at Danzhu and Cang Xuan.

The latter's hair stood on end, and they diligently got back to work.

"..."

Lin Li was quite familiar with making instant noodles. After all, when she was a shut-in at home, takeout and instant noodles were what she ate the most.

Although there didn't seem to be any special technique to making instant noodles, she was at least much more skilled than Elysia.

So when Elysia saw Lin Li's familiar movements, she was a bit taken aback.

"Doctor, it's ready."

"Mhm, once it's ready, bring it over and put it here, then go eat with your Elysia," Mobius said casually.

"……"

Lin Li glanced at Elysia, and for some reason, her cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled something.

After placing the instant noodles in front of Danzhu and Cang Xuan, she returned to her own seat.

Elysia was already sitting there, smiling brightly.

"Xiao Li, do you eat instant noodles often?"

"Mhm."

"Mmm… no wonder you look so thin, not an ounce of fat on you." Elysia pinched Lin Li's slender hand and said, "But it's okay, I'll definitely fatten you up and make you glow, hehe."

"…What's the benefit of that?" Lin Li asked, confused. "I prefer being thin."

"Aiya, that was just a metaphor," Elysia explained. "It means that after we're together, I'll take good care of you."

"That's too far away, and besides, who said I wanted to live with you?"

"You haven't said it yet," Elysia continued. "One day, Xiao Li, you'll definitely say it yourself."

"How is that possible…"

"Xiao Li, don't deny it so soon." Elysia scooped up a spoonful of rice and brought it to Lin Li's mouth. "I'll take care of you just like this, okay?"

"……"

Lin Li was stunned for a moment.

"I think you're already taking good care of me."

"Mhm, Xiao Li, do you finally understand my feelings?" Elysia's anticipation grew.

"Yes, which is why I can't let you feed me anymore," Lin Li said earnestly.

"……?"

Elysia watched, dumbfounded, as the spoon she held to Lin Li's mouth was slowly moved away.

"Xiao Li, you can't do that…"

"What's wrong?"

"…Nothing, eat up."

Elysia sighed inwardly.

Danzhu and Cang Xuan looked at the instant noodles before them, unsure how to proceed.

"What's wrong? Do you not know how to eat them? Have you never had them before?" Mobius glanced over, slurping her noodles.

"Ah… we've eaten them before, we just didn't expect…" Danzhu looked at Cang Xuan.

"We didn't expect to be eating this in Doctor's laboratory."

"Oh, I see. Then you'll get used to it quickly."

"When there are a lot of missions, we can only eat instant noodles for convenience. If we have time, we can go out to eat together," Mobius said.

"Eat what?"

"Noodles."

"……"

It was clear that the Doctor really liked noodles.

The two sisters fell silent, slurping their noodles and contemplating their future.

Perhaps they should ask Elysia to bring them food too? How could they stand eating instant noodles day in and day out?

About ten minutes later, Elysia walked up to the Doctor and asked:

"Doctor, for Vill-V's big project, did you participate?"

"What…?" The Deepest Place?" Mobius was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "The word 'participate' isn't quite right. She just told me about the idea, and I thought it was interesting. But I never thought she'd actually put it into practice before your meeting started."

"Mmm… okay, so Vill-V will be undertaking this project alone?"

"Don't they have the people from the engineering department?"

"But Doctor, you know those people don't truly obey Vill-V."

"You don't need to worry about it." Mobius raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Li. "Your Xiao Li has already solved this problem for Vill-V."

"Huh?"

Elysia was surprised by this and turned to look at Lin Li.

Lin Li's expression was something like this:

0.0

Completely bewildered.

As soon as she looked up after finishing her meal, she saw both Elysia and the Doctor looking at her, which made her too afraid to move.

"Doctor, is that true?"

"Ask her yourself, I don't know." Mobius began ushering her out. "You have five more minutes in the research institute. If you're not out by then, I'll have your Xiao Li carry you to the operating table."

"That sounds rather romantic, doesn't it?" Elysia smiled sweetly and returned to Lin Li's side.

"What were you two just talking about? Why were you staring at me?" Lin Li asked, confused.

By this time, Mobius had already turned away. The three of them ate instant noodles much faster than she ate her meal, but they hadn't called her over to clean up yet.

Cang Xuan, having a rare moment of free time, started playing on her phone. Danzhu, meanwhile, had fallen asleep on the operating table.

"We weren't talking about anything, we just found Xiao Li too cute and couldn't help but stare," Elysia said, hugging Lin Li's neck and moving even closer. "Xiao Li, I have to leave soon. The Doctor said if I don't leave, she'll have you carry me to the operating table for research."

"Uh, then you should probably leave quickly. The Doctor always follows through on her word," Lin Li said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"But training alone is so boring, I want to stay here with Xiao Li."

"Then, why don't you go ask the Doctor? It's no use telling me."

Elysia shook her head, gently pinching Lin Li's cheek. "Xiao Li, when parting, shouldn't we do something?"

"Like... kiss me?"

"Uh... can we do something else?" Lin Li looked away, ensuring no one was watching them.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

But she didn't see that both the Doctor and Danzhu were secretly filming them.

The two even exchanged a glance.

"Something else...? No, we can't change it," Elysia said firmly. "Only this."

"Then... can we talk about it tonight? Right now..."

"Then it's settled," Elysia said, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes as she released her grip.

"I'll pick you up after work, Xiao Li. Don't wander off, understand?"

"I'm not a child, why would I wander off? Besides, I know the way home, I don't need you to pick me up," Lin Li pouted, clearly displeased that Elysia treated her like a child.

"I don't care. Just wait for me obediently at the entrance after work, I'll come over."

"If I don't see you then... Hmph."

"...Alright, I get it. I won't wander off," Lin Li lowered her head, her cheeks puffing out.

"Mhm, that's my Xiao Li. Such a good girl~" Elysia finally ruffled Lin Li's hair before walking out of the laboratory.