Date

The Puppet hadn't expected Li Yunyan to say that at all. She covered her face shyly, raising her sign at the same time.

[No, no, we're just colleagues (ω)]

"You're definitely hiding something!" Li Yunyan muttered.

When Li Yelai heard Li Yunyan's words, he first retorted, "Can't you think of anything other than being kept? Is there anything else in your head?"

Then, he realized and asked in surprise, "Aren't you scared?"

The Puppet was confused and quickly checked herself to see if any stray hairs were showing.

Li Yunyan, however, shook her head. Her curse prevented her from looking directly at any living being other than Li Yelai—humans, animals, even plants.

This was why Li Yelai always had to prepare the fish at the market. As for vegetables, there was nothing that could be done, so Li Yunyan could only avoid them.

It even led to Li Yunyan seeing Li Yelai bring a bag of strange and terrifying things into the kitchen several times, only for them to be transformed into normal food.

"Perhaps it's because I can't see her true form?" Li Yunyan analyzed, looking at the Puppet. "I can only see a cute snowman. Why would she dress like this?"

The Puppet held up her sign in response: [Others feel fear when they see me (_)]

She didn't hide her curse from Li Yunyan but told her frankly.

"That's the opposite of me," Li Yunyan quipped. "I'm afraid of everyone."

The Puppet seemed surprised and then looked at Li Yelai.

Li Yelai nodded slightly and whispered to the Puppet, "The captain knows, but please keep it a secret."

[Mhm, I'm very discreet (｀＾)ノ]

Li Yunyan's and the Puppet's curses were exact opposites.

In Li Yunyan's eyes, everyone was a demon or monster. She was afraid of everyone.

To outsiders, the Puppet appeared like a demon or monster. Everyone was afraid of her.

The Puppet wore the Puppet suit to avoid the curse, shielding all gazes.

This prevented the curse from taking effect because others couldn't see her true form.

As a result, Li Yunyan's curse also didn't take effect; she only saw a snowman.

"So, if I could put a Puppet suit on every creature in your field of vision, you wouldn't be afraid anymore?" Li Yelai mused.

"I feel like that's a stupid idea," Li Yunyan commented.

Having understood the situation, the Puppet reminded them, [Your sister's condition isn't suitable for staying on the street for too long. Let's go quickly. I've called the Logistics Team (ωυ)]

The Logistics Team was a specialized unit within the branch responsible for aftermath and support. They were part of the logistics department but not psionic users.

The driver who had come to help Li Yelai move his luggage was an ordinary person.

Normally, when psionic users were on missions, they were responsible for transporting psionic weaponry or personnel.

Therefore, he didn't ask many questions. After nodding to Li Yelai and the Puppet, he silently loaded the luggage into a minivan.

Then, he drove the three of them onto the road, finally allowing Li Yelai and Li Yunyan to relax.

Li Yunyan didn't look at the "demons and monsters" outside the car window but focused her attention on chatting with the Puppet.

Perhaps it was the first time in years she had spoken face-to-face with an outsider.

Or perhaps it was because she shared a similar sense of loneliness with the Puppet.

She and the Puppet chatted very happily.

They talked about everything from what seasonings to put on the Mochi specialty of Border City No. 3 to Lava Mine City's extravagant style of carpet-bombing with plasma cannons and molten bombs.

They talked about almost everything.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the Family Apartments.

After showing their Disaster Management Bureau identification, Li Yelai and the two others were allowed into the complex.

Yang Chen had been very thoughtful, selecting several well-located apartments for Li Yelai to choose from.

Once Li Yunyan made her selection, they could pay and get the paperwork stamped.

They could move in that very night.

Around midnight, Li Yelai and Li Yunyan officially moved into the Family Apartments.

Their apartment was on the seventh floor of Unit 1, Building 3, in the Family Apartments. It had three bedrooms and one living room.

The price was said to be 25 merit points, but Captain Yang Chen paid off the remainder as a previous commendation.

After arranging everything, Li Yelai said to the Puppet, who was standing by the door, "Thank you."

Without the help of Yang Chen and the Puppet, Li Yelai would have likely taken more time. He was very grateful for this.

The Puppet held up her sign in response: [It's nothing, I had a great time chatting too (..)]

"Are you free tomorrow then?" Li Yelai asked, taking the opportunity to invite her. He remembered his promise to treat the Puppet to a meal.

For this, he had specifically asked for leave from the owner of the Antique Shop and hung up the phone amidst the owner's surprised question, "Are you finally opening up?"

[Mhm (**)] The words on the sign exuded joy.

"How about we go for lunch tomorrow?"

[Okay! (ﾉ´▽｀)]

After <Puppet> cheerfully left, <Li Yèlái> closed the door.

He then heard <Li Yúnyān> say with a strange expression, "Yandere, big brother!"

"What's yandere?" <Li Yèlái> was bewildered, not understanding his sister's meaning at all.

"Your colleague just now, <Puppet>," <Li Yúnyān> said mysteriously, counting on her fingers. "She followed you home without you knowing. And she's very enthusiastic about you, looking at you several times in the car. To have lunch with you as soon as possible, she even helped you move. Isn't that yandere?"

"Plus, a beautiful senior who takes great care of you, sounds mature and stable," <Li Yúnyān> said playfully. "A love triangle is coming, exciting!"

"What are you talking about?" <Li Yèlái> frowned and tapped <Li Yúnyān>'s forehead. "She just rarely meets someone with enough curse resistance to not be affected by her curses. Don't overthink it."

The so-called three great illusions in life.

<Li Yèlái> understood them too well; he never fantasized about such things.

<Li Yúnyān>, covering her forehead, couldn't help but hmph.

She also understood that <Li Yèlái> didn't realize how desperately one would cherish seeing someone who could communicate normally in a lonely world.

Thinking of this, <Li Yúnyān> spoke, "Big brother, you need to dress well tomorrow. Where's that suit from last time?"

<Li Yèlái> thought for a moment. The suit from last time seemed to still be at <Cheese>'s place.

"Then let's go buy a new one. We just bought a house outright, let's be extravagant!" <Li Yúnyān> waved her hand, making the decision.

Meanwhile, <Puppet> returned to the branch and immediately opened her communicator, contacting a friendly female handler.

She asked what she should wear and what makeup to use for tomorrow.

"<Puppet> is... going on a date???" The female handlers who received the message were greatly shocked, and their gossip fires were instantly ignited.

Thus, except for <Cheese>, who was preparing for promotion and couldn't attend to her communicator, several other female handlers immediately joined the gossip.

<Puppet> was powerful yet pitiable. She had good relationships with many handlers in the branch.

After quickly understanding the situation, those handlers made up their minds.

'Tomorrow, we must give <Puppet> an unforgettable date!'

'Arrange it, we must arrange it!' The gossiping Epidemic Doctor Captain even declared, 'Get all the off-duty logistics personnel moving!'

The next day at noon, <Li Yèlái>, wearing a newly bought trench coat, saw <Puppet> at the intersection outside <Family Apartments>.

Today, she had changed into a khaki-colored <Puppet> costume with a bear theme. Compared to yesterday's snowman costume, it made her appear taller and slimmer.

She was currently standing at the intersection, playing with some children who passed by.

Upon seeing <Li Yèlái>, she waved from afar.

As <Li Yèlái> approached, the sign in <Puppet>'s hand flashed with words.

[You look very handsome (..)]

"Thank you," <Li Yèlái> said with a smile, flattered by the compliment. "Do you have a restaurant you like?"

Seeing <Puppet> shake her head, <Li Yèlái> thought for a moment and pointed to a rather conspicuous restaurant in the distance. "How about this one?"

<Puppet> observed it for a while and nodded, seemingly indifferent to where they ate.

Thus, the two walked side-by-side on the bustling street.

Unbeknownst to them, two groups were watching them.

One group consisted of handlers hidden on the street.

"Is that <Night General>? A bit handsome!"

"Are they going to <Lund Restaurant>?"

"Contact the manager there and arrange the best private room!"

"Let's go over too, we can't let <Puppet>'s date be affected!"

"Have the band there play love songs!"

The handlers secretly contacted each other and immediately took action.

The other group was hidden in a car by the roadside, their eyes gloomily fixed on <Li Yèlái> in the distance.

"It's him, confirmed from <The Wang Family>'s testimony. He's the one who destroyed the altar!" the driver said. "He moved last night, the place is empty, he's quite cunning!"

"Don't be careless, <Black Umbrella Master> suffered a loss at his hands!" the person in the passenger seat said.

"<Black Umbrella Master> flipped his boat in a gutter. Against official handlers, you should cripple their limbs immediately, not make friends nicely," said a muscular man in the back seat. "Follow him! Before he calls for backup, cripple him and avenge <Black Umbrella Master>'s shame!"

Meanwhile, as <Li Yèlái> approached the restaurant, he recognized it as <Lund Restaurant>.

It was a famous restaurant located at the junction of the old and ring districts, with a high consumption level. A meal there would cost at least several hundred mega-city coins.

I've really gotten carried away, daring to go to <Lund Restaurant>, <Li Yèlái> thought to himself, but without hesitation, he led <Puppet> into the restaurant.

Although he was usually stingy, he wouldn't be so at this moment.

However, as soon as they entered, they saw a tall, impeccably dressed waiter approach.

He had assumed the other party would say something like, "You can't wear the Puppet costume inside."

Instead, the somewhat familiar waiter smiled, "Welcome, you two! Congratulations on becoming the ninth couple of the day! Nine is our lucky number, so your entire bill will be half price! And we'll provide you with our top private room!"

"Uh, we're not a couple," <Li Yèlái> explained, looking at the waiter before him. He felt a sense of familiarity, and he even recognized a few faces in the lobby.

"No matter, no matter," the waiter said enthusiastically. "I see you two are a perfect match, and you arrived at this hour. It must be fate! Please, come this way."

<Li Yèlái> felt like complaining. <Puppet> was indeed beautiful, but she was currently wearing a cartoon bear costume. How could the waiter say they were a perfect match?

And what was so special about this hour, 11:32 AM?

"What do you think?" <Li Yèlái> turned to <Puppet>, only to find her shyly covering her face, yet not refusing.

Well, why not take advantage of a discount? <Li Yèlái> thought, and followed the waiter into the lobby.

Some guests in the lobby didn't seem to mind a person in a <Puppet> costume entering. Instead, they smiled kindly at <Li Yèlái> and <Puppet>.

Today is going exceptionally smoothly. It seems I have my lucky moments too. <Li Yèlái> thought, and entered the private room on the second floor.

This was <Li Yèlái>'s plan all along. <Puppet> couldn't be seen by outsiders, so a private room was the only option.

Not long after they sat down and ordered, the dishes were immediately served.

"We really are lucky," <Li Yèlái> marveled.

<Puppet>, meanwhile, held up a sign: [Can you turn around? I need to change clothes (ω)]

<Li Yèlái> understood and turned away.

Since he wasn't affected by <Puppet>'s curse, she naturally didn't want to eat with him while wearing the <Puppet> costume anymore. She probably hadn't eaten with anyone in a normal state before.

Listening to the rustling sounds behind him, <Li Yèlái> tried his best not to think about irrelevant things.

Until he heard a small voice: "I'm done."

<Li Yèlái> turned around and saw a beautiful girl standing gracefully in the <Puppet> costume she had shed.

She wore a white floral blouse, her fingers pinching the hem of a black pleated skirt. Below the skirt, her legs were as fair and slender as ivory.

Her scattered hair framed a blushing, shy face.

Her already beautiful features were enhanced with light makeup, making her even more captivating.

Seeing <Li Yèlái>'s gaze, her face turned even redder. Then, she stepped out of the <Puppet> costume in her white round-toe leather shoes.

She looked as if she had stepped out of a painting.

"Let's eat," <Puppet> said gently, looking into <Li Yèlái>'s eyes.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of <Lund Restaurant>.

"Are you sure that guy entered this restaurant? He's not in the lobby, so he's probably in a private room upstairs! That's even better. It won't attract anyone else's attention."

"But be careful. His strength isn't weak, and his abilities are unknown!"

"What's there to worry about?" the burly man sneered. "I'm a second-awakened psionicist, and with you two first-awakened ones, can't three of us ambush and take down one person? He didn't even bring a weapon! Don't forget, if we can satisfy <Black Umbrella Master>, our potion materials will have hope."

Then, the burly man led the other two forward and shoved open the restaurant door.

He grabbed a waiter and said, "Where is that guy who came in with the <Puppet> person? Which room?"

Strangely, in an instant.

The lobby became eerily quiet. A dozen pairs of eyes all turned to look at the burly man.

"..." The burly man frowned and was about to curse when his face suddenly turned ashen.

"Is the 'meeting an enemy when leaving home' curse from <Night General> real?" the handlers disguised as customers laughed.

The waiter who had been grabbed patted the burly man's face. "You've come at just the right time, kid!"