Your Choice

Honestly, even now, Xia Wuyou was still completely confused.

She had never expected Xu Shi to give an order like that—save the people from "Spark" and cover their escape.

No matter how she looked at it, it did not seem like something he would do... Team Leader Xia, who had just returned from vacation, could not understand it and urgently needed an answer.

"Why?"

Xu Shi pretended to think. "Mainly to help you get rid of your guilt, perhaps? After all, I forced you to do something unpleasant last time. I still feel pretty bad about it."

You're bringing that up again?!

Xia Wuyou did not believe such a lousy excuse. She simply stared at him without saying a word.

"...Ha, don't look at me like that, Team Leader Xia."

Xu Shi paused, then laughed. "Believe me, that really was part of it. But there were other reasons too... Have you heard the story of killing three warriors with two peaches?"

"Hm?"

"District 13 has twenty Sea Cranes. If the people from Spark take them all, they can split them evenly with Shark Tooth, and everyone will be happy."

Xu Shi narrowed his eyes. "Taking ten would work too... Even five would do. At worst, that childhood friend of yours loses a little and gives an extra one to his partner."

"But if they sacrifice dozens of lives and fight like hell, only to get one... Tell me, would Shen He give it to them or not?"

"..."

Xia Wuyou was exceptionally clever and understood everything in an instant.

To obtain the drones, Shen He had undoubtedly paid an enormous price.

If he truly followed their agreement and handed them over to Shark Tooth, he would have to carefully consider whether the return he received could meet his expectations.

But if he did not hand them over, it would mean the alliance between Spark and Shark Tooth would completely fall apart.

And clearly, no matter which option he chose, Shen He would not come out ahead.

Thinking about it that way, her rescue had not truly helped him at all. Instead, it had pushed him into an even more difficult situation.

"...You really are scum."

Realizing that she had once again become his accomplice, Xia Wuyou unconsciously clenched her fists.

"It was just self-defense."

Xu Shi was not angry. He merely leaned closer and tipped up her chin. "What else was I supposed to do? Watch helplessly as the results I put so much effort into fell into someone else's hands?"

"..."

Xia Wuyou could not refute him, because that was also the truth.

It was not as though she did not understand the reasoning. If it had been the Refraction of the past, they certainly would not have stood by and watched something like this happen. Her father would have made similar arrangements as well.

The reason she questioned Xu Shi like this was only because she was unwilling to let go of the idealized image she had of her former childhood friend.

Yet she had not noticed that those feelings had already faded considerably—ever since learning that Spark and Shark Tooth had been secretly connected, Shen He no longer seemed quite so pure in her heart.

On the contrary, Xu Shi, standing before her, had not concealed anything from her even with a plan like this. He had candidly admitted everything.

Thinking about it, she suddenly felt that he did not seem quite so sinister after all.

Deep down, she even felt a little sympathy for Xu Shi...

Huh?!

That thought startled her. She hurriedly shook her head, trying to cast the feeling out.

Pah, pah, pah. What am I thinking? What's so pitiful about this guy?

Seeing the expressions on her face constantly change, Xu Shi could not help but want to laugh again.

He could clearly sense that the seed in Xia Wuyou's heart was thriving, subtly driving her to change.

Having an ability really was nice... He quietly sighed to himself, while also feeling that his decision to give her a vacation had been truly wise.

Before this, she had always been wound tight. Most of the time, she had been pushed along by others, making it difficult for her to calm down and rationally assess what was at stake.

With Xia Ke'an helping things along as well, it could only be said that everything had fallen into place naturally.

"Speaking of which, how has your aunt been lately?"

As he mentioned it, he could not help asking, "Has the treatment been effective?"

"...Yes, her condition has improved a lot."

Xia Wuyou nodded.

Prism's medical standards were certainly beyond comparison with those of a charity hospital.

Plans from dozens of specialists, all kinds of cutting-edge medicine... In just over two weeks, Xia Ke'an's illness had been brought under excellent control, an improvement that even surpassed the total progress of the past several years.

It was not yet a cure for the root cause, but compared with her previous half-dead state, it was undoubtedly a tremendous shift from despair to hope.

Only...

"Will I still be able to visit her often in the future?"

Her vacation was over, and Xia Wuyou was unsure of Xu Shi's attitude, so she cautiously tested the waters.

"Why wouldn't you be able to?"

Xu Shi blinked. "I told you, Serpent Coil won't mistreat an outstanding employee like you. You can go whenever you want."

He had never intended to stop her in the first place.

"But don't let it interfere with your work. If you slack off during office hours, I'll dock your pay."

"...Then thank you very much."

Xia Wuyou froze for a moment, then smiled in front of him for the rare occasion.

Xu Shi's generosity had surprised her, but it was undoubtedly something to be happy about.

After all, her family was what she cared about most.

"Team Leader Xia, you look much prettier when you smile than when you keep a straight face."

Xu Shi could not help teasing her, even wanting to reach out and pat her head.

Mainly because Xia Wuyou's face was red right now, and she really did look rather adorable.

She was not actually used to being so heavily equipped. Normally, she wore as little gear as possible; being wrapped up so tightly only affected her performance.

Whether that blush had been brought on by the heat, however, was impossible to know.

"Please keep your hands to yourself, Chairman Xu."

Xia Wuyou nimbly dodged aside, then hurriedly left the area.

Heh, Little Cat was getting tsundere now?

Xu Shi smiled helplessly.

Still, Xia Wuyou had already made her choice. Completely winning her over was only a matter of time.

So then, back to the matter at hand.

What choice would you make, Shen He...

Elsewhere.

Spark's base.

The vehicle that suddenly drove in undoubtedly startled everyone.

"What happened?"

Shen He abruptly looked up. The moment he came out, he saw Lei Song tumble out of the vehicle.

"Lei Song!"

Seeing how badly injured he was, Shen He hurried forward to support him. "Get medical personnel here, now!"

"Leader... Leader Shen..."

As the drug's effects faded, Lei Song's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz. "I... I'm back..."

"Don't talk yet. The doctor will be here soon. Someone, give me a hand!"

"Mm, mm..."

Lei Song trembled as he handed over the metal box. "The thing... we got it... But... only one... Sorry..."

Before he could finish, his head tilted to one side and he passed out.

Lei Song was quickly carried away for treatment, while Shen He stared blankly at the bloodstained metal box in his hand.

The box itself was light, but when he thought of how it had cost nearly forty lives to obtain, he felt as if he could barely hold it.

Just then, the communicator on his wrist rang at the most inappropriate moment.

"Mr. Shen, did you get what I wanted?"