A Guest

Seeing the pistol, Ziye's expression tightened. He moved swiftly, his ghostly speed leaving her no time to react. The next second, he snatched the pistol right out of her hand!

"You can't just play around with a pistol!"

After fiddling with the toy-like pistol for a moment, Ziye lost interest and casually tossed it onto the ground.

When he had first arrived here, a pistol would have been an essential means of survival. But now, it was more of a hindrance than a help.

"Are you human or a ghost?"

The girl stared at Ziye in terror and asked with a trembling voice.

"Obviously, I'm human."

"If I were a ghost, you'd be the first one I ate."

Ziye rolled his eyes at her and replied coldly.

Hearing that he was human, the girl relaxed. Although his tone was a little chilly, he hadn't done anything inappropriate. In fact, she was the one who had bumped into him and pointed a gun at him.

"Hello, I'm Bulma. I'm really sorry about what happened just now!"

Bulma clasped her hands together and apologized earnestly.

"Bulma?"

The name stirred a faint memory in Ziye. He took a closer look at her. Bulma looked young, but her delicate features were striking, and her fair skin made her a true beauty.

"My name is Ziye. I'm a hunter who lives in the mountains. Since there's nothing else, I'll head home now!"

With that, Ziye hoisted the tiger onto his shoulder and set off toward home again.

"He's so strong!"

Watching him lift the three enormous beasts with ease, Bulma stared with her mouth slightly open and exclaimed in astonishment.

"Wait, why is he heading in the same direction as the one shown on the Dragon Ball Radar?"

Bulma glanced at the Dragon Radar in her hand, then started the car and chased after him.

"Hey, wait!"

"I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. Let me give you a ride home as an apology!"

Hearing Bulma's offer, Ziye didn't hesitate. He set the game he was carrying on the roof of her car, then climbed up after it.

The car wasn't going very fast, perhaps because the game was so heavy. It took nearly half an hour before they reached the house where Goku lived.

"Goku, I'm back!"

Ziye carried the game inside the house.

"Why are you back so late today?"

"Let's see what we have to eat today."

"Huh? Who's she?"

Goku looked at Bulma, who had come in with Ziye, and asked in confusion.

"Ahem, let me introduce myself. I'm Bulma. I just met Ziye..."

"Ah!"

As Bulma was politely introducing herself, her attention was suddenly caught by the Four-Star Ball sitting nearby, and she couldn't help but cry out.

"Is this a Dragon Ball? This is great! I found one without even trying!"

Bulma ran over excitedly. Perhaps she was so thrilled to see the Dragon Ball that she forgot she was in Goku's home and reached out to pick it up.

"Stop!"

"Don't touch my grandpa!"

Goku shouted and rushed forward, shoving Bulma to the ground!

"Ah!"

"Ow, that hurt!"

"Hey, you're so rude!"

Bulma immediately burst out angrily.

"You're the rude one, touching someone else's things without permission."

At Ziye's words, Bulma lowered her head in embarrassment. She really had gotten carried away.

"Even so, he didn't have to shove me so hard! I'm a girl!"

Bulma muttered aggrievedly.

"You're a girl?"

"Grandpa said that if I met a girl, I had to treat her politely!"

Goku looked at Bulma in confusion, then stepped forward and helped her up.

"Your grandpa sounds like quite the gentleman."

Bulma smiled and said, not at all bothered.

"Now that you're here, you're our guest! Let's give her a proper welcome today!"

Goku turned to Ziye with a smile.

"Sure."

"Goku, go cook. I need to wash the filthy blood off me. It stinks!"

With that, Ziye went outside and headed for the spot where he usually bathed. Goku took the game Ziye had brought back and went to the kitchen.

Bulma glanced at the Four-Star Ball beside her and sighed softly, then sat down at the table and waited quietly.

Half an hour later

Goku served Bulma a delicious meal made from the three tigers, then smiled and said, "Don't be shy. Dig in!"

Bulma looked at the table piled high with food, tore off a piece without hesitation, and began chewing.

"How is it? Tasty, right?"

Goku asked eagerly.

At that, Bulma furrowed her brow. Having eaten all kinds of delicacies, she found this food almost impossible to swallow. But seeing the sincerity in Goku's eyes, she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"It's pretty good."

"If you like it, eat some more!"

Goku said happily.

"Um... thanks."

"By the way, Ziye went to take a bath. Why hasn't he come back yet?"

Bulma asked, changing the subject.

"I'm back!"

Just then, the door opened, and Ziye walked straight in.

"Wow... he's so handsome."

Seeing Ziye looking completely different, Bulma couldn't help staring.

"I didn't expect that guy to be so handsome!"

Ignoring Bulma's lovestruck expression, Ziye sat down at the table and began eating heartily.

"By the way, Ziye, how old are you this year?" Bulma asked excitedly.

The question left Ziye at a loss. He honestly didn't know how old he was now. After all, he had become this age when he crossed over.

"I guess I'm sixteen this year!"

Ziye answered casually.

"Really? I'm sixteen this year too. What a coincidence!"

Bulma jumped to her feet and said excitedly to Ziye.

"I... I'm fourteen this year!"

Goku added excitedly.

"Are you two brothers?"

Bulma glanced at Goku and asked curiously.

The two of them shook their heads. Goku then explained, "Ziye's an orphan. He got lost here a while ago, so I took him in!"

"An orphan? That's wonderful!"

Bulma cried out excitedly.

Ziye: ???

Goku: ???

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

Realizing she'd said the wrong thing, Bulma hurried to apologize.

"By the way, Goku, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

Goku looked at Bulma, puzzled.

"If you're thinking of buying that Four-Star Ball, don't bother. Goku won't agree!"

"It's the only thing his grandpa left him!"