Chen Hao's "Offer of Marriage"

"Found it."

Chen Hao took out the storage card from his pocket and tossed it straight toward Piccolo.

The small silver card traced an arc through the air, and Piccolo caught it steadily.

"Dr. Gero's research data is on it. The methods for repairing the androids are all in there."

"Repairing them?" Piccolo lowered his gaze to the storage card, frowning.

His fingers brushed along its edge. "You plan to repair Android 17?"

"He's awake." Son Goku pointed into the distance, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "He's over there."

Chen Hao looked in the direction of his finger.

In the shadows at one corner of the hall, a figure stood leaning against the wall.

This was Android 17—Lapis.

He wore a blue shirt and black pants, his short silver-white hair slightly messy. With both hands in his pockets, he calmly swept his gaze over the group, a faint, almost imperceptible smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.

"You guys talk." Chen Hao patted Android 18 on the shoulder, pressing lightly against it. "I'm going to sort through the data."

"I'll go with you." Android 17's voice suddenly rang out, low and steady.

He pushed himself off the wall and walked over, every step carrying an unhurried rhythm.

He stopped in front of Chen Hao, lifted his head, and met his eyes. "You're my sister's savior?"

"Something like that." Chen Hao nodded, his tone mild.

"My name is Lapis." Android 17 extended his hand, palm open, his fingers long and strong. "Thank you for saving my sister."

Chen Hao shook his hand. The instant they touched, he felt Android 17's fingertips tighten slightly.

He introduced himself. "Chen Hao."

"I know." Android 17 smiled, a curve forming at the corners of his eyes as a hint of interest appeared within them.

"I heard from my sister that you're a Saiyan. And you're strong."

"Not bad." Chen Hao shrugged casually, as though it were nothing worth mentioning.

"Not bad?" Android 17 raised a brow, disbelief and teasing in his voice. "You killed Perfect Cell with one punch, and you call that not bad?"

He looked Chen Hao up and down, as though reassessing him.

"At least I'm not the strongest." Chen Hao shrugged again, casually glancing into the distance. "There are still people above me."

Android 17 was completely stunned.

He blinked, his mouth falling open for a moment before he failed to close it.

Chen Hao actually said that—the guy who could smash Cell apart with a single punch still claimed he wasn't the strongest?

"Come on, stop being humble." Son Goku walked over and patted Chen Hao on the shoulder.

His hand was warm and strong on Chen Hao's shoulder, his voice full of amusement. "You beat Cell. That's a fact. No need to deny it."

"I'm not denying it." Chen Hao looked at Son Goku, his eyes clear and resolute, as if he were simply stating a truth. "I'm just telling the truth."

Son Goku fell silent for a moment, and the air suddenly seemed to freeze.

He narrowed his eyes as he studied the earnest expression on Chen Hao's face. Then the smile on his lips deepened. "Then keep getting stronger."

"Yeah."

Chen Hao nodded and turned toward the laboratory at Kami's Lookout.

His footsteps echoed through the empty hall, every step firm and steady.

"Wait!"

Android 17 hurriedly called after him, urgency in his voice.

"My sister told me that you and she have a deal..."

"A deal?" Chen Hao stopped and turned back, his eyes settling on Android 17's face with a faintly amused smile. "She told you all about it?"

"Yeah." Android 17 nodded, slipping his hands back into his pockets as his shoulders tensed slightly. "So I'm curious what you asked for."

"Nothing much." Chen Hao waved a hand, his tone as light as if he were telling a joke.

"I saved her, then she gave herself to me."

"..."

Android 17's mouth opened and closed, his expression seeming to lock up.

He turned to look at Android 18.

She lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her cheeks red as the sunset.

Android 17 froze like a stone statue, his fingers trembling faintly as his gaze fixed blankly in the air.

Android 18 was stunned too, a flush rapidly spreading across her cheeks until even her breathing paused slightly.

The atmosphere seemed to have been sucked dry.

Piccolo, Krillin, and the few people keeping watch in the distance all stood there dumbfounded, their eyes fixed squarely on Chen Hao and Android 18.

"Offer yourself to him?" Android 17 slowly turned his head, his voice trembling slightly as he stared straight at Android 18. "Sis?"

Android 18's face instantly burned crimson, like peach skin roasted over a fire.

She bit down hard on her lip, her gaze darting about as she dared not look directly at anyone. Her voice came out thin and hurried. "I... I was joking!"

"Joking?" Chen Hao's brow furrowed at once, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as his voice sank. "Then that deal..."

"No!" Android 18 suddenly looked up, her voice turning resolute as her eyes reddened slightly. "I meant it!"

"Then that settles it." Chen Hao shrugged again, a faint smile curling his lips. His tone was casual, yet impossible to argue with. "You're mine now."

"I..."

Android 18 lowered her head, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes tightly. Her entire face was hidden in shadow, but her ears were red enough to bleed.

The air fell silent again for several seconds.

Android 17 looked at Chen Hao, then at his sister with her head lowered, unable to stop the slight curl of his lips. "So he..."

He pointed at Chen Hao, then looked back at Android 18's face. "He's my brother-in-law?"

"No!"

"Yes."

The two voices rang out almost at the same time, colliding in the empty corridor.

Android 17 froze for a moment, then burst out laughing at their completely different reactions.

His laughter was like silver bells breaking the oppressive silence. Clutching his stomach, tears even gathered at the corners of his eyes. "Sis, you seem to like him quite a lot."

"Shut up!" Annoyed, Android 18 swung her hand back and smacked the back of Android 17's head with a crisp slap.

Android 17 rubbed his aching head, but he still could not stop laughing.

"Alright, let's heal her first." Chen Hao waved a hand and did not pursue the matter further. He turned and headed toward the laboratory, his white coat swaying as his footsteps gradually faded away.

Android 18 stood where she was, watching his departing back, her gaze clinging tightly to his retreating figure.

Her eyelashes trembled lightly, her lips pressed together as though she were holding back an emotion on the verge of spilling out.

"Sis." Android 17 leaned closer, lowering his voice, a teasing smile still on his lips. "Do you really like him?"

"I..." Android 18 bit her lip, her knuckles turning white from how tightly she clenched them, yet her eyes never left the end of the corridor. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Android 17 raised a brow, his tone teasing. "Then why did you agree to..."

"He saved us." Android 18 cut him off decisively. Turning around, a complicated glint flashed through her eyes. "And he's very strong."

"So you offered yourself to him?" Android 17 laughed even harder. "Sis, you really are simple."

"Shut up!" Android 18 swung at him again. Android 17 quickly dodged to the other side of the corridor, his laughter still unceasing.

"Enough, stop fooling around." Piccolo's voice came from the side, his expression stern as he poured cold water on the mood. "Heal Android 17 first."

"Right." Krillin nodded, his gaze sweeping over Android 18's pale face. "You haven't recovered either. Heal your injuries first."

"Yeah." Android 17's smile faded as he nodded. His eyes drifted involuntarily toward the laboratory's tightly shut doors again, and he muttered softly, "I hope that brother-in-law really has a way."