Chapter 91: Lin Fang and Li Liu’s secret meet (Part-1)
A ripple of curiosity swept through the staff at Nebula’s actions. Heads turned; a few exchanged startled glances. Yet, as soon as they recognized Lin Fang, they straightened and offered respectful greetings.
Lin Fang gave them a brief nod and started toward the staircase. "Nebula, follow me," he said calmly.
"Yes, Master," she replied, falling into step behind him without hesitation.
Alpha’s amused voice stirred again in the back of his mind. "Interesting... I never expected you to contract with such a powerful demon."
Lin Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he replied silently, "Well, I went through a lot to make it happen."
"Indeed you did," Alpha said, the faintest trace of admiration in its tone. "You are destined for trials of life and death. You are a summoner—one of the nine overlords. For such beings, death will always linger around you like a shadow."
Lin Fang’s grip on the stair railing tightened a bit, but pushed away his thoughts and focused on Nebula, enquiring about her sudden transformation. To that, Nebula explained that she could just do it, and she did it, that’s all. Lin Fang didn’t think much of it as his mind was occupied with something else.
Lin Fang stepped into the elevator and pressed 7, the button for the private residence that doubled as his personal office. The doors closed with a soft hiss, and a gentle hum followed as the elevator began to go up.
Once inside the suite, he set his bag on the table and pulled out his phone. A few quick taps later, the message was sent:
I’ve been discharged, and I’m at the store here. Meet me alone at my private residence.
Meanwhile, down on the fourth floor, Li Liu was bent over a lab bench, carefully measuring a viscous blue solution. Looking at the bubbles over its surface, she murmured. "Strange, is the mixture wrong? Maybe, it is the temperature..."
Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she adjusted the burner beneath a glass beaker. But then the sudden buzz of her phone broke her focus.
She wiped her gloved fingers on a cloth and checked the screen.
Lin Fang’s name lit up her display.
Her eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. As she read the message, her eyes further lit up. "Oh... he is here?"
A little hum escaped her as she stripped off her gloves and hung her lab coat neatly on a hook. She practically skipped out of the lab, the soft tune she was humming trailing behind her.
However, just as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the 7, another figure slipped in before the doors closed.
"Yan Yan," Li Liu blinked in mild surprise.
Zhi Yan smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Heading up? I’m going to the sixth floor to check on the new batch of monsters for their seven-day training." Her gaze fell to Li Liu’s relaxed posture. "What floor?"
Li Liu hesitated only a heartbeat before replying lightly, "Just taking a little break."
Zhi Yan’s eyes narrowed playfully. "Seventh floor, again? That’s Lin Fang’s private residence. You can’t just keep using it as your own, sis..."
"It’s fine," Li Liu said with a casual flick of her hand. "This isn’t the first time anyway. He already gave me permission."
Zhi Yan arched a brow. "Oh? Then maybe I’ll join you and take a short rest, too."
A flicker of panic crossed Li Liu’s face as she hurriedly replied. "No way... I mean... if we both disappear at the same time, the staff might think we’re careless with our duties. Someone has to keep an eye on the lab."
Zhi Yan narrowed her eyes, a faint crease forming on her forehead. "She’s unusually cheerful today. I wonder why," she thought, her gaze lingering on Li Liu for a heartbeat too long. But in the end, she simply shrugged, her tone light. "Alright then. Don’t stay away from the lab too long. Lin Fang has already been discharged. We can’t have him thinking that we are negligent in our duties while he was away and doing this for fun or something."
Li Liu nodded.
Soon, the elevator chimed softly, and the doors slid open on the sixth floor. Zhi Yan stepped out, tossing Li Liu a final, curious glance.
As the doors closed again, Li Liu let out the giggle she had been holding back. A quiet, bubbling chuckle of excitement escaped her. She hugged her phone against her chest and swayed slightly as the elevator glided upward.
When the bell rang for the seventh floor, she composed herself, though the small smile refused to fade. The doors parted, revealing the quiet, private corridor. Nebula stood by the door like a silent guard, her eyes looked calm but sharp.
Li Liu gave her a polite nod and lifted her hand to knock.
The door opened almost immediately. Lin Fang stood there with a faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
The sight of him sent a rush of warmth through her chest. Before he could even speak, she burst forward with a soft cry, "Gege!"
He caught her easily, wrapping his arms around her in a firm embrace. Her heartbeat quickened as he lowered his head and kissed her right away.
Without a word, he stepped back inside, closing the door behind them. He didn’t set her down. Instead, he carried her in his arms with each step unhurried while his lips brushed hers again in another deep kiss.
Li Liu laughed softly against his mouth, her arms tightening around his neck as he crossed the room.
Finally, as he reached the couch, he gently lowered her onto his lap. She settled naturally with her legs draping across him as though it was natural for them
Lin Fang then tightened his arms around her, drawing her closer, and finally said in a quiet voice. "I missed you,"
Li Liu tilted her head back to meet his gaze. A faint blush crept across her cheeks at his words. "It’s only been two days, though."
"Is that so?" He brushed a quick kiss against her lips, teasing her subtly. "I don’t know. Feels like forever whenever I can’t see you."
Her blush deepened. She bit her lower lip, trying to hide the smile that threatened to bloom.
Lin Fang tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment. "How about this. I’m going to be busy for the next few days," he said. "You know... need to prepare for the exam. But once it’s over..." He paused, his eyes softening. "Let’s go on a date. Just the two of us. Okay?"
Li Liu’s eyes brightened. She gave a small, eager nod. "Okay."
His grin widened. He kissed her again, slower this time.
Meanwhile, down below, Zhi Yan crouched by the row of cages, her fingers brushing lightly against the metal bars as she checked the locks.
Inside, monsters of varying sizes shifted restlessly, some pawing at the floor, others growling low in their throats. These were nothing more than Normal and Elite-tier creatures that customers gave the store to take care of, but Zhi Yan, nevertheless, paid quite a bit of attention to the task.
However, at this moment, she wasn’t as focused as she used to be. Her eyes moved over them one by one, yet her mind was elsewhere. The sight of Li Liu earlier—her chuckle, that bright, almost too-cheerful smile before she left—clung to her thoughts like something prickling her like a harmless but annoying bed bug.
"Why do I feel like something’s off..." she muttered under her breath, tightening the latch on a cage more than necessary. The monster inside flinched at the sound of metal snapping shut.
She straightened up slowly, brushing her hands on her pants. Li Liu was usually calm, polite, composed—the picture of self-control. But today... Today, she had been almost glowing with happiness, and not in a natural way. Zhi Yan had noticed it the moment they shared the elevator, a brightness that seemed too pointed, too deliberate. Almost as if she was in love...
Zhi Yan shook her head and gave a short, humorless laugh. "Am I overthinking this?"
After a brief pause, she mumbled, "Let’s just go and talk to her. She was here the entire day and with me at home for the night. There is no way she could fall in love with someone outside. Either it should be a regular customer or an employee of the store. If she is dating someone, then I must vet his background."