I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Although she didn't say it out loud, this was the best she could do... Ah, if Rin saw this, she'd probably get scolded again.

It's really too difficult for her to say those words out loud. Using this tactful approach is already her best effort.

"...Sakura, do you know that when the Poison Chrysalis recruits people—regardless of the method—the detailed information of the final members is always put on the table of those guys. For some high-value bounties and some missions targeting important people, the relevant investigation reports are also reviewed by them in advance. After making a backup, they are handed over to the mission executor. The information is even updated after the mission is completed."

He looked at Sakura and said softly.

"After several expansions, the Poison Chrysalis has gradually evolved from an assassin organization into an organization structure similar to a secret service organization. However, the methods and means of controlling its subordinates, which were used during its assassin days, have not changed and have even intensified..."

Do you know what this means?

"........."

Sakura didn't speak, but her hands unconsciously tightened.

"In other words, the Poisonous Chrysalis knows every single one of its current employees inside and out, not to mention the strongest among them. At the same time, due to the Poisonous Chrysalis's unique nature, it possesses a subtle yet still extensive network of connections, and the clients who issue tasks and post bounties mostly come from these connections..."

"Simply put, starting from a certain period of time, the venomous pupa knew everything about the backgrounds of its employees and could control the tasks they accepted through special means. Then, by combining this with the drugs and special methods left over from its time as an assassin, it further guided the employees in the direction they desired, making them become the kind of people they expected them to be."

"........."

Sakura understood what he was trying to say.

"That's why, after we met, you were quickly exchanged by that gang to the drug pupae... Although this freed you from the exploitation of those greedy wolves, it also cost you more freedom and led you down a path that was arranged for you."

He was simply trying to say that all of this was due to arrangements made by those above, that the feelings were formed under deliberate guidance, and that it was the result of their intentional manipulation.

Everything is for the sake of better controlling the people under his command, and for the sake of better controlling the sharpest "knife" within the poisonous pupa.

She is the sheath used to store the sword, allowing it to be controlled by someone.

"So it's... a rejection, right?"

"……Um."

Xi Wang's gaze returned to the scenery outside... It was currently the highest point of the Ferris wheel, and the expansive view was soothing.

"So...you have someone you like?"

"...probably not yet."

A pink-haired girl flashed through Xi Wang's mind, but her figure was very blurry, even overlapping with Sakura beside her, making it hard to tell whether it was Sakura or someone else. In the end, the figure seemed to resemble Sakura more.

But he also knew very well that his feelings were probably not love, but a strange, twisted emotion mixed with all sorts of "impurities," a... knot that was hard to untie.

"Really... Well, at least we're still friends, right?"

"of course."

"That……"

Xi Wang felt a slight weight on her arm.

"Let me lean on you for a moment... just a little while."

She spoke softly, her emotions unreadable, but the music playing from the headphones around her neck turned up considerably.

"It'll be over in a little while."

"........."

Xi Wang didn't speak, but just quietly looked out the window, waiting for the cabin to land.

Time always flies, especially when it's filled with joy. After getting back to Ling and taking her on another Ferris wheel ride, where we enjoyed the amusement park's evening fireworks show, it was time to leave.

During this process, Sakura seemed to have adjusted her mindset, or perhaps she didn't want to appear too out of sorts in front of her younger sister Rin, so she seemed quite normal.

However, when she was with Xiwang, she no longer felt that subtle awkwardness as before, and the atmosphere was even much more harmonious, which made Ling think that her sister had succeeded.

Just wait until I get home.

"...Rin, you go inside first."

Sakura, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said this.

"Good~"

Ling didn't suspect anything, assuming the two had something else to say to each other, and obediently got out of the car and went inside.

"…………"x2

Silence fell again inside the car.

"If what Wang says is true, isn't this situation even more dangerous?"

Sakura suddenly said that.

"……Um."

Xi Wang did not deny it.

This trip was already under scrutiny from his superiors, as it was one of his rare "outings," and he was with Sakura. Naturally, his superiors wanted to observe whether the fit between the sword and the scabbard was good enough, and whether the scabbard, which had been carefully selected and shaped over a long period of time, could actually hold the sword.

If this cannot be achieved, then it will naturally lead to the worst possible outcome—the sword will still not be trusted and will be subjected to more and more subtle means of control in an attempt to take control of it; while the sheath will continue to be refined and forged, or it may be abandoned altogether, and a more suitable candidate to become the sheath will be sought.

Of course, defecting directly is also an option, but that would require them to eliminate those people directly, otherwise they would face endless pursuit. But this raises another question – how to find those people? None of them have hacking skills, so it's difficult for them to locate those people through technology, but the other side has subordinates with such skills who can easily obtain their location.

It would be too much to ask of them to search aimlessly while being tracked the entire time.

Therefore, Xiwang's act of making things clear was undoubtedly "wrong," a terrible choice for both of them and for Ling.

Conversely, if Xi Wang pretends to be confused and says nothing, he can get a beautiful girlfriend, his superiors can temporarily put their minds at ease, and his life will be more stable in the future.

"Then why?"

Why not agree? In terms of the outcome, Xiwang is not at all at a loss, and even makes a huge profit.

But he still told her everything, giving the impression that her feelings were unreal, or even fake.

"It's just to make everything clear."

It's not that I'm denying the feelings, I just want to make everything clear.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"........."

Faced with Ying's obvious question, Xi Wang slightly shifted her gaze and did not respond to her, but instead asked a question.

"The 15th...that's next week, do you have time?"

"……Um."

Sakura nodded, as if she had guessed something.

Xi Wang then took out something he had prepared beforehand—an Eden concert ticket—and handed it to Ying.

"…………"x2

"You're inviting me... right?"

"...just as a return gift."

"...Ha~"

Sakura smiled, a very happy smile.

Because she confirmed that the other person was actually just as shy and nervous as she was, or even more so, but before that... he just wanted to make things clear first.

That's it.

So she gladly accepted his invitation, clutching the ticket, which was exceptionally valuable both in practical and symbolic terms, tightly in her hand.

"I understand. I'll go."

She got out of the car and then spoke to him inside.

"I'll just have to ask you to pick me up again then."

"……besides."

Before she could close the door and leave, Xi Wang turned around and called out to her again.

"Um... I forgot to mention this when we first met, so I'll make it up now... You look beautiful today, and the color of your lipstick suits you perfectly."

"……Thanks."

Her voice trailed off instantly, then she slammed the car door shut with a "bang!" and strode into the house.

"Wuhu~ Welcome home, sister~ I thought you'd be spending the night out with Brother Wang tonight..."

"Don't talk nonsense. Go take a shower and get ready for bed. Aren't you tired after playing all day?"

Sakura tapped Rin on the head, telling her not to think about those random things.

"...Wait a minute, what is this?"

Ling looked at her older sister's blushing face and just smiled without saying anything, but she quickly noticed what her older sister was holding in her hand, and quickly grabbed her hand to look at what it was.

"Tickets to Eden's concert?! And for a week later? Weren't tickets for this show sold out months ago?!"

The bell's pupils trembled.

"Hum-"

As if she had thought of something happy, or simply wanted to show off, Sakura's lips curled up uncontrollably.

"Although this is indeed something to be happy about... but sister... your smile is a little... disgusting... it hurts!"

"Stop talking nonsense, go take a shower!"

"Hmph... You've forgotten about your sister now that you have a boyfriend..."

After saying this, Ling quickly covered her head to avoid Sakura's hand, which was about to hit her again, and slipped into the bathroom.

"Um... Sister, can I make a deal with you... Let me go with Brother Wang? Actually, it's not impossible for me to be Brother Wang's girlfriend..."

"Go take a shower!"

"If you don't want to let me, then don't..."

Ling stuck out her tongue, closed the door, and soon the sound of running water could be heard.

"........."

Sakura held the ticket in her hand, looking at it over and over again, her smile never fading.

Finally, she closed her eyes briefly, her mind drifting back to their past, examining their gradually changing relationship, and how it had evolved into the feelings that now resided in her heart.