Chapter 111: This Is My Thank-You Gift ❤️~

The headache gradually faded, but a faint burning sensation lingered on her eyelids.

She opened them slightly, seeing only darkness.

Forcing herself up, the girl leaned against the headboard.

Her gaze fell on Yuki Asahi, sitting on the sofa.

Jiang Jian Yue glanced at the dim night outside the window.

“Why?”

Her voice was hoarse, tinged with irritation.

Snow leopard: Why are you still here.jpg

Yuki Asahi on the sofa jerked his head up at the sound, the screen’s light illuminating his tense profile.

“Senpai, you’re awake?”

He put down his phone and stood.

“Do you feel better?”

Her neck felt stuffy and itchy.

Jiang Jian Yue subconsciously scratched at it with her nails, licking her dry, cracked lips.

“I’ll get you some water.”

Yuki Asahi jumped up from the sofa, poured a glass of warm water, and brought it to the bedside.

“…………”

Jiang Jian Yue took the glass.

Warmth spread through her fingertips.

Being cared for by someone.

Especially when that someone was Yuki Asahi.

She recalled her sickly self that morning and shed tears in her heart.

Am I really that frail?

The human body…

She tilted her head back and gulped down the water.

Her movement was hurried.

A thin stream slipped past her lips, running down her chin and soaking the front of her pajamas.

For some reason, Jiang Jian Yue always spilled a bit when drinking water.

She never did when drinking anything else.

That was one reason she disliked water.

“Are you hungry?”

“You haven’t eaten all day.”

Yuki Asahi leaned in, one knee on the floor beside the bed, concern in his voice.

Why are you speaking like a master to a pet, kora!

“I’m fine.”

Jiang Jian Yue had no appetite, shaking her head lightly.

Then she asked, “Have you been here… all day?”

“No, I went out for a bit.”

Yuki Asahi shook his head.

“I went with Onishi and Saiyonji to find Imai.”

He recalled the events of the morning, speaking slowly.

“Imai was grounded. We had to work hard to get her father’s permission for her to help.”

Help?

“To help test… Imai’s ability can heal others, but it had no effect on you, Senpai… Why is that?”

Not only was it ineffective, it seemed to make things worse.

Jiang Jian Yue was well aware of her differences from ordinary people.

She had no intention of getting caught up in it.

She changed the subject.

“They… came?”

“Yeah, they visited the apartment.”

Yuki Asahi nodded.

“They went to Osaka now.”

“Osaka?”

Jiang Jian Yue tilted her head weakly, her voice still frail from illness.

“For what?”

“Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu suspects the source might be a side effect of a newly awakened parasite in Osaka, or perhaps it’s his own ability.”

“Since Imai’s healing worked, the people from Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu asked her to go.”

A trace of embarrassment crossed Yuki Asahi’s face.

“It seems… they haven’t told her father yet.”

“What about you?”

Jiang Jian Yue’s crimson eyes locked onto the boy’s face.

“Me?”

Yuki Asahi froze, then looked away.

“I… didn’t plan on going.”

“Saiyonji-kun is protecting them, and there are SAT-EX members as well. That should be enough.”

His voice was soft, as if convincing himself.

Damn, where’s the bond of friendship?

And!

What do you mean Saiyonji is protecting both of them?

Are you already assuming our Kaori-chan needs to be protected?

The bedroom fell silent for a moment.

The soothing feeling of warm water down her throat lingered in the air.

The city’s noise was shut out by the window.

Inside, only their soft breathing remained.

A strange, indescribable sensation crept into Jiang Jian Yue’s heart—like hiding out with a fellow slacker during a sports festival in some quiet corner.

Their companions were off to Osaka to combat an epidemic, while the two of them loafed in this apartment without a care.

At least, she had no intention of moving.

Jiang Jian Yue pulled out her phone, glancing at the messages from Kaori Onishi and Yamanoi Yayoi on LINE, filled with concern.

She felt a pang of filial piety.

Ugh… Kaori-chan… Yayoi-chan…

She glanced at Yuki Asahi, still kneeling at the bedside, and suddenly felt awkward.

He’d cared for her all morning, and though she’d resisted inwardly, she hadn’t thanked him yet.

And besides, it’s not right for him to keep kneeling.

It’s not like I’m the Empress Dowager.

She shooed Yuki Asahi off to the dining table to play on his phone, then crawled out from under the covers and hurried into the bathroom.

Warm water washed over her body, rinsing away the sticky sweat and lingering weakness.

Standing under the showerhead, Jiang Jian Yue closed her eyes, savoring the comfort of the water.

The dizziness from the fever had mostly subsided, and her mind was clear again.

How should I thank Yuki Asahi?

She grabbed a towel to dry off, her fingertips unconsciously brushing her neck.

Speaking of which, this pattern’s gotten longer…

She changed into more conservative pajamas, intending to rewrap the bandage.

But on second thought, since Yuki Asahi had already seen it…

She wasn’t going out anyway.

It didn’t matter.

She opened the bathroom door, her bare feet making no sound as she crossed to the dining table, shielded by a screen.

Sure enough, he was still there, focused on his phone.

The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the screen highlighting his sharp profile.

Jiang Jian Yue had always admitted one thing:

Yuki Asahi was a bit handsome.

After changing his hairstyle and shedding his gloomy aura, his appeal had only increased.

Even without the status of a superhuman, with a little grooming, he’d easily attract girls.

Why…

Did he have to fall for me?

Jiang Jian Yue sighed softly, tiptoeing behind the boy.

Then she slid her arms over his shoulders, crossing them around his neck, pressing her body to his back.

“Eh?”

Yuki Asahi stiffened, startled by the sudden attack.

His phone slipped from his hand, landing between his knees.

“Don’t move.”

Senpai’s warm head pressed against his cheek.

He could feel the heat of her breath on his ear, like a stream of air softly kissing his skin.

A jolt ran down his spine, the tingling sensation like a button for forced climax being pressed in his brain.

“This is a thank you.”

Her teeth gently bit his earlobe, tongue tracing the sensitive skin, her voice a whisper like a mosquito.

“Do you like it?”

Yuki Asahi’s mind went blank.

He only snapped back to reality when the scent of body wash drifted away.

He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but saw Jiang Jian Yue had already taken a seat across the table, legs crossed, phone in hand, her expression serious.

“What’s wrong?”

Yuki Asahi’s face was still flushed, but he quickly pushed aside the lingering feelings and asked.

He thought something had happened to their companions.

“Mm… it’s nothing.”

Jiang Jian Yue narrowed her eyes, looking at a message from Morita Aoya.

Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu had reached out, asking if Dawn Resources Group would host the Qualification Recognition Tournament?

Her fevered brain was sluggish, but she quickly realized this was more complicated than it seemed.

This type of event didn’t exist anywhere else in the world.

It would draw immense attention.

Why would they offer it to Dawn Resources Group—a sure bet that wouldn’t lose money?

A gesture of goodwill?

But in the anime, it was mentioned as an idea from Curtain Cluster…

Jiang Jian Yue didn’t believe it was goodwill.

Could it be that after witnessing the power of Dawn Resources Group, they decided to give up?

Jiang Jian Yue suspected Curtain Cluster had set a trap.

But…

Her chances of encountering new corpses would decrease in the future.

After all, Yuki Asahi had his own life.

It wouldn’t do to cling to him all the time.

As for the Light Extinguishers…

They’d already dug up all the old corpses, and acquiring new ones wasn’t easy for now.

In the anime, these tournaments always ended in chaos—like the Chunin Exams in Naruto.

And the Saint Organization members in the show were clearly planning something big for the Qualification Recognition Tournament.

Curtain Cluster’s intentions were obvious—they wanted to drag Dawn Resources Group into the open to fight the Saints, and hopefully damage Dawn Resources Group in the process.

Drive a tiger to swallow a wolf?

Who was the fisherman here was still uncertain.

“Agree. Tell Father about this, and have him send more people. We might face attacks… I need to review all matters related to the ‘Qualification Recognition Tournament’ preparations.”

“1”

Saints…

I look forward to the new abilities you’ll bring right to my doorstep…

For now, greed for new powers outweighed safety concerns—of course, some business matters factored in as well.

Dawn Resources Group’s influence was booming in Africa, and growing in Europe too.

But in East Asia, especially Japan, before recent events, most people would say, “DRG jb Who?”

Only those following international affairs or finance had heard of them.

Since she’d eventually inherit Dawn Resources Group, she needed some achievements to her name—resources in Japan at her disposal couldn’t be wasted.

She’d just wanted to live peacefully as a wealthy young lady, but in this position, peace was impossible.

For the future, cleansing Japan of cults like the Saints was necessary.

As always: GPRI is a house of dried bones, Curtain Cluster is insignificant, Saints are stray dogs, and Light Extinguishers will fall at a command…

Now, Jiang Jian Yue wanted to kick the dog herself.

Yuki Asahi had no idea what Jiang Jian Yue was thinking.

He only saw a silly smile spread on her face.

So cute—

For a moment, he was stunned, until Jiang Jian Yue’s attention returned and her expression became indifferent again.

Yuki Asahi felt a twinge of disappointment.

“Senpai… you should smile more often. It’s really cute.”

Maybe Jiang Jian Yue’s earlier boldness gave Yuki Asahi the courage to say it.

Hmm??

Jiang Jian Yue, who hadn’t realized she was smiling, looked confused.

Why bring that up suddenly?

C…cute?

Then, the sly smile Yuki Asahi had seen before appeared on her face again.

Like the twisted grin of a killer escaping justice in a drama, flashing at the main characters.