“Yes, Russians… They seem to be interested in the Hokkaido GPRI Base.”
A white falcon was covered with a blanket by Uncle Hei.
He nodded in thanks and continued, “The Japanese Government hasn’t detected the Russians yet.”
“Have you informed Morita-sama?”
“Mm.”
“That’s good.”
Maria let out a sigh of relief.
What happened next was no longer something small fry like them could decide.
However, even as a small fry, Maria couldn’t help but worry about the fate of the entire Organization.
Her thoughts drifted back to Central Africa before departure—
Just a few days ago, the DRG Vanguard Ground Combat Unit (VGCF) had occupied Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, avenging the disgrace of border mineral seizures during the dimensional invasion.
They also brought the traditional Central Africa fully under control.
This move was like pouring oil on the fire, completely enraging Europe.
The fragile balance between the DRG and France, which had always been in a “cold war” style of cooperative competition, collapsed in an instant.
European countries were now pushing the United Nations to discuss the so-called “Dawn Resources Group illegal interference in African internal affairs.”
Maria estimated it wouldn’t be long before the Western Media fabricated new “human rights issue” ammunition.
At the moment, DRG desperately needed a powerful military partner to counter Europe, especially the potential military intervention from Britain, France, and Germany.
The choice of allies was limited: excluding Japan, which strictly restricted exports, and Britain, France, and Germany, who had become deadly enemies.
Only the United States, Israel, Russia, Korea, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Zhong remained.
The mainstream internal opinion leaned towards Russia—
After all, the VGCF and “Heaven’s Punishment” Air Regiment were already replacing obsolete French equipment with readily available Russian gear.
Although there had been some minor frictions with the Russians before—such as kicking Wagner out of Central Africa—the relationship was being repaired.
If the Russians caused trouble on Hokkaido’s turf at this moment…
Maria took a sharp breath.
Hiss…
She pressed her throbbing temples hard, forcing herself to suppress the chaotic thoughts.
At this moment, the core task was only one: ensure the absolute safety of the young lady in Hokkaido.
If the Russians dared to act recklessly in Hokkaido, DRG would never sit idly by!
—At the very least, not until the young lady left safely!
***
The cold air pierced through the dream.
Jiang Jian Yue awoke in silence.
Her consciousness surfaced like a sunken ship rising from the depths, weighed down by a hangover-like heaviness.
A sliver of grayish-white light slipped through the heavy blackout curtains, signaling another snowy morning at Lake Toya.
Her body still clung to the warmth of the bedding, but an indescribable sense of emptiness made her slowly open her eyes.
It felt like waking up and not finding her phone.
Her gaze fell on the faint indentation and lingering warmth on the empty pillow beside her—Yuki Asahi’s body heat.
Unlike the reluctant closeness from sharing a bed before, last night’s proximity felt more like a tacit understanding.
She stared at the empty space expressionlessly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm sheet, a subtle and indescribable emotion sliding quietly through her heart.
Why did she feel a bit disappointed?
The thought rose and was quickly frozen over.
Troublesome.
Truly troublesome.
She silently condemned this inappropriate feeling.
Her hearing gradually returned, picking up the sound of water flowing behind the closed bathroom door and the faint rustle of fabric being squeezed.
Yuki Asahi was inside.
After a night of contemplation, Jiang Jian Yue had regained her composure.
She did have special feelings for Yuki Asahi.
The barrier of being a “man” had already shattered into pieces.
It was nothing.
As a true man!
Jiang Jian Yue could face her feelings head-on.
She could admit it in her heart.
Yes, I like Yuki Asahi. It’s nothing.
But—
Whenever the word ‘but’ appeared, everything before it became irrelevant.
A memory about love…or rather, being in love, resurfaced in her mind.
She was scared.
Jiang Jian Yue always thought a lot but did little.
She didn’t fantasize much about the sweetness of love; instead, troublesome aspects of love crowded her mind.
Would her time be taken away?
—Jiang Jian Yue valued her personal space highly and wouldn’t allow anyone else to share her life.
If she refused Yuki Asahi forcibly entering her life, would he feel hurt?
Would they…break up?
—She wasn’t sure how long Yuki Asahi’s affection would last, but just imagining the day the passion cooled made her feel suffocated.
That future was foreseeable; not every couple’s passion burned until the end.
Even Jiang Jian Yue herself wasn’t sure how long her feelings for Yuki Asahi would last.
What if one day she no longer liked Yuki Asahi?
Jiang Jian Yue’s answer was: Greek yogurt.
Love, troublesome.
That’s right!
I’m just this annoying of a woman; Yuki Asahi, falling for me was your mistake!
These thoughts swirled like dark clouds in her heart, but she soon figured it out herself: Rather than struggling alone, why not ask Yuki Asahi directly?
I’m not the type to bottle up all my emotions and drive the readers crazy!
Jiang Jian Yue threw off the covers and sat up.
The morning chill instantly wrapped around her bare skin, sending a fine shiver through her.
She looked down, eyes sweeping over the bathrobe that had been torn to shreds—symbolizing the chaotic start of last night.
It had long since been kicked to the foot of the bed, pitifully piled on the cold floor.
Well…
They’d hugged before, so Jiang Jian Yue didn’t really care about this anymore.
She sat on the bed and bent over, pulling out a black lace bra and matching panties from the open suitcase for today—though the mature style didn’t quite suit her youthful body, it fit her temperament better.
Barefoot, she silently walked across the soft carpet toward the source of the water.
Her soles touched the cool wooden floor, sending a faint sensation up her body.
She stopped before the half-open bathroom door, not entering immediately but peeking half her head inside.
Yuki Asahi was doing laundry—
They wouldn’t check out until tomorrow and move on to the next location, so things probably wouldn’t dry anyway?
No, as long as she asked either Saori Saiyonji or Kaori Onishi, it would be solved easily.
Superpowers are really convenient.
Jiang Jian Yue quietly approached behind him, noticing his face was flushed red to his ears, gaze dropping lower—
He was washing his own underwear.
Eh?
Why were there two pairs of men’s boxer briefs…
One was what Yuki Asahi left in the bathroom after changing into the bathrobe yesterday.
The other…was it what he wore afterward?
Why wash it if it was just changed?
Her own lacy undergarments, adorned with frills, were still draped at the side, untouched.
Jiang Jian Yue felt annoyed; her groggy morning mind made her thoughts stray from normal human logic—
Why didn’t he just wash hers together?
Well, even without the morning grumpiness, Jiang Jian Yue was never a normal human.
She actually didn’t care much about others touching her underwear.
After all, since coming to this world, she’d almost never washed her own clothes.
She also wasn’t bothered about touching other people’s underwear, especially boys’—all the same, brothers!
“Uwah!”
Yuki Asahi looked up and, noticing Jiang Jian Yue standing behind him in nothing but underwear reflected in the mirror, almost flung the wet boxers from his hand.
He hurriedly turned sideways, trying to block the two glaringly obvious pairs of men’s underwear in the sink with his body.
His face turned redder than a boiled shrimp.
“Se…senpai! Good morning!”
“I, um…I’m just washing what I changed out of last night…I’ll be done soon!”
Jiang Jian Yue said nothing, simply standing at the doorway expressionless.
Her crimson eyes swept calmly over the sink, then settled on his flushed, averted face.
He instinctively wanted to explain why he was washing two pairs—this morning when he woke up…
No, there was no way he could say the real reason!
“Idiot.”
Jiang Jian Yue suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse with sleep and carrying a hint of disdain, shattering the suffocating silence.
She stepped into the not-so-spacious bathroom, bypassing the frozen Yuki Asahi, and picked up her two pieces of underwear.
Yuki Asahi’s heart leapt to his throat, his mind going blank—he couldn’t predict what senpai would do next.
Jiang Jian Yue casually tossed her underwear into the sink as well, right on top of his two pieces.
“………”
Yuki Asahi froze, hands covered in suds rigid under the running water.
Wh-what did this mean?
Was senpai telling him to wash them together?
Was this approval?
Or was it some test he couldn’t understand…?
Or maybe she just thought he was too slow?
“Hurry up and finish washing.”
Jiang Jian Yue’s tone remained flat, as if issuing a simple command.
She turned on the faucet and started washing her face, the cold water splashing her skin in an attempt to drive away the last traces of sleepiness and the lingering heat on her cheeks.
She ignored the boy beside her, who seemed to have been petrified.
“A-ah. Yes! Yes! Senpai!”
Yuki Asahi snapped out of his daze and stammered.
He hurriedly resumed scrubbing, his movements ten times stiffer than before.
Whenever his fingers brushed against the lacy, soft fabric, he recoiled as if electrocuted.
Then, realizing it wouldn’t get clean that way, he forced himself to continue, hands as clumsy as a rookie bomb squad technician.
He felt his face was hot enough to fry an egg, his mind in chaos: Senpai’s… Senpai’s… In my hands…
Jiang Jian Yue, watching the boy’s utterly embarrassed, purple-eared reflection in the mirror, maintained a blank face while complicated feelings churned inside.
Hehe… Little Chunan’s flustered look is really cute…
She wanted to see him even more flustered.
She shook her head hard, suppressing this untimely “wicked thought,” and focused on brushing her teeth.
She pondered what time would be best to talk to Yuki Asahi.
At that moment—
“Don don don!”
A knocking sound shattered the strange, tense atmosphere in the bathroom.
Following it came Saori Saiyonji’s voice:
“Jiang-sama~ Yuki-kun~ Good morning! Come downstairs for breakfast! Hattori-san says we’re leaving early for Noboribetsu Hell Valley today!”
Clearly, with his sense of taste restored, he was in high spirits.