Chapter 154: The “Copper Refining” Guilt

Yuki Asahi’s heart skipped a beat, his grip on the phone tightening.

“The landlord… he just called our company and said… said he refuses to rent the place to you!”

The female agent’s voice was panicked, unable to maintain her professional composure.

“Why? We already signed the contract, and the money was paid!”

Jiang Jian Yue’s anxiety was about to explode—why did everything feel so unlucky?

“The landlord said… said he absolutely wouldn’t rent to two underage students, and also that our agency had ‘lax screening,’ and he wants to sue us!”

In theory, two underage students could rent a place.

All it required was an adult’s consent, or living with an adult, or proof of a stable financial source.

The method Yuki Asahi used was the third one—he had someone from Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu provide the proof—now Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu had practically become a community association for Superpower Users.

But since the rental process was irregular, the agency had a high chance of losing in court.

“Then… what about our money?”

Yuki Asahi’s voice began to tremble.

“We paid 3.3 million!”

“This… this is the most troublesome part!”

The female agent’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if discussing something terrifying.

“The landlord said… said because we provided false information, he would… he would withhold all the Gift Money and agency fees! Only the deposit and rent would be refunded!”

Gift Money! That was a month’s rent—over 600,000!

“How could this happen…”

Yuki Asahi felt wronged, on the verge of tears.

How did things turn out like this so suddenly?

“He also said you must return the keys by tonight, or… or he’d call the police and accuse you of illegal entry…”

Yuki Asahi’s mind went blank.

He didn’t even know how the call ended.

What should we do? Do we have to…

Just when they were about to start a new life, would they fail before even getting started?

No way, it’s only a few hundred thousand yen!

But it was a bucket of cold water on his excitement.

So this is how scary society can be.

Yuki Asahi tried to comfort himself—they could rent a smaller place… but… could Predecessor, who was used to comfort, really endure hardship with him?

Suddenly, he remembered something.

That black business card.

Nine-Tails Seiji’s words echoed in his ears: “If you encounter real trouble you can’t solve…”

Yuki Asahi hurriedly flipped open the book and grabbed the card.

But in the end, he shoved it back in.

Calm down, Yuki Asahi.

At times like this, it’s better to discuss it with Jiang Jian Yue.

***

Apartment, Master Bedroom.

Jiang Jian Yue had just drifted off in a daze of pain and hunger when the sharp ring startled her awake.

She saw Yuki Asahi’s call, picked up impatiently, her voice hoarse.

“What now.”

“There’s a problem. The landlord suddenly refused to rent.”

Yuki Asahi’s voice was shaky.

Jiang Jian Yue’s drowsiness vanished instantly.

She sat up sharply, pain tugging at her abdomen, making her gasp.

“…Explain.”

Yuki Asahi stammered out what the female agent had said—contract canceled, Gift Money withheld, ordered to move out, threatened with police.

They’d met the landlord during the signing. The landlord knew they were underage…

Jiang Jian Yue had her answer.

Someone set this up just to disgust them.

“What should we do? Our money, I…”

“Where are you?”

“I… I’m at home…”

“Come back to the apartment. Now.”

“Eh? But the landlord said…”

“I said come back!”

Jiang Jian Yue snapped, then realized she was being harsh.

She paused, then softened her tone.

“Sorry. I…”

She felt uneasy inside, afraid Yuki Asahi would see her as a woman who couldn’t control her temper—damn waking-up grumpiness!

“I’ll be right back!”

Luckily, Yuki Asahi didn’t seem to mind.

Jiang Jian Yue hung up, opened her contacts, and dialed a number she didn’t want to call again.

The call connected instantly.

“Miss!”

Momose Tadayoshi’s voice was trembling with fear and excitement.

“What are your orders?”

“Momose.”

Jiang Jian Yue’s voice was icy.

“Hi—!”

Hmm, energetic.

“I’m looking for someone.”

***

Yuki Asahi hurried back to the apartment, anxious.

He opened the door.

There was no sign of Jiang Jian Yue in the living room.

Yuki Asahi paced to the master bedroom door.

The girl sat on the bed, playing with a camera, looking quite relaxed—not at all like someone facing a loss of money.

Yuki Asahi stepped into the bedroom, only then noticing the handgun resting on Jiang Jian Yue’s thigh.

“Yue… what are you planning?”

Yuki Asahi felt a bad premonition.

Jiang Jian Yue put down the camera and turned the prepared memo towards him.

“Stay in Our Home. If the police come, don’t be afraid. You’re a Superpower User. Let Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu handle you.”

Yuki Asahi’s gaze lingered slightly on ‘Our Home,’ then hesitated.

“Shouldn’t we avoid troubling Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu…?”

He understood Predecessor’s meaning.

With his ‘merits,’ Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu would basically grant him immunity.

But, Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu had helped him, given him money to leave his ‘home,’ so this would make things hard for them.

Jiang Jian Yue had expected Yuki Asahi’s character to say this.

She slid her finger down the screen, revealing the next paragraph:

“Don’t feel indebted to Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu. This is what you deserve. And think about how much they shortchanged you. Just because you’re a high schooler, they thought they could underpay you!”

But wasn’t that the higher-ups’ instruction?

Yuki Asahi didn’t dare ask further.

He felt Jiang Jian Yue might keep sliding down, and the memo would answer all his questions.

It was a bit… scary, as if his thoughts were being read.

Jiang Jian Yue shoved the handgun and phone into her pocket, then stood up and stepped in front of Yuki Asahi.

She rose on tiptoes, looped her arms around his neck, pulled his face close, and left a lipstick mark on his lips.

“Be good. Listen.”

Yuki Asahi shivered, his cheeks burning—this was Jiang Jian Yue’s first time kissing him.

“Mm.”

He let out a nasal sound, golden eyes tinged with longing.

Jiang Jian Yue noticed—this guy wanted another kiss.

She forced herself to keep a cold face, rose up, and kissed him again.

Is that enough now!

“I want more…”

Yuki Asahi’s voice had a hint of childishness—making Jiang Jian Yue, already guilty about her ‘cradle-robbing’ tendencies, break out in cold sweat.

Don’t push your luck!

Mmm… just one more.

One more…

And…

A few minutes later, all of Jiang Jian Yue’s lipstick had transferred to Yuki Asahi’s lips.

Blushing, she left the apartment.

Damn, she hadn’t been able to resist either.

The corridor outside the apartment was cold.

Jiang Jian Yue leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath of dust-laden air.

The stabbing pain in her abdomen followed her, each heartbeat intensifying the discomfort.

She opened her phone.

Momose Tadayoshi’s message was concise—a single address, a high-end membership Club in the Fengdao District.

She hopped lightly onto the corridor railing, staring into the deep night.

Ougi: Thunder Armor!

Oh, the cooldown wasn’t over yet.

Jiang Jian Yue obediently went back inside and asked Yuki Asahi for train fare.

***

Jiang Jian Yue entered the lobby, ignoring the waiter’s curious gaze, and headed straight for the elevator.

“Miss, do you have a reservation?”

The waiter politely stopped her.

Jiang Jian Yue didn’t look at him.

She just said a name plainly.

“I’m looking for Tanaka Hiroshi.”

The waiter was stunned.

Mr. Tanaka was indeed in a VIP room on the third floor, but…

Jiang Jian Yue didn’t give him time to react and squeezed into the elevator as soon as it opened.

The third floor.

The corridor was covered in thick carpet.

She immediately spotted two black-clad bodyguards outside the private room.

“Miss, this is a private—”

Before the bodyguard could finish, Jiang Jian Yue slipped under his arm, her hand already on the door handle.

“Bang!”

The private room door slammed open.

The smell of alcohol, laughter, and blaring music rushed out.

Inside, several greasy middle-aged men were laughing with young women.

At the head was Tanaka Hiroshi.

“Who are you? Get out!”

Tanaka Hiroshi was clearly drunk, waving impatiently.

Jiang Jian Yue locked the door behind her.

The atmosphere in the room froze.

“I said get out! Can’t you understand?”

Tanaka Hiroshi stood up, pointing at her.

“Room 2103.”

Her voice was hoarse but cut through the music.

Tanaka Hiroshi sobered up instantly.

He narrowed his eyes, as if seeing her properly for the first time.

“So it’s you… Didn’t the agent tell you? I—”

“Click.”

A crisp cocking sound.

A black P320 handgun appeared in Jiang Jian Yue’s hand, the cold muzzle pressed to Tanaka Hiroshi’s forehead.

“Tch, who’s scared by a toy gun…”

Bang—

Jiang Jian Yue turned the muzzle, firing a shot into the champagne tower on the table.

Glass shards scattered.

The music stopped, but the screams from the women were even louder.

“You… you…”

Tanaka Hiroshi was instantly sober, cold sweat soaking his shirt.

“Call.”

Jiang Jian Yue was succinct.

“Call… call who?”

“The agent. Tell them the contract is valid. You made a mistake.”

“But… but…”

Tanaka Hiroshi’s teeth chattered.

He didn’t dare meet those cold, blood-red eyes.

Jiang Jian Yue didn’t waste words, lowering the muzzle to his thigh, finger on the trigger.

“I’ll call! I’ll call right now!”

Tanaka Hiroshi panicked, fumbling for his phone.

In front of Jiang Jian Yue, he called the agency, spinning a pitiful lie about a ‘misunderstanding with his wife,’ said the contract was valid, and even offered a month’s Management Fee waiver as apology.

He hung up and collapsed to his knees.

“Miss! Spare me! Spare me! It wasn’t my idea! I was forced—”

“Who told you to do this?”

Jiang Jian Yue’s voice was emotionless.

Tanaka Hiroshi wailed.

“A woman! She gave me two million to break the contract and keep your Gift Money! She said… it was just to teach you a lesson!”

A woman?

Did I offend any woman?