Chapter Fifty-Nine: Strolling Through the Streets

When Zhao Tianxing returned to the hotel during the day, Ji Ning and Afra were already wearing peculiar, knowing smiles. Only Katherine remained as expressionless as ever, while even Qin Mo cast a curious look his way.

Zhao Tianxing nodded in greeting and was about to leave when Afra grabbed his sleeve. With a mischievous grin, she teased, “Stayed out all night, hmm? What’s your relationship with Haruka Kinami?”

Zhao Tianxing replied helplessly, “I mistook her for someone else.”

Ji Ning immediately let out an exaggerated “Oh,” before exchanging a glance with Afra, who grinned like a fox that had just stolen a chicken. They chimed in, “You mistook her for someone else and spent the whole night on that?”

But Katherine stepped in to break the teasing. “If you encounter any difficulties retrieving the seal, you can consult us.”

Zhao Tianxing nodded, took a few steps toward his room, then turned back. “Thank you, but I’ll handle the seal myself.”

Once Zhao Tianxing closed his door, Qin Mo blinked and whispered, “This is a first. Including what he said to Ji Ning yesterday, that’s twice he’s repeated the same line. He clearly doesn’t want us getting involved.”

Katherine shook her head in silence. Trust was indispensable within the group, especially for their advisor Zhao Tianxing, who deserved the whole team’s confidence. So she chose to let him handle things on his own.

Katherine was lost in thought over the upcoming selection task after obtaining the seal when, without her noticing, Afra and Qin Mo had each linked an arm through hers. Ji Ning grinned at her. “Let’s go have some fun!”

Though Katherine wasn’t keen on going out, she couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of the other three.

When Zhao Tianxing awoke, it was already afternoon. Once again, he’d entered that dream: the girl’s features in the dream were blurred, and as he tried to see her more clearly, he suddenly found Haruka Kinami smiling at him, eyes full of laughter, and he woke with a start.

He bent down, submerging his face in cold water—the perfect agent for calming the mind. When he straightened, he had regained his usual composure. He dressed and went out.

With yesterday’s experience, Zhao Tianxing was able to scale the perimeter wall even during the day. The civilian electronic security measures were useless before him.

Surprisingly, Haruka Kinami hadn’t escaped nor set a trap for him. She simply did nothing, almost as if she were naturally absent-minded.

Zhao Tianxing found her in the bathroom. She was brushing her teeth. When she saw Zhao Tianxing walk in as if no one was around, she squealed, kicked him out, and locked the door.

Thinking of Haruka Kinami’s furious face, Zhao Tianxing was baffled. What was so embarrassing about brushing one’s teeth? When he was a child, everyone in his courtyard would squat in a line to brush their teeth every morning. Was it such a big deal for her? Still, he accepted the kick—an uninvited guest deserved no welcome.

When Haruka Kinami was done, Zhao Tianxing asked, “Have you decided?”

She shot him a glare. “No.”

Zhao Tianxing nodded. “Fine. Then, as a trade, give me the seal and I’ll help you with anything within my abilities.”

She ignored him, sitting at the dining table and sipping freshly made miso soup, the flavors of wakame, slippery mushrooms, and clams whetting her appetite.

After a while, Zhao Tianxing asked, “Why didn’t you run? Or take measures? You knew I’d come today.”

Haruka Kinami took a delicate sip of soup, glancing at the rice balls on the table, then looked up at him. “Seeing how confident you are, I want to ask: where could a weak girl like me run in one night without being found by you? And where would I go, anyway?”

The last sentence sounded less like an answer to him and more a whisper to herself, tinged with a faint sorrow. The air carried a subtle scent of lilac; Zhao Tianxing’s gaze lingered a moment on her hair.

What she didn’t know was that this seemingly aloof young man had planted a tracker on her after confirming she wasn’t the person he was truly seeking. Glancing at Zhao Tianxing, who sat upright, she recalled his unflappable demeanor yesterday and, thoroughly intimidated, abandoned her escape plan.

Besides, this was her home. Why should she be the one to leave?

She decided to negotiate, looking at his striking, serene face—a face that somehow felt familiar, though she couldn’t say why she instinctively felt he wouldn’t hurt her. “Skyline, why are you after the seal?”

Zhao Tianxing’s tone was calm. “Because the seal is proof of completing my task.”

“What task?”

He glanced at her, then turned to the balcony. “Miss Kinami, I can’t tell you that.” Unless absolutely necessary, all supernatural organizations observed the rule of never revealing the supernatural world to ordinary people. For the uninitiated, knowing more was often a curse.

Haruka Kinami scoffed. “So it’s some big secret mission? Who cares! Are you out to steal nuclear codes or rob the prime minister’s safe?”

Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment. “I wouldn’t do either. They’re not part of my duties.”

Haruka Kinami couldn’t hide her amusement. “You actually took me seriously? At best, you’re the type who’d help old ladies find their lost cats.” She found it funny that he hadn’t caught her sarcasm and had seriously considered his range of responsibilities.

Zhao Tianxing neither confirmed nor denied it. He remembered the closing words of his speech at the Lu Academy’s freshman ceremony: “You are arrows shot into the darkness, flames against the cold, light that tears through the long night. The world may despise you, but never forget: those who once loved you, those you will love, all depend on this damned world. So, fight for yourself!”

He found it all a bit adolescent, so he didn’t repeat it to her, but he had always lived by his convictions and obeyed those strict and noble tenets.

Haruka Kinami finished her soup, washed the dishes thoroughly, and arranged them neatly. Then she settled on the sofa and switched on the TV.

Zhao Tianxing couldn’t help asking, “Why aren’t you at university?” He knew she was a student at Ochanomizu Women’s University, according to the information Katherine had given him.

Haruka didn’t care that her details were known. “I don’t want to go, so I don’t.”

“Is this how you spend every day?” Zhao Tianxing was puzzled. Having been the model child for years, he saw class attendance as a student’s duty.

She turned a cold gaze on him, her enchanting eyes brimming with deadly indifference. “What business is it of yours?”

Zhao Tianxing wasn’t bothered by her nastiness. “You seem well-off. Would your parents let you skip class?” Though he didn’t know her background, he guessed she must be a privileged young lady—how else could someone her age casually buy such a valuable but useless seal?

Haruka froze, then burst into breathless laughter. “Didn’t you investigate me? Why ask something like that?”

Though she laughed, pain and sorrow lingered in her eyes. When she curled up in a corner, staring blankly at the ceiling, Zhao Tianxing finally spoke. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”

Like a small animal with a fresh wound, she met his apology with silence, her eyes now filled with unfamiliar hostility.

Neither spoke again. The summer breeze slipped in through the balcony, gently brushing the curtains. Sunlight fell on Zhao Tianxing’s profile—he was strikingly handsome, which had helped win Haruka’s trust, but he was also impossibly cold. He asked for the seal alone and never mentioned the misunderstanding that had angered her. Sitting before her now, he was silent if she was silent, his very manner of asking for help laced with pride. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. If not for his likable looks, if not for the way he’d waved last night so pitifully, if not for…she’d never have been so docile. But ultimately, why had he mistaken her for someone else? It was all his fault.

She wondered how many girls he’d charmed with that face. Suddenly aware she’d been staring, she glanced away, then peeked at his eyes, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

But Zhao Tianxing wasn’t looking at her. He gazed at the golden light scattered on the floor through the blinds. Only at these moments did his eyes show a gentleness and warmth so unlike his usual self. She couldn’t find words to describe that serene look; even his cold features were softened by it. After a long time, she felt as if God Himself had planted a seed in her heart.

When a cloud passed and the patch of sunlight faded, Zhao Tianxing finally turned and noticed her watching him. Their eyes met, and though Haruka had done nothing wrong, she felt like a guilty thief and quickly looked away, her fingers twisting together as she muttered, “You want the seal?”

He nodded. He didn’t know why her tone had suddenly softened, but a girl’s moods were as changeable as clouds in summer.

Haruka gazed at his gentle, unconscious face and forced a smile. “If you can make me happy, I’ll give it to you.”

“All right.” Zhao Tianxing looked toward the balcony. The sunlight was gentle and warm, just like all his happiest memories.

He gathered his thoughts and asked, “Would you like to go shopping with me?”

Haruka could hardly believe he’d say something like that. Was his aloofness just an act? Was he secretly a player? “Why?”

Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment. “The girls I know all seem to like shopping.”

Haruka looked unconcerned, unimpressed by such glib talk. “And why do you assume I do too, Skyline?”

He considered it seriously. “Because the girls I know have something in common with you.”

She was curious. “What’s that?”

He replied earnestly, “They’re all very pretty.”

Ginza, ranked among the world’s three great shopping districts alongside the Champs-Elysées and Fifth Avenue—Ji Ning, burdened with shopping bags, already regretted coming out with the other three. Afra had spent nearly all her saved task funds on this 1599-meter-long pedestrian street. Half the bags Ji Ning carried were Afra’s, the rest belonged to Katherine and Qin Mo. Though Katherine was reserved at first, she was soon swept up by Afra’s exuberance and rediscovered the feminine love of shopping.

Qin Mo, too, had a girlish heart. Though she hadn’t saved much, the temptations of the world proved irresistible. After much internal struggle, she wrote Ji Ning a pile of IOUs, blushing all the while. Ji Ning accepted them with a smile and handed her a black card. Unlike the domineering CEOs in romance novels, he didn’t burn the IOUs or dramatically toss them aside. He carefully kept every one, knowing better than anyone how proud Qin Mo was. Even though he liked her, he chose to honor that pride and respect—never presuming to be generous.

After a shopping spree, the four were about to head back when a familiar figure stopped them in their tracks. After months together, all the Seekers of the Forgotten knew that figure well.

Afra was about to call out, but Qin Mo quickly covered her mouth. Even Katherine discreetly stepped two paces back, using the crowd for cover as she watched.

Haruka Kinami strolled by with a cheery smile, Zhao Tianxing following behind, expressionless, his arms so laden with bags he couldn’t even fix his disheveled hair.

Haruka hadn’t brought any money. After picking out items, she only said two things to the shop assistants: “Wrap it up.” “He’ll pay.” Whether by design or not, every store she chose was a luxury boutique, and the extravagant spending finally drew a flicker of expression from the usually impassive Zhao Tianxing.

This ordeal ended only when Haruka, amused, circled around Zhao Tianxing—now resembling a pack mule—before stopping. She recalled how his face had gradually shifted from calm to ashen with every payment, and couldn’t help but laugh inside, though she kept a straight face. She wasn’t foolish; if he realized she was enjoying herself, she’d lose the right to keep bossing him around.

Like Faust, as long as she didn’t say “Ah, you are so beautiful, stay a while,” her soul would not be claimed by the lonely devil.

Haruka marched ahead, expression solemn, while Zhao Tianxing trudged behind, burdened with shopping bags like a dutiful camel. He kept pace, meticulously calculating how much longer his finances could support the young lady’s whims. Her spending far exceeded his expectations, but for some reason, seeing her feigned unhappiness, he didn’t want to protest.

Neither knew they were being watched by four pairs of eyes. Even Zhao Tianxing, sensitive as he was, dismissed the harmless observation as nothing more than a stray glance in a crowd. The four shadowing them only followed for five minutes before blending back into the throng, leaving the peculiar pair to vanish into the sea of people.

“Doesn’t this seem odd?” Ji Ning frowned. Zhao Tianxing didn’t seem the type to go shopping with a girl, and that Haruka Kinami ahead looked anything but happy. The very deliberateness of it made it even more suspicious.

Afra mused, “Maybe all that stuff is for him, and he didn’t buy anything for his date—so Haruka looks so glum.”

Qin Mo was surprised. “No way. Senior might be cold, but he’s not clueless.”

And then, unexpectedly, Katherine—who never joined such discussions—interjected, “I think maybe Senior is gaining the target’s trust, so he can get the seal.”

The other three stared at her, making Katherine feel embarrassed. Ji Ning dismissed the theory. “With Senior’s skills, he could just force his way through—why bother with tactics?”

Qin Mo, however, smiled as she watched the two walk away. “Ji Ning, don’t you think they’re a perfect pair? If Senior were just a bit more proactive…”

Ji Ning nodded, then shook his head—no matter how much he favored his girlfriend, he couldn’t be subjective about this.

Some things, others are destined only to witness—sneezing, anger, and falling in love. Like fish drinking water, only they know if it’s warm or cold.

In Ginza, Haruka sipped her milk tea, skipping along with a light step. Behind her, Zhao Tianxing looked as if he were enduring a spiritual trial. If he could, he’d rather return to Russia and face Vladimir in an unlimited fight than accompany this capricious girl.

Haruka took a sip of milk tea, stopped, and with a devilish grin, said, “This is only the beginning.”

Zhao Tianxing hesitated. “Can we at least drop these bags off in a locker first?” He didn’t know why he hadn’t refused her demands. He didn’t realize that just seeing that familiar face made him lose his usual chill.

Haruka snorted. “Is that all it takes? Skyline, do you have so little manliness?”

He was speechless. He wanted to ask how much longer this ordeal—comparable to Hercules’ twelve labors—would last, but, seeing how unreasonable she could be, he held his tongue.

“Come on, let’s try the next shop.” His silence was exactly what Haruka expected. She wasn’t bothered; in fact, she felt a touch of triumph.

Shopping was an intoxicant for women of any age. Though she’d grown tired, the sight of glittering displays revived her. She hummed as she drifted from one flagship store to another, picking up treasure after treasure, while Zhao Tianxing silently considered his card balance and wondered how he’d ask Ji Ning for a loan to survive the hard days ahead.

But even the biggest crowds fade, and every long road ends. Before he could beg Haruka to pause for the sake of his mounting debts, dusk arrived.

As the streetlights flickered on, Haruka finally stopped outside another boutique. She found a bench, sat down, and gazed at the faintly visible moon. Zhao Tianxing took the chance to relax, his mind turning to how he might justify some of these expenses as “mission costs,” hoping the wealthy Lu Academy would help ease his financial burden.

“Is this your first time in Japan?” Haruka’s voice was soft, echoing in the now quiet night. Zhao Tianxing nodded.

Haruka’s tone was gentle, at odds with the neon lights in the distance. “How do you like it here?”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face. Even though she wasn’t the one he was seeking, he didn’t want to see sadness on that face. “Not much.”

Haruka glanced at him, intrigued. “Why not?”

Zhao Tianxing looked at the dazzling Ginza night, shaking his head. “I like quiet places. Here, you can’t hear the wind.” After a pause, he added, “Or see the stars.”

She turned, gazing down the avenue where ancient and modern buildings mingled. Her eyes, momentarily lost, sparkled like fireworks. Then she brushed back her windblown hair, and for the first time, her manner matched her beauty. She smiled softly. “Take me home.”

Though crowds pressed on nearby, in the moment she looked back, all the bustle—tourists, couples, running children—fell utterly silent in Zhao Tianxing’s eyes.

He nodded, suddenly realizing that Haruka was his kindred spirit—just as lonely, just as desolate. At the far edge of the street where the ginkgo trees met the empty pavement under the streetlights, he felt that same emptiness echoing inside himself.