It was not an easy question to answer.
—Yet it wasn't particularly difficult to answer.
So Sheila was the first to speak.
The Little Fairy tapped her chopsticks against the white porcelain bowl, drawing the gaze of everyone present: "As for me, I'll probably stay with the Organization for a while longer—to handle some follow-up matters."
The light from the crystal lamp was bright and clear, scattering across the dining table. Sheila tilted her head slightly, her blue eyes reflecting nothing but clear light. "And then, I expect I'll be returning to the IC. PO."
She smiled and leaned back slightly, her eyes fixed on Akai Shuichi:
There might be opportunities for us to cooperate in the future. I look forward to working with you, Akai-kun.
Akai Shuichi nodded composedly, "Certainly."
“I have long heard of the great fame of the FBI's 'Silver Bullet'," Sheila complimented with a beaming smile, "I didn't expect my luck to be so good, to meet you so easily—and to have worked together for a while."
Not at all," Akai Shuichi replied calmly. "I would never dare to underestimate Ms. Sheila.
These were the necessary pleasantries of social interaction—it just so happened that none of the people present particularly liked them.
As the two of them exchanged pleasantries, Shiratori Midori's lip twitched slightly.
Shiratori Midori's mind was far sharper than her sister's; she could certainly tell that what Sheila said was nothing more than nonsense. In the eyes of everyone who knew Sheila's identity in the ICPO, her arrangement was not difficult to guess—and the reason Sheila spoke first and mentioned Akai Shuichi was likely to prevent Heine from having the opportunity to answer.
Considering that she might have to make a living under the IC. PO in the future, as their casual conversation was drawing to a close, Midori added nonchalantly, "I think my recovery progress is quite satisfactory—"
The girl raised her hand to touch the hair that had already grown longer at her chest. "Maybe when the time comes, I can go to Lyon with you."
The IC. PO headquarters is located in Lyon, France.
Sheila blinked her eyes at Midori: "Okay!"
Her voice was clear and brisk, with a lingering, light tone, her rising pitch carried a sense of vitality.
"Sister," Nana's voice joined the conversation between the two girls.
The black-haired female detective tilted her head slightly, a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "Sister, are you leaving again?"
These words plunged Shiratori Midori into a brief silence.
For a long, long time, Shiratori Midori has felt a faint sense of Guilt toward her sister.
When the little girl called her Sister and pulled her hand, asking her to play with her, those childhood eyes always held a clarity so bright that one dared not look directly into them.
But she could only refuse time and time again, watching helplessly as the light in her sister's eyes faded away.
When the Girl looked up at her and asked, "Sister, can you stay at home for a few more days?" her small hands tugged at her Coat pocket, her Voice filled with the trepidation of being rejected.
But she could only rub her sister's head, softly saying, "Nana, be good," before gently brushing her sister's hand away.
As time passed bit by bit, her Guilt grew day by day.
This time, she would probably disappoint her sister again.
However, before she could attempt to say anything, Nana was the first to flash a smile—a smile tinged with a hint of bitterness—as she sighed and spoke, "Okay.. but Sister, you have to spend more time with me these next few days!"
Of course.
As Shiratori Midori spoke, she gazed into those green eyes, feeling momentarily dazed.
Without realizing it, the little girl who used to hold her hand has already grown up.
This is a good thing—but why was she feeling somewhat sad?
The surging bitterness in her chest left Shiratori Midori momentarily speechless; she hurriedly averted her eyes, only to catch sight of a pair of hands clasped together beneath the table.
Nana's hands—and Niwang Yaji's hands.
This professional tennis player, who could barely be called a youth, had long, powerful hands with well-defined knuckles. Her hands could completely envelop the hands of that girl.
The pressure was neither heavy nor light.
Midori blinked her eyes.
A single word rose up, wavering, from deep within his heart.
It's so wonderful—
She thought.
At this moment, she felt a strange sense of relief.
What about you?" She looked toward her sister and her future brother-in-law, asking softly, "What are your plans?
“Me?” Nana blinked her eyes in confusion. “I'll obviously continue my work as a detective.”
After a pause, she turned her head to look at her boyfriend, Niwang Yaji took the opportunity to speak: "As for me, I should also continue playing tennis."
Midori tilted her head and smiled, her smile carrying a hint of teasing and a touch of inexplicable indulgence: "I asked 'you all'—"
She corrected.
Shiratori Midori looked at them, like an elder looking at a beautiful couple—it was a gentle, blessed gaze.
What are your plans?
..
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the dust settled, the chaos subsided, everyone returned to their respective homes. Fortunately, the group still had a bit of a conscience and did not leave without cleaning up the mess.
Of course, it might also be because they didn't dare to simply pat their hips and walk away out of respect for Gin.
The two who remained looked at each other, finally, they could not help but share a smile.
However, one was habitually cold and the other was not a warm person either, so the curve of that smile was truly perfunctory.
“I never expected that after just having a meal, I'd actually have to attend an engagement party as well.” Gin raised his hand to rub his temples, his tone carrying a hint of impatience.
However, there was no gloom in his expression; he did not look like someone who was acting against his will.
Not bad, I suppose." Akai Shuichi sat on the sofa, his gaze circling the black tea cup on the coffee table. "Lovers finally become a couple.
She turned her head and raised an eyebrow at Gin: "Ms. Hashimoto is not young anymore, either."
So there is no need for you to be so nervous.
Gin's lip corner twitched indifferently as he said coldly, "I don't."
"So you say you don't, that's that." Akai Shuichi did not argue with him.
The Black-haired man reached out, took a black tea cup from the coffee table, slowly lifted the teapot to pour in the amber liquid.
He lowered his head, his green eyes watching the tea stream slowly pouring, yet his gaze appeared somewhat indifferent.
He paused, then asked with the same nonchalance, "Do you.. have any plans for the future?"
At the dining table, Heine did not mention his future plans.
He didn't tell Gin, either.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thanks to Bai Lu Wei Shuang Little Angel for the three mines, love you mwah!
Thank you, Jiye Qianchen Little Angel, for the landmine, love you mwah~
Special thanks to the Little Angels who provided Nutrient solution: TUT Youyou, Jinse Beiguo, Zuiyu Popao Dai, 10 bottles each; Riri Yeye, 6 bottles; Su Yuqing, 5 bottles; Weihuan Jihe YY and 33316790, 3 bottles each; Yali Jun and Lemon juice, 1 bottle each;
Thank you very much for everyone's support, I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 217: Chapter 198 I am not—always chasing..
"I guess," to Akai Shuichi's surprise, the one to speak first was the consistently cold and indifferent Gin.
Those green eyes looked at Akai Shuichi, with a hint of softness in them, however, that indistinct softness was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see clearly.
Gin's hand moved slightly. "You have something to say to me as well, don't you?"
Akai Shuichi nodded calmly.
She did not answer directly, but instead lowered her head and picked up the teapot from the coffee table. The hand that could take a life with a gun or a blade moved slightly, the amber liquid within the teapot poured into the glass.
Akai Shuichi handed the glass teacup to Gin.
In the dimness, her voice was deep and melodic, like a fine cello, the continuous notes echoing through the living room, yet her tone was solemn.
In a daze, it seemed to carry a hint of the flavor of 'Rye' from the Black Organization back then.
Once the business with the organization has reached a conclusion, the FBI will also return to the USA.
Akai Shuichi looked up at Gin, his green eyes clear and his gaze sharp, like a lone wolf.
This was a look Gin was extremely familiar with.
The teacup held in his hands pressed against his palm, the temperature of the tea traveling through the glass to his skin. The water in the teapot was not boiling, the rising steam vanished as time flies, leaving behind a liquid that was constant in temperature upon entering his mouth.
It was neither cold nor hot.
This temperature is actually just right—if it were too hot, it would easily scald; if it were too cold, this cup of Black tea would be undrinkable.
But—
As time passes, tea that is left untouched will eventually grow cold.
Gin had understood this truth long ago.
He and Akai Shuichi indeed shared many similarities, whether in habits or appearance—for instance, both were left-handed, both were calm and rational, both were expert snipers, and.. many, many other things.
But Life has made their experiences worlds apart.
One is the light that swore to crush the Dark, while the other is the Night itself, one that does not mingle with the light.
If it weren't for the Black Organization, if it weren't for that inexplicable System, they probably would never have had any intersection at all.
—Not to mention, developing into this kind of relationship that no one could have ever anticipated.
It is only that, the connection between them is likely nothing more than the Black Organization.
Their future paths were planned differently, their philosophies on life were different—and they were both stubborn and rational people.
After losing the Black Organization as their bond, their fates will likely never intersect again.
Like two parallel lines.