In the end, Sora still ended up separated from Texas.
Sitting in the dual-purpose "mobile sales / ramming assault" truck Croissant drove up with a big grin, Sora kept shooting glances over—resentful and disappointed, tragic enough to make a person feel guilty on sight.
Honestly, just from that expression, Li Lin almost wondered if he'd done something to her.
But he also knew exactly why.
They'd agreed she'd finally get to be with the person she liked, and then halfway through, that very person had cut in and taken Li Lin away.
Yeah. That would feel awful.
And it was the sort of thing you couldn't complain about openly.
Li Lin had never been in a relationship, but he understood that subtle, sour ache that came with feelings.
Emotions weren't something you could solve by having someone else say it out loud. You could assist, you could set things up, you could give a nudge—but in the end, the person involved had to fight for it themselves, act for it themselves, and slowly make it real.
Helping was one thing. Pointing at it directly and forcing it into the open was another.
Do that, and you'd gain one or two enemies for sure, and maybe—maybe—a tiny chance at gratitude. The risk-reward ratio was catastrophic.
So, faced with Sora's despairing look, Li Lin could only do the responsible thing: pretend he didn't see it, and get into Texas's car.
And it was obvious—Texas was angry.
He didn't know why, but her ears were slightly pinned back, her tail wasn't swaying at all, and the micro-details in her expression made it unmistakable.
"…I'm not angry."
"I haven't even said anything."
"I'm not angry because of you."
"I literally just said I haven't said anything."
"I don't want you to misunderstand."
Texas glanced at Li Lin as he fastened his seatbelt, then stomped the accelerator and merged into Lungmen's lanes, heading toward the city's edge.
Because of the urban speed limit—and the fact there were cars ahead—both Penguin Logistics vehicles moved forward slowly in a neat line. No one would ever guess they were carrying a group of dangerous individuals about to go pick a fight with gangsters near the slums.
Still, watching Texas hold the wheel with both hands, face calm and unreadable, Li Lin cautiously tested the waters from the passenger seat.
"Is it because of what happened this morning?"
"…Just now."
"Oh, so it's because of the gangsters."
Texas didn't even bother to hide it, and Li Lin nodded naturally.
"These gangs are tough, and they don't care about Lungmen's laws at all. They even feel… trained. Siracusans?"
"Why do you think that?"
Her ears dipped lower. Texas steered one-handed and tilted her head to glance at him.
That expression confirmed it—he hadn't guessed wrong. It really was connected to the Siracusan mob.
…He'd thought she might be jealous.
Well, that was wishful thinking. You could tell at a glance: these were all competent people doing serious work. The only one who was sexually repressed was him. Perfectly normal.
Li Lin leaned back into the passenger seat, sinking into a more comfortable position, watching the slow procession of cars ahead and talking nonsense in a casual tone:
"The Siracusan gangs are taking advantage of the world getting more chaotic and pushing outward into every country. The old Siracusan families are getting scoured by the current era—so they become more brutal, more crazed, turning into something both familiar and unfamiliar."
"…"
"And Siracusa's been overcrowded for ages, hasn't it? Building a new district is inevitable. The old district is packed, but everyone wants the resources of the new district—so of course they clash. The ones who lose don't even get to exist in the new district or stay in the old one. They get sent out to other cities to scrape out a living. Columbia gets the most, but Lungmen having some isn't strange."
"…"
"So you don't need to take it too personally. At least the Lungmen Guard Department can still hold up for the next few years. That's what I think."
Li Lin said it offhandedly from the passenger seat. Texas listened the whole way through. After a short silence, she nodded once.
"As long as you know that in your heart, that's enough."
"…?"
Know what in his heart?
Li Lin looked at his driver, genuinely confused.
But clearly, Texas had already decided that topic was over. She relaxed completely, pulled a candy from the car's compartment, popped it into her mouth, and raised an eyebrow with an almost light tone.
"You want to learn piano—what piece are you trying to play?"
"Nothing special. I just remembered a piece that sounds really good, and since I'm in a new environment now, I figured I'd revisit it."
With Texas no longer tense, Li Lin didn't need to stay braced, either. He answered just as casually.
"I remember the melody, but I can't play it at all. Back then, someone else always played it for me. So I'm taking the chance to learn now—if there's a melody I can remember, I want to be able to play it."
"…"
Texas paused mid-suck on the candy.
Staring at the car ahead, the seasoned driver pressed the accelerator and surged forward, shooting toward the slums at speed.
As the scenery began to slide backward more quickly, she bit down, cracking the candy in one clean motion, and asked quietly:
"What's it called?"
"It's got a nice name: Farewell Letter."
Li Lin replied naturally, still slouched in his seat.
He faintly remembered school talent shows—ten acts total, and eight of them were "farewell poems" and heartbreak pieces. A truly spectacular scene.
A classic "wannabe artsy guy" pickup anthem.
Just imagining a younger girl staring at him in shock and anticipation while he played piano made Li Lin feel excited enough to rub his hands together. He almost wanted to start learning on the spot.
He didn't need any rank or mastery—just being able to play those "pick-up god songs" from beginning to end would be enough. The melody and pitch were already in his head.
Wouldn't that make flirting easy?
He could even picture it: him at the piano, and some of Sora's friends rushing over, faces full of awe, expressing admiration—
Then a brutal slam of the brakes snapped him awake.
"Texas?!"
"I'm going over there to clear targets. You stay here and watch things."
"Ah, sure, I can do that, but didn't you say you brought me along for combat reasons?"
"Watch. The car."
"…Okay."
So who pissed her off this time?
It couldn't be that some Siracusan had brought bad news and triggered her memories, could it?
He didn't remember anything major happening at this point. Things should still be stable for a few more years, shouldn't they?
Li Lin watched Texas get out—still not saying much, face cold, like she was holding down an unspeakable rage—as she walked toward the slums.
And he still couldn't figure out what on earth he'd done.
-------
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