Chapter 165: Drugging??
The following day, the moment Rovel logged into the game, he made a beeline for Fu Hua's room. He offered a perfunctory knock before brazenly pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Fu Hua glanced over her shoulder, blinking in mild surprise. A simple hair tie dangled loosely from her lips. Even in the middle of her morning routine, her grayish-blue hair was impeccably groomed, every single strand falling into place with the rigorous discipline of soldiers standing in formation.
"Rovel? Is something the matter?" she asked, her voice muffled before she plucked the hair tie from her mouth and secured her hair.
"I missed you," Rovel blurted out, leaning against the doorframe with a casual smile.
Fu Hua froze. Her hands stalled in her hair. A faint, rosy tint crept up her neck and settled on her cheeks. Yet, unlike her usual stoic self, she didn't immediately reprimand him or offer her standard, 'Please refrain from making such inappropriate jokes.' She simply looked away, her silence speaking volumes.
"Anyway, this is for you," Rovel said, closing the distance between them. He produced an elegantly wrapped gift box from his inventory and held it out to her.
"What is this?" Fu Hua stared at the pristine packaging, her brow furrowing in genuine confusion.
"I originally planned to give it to you yesterday when the atmosphere was perfect, but it completely slipped my mind in the heat of the moment," Rovel admitted, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Happy birthday, Fu Hua. This is the gift I prepared for you."
"A birthday... gift?" Her striking blue eyes widened by a fraction. She carefully accepted the box, her fingertips brushing against the smooth ribbon. "How did you even know that yesterday was...?"
"Because I always pay close attention to you!" Rovel declared with a bright, unrepentant smile. He pressed the box firmly into her hands and immediately took a step back toward the door. "I really hope you like it!"
Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and slipped out of the room, closing the door swiftly behind him. He knew exactly what was inside that box, and he had zero intention of sticking around to catch a martial arts master's fist with his face.
Left alone in the quiet room, Fu Hua pressed a hand against her chest. Beneath her palm, her heartbeat drummed a rapid, erratic rhythm. Her slender fingers traced the edges of the exquisite wrapping paper, and despite her usual discipline, the corners of her lips betrayed her, curving upward into a soft, imperceptible smile.
With careful care, she untied the ribbon and lifted the lid, a rare flutter of anticipation warming her chest.
The moment her eyes registered the fabric nestled within the tissue paper, she slammed the lid shut. Snap.
The faint blush that had just begun to recede surged back with a vengeance, flooding her pale skin with a deep, burning crimson that reached the very tips of her ears.
It was a stunning, sapphire-blue Qipao. The garment was a masterpiece of classic elegance, embroidered with delicate, mysterious silver motifs. However, the design was scandalously bold. The side slits were cut dangerously high—so high that if she actually put it on, her bare thighs would be entirely exposed to the open air with every step she took, radiating an obvious, mature feminine charm.
Swallowing hard, she slowly reopened the box and lifted the silk fabric, holding it up against her body in front of the mirror. The measurements were terrifyingly accurate. It was tailored perfectly to her exact proportions.
Did Rovel... did he want me to wear this specifically for him?
The sheer implication sent a jolt of electricity through her spine. Overwhelmed, Fu Hua collapsed onto the edge of her bed, hugging the scandalous blue Qipao tightly against her chest. She curled into a tight ball, burying her burning face into her knees, completely unable to process the chaotic swirl of emotions in her head.
"Asking me out for a drink? Are you feeling alright?" Himeko leaned against the wall, her amber eyes narrowing with deep suspicion. She crossed her arms, pushing up her impressive cleavage. This was the very first time Rovel had ever actively invited her out to a bar. Her instincts immediately screamed that this boy was up to no good.
"I'm just terrified of drifting apart from my favorite Sister Himeko," Rovel replied smoothly. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, layering his voice with thick, shameless flattery.
"Oh? Did you suddenly achieve some sort of grand enlightenment?" Himeko scoffed, though an alluring, dangerous smile played on her red lips. She reached out and poked him hard in the center of his forehead. "I told you before, last time was your final chance. So... keep dreaming, kid."
Despite her teasing words, she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she adjusted her grip, intertwining her fingers with his as she let him lead the way.
The two soon arrived at a high-end local bar. The thumping bass of the music and the sweep of neon lights created a dizzying, intoxicating atmosphere. They claimed a pair of stools at the sleek mahogany counter, ordered two glasses of premium liquor, and settled into an easy, idle rhythm of conversation.
"Himeko, your lipstick is slightly smudged," Rovel noted, leaning in. He raised a hand, his thumb gently brushing the very corner of her lips. Himeko usually preferred a lighter touch with her makeup, so she likely hadn't noticed the tiny imperfection.
"Is it?" Himeko arched an eyebrow. She retrieved a compact mirror from her designer purse and popped it open. Seeing the faint red streak near her mouth, she sighed. "Alright, you caught me. I'm going to the restroom to touch this up. Don't go anywhere."
She slid off the stool, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked away.
The moment she disappeared around the corner, Rovel's relaxed demeanor vanished. This was his chance.
He cast a quick, cautious glance toward the restrooms. Confirming she was completely out of sight, he brought his index finger to his mouth and bit down just hard enough to break the skin. A bead of crimson welled up. Hovering his hand over Himeko's half-full glass, he allowed a few heavy drops of his own blood to fall into the liquor.
Klein hadn't given him an exact dosage for this little experiment, so he had to rely on trial and error. The crimson droplets hit the cloudy, amber liquid and dissolved instantly, blending smoothly into the alcohol. Unless someone was staring directly into the glass under a spotlight, it was completely impossible to tell that it had been tampered with.
A few minutes later, Himeko returned, her makeup flawless once more.
"Cheers," Rovel said smoothly, raising his glass to meet hers.
Clink.
Himeko, completely devoid of suspicion, brought the rim of the glass to her lips, fully intending to down the expensive liquor in a single, practiced gulp.
However—
"Wait! Miss, do not drink that! I just saw him put something in your glass!"
A loud, booming voice shattered the intimate atmosphere. A blond man suddenly vaulted from a nearby booth, pointing an accusatory finger directly at Rovel's face.
"...Who exactly are you?" Rovel sighed, giving the intruder a flat, unimpressed look. A quick appraisal revealed the man was another Descender. He had tanned skin, spiky blond hair, and a heavily muscled physique that strained against his tight shirt. He looked like a walking stereotype of a self-righteous protagonist.
"It doesn't matter who I am! I simply cannot stand by and watch this kind of despicable behavior!" the blond man bellowed heroically. He turned to Himeko with a reassuring, overly dramatic expression. "Do not be afraid, miss. I have already contacted the authorities on your behalf."
His booming declaration instantly killed the music's vibe. Dozens of heads turned. The surrounding patrons began whispering, casting glares of absolute disgust and disdain toward Rovel.
"You said he added something to my drink?" Himeko murmured. She held her glass up to the neon lights, swirling the liquid thoughtfully. The cloudy alcohol did look a fraction of a shade darker than Rovel's.
Then, without a second of hesitation, she tilted her head back and downed the entire spiked glass in one massive gulp.
The blond man's jaw dropped in sheer bewilderment. Before he could even process what had just happened, Himeko reached over, snatched Rovel's glass right out of his hand, poured the contents into her own, and downed that one too. She slammed the empty glass onto the counter with a satisfying thud.
"Now then," Himeko purred, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she glared at the intruder. "Where is your evidence?"
"..." The blond man stood frozen. His mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. A deep, humiliating flush of red crawled up his neck and consumed his face. He had leaped out here expecting to be the valiant hero saving a damsel in distress, but instead, he had been instantly reduced to a spectacular clown.
Himeko's in-game level was so terrifyingly high that even Rovel couldn't read her stats, let alone this random Descender. The fool had likely spotted a gorgeous older woman, thought he could play the white knight to earn her favor, and decided to publicly humiliate Rovel to do it.
"Let's go, Rovel. We've run into a massive spoilsport," Himeko sighed, completely losing interest. She grabbed her designer bag, locked her arm through Rovel's, and dragged him out of the bar, leaving the humiliated blond man standing alone in the center of the crowd.
The two of them wandered aimlessly down the neon-lit streets of Shenzhou. Rovel kept a close eye on her, waiting for the blood to take effect. However, as the minutes ticked by, Himeko didn't exhibit a single symptom. Her body temperature remained normal, she wasn't dizzy, and she certainly wasn't losing consciousness.
They walked for nearly an hour, the cool night breeze brushing past them. Just as Rovel was beginning to think the experiment was a complete failure, Himeko's heel suddenly caught on the pavement. She stumbled forward, losing her balance.
Rovel's reflexes kicked in instantly. He shot out a hand, catching her by the waist. Himeko let out a soft gasp as she collapsed naturally into his embrace, her weight pressing heavily against his chest.
"Sister Himeko? Are you alright?" Rovel asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
"Hot..." Himeko groaned, her forehead resting against his shoulder. Her amber eyes were clouded and hazy, her breath coming in shallow, ragged pants. "My body... it's burning up..."
Wait, what? A massive, invisible question mark practically materialized over Rovel's head. That wasn't supposed to be the effect of his blood.
Regardless of his confusion, he didn't hesitate. He scooped the flushed woman into a firm bridal carry, adjusted his grip, and sprinted through the quiet streets toward their temporary residence in Shenzhou.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the front door of their safe house. As Rovel set her down to unlock the door, Himeko stared at the familiar entrance, her exquisite, flushed face suddenly freezing in a look of absolute bewilderment.
"...Aren't you terrified that Mei is going to find out about this?" Himeko whispered, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Find out about what?" Rovel tilted his head, completely baffled. "You were feeling unwell, weren't you?"
He honestly thought his blood had finally triggered some sort of intense cellular recovery process within her body, which was exactly why he had rushed her home to rest.
Himeko stared at him. "..."
The sheer, unadulterated speechlessness radiating from the older woman's face was a massive wake-up call. The gears in Rovel's brain finally clicked into place. He stared at her flushed cheeks, her heavy breathing, and her previous comments about Mei finding out.
"...Wait a minute," Rovel muttered, his jaw dropping slightly. "You didn't actually think I slipped an aphrodisiac into your drink, did you?"
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