Chapter 870: Chapter 697: You Broke Her Heart If he could, Huai Shi really wanted to reply, this is the price of being good-looking.
But he didn’t quite dare...
"...let’s just say, it’s a long story."
Huai Shi awkwardly waved his hand and curiously asked, "Did this thing blow up?"
"What do you think? Don’t take others for fools, Huai Shi. It’s been half a month since such a big incident happened. Even if Matsumoto doesn’t speak up, can the Jurisdiction Bureau not find out? Before coming here, I just got out of Matsumoto’s laboratory, completely sealing off all the research data. Because he was the one who concealed it, so many people have been working overtime non-stop these days. If you ask me, this has already deliberately endangered the safety of Current Circumstances."
"How will it be handled? Is there a result yet?"
"What else can be done?" Ai Qing waved irritably, "The Ivory Tower made an all-out effort to protect him. Your principal directly hijacked the line to intervene, acting like an old rogue pleading on his behalf. Probably, in the end, it will just be a stern warning to closely monitor and eliminate hidden dangers, and a lifetime ban on leaving Current Circumstances and participating in political matters... nothing significant. Then, leaving a mess for me to deal with."
"Is it very serious?"
"Nonsense." Ai Qing glared at him, "This is already a major threat involving all Beastified Characteristic Beings. It can even shake the stability of Current Circumstances. The Jurisdiction Bureau has classified it as a priority observation and review matter. If handled well, it’s taken for granted; if not, there will be huge repercussions. If no solution is found, I’m afraid I’ll be the one who ends up bearing the blame."
Huai Shi was stunned for a while and sincerely lamented, "It’s not easy for you either."
"Who says it’s not?" Ai Qing replied coldly.
In the sudden awkward silence, Huai Shi scratched his head and couldn’t help but ask, "Have you eaten?"
"I have, station bento, not great but at least filling."
"What a coincidence, me too."
Huai Shi thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Then... shall we go for a drink?"
Saying this, he looked up at the bustling, neon-lit city outside the corridor.
.
.
Half an hour later.
Outside, on the open-air chairs of the Tiger King Chain Milk Tea Shop.
Huai Shi returned from the queue, delightedly presenting two cups of milk tea, "Sorry, the line was too long, kept you waiting~ Quickly try, internet-famous milk tea, worth the wait."
Ai Qing looked coldly down at the cup of milk tea with double pearls before her, then looked up at Huai Shi, expressionless, "You brought me here just to drink this?"
"What else?" Huai Shi replied, puzzled, "Alcohol is so bad for the stomach. Look, milk tea is great. Even the underground sells it."
"..."
Ai Qing rolled her eyes, ignoring him. Assuming this guy had the courage to take her to a bar, she felt her brain must’ve had issues.
"Alright, my mistake, but drinking less alcohol is always good, right?"
Huai Shi sighed, shrugged, and softly asked, "Long time no see, how have you been lately?"
"Alright, eating well, sleeping soundly, promoted with a raise, heading towards the pinnacle of life."
Ai Qing took a sip of milk tea, furrowing her brows at the sweetness, "Can’t compare to you, young and beautiful, in your prime, not only a role model but soon to have kids..."
Putting down the milk tea, she asked, "Have you decided on a name yet?"
What’s with this guilty feeling of a heartbreaker facing his ex-lover?
Huai Shi’s expression twitched, feeling his back hair rise from those casual eyes, he clasped his hands and bowed his head in plea, "I’m sorry. Can we not bring this up?"
"This is what happens when you offend people from the Abyss Development Bureau. That group has a wide reach, any gossip or embarrassing matter will surely spread everywhere. You better take good care of yourself."
Ai Qing shifted her gaze away, looking elsewhere, and stopped talking.
The awkward silence crept back again.
In the quiet, there was only the strange sound of slurping the finished milk tea with a straw next to them.
Glug glug... Glug glug... Glug glug...
Huai Shi tried several times to speak, searching for topics, but was disturbed by the messy sound, unable to hide his annoyance, turned to glare.
But realized there was nobody next to him.
Only the shop window, filled with a phantom image in the glass Reflection.
A long-lost black Flying Bird leaned on the frame, eagerly enjoying the drama in front, wings wrapped around a can of milk tea as tall as itself.
Holding a straw in its beak.
Slurp, slurp, slurp.
Then, glug glug... Glug glug... Glug glug...
Noticing him looking over, it seemed rather dissatisfied, waving a wing to gesture — don’t get distracted, go on. The reunion drama is rare, Crow Group Elder Sister just loves watching this!
Suddenly, all feelings vanished.
Huai Shi couldn’t help but roll his eyes, sighed dramatically, "I’m having such a hard time."
Immediately, a curious gaze fell on Huai Shi’s face.
Ai Qing tilted her head, seriously asked, "Mr. Huai Shi, I understand having tea with someone who doesn’t quite get modern nuances might be dull, but isn’t it that painful?"
"I didn’t, I’m not, don’t say that!"