Chapter 20: The Sadness of a Hopeless Admirer
Chapter 20: The Sadness of a Hopeless Admirer
Kanzaki Rin corrected him, “It’s not a bait-and-trap tactic—it’s cooperation!”
“Cooperation?”
“Exactly.”
Kanzaki Rin leaned forward slightly, her tone persuasive. “Our goals align. You must defeat all vampires to survive, and I aim to destroy them. Instead of waiting passively, let’s work together to eliminate them one by one while they’re still weak.”
Fang Cheng smirked. “How’s that different? You still want to use me as bait.”
“Call it what you like.”
Kanzaki Rin smiled, radiating confidence. “But you can’t deny partnering with me is your best option. I’ll provide tracking, equipment, strategies, combat support, cleanup, even handling official surveillance. Can you manage all that alone?”
Fang Cheng pictured her striking a dramatic “divine ruler” pose while cackling.
He cut her off with a wave. “Keep your combat ‘support’—I’ll handle the rest.”
Kanzaki Rin frowned. “My support test scores were perfect.”
Fang Cheng snorted. “Out of a thousand points? Did your teammates survive your ‘help’?”
Her expression darkened. “We just need better synergy. That takes time.”
Fang Cheng answered with a mocking stare.
Cooperating *did* offer advantages—maybe his only viable path. But he distrusted her. She’d likely betray him when convenient.
Noticing his hesitation, she pressed, “Try one mission. A trial partnership.”
When he stayed silent, she added, “Think it over—but not too long. Every hour, the vampires grow stronger through feeding and fighting. Once their strongest emerges, neither of us can stop it. I’ll retreat to the Disaster Countermeasures Department. You’ll face it alone.”
Fang Cheng crossed his arms. “I’ll hide there too! You wanted to drag me in before. Do they provide meals?”
Kanzaki Rin’s face screamed *‘Have some self-respect!’*
Her proposal *was* tempting. For survival and gathering Life Fragments, he’d clash with other vampires eventually.
Why wait?
Letting them power up meant suicide, not strategy.
As he deliberated, Kanzaki Rin’s phone rang.
Aoki Yusuke’s name flashed onscreen.
She answered tersely. “Yes?”
“Kanzaki, where are you?”
“Classified mission. State your business.”
“The Countermeasures Department updated their documents. Should I forward them?”
“No need. Anything else?”
“…No. Carry on.”
After hanging up, Aoki Yusuke stood by the street gazing at the distant apartment building. He exhaled deeply, his eyes shadowed with contemplation.
When Kanzaki Rin ended her call, Fang Cheng leaned forward curiously. “Boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Daddy then?”
She responded with silent, pointed eye contact.
“Only boyfriends and fathers care that much about your whereabouts.” Fang Cheng sprawled on the sofa. “Let’s see – male caller who likes you, but you’re keeping him at arm’s length. Am I warm?”
Though her face stayed neutral, surprise flickered in Kanzaki Rin’s heart. “How’d you know?”
Crossing his arms, Fang Cheng smirked like a seasoned gossip. “Three replies, all ‘Any business?’ Zero personal interest. Yet he still clings? Textbook hopeless admirer.”
He shook his head theatrically. “Pathetic! Chasing till he’s got nothing, not even respect from fellow singles. Right now, your devoted simp probably thinks his goddess is on some top-secret mission. Little does he know she’s actually getting handsy with a naked dude at midnight. May green pastures forever comfort him.”
😢😢😢Golden Novel translates the best Chinese web novels for you!😢😢😢
Kanzaki Rin’s eyelid twitched. “You wrote me love letters. Does that make you my admirer?”
“One admirer’s a dog,” Fang Cheng countered cheerfully. “A hundred make a wolf pack. Two hundred letters since middle school? I’m not some simp – I’m the whole wolf battalion. Basic admirers don’t even get respect from lonely mutts.”
“Woof! Woof!”
Barks echoed from the street outside, perfectly timed. Kanzaki Rin didn’t know whether to applaud or facepalm at his delusional grandeur.
“Arf! Arf! Arf!”
As Aoki Yusuke turned to leave, strays materialized barking. Their yaps sounded suspiciously like mockery to his ears. Normally unflappable, he suddenly snapped: “Scram! Get lost!”
More dogs emerged from alley shadows, eyes gleaming poisonous green. The eerie light made Aoki Yusuke recoil. “Beneath me,” he muttered, retreating hastily.
…
“Enough!” Kanzaki Rin wrestled control of the conversation. “Will you cooperate or not?”
“You said I could think it over.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“Typical.”
Fang Cheng rubbed his chin. “I kill vamps because we can’t coexist. Your reason? Some bloodsucker killed your family?”
“Private matter.”
“Goodwill!” He wagged a finger between them. “Cooperation needs mutual trust. You’re not holding up your end.”
After tense silence, she bit out: “I need achievements. To climb ranks in the Countermeasures Department. Satisfied?”
Her voice turned arctic, walls slamming up around the unspoken story.