Chapter 330: 330 The Price of Casting Away All Propriety

"……"

Damn it! If only this little brat could be a little dumber!

Looking at Li Ang, whose face showed five parts shock, four parts speechlessness, and one part deep disdain, the red-haired bureau chief couldn't help but click her tongue inwardly, then blinked her charming fox eyes and, blushing prettily, pinched the hem of her clothes as she said:

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly… from your mouth…"

"That's absolutely what you were thinking!"

Seeing through the red-haired bureau chief's clumsy act at a glance, Li Ang sharply sucked in a breath and hurriedly pressed his lips shut, taking two steps back.

Good grief! No wonder you've been so nice to me today! You even didn't hesitate to use such a precious wish opportunity to help me obtain a suitable anomalous item—so this is where you were waiting for me!

Tch! Looks like I can't bluff my way out of this!

Watching Li Ang, who had closed his mouth and retreated several steps, guarding against her as if she were a thief, the red-haired bureau chief couldn't help but blink, then said with a somewhat sorrowful expression:

"Li Ang, today's my birthday. I only get to celebrate it once a year, and I just want to have a sip of something good today. Could you possibly…"

"This isn't a question of whether it's your birthday or not!"

Warily watching the red-haired bureau chief play the sympathy card, Li Ang resolutely shook his head and refused:

"If you want to drink, I can treat you after we get back. At worst I'll go borrow money from the Princess—whatever you want to drink, I'll buy it for you. But this…"

"But this really isn't something you can just drink whenever you want!"

After glancing at the little wine bottle in Li Ang's hand, the red-haired bureau chief said pitifully:

"That was brewed using the Wine God's pearl. It contains a trace amount of the 'Fine Wine' Authority. All the alcohol in the entire world combined can't compare to it—not even close. The wine you can buy in the capital is at least two grades beneath it.

Li Ang, dear Li Ang, I just want to taste a sip of it on my birthday. I won't do anything else, and besides, you already promised me earlier—how can you suddenly go back on your word?"

"I… I did promise you, but I didn't know you…"

"Don't worry, just one sip!"

Seeing that Li Ang's attitude seemed to be wavering, the red-haired bureau chief couldn't help but be overjoyed. She quietly scooted forward while raising her hand to swear an oath:

"I swear—as long as you let me have one sip, I absolutely won't cling to you afterward! And I promise I won't tell anyone about this!"

"……"

"Dear Li Ang, today is my birthday, you know. On my own birthday I granted you a wish, so can't you grant me one too?"

"……"

"You know, I left my parents' side when I was little and joined the Cleanup Bureau. Every year I've spent my birthday all alone…"

"Stop, stop… I… I'll do it…"

Unable to withstand the red-haired bureau chief's persistent soft tactics, and worried that she might, in her "frustration," simply take him by force, Li Ang had no choice but to brace himself and reluctantly agree to this absurd request that utterly cast aside all propriety.

"Ahaha, I knew you'd agree! Don't worry! I'll be quick. Close your eyes, and it'll be over in a moment!"

Seeing that Li Ang had finally chosen to submit, a flash of triumph crossed the red-haired bureau chief's eyes, and she urged him on with an expectant look:

"Drink, drink! Yes, yes! Drink some more!

Keep going, keep going! Take a bigger sip!"

"Mm!!!"

Hearing the red-haired bureau chief's urging, Li Ang, who had taken a big gulp and whose cheeks were puffed out, couldn't help but glare at her with a flushed face.

That's all there is! If I don't drink more, I'll swallow it myself!

"Alright, alright! Then that'll do."

Having read Li Ang's meaning from his eyes, the red-haired bureau chief couldn't help but sigh regretfully. She carefully fastened the cap, put away the remaining half-bottle of wine, then reached out to wrap her arm around Li Ang's neck and rose slightly on her tiptoes.

"……"

Actually… although her personality was a bit outrageous, looks-wise the bureau chief was a rare beauty, and—

—compared to the Princess, who was hailed as the number one beauty, she was in no way inferior.

Lowering his head slightly along the pull of the arm hooked around his neck, his gaze traveled down along the red-haired bureau chief's cunning fox eyes, past her smooth, pert nose, and finally settled on her slightly puckered pink lips. Li Ang's heartbeat unconsciously skipped half a beat, and his throat bobbed instinctively.

To be fair, it seemed like he was just a tiny bit… tempted…

"Ah! No!"

Seeing Li Ang's Adam's apple bob slightly, the red-haired bureau chief instinctively grabbed it and, under Li Ang's shocked gaze, forcibly held back the wine that had slipped down.?!!

A little heart-stopping…

"Uh… sorry…"

Realizing what she had done, the red-haired bureau chief gave Li Ang an embarrassed smile, then hurriedly pressed her soft lips to his. Meanwhile, Li Ang—whose heart hadn't even gotten to flutter before it died completely—blackened his face and slightly opened his mouth.

Mm…

Although the process and the reason were both utterly absurd, thanks to the fine wine, this not-quite-pure deep kiss still seemed so fragrant and…

Fiery!

Feeling a surge of heat that went straight to his heart, Li Ang's eyes flew wide and he instinctively tried to pull away. But the red-haired bureau chief, reacting faster, had already pushed him aside and turned her head first, wanting to spit out the fine wine in her mouth.

However, before the two had even separated, a rose-colored horned secret pattern had already appeared on the little wine bottle the red-haired bureau chief was clutching tightly. The less-than-half-bottle of fine wine that hadn't been finished had instantly turned into bright red chili oil!

"Pah! Pah pah pah!"

After hastily spitting out the chili oil, Li Ang's tongue had already gone numb from the spice. The red-haired bureau chief wasn't faring much better—her originally pale pink lips had turned a fiery bright red, swollen up from the heat.

"Hmph!"

Accompanied by an angry snort that was very familiar to both of them, the secret pattern on the little wine bottle faded. The red chili oil, whose spiciness had almost seeped through the bottle, transformed back into clear, fragrant fine wine, as if nothing had happened.

The chili oil the two had spat onto the ground quickly gathered together, leaving a bright-red angry message on the death realm's pale-white soil.

'You two really opened my eyes!"

"……"

"……"

……

"You're back."

Hearing the footsteps behind her, Auntie Ai Ma, who had been sitting on a round stone by the lake stroking a death's-head crow, turned her head. She had just been about to ask how things had gone when she couldn't help but pause slightly.

The reason was nothing else—Hearing Li Ang and the red-haired director were walking side by side, but their gazes were pointed one to the left and one to the right, never meeting.

And one of them, like someone caught stealing a chicken, had an expression on his face that was

awkward and ashamed, while the other, like someone who'd failed to steal a chicken, was sighing and groaning with eyes full of vexation…

Looking at their appearance…had the coffin-stealing been discovered?

Thinking of this, Auntie Ai Ma couldn't help but feel a sudden tightness in her chest. She hurriedly put down the death's-head crow, rose to meet them, and asked with eyes full of concern:

"What happened? Is it the Third Generation…hmm? What's going on? Why are both of your lips swollen?"