Chapter 1319: NO.223: Are you sure you want to ask this?

NO. 223: Are you sure you want to ask this?

They've already been checking it over there; if there's any result, they'll tell you right away, but if you have any results over there, remember to share them with me, okay!

Of course, Director Shihuaiya.

Why make such a big deal about a private number? It's not even being recorded or archived.

Indeed, if it's going to be casual, may I ask if this time is a bit of a disturbance?

Disturbing? No, no, actually I was just wondering if you'd like to grab a meal sometime these two days.

These two days?

Yeah, I think, Aomo, you might need to relax a bit.

... Is it really that obvious?

You rushed over just to deliver a single piece of intel—unprecedented! You used to just send packaged intel, almost handling everything yourself.

But even if it's packaged intel, you just want us to handle the wrap‑up, right?

I'm really embarrassed.

No… I'm not trying to blame you; I just want to ask if something happened on your end.

... Well, something did happen, but it's not bad; after a few days of thought, I've made a decision.

... Then you won't push yourself too hard, will you?

... That's quite a sharp question.

No, no, no! I didn't mean to pressure you; I just feel that asking about good or bad isn't appropriate—it should be the person's own thoughts, or rather their feelings, yes, feelings, feelings...

It's fine, I understand, and I really appreciate your way of asking, Bixiketuxe—it's pure concern.

——

But that's exactly why it's become such a hard‑to‑answer sharp question.

Aomo Lindon is skilled at the art of speech, knowing how to package a pure good‑or‑bad verdict, but Bixiketuxe·Shihuaiya left him speechless with just one question.

It also left him somewhat dazed after he finally hung up the phone.

He was indeed spacing out, his mind going blank in a very rare way.

To ease the present resistance.

It wasn't the first time.

Whether he admits it or not, today's abnormality is too obvious.

Whether it was Tuòhǎi back then, Sai Luo later, or even at home during a meal—Qian, Qieliènína, and even He—all gave him feedback on this fact.

What's more, in the work that followed, the Doctor, Terelis, and Terelia showed an unspoken but obvious concern.

And Huòěrhǎiyǎ's long, silent gaze, merely a smile, was wordless support.

All of these were added attacks on his mindset.

Honestly, these shouldn't really count as attacks.

Everything stems from goodwill; everyone is showing concern, especially that Feathered Serpent, whose understanding as someone who's been there gave Aomo a feeling far beyond her usual petty, flirtatious teasing of trying to get handsy whenever she could.

It's quite heartwarming, and he's grateful too.

His thanks during the call with Bixiketuxe were also sincere, solely for that unexpectedly revealed concern that judges not by objective good or bad but by one's own feelings.

It's extremely rare, overly sincere, making it hard for him to ignore.

Not just Bixiketuxe.

From afternoon to night, this sustained high‑frequency, high‑purity care let him, upon a brief reflection, feel a feedback that was utterly foreign yet immensely honoring.

It's a bit meddlesome, but he can't help thinking about it.

To think he's already met so many high‑quality friends, yet this is clearly not all—there are still many he hasn't met today, and even his earliest brothers don't know his situation; imagining these possibilities, then recalling a year ago when he didn't even know Bi Ze, and only knew a bunch of netizens including Kailifu—

He would think, I'm still too slow.

He should have changed long ago, but realizing it now isn't too late either.

Aomo thought so; on his computer screen, the draft email he was preparing to send to the city hall was automatically scrolling.

This was his third read‑through.

Not for correction, but rather a rare hesitation.

He was confident the email would reach a human agent at the other end, rather than being filtered out as junk by some bots.

After all, not long ago he had accepted invitations from the association, the city government, and even the district government.

Although he turned down the face‑to‑face meetings that came with those grand‑future offers, he did accept the basic publicity and simple awards.

Just based on that, he would obviously hold a unique rating in all three quarters.

Every citizen has a hidden rating with the government—this online legend that's been around forever is hardly a legend at all.

And it's not just the government—what company, or even what bank, doesn't give you a rating?

Credit ratings are a form of ranking too; class is something many people despise, yet it's something most civilizations can't shake off—Aomo, however, had no intention of speaking up for the Yilude people, since he himself is now a beneficiary of that class system.

Just as he had said when speaking with Shihuaiya earlier, he had made a decision in his thoughts over the past few days.

Horse Girl and mercenary work.

He once thought he could perfectly schedule and combine them without too much burden.

Now it's driving him to the brink.

Even now, giving up either side is still something he never considered, for he is such a greedy demon—he has no right to condemn others' desires, and he never hated the Sirius Symbol that repeatedly invaded his territory and drove him to this point.

Rather, he actually admires it.

He admires the arrogance that comes with high spirits, admires the sharpness hidden behind some order, and feels a rare stir seeing the other's true nature again.

These days he's constantly been a messenger for Ludofu, running errands for the Symbolists, and repeatedly getting slapped in the face by the Sirius Symbol.

Rather than a wolf, it's more like a dog.

It was as if his spine had been broken, as if he had lost his pride, so that when she suddenly bared her fangs and abruptly revealed her spirit, he only felt dazzled.

In that woman's heart, something shining still remained; moreover, the desire to pursue what she longed for still stirred.

What caused these dormant things to awaken?

Or have they always been restless, and I simply paid her too little attention?

Whether before or after, it doesn't matter, because both can provoke the same reflection.

Reflect on one's own impurity, reflect on one's dust-covered desire.

Observations that should not be overlooked, attention that should not be lacking, predicaments that should not be fallen into—these are the three points he needs to reflect on, and also his last chance to struggle now.

How to properly handle work conflicts, how to properly handle the devastating blow that the seven horse girls deal to a newcomer trainer's entire career……Such questions are not without answers, but after thinking it over, he finds only that one answer.

That answer lies in the email he is seeing right now.

"Not planning to fa?"

A sudden sound from behind made him turn his chair and look toward the bed at the back that was being used less and less.

His clear blue mane swayed with his long tail, just like his hair color, easily evoking a calm sea, boundless and vast, making one feel tranquil.

Obviously, that was Ling.

After a long time, she wasn't holding her wine gourd that seemed stuck to her hand, nor did she pick up her long staff; moreover, she wore a sweater and trousers as home attire, which was somewhat novel.

She is someone who can make Aomo feel as if he has suddenly made some decision, bringing various kinds of concern to those around him; there is probably more than one such person.

"You've been... watching for how long?"

He subconsciously narrowed his eyes, simply because he had never experienced that constant sense of unreality.

These successive oddities somewhat diverted his attention, and even caused a momentary doubt, wondering if he was hallucinating from too much pressure.

But regardless of whether she carried alcohol, it always carried a hint of wine scent, which is not fake.

Demons with keen five senses, including smell, rarely mention a woman's scent, for it is neither gentlemanly nor beneficial to social relations.

Yet they objectively exist and become one of the standards demons use to summarize a person's information.

Whether body odor, perfume, or things like shampoo and laundry fragrance, it's all the same.

Scent is not only a person's identifier; the choice itself also reveals an inner inclination of the other, demonstrating a practicality that can be outlined.

But for now, it's not the time for empathic reverie; he only feels that his nineteen-year-old mindset is trying to revive within him.

His foolish appearance, his hesitant appearance—both seem to be seen by the other.

It's somewhat embarrassing.

"How long have you been looking, emmm let me think…" Ling stroked her chin, thoughtfully, then raised her index finger and smiled, "Several days?"

Truly playful, truly cute, truly damn excessive——if it's been several days, do you really need to pretend to be thinking?

You're just making fun of me, right?

"Perhaps I should be glad I had no time these days to accept the pillow-and-mat invitation." Aomo said with a straight face.

"That's also fine, I can avoid it."

"I hope you can say I will avoid it, rather than I can avoid it."

"You really don't want me to see, do you?"

"Are you sure you want to extend this topic? I don't really want to chat about this with opposite-sex friends."

"Eh? Opposite-sex friends? I thought you always regarded me as same-sex."

"No matter how you say it, it's not disregarding the facts."

Since Wangpai Ge appeared, Miss Ling's ranking among the guys has dropped; the showdown among us female brothers is brutal—just being able to call someone 'brother' is enough.

——Although Aomo couldn't shout it out to his face.

It only circulates in fan circles, hasn't been acknowledged by the person concerned; better let it stay in the fan circles.

"Like that..."

"... What are you thinking?" In the silence lasting five seconds, Aomo couldn't help but ask.

Perhaps because of his already awkward mindset, he groundlessly felt this mutual gaze was very uncomfortable; for someone habitually thick-skinned, this is also a sign of imbalance.

"Thinking..." The light purple eyes seemed to hold a feeling as plain as that hue, which Aomo also couldn't read clearly, although he had never been able to read her before either.

"Think about whether you will actually send that email."

""

Unexpectedly, this topic could suddenly be set right again; Aomo, following her raised index finger, looked at the screen and promptly clicked send.

"Sent." He said dryly.

"Exactly, you should have done this earlier," Ling clapped her hands, "You've clearly made up your mind, haven't you?"

"If you don't want to give up anything, you must abandon your original reclusive, conservative style; only those who indulge fully can enjoy the best days, carefree and unrestrained, indulging in joy—you at least can manage the latter half."

"And you?" Aomo turned his chair to face her.

"Me?"

"How do you have the leisure to stare at me for several days? Do you also have any worries?"