Seeing that Yukinoshita Haruno still wasn't letting go, Arthur raised a brow slightly and said,
"Haruno, if you don't let go, I'm going to fight back."
"Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do?"
Haruno looked at him with a smiling gaze, her hands continuing their mischief. Clearly, she didn't take his 'threat' seriously at all.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
The next second, without hesitation—
He shot out both hands and grabbed Haruno's cheeks, pulling them apart.
"You—!!!"
Haruno's eyes widened slightly.
She glared at him. "So your wings have gotten hard, huh? You dare pinch your sister's face? Let go, now!"
"You first."
Arthur glared right back, refusing to back down.
"I'm your sister! Let go already!"
Haruno kept rubbing his face even as she spoke.
"Step-sister, at most."
Arthur retaliated with equal force, pulling her cheeks just like she was pulling his.
Haruno shot him another glare. "Still a sister. Let go, you brat!"
Arthur: "No."
Haruno: "Let go!"
Arthur: "You first."
Haruno: "You first."
And just like that, the two of them suddenly devolved into squabbling like little kids.
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "???"
Watching them, Shizuka's face darkened.
These two brats were acting like she didn't even exist.
Or maybe she was overthinking it…
But the longer she watched, the more it looked like they were… flirting.
"Hey, you two, that's enough!"
Unable to endure it anymore, Shizuka snapped, glaring at them with irritation.
Her fists were starting to feel hard again.
She was beginning to feel like she really shouldn't be here.
Arthur and Haruno turned toward her at the same time.
Then they looked at each other.
"Let's both let go on three."
"Deal."
Together, they counted down:
"Three, two, one."
At "one," they both released their hands simultaneously.
Haruno rubbed her cheeks and rolled her eyes at Arthur, huffing.
"You brat, your guts have definitely gotten bigger."
In the past, Arthur was never timid around her like most people were—he was always calm and at ease.
But he'd still maintained a subtle distance.
Now, she realized, that distance had vanished.
If it had been before, he would never have dared to do something like pinching her face.
Clearly, something about him had changed in the half month they hadn't seen each other.
What was it?
Curiosity flickered in Haruno's heart.
Arthur only smiled faintly and didn't answer.
"Alright, let's order food."
Shizuka, giving them both a glance, picked up the ordering tablet.
She selected a few bottles of alcohol for herself, along with three dishes, then handed it to Haruno.
Haruno scrolled through it briefly before passing it to Arthur.
Arthur glanced at the screen.
Seeing Shizuka had ordered several bottles of alcohol, he gave her a quick look but didn't comment.
Drinkers don't drive, drivers don't drink.
Even though Shizuka had driven here, she could always call a chauffeur service, or just leave the car overnight and pick it up tomorrow.
Half an hour later—
"I'll step out for a bit."
After downing three beers, Shizuka got up and left the room.
Haruno, who had also been drinking, turned her gaze on Arthur the moment Shizuka was gone.
Leaning her elbow on the table, she propped her cheek against the back of her hand, just watching him in silence.
Her beautiful eyes shimmered with playful light.
Her lips curved with a faint smile.
Noticing her gaze, Arthur asked,
"What are you staring at me for? Do I have something on my face?"
"Because you're nice to look at."
Haruno chuckled softly. "Doesn't Huaxia have a saying? Food for the eyes."
"Since it'll probably be a while before I see you again, I'll have to stare a bit more now—so I can feast my eyes."
"Is that not allowed?"
Arthur: "…"
Food for the eyes—that phrase was usually used to describe a beautiful woman or a gorgeous view.
He was neither.
Or… did Haruno see him as one of those two?
If so, he'd definitely be the latter.
"Look all you want then. Consider it repayment for treating me."
With a sideways glance at her, Arthur picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a tempura shrimp, and bit half of it off.
Crispy outside, tender inside. Crunchy and delicious.
The taste was worth the price.
"You said it. Don't blame me if I really do stare."
Haruno smiled playfully.
Then she scooted her chair closer to him, narrowing the distance.
Arthur rolled his eyes but ignored her, focusing on his meal.
As the food entered his stomach, it was instantly broken down into nutrients with the aid of his Origin Force. The leftover waste was completely decomposed, leaving nothing behind.
Haruno's gaze flickered as she watched him eat.
Suddenly, she let out a soft laugh.
"Little Arty, how about after you graduate… you become mine?"
"Become yours?"
Arthur arched a brow at that. After swallowing his bite, he turned to look at her.
"What, you want to keep me?"
Haruno was nineteen this year.
There was a saying: Three years older, hug a gold brick.
If he got together with her, he'd definitely be securing a "gold brick."
And she wasn't just wealthy—she was a stunning beauty. That'd be hitting the jackpot.
"You could put it that way."
Haruno's lips curled in a teasing smile, her eyes fixed on him.
Thanks to Shizuka, she had met Arthur a year ago, and they had come to understand each other fairly well.
She knew he was a genius.
A genius who could match, even surpass, herself.
His academics alone far exceeded what she'd achieved.
After all, Arthur had entered her alma mater, Sobu Private Integrated Academy, with perfect scores across the board.
The last person to do that… was fifteen years ago.
Beyond just talent—
After spending a year around him, she had to admit she admired him. For his mind, his personality, and yes… even his looks.
"Can't deny it's a tempting offer."
Arthur's lips curled upward, and for a moment, he seemed tempted.
Meeting her expectant gaze, he chuckled.
"But I refuse."
"Why?"
Haruno blinked, but didn't seem too disappointed.
She'd just been testing him anyway.
Deep down, she didn't expect Arthur to actually agree to something like being "kept."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Because the past is the past. The present is the present."
"Before, maybe I would've said yes. But now… I'm not the same person I was before."
"What do you mean?"
Haruno frowned slightly, confused and curious.
Not the same?
So what exactly had happened to him?
"Guess."
Arthur only smiled mysteriously.
Haruno: "???"
Then Arthur grinned again.
"Even if I turned down your offer to keep me, Haruno… you could always just become my woman instead."
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