After Entering a Contract Relationship with Hisoka - Chapter 4

When Shalnark saw the message from Lillia, he was so shocked that he nearly dropped his phone. He looked up at his leader, Chrollo, who was reading by the window, looked back down at his phone, and then looked back at Chrollo.

“?”

Chrollo looked up from his peaceful world. “What is it, Shalnark?”

“Ah, haha, nothing!”

Shalnark brushed it off with a laugh, but his hands were like lightning beneath the table, frantically typing a reply.

Great Knight: Did you actually manage to chase him down and get him?

Zoldyck Brand Idiot: Who?

Zoldyck Brand Idiot: Oh, if you mean that “him” from before, then no. I just started dating a new boyfriend.

Shalnark breathed a massive sigh of relief, feeling a wave of genuine emotion. If this obsessive girl had finally shifted her affections, he would be the first to offer his blessings. Truly. He offered a silent prayer of thanks to whatever unknown Good Samaritan had taken this nightmare off their hands.

Their leader, Chrollo, had been hounded by Lillia for three years. It started when the Zoldycks took a contract to assassinate a Phantom Troupe member. Silva and Zeno, for reasons unknown, decided to bring the utterly useless Lillia along. While the father and grandfather duo were fighting below, Lillia was left on the sidelines to observe and learn.

Instead of learning their combat skills, her eyes locked onto Chrollo, who was watching from the other side. Her eyes had turned green with greed, like a wolf spotting a prime cut of meat.

What followed was Lillia’s relentless pursuit of Chrollo. She sent jewelry, clothes, cars, houses, and rare treasures. She even sent adult toys. It was as if she did not know how to court someone, so she just threw everything at him.

Beyond that, she was a shadow. Stalking and secret photography were routine; once, she even stole Chrollo’s underwear. She was a total creep.

They could not kill her, either. Though she was an idiot, the Zoldyck family treasured their only daughter. Not only were there always butlers protecting her from the shadows, but Silva had even personally contacted Chrollo, stating his daughter had no ill intent and asking for his patience, even paying a massive sum in compensation.

They could not avoid her, either. Her family’s information network was vast. For a time, Chrollo had even reduced the Troupe’s activities. Worried he was getting depressed, the members held a private meeting to solve the problem. Naturally, Shalnark, being the most romantically experienced, spoke first.

Shalnark lived up to his reputation by offering a terrible idea, “Let someone seduce her into a long distance relationship, then find an ugly person to meet her in real life to crush her heart and make her lose hope in love.”

He was immediately shut down.

Machi: “And then? What if she is not disappointed? She will just think the leader is even better, and we will never get rid of her.”

Nobunaga: “Right. Too ridiculous. Not feasible.”

Phinks: “Too much trouble. I say we just kill her.”

Feitan seconded the motion.

But the problem remained: killing her meant facing the Zoldyck family’s vengeance. Silva’s combination of threats and humble apologies was all to keep his daughter’s life; killing her would be a disaster. To lose a Troupe member over a shallow idiot was not worth it.

Shalnark then suggested, “Then send someone to get close to her, infiltrate the enemy, and persuade her to give up. At the very least, convince her to harass the leader in a milder way so it does not affect our group activities.”

The members looked at each other and then unanimously looked at Machi.

Machi: “?”

Nobunaga: “Your intuition is the sharpest. If you say it is okay, it is okay.”

Machi felt the heavy burden on her shoulders. She pondered for a moment and nodded. “I think it is worth a try.”

So, they voted for a spy. Shalnark won by a unanimous vote, effectively shooting himself in the foot. He became her “friend” anonymously, attempting to give her “correct” romantic guidance. He introduced her to the world’s most handsome men to show her that Chrollo was not her only option. Finally, he fed her Buddhist teachings, hoping she would achieve enlightenment and transcend worldly desires.

This led to their current dynamic. Pray to Buddha and chant sutras; sincerity brings results.

Lillia had indeed been quiet for the past two months. Shalnark had actually wondered if she had joined a nunnery. As it turned out, she had just moved on. Shalnark rushed back to his room, opened his hidden hard drive, found his “treasures,” and began clicking “send” one by one, terrified that she might change her mind and return to Chrollo.

Liya waited for a long time but received no further messages. Instead, Hisoka emerged from the bathroom. He wore only a loosely wrapped towel around his waist, leaving his upper body bare. His skin was pale, his muscles lean and defined without being overblown. Drops of water fell from his red hair, tracing the lines of his muscles until they disappeared beneath the towel. He dried his hair leisurely, showing off his physique without hesitation.

Unfortunately, this display of vitality failed to move the ancient Immortal. In Liya’s mind, there was only one question.

“How old are you?” she asked.

The “old man” tone of her voice made Hisoka arch an eyebrow. “Twenty seven.”

Only twenty seven? He was not even a fraction of her actual age. What a sin.

Seeing a flicker of what looked like disdain in her eyes, Hisoka asked, “And you? How old are you? Hmm?”

Liya went quiet for a moment. “I am afraid the answer would frighten you.”

Hisoka laughed. “Are you a minor?”

She did look about fifteen or sixteen, with a bit of lingering baby fat on her face. Liya felt a twinge of pity and decided to give him the original owner’s age, “I am eighteen. An adult.”

Hisoka chuckled, his tone becoming suggestive. “Mm hm. That is an age where one can do anything they like.”

Liya: “…”

Young man, are you certain?

Her phone vibrated. Shalnark had finally replied. Strangely, it was a video. Liya did not think much of it and clicked it open. Suddenly, an unspeakable scene popped up on the screen. Accompanied by heavy male breathing and a woman’s soft moans, the volume was incredibly loud!

Liya’s hand shook violently, and the phone fell to the ground with a thud. Unfortunately, it landed right between her and Hisoka. At the same time, three messages popped up:

Great Knight: Falling in love is simple. Great Knight: Step one: Sleep with him! Great Knight: This is a teaching video. Please be sure to love him well.

Hisoka: “…” Liya: “…”

The disgraceful sounds from the phone grew louder and the rhythm faster. Liya and Hisoka stared at each other in a deathly, bizarre silence.

Liya had a bad habit: if something strange and sudden happened, she tended to zone out, entering a system crash state. It was as if her emotional range was not broad enough to handle certain scenes, so her brain initiated a self protection mechanism.

For example, her first instinct was not to grab the phone and turn it off, but to stare blankly at Hisoka’s impressive abdominal muscles.

After the silence, Hisoka’s lips curled into a silent smile. If he had previously thought this girl had simply become more enticing, he was now thoroughly impressed by her. He leaned down, picked up the screaming phone, paused the video, and handed it back to her.

Liya took it and said, “Thank you.” After a pause, she explained, “This is not what you think it is.”

Hisoka: “Oh? Hmm?”

Liya said, “I just wanted to learn how to interact with you.”

Hisoka suppressed a laugh. “Oh? And have you learned?”

“?”

Realizing her words were extremely ambiguous, Liya continued to explain, “I did not want to learn that. I meant, I wanted to learn…”

She stopped halfway. The more she described it, the worse it sounded.

Hisoka sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly finding this version of Lillia quite adorable. “What do you want to learn?” he asked in a good mood. “Why not ask me? See if my reservoir of knowledge can satisfy my cute girlfriend?”

Hisoka’s voice was low and pleasant, making the words sound incredibly intimate. Liya closed her eyes, finally realizing that discussing this with this man was utterly pointless.

“Apologies. I was impolite.” She stood up to leave.

As she passed him, a hand suddenly swept around her waist. With a gentle pull, he brought her back and sat her on his lap. The man still carried the moisture from his bath, smelling of a clean, cold, light fragrance. Being suddenly pulled into his arms made Liya gasp. She tried to push him away, but upon touching his cool skin, she pulled her hands back as if burned.

“Hisoka?” she asked.

Hisoka leaned in closer, sniffing the cold fragrance behind her ear. Truly. How can she smell this good? Why did I never notice how delicious she is?

Liya’s hair stood on end. In her thousands of years of life, let alone a man, she had never been this close to any living creature. Especially since Hisoka was half naked; it might have been an illusion, but as they were both wearing thin clothing, Liya felt a certain change in him.

“Let go of me,” she said coldly.

“Mm,” Hisoka’s voice grew deeper and raspier, ending in that strange lilt. “Where does Lillia want to go? ★”

Liya said, “I am going back to my room.”

Hisoka said, “Will you not stay and keep me company?”

Liya said, “No.”

She refused decisively without a hint of hesitation. Hisoka’s arm tightened around her, making the already small gap between them vanish. Liya could even feel his breath on her neck.

She turned her hand, forming her fingers into a sharp blade. She was debating whether to strike him first and worry about the contract love later when he spoke, “Why?”

Liya: “Why what?”

Hisoka smiled meaningfully. “Does little Lillia chan not like me very much?”

Who likes you? You annoying libertine.

Before Liya could speak, Hisoka added, “Then after chasing me for so long, are you deceiving my feelings?”

Liya froze. Her sharp fingers curled back in. How cunning. If she answered yes, it would be a breach of contract. Lillia, born of the contract, would vanish, and Liya would face a backlash. If she answered no, she truly had no feelings for Hisoka.

“And making a bet with others to become my,” Hisoka paused, “my girlfriend.”

“And playing such an explicit video just now. Were you not inviting me? Hmm?”

Liya: “…”

Hisoka watched the person in his arms. Her pale lips were pressed thin, and her eyes were cold and silent. She remained a picture of someone whose emotions did not reach her face and whose desires did not reach her heart.

It was strange. She had chased him for a long time. She had been watching that video. Yet now, she looked utterly indifferent, cold to the point of being robotic.

Hisoka suddenly realized he could not see through her. He had no idea what she was thinking. His grip on her chin tightened, his fingertips turning white.

Liya raised her hand to grasp his wrist, looking at him with a confused gaze. But even in her confusion, she did not make a sound; her expression remained light and faint.

A surge of irritable, destructive desire rose in Hisoka’s heart. He wanted to break her calm. He wanted to destroy it.

Ah. No. At least not yet. I must wait for the fruit to ripen.

But…

Hisoka suddenly leaned closer. Just as he drew near, Liya finally lost her patience. She placed her index finger against his chin and gently pushed him back.

Rejected again, the man’s lips dipped slightly. He looked displeased. Liya knew she had to give an explanation. The physical changes beneath her were becoming obvious.

In a moment of inspiration, she said, “What are you doing? You are a conservative person. Have you forgotten?”

Hisoka blinked.

Liya: “So even if my feelings are difficult to suppress, I will respect you. We must develop slowly. Feelings must flow like a steady stream to be stable, right?”

If the person saying this had a gentle expression, it might have been more convincing. But saying such affectionate words with such a cold face was jarring.

After a long silence, Hisoka actually seemed convinced. He let go and laughed. “Yes, you are right. Well then, even so, is it okay to stay and sleep with me?” He emphasized every word, “Just. Plain. Sleeping. Hmm? ☆”

Liya said, “I am afraid not. I fear I would not be able to control myself.”

Hisoka: “Do not worry. I will control myself.”

Liya: “…”

Control my foot.

Hisoka’s face darkened. “Or is it that you actually do not like me and are just toying with my feelings?”

Liya: “…”

She stood up from Hisoka’s lap in silence, straightened her dress, and walked toward the bathroom. The door closed with a bang.

It looked like a compromise. But she was angry. How cute.

Hisoka covered his mouth and chuckled. So, what secret are you hiding, little Lillia? Why did you change so much overnight, as if you were a different person?

Hisoka’s mood suddenly improved. He was not usually a patient man; his patience was proportional to his interest in his prey. Given his current level of amusement, he certainly had the patience to explore this secret. He hoped the answer would not disappoint him.

The last time he had found an apple this delightful was years ago. That was a powerful and charming man, equally attractive. He had always wanted to, but had not found the chance.

Ah. I cannot think about it anymore. Why are they both so delicious?

Hisoka felt he had to share his mood, so he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Illumi? I have found a delicious little apple.”

As a model of professional industry, Illumi was busy. He picked up the phone in the middle of his work only to hear that sentence. He was somewhat speechless, but out of professional respect for a client, he replied politely, “Is that so? Then congratulations.”

Hisoka: “Are you not going to ask who it is?”

Illumi showed a hint of interest. “Ah. Is it someone I know?”

“Yes.” Hisoka sat on the windowsill, playing with a card. “Want to guess?”

Illumi: “Hmm… any hints?”

Hisoka: “It is someone you would never guess.”

Illumi: “…”

Respecting the client was not strictly necessary. Hearing the dial tone, Hisoka did not get angry. Instead, he dialed another number, “Hello, Machi…”

By the time Liya finished her shower, Hisoka was still in the living room, talking to someone on the phone. She found a pair of conservative bear pattern cotton pajamas in her suitcase and applied skincare products according to the original owner’s routine.

Since there was only one bed and no extra blankets, she hesitated for a few seconds before getting into bed. Hisoka returned ten minutes later. The bed shifted as he lifted the covers and got in on the other side.

Liya had never shared a bed with anyone. Even her younger sister always slept in a separate bed because she complained Liya’s bed was too hard. Later, when her master ascended and her brothers went their separate ways, she was always alone.

The room in Heaven’s Arena was luxurious; the bed and blanket were huge. Hisoka was not lying close, but his body temperature was high, and his presence was impossible to ignore. Liya lay with her back to him, feeling a warmth behind her.

After a while, Hisoka turned over. He twined a finger around a lock of her hair and asked the back of her head, “Are you asleep?”

Liya’s scalp felt itchy from the attention. She did not want to deal with him, so she remained silent.

A low laugh came from behind her. Then she heard him say, “Well then, goodnight, little Lillia.”

Liya pulled the blanket up, burying herself deeper, and gave a muffled “Mm.”

She thought Hisoka might say more, but to her surprise, it really did go quiet. After a while, Liya stole a glance back. Hisoka had closed his eyes. It was unclear if he was asleep. His fingers were still twined in her silver hair. Without his usual exaggerated makeup and clothes, the sleeping Hisoka looked less eccentric and more approachable.

He asked her to sleep with him, and he really meant just sleeping? Had she overthought it?

Liya finally breathed a sigh of relief. After a day that included failing an ascension and transmigrating, her tensed nerves finally relaxed. She felt a long awaited fatigue and eventually fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already after nine the next morning. Liya climbed out from under the covers, looking around blankly, feeling disoriented.

Finally, her consciousness returned. Oh, she had failed her ascension and transmigrated. She had to stay in a contract love with a man named Hisoka for three months, and this was only the first day.

The room was empty; Hisoka was nowhere to be found. As she passed the vanity, she stopped. Last night, her left forearm had been broken by Aura. She had washed it briefly during her shower but had not treated it since she had no tools. The injury was bruised and swollen.

But now, her forearm was neatly wrapped in bandages, smelling faintly of medicine. Had Hisoka bandaged it for her?

Liya gently brushed the bandages, her expression softening slightly. Hisoka seemed unreliable, but he was actually quite attentive to do something like this.

Her phone chimed. She picked it up from the pillow. It was Shalnark.

Great Knight: So, friend? Did you sleep with him?

Liya did not know whether to laugh or cry. She tapped the screen to reply.

Li Li Li: No. Li Li Li: Your suggestion is not advisable.

Li Li Li: My boyfriend is a gentle, attentive, and conservative good man. I will respect him.