After Entering a Contract Relationship with Hisoka - Chapter 6

“Oh, this.”

Liya hesitated, “Did I say that?”

Hisoka curled his lips into a smirk, watching her in silence. Left with no choice, Liya turned toward Yuno and Katina, questioning them with her eyes. The two girls were busy eavesdropping on the gossip and had not expected to be dragged into it.

Upon seeing her look, Yuno shook her head frantically while Katina nodded vigorously. After the two exchanged a quick glance, Yuno began nodding frantically while Katina shook her head.

Liya: “…”

Fine. She truly had not paid attention to what she had just said, so she turned back to her nominal boyfriend.

Hisoka remained silent, that smirk still fixed on his face. Although he was technically smiling, he radiated an unmistakable “I am not happy” aura. He had been sitting in the back row and happened to spot her. He had intended to come over and play, only to overhear her chatting with her friends.

What a naughty girl. Yesterday evening she had invited him so adorably, yet in the blink of an eye, he was being compared to that trash on the stage?

Hisoka did not particularly care about a minor offense or two. She was young, and her social graces were understandably lacking; furthermore, she possessed secrets that interested him, and her brother was an ideal long term partner. From various perspectives, there was nothing to get worked up about. However, he was a capricious man, and he was a little annoyed.

Noticing Hisoka’s mood was sour, Liya subconsciously touched the bandages on her left arm. She thought that as his partner, she ought to coax him after saying something wrong. The Immortal, who had never coaxed anyone in her life, was a bit nervous and spoke without thinking, “Um, I was just talking nonsense earlier. He is much weaker than you. He cannot compare to you at all.”

“Much, weaker.”

Hisoka’s smile faded slightly.

Liya continued, “No, I mean, you are still quite a bit stronger than him.”

Hisoka: “…”

Liya: “Um, what I actually wanted to say was, both of you are,”

Beside them, Yuno covered her face, unable to watch any longer. The popcorn in Katina’s hand fell to the floor in shock. Hisoka’s forced smile vanished completely. He silently pulled out a Joker and began fiddling with it, his golden eyes cast downward. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Liya: “…”

Dating really was a headache. Why did it feel like she had been possessed by the original Lillia? Where did her emotional intelligence go? How exactly was she supposed to coax someone? In the eerie, quiet atmosphere, she feigned composure and pulled out her phone. She looked through her bookmarks for the guide Shalnark had shared.

One Thousand Sweet Words to Conquer a Scoundrel’s Heart

The very first sentence of the first page: “Keep your heart hard and your tongue sweet. Men are just children; praise them wildly. For example: (The following one thousand words have been omitted)”

After skimming it, Liya’s eyes went hollow. The words were too sappy; she could not bring herself to say them. Feeling this guide was not for her, she clicked another titled How to Make a Scoundrel Submissive and Turn Him Into a Simp.

This one was even more ridiculous. “Maintain a sense of mystery. Occasionally give them a little sweetness, but remain independent most of the time. Keep him dangling until his heart aches. Utilize his desire for conquest to torment him ruthlessly!”

Why were they so different? The first said to praise him, the second said to torment him. And why were they all about scoundrels? Liya finally realized the subject matter was wrong to begin with.

As she scrolled through her phone, Hisoka caught a glimpse of the screen. A single look at that outrageous title was enough to make him laugh out of pure irritation.

“Lillia,” he said, his fingers brushing against the sharp card, unable to help himself, “it seems you have a misunderstanding of me.”

Liya turned off the screen and looked up at him, feeling a rare sense of guilt.

Hisoka lowered his gaze, his single earring swaying slightly. He spoke in a leisurely tone, “I am a good man. I am not a scoundrel. And of course, I do not play the simp either.”

“…” Liya’s face turned bright red on the spot. She wanted to say it was all another misunderstanding, but would he even believe her?

Until the crowd dispersed, Liya could not think of a good way to coax her boyfriend. Leaving the venue, Hisoka waved and said goodbye to the three girls, preparing to depart.

“Wait!” Liya called out.

Hisoka turned back, arching an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Despite being sufficiently offended, he maintained his gentlemanly poise. He did not lose his temper or turn cold, which made Liya feel even guiltier. A trace of hesitation and conflict appeared in her aqua blue eyes.

The match had just ended, and people were flowing in and out of the entrance. Liya stood there, hesitating to speak, while Hisoka waited patiently for her to continue.

Yuno suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, Katina! I just remembered I have a package I forgot to pick up. Accompany me.”

“Huh?” Katina caught on late. “Oh, right, right! I will go with you,”

The two quickly excused themselves. Before leaving, Yuno squeezed Liya’s hand meaningfully. Good luck, comrade. Everything is understood.

Now that she had him, she could not let him fly away! Be proactive! Bold! Passionate! Most importantly, be sweet! Fearing Liya would not understand her meaning, she even pressed a piece of candy into Liya’s palm as a hint.

Liya opened her hand and stared blankly at the candy, a strawberry flavored gummy. Finally having a way to change the subject, she cautiously offered it to Hisoka. “Do you want this?”

Hisoka looked at the candy, then at this beautiful block of wood. He smiled thinly and said nothing. Seeing him not take it, Liya lowered her hand slightly, her voice dropping. “Will you not eat it?”

Hisoka paused, then reached out to take the candy. “I will eat it.”

Liya relaxed a little and gave a soft “Mm.”

Although Hisoka said he would eat it, he did not unwrap it. Instead, he performed a sleight of hand, making it vanish, and asked, “Are you hungry?”

Liya pulled her gaze back from his fingers. “Hmm?”

“It is already noon,” Hisoka said. “Would you like to go grab something to eat with me?”

Liya finally realized the situation. She was currently a mortal and could no longer practice Inedia. Ever since she began guarding the Far North at the age of one hundred, she had ceased eating and lacked any desire for food. She almost never remembered that she needed to eat. No wonder she had been feeling dizzy. She had not eaten last night or this morning. Was she simply hungry?

“What, are you spacing out again?” Hisoka waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Did you hear me?”

Liya snapped out of it and nodded. “Yes.”

How incredible. She came to apologize, yet she was so stubborn she had not even said “I am sorry.” He had overlooked her earlier comments to invite her to eat, yet she was still spacing out. It was the first time Hisoka had seen someone act so insolently in front of him; he found it both irritating and amusing.

Suppressing his irritation, he asked, “Then, how about Western food?”

Liya did not know what Western food was, but Lillia’s memories suggested it was quite lavish. She replied, “That is fine. But let me treat you?”

Hisoka arched an eyebrow. “Lillia wants to treat me to a meal?”

Liya lowered her eyes, looking unnatural. “Consider it an apology.”

“Oh?” Hisoka asked. “What do you need to apologize for?”

For calling you weak. And for looking at the wrong guide and thinking about training you from a scoundrel into a simp.

Liya’s expression became even more strained. “Just, certain things.”

She turned her head away, her small, rounded earlobes tinged with a faint pink. Although her expression remained cool and detached, she seemed embarrassed.

Hisoka refused to back down, pressing her further. “Which things? If you do not explain clearly, how will I know? Hmm?”

Liya: “…”

The man’s tone was leisurely and full of amusement. Liya suddenly sensed a subtle interrogation in his voice. She glanced at him and began to walk away. But after a few steps, she stopped. She looked back to see Hisoka still standing in the same spot, smiling. Ultimately, this was her fault. And since she had to date him for three months, they could not fall out on the very first day.

Liya pursed her lips and asked, “Are you not coming?”

Having been left behind by a woman for the first time, Hisoka smiled and remained still. Amidst the crowd, he stood tall and composed, his emotions unreadable. Liya sighed and walked back to him.

“Are you not hungry? Let us go eat.” Her voice was still cool.

Staring at her long eyelashes, Hisoka’s bad mood suddenly vanished into thin air. “Mm,” he hummed softly. “Fine. Let us go. ☆”

Hisoka ended up paying for the meal. “On a first date, how can I let the girl pay? That is not my style,” Hisoka had said.

Liya had not expected him to be so chivalrous, so she let him have his way. After lunch, Hisoka took her to the entertainment area on the first floor. The developers of Heaven’s Arena had spared no expense, building a fully equipped indoor amusement park. Under a glass dome dozens of meters high, there were roller coasters, Ferris wheels, shooting galleries, and dart games.

“Is there anything you want to play? ☆” Hisoka asked while they were queuing for tickets.

Liya was dazzled by the sights. She replied modestly, “No,”

Hisoka suggested, “Then how about we play everything?”

Liya blinked, thinking this was a wonderful idea. However, out of her remaining dignity as an Immortal, she remained reserved. “There is no need for such trouble. Does Hisoka not have things to do?”

The girl’s aura was cold, her beauty exceptional, but her expression betrayed a curious eagerness. Hisoka saw through her act and found her even more adorable. He smiled and rubbed her hair. “It is no trouble. Playing with Lillia makes me happy.”

Liya nodded politely. “I am very happy too.”

Thus, they bought a pass. Hisoka took her to play darts, ride the carousel, jump on trampolines, play basketball, ride the roller coaster, and go on the Ferris wheel. Finally, they even tried the claw machine. They were like an ordinary couple, experiencing every childish and unexpectedly fun activity.

Liya did not know how to use many of the facilities, so Hisoka patiently taught her. When Liya spent a huge pile of game coins to finally catch an ugly doll, Hisoka clapped in support.

Admittedly, Hisoka was a very qualified partner: gentle, attentive, and a complete gentleman. Since childhood, Liya had known nothing but practice. After choosing the Path of Heartlessness, she had spent years in secluded cultivation. In her younger sister’s words, she was the queen of try-hards.

But she did not actually try that hard. Liya always felt she was quite laid back. No matter how high her cultivation, she rarely lost her temper or picked fights. Immortals lived long lives; she had few friends and no hobbies, so she practiced out of boredom. For the first time in her life, she experienced ordinary entertainment. It felt, actually quite fun.

When they parted, Liya was holding a giant strawberry bear Hisoka had won at the shooting gallery in her left arm, a rabbit cake Hisoka had bought her in her right hand, and a pair of blue cat ear hairbands she had won from a blind box on her head. Standing before the elevator, she was momentarily dazed.

Who was supposed to be coaxing whom?

Looking at his retreating back, Liya called out to him again. “Hisoka.”

Hisoka turned back once more, arching an eyebrow. “What?”

Recalling the book One Thousand Sweet Words to Conquer a Scoundrel’s Heart, Liya felt she could finally say something from the heart. “Thank you. You were very cool today.”

After retrieving her talisman making supplies from the service desk, Liya returned to her room with her pile of items. She placed the cake on the coffee table and the strawberry bear on the sofa. The redness on her face had still not faded.

How did she say that? Such sappy words.

The Immortal fanned herself with her hand, quickly found the air conditioner remote, and lowered the temperature by two degrees. She remembered how Hisoka had gently pinched her nose before leaving. How truly insolent.

Curling up on the sofa, Liya opened the rabbit cake and took a spoonful. The cream melted instantly, sweet and fragrant without being cloying. Hisoka had good taste. This cake was delicious. She would have to praise him again next time, for the sake of the cake.

Her phone suddenly chimed. Liya checked it to find a group chat message. The group name was “The Tower Climbing Routine of Three Psychos.” It turned out she was already friends with Yuno and Katina, and the three of them had a small group. Liya choked slightly; the group name was actually quite fitting.

She clicked the chat.

Kaka: How is it, Lillia? Did Hisoka make things difficult for you? Big Boss Yuyu: [Lurking.jpg]

Liya lay back on the sofa and typed a reply.

Li Li Li: No. Big Boss Yuyu: I figured. Such a small thing probably would not matter. Kaka: Hisoka does not look like the jealous type. Li Li Li: Yes, it is fine.

Liya also felt that Hisoka was likely in the same vein as her second brother, Sukuna: not very interested in romance and only seeking extreme power. He probably would not be so petty. Furthermore, she had just eaten and gone to the amusement park with him, so he was surely not angry.

Just then, the television in the room lit up. An announcer was broadcasting the next match times for the fighters. Liya looked closely. It was not her, but Hisoka.

Fighter Hisoka’s next battle: two days from now at 8:00 AM. Opponent: Kastro.

Liya: “…”

A crack appeared in her calm expression. She took a photo of the television screen and sent it to the group. The group was silent for a while. Two minutes later:

Big Boss Yuyu: Wow. Kaka: Wow. Li Li Li: …Wow. Kaka: Lighting a candle for Kastro. This is pure guilt by association.

Liya felt a bit guilty. She felt sorry for that unlucky fighter, Kastro, whom she had never met and only seen from afar. After all, if not for her careless words, Hisoka might not have challenged him.

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Liya asked the group.

Li Li Li: Could it be a coincidence? Kaka: There are hundreds of fighters on the same floor. The chances of a random encounter are not high. Kaka: Or you could just ask your man directly.

Liya: “…”

Fine, asking was out of the question. An introvert would never take the initiative to ask. If she had the chance to meet Kastro in the future, she would see if she could quietly compensate him for his misfortune.

Big Boss Yuyu: [Crying cat.jpg] Big Boss Yuyu: @Li Li Li, can you talk to your Lord Hisoka and ask him not to hit him yet? I just started fangirling over this hottie, and I am not tired of him yet. Kaka: @Big Boss Yuyu, do you not think that if she asks for mercy, Hisoka will hit him even harder? Big Boss Yuyu: [Wailing cat.jpg] Li Li Li: I will try to make him not hit the face.

After chatting with them for a while, Liya found it quite enjoyable. Exiting the chat, she scrolled through her friends list. She had wanted to tell Hisoka that while a challenge was a challenge, he should not hit the man too hard, only to find she did not have his contact information.

In Lillia’s memories, she had chased Hisoka for a month and had a huge pile of secret photos of him, yet she had never even managed to get his contact details. She would have to wait until their next meeting.

Putting down her phone, Liya calmed her mind. She had dated and met her friends; now it was time for serious business. She sat cross legged on the soft carpet in the living room, wanting to test if she could practice her cultivation techniques from her previous life.

This body was very weak, and the spiritual energy was thin. Fortunately, her comprehension and state of mind remained. Three hours later, as the sun set and the last trace of dawn vanished, the moon rose in the west. The furniture in the room moved without wind. Centered on Liya, a vortex formed. Her pores opened, and a strange aura surrounded her as she rapidly absorbed the spiritual energy from the world.

About thirty minutes later, the aura faded. She slowly opened her eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. It was done. She had reached the Qi Refining stage. She gently waved her hand, and the temperature in the room dropped rapidly. Wherever her palm passed, ice immediately formed. When she withdrew her hand, the cold vanished and the ice melted. However, a layer of frost remained on the surface of the glass coffee table, a sign of insufficient control.

Liya stared at her palm, somewhat dissatisfied. This level was far from enough. Her absorption and control of spiritual energy were much worse than the Qi Refining stage of her previous life. But she quickly let go of the thought. After being at the peak of combat power for hundreds of years, she had ended up in that state of being neither alive nor dead. Cultivation was fine as long as she had some. Furthermore, she had now entered the threshold; the path of cultivation appeared viable.

Taking her change of pajamas, Liya went to the bathroom to take a bath. Looking at the girl in the mirror, she was already quite pale with excellent skin. After being cleansed by spiritual energy and expelling impurities, she felt as if she had shed her mortal shell, restoring a hint of the divinity from her past life.

However, for some reason, her physical constitution had not improved much. It was far below the physical strength of a normal Qi Refining stage body. She wondered if it was a restriction of the laws of this world.

After her bath, Hisoka had still not returned, so Liya prepared for bed. Her phone rang in the living room. Liya walked out and saw the name on the screen, feeling reluctant to answer.

“Kalluto.” After hesitating for a long while, she answered. “What is it?”

“Sister, have you registered for your next match?”

“…” Was the monthly report now going to be a daily one? Liya replied, “Not yet.”

There was a long silence on the other end. She sighed inwardly and said helplessly, “I am preparing to register. I am going now. It is just that it is late; I do not know if the service desk has closed.”

Kalluto interrupted her, “There is no need. I just wanted to tell you to be prepared.”

Liya: “?”

“Brother is coming to see you. Within the next few days.”

Liya: “!”

After hanging up, Liya took a deep breath. She reached into her consciousness to check on Lillia. The gray shadow was motionless, curled in a corner. Liya poked her and asked, “What kind of person is your eldest brother, Illumi? Give me some memories.”

The gray shadow did nothing.

Liya continued to poke. “He is coming to see you. Why do you not get up and handle it yourself?”

The gray shadow remained indifferent. After a moment of silence, Liya finally asked, “Hmm. If he knows you are dating Hisoka, will he be angry?”

This time, the gray shadow moved. She shuddered violently.