Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 227 The Reward at Dawn [1.1 words]

The singing continued in the bathroom…

V quietly crossed his legs, a hint of helplessness and indulgent pampering in his eyes.

It seems no one can excel at everything. Rin is someone who grows quickly, is willing to accept reality and strive to change the status quo. He has all sorts of natural-born company employees, but his only problem might be in the area of ​​art…

Old V really loves everything about this guy. He used to know that he could play the guitar and stuff, but now that he hears this guy singing, V's skepticism about Old V's description has started to rise sharply.

A leather rustling sound came from the sofa. The kitten, half-crouched beside V's legs, stretched lazily, then began sharpening its sharp front paws on a raised part of the sofa. V's eyes held a gentle disapproval that contrasted sharply with its style and appearance...

She shook her head slightly, as if to tell the little one: You can't do that.

Cats are actually very intelligent animals. Their naturally sensitive and rich inner world makes it easy for them to understand their owner's emotions. Rin didn't really care about the gift she gave him... Well, actually, V understood that Rin didn't have much time to take care of it. In fact, the workaholic V spent more time with the cat.

at this time--

The terrifying, modified rock vocals coming from the bathroom caused the cat to instinctively arch its back, its pupils filling its entire eye sockets, looking watery... It was thoroughly frightened.

V patted his thigh. "Come here."

The cat scurried up as if fleeing, perched on the woman's lap, its tail swishing gently, its lake-like eyes reflecting the woman's face.

"Meow~"

A faint purring sound arose, and the cat lowered its head and rubbed against V's coat more than once, as if questioning why she wouldn't pet it.

In fact, most women are not appealing to cats. One of the sources of a cat's rich emotions is its sense of smell. Complex cosmetic scents, perfumes, and other smells encountered in daily life will keep a cat constantly on guard and at a distance.

In contrast, cats are more likely to like guys who are called "stinky men" and have a higher body temperature.

After all, they are small animals that sniff their excrement before burying it, and the smell of a man's sweat is simpler and easier to build trust with them.

V has been loved by small animals since she was a child. Perhaps it's because she doesn't need much makeup to maintain herself. Secondly, the light, refreshing scent of a forest after the rain on her body attracts cats. There is only one formula for this perfume, which is an byproduct of V's birth in a corporate family.

Like many families, V was not poor when she was young. The first gift she received when she turned twelve was a perfume created by a designer. The formula only existed in her mind, and she used it for countless years.

"Looks like that guy doesn't really like touching you?"

V's hands are long, and even with the replacement of the prosthetic body, they still have the distinct joints of a tall woman's ectomorphic hand, which is usually found only in women to fit the skeleton. Her fingertips tugged at the cat's chin a few times, but the guy in the bathroom wasn't going to give up, and his voice got louder and louder.

The woman gently placed her hands on the cat's ears.

It tilted its head in confusion, its V-shaped lips curving upwards, mimicking a cat's movements as it sized up the little creature.

"Is this... feeling better?"

The cat seemed to have given in to its crazy owner in the bathroom, closing its eyes contentedly as V's fingers massaged the area under its ears where pheromones were released, and its purring grew louder and louder.

A muffled meow escaped its throat—

"Just like your master, you have a thick skin."

In fact, V was in a very bad mood after leaving Jefferson.

On one hand, she had a moment of self-doubt, wondering what was right and what was wrong; she herself received a very standard elite education, in which history was a necessary part, so she was well aware that the company was a very abnormal entity…

His opponent, Jefferson, had an impressive resume. He had very little involvement in shady dealings, let alone questionable gray-area transactions—his wealthy family background meant he didn't need to take on such a high-risk job as a congressman. Yet, this seemed to be his pursuit, something he was passionate about. Therefore, many of his suggestions leaned towards the lower classes of Night City, improving crime rates, and controlling corporate taxes…

That's right, a so-called good person (if you don't resent the rich).

V doesn't see anything wrong with someone who can't even find a clue against Arasaka and can only resort to threats and trespassing to coerce others.

On the other hand, it is actually a common problem for every employee who works non-stop at the company: they will doubt what they really want from time to time.

Just as she and Jack said, the house, car, prosthetic body and all other assets belong to the company. There is no doubt that as long as Arasaka kicks her out, she will become a person with nothing. She can only dismantle these cumbersome implants with locked back doors and start from scratch, risking death in the crossfire in Night City to earn money and a place to live.

That's really bad... V doesn't want that.

But a good place to live and savings are not just a long-cherished dream…

Just like some people strive to climb the ladder of power, V also admits that she enjoys the feeling of having power, but even so, she still feels empty. She only focuses on doing a good job in the present and near future, and she has no idea what the future holds.

And so I kept thinking—

V no longer found the guy's voice in the bathroom particularly unpleasant. Instead, she lowered her eyelids slightly, staring at the cat being teased by her fingers, her other hand propping up her head on the back of the sofa... She was surprisingly feeling a little sleepy.

She used to not understand why people needed rest. The long-term high-risk corporate missions had given her nerve stimulation that distinguished her from ordinary people. A beautiful and dangerous agent like V actually held the Arasaka rank. Outsiders called these decisive guys who dealt with enemies "corporate enforcers" or "arbitrators".

The company's interests are what they protect.

But V was a little tired now, perhaps because she had too many things to do, which left her with no mood to think about the cruel reality that was soaked in blood. Instead, she wanted to greedily enjoy this moment of relaxation. As her eyelids began to fall more slowly, the speed at which V was lifting the cat's chin also slowed down.

……

Wow!
A stream of water washes across the mirror…

Lin Yue had already soaked in the bathtub in the bathroom, spraying water randomly with the showerhead. As water droplets fell from the mirror, he held the showerhead in an odd posture and sang the last few lines of the song "Supreme".

"Wu!"

The human soul is often the most difficult thing to change.

Deep down, he is still the young boy from his previous life who did what he liked at home, which doesn't actually conflict with his identities as the carrier of the black wall, a company manager, a mercenary leader, etc.

Furthermore, humans only express their true nature in environments where they feel safe. Of course, shutting down the auditory system did affect pitch accuracy, and Lin Yue delivered a terrible performance to the woman outside who was almost asleep, unaware of his demeanor.

The annoying beeping in my email inbox has finally stopped.

He cursed that old Japanese man countless times before finally activating his auditory system, humming a song as he brushed his teeth and washed up.

In some ways, Lin Yue felt that current technology was incredibly convenient. Take the issue of staying up late, for example—in his previous life, if he had to get ready at 4 a.m. the next day, he would be practically useless, unable to do anything. But with a well-developed brain-computer interface and biochemical control system, sleep could be regulated…

However, these high-end features, which are almost useless, only improve the quality of life. Most people in Night City will not install these things. The prerequisite for a good dream is still a high-concentration cocktail made with low-quality alcohol, the kind that won't wake you up even if someone stabs you in the butt with a knife.

The premise is... you have to endure the maddening hangover the next day.

"We never fade away~"

Feeling completely relaxed, Lin Yue didn't think much of it. He seriously hummed the lyrics, dried his wet hair, and used his toothbrush to make the most basic thrusting and slashing motion in swordsmanship, squeezing out what he thought was an extremely cool smile.

"Accept your failure."

It seems there's one more theorem to be added to this world: men are invariably very confident after taking a shower.

Satisfied, he hummed a tune, casually wrapping himself in a bath towel, "What you did to me, I know—"

The cheerful melody came to an abrupt end.

As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, he sensed something was wrong. When he saw someone sitting on the sofa, a startled sound escaped his throat, the last syllable of the lyrics trembled, and his whole body shuddered…

"Fuck..."

V heard someone mutter a curse under their breath.

The woman opened her slightly closed eyes, turned her head, and silently stared at the man who had been pouring "garbage" into her ears for so long.

"..."

Lin Yue opened and closed his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself... It seemed embarrassing to say anything now, but the most important question he wanted to figure out at this moment was—

How long has this woman been sitting here?!
"V?"

The kitten in V's arms seemed to realize that now wasn't a good time to pet it, so it jumped off V's lap and hopped away, chasing the light and shadows streaming in from the window.

Because V, whose resentment over the ambiguous relationship had not yet dissipated, would never miss an opportunity to humiliate Lin Yue.

"Am I so hard for you to recognize me?"

V sat up, crossed her arms in front of her abdomen, looking like she was someone I couldn't handle.

"When did you—"

Lin Yue started speaking.

V: "I arrived before you even started singing..."

She forced a smile as she spoke, even though she looked good no matter what she did…

But Lin Yue knew that was just a polite, mocking smile! It was definitely malicious!
The woman wasn't going to just give her a one-off scolding, so she added, "To be honest, it's rather unpleasant to listen to... it's only when you step out of the bathroom that it sounds like you're singing."

V shifted the position of her crossed legs, making no unnecessary small movements, much like a counterintelligence interrogation. The embarrassed Lin Yue, of course, did not notice that the toes of V's high heels, which revealed her fair feet, swayed slightly because of his embarrassment... a sign of interest.

But in Lin Yue's heart...

Damn! It's Suzuki again...

Why do you always include V?!
V shrugged. "Sorry, they won't stop me here, and I don't have the habit of waiting for people outside."

Okay, Dad, you can even come in through the window.

Lin Yue restrained himself from rolling his eyes... He secretly grumbled to himself, but his face was full of smiles.

"Wait a moment, I'll change my clothes..."

V's eyes swept over the guy's chest and other skin for a moment, then he waved his hand, "Whatever."

Awkward people always use a lot of gestures to cover up their feelings. Lin Yue dried his hair and muttered to himself as he went into his walk-in closet: "Why does this feel like her place...?"

The woman silently sipping her water in the background couldn't suppress the smirk of her lips.

V, who was staring at her water glass, heard someone sit down on the sofa a step or two away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the guy rummaging through his pajamas several times. Her hand went into her coat pocket, and a pack of cigarettes was tossed from the coffee table in front of Lin Yue.

Lin Yue swallowed hard as he watched the cigarette pack slide towards him.

Why does it always feel like V is questioning me no matter what she does? I haven't done anything wrong!
Besides, this is my own home. It's one thing for her to be sitting comfortably, but to actually give me such a hard time—

This is intolerable!

He abruptly raised his head, intending to deflate the other's arrogance, but his eyes met V's cool and aloof gaze. Every move she made, including her appearance, seemed meticulously designed, whether it was the slight furrow of her brow in confusion, the soft hum of inquiry, the neck beneath her exquisite face, or her perfect figure…

Lin Yue's anger vanished instantly.

It's true that looks matter in any era...

Looking at the guy who had just suddenly looked up and had a somewhat fierce expression, V had only one question: Had he had another episode?

Lin Yue lowered his head and puffed on his cigarette, almost squatting on the ground and begging V to tell her what she wanted... Lin Yue admitted that he didn't feel this strong sense of defeat in front of many women, but this woman was different.

V, of course, didn't care what Lin Yue was thinking, and instead said, "I've taken care of part of your problem."

Lin Yue looked up, somewhat puzzled…

"During the trial, there will be a jury vote, and the leading member of the jury can influence a lot of the votes—Jefferson, I don't know if you've heard of him."

Jefferson?!

Lin Yue suppressed this familiar, strange sense of fate. "He's caused Arasaka a lot of trouble, and he's been relentlessly pursuing us over tax issues. But supposedly, he's the guy the board wants to win over, and he's got a clean record... Actually, I still haven't figured out what to do, and... uh, I'm even planning to target the other jury members; how did you manage that?"

The answer below made Lin Yue feel a cold sweat run down his back.

"It's very simple. Go into his house and ask him directly what to do."

Seemingly afraid that Lin Yue wouldn't believe him, V continued, "He will think it over carefully before voting."

Lin Yue was speechless for a long time.

"After Arasaka, you'll have absolutely no chance to win him over—that's a huge disadvantage for you..."

V, however, had an indifferent expression. "It was Nitta and his cronies who wanted to win them over. Jefferson is too cautious. If they can't win them over no matter what, then they might as well let them play their role ahead of time."

Lin Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

First, in Ember, V quietly did a lot for him. And this time, she risked being attacked by Night City's public opinion and other companies to directly contact Jefferson. She helped him so much—Lin Yue didn't know how to repay her for a while.

He could only silently resolve that no matter what trouble V encountered at the company, he would not refuse.

"Um... I don't even know how to express it."

Lin Yue wiped the area below his nose with the hand holding the cigarette, his gaze gentle and full of gratitude.

V isn't the kind of girl who makes you guess; on the contrary, she's very willing to express her thoughts, including the fact that she came here today with a purpose.

"Thank you is the cheapest form of feedback. We're in the same boat. If you're doing well, you can protect me, right?"

V's words made Lin Yue swallow back his long-winded words of thanks.

She liked the guy sitting across from her's rich emotions; he even seemed to feel like he owed her something...

Honestly, I could easily have held the position of head of the counterintelligence department for several times over.

“V, Dogtown, you saved me. If it weren't for you, I would definitely be dead in the wasteland… even if you acted with a purpose, so…”

Lin Yue organized his thoughts for a long time before saying, “You shouldn’t feel any burden because of that board meeting. You are the most suitable candidate, and I believe Lai Xuan thinks so too. Moreover, it has been proven that you are very suitable for this position and are also very excellent… and your friends, Old Wei, Misty, and Jack—they have all helped me a lot.”

V's body gradually tensed up as Lin Yue spoke.

"Does thinking about it this way make you feel a little better?"

Lin Yue spread his hands, stopping his expression with a very Western gesture, his eyes full of admiration.

So pleasing to the eye...

He pondered repeatedly why there weren't any mods as beautiful as V in his past life memories.
Beautiful things always make people feel relaxed, especially beautiful things that are beneficial to oneself, which bring even more satisfaction.

Lin Yue, of course, did not realize that his gaze was a little too aggressive.

V turned her head to the side, her fingers gently curling up on her clothes...

This girl is too perfect. Whether it was during the time when Lin Yue lost his humanity or at all times, she was always like this—it seems that temporary confusion in life could not affect her at all, and her high standard of execution was her biggest support.

however--

At this moment, V's mind was filled only with the words of approval the other person had given him and the direct gaze from them.

Her confidence in confronting Lin Yue with a clear conscience almost crumbled.

The first principle of modern enterprise operation is the instilling of values, a sense of identity, and a sense of achievement—based on the premise that humans are emotional beings, these things can be used to build employee loyalty, while also strengthening employees' sense of immorality when making contradictory decisions.

and many more…

Is he praising himself?

Damn it... why does he keep looking at my face?
V, who never wanted to lose anywhere, quickly lost her shyness and liked watching?

I'll watch it too—

So she adjusted her breathing, turned her head, and simply stared at the other person.

"Thank you for the compliment. It seems there's a reason why Minister Rin was able to win over that woman from Dogtown."

?

Lin Yue was taken aback.

A wry, resigned smile appeared on his lips.

V is really hard to deal with...

She holds grudges too much.

Not knowing how to deal with Lin Yue's strange relationship, which had progressed from ambiguous to this point, he could only play dead.

Realizing he had been staring for too long, he looked away, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and chuckled sheepishly.

However, saying one thing and meaning another is often V's first choice. "Ah... I understand, Rin-sama."

"So you were thinking we'd have a fair fight? That's a real shame. I thought I could get some of my reward from you today—" As she spoke, she turned to the side, propped her cheek on her hand, and quietly observed her opponent, who was being toyed with but unable to resist. "Now that you mention it, it seems I have no reason to come here. What a pity."

This reminded Lin Yue for the first time of how he had been utterly defeated by V in the office...

"Is there anything I can help you with? Just tell me your request, and I'll have Suzuki take care of it."

V felt that the guy on the other end really liked playing the fool.

I'm just here to kill some time. Do I need any help?
Seeing this guy in a difficult situation is more stress-relieving than a good night's sleep.

She said calmly, "So you often serve your friends or colleagues a glass of pure water?"

Lin Yue was somewhat puzzled.

V pursed her lips and pointed with her hand to the white wine in the metal case on the coffee table... Lin Yue immediately understood what she meant. It was like an elder in his past life using a subtle gesture to express that the child lacked discernment. So, while cultures may differ, most of the underlying logic is the same.

Drinking?
If you'd told me earlier... he could have gotten V a truckload of good wine.

V shook her head helplessly. The pale yellow, amber-like liquid in the decanter slowly dripped into the glass, shimmering under the carefully designed lighting in the room… For good wine, V wasn't in a hurry at all; she would wait patiently.

However, the way this guy poured the wine was really terrible.

V's hand pressed down on Lin Yue's hand, and a cool sensation came from his skin. Lin Yue felt as if an electric current had run through his arm.

"Has no one taught you how to pour wine?"

V's eyes were filled with helplessness at Rin's waste of things. She took the decanter from Lin Yue's hand as a matter of course. A person's wealth can often be seen from their perspective. V still remembered the etiquette taught in the company's family education very clearly.

"Increase the contact area, to exaggerate a bit, without air these wines cannot complete this transformation."

Lin Yue rested his chin on his hand, looking quietly at the wrist and woman's watch peeking out from the sleeve of his V-neck coat.

"I remember you didn't drink much—"

Someone else was the spoilsport.

With just a glance from V, Lin Yue tactfully ended the conversation.

Watching V skillfully pour the bottle of aromatic, alcoholic liquid, he asked, "So...?"

V gently pushed the decanter aside and inverted the glass into the ice cube tray to cool it down. "So it'll take about ten minutes... I'm a little hungry, is there anything I can eat?"

Lin Yue was completely bewildered; he hadn't even looked through the refrigerator.

Seeing that Rin was out of the question, V stood up, took off her coat, and casually tossed it onto Lin Yue. "Thank you for your help, Minister Rin." Lin Yue, holding the still warm and faintly fragrant high-quality coat, reluctantly got up to hang it up for her.

V, who had just grabbed a tuna sandwich from the counter and was about to throw it in the microwave, inexplicably glanced at the ingredients and description on the packaging:

[Genetically modified fresh meat from biotechnology]

[Ingredients: Deep-sea tuna (real meat)...]

At this moment, Lin Yue, who had just put the clothes behind her, walked up behind V and saw the woman staring at the packaging. He smiled and said, "They're not expired, you can eat them—they're all from Suzuki's recent purchase."

Upon hearing Lin Yue's words, V glanced at the person behind him. "It's not that it's expired, it's just that I haven't seen real tuna meat in Night City for a long time..."

Lin Yue asked curiously, "For a long time?"

V nodded, placing her hands on the clean, flat marble countertop. "I loved eating this when I was little. It's soft, and that's probably a texture that kids seem to like. I wanted to buy some to try when I first got my first paycheck, but I just forgot about it."

Lin Yue had no intention of speaking at this moment.

He was actually quite curious about Valerie's life trajectory, given her family background—was it a happy childhood that allowed her to climb into the company and become a cold-blooded arbiter despite the hardships she faced? Or was it her family background that gave her the opportunity to enter the company?
If V can afford to eat real meat, his family must be quite well-off.

V was lost in thought when she heard footsteps beside her. She stepped aside slightly and watched the man take the sandwich out of the microwave.

"Eating fish and meat when it's cold will only make you colder. Besides, you can't just eat these things when you come to my place, can you?"

Lin Yue weighed the food in his hand, something he could probably finish in one bite. Confused about how white people could eat such a thing, he immediately made a decision.

V clearly misunderstood—

"At 5 a.m., the earliest restaurant in the company square seems to open is after 3 p.m., so there's no other choice."

She tried to take the sandwich back from Lin Yue, but Lin Yue moved the food away from her. V didn't like being controlled, and her expression immediately turned cold.

Lin Yue didn't care about what the woman was thinking. He went into the kitchen behind the counter and said, "We should at least eat something good. I hope Suzuki has prepared something."

The moment Lin Yue opened the cabinet, he gave the old man a credit, and he could let bygones be bygones for letting V walk in so openly.

The seasonings were all complete and suited to Lin Yue's habits as an Asian from Xia. These spices, as precious as gold, had traveled all the way here from overseas. Combined with the complex aroma wafting from the cabinet, Lin Yue felt as if he had returned to his own kitchen.

There are very few vegetables in the world today that have a complete range of varieties.

After looking around the refrigerator for a while, Lin Yue took out an onion, a piece of fresh meat (it was unclear whether it was beef), some mushrooms, and fresh chili peppers under V's puzzled gaze.

"and many more--"

V inexplicably connected his cooking skills with his singing voice, and fearing poisoning, she wanted to stop Lin Yue from taking any further action.

Lin Yue said without a doubt, "People from our area understand one thing: friends, especially those who have helped a lot, need to be treated to a meal, and it has to be hot—put those bread mixtures with greasy sauce in the middle back in the refrigerator."

V: "Hmm?"

Lin Yue seemed to be in a hurry, and with both hands he pressed down on V's arms and spun her around, which made her eyes widen in surprise.

"Bring the wine, you don't need to worry about the rest."

At this moment, Lin Yue's attention was entirely focused on how to prepare the ingredients, completely ignoring the extremely offensive action. He walked back to the stove, put his hands on his hips, and pondered what to do next...

V glanced at the wrinkles on his cuffs caused by that guy's pinching, shook his head helplessly, and went to get the wine.

When she got back, she plopped down in the head seat of the table, crossed her arms, and sized up the guy's back—although she didn't know what she was going to eat, this feeling of sitting and waiting seemed much more enjoyable than a fancy restaurant.

The thought of a minister personally cooking for himself almost completely dispelled all the frustration he felt.

Lost in thought, she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, doing nothing but watching the guy bustling around...

The biggest advantage of living alone is that it taught Lin Yue some basic survival skills, such as taking care of his own stomach. It seems like it was a long time ago that he cooked for himself—but in terms of time, it was only about half a year.

It feels like something from the last century!

Lin Yue removed the vacuum from the bag and took out the fresh meat. He brought it close to his nose and smelled it. It seemed to be beef—but the slaughtering techniques were completely different from those in Asia, resulting in a very strong, strange smell. He skillfully pulled out a container from the cabinet and soaked the beef in a mixture of salt and water to help the blood to be drawn out.

The onion twirled in Lin Yue's hand; compared to precisely slicing a throat, slicing an onion was far too easy...

Lin Yue was even somewhat grateful for his own combat abilities. The kitchen knife in his hand was like an obedient toy knife, moving extremely fast. With his mediocre knife skills from his previous life, he could almost prepare all the dishes with his eyes closed.

At this moment, V, who was behind Lin Yue, also noticed something was wrong. Although Lin Yue's food preparation habits were Eastern, his skill in doing things surprised V. It seemed like... this guy really could do it?

After finishing all the preliminary work in his busy schedule, Lin Yue turned his head and saw V looking him over—

The woman pointed to the wine on the table, indicating that it was almost ready to sober up.

Lin Yue raised his hand, "It'll be ready soon! Respected...Minister V."

V found it somewhat amusing and replied, "Okay."

To speed up the processing of the beef, Lin Yue simply shredded it, using high-concentration liquor and repeated washing until the beef was finally washed into pinkish shreds, and the odor was almost completely dissipated.

Arakasa is an Asian company, so naturally they eat rice.

Lin Yue held the rice cooker in his hand, feeling a bit comical. No matter how advanced technology becomes, rice cookers still seem to be the same – an inner pot and a heating shell.

V was very curious, and unconsciously stretched his neck slightly, watching the guy wash the rice grains in the small bag many times, and then start adding water.

However, this guy has a strange habit when cooking rice: before steaming the rice, he sticks his index finger into the inner pot, as if measuring something—is it a custom from an ancient Eastern country? Shouldn't the water level be measured with a kitchen ruler?
As the flames ignited, an AI voice, not belonging to either of them, suddenly rang out in the kitchen.

"Open flame detection program is in progress. Please be extremely careful to avoid burns."

Lin Yue was startled by this strange thing, only then realizing that the flame on the stove was pitifully small, barely a medium flame—Night City's fire department, the NCFD, mandates the installation of these temperature-sensing devices in every corner…

Having figured out the principle, Lin Yue used his technical expertise to dismantle the thing while muttering to himself, and shut down the damned AI.

V thinks this guy actually looks kind of cute.

Lin Yue, who gave V an awkward smile behind him, quickly opened fire.

boom!
A sound similar to a faint explosion came—the moment flames rose, V instinctively tried to get up. This was an instinctive reaction to an explosive device, as well as muscle memory from her armed training. She almost rushed behind Lin Yue.

As the flames mingled with the stirring of the ingredients, Lin Yue worked methodically. The hot oil released the aromas of onions and spices, and the high temperature triggered the Maillard reaction to occur continuously in the pot. The steaming aroma of the food was something he had only ever smelled at street stalls selling fried noodles and other Eastern foods.

But in comparison, this scent is more complex and harmonious, giving V a feeling of having her perceptions refreshed.

The clinking and clanging didn't last long before the hot dishes were placed into the shallow, wide white platters used for appetizers and main courses in Western style. Lin Yue was quite annoyed with these foreigners, who had no idea what practical purpose such shallow, basin-sized platters had.

Just like he didn't understand the point of Western cuisine serving small portions of various dishes such as cold dishes, appetizers, and main courses to fill one's stomach.

The mushrooms were simply stir-fried; Lin Yue barely had to do anything. Even the stir-fried beef with onions was still hot when he finished…

To V's stunned gaze, two dishes were simply pushed in front of her.

The woman blinked, completely baffled as to how those simple things could smell so wonderful in just a few minutes.

Lin Yue rarely saw such a blank expression on V's face. Feeling somewhat smug, he turned around and piled a plate of steaming white rice from the rice cooker, which could cook rice in just a few minutes, and placed it in front of V.

To avoid making things difficult for her, I specially gave her a fork and a spoon.

"This is…"

V's nose was captivated by the rich aroma of the rice, and her hands were already obediently placed on the tableware, looking on with longing.

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of beef. V watched as the guy chewed the beef in his mouth, then put down his chopsticks and slowly poured himself a drink.

"Eat up, consider it my small...repayment?"

V swallowed slightly and put her fork into the plate. Lin Yue watched as V clumsily put the shredded meat into her mouth and was a little worried about whether she could get used to the taste.

Lin Yue only breathed a sigh of relief when the woman's brows relaxed.

It has to be said that manners are something that accompanies a person. When Lin Yue asked if it was delicious, the woman simply nodded her chin and ate the food at an almost fixed frequency.

The person who cooks rarely has a good appetite, and Lin Yue himself wasn't very hungry, so he just sipped his wine and ate some food.

Just as he tried to take another bite, V's fork reached out and blocked Lin Yue's chopsticks—

He then realized that V's cultural background from childhood seemed to lack the concept of communal eating; she always ate separately... It was already quite tolerant of her to allow him to use chopsticks to pick up food from the plate like that.

"Kissing involves the exchange of saliva, and what you're doing now is no different from me kissing."

Lin Yue almost spat out the wine in his mouth.

V said such things without even blushing. It wasn't that she disliked Rin sharing a plate of food with her; she just wanted to possess it. He had clearly said that it was prepared for her, so it should all belong to her.

"This is how we eat, nothing else—"

V put down her cutlery, took the chopsticks from Lin Yue, transferred some of the food to Lin Yue's plate, and then continued to eat slowly.

"I really appreciate your reward. I hope Minister Rin can always be this sensible."

Lin Yue was both amused and exasperated. "It's a very simple matter. You can do it anytime if you like—"

V nodded.

His gaze was fixed intently on Lin Yue's eyes, making him feel a little uneasy.

"I will."

After saying that, he continued to focus on the food he was eating.

This damned habit of subconsciously replying is just a formulaic, polite response, but V will take it seriously.

Lin Yue shrugged, resigned to his fate, and let himself be completely controlled by the other party.

Victory V seemed to be smiling even while eating. Seeing the guy next to her get flustered, she was in a great mood and didn't want to make things difficult for Lin Yue any further. "How's the team's situation tomorrow?"

Lin Yue replied, "Not bad. I will personally arrange the tasks this afternoon."

The two chatted idly, exchanging a few words.

Despite her great figure, V has a huge appetite. Lin Yue felt that V devoured all the food that was enough for the two of them.

She never leaves herself any way out when she eats; that's her style.

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, her face slightly flushed, perhaps from the heat of the food, she picked up her wine glass and took a sip. " bothering you so late, I was thinking..."

In fact, she couldn't explain why she wanted to find Rin.

She's just that kind of stubborn woman who comes here even without a reason, wanting to make up for lost time.

Lin Yue had no idea that far ahead. "If I did something this big for you, I'd make you get up and thank me even if you were still in bed, let alone at dawn."

V smiled gently.

The atmosphere fell silent again.

V silently finished the small amount of wine in his glass.

Just when Lin Yue thought that, given her personality, she would stand up and leave, he was surprised to hear a thunderous voice in his ear.

"You know I have feelings for you, right?"

Lin Yue felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He mechanically raised his head, and V's gaze held only honesty... This was a crushing blow to the reserved and introverted Easterner.

One strike is all it takes to kill.

V looked at Lin Yue with a questioning gaze again, and finally got the answer.

She saw the other person nodding.

"Arasaka does not allow employees to have relationships outside of work; it violates many regulations. You know that, right?"

Lin Yue nodded like a woodpecker.

V leaned back in his seat. "And what about you? What do you think of me?"

Lin Yue felt like his brain was about to crash...

Girl, are you really that straightforward?
"That...I..."

Lin Yue felt awkward about where to put his hands. Seeing the other person's gaze begin to fill with suspicion and hostility, he didn't know where he got the courage, but he steeled himself and said, "Of...of course!"

certainly?

What does this mean?
V shook his head. "So that woman was what you used to deal with—"

As if electrocuted, Lin Yue instinctively reached out and covered V's lips. The soft feeling in his palm and the hot breath from her made Lin Yue feel like kneeling down and begging her to stop talking...

V pointed her white finger at Lin Yue's hand.

Lin Yue quickly withdrew his hand, "V, I don't think you can say things like that..."

V: "Straightforward?"

The woman looked helpless. With the sound of the chair behind him scraping against the floor, Lin Yue knelt down and stared at the woman looking down at him.

Her hand gently stroked Lin Yue's chin, while her other hand slowly grasped his collar.

Lin Yue's first impression was that this woman had a really strong grip!
He was pulled up, and then the other person quickly pressed against him, forcibly completing what he had failed to do in the office last time.

Lin Yue's lips and teeth were replaced by a slippery sensation. The other party made a forceful contact without any regard for the consequences, which was terribly awkward yet extremely stubborn.

As the tip of his nose was completely enveloped by V's unique fragrance, Lin Yue felt a deep sense of panic.

Wow!

The poor man, who was retreating, had his head pressed down by both hands. His hands instinctively looked for something to hold onto, causing the tableware on the table to clatter.

Lin Yue opened his eyes and saw that V was also looking at him, but the coldness in her eyes was gone, replaced by a deadly allure.

Lin Yue felt like all the air in his lungs was being squeezed out; he couldn't resist V's complete control over the prosthetic body, and he whimpered...

Are the company's prosthetic bodies really that strong?
Ho!
V's kisses came to an abrupt end. Her lips were slightly parted, and she was breathing heavily. The curves of her black shirt, which accentuated her figure, rose and fell incessantly... Her eyes were now glazed over.

“V…?”

Lin Yue felt like he was being stared at by a black carnivore, and to make matters worse, she was too beautiful, which made Lin Yue feel dizzy—things seemed to be getting out of control.

V had no intention of letting him off so easily.

"How did she do it?"

The English pronouns "he" and "she" are relatively easy to distinguish, and Lin Yue knew what V was talking about...

Wow, what a vengeful woman.

Lin Yue glanced down instinctively, and V glanced down as well.

V had a knowing look on his face.

Lin Yue looked surprised. "I wasn't answering that question—"

V's cool voice echoed in my ears, "So direct?"

Before Lin Yue could finish speaking, his lips were sealed again.

Depend on!
Lin Yue tried to reach out and hug her, but V held his hand down with one hand, her eyes filled with unquestionable absolute authority—almost the whole ride was bumpy, and Lin Yue was pushed onto the soft sofa back like a toy.

Lin Yue saw the sly smile on the woman's lips and thought to himself that V must have come up with another wicked plan.

"No wonder..."

V rested her hand on the cushion behind Lin Yue, scanning his face with an aggressive gaze. "Looks like you like it."

However, that mischievous smile didn't disappear, and she immediately stood up and moved to the side.

"Ok?"

Completely bewildered and confused, Lin Yue suddenly felt empty in front of him—

V slowly put on his coat.

"It's not convenient today."

inconvenient?
Lin Yue felt like he was being treated like a dog.

"What...is inconvenient?"

V's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of exasperation in his expression. "What do you think?"

Time seemed to stand still.

As Lin Yue's expression gradually changed, he remembered the coldness of the woman's hands and her slightly pale lips... He instantly understood what was inconvenient.

This is...

Is this acceptable?

V fastened her coat belt while looking at Lin Yue with amusement, "Minister Lin, thank you for your report."

"And your lovely pride."

Lin Yue immediately sat up straight, wanting to refute—

However, V smoothed her hair and casually made a waving goodbye gesture... Only when she reached the door did she turn her head and slowly say, "Don't let me run into that woman from Dogtown again."

It's a blatant demonstration!
The automatic door then closed...

Lin Yue seemed to have lost all his strength. His eyes rolled back, and he covered his face as he slumped from the sofa into a sprawled position.

Nothing could be worse than this.

Since arriving in Night City, it seems I've completely lost face in this one day...

it is true!
……

……

(End of this chapter)