Chapter 48: The Alien Boss's Ruthless Heart

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Alien’s Ruthless Heart

Keisha glanced around; this was the men’s section. She had intended to keep going, but realized that to get downstairs, she’d have to make a full circle to reach the escalator. Turning to look at Yunyang, who was following behind her, she thought, “I should pick something out for him as well.”

With anticipation gleaming in his eyes, Yunyang watched as Keisha quickly pulled two outfits off the rack—one a black trench coat, the other a tracksuit—and motioned him toward the fitting room.

Watching a beautiful woman pick out clothes for him, Yunyang could hardly refuse. After handing his shopping bags to Keisha, he happily went off to try on the clothes. He decided to try the trench coat first, reasoning that the tracksuit was unlikely to be the wrong size.

Clad in the new trench coat and carrying the tracksuit he’d wear later, Yunyang, full of delight, went to find Keisha, hoping she’d praise his handsomeness.

Harboring such shameless hopes, Yunyang was about to step out of the fitting room when suddenly the alarm light above the doorframe began to flash, emitting a persistent beep.

Two sales assistants quickly intercepted him, smiling politely. “Sir, please make your payment over here.”

After paying, Yunyang grumbled inwardly: “Buying clothes for me and I still have to pay? Was I expecting too much?”

No sooner had he stepped out than he saw two young men flirting with Keisha. She stood with her arms folded, leaning nonchalantly against the handrail. One of the young men wore a formal suit, exuding the aura of a successful professional; the other was dressed like a hip-hop youth from Earth. Their only common trait was their good looks. Silently, Yunyang evaluated them—he was just a touch more handsome himself.

As he approached, he overheard one of them holding something like a phone, saying, “Hey beautiful, won’t you give me a chance? Just an info exchange, that’s all.”

The other chimed in, “Do you believe in love at first sight? I do now. Let’s exchange info.”

Seeing Keisha being harassed, Yunyang felt that as a man, he ought to step in. He awkwardly addressed them in the local language, which sounded clumsy to their ears: “What are you two doing? She’s my friend.”

Hearing his mangled speech, the two were momentarily stunned, then prepared to get angry. An outsider daring to act tough in the imperial capital? Let’s see how he fares.

But as they were about to make trouble for Yunyang, they noticed his attire—the diamond-patterned, latest-model trench coat. Clearly, he was wealthy. Not someone to provoke.

Exchanging glances, they instantly understood each other. With perfect rapport, they apologized, “Sorry, we didn’t realize this beautiful lady already had a boyfriend. Our apologies.”

Before Yunyang could say anything, the pair hurried away, leaving Yunyang, who had wanted to show off, feeling as if he’d missed a sneeze—utterly dissatisfied.

Still, they’d been so tactful; he couldn’t call them back just to put them in their place—that wouldn’t suit his dignity.

Approaching Keisha, who was smiling, Yunyang complained, “You didn’t pay, and I almost got mistaken for a thief.”

“I have no money; all my wealth is written on your face,” Keisha retorted, rolling her eyes elegantly.

Yunyang was left speechless—he couldn’t admit he hadn’t told Keisha to pay for him.

With the annoying pair gone and their shopping done, Yunyang and Keisha headed out, planning to stroll until Yunyang’s strength recovered so they could teleport again. That is, until Yunyang spotted a game arcade.

“Hey, look—a game arcade! Let’s go play.” Without waiting for Keisha, he dashed to the counter and exchanged two baskets for four hundred coins.

Keisha shook her head with amusement—these things held no interest for her, but since Yunyang was keen, she’d indulge him.

Seeing Keisha come over, Yunyang turned excitedly. “Keisha, which one do you want? Watch me win it for you.”

Keisha’s interest piqued. She pointed to a plush toy in the glass case. “That white feline… Something like a cat.”

Since they were speaking the proper Shenhe language, a nearby young couple cast curious glances and whispered, “Hey, look—a blonde foreigner,” the boy said.

“Come here, stop staring,” the girl replied, twisting her boyfriend’s ear after catching sight of Keisha.

As a super soldier, Yunyang overheard the couple; he glanced at them and subconsciously touched his own ear—it looked painful.

The machine’s starting voice sounded, and Yunyang focused, ready to show his skill.

He spun the claw, slammed down the grab button, and caught the toy, surprised at the ease. But the plush slipped away under his expectant gaze.

No matter—catching claw toys rarely succeeds on the first try, or the owner would lose a fortune. He inserted another coin, repeated the process, and met the same result.

Feeling awkward, Yunyang cleared his throat to ease the embarrassment, careful not to let Keisha see—she’d surely laugh at him.

After five minutes of battle, Yunyang was nearly ready to smash the machine. Every attempt ended the same: the toy slipped away. The owner was truly ruthless.

Yet he held back, glanced around, and noticed another machine nearby with cat-themed toys. He decided to switch.

This machine’s claw was stronger; he succeeded on the first try, and the toy didn’t slip. Clearly, it wasn’t his technique at fault—it was the machine. Proudly, Yunyang handed the toy to Keisha.

Keisha, seeing his smug expression, felt the urge to knock him on the head, but since he’d given her a gift, she let him off this time.

As they continued inside, a girl hurried over, calling, “Sir… Sir, you forgot your game tokens.” She’d started with “sir,” but upon seeing Keisha, instantly changed her address.

Feeling his empty hands, Yunyang realized she was calling him. Turning to meet her, he flashed a broad smile. “Thank you, miss.”

Despite her protests, he gave her half his tokens.

Half an hour later, Yunyang walked out of the arcade, unwilling to leave. He’d just spotted a coin pusher machine—a tale of sorrow.

Keisha rolled her eyes and said, “You’re really something. If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d have used dark energy to push coins.”

Indeed, Yunyang had gotten so desperate he was about to use dark energy to push the coins, but Keisha had stopped him—such conduct was beneath him.

“This owner is too ruthless. Earth doesn’t have coin pushers that eat coins so aggressively,” Yunyang muttered.

Keisha: …

This kid was still fixated on the coin pusher.

She grabbed Yunyang, who was still looking back at the arcade, and silently led him toward the stairwell. Don’t get the wrong idea—it wasn’t what you’re imagining.

After so much play, Yunyang’s energy had recovered; it was time to get moving.

She gently tapped Yunyang’s head. “If Earth is so great, wait until you’re back to play. Let’s go.”

As Keisha entered the virtual space, Yunyang glanced back at the arcade with lingering regret, then slowly vanished into the stairwell.

They returned to the unknown star system where they’d first appeared. Keisha, with her palm pressed to her forehead in a girlish gesture, prompted Yunyang to ask awkwardly, “How much farther until we reach the Angel’s Great Worm Bridge?”

“Hmm, about fifty thousand light-years. Hang in there,” Keisha replied, checking her log and not noticing Yunyang’s discomfort.

“We still need five more teleports? That’s tough,” Yunyang sighed, sprawling dramatically across the wormhole corridor. He glanced at Keisha—tsk, her skirt was so long, nothing could be seen.

Keisha noticed Yunyang’s little movements but said nothing. For an angel’s body, a little imagination was only natural.

She mimicked Yunyang’s posture, lying on the corridor, her tone oddly wistful. “Suddenly, I don’t want to return to Heavenly City.”

“Why?” Yunyang asked, surprised.

“I don’t want to be Angel King anymore. It’s exhausting,” Keisha confided, as if to an old friend.

“Being Angel King is exhausting?” Yunyang was even more surprised.

“You’re tired after less than half a year; imagine thirty thousand years of diligence. You’ll understand how hard it is,” Keisha replied lightly, as though speaking of someone else.

Though Keisha spoke easily, Yunyang realized from his own half-year ordeal that the pressure must be enormous. He blurted, “Then don’t be.”

Turning to look at him, Keisha said helplessly, “What about Angel civilization? Before, I could walk away and leave it behind, but now I can’t let go.”

“Isn’t there Angel Yan? You can work behind the scenes,” Yunyang replied casually.

Keisha’s eyes lit up at his words. Yes, she had her student—why hadn’t she thought of that? She must have been too close to see clearly.

She reached out and tapped Yunyang’s head again, smiling with delight. “That’s right; I have Yan.”

“You keep tapping my head—it’s too much!” Yunyang protested, feeling he’d end up bald from Keisha’s playful assaults.

“I like it,” Keisha replied playfully, temporarily setting aside her burdens.

Seeing Keisha in this rare mood, Yunyang was momentarily taken aback, but his hands didn’t pause. The flash of his camera blinked and vanished, and Keisha immediately responded with a hard flick to his head.

Yunyang rolled, clutching his head, as Keisha smiled—she hadn’t held back this time; it would hurt for a while.

He brought it on himself by taking sneaky photos. Though her appearance was no longer her original, the essence hadn’t changed.

Despite the pain, Yunyang felt no resentment. He knew one must swallow the bitter fruit of one’s own making.