Chapter 187 – Leaving the House

Chapter 187: Chapter 187 – Leaving the House

(Oh, crap!... I got too worked up. Okay, calm down... This damn phone is at it again. Shit.)

After quickly recreating his aura of death and scaring away all the nearby birds, Sohen just as quickly returned to his cool and calm state as the hero of a harem novel.

His eyes also returned to their usual color.

- (Me). "..."

(That was dangerous. Just a little more and I...)

(~sound of a push notification)

- (Me). "???"

While Sohen remained in a trance-like state, his other, beloved phone made itself known right on cue, as always, and the screen displayed...

- (Google Gmail). "ChatAIS: New features — new opportunities for your business. To celebrate this wave of updates with you, we’re giving you..."

- (Me). "..."

(ChatAIS... Very timely. At any other moment, I would have just told it to fuck off, but this time I have to thank it for... "diverting my attention.")

Upon seeing the message, Sohen decided to simply press the power button on his regular phone, put it in his pocket, and turn his attention back to the old phone.

- (Me). "Alright, I’ll give it a try..."

(~sound of a phone button being pressed)

- (Me). "..."

Silence.

Silence again.

Silence again and again.

- (Me). "Damn, nothing’s changed again."

(Just like the first time, when it ended up in my hands.)

- (Me). "Trying isn’t the same as mocking. At least I tried again to wait for a miracle, but it didn’t work out. Oh well, screw it."

Without getting too upset, Sohen put the old phone back where it belonged... so he wouldn’t have to see it again for the next five years or more.

(Dear reader, don’t think I’m an idiot trying to turn on a phone that hasn’t been charged in the last few years. Nothing would have changed if I’d done it right, waited a few hours for it to recharge, only to repeat the same simple action all over again. This piece of plastic has always been like this, but your hero-lover in this unparalleled story, was "expecting magic" and, as a result, got what he always gets - nothing.)

- (Me). "Phew... Enough reminiscing about the past. There isn’t much time left."

...

Sohen zipped up the last zipper on his suitcase and slowly scanned the room one last time.

- (Me). "Looks like everything I need is here."

He grabbed the suitcase by the handle, stepped out into the hallway, and headed toward the living room.

Three beautiful young ladies were already waiting for him there.

Runo was sitting in an armchair by the window.

Her legs were slightly crossed, and her robe had carelessly parted at her thigh, revealing her smooth skin.

Karin was standing by the coffee table, scrolling through something on her phone, but her posture was relaxed — one hand rested on her thigh, her fingers slowly stroking the fabric of her dress.

Phoebe was reclining on the couch, propping her head up with her hand, and when Sohen appeared, her gaze slid over him... with a certain fire in her eyes.

- (Karin). "Oh, our traveler is ready already."

Her mother’s voice was soft, a little lower than usual.

- (Phoebe). "Wow. You look like you’re heading to the red carpet instead of a birthday party."

She slowly straightened up, and her robe slipped slightly off one shoulder.

- (Runo). "That’s true. Phoebe’s suit looks great on you. Although... everything looks good on you."

There was nothing superfluous in the mature woman’s tone, but her gaze lingered on him a little longer than a simple conversation would require.

- (Me). "..."

Sohen liked Phoebe’s handiwork so much that he decided to set off on his journey wearing it.

Setting his suitcase by the door, the young man replied:

- (Me). "Thank you. I’ll be gone for three or four days. No longer."

Phoebe sat up straighter, propping her chin on her hand.

- (Phoebe). "Only three or four? And I was already thinking you’d get lost there among all those beautiful women from the Mao family and forget your way home."

- (Karin). "Hah..."

Karin chuckled quietly as she set her phone down.

She moved closer to the table, leaning her hip against it.

- (Karin). "Don’t tease your brother. Although... to be honest, I’m a little worried, too. There are so many beautiful women there, young and not-so-young alike."

Runo took a slow sip of tea.

Her robe gaped open a little again as she shifted her position.

She didn’t rush to adjust it.

- (Runo). "Karin’s right. You have to be careful, or some particularly persistent lady might decide she likes you... and won’t let you go."

Sohen merely raised an eyebrow, keeping a calm expression on his face.

- (Me). "I’m going to my friend’s daughter’s birthday party... if you can call it that, not on a hunt. Everything will be fine."

- (Runo). "I hope so... By the way, I’m also going on a trip today. At 5:00 p.m. A flight to a neighboring country. An old friend I haven’t seen in several years..."

She deliberately didn’t specify exactly who she was going to see.

- (Karin). "And I’ll be helping Kirari over the next few days. Her pregnancy is already tough, so she needs support. Carolina helps out sometimes, too, but mostly it’s me."

- (Phoebe). "And Maria and I, as usual lately, will be sitting down to do some sewing. Miss Nanako will be with us today. She said she wants to see how we work and might even offer some advice based on her experience. It’ll be interesting."

Phoebe ran her fingertips over her own knee, as if by accident.

Sohen nodded, keeping his tone even.

- (Me). "So everyone will be busy. Okay."

Phoebe got up from the couch, walked closer, and stopped almost right next to him.

Her head was tilted back slightly so she could look him in the eyes.

- (Phoebe). "Just don’t think we’ll be sitting around here feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ll find something to do, but you... come back on time anyway."

Karin also took a step closer.

Her hand brushed his forearm for a moment, as if smoothing out a crease in his sleeve, though there was no crease.

- (Karin). "We’ll be waiting for you and writing often."

- (Runo). "..."

Runo watched them from her armchair.

Her gaze was calm but attentive.

When Sohen glanced in her direction, she slowly ran her hand over her thigh, smoothing out the fabric of her robe.

- (Runo). "Phoebe said you owe her a wish. Don’t you think that’s a little unfair to your grandma and mom? We’re not going with you either, so we want something similar."

- (Me). "A wish, too?"

- (Runo). "Yeah."

- (Me). "Okay... So what do you two, Grandma and Mom, want?"

- (Runo). "Hehe... It’s a secret."

- (Karin). "Hehe... Yeah."

- (Me). "..."

(Damn. Phew... I can’t say no to them.)

- (Me). "I’ll do whatever you want, but not all in one day."

- (Runo). "No problem."

- (Karin). "We’ll let you know when."

- (Me). "Phew..."

Sohen took out his phone and dialed his friend, the taxi driver.

He answered quickly.

A short conversation.

Confirmation.

Sohen hung up.

- (Me). "The car will be here in ten minutes."

Karin came up first.

She hugged him.

The embrace was tight; her body pressed against his for a second longer than a usual farewell hug would require.

She whispered right into his ear:

- (Karin). "Take care of yourself."

Phoebe was next.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and her chest brushed against his for a moment.

- (Phoebe). "Don’t forget that my wish has to come true before anyone else’s... All the best to you, and I’ll be waiting for you."

Runo was the last to approach.

She hugged him gently, but her hand rested on his back and slowly slid down a few centimeters before she let go.

- (Runo). "It’s a long way. Don’t rush. And if anything changes — let me know right away."

- (Me). "Okay."

(~sound of a car horn)

- (Me). "He got here so fast."

The sound of a car horn drifted in from the street.

Sohen picked up his suitcase, nodded to all three of them, and stepped out onto the porch.

His friend was already waiting.

They tossed the suitcase into the trunk, and Sohen got into the front seat.

The door closed.

The car pulled away.

In the rearview mirror, the three women on the porch were still visible for a few more seconds.

Each was looking in her own way.

Then the house disappeared around the bend.

The drive to the airport began.

- (Me). "Well, here we go... Miss Minkun. I haven’t seen her in over five years. Wasn’t the last time in Hong Kong?"

Meanwhile, the sexy trio:

- (Phoebe). "Brother’s panty mine."

After saying something strange, as soon as the car with Sohen disappeared from view, Phoebe rushed into the house, heading first to her older brother’s room and the bathroom.

- (Karin). "That’s not fair, Phoebe! Wait! Then... his bed be filled with his scent, and... tonight I’m sleeping in my son’s room."

Mother decided to follow Phoebe.

- (Runo). "..."

When they were just a few steps from the house, Karin looked back and saw that her mother was barely moving.

- (Karin). "Mom? Is something wrong? Why aren’t you following us? Don’t you want to... ’play’ with what belongs to Sohen?"

Runo didn’t answer and just kept standing there until, suddenly, her phone rang.

- (Runo). "Hello?"

- (???). "Hi. So, is everything still on? Are you leaving today or..."

- (Runo). "Yes. I’ll leave around five o’clock."

- (???). "I hope you didn’t let slip that you’re coming to see me specifically."

- (Runo). "No, but even if I had said so, he wouldn’t have minded. We probably would have gone with him, but he ended up going to see that young bitch from the Mao family."

- (???). "I miss him so much..."

- (Runo). "..."

- (???). "Okay, then I’ll be waiting for you to arrive, and... pick up some berry liqueur for me on the way. My supplies are almost gone."

- (Runo). "Sure, I’ll get some. See you soon."

- (???). "Bye. I’ll be waiting."

As soon as the conversation ended, Karin approached from behind and...

- (Karin). "Mom..."

- (Runo). "***** called."

- (Karin). "!!!"

As soon as the alluring blonde heard the familiar name, her expression instantly turned serious.

- (Karin). "I see."

- (Runo). "Let’s go, my dear. Help me get ready, and please... keep an eye on Phoebe. Don’t let her find out any more about this trip of mine. Don’t mention the name ***** in front of her either, because you know what will happen to us then."

- (Karin). "Yes, Mom. Okay."

- (Runo). "Good girl."

...

The airport.

Sohen approached the check-in counter.

The employee quickly checked his documents, verified his last name against the system, and looked up.

- (Airport Clerk). "Flight to Minkun City, right?"

- (Me). "..."

- (Airport Clerk). "Purpose of the trip?"

- (Me). "Personal. I’m going to a friend’s birthday party."

She nodded briefly, made a few entries in the system, and handed me my boarding pass.

- (Airport Employee). "Gate B7. Boarding begins in thirty-five minutes. Have a good flight."

- (Me). "Thank you."

Sohen took his ticket, went through security, and sat down in the waiting area by the large window.

He took out his phone, opened the file with his novella, and began to read.

(Chapter 67 should be interesting... Although no, Chapter 69 will be even better.)

Time passed quietly.

He only occasionally glanced up at the departure board.

Exactly half an hour later, an announcement came over the PA system.

Sohen stood up, walked to the gate, showed his boarding pass, and boarded the plane.

He found his seat by the window, sat down, and fastened his seatbelt.

The plane slowly pulled away from the terminal, picked up speed, and took off.

Destination: Minkun City.

(Minkun City... It’s just mind-blowing. Thanks to Mr. Shen, Miss’s hometown was renamed Minkun City in honor of her eighteenth birthday. What a "wonderful" father she has, and what power he wields... It’s just unbelievable.)

In Sohen’s room.

In one of the drawers of the nightstand.

Sohen’s old phone, which he’d been holding not long ago and which wouldn’t turn on, suddenly glowed with a white light, but the glow disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.