Chapter 46: And besides... I always have you to take my anger out on."

"What do you mean, a straight answer?" The Demon narrowed her eyes. "I have to pay you back. That’s why I said six hours. Is that really so hard to get?"

​She still didn’t get what he was actually asking.

​Himanshu’s fists slowly tightened. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

​"That’s not what I meant." His voice softened a bit. "Tell me how you’re going to handle yourself for six hours. You don’t even want to be there for a single second."

​The Demon just stood there. Not a word came out. Her eyes went back to normal, and she quietly turned around. It was like she didn’t have an answer, or just didn’t want to give him one.

​"What’s it to you? I’ll handle it my way."

​Her quiet voice hit Himanshu’s ears. For the first time, she sounded weak. It felt like she was using words as a broken wall to hold back a storm.

​Himanshu didn’t know what to say. All the arguments running through his head just vanished. Slowly, his irritation over her anger turned into a weird kind of worry.

​If she hates washing dirty dishes, then fine. She doesn’t have to do it.

If someone told me to clean bathrooms, I wouldn’t do it. Wouldn’t even think about it.

​Walking ahead of him, the Demon suddenly just looked like a helpless person with no other options left. She had walked pretty far ahead. Himanshu had to yell to make sure she heard him.

​"If you don’t like this job, we’ll find another one!"

​The street went dead quiet. A few people closing up their shops or just out for a walk stopped in their tracks. They stared right at Himanshu. Feeling their eyes on him, he instantly felt awkward and embarrassed. To dodge the sudden wave of nerves, he locked his eyes onto the Demon’s back.

​The Demon turned around with the rest of the crowd and looked at him. But her eyes weren’t like theirs. They looked even deeper than usual. Himanshu saw a weird flash of confusion in them.

​Well, that’s what I get for acting like an idiot.

​Keeping his head down, Himanshu walked fast, closing the distance between them.

​"Guess I was a little too loud."

​A few seconds later, the vibe went back to normal. People went back to their own business. After staring at him for a moment, the Demon turned her head back around.

​"Why are you yelling? You could’ve just said that quietly."

​Himanshu shrugged, fumbling for an excuse.

"It... it just slipped out. I meant to say it quietly."

​The Demon looked into his eyes for a second. Then, without a word, she turned and kept walking.

​Himanshu just stood there, glaring as she walked away.

​Screw this! I’m the idiot here, actually caring about a Demon’s feelings. I’m never doing this again.

Look at her... just look at how she’s ignoring me and walking off! I swear I feel like punching her right in the back just to wipe out that attitude.

​Gritting his teeth, Himanshu stared at her back. The same girl who looked so helpless a minute ago was now giving him total toxic ex vibes.

​Suddenly, the Demon stopped and looked back. With those same empty, cold eyes, she said,

"Why are you standing there? Are we going or what?"

​Stomping his feet, Himanshu caught up and started walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her. He was breathing heavily, his anger practically venting out of his lungs. He just puffed his cheeks and stared straight ahead. He didn’t look sideways at her even once.

​A few steps later...

Her faint voice came back.

"Yeah... I didn’t like the job."

​Himanshu’s head snapped toward her.

​The Demon was looking straight ahead. That same depth was back in her eyes. But looking at her, Himanshu refused to let himself soften this time.

​I’m not overthinking this. I just need to keep repeating one line—she’s just a Demon. She’s just a Demon.

​And then, he just ended up staring at her.

​"But that doesn’t mean I’m going to quit," she said. "I don’t like staying with you either. But I’m still doing it, aren’t I? I swear, I don’t even like people touching me... but I’m still controlling myself, right?"

​Tilting her chin up, she looked at the bright moon in the sky.

"If you can hide your hesitation and nerves to talk to people, and handle a messed-up situation on top of that... then why can’t I control my anger?"

​Saying that, she kept walking.

​Himanshu froze in his tracks. He hadn’t even realized she noticed how nervous he was. He thought she was entirely focused on her own anger and the disrespect. He couldn’t process what he just heard. He couldn’t believe it. Was this really the same arrogant Demon who knew nothing about caring for anyone? Did she actually understand what the person next to her was feeling?

​Himanshu didn’t even realize when her words had melted his anger away. He thought she was just some terrifying monster, but today, for the very first time, he saw a real person inside her—someone hiding a very deep understanding behind all that arrogance.

​Trying to cover up his nerves, Himanshu shrugged and quickly lied,

"It’s not like that. My voice was just getting drowned out in the crowd, that’s why it seemed that way to you."

​Without turning around, the Demon raised a hand in the air. Her voice was a little louder now, and there was a faint, almost invisible smirk on her face that Himanshu couldn’t see.

"I know your lies perfectly well."

​Himanshu’s shoulders slumped. Letting out a tired sigh, he quietly started walking behind her again.

​Two steps later, her voice drifted back to him.

"And besides... I always have you to take my anger out on."

​Himanshu’s steps instantly slowed down. Sweat prickled on his forehead. He fumbled,

"Wh... what’s that supposed to mean?"

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