Chapter 28: I will remember this grudge!

“Pure love? Even pigeons smooching in the city park are purer than you Ouroboros lot! Don’t think I don’t know—90% of Duhuang City’s missing women were nabbed by you for breeding vats!” Zero sneered, not buying “Lin Feng’s” act for a second.

“That’s another department’s business. Ashura’s out of the loop, meow.” Fake Lin Feng played dumb, flashing an innocent look.

Zero’s temple vein pulsed. “Don’t act like you’re clean! You’re Ouroboros for a day, you’re Ouroboros forever! No washing that off!”

Her words made “Lin Feng’s” playful grin freeze for a split second, his eyes darkening briefly before snapping back to normal.

A cute sailor-suited girl and a handsome boy faced off at the mall entrance, looking ready to throw down. The striking pair naturally drew curious stares and whispers from passersby.

“Wow, that girl’s gorgeous! A celebrity?”

“The guy’s pretty hot too, but next to her, he’s no match…”

“Couples’ spat or PDA? Why pick a fight at the mall entrance?”

“With a loli girlfriend like that and still arguing? I’d stay home, hands on both headlights, hitting all three ports…”

Zero kept a straight face, but her magical girl senses caught every crude word, her cheeks burning as she bit back a retort.

Just then, a slick-haired man sauntered over, his “charming” smile ready to flirt. “Miss…”

Before he could finish, a hand grabbed Zero’s wrist.

“Hey! What’re you doing?!” Zero yelped, startled, her voice sounding soft and pouty to others.

“Let’s go. Don’t make a scene.” Lin Feng, expressionless, dragged her into the mall, leaving the would-be flirt stranded.

They stepped into the brightly lit mall, the heavy glass doors closing, shutting out the gawking crowd.

Almost instantly, Zero yanked her wrist free and, without hesitation, swung her small leather shoe, nailing Lin Feng’s shin.

“Ow—!”

Lin Feng nearly collapsed, biting back a scream, barely staying upright.

What the hell! That force! Without Ashura armor’s passive buffs, his shin would’ve been a pulverized VIP ticket to the hospital, rooming with Tao Gong Qi in orthopedics.

“Who said you could grab my hand?!” Zero rubbed her reddened wrist, glaring, her black eyes practically sparking with fury.

“Cough…” Lin Feng, sweating from pain, forced a grin. “I saw you about to get hit on. Just being a hero, saving my date! As your companion, it’s my duty to protect you from creepy perverts.”

“I don’t need it! And you’re the biggest pervert!” Zero snapped.

“Man’s promise!” Lin Feng cut her off, feigning heartbreak. “Miss Zero! We had a ‘man’s promise’ to go on this date! You’re not backing out, are you? A man’s word is his bond!”

Zero choked, her face stiffening. The phrase hit her like a curse, pinpointing her weak spot.

She’d promised the damned armored pervert a date for saving people. Backing out now would make her the one breaking her word.

“…Fine, a date’s a date.” She gritted her teeth, conceding. “But—three rules!”

“Lay ‘em out!” Lin Feng leaned in eagerly.

“First, no touching me beyond normal social boundaries without my permission!”

“Second, if I say I’m uncomfortable or don’t like something, you stop immediately!”

“And… third,” she paused, thinking, “I’ll add it later. You follow these unconditionally!”

Zero thought she’d outsmarted him, but “Lin Feng” gave her a smile that set her on edge.

“I hear your terms, Miss Zero,” he said slowly. “But I’m the one who proposed this date and its conditions, right?”

He paused, his smile deepening. “As the deal’s initiator, shouldn’t I set the terms?”

He glanced casually at the mall’s bustling crowd, his tone as mild as if discussing the weather. “We’re in a busy shopping center, surrounded by defenseless civilians. You’re so strong, so kind, Miss Zero. You wouldn’t want a little ‘disagreement’ between us to scare—or worse, harm—these innocent people, would you?”

“You…!” Zero’s face darkened. Threatening her with civilians?!

She grabbed his collar, fingers tightening to lift him and demand answers.

But “Lin Feng” seemed to anticipate her move. Instead of dodging, he leaned into her momentum, sidestepping slightly and wrapping an arm around her petite frame, pulling her close.

“Mm?!”

Zero froze, alarms blaring in her mind, but his angle left her powerless. His familiar, mortifying breath hit her, their bodies pressed tight, his low murmur perfectly timed in her ear.

“Shh, Miss Zero, keep it down.” Lin Feng whispered, his warm breath grazing her sensitive earlobe, his tone more like flirting than being choked by a concrete-shattering magical girl.

“Let’s talk terms. You can play nice and enjoy a ‘normal’ date, or we can throw down right here in the mall, no holds barred. Your choice.”

“You… shameless!!” Zero’s shame and rage boiled, heat rushing from her feet to her head, her ears burning red enough to bleed.

“I’m a villain. Shamelessness comes with the job.”

Zero felt his solid chest pressed against her, his teasing breath in her ear… her mind was chaos, with one thought: get out of this damn embrace!

Worse, she recalled the dumb cat’s warning about “severe side effects.” If she fought him now, who knew how much further her body would feminize?

Trapped in this humiliating hold, tortured by his smug whispers, her body tensed, torn between fury and reason.

Finally, under the clash of shame and logic, her rigid frame softened slightly.

“…Fine,” she hissed through gritted teeth, voice low and bitter. “Let me go first!”

She unclenched her whitening fist, which hadn’t swung, forcing herself to calm and mentally noting this humiliation.

“Excellent.” “Lin Feng” released her, his tone gentle, like soothing a stray cat. “Let’s grab some dessert. A date can’t just be arguing at the entrance.”

“Don’t get cocky…” Zero muttered, voice trembling with suppressed rage, adjusting her ruffled sailor collar, avoiding his triumphant grin.

“This grudge… I’m keeping it.”