Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sharing the Same Quilt? Please, Save Me

Qi’s expression was gentle, and he smiled faintly. “So the Black Cat has such a history. You’ve often worked part-time to help out at home, and you’re only fifteen this year. That’s truly impressive. You started writing novels and drawing manga for submission when you were thirteen. I imagine you must have been even more petite and adorable back then.” His smile was warm, genuinely delighted to learn more about his girlfriend’s past, her hard work, and even her so-called dark history. His feelings for her grew even deeper.

“Anivi, your expression is so gentle—just like a father thinking about his mother, or a mother thinking about her father. And you say you’re not dating Sister Liuli? I’m not a little kid like Shizhu, you know. You can’t fool me.” Hinata shot Qi a sidelong glance, her face saying she’d seen right through him.

“I can’t be bothered to argue. But from now on, Mom, Dad, and Black Cat won’t have to work so hard. Anivi may not have anything else, but I do have plenty of money. You can go out and have fun whenever you want, so there’s no need to worry.” Qi reached out to ruffle Hinata’s hair, but she dodged nimbly.

“Really? That’s wonderful! Now Mom and Dad won’t have to work so hard, and they can spend more time with us. Sister Liuli won’t have to work part-time all the time either.” Hinata cheered, dancing and spinning around the room, before Qi finally caught her and tousled her hair. Amid laughter and playful scolding, time flew by.

“Well, well, Niisan, have you finally shown your true colors as a werewolf? On this moonlit night, you’re assaulting your own little sister?” Black Cat opened the door to see Qi pinning Hinata down, tickling her ribs, her brow twitching at the sight.

“Ahem, she was just being too mischievous, so I had to teach her a lesson,” Qi said, quickly straightening up and putting on a righteous air. “By the way, Black Cat, there’s something I want to say to you.”

“What is it?” Black Cat walked in, helping straighten Hinata’s hair and clothes as she lay limp from laughter.

“Big Brother here is very rich,” Qi said seriously.

“Hmm? What do you mean?” Black Cat looked at him, puzzled.

“I’m really very rich,” Qi repeated, emphasizing his point. “So you don’t need to work so hard at part-time jobs anymore. And the same goes for your novels and manga—you don’t have to push yourself so hard.”

“Oh, I see. Did Hinata tell you something? After learning you’re rich, I’ve already dropped the idea of working part-time. But writing novels and drawing manga are my hobbies. Not being selected by Dengeki Bunko isn’t just about royalties and manuscript fees—it’s a matter of principle, of my interests not being recognized. So, while I won’t feel pressured about money anymore, I’ll still keep submitting my work. I am, after all, the Fallen Angel Black Cat of Chiba—even if I take on a mortal name, it won’t dim my brilliance.” Black Cat looked supremely confident and noble.

“Fine, do as you like.” Qi shrugged helplessly.

The night passed quickly. After everyone had bathed, they returned to their rooms to sleep. “Weren’t we supposed to go to bed? Hinata, what are you doing in my room?” Black Cat blocked the door, not letting Hinata in.

“Heh, I want to sleep with Anivi too. Hugging Anivi makes me feel safe—I sleep so soundly. You can’t keep him all to yourself, Sister Liuli.” Hinata ducked and slipped into the room. “Whoa, where did Anivi go? There’s an extra door here!”

After another burst of noise, the room finally quieted.

Starlight from the Milky Way shone onto the large bed in the dark wooden cabin, casting three figures who lay under a brand-new summer blanket. Black Cat poked out her little head, cheeks flushed, heart pounding, unable to hide her nervousness. “The reason Niisan bought such a big bed was so he could sleep with more girls, wasn’t it? Boys really do think like that—so dirty.”

“If I said I just wanted to roll around on a big bed, would you believe me?” Qi tried to explain that his intentions were pure, not at all indecent.

“Anivi, even I don’t believe you. But lying here, looking at the starry sky, on a soft bed with a big pillow, makes me never want to leave. What if I want to come here every night from now on?” Hinata gazed up at the brilliant Milky Way.

“No way. Tonight is a special exception. Tomorrow you’re going back to your own room. Of course, I only stayed to keep an eye on you two. Tomorrow I’ll return to my own room as well,” Black Cat said, pulling Hinata’s arm off Qi’s neck and glaring at her.

“Under this starlight, just being quiet and watching is enough. You’ll see the greatness of the world, and your heart will open up,” Qi murmured.

“Yes, it’s really beautiful.”

The next morning, after being woken up by Shizhu, Qi briefly explained the cabin situation to his parents and received his own ID. After the family left for work and school, he headed out as well, planning to go to the bank first.

Ring, ring… ring, ring. Walking down the street, Qi answered his phone. “Huh, it’s Kirino. I wonder what she wants—maybe to return my combat power tester?”

“Hello, Kiri—”

“Qi, please help my mom. She’s at XX Bank right now, and the bank’s being robbed. The people inside have been taken hostage. Please, I beg you.” Kirino’s voice was urgent and panicked, on the verge of tears.

“Understood. I’ll be there right away.” The situation was serious; he didn’t have time to ask more. With a leap, he soared high above the city, scanning below. Though the city was full of high-rises and tangled roads, the chaotic crowd was unmistakable.

Within a few breaths, he reached the bank’s vicinity. Darting from the shadows, Qi moved forward before the police had arrived, the fleeing, panicked crowd unable to block his path.

Inside the bank, only muffled sobs and the harsh urging of five masked robbers could be heard as they demanded money. The floor was stained with fresh blood, still seeping out. Five motionless bodies lay in the red pools, blood still flowing—no way to tell if they were dead or alive.

Bang! Crash! Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass broke the heavy silence, drawing everyone’s attention. The bank’s glass door had been smashed.

“Who’s there?” One of the robbers raised his gun and fired at Qi without waiting for an answer, bullets flying.

Qi lunged forward, swept his arm, and with a sharp crack, a shard of glass embedded itself in the robber’s wrist, halting the gunfire. The other four robbers, regaining their senses, opened fire again. Qi darted left and right, disabling two more guns with glass shards.

“Bastard, if you keep dodging, I’ll shoot the hostages!” As the words left his mouth, he aimed at the crowd. With a scream, blood splattered—but it was the robber whose finger and trigger were sliced clean off, not a hostage. He howled, clutching his bleeding hand.

Tat-tat-tat-tat… The last armed robber sprayed bullets toward the crowd, but before he could turn fifteen degrees, his finger was sliced off as well. There were two screams: the first from the robber clutching his hand, the second from a short, portly, seedy-looking middle-aged man in the crowd, who clutched his thigh, shrieking in pain.

The scene quieted somewhat; apart from the wailing old man, two of the robbers gritted their teeth and got up. Hiding behind obstacles, they shouted, “Bastard, who the hell are you? Daring to meddle in the business of us Five Brothers—aren’t you afraid of our revenge?”

“Idiots.” Earlier, Qi had avoided drawing attention by acting too far above ordinary people, so he’d been wary of their guns. Now, facing a gang of unarmed robbers, he had nothing to fear—he could take them down with sheer physical strength.

With a scornful curse, Qi strode toward the robbers. The sound of his footsteps intensified their fear. One robber, barely containing his terror, rushed out from behind cover with a gleaming knife and lunged at Qi.

Qi didn’t even bother to dodge. He grabbed the man’s wrist, twisted, and flung him through the air; the robber crashed heavily to the floor, wailing in pain and unable to get up.

Qi curled his lip in disdain and kept walking. The four remaining robbers exchanged glances; the two burliest charged at Qi with knives, while the other two rushed toward the hostages, drawing screams from the crowd—the old man’s shrieks grew even louder.

Four more screams rang out, bringing the robbery to a close. At Qi’s feet lay two more strong men, writhing and unable to rise; ahead, the other two robbers clutched their calves, wailing, glass shards lodged in their legs.

Qi shrugged at the stunned hostages, pulling out his phone to ask Kirino what her mother looked like—only to realize he’d forgotten to hang up. “Ahem, the robbers are dealt with, but I don’t know which one is your mother.”

“Ask around—she should still be in the crowd,” Kirino replied, her voice calmer now, the tears gone.

“Excuse me, which one of you is Kirino’s mother? Are you all right?” Qi asked helplessly, addressing the crowd.

The hostages all lowered their heads, uncertain whether this young man, more terrifying than the robbers, was really there to save them. After a hesitant pause, a middle-aged woman finally raised her hand, her voice wavering. “I’m Kirino’s mother. Are you—” Before she could finish, a refined man wearing gold-rimmed glasses suddenly sprang up beside her, pressing a gun to her head.

“Nobody move! You over there, boy—let my brothers and me go, and I’ll release this lady. After that, we’ll leave each other alone. Otherwise, I’ll take her down with me!” The bespectacled man’s eyes were cold as he hid behind Kirino’s mother, keeping his body out of Qi’s line of sight.

The sudden turn of events made the hostages instinctively crouch down and scream. Qi was caught off guard—he hadn’t expected the robbers to be so cunning. Five had staged the robbery in the open, while one had hidden among the hostages as a last resort in case things went wrong.

“Because you told me to call out, your mom’s been taken hostage. What now?” Qi suddenly raised his phone, speaking into the silence and tension.

(Yesterday my contract application was rejected. Though I knew I wasn’t a top author and was mentally prepared for my first rejection, it still stings. But I have two more chances—I’ll get myself together and try again next time. I hope you readers will continue to support me. Not a single vote past the hundred thousand mark—it feels a little bleak. Please give me your recommendations!)