Chapter 20:
Chapter 20 — Looking for those we missed
My New Home
◽The Next Day◽ (Friday, 15 April 2050)
「Hi everyone, I’m Shizuko Mary Samuels. It’s nice to meet you all.」
Mrs. Hanma, the homeroom teacher, gave her a warm smile.
「It’s nice to meet you too, Shizuko. Could you tell us more about yourself?」
Shizuko’s hazel eyes lit up.
「I like sports and games, but my favorite hobby is lifting weights with Papa!」
The teacher chuckled.
「Oh my, then your papa must be very strong.」
Shizuko puffed her chest out proudly.
「Yah, he is! Papa’s the strongest!」
「Everyone believes their papa is the strongest. But you shouldn’t be boastful, okay Shizuko?」
Shizuko blinked, tilting her head in confusion before glancing at JJ in the back.
「Papa… she thinks I’m lying.」
JJ let out a small chuckle.
「It’s okay, Shizu. No harm, no foul, right?」
But Shizuko pouted, her voice rising.
「No! Papa solved so many cases that even the police uncles couldn’t. People started calling him The Hunter!」
The room went silent. Some children whispered, while the adults’ eyes widened.
「Wait… that was your father?」 Hana asked, stunned.
Shizuko smirked.
「Of course. Who else can fight dogs the size of grown-ups?」
A deep blush spread across Hana’s cheeks as realization struck.
JJ sighed, rubbing his temples.
「I really question your taste in men, but…」 His eyes darted around the room, catching the stares. 「Shizu, this was your big day. Why throw all the attention onto me?」
「I was nervous. And…」 Shizuko gave a nervous chuckle. 「I can’t boast about myself. That would be arrogant.」
「…Well, that’s true. But don’t put me in the spotlight like that either.」
Beside him, Hana’s eyes shimmered with expectation.
「No. Don’t look at me like that, Hana. We’re not doing what you’re thinking.」
Hana scoffed.
「As if you had a choice.」
【She’s terrifying. Terrifyingly weird too…】
Shizuko tugged at her teacher’s sleeve.
「Um, Mrs. Hanma, is there a girl’s soccer team?」
「Unfortunately, there isn’t one.」
Shizuko’s gaze shifted immediately toward JJ.
He groaned.
「Shizu, there are probably reasons for that. You can’t expect me to just—」
Her pupils flashed crimson. Psyche had surfaced.
「It’d be a shame if great-grandmother found out you can spend millions on your women but not on your own daughter.」
JJ narrowed his eyes.
「Are you blackmailing me? And that’s not how it happened. You know that.」
Psyche giggled.
「I know. But whose words will carry more weight? The twenty-two-year-old grandson known for not keeping it in his pants… or the six-year-old great-granddaughter who just wants to play sports and help her school?」
Their gazes locked.
「Hmm.」
「Hmm.」
JJ let out a defeated sigh.
「If it weren’t for the fact that Grandma can bench press a ton, I wouldn’t have fallen for this blackmail.」
「Good. You understand your place.」 Psyche’s eyes softened back to hazel.
「So, Papa, will you do it?」
「…Alright. I’ll speak to the principal and see if they’ll agree.」
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
「The principal’s a lady in her early forties.」
JJ’s ears twitched.
「Then I’ll make sure she agrees.」 He left the classroom without another word.
Hana chuckled softly.
「Shizu, don’t play with your father like that, okay?」
Shizuko tilted her head.
「I understand. But sometimes, to get him moving, you need to dangle a carrot in front of him. Don’t you agree, Ms. Hana?」
Hana covered her mouth with a laugh.
「Well… that is true.」
「Alright Shizuko, you can sit down now,」 Mrs. Hanma said.
「Okay!」 She skipped back to her seat happily.
◽Later That Day◽
JJ sighed, lying back with Hana resting lazily on his chest.
「It doesn’t make sense.」
She tilted her head, tracing circles on his arm.
「What doesn’t?」
「The fact we couldn’t find Mei anywhere. Even though we searched everywhere.」
Hana sat up, puffing her cheeks.
「You already have three women, and now you’re looking for a fourth?」
「She has a point, you know,」 Miyeon added, pouting playfully.
「Okay, but hear me out first.」
「…Alright,」 Jiyeon said reluctantly.
JJ looked at Hana.
「You were here for information, right?」
「Yes, I was.」
「So did you ask any questions about my past?」
「Err…」 Hana blushed. 「It’s because you’re too distracting.」
「It wouldn’t kill you to admit you enjoy sleeping with me.」
「Hmph.」 She turned away, pouting deeper.
JJ shifted his gaze to Jiyeon.
「You just use it as an excuse to hide your perverted desires.」
Her face turned red instantly.
「N-No I don’t!」
「You do. And then there’s you, Miyeon.」
Miyeon smiled gently.
「You’re half Black. That’s all I need from you, ninety percent of the time.」
JJ raised a brow.
「That… sounds like stereotyping.」
She giggled, leaning in closer.
「So are you saying you don’t like fried chicken and white rice, Oppa?」
JJ froze.
「…Damn it. I’ll never beat the allegations if you already know my comfort foods.」
Miyeon patted his head cheerfully.
「Don’t worry. You’re six-foot-five-inch, a mountain of muscle. Not too lean, not too buff. Nothing to worry about—」
「Um… Miyeon.」
「Yes?」
「You’re drooling.」
「Oh, sorry.」 She giggled again, wiping her mouth. 「At least unlike my twin and Hana, you can count on me to be honest.」 Her breath tickled his ear as she whispered, 「With my body too, if you want to see.」
JJ shut his eyes immediately.
「Goodnight.」
He was asleep in seconds.Jiyeon groaned.
「Why are you like this, Miyeon? You always do this.」
「What?」 Miyeon’s giggle turned seductive. 「I’m just giving Oppa what he wants… a woman who can handle his desires.」
Hana frowned. 【So that’s why JJ warned me about Miyeon… she really is a worthy opponent.】
◽Three Days Later — Monday, 18 April 2050◽
Jerry’s footsteps echoed against the pavement, his sharp gaze scanning the streets.
【Still no sign of Mei.】
【 MJ: You sure you got her scent somewhere here? 】
【Yes. But if we mobilize M.A.L. here, we’ll be breaking the deal with the city. North Kaigan isn’t our jurisdiction.】
【 MJ: Damn it… 】
【Don’t worry. We’ll find her.】
【 MJ: …Okay. 】
Jerry stopped in front of a cluster of apartment complexes. Just then, two young men passed him—mirror images of each other.
【Twins? Are they really this common here…? No, focus, Jerry.】
「You two. Wait.」
They froze.
「Um, can we help you?」 Wei asked cautiously.
Lei’s eyes widened. 【This guy is seriously tall…】
Jerry’s gaze sharpened.
「You two… look like someone I know. Zhang Mei. Do you—」
「Leave.」 Lei snapped, his voice cracking with anger.
Jerry blinked.
「Huh?」
「I said leave! It’s because of you that—」
「Lei.」 Wei held him back, his voice calm but heavy. 「So… you’re the friend from outside Asia that she met.」
Jerry nodded.
「Yes, that’s me. Is she okay?」
Wei’s lips pressed thin.
「I’ll be honest. She’s not. But it’s best you leave our older sister alone.」
Jerry frowned.
「Err… okay. But can you at least tell me why?」
Lei spat out his answer.
「She’s engaged. To a bastard from the Liu family.」
Jerry stiffened.
「Wait. The same Liu family whose patriarch holds as much sway as the president?」
Wei chuckled dryly.
「You’re well-informed.」
「Of course I am. Heck, I even know the people behind the Liu family’s power.」
「Tsk. Stop kidding around.」
Jerry pulled two small cards from his pocket and handed them over.
「Look. If you or your sister ever need help, call this number. MAL HQ will answer. Like I said—I know people who can help.」
Without another word, he walked away.Lei watched him, scowling.
「What do you think, Brother? You think he’ll actually help?」
Wei’s eyes narrowed.
「I seriously doubt it. But if the Lius get distracted and chase him instead, that’ll give us a chance to save Big Sister.」
Lei clenched his fists. 【Brother Wei has always been cold when it comes to Big Sister…】
「Hi everyone, I’m Shizuko Mary Samuels. It’s nice to meet you all.」
Mrs. Hanma, the homeroom teacher, gave her a warm smile.
「It’s nice to meet you too, Shizuko. Could you tell us more about yourself?」
Shizuko’s hazel eyes lit up.
「I like sports and games, but my favorite hobby is lifting weights with Papa!」
The teacher chuckled.
「Oh my, then your papa must be very strong.」
Shizuko puffed her chest out proudly.
「Yah, he is! Papa’s the strongest!」
「Everyone believes their papa is the strongest. But you shouldn’t be boastful, okay Shizuko?」
Shizuko blinked, tilting her head in confusion before glancing at JJ in the back.
「Papa… she thinks I’m lying.」
JJ let out a small chuckle.
「It’s okay, Shizu. No harm, no foul, right?」
But Shizuko pouted, her voice rising.
「No! Papa solved so many cases that even the police uncles couldn’t. People started calling him The Hunter!」
The room went silent. Some children whispered, while the adults’ eyes widened.
「Wait… that was your father?」 Hana asked, stunned.
Shizuko smirked.
「Of course. Who else can fight dogs the size of grown-ups?」
A deep blush spread across Hana’s cheeks as realization struck.
「So… I’m getting married to my high school crush.」
JJ sighed, rubbing his temples.
「I really question your taste in men, but…」 His eyes darted around the room, catching the stares. 「Shizu, this was your big day. Why throw all the attention onto me?」
「I was nervous. And…」 Shizuko gave a nervous chuckle. 「I can’t boast about myself. That would be arrogant.」
「…Well, that’s true. But don’t put me in the spotlight like that either.」
Beside him, Hana’s eyes shimmered with expectation.
「No. Don’t look at me like that, Hana. We’re not doing what you’re thinking.」
Hana scoffed.
「As if you had a choice.」
【She’s terrifying. Terrifyingly weird too…】
Shizuko tugged at her teacher’s sleeve.
「Um, Mrs. Hanma, is there a girl’s soccer team?」
「Unfortunately, there isn’t one.」
Shizuko’s gaze shifted immediately toward JJ.
He groaned.
「Shizu, there are probably reasons for that. You can’t expect me to just—」
Her pupils flashed crimson. Psyche had surfaced.
「It’d be a shame if great-grandmother found out you can spend millions on your women but not on your own daughter.」
JJ narrowed his eyes.
「Are you blackmailing me? And that’s not how it happened. You know that.」
Psyche giggled.
「I know. But whose words will carry more weight? The twenty-two-year-old grandson known for not keeping it in his pants… or the six-year-old great-granddaughter who just wants to play sports and help her school?」
Their gazes locked.
「Hmm.」
「Hmm.」
JJ let out a defeated sigh.
「If it weren’t for the fact that Grandma can bench press a ton, I wouldn’t have fallen for this blackmail.」
「Good. You understand your place.」 Psyche’s eyes softened back to hazel.
「So, Papa, will you do it?」
「…Alright. I’ll speak to the principal and see if they’ll agree.」
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
「The principal’s a lady in her early forties.」
JJ’s ears twitched.
「Then I’ll make sure she agrees.」 He left the classroom without another word.
Hana chuckled softly.
「Shizu, don’t play with your father like that, okay?」
Shizuko tilted her head.
「I understand. But sometimes, to get him moving, you need to dangle a carrot in front of him. Don’t you agree, Ms. Hana?」
Hana covered her mouth with a laugh.
「Well… that is true.」
「Alright Shizuko, you can sit down now,」 Mrs. Hanma said.
「Okay!」 She skipped back to her seat happily.
◽Later That Day◽
JJ sighed, lying back with Hana resting lazily on his chest.
「It doesn’t make sense.」
She tilted her head, tracing circles on his arm.
「What doesn’t?」
「The fact we couldn’t find Mei anywhere. Even though we searched everywhere.」
Hana sat up, puffing her cheeks.
「You already have three women, and now you’re looking for a fourth?」
「She has a point, you know,」 Miyeon added, pouting playfully.
「Okay, but hear me out first.」
「…Alright,」 Jiyeon said reluctantly.
JJ looked at Hana.
「You were here for information, right?」
「Yes, I was.」
「So did you ask any questions about my past?」
「Err…」 Hana blushed. 「It’s because you’re too distracting.」
「It wouldn’t kill you to admit you enjoy sleeping with me.」
「Hmph.」 She turned away, pouting deeper.
JJ shifted his gaze to Jiyeon.
「You just use it as an excuse to hide your perverted desires.」
Her face turned red instantly.
「N-No I don’t!」
「You do. And then there’s you, Miyeon.」
Miyeon smiled gently.
「You’re half Black. That’s all I need from you, ninety percent of the time.」
JJ raised a brow.
「That… sounds like stereotyping.」
She giggled, leaning in closer.
「So are you saying you don’t like fried chicken and white rice, Oppa?」
JJ froze.
「…Damn it. I’ll never beat the allegations if you already know my comfort foods.」
Miyeon patted his head cheerfully.
「Don’t worry. You’re six-foot-five-inch, a mountain of muscle. Not too lean, not too buff. Nothing to worry about—」
「Um… Miyeon.」
「Yes?」
「You’re drooling.」
「Oh, sorry.」 She giggled again, wiping her mouth. 「At least unlike my twin and Hana, you can count on me to be honest.」 Her breath tickled his ear as she whispered, 「With my body too, if you want to see.」
JJ shut his eyes immediately.
「Goodnight.」
He was asleep in seconds.Jiyeon groaned.
「Why are you like this, Miyeon? You always do this.」
「What?」 Miyeon’s giggle turned seductive. 「I’m just giving Oppa what he wants… a woman who can handle his desires.」
Hana frowned. 【So that’s why JJ warned me about Miyeon… she really is a worthy opponent.】
◽Three Days Later — Monday, 18 April 2050◽
Jerry’s footsteps echoed against the pavement, his sharp gaze scanning the streets.
【Still no sign of Mei.】
【 MJ: You sure you got her scent somewhere here? 】
【Yes. But if we mobilize M.A.L. here, we’ll be breaking the deal with the city. North Kaigan isn’t our jurisdiction.】
【 MJ: Damn it… 】
【Don’t worry. We’ll find her.】
【 MJ: …Okay. 】
Jerry stopped in front of a cluster of apartment complexes. Just then, two young men passed him—mirror images of each other.
【Twins? Are they really this common here…? No, focus, Jerry.】
「You two. Wait.」
They froze.
「Um, can we help you?」 Wei asked cautiously.
Lei’s eyes widened. 【This guy is seriously tall…】
Jerry’s gaze sharpened.
「You two… look like someone I know. Zhang Mei. Do you—」
「Leave.」 Lei snapped, his voice cracking with anger.
Jerry blinked.
「Huh?」
「I said leave! It’s because of you that—」
「Lei.」 Wei held him back, his voice calm but heavy. 「So… you’re the friend from outside Asia that she met.」
Jerry nodded.
「Yes, that’s me. Is she okay?」
Wei’s lips pressed thin.
「I’ll be honest. She’s not. But it’s best you leave our older sister alone.」
Jerry frowned.
「Err… okay. But can you at least tell me why?」
Lei spat out his answer.
「She’s engaged. To a bastard from the Liu family.」
Jerry stiffened.
「Wait. The same Liu family whose patriarch holds as much sway as the president?」
Wei chuckled dryly.
「You’re well-informed.」
「Of course I am. Heck, I even know the people behind the Liu family’s power.」
「Tsk. Stop kidding around.」
Jerry pulled two small cards from his pocket and handed them over.
「Look. If you or your sister ever need help, call this number. MAL HQ will answer. Like I said—I know people who can help.」
Without another word, he walked away.Lei watched him, scowling.
「What do you think, Brother? You think he’ll actually help?」
Wei’s eyes narrowed.
「I seriously doubt it. But if the Lius get distracted and chase him instead, that’ll give us a chance to save Big Sister.」
Lei clenched his fists. 【Brother Wei has always been cold when it comes to Big Sister…】
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