Chapter 81 – Asking for Leave

Had she seen through her?

Zhao Xinning decisively pulled out her handgun and aimed it at the woman’s forehead.

“What about now? Do you still think I’m faking it?”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to gamble that my gun isn’t loaded.”

The shop owner: “…”

The employee inside the store drew a handgun from behind his waist and pointed it at Zhao Xinning.

“Put the gun down!”

For a moment, the atmosphere was dangerously tense.

“Hehehe-” The shop owner broke the silence with a laugh. “I misunderstood you, little sister. You’re not faking it. Hurry and put the gun away.”

“We’re businesspeople. We don’t do all this waving knives and guns around.”

Zhao Xinning said warily, “Tell your man to put his gun down first.”

The shop owner waved her hand, and the man tucked the gun back behind his waist.

Only then did Zhao Xinning slowly lower her gun and repeat what she wanted to buy.

The shop owner said, “You have to tell me which gang you run with first. Only then can I sell to you.”

“Do I have to?”

“You do.”

Zhao Xinning turned to leave. “Too many lousy rules here. I’ll go check somewhere else.”

“The other shops are the same,” the shop owner said, hands on her hips. “Because they’re all my branches.”

Zhao Xinning: “…”

She had no choice but to turn back around. “Fine. If you want to know, I’ll tell you. I’m with the Shock Shark Gang.”

The shop owner was startled. “The Shock Shark Gang from District 2? Aren’t they all dead? I saw on the news that the Shock Shark Gang’s lair got burned to the ground.”

The reason Zhao Xinning had lied and claimed to be with the Shock Shark Gang was precisely because they were all dead. That left the shop owner with no way to verify it.

“Who said everyone in the Shock Shark Gang is dead?” Zhao Xinning shot back. “Do I look like a ghost to you?”

It also gave her the perfect excuse for buying a gun.

“I’m buying a gun for revenge.”

“Now that’s loyalty!” the shop owner said admiringly. “Everyone else is dead, but you’re still holding the line for the Shock Shark Gang. I have to give you twenty percent off!”

Then the shop owner asked with a smile, “So who wiped out your Shock Shark Gang?”

“You know, over the past two days, news that the Shock Shark Gang got wiped out has been spreading like crazy on the black market.”

“But no one knows who actually did it.”

“Even the black market’s Order Bureau sent people out, and they still couldn’t find a single clue.”

Of course Zhao Xinning knew who had done it. The less they could find out, the better. “Don’t ask so many questions. They’re not someone you can afford to mess with.”

“I’ve already prepared myself to die. If you have too, then I’ll tell you.”

After Zhao Xinning scared her like that, the shop owner immediately lost the urge to gossip.

She ordered her subordinate to bring Zhao Xinning the goods and explained, “This modular sniper rifle has the power of a traditional Barrett sniper rifle, but it’s more portable than a Barrett. It’s a perfect tool for assassinations!”

Zhao Xinning had her teach her how to assemble and disassemble it. After trying it once herself, she had it down.

Then she bought a box of ammunition, took her things, and left straight away.

Watching Zhao Xinning walk farther and farther off, the employee in the shop asked, “Sister Hong, should we notify the Order Bureau?”

The shop owner, whom the employee called Sister Hong, shook her head.

“That little girl was only pretending to be some delinquent punk.”

“But her eyes told me she really does dare to kill.”

“She probably isn’t with the Shock Shark Gang, and she isn’t buying that gun for revenge.”

“Then what’s she buying it for?” the employee asked.

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Sister Hong snapped. “To kill someone, obviously.”

…

After returning home with her purchases, Zhao Xinning let out a sigh of relief.

Naturally, it was best if she could avoid coming into conflict with people from the black market.

Zhao Xinning knew guns inside and out-how to assemble them, disassemble them, and use them.

The key was whether she could hit her target.

She swiftly turned on her computer, found a few sniper movies, and started studying.

The thought that she could kill that damned Shi Yu tomorrow left Zhao Xinning so excited she felt no sleepiness at all.

“Once I take out Shi Yu, I’ll figure out a way to purify Xi next.”

“Perfect!”

Zhao Xinning did not sleep the entire night.

By now, she had more or less mastered sniping techniques.

She was confident she could land the shot!

After carefully composing herself, she acted as if nothing had happened and went to find Lin Xi so they could go to school together.

“Xi, good morning.”

As usual, Zhao Xinning appeared at the door.

The morning sunlight fell just right over Angel-sama, and Lin Xi smiled as she replied, “Good morning, Xinning.”

Angel-sama was still incomparably beautiful. It was just that… she looked a little haggard???

“Xinning, are you still having insomnia?”

“Did Old Guo and Uncle Yu’s crosstalk not work?”

Zhao Xinning: “…”

“I, uh… I won’t be having insomnia soon.”

Lin Xi: “???”

Was insomnia something a person could control at will?

“Did something happen?” Lin Xi asked with concern. “Ever since we came back from District 2, you’ve seemed kind of weighed down…”

“Have… have I?” Zhao Xinning forced a smile. “Don’t overthink it. If something’s wrong, I’ll definitely ask you for help, Xi. I’m just afraid I won’t get a timely response from you…”

“Don’t worry.” Lin Xi patted her chest in assurance. “As long as you’re in trouble and contact me, I’ll rush over at top speed, no matter where you are.”

Lin Xi treated Zhao Xinning’s problems as her own.

Taking her best friend seriously wasn’t just empty talk.

“Hahaha-” Zhao Xinning laughed with relief. “You’re so good to me.”

“You’re the one who’s so good to me.” Lin Xi felt incredibly fortunate that she had met an angelic girl like Zhao Xinning right at the start.

As always, the two of them held hands and walked toward school.

…

“Miss Lin Xi, you’re asking for leave this afternoon?” Yang Shanshan asked.

After failing to invite Lin Xi over to her house yesterday, Yang Shanshan had originally planned to invite her again today.

But Lin Xi said she was taking the afternoon off and wouldn’t be coming.

“Yeah, I need to take leave.”

“What are you taking leave for?”

“Uh, I have a friend who’s sick and in the hospital. I’m going to visit her.” Lin Xi casually made up an excuse.

“A friend? A boy or a girl?!”

“A girl.” Lin Xi was actually curious why Yang Shanshan was asking in such detail.

“I…” Yang Shanshan explained in a small voice, “I thought maybe you had a boyfriend, Miss Lin Xi…”

“How could that be?” Lin Xi said. “While I’m gone, if there’s any homework, I’ll have to ask you to keep an eye on it for me, Shanshan. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”

“Eh?” Yang Shanshan had still wanted to treat Lin Xi to a meal herself. In that case, she could wait until Lin Xi treated her first, then treat her back. “Okay, I guarantee I’ll complete the mission!”

After Lin Xi finished packing her things, she left the classroom with her bag on her back. “See you tomorrow.”

“Mm, see you tomorrow, Miss Lin Xi.” Yang Shanshan sat back down, only to discover that right after Lin Xi left the classroom, Shi Yu also packed up her things and walked out.

“Wait, what?”

“Miss Shi Yu is taking leave too?”

“Why are the two of them taking leave at the same time???”

“Is the person who’s sick and hospitalized a mutual friend of theirs???”

A whole string of questions kept echoing through Yang Shanshan’s mind.

“Those two definitely aren’t just ordinary classmates…”

Yang Shanshan decided she would pay close attention from now on.