Chapter 141 – A Pinky Promise

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Xi decided to wake Zhao Xinning after all.

The food wouldn’t taste as good once it got cold.

“Xinning, wake up-” Lin Xi sat down beside the bed and called softly.

Zhao Xinning woke up, only to suddenly throw her arms around Lin Xi and burst into tears.

Lin Xi: “???”

“What’s wrong, Xinning?”

“Waaah-” Zhao Xinning clung tightly to Lin Xi. “I… I had a nightmare. A really, really awful nightmare.”

“Are you… sure you’re okay?” Lin Xi asked, deeply concerned.

Ever since they finished shopping for clothes at the mall, she had felt that something was off with Zhao Xinning.

“What did you dream about? Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

Lin Xi gently patted Zhao Xinning’s back.

“I dreamed you were gone…” Zhao Xinning sobbed. “You abandoned me. You abandoned me forever…”

“What?! How could I possibly abandon you?” Lin Xi comforted her. “I’ll never abandon you.”

“Really?” Zhao Xinning asked through tear-clouded eyes. “Even if I did something really, really terrible?”

Something really, really terrible? How terrible could it possibly be?

Lin Xi couldn’t imagine it. What terrible thing could Angel-sama ever do?…

“I dreamed that I’d done something terrible, and then you abandoned me for good. No matter how much I begged, you refused to forgive me…”

“That’s impossible!” Lin Xi pulled out a tissue and wiped Zhao Xinning’s tears as she said,

“First of all, you’d never do anything truly terrible. You’re the gentlest girl I’ve ever met.

“Even if you made some little mistake, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’d definitely forgive you. How could I ever abandon you for good?

“Xinning, you’re my most important friend!”

Since coming to this world, Lin Xi had indeed made quite a few friends.

But in her heart, Zhao Xinning unquestionably ranked first.

“You’d really forgive me for anything I did wrong?” Zhao Xinning asked.

“Of course.”

“Can you pinky promise?” Zhao Xinning held out her little finger.

“Hahaha.” Lin Xi laughed. “Honestly, Xinning. We’re not children anymore.”

“You don’t want to pinky promise?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Lin Xi held out her own little finger. “I just don’t think it’s necessary at all.”

Their little fingers hooked together, sealing the promise.

Zhao Xinning’s tears turned into a smile. “Now I can finally stop worrying.”

“Stop worrying? What were you worried about?” Lin Xi asked with concern. “Did something difficult happen?”

“There are a few troublesome matters,” Zhao Xinning said, “but I’ll take care of them beautifully.”

“What matters? Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“They’re only minor issues.” Zhao Xinning got out of bed. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

After dinner, Zhao Xinning went straight home.

She had originally planned to stay the night, but dealing with the problem was more important.

She needed to go back and plan everything carefully. Not only did she have to kill Shi Yu again, but she also had to conduct a thorough investigation into Lin Xi’s relationships.

She would eliminate every pest around Lin Xi.

It didn’t matter who tried to cling to Lin Xi. She would find a way to kill them, and that would be the end of it.

“Even if Xi eventually finds out, she’ll forgive me.” Zhao Xinning no longer had any reservations. “Everything I’m doing is for her-for our beautiful future together.”

“Indeed,” Pluto said. “After all, you’ve already sealed it with a pinky promise.”

…

“Master, there’s something wrong with Zhao Xinning!”

After seeing Zhao Xinning off, Lin Xi went back inside to find Thor staring at her with a grave expression as she made this declaration.

“Something wrong with Xinning?” Lin Xi scoffed. “What right does a Perverted Dragon Maid like you have to say there’s something wrong with Xinning?”

“It’s true! Master, there really is something wrong with her!”

“Stop making up rumors,” Lin Xi said with utmost seriousness. “Slandering Xinning is the same as slandering me. You’d better think carefully about the consequences.”

Thor: “…”

“Just hear me out.”

She explained, “You told me to go back to the guest room just now. Before I went in, I secretly peeked into the bedroom through the crack in the door-“

“What?!” Lin Xi raised a hand and grabbed Thor by one of her dragon horns. “You Perverted Dragon Maid! How dare you have designs on Xinning?!”

“I don’t! I’m loyal only to you! You’re the only one I love!” Thor hurriedly explained. “I happened to pass by the bedroom and heard someone speaking very softly inside.”

“The five senses of the Dragon Clan are extremely keen, so I’m absolutely certain I heard a voice coming from the bedroom.”

“You’re still spouting nonsense?” Lin Xi said. “Xinning was the only person in there!”

“Exactly,” Thor said firmly. “She was alone. She was talking to herself!”

Lin Xi: “…”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously!”

“Then what did you hear her say?”

“I couldn’t make it out. She was speaking very softly, almost muttering under her breath. It was too muffled through the door…”

“Thor, if you’re going to make things up, at least make your story believable!” Lin Xi released Thor’s dragon horn. “And even if Xinning was talking to herself, so what?”

“I talk to myself sometimes too. Saying the problems and worries I’ve been keeping bottled up out loud makes me feel a little better.”

“There’s nothing wrong with ordinary self-talk,” Thor said. “But Zhao Xinning seemed to be having a conversation with someone. That’s definitely not normal.”

“Heh heh heh…” Lin Xi looked at Thor. “Are you trying to tell me my bedroom is haunted so you can ask me to sleep in the guest room with you tonight?”

Thor: “…”

“I wouldn’t mind if you interpreted it that way.”

“Well, I would!” Lin Xi headed off to take a shower. “Stop being so paranoid. Xinning is perfectly normal. It’s the rest of you who aren’t.”

“You trust her that much?”

“Yes. Unconditionally.”

“You should be placing your unconditional trust in the Dragon Maid who’s ready to devote her body and soul to you!”

“Get lost.”

…

Lin Xi enjoyed a nice, relaxing shower. While she was at it, she tossed her clothes into the washing machine.

Ever since discovering that this pervert Thor sniffed her clothes… Lin Xi had decided she needed to find time to properly educate Thor and lead her back onto the right path.

“Master!” Thor loudly voiced her displeasure. “You have to leave chores like laundry to me!”

Lin Xi asked, “Do you really not understand why I’m doing it myself?”

Thor: “…”

“It’s all your fault, Master!”

“You’re away from home for most of the day, leaving me all alone in an empty room. Of course I need something of yours to remember you by and ease my loneliness…”

“Thor! What else have you done to my clothes?!” Lin Xi’s head began to ache. “Looks like I can’t wear any of them again.”

“Nothing!” Thor complained. “I really don’t understand you. You’re already such a powerful Blazing Blast Witch, so why are you still going to school?”

“Instead of wasting all that time at school, you could spend it with me. We could travel around and have fun together. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“If we’re short on money, we can just team up and rob a bank.”

Since when did robbing banks become part of ZERO’s corporate culture? Lin Xi grumbled inwardly.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

In the living room, Thor immediately turned invisible.

Lin Xi went to answer the door.