Chapter 76 He Is My Boyfriend

"Senior Lawrence, come with me, I'll give you what you need!" After a round of sarcastic remarks, Shuo saw that Han Shuo remained silent, merely gulping down water with a bitter face, and seemed to lose interest. He turned to Lawrence and spoke.

Before leaving, Phoebe shot Han Shuo a hateful glare, hesitated for a moment, and said, "If you're not in a hurry, wait for me a bit."

Han Shuo looked up at Phoebe and clearly sensed her suppressed anger. Remembering that he still needed her help with the Demon Slayer Blade, he could only nod helplessly.

Phoebe led Lawrence aside. Only after they left did Fubin En give Han Shuo a strange look and ask in surprise, "Brian, you're actually just a menial worker at the Babylon Magic and Martial Academy? My god, yet you possess such strength. How is that possible?"

"There's nothing special about it. By the way, this Lawrence is just an ordinary intermediate knight at our Babylon Warrior Academy, but Miss Phoebe has the strength of a Swordmaster. How could they possibly share the same teacher?" Han Shuo was puzzled and asked Fubin En.

Although knights and swordsmen can practice the same battle aura, it's odd that with the same master, Lawrence is only an intermediate knight while Phoebe is already a Swordmaster. The gap between them is too great, and from their conversation, Han Shuo clearly heard that Lawrence is the senior brother while Phoebe is the junior sister, which made him even more curious.

"I'm not entirely sure about the young lady's circumstances either. I used to be a minor figure in the Booster Trading House. I only heard that before the president's death, the young lady studied abroad, coming home only once or twice a year. If the president hadn't died suddenly, Miss Phoebe probably wouldn't have stayed. As for Lawrence, he only appeared in my view recently. Their relationship seems close, but I can't answer the questions you're asking." Fubin En replied apologetically.

Since he said so, Han Shuo didn't press further, only nodded and fell into thought.

After a while, Phoebe and Lawrence stood before the door again. Phoebe glanced at Fubin En and instructed, "Fubin En, help me see Senior Lawrence out. I have something to discuss with Mr. Brian alone."

"Yes, Miss!" Fubin En tactfully got up and made his way to the door.

"Brian, it's a pleasure to see you here. If you ever want to earn a few more gold coins, feel free to come find me. But I suppose you won’t need to. Well, goodbye, Brian. I believe we'll meet again." Lawrence gave Han Shuo a meaningful look, smiled lightly, and left with Fubin En.

Once they were gone, Phoebe entered with a frosty expression, sat down, shot Han Shuo a sidelong glance, and snorted, "You still dare to see me!"

"Why wouldn't I?" Han Shuo raised his brows, staring back at Phoebe unyieldingly. "I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you still owe me something. Once you give me the promised materials and the black gold ore, I'll leave immediately and will never trouble you for business again!"

"Bang!" Phoebe slammed the table, glaring at Han Shuo in fury. "You—you still have the nerve to ask for things? Damn you, you violated me, and I’ve already been merciful not to kill you!"

"Nonsense! We were both drugged that night, and I’m the one who pulled you out of the Booster Trading House. Otherwise, you’d have been ruined. Besides, I didn't actually do anything to you, or I wouldn't have carried you to the river!" Han Shuo was truly angered. After all his hard work that night, he gained nothing and got beaten up as well. He had behaved impeccably, yet Phoebe kept harping on about it. Was she really planning to renege on her debt?

With a clang, Phoebe drew her longsword, eyes blazing. Han Shuo too slammed the table and stood up, glaring fiercely at her as if ready for a fight.

The two glared at each other for nearly a minute before Phoebe pouted, sheathed her sword with a sharp sound, turned her head away, and said coldly, "So what do you want?"

"Simple. I’ll buy the other materials at your price and you give back the black gold ore you owe me. Then our account is settled. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other, and I won’t do business with you again," Han Shuo said, face dark, downing the water in front of him in one gulp.

"You despicable opportunist! Take it, take it all, and get lost!" Phoebe, inexplicably furious at Han Shuo's words, her face twisted with suppressed anger, irritably pulled a large bundle out of her space ring and shoved it at Han Shuo, glaring at him.

"Uh, you had it all ready? Why didn’t you say so earlier? We could have spared ourselves this quarrel." Han Shuo had meant to leave right away, but upon seeing the neatly packed bundle, with a strange piece of iron sealed in a clear vial labeled "Black Gold," he realized Phoebe had prepared everything, with no intention of defaulting.

What puzzled Han Shuo was that since Phoebe didn’t mean to renege, why had she been so hostile the moment she entered, insisting she wouldn’t give him anything? It was inexplicable.

"Give me your crystal card, and I’ll transfer the gold coins I'm owed. Honestly, I just want what's mine," Han Shuo said, awkwardly smiling while stowing the bundle into his space ring.

Phoebe still wouldn’t look at him, her voice cold and distant: "No need. I’m not as petty as you. Three thousand five hundred gold coins, consider it a gift. Don’t let me see you again—leave!"

Faced with her ongoing mockery, Han Shuo’s face hardened. He set a piece of black iron ore, mined the day before yesterday, on the table with a thud, and said coldly, "I don’t like owing strangers favors. Take this black iron ore as compensation for the other ores I bought from you. Goodbye, Miss Phoebe. I won’t be doing business with you again."

As Han Shuo resolutely turned to leave, Phoebe suddenly stood up in confusion, her wise eyes now full of weakness and exhaustion, and said bleakly, "To you, am I really just a stranger?"

Han Shuo shrugged, replying with nonchalance, "Since you don’t consider me a friend, I’m not shameless enough to force myself on you."

He finished speaking and strode toward the door, but before he could leave, Phoebe suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Han Shuo turned back calmly. "Miss Phoebe, is there something else?"

Phoebe’s expression was strange. She lowered her head in silence, and when she looked up again, the vulnerability and weariness had mostly vanished. Her gaze locked on Han Shuo, making him uneasy. Finally, a faint smile flickered at the corner of her lips. "Brian, are you saying you already consider me a friend?"

Surprised, Han Shuo nodded. "Of course. We survived life-and-death situations together in the Booster Trading House, and you’ve helped me out before. I've already regarded you as a friend. It's just that you never wanted to admit it."

"Who said I didn’t want to? Hmph, aside from business, are you always this heartless with your friends?" At this, Phoebe’s manner returned to normal, with a warmth absent from her usual coldness, speaking to Han Shuo as she had to Lawrence earlier.

"Of course not," Han Shuo replied.

"Very well. Since we’re friends, there’s something I must tell you." Phoebe grew earnest, thinking for a moment before fixing her gaze on Han Shuo. "Brian, after we assassinated Darnell and Yuna, Grover suspected you and joined forces with 'Shadow' to investigate your background. You told him your name is Brian, so it won’t be long before he learns about your life at the Babylon Magic and Martial Academy. Unless you leave the Academy and abandon the name Brian for a new identity, you’ll face endless trouble."

Phoebe’s warning, full of genuine concern, warmed Han Shuo’s heart and softened his expression. After some thought, he agreed there was truth to her words and asked, "So, what do you think I should do?"

"Join me in taking Grover down. Otherwise, we’ll never know peace!" Phoebe’s lovely face turned cold, her words sharp and resolute.

Han Shuo pondered for a moment. Life on the edge, he realized, might help him grow stronger—his previous life had been too monotonous, and perhaps a little excitement would be more interesting. Moreover, if Phoebe was right, Grover’s threat would bring unending trouble unless dealt with.

He made up his mind. "Alright, I’ll help you!"

"In that case, accompany me to the Booster Trading House’s private banquet tonight. The elders of the Trading House will all be in attendance." Phoebe’s face brightened with joy at Han Shuo’s answer.

"Eh? What would I do at your Trading House’s banquet?" Han Shuo asked, dumbfounded.

"Win the favor of the other elders and beware of their schemes. Brian, I need your help. You just said we’re friends, didn’t you?" Phoebe stared intently at Han Shuo.

Han Shuo suddenly felt as if he’d boarded a pirate ship, but having already acknowledged their friendship, he couldn’t back out. He braced himself and agreed.

Phoebe exhaled lightly, smiling. "Great! Wait here—I’ll have someone make you a suitable suit. And I need to teach you some basic noble etiquette. I heard just now from Lawrence that you’re from the Babylon Magic and Martial Academy, so... I suppose you’re not well-versed in these things."

Han Shuo shot Phoebe a glare. "I was a menial worker, but that’s all in the past. I’ve nothing to hide!"

"Sorry, Brian, I didn’t mean anything by it, really," Phoebe apologized, worried by Han Shuo’s reaction.

"It’s fine. Go ahead, I’ll listen carefully," Han Shuo said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Wait—this is black iron ore!" Phoebe seemed to just notice the piece Han Shuo had left on the table. She stared at him in surprise. "You actually have black iron ore. Looks like you’re planning to forge a top-quality weapon!"

"Of course," Han Shuo answered confidently.

Phoebe then explained the basic etiquette of the nobility. Han Shuo understood that if he wanted to rise in this world, mastering such manners was essential. He listened attentively, practicing the required gestures as she instructed.

That evening, Han Shuo donned the formal attire Phoebe had prepared for him, looking quite presentable, and followed her to the Booster Trading House for the third time by carriage.

Many ornate carriages were parked at the entrance, guarded now by two unfamiliar faces. When Phoebe and Han Shuo alighted, they walked in without need of greeting, Phoebe leading the way through two corridors to the banquet hall entrance.

"Phoebe, my dear niece, this is a private banquet for the Trading House. It doesn’t seem quite proper for you to bring him in, does it?" Grover stood at the door, wineglass in hand, chatting with several obviously wealthy elders. Upon seeing Phoebe and Han Shuo approach, he shot Han Shuo a venomous glare before addressing Phoebe.

"Uncle Grover, Mr. Brian is no outsider," Phoebe replied with a slight, embarrassed smile, glancing at Han Shuo.

"Oh? Then, my good niece, would you care to explain why he isn’t an outsider?" Grover’s eyes narrowed, his snake-like gaze flickering between Phoebe and Han Shuo.

"He’s my boyfriend!" Phoebe lifted her chin, meeting Grover’s gaze without fear, and spoke with pride.