Chapter 46: Brother Zhe: Why Does My Brain Keep Saying Something About Taichu Youwei... (Patreon)

In the end, it was mutual destruction.

Musachi's soft waist got twisted a full turn, and Remielle didn't come out any better.

He hadn't really had the heart to pinch her, but he'd tickled her until she was quivering like a branch in the wind.

By the time it was over, Remielle was laughing so hard she was gulping down air.

Yes. From exhaustion.

"I hope there won't be a next time for this kind of disrespect toward your boss. Otherwise, next time I'm going for the soles of your feet."

As he spoke, Musachi flexed his fingers.

Instinctively, Remielle's toes curled a little.

Naturally, that tiny movement didn't escape Musachi's eyes.

She was wearing clear sandals today, so her dainty toes and the nail polish on them were fully on display.

A delicacy. An undeniable delicacy!

"Pervert. Foot fetishist."

Feeling Musachi's gaze, Remielle tucked her feet back again and muttered the complaint.

"I'm warning you, don't slander me."

Musachi pointed at Remielle.

"Was I wrong?"

"Of course you were wrong. I'm into all of it!"

Musachi said it without a shred of shame.

"?"

A giant question mark popped up above Remielle's head.

How can anyone be this shameless?

No wait, I shouldn't have said that about him just now. Isn't that basically rewarding him?

"Forget it. I shouldn't be taking you seriously, Mr. Pervert. Just pretend I never said anything. And rein in that gaze of yours, or I'm seriously going to change my shoes."

"I'm just thinking about how to get my revenge later. It can't be that only you get to pinch me and I don't get to pay you back, right?"

In the end, what broke up the squabble was nothing other than a delivery truck stopping at the door.

"Finally!"

Musachi's eyes lit up, and he headed outside.

"You've got…"

Remielle stared, a little puzzled, at the shelving frames on the truck and the big crate behind them.

"Bookshelves and books, of course! I realized our shop just doesn't have enough books, so I ordered a batch of the novels that are popular right now. This one, for example, is Reincarnated as an Ethereal, and Then Invincible Under Heaven! And this one is My Wife Is a Void Hunter, But I'm a Bishop of The Exaltists. Anyway, they're all bestsellers."

"Sorry to trouble you, gentlemen. Could you carry the shelves inside first, and then move the crate of books in?"

Musachi glanced at the driver and the loader in the passenger seat.

The company's service was pretty good. Delivery and carrying were both included, so Musachi and Remielle were happy to take it easy.

Still, watching the two men bustle back and forth, Musachi went to the convenience store and bought them two bottles of drink and two packs of cigarettes.

Call it a tip for their trouble.

"Aw, thanks."

Both men were plain, honest folk, with warm smiles on their weathered, sun-darkened faces.

Over some small talk, Musachi learned that the driver's hometown was in Waifei Peninsula. Wages were a bit higher here in New Eridu, so he'd come to work, and the loader was a fellow villager of his.

"Hm? Musachi, is this… new stock?"

Outside the door, Belle peeked curiously into the shop, eyeing the scene.

"Of course! Gotta change things up, right? Turning a profit at this bookstore is a real struggle every month. If I don't change soon, I'll actually have to subsidize the shop with other income, and that won't do! I may not be fighting over steamed buns, but I have to fight for my pride, and I'll prove I've got a head for business!"

As he spoke, Musachi shot Remielle across the way a provocative look.

Remielle answered with a very pretty eye roll.

What are you, a kid? So competitive… I only said it offhand, didn't I?

Seeing this, Belle gave an awkward laugh. "Haha, so that's it. But I believe in you, Manager. With a face this handsome, running a bookstore will definitely be fine."

Belle would have been better off keeping quiet. Beside her, Remielle couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Musachi shot her a vicious glare.

Remielle acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. "Yes, yes, Belle's right, Boss. With a face this handsome, even if the bookstore loses money, you could still get by on other work, couldn't you?"

As she said it, she winked and waggled her eyebrows at Musachi, her eyes full of teasing.

Musachi's face went dark.

This woman still remembers that incident, doesn't she?

"Hm?"

Looking at the two of them, Belle wore a faint look of confusion.

She had a feeling they were talking about something not so nice.

"Hmm… So many books. Shelving them must be a hassle, right? Why don't my brother and I come help?"

Belle looked at the two shelves already standing against the wall and offered.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

"Not at all! It'd take the two of you a while, but with four of us it'll be much faster. Besides, we've got nothing better to do anyway. My brother is long overdue for some exercise. Lately the most intense workout he gets is going out with his friends to shop, eat, and watch movies…"

Belle grumbled as she spoke.

Before long, Wise was being dragged over by Belle.

"Then I'll be counting on you two, Belle and Brother Wise."

Musachi smiled at them with narrowed eyes.

"Leave it to me!"

Belle said, fired up.

But maybe it was just Musachi's imagination: whenever Brother Wise looked his way, there was a trace of resentment on his face.

He scratched his head. He was pretty sure he hadn't offended the guy.

Well, he really hadn't. He had, however, indirectly made Wise suffer quite a bit.

That movie Musachi gave Belle the other day? When Brother Wise watched it later, it nearly scared the soul right out of him.

When Belle got scared, at least she reacted, and she knew to seek comfort from whoever was sitting next to her.

And Brother Wise? Belle had been fine at first when she heard her brother let out a frightened yell. She'd even been a little curious that, apart from that one yell, he did nothing else.

Only later did she realize it wasn't that he did nothing. His soul had already floated out of his mouth, and by the look of it, it had been gone for quite a while.

"See, I told you many hands make light work!"

In just over half an hour, the two new bookshelves were full.

They were packed with popular books of every kind.

The books in this section could be either rented or bought.

As thanks, Musachi treated the two of them to lunch.

"Wow, I never expected the Manager to cook this well."

At noon, seeing the table full of dishes, Belle and Wise sat down, both a little amazed.

"Of course! I won't claim I'm better than a professional chef, but among ordinary people I'm definitely decent!"

Musachi said proudly.

As he spoke, he handed Belle a bowl of rice.

"Don't be shy. Eat up."

"Okay!"

Belle nodded and answered happily.

For some reason, watching his own little sister interact with Musachi, Wise felt that something was off.

Hadn't these two only known each other for a short while? Why did their relationship feel a little close?

Weird. Why is my head automatically playing something like Triple Aspects and Im Anfang war die Tat…