Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1620 - 1618: Setsuna’s Thoughts (Too Cold to Go Outside)

Since knowing Setsuna, Fang Zheng has never figured out what she’s thinking.

This silent girl always stands quietly at the side without speaking, but when it’s necessary to speak, she can quickly make decisions. Especially when she was the class president, at first, there were always people who didn’t accept Setsuna, but after being "hit" by her a few times, they obediently listened.

To be honest, if Fang Zheng were to describe it, Setsuna is more like a sniper, always lurking in silence, not uttering a word, and delivering a lethal blow when necessary.

So Fang Zheng followed Setsuna across the overpass, across the street, past shops, through the park, over the entertainment street, and then came to...

"Hmm?"

Looking at the "LOVE HOTEL" sign in front of him, Fang Zheng was completely dumbfounded.

"Setsuna, you took the wrong path, right?"

"No."

Even standing at the entrance, Setsuna remained calm.

"Aren’t you going in?"

"Wait, come with me for a moment..."

Saying this, Fang Zheng grabbed Setsuna’s arm and pulled her across the road from the hotel.

"Don’t you have something to say to me?"

"Of course I do."

This time, facing Fang Zheng’s gaze, Setsuna’s face finally turned slightly red.

"I like you."

"Hmm... Hmm?"

To be honest, Fang Zheng was somewhat surprised by this answer. But it was unexpected yet reasonable because considering how handsome and charming he is, it’s natural for women to like him. However, Setsuna was indeed beyond Fang Zheng’s expectations. After all, when Setsuna interacted with him before, she behaved quite normally, unlike Yukina or Touma or Sekai, who showed some signs.

So all along, Fang Zheng thought Setsuna just regarded him as an ordinary friend...

Now it seems, there’s no such thing as just ordinary friends between men and women...

"Are you surprised?"

Setsuna stared at Fang Zheng, her pitch-black eyes not blinking as they watched him.

"To be honest, very surprised."

Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

"If Sekai or Yukina said this to me, I’d understand. But you... you didn’t show this... tendency before?"

"That’s because Sekai likes you."

Setsuna’s expression didn’t change much; her speech was as direct as ever.

"Because Sekai likes you, I backed off."

"So what about now?"

"The situation has changed."

Saying this, Setsuna turned her head to look at the small tree not far away.

"I don’t quite understand, but I think we should clarify this."

Seeing Setsuna glance again at the hotel opposite, Fang Zheng quickly wiped his forehead, then took Setsuna’s hand and led her away from the bustling street. It was a joke; regardless of what was going through Setsuna’s mind, they couldn’t just walk in broad daylight; after all, Setsuna may be in high school now, but she looks like a middle school student. As a producer, if someone captured this, it would be a huge problem.

The producer of 765 taking a middle school girl to a LOVE HOTEL?

If the media found out, wouldn’t they be ecstatic?

Comparatively, a coffee shop is much safer.

"Alright, now we can speak clearly."

Sitting again in a coffee shop with gentle classical music playing, Fang Zheng finally relaxed a lot; he focused on Setsuna across him, waiting for her answer.

"You said because Sekai liked me, you backed off before?"

"That’s right."

Setsuna nodded again.

"Sekai and I are best friends, she likes you, so naturally, I would back off. But now... the situation is different."

"You talked to Touma, huh."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng immediately understood what Setsuna meant.

"Yes, according to Touma, Haruno, you already have many girlfriends, so having one more like me shouldn’t be a problem."

"That may be true..."

Admittedly, Setsuna’s logic was solid, almost trapping Fang Zheng.

But eventually, Fang Zheng didn’t fall for it.

"But I don’t accept just anyone."

"Don’t you?"

"Of course."

Fang Zheng’s reply was justified and earnest this time.

"At the very least, there needs to be mutual affection, right? Free love is fundamental."

"So, you don’t like me?"

"This..."

Faced with this question, Fang Zheng suddenly hesitated.

Does Fang Zheng like Setsuna? Naturally, he does.

But his feelings towards Setsuna are more like friendship, since their similar personalities make them get along well. However... same old saying, there is no pure friendship between a man and a woman.

Frankly, Fang Zheng hadn’t paid much attention to Setsuna in this regard before, as he was busy completing love missions, fearing anyone’s goodwill towards him reaching 80. But Setsuna never confessed to him, and there were troubles with Sekai and Yukina back then, so he didn’t pay much attention to this petite girl.

"Though I like you, I don’t think my liking has reached a romantic level."

"I see."

After hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Setsuna nodded.

"So, am I rejected?"

"..."

"After all, it’s a bit sudden; it’s not possible for me to accept right away, right?"

"That’s true, I understand."

Hearing this, Setsuna nodded, then stood up.

"Then, I’ll find you later."

After saying this, Setsuna turned and left the coffee shop.

"..."

Watching Setsuna’s departing figure, Fang Zheng helplessly shook his head. To be honest, he still didn’t understand why Setsuna chose this time to find him; this girl’s mind was always full of mysteries—which, to be frank, made Fang Zheng quite interested, wanting to see what Setsuna was truly thinking.

But unfortunately, now isn’t the time.

Glancing at his watch, Fang Zheng also stood up and left the coffee shop.

He still had a lot of work to do.

When Fang Zheng returned home after a busy day, it was almost ten o’clock.

"We’re back."

Fang Zheng and Sora walked into the house, casually saying, usually at this time, either Katori or Neflen or Little Hei or Illya would come to greet them, but this time...

"Welcome back."

Setsuna came out from the living room and greeted the two lightly.

Upon seeing Setsuna in front of them, Fang Zheng and Sora were both stunned.

"Do you want dinner? Or a bath?"

Setsuna seemed unfazed, she even took out some slippers and placed them by the door, then asked a question.

"Um...brother?"

Sora was completely bewildered, staring at the scene in front of her, unsure how to react, so she grabbed Fang Zheng and looked to him for help. Fang Zheng wasn’t in much better shape; seeing Setsuna’s unchanged calm expression reminded him of her saying in the café earlier, "I’ll find you later."... So this is what she meant!

"Ah, no need, Sora and I have eaten at the office."

"Understood, I’ll go boil some water."

Hearing this, Setsuna nodded and then turned away. At that moment, Fang Zheng and Sora watched as Setsuna disappeared into the bathroom and quickly rushed to the living room.

"What’s happening here?"

"We don’t know either!"

Facing the inquiry from Fang Zheng and Sora, the four young girls sitting in the living room looked equally clueless, until Little Hei gestured and started talking.

"Illya and I were playing at home, then we heard someone knocking on the door. When we opened it, she was standing outside with a big suitcase saying, ’I’ll be intruding on you from today.’ I thought you found a new member for your harem..."

"How could that be? Do I seem like that kind of person?"

"Eh? Aren’t you?"

Katori was taken aback, Neflen quietly nodded beside her, while Illya opened her mouth but... said nothing.

Damn, eating what I provide, wearing what I give, and yet tearing me down at the end?

I’ll settle this with you all later.

Fang Zheng silently muttered in his heart before speaking again.

"Then what happened?"

"Then Illya arranged for her to stay in the guest room! We were also wondering what all this was about. Big brother, who is this sister? Why does she want to live here? Is she really your new harem member?"

"She’s not presently, stop making things up."

"Then why does she want to live with us?"

"I want to know the answer to that too."

Fang Zheng shook his head helplessly, but soon he straightened up and widened his eyes.

"It’s late, aren’t you going to sleep?"

"Ah, yes!"

Upon hearing Fang Zheng, Illya jumped up obediently, and hurried back to her room, while Little Hei made a face at Fang Zheng and then climbed through the window. Katori and Neflen also returned to their rooms, and it was only then that Sora pulled Fang Zheng to a corner on the other side.

"Brother, what’s really going on? Why did Kiyora-san come to our home?"

Illya and Little Hei didn’t know Setsuna, so they didn’t react much. But Sora was different; she knew about the situation and had an impression of this girl, Kiyora Setsuna. Today’s behavior from Setsuna was so far off from the girl she remembered, that Sora had to come and find out what was going on.

"I also don’t know."

Fang Zheng appeared just as clueless faced with Sora’s question.

"Actually, I met Setsuna at the set this afternoon, then..."

Fang Zheng narrated the afternoon’s events to Sora, and after hearing his description, Sora was quite surprised.

"Kiyora confessed to you?"

"Yes, I was quite taken aback."

"Why would she... It doesn’t make sense..."

"You didn’t notice either?"

"No."

Confronted with Fang Zheng’s questioning, Sora shook her head too. At that time, she was highly sensitive to the women around Fang Zheng, yet even so, she didn’t perceive Setsuna having much affection for him. Mainly because Setsuna’s presence was too low, or perhaps...

"Hmm... Wait? Thinking about it now, indeed..."

"Do you have any leads?"

Seeing Sora’s thoughtful expression, Fang Zheng curiously asked, to which Sora pondered for a moment before answering.

"If I remember correctly, she used to secretly watch you often."

"Often?"

"Yes, whether during the SchoolDays event, classes, or breaks."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because it’s normal, there were too many girls watching you back then, how could I remember each one?"

Sora retorted, pouting.

"Besides, World and Yukina were there then, so I didn’t pay much attention."

"So it’s like hidden in plain sight?"

Fang Zheng furrowed his brow, indeed, even if Setsuna had long harbored feelings for him, they were overshadowed by the actions of World and Yukina. Or perhaps Fang Zheng’s and Sora’s attention was captured by these "assertive" players like World and Yukina, leading them to overlook the quietly observing Setsuna.

"Then, brother, what do you plan to do now?"

"I don’t know either."

Fang Zheng was being honest; having met many women, he’d never encountered anyone quite like Setsuna before. Fang Zheng was at a loss for how to proceed.

And just then, Setsuna’s head popped out from the other side of the hallway.

"The water is boiled."

"Uh... I’ll take a bath first."

Looking at Setsuna in front of him, Fang Zheng wanted to say something but had no idea what. He could only shake his head; no matter the circumstances, a bath was a good way to relax. Once everything was sorted out, they’d tackle the rest.

"Phew..."

Feeling the hot water flowing from top to bottom, Fang Zheng also loosened up.

"It’s so... baffling."

Thinking back to Setsuna’s actions today, Fang Zheng contemplated for a long time before giving this evaluation. Indeed, to Fang Zheng, Setsuna’s behavior throughout the day was baffling: bizarrely confessing, bizarrely dragging him to a hotel, bizarrely moving into his house...

What exactly is she thinking?

Fang Zheng truly had no clue.

"Swoosh."

Suddenly, at that moment, the bathroom door opened.

"Sora?"

Fang Zheng initially thought it was Sora wanting to join him for a bath as usual, but considering the presence of someone else today...

"It’s me."

"Setsuna?"

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Zheng was startled; he quickly turned his head, only to see Setsuna wrapped in a bath towel standing at the door holding a scrub.

"I’ll scrub your back."

"No, no, that’s not necessary..."

Fang Zheng waved his hand hastily, feeling this was too exaggerated. He truly didn’t understand what Setsuna intended.

"No, I can."

However, Setsuna completely ignored Fang Zheng’s refusal and walked straight in. But at that moment, her foot suddenly slipped, followed by a scream as Setsuna slid towards the floor. Fang Zheng quickly reached out to catch her.

"Careful!"

"Bang!"

Thanks to Fang Zheng’s quick reflexes, Setsuna didn’t fall to the ground. But even so, her originally wrapped towel unraveled due to the unexpected slip, falling apart like blooming flowers, revealing the delicate center.

"........"

In an instant, the air in the bathroom became silent.

Setsuna, however, didn’t blink, staring at Fang Zheng before reaching out.

"This part also needs... to be cleaned... thoroughly..."