Two days after the siblings returned from the Outer Ring, the video store settled back into its usual calm.
That night, Wise walked down a quiet street, glancing at his surroundings as he muttered, "It's already this late? I should hurry back."
He checked the ti on his phone and instinctively picked up his pace. The only reason he was out so late was that he had escorted Corin back to Victoria Housekeeping.
It wasn't that he didn't want her to stay the night at the video store, but given his current circumstances, he had no choice but to send her back.
"Miss, what are you doing here?"
As he passed by an alley, a voice suddenly called out from within. Wise turned his head and saw a PubSec officer standing there.
If he rembered correctly, her na was Sita, a diligent and responsible officer. It seed she was on patrol around Sixth Street that day.
The person she was questioning was a woman. Black stockings clung to her smooth legs, while a slender tail swayed idly behind her.
It was Jane Doe.
With her thumbs hooked into the buttonholes near her chest, she carried an air that was both playful and commanding. Even from a distance, Wise recognized her instantly.
'Jane? What's she doing here... and why is a PubSec officer questioning her?' For a brief mont, Wise wondered if she had sohow been exposed during an undercover mission.
He quickly dismissed the thought, though the idea was oddly funny.
"Ah, there you are. I've been waiting for you~" The mont Jane spotted him, she spoke up with a bright tone, directing her words to Officer Sita.
Sita followed her gaze and soon recognized Wise as well.
"You're the video store manager, right? Excuse , do you happen to know this lady?"
Her tone softened upon seeing him, but she maintained her professionalism.
"Yes, I do. She's a friend of mine," Wise replied, eting Jane's slightly teasing smile.
At his response, her tail curled faintly behind her, as if satisfied.
"I see. Since she's with you, there shouldn't be any issue."
With his confirmation, Sita gave a small nod. After reminding them to stay alert and mindful of their safety, she resud her patrol.
Once she was gone, the phone inside a nearby booth suddenly began to ring.
Jane stepped forward as if it were the most natural thing in the world and picked up the receiver. At the sa ti, she gently pressed a finger against Wise's lips, stopping him just as he was about to speak.
Then she leaned closer and whispered sothing before hanging up the phone, her gaze returning to Wise.
"Little Wise, thanks for helping just now. As a reward, you can ask for anything~"
As she spoke, Jane withdrew her finger from his lips and lightly placed it against her own, her expression turning charming and alluring, completely unbothered by the brief contact they had just shared.
Wise, on the other hand, found himself montarily speechless. He had never been good at dealing with soone like her. Jane was far too forward, always taking control of the situation.
What confused him even more was how her favorability toward him had already reached seventy, despite them only speaking a few tis over the phone.
'She hasn't realized I was the one who saved her… right? Probably not…'
If she truly knew, it wouldn't have stopped at this level.
"You're always interesting, Jane. You remind of those dangerous won in old films—the kind who wear trench coats and can turn their heels into weapons at any mont."
Wise deliberately shifted the topic. Making any bold requests right now would only lead to trouble.
But Jane clearly had no intention of letting him off so easily.
As soon as he finished speaking, she covered her mouth and let out a soft, knowing laugh.
"Maybe my heels really can~ Little Wise, do you want to show you?"
As she spoke, she lifted one leg slightly, her ankle moving with deliberate grace, clearly teasing him.
Wise froze for a mont, then swallowed, forcing himself to stay composed.
"Cough... I was just joking."
And he ant it. He genuinely hadn't been thinking that way.
"Hm~ That didn't sound very convincing. Did you start getting ideas after saying it?"
"..."
Wise chose to remain silent. Saying anything now would only give her more room to tease him.
"Alright, relax. I like people who stay true to themselves... people like you. After all, what we lack is often what draws us in."
For a brief mont, sothing deeper flickered across her face—a faint trace of emotion that quickly disappeared as her usual charming smile returned.
"But don't worry, Little Wise. No matter what kind of person I am, I won't do anything bad to you. We may have t over sothing as simple as renting a videotape, but... I don't think that's all there is to it."
Her gaze lingered on him as if trying to see through him before she let out a quiet chuckle.
"You have sothing I want, and I enjoy talking to you. But it's getting late, so I should head back. Let's talk again next ti~ Good night, Wise."
With that, she turned and left. As she passed him, her tail lightly brushed against his fingertips before slipping away.
If it had been an ordinary cat teasing him like that, he would have grabbed it without hesitation and played with it all day.
But Jane was different. A Rat Thiren's tail wasn't sothing you could just catch.
Especially when the tip looked sharp enough to make him think twice.
He had assud their next eting would take a while.
But to his surprise, she showed up again the very next day.
"Jane? What are you doing here?" he asked, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance.
"What? As one of your store's top mbers, and considering I've already secured a date with you, Little Wise, am I not allowed to stop by?"
She brought up their previous "agreent" without hesitation, instantly reminding Wise of how Belle had sold him out to promote mberships.
"Haha... let's save that date for another ti. I actually ca to watch the one I borrowed before, 'Porter Mountain.'"
After explaining her purpose, Wise quickly found the videotape and handed it to her.
"If you want to watch it now, I have a VHS setup in my room upstairs."
"Oh? Thank you, Little Wise. But aren't you worried? Inviting into your room so casually... what if I end up 'eating' you?"
'Not worried at all... and are you sure you're not mixing things up? If anyone's getting "eaten," it doesn't seem like I'd be the one losing out.'
Wise kept that thought to himself.
Jane simply smiled, letting the topic pass without pushing further.
"By the way, Little Wise... have you seen this one before?"
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