Su Ze also realized that while Uesugi Akizuki was indeed naive and simple-minded, she wasn't completely foolish and could understand their conversation.
Su Ze spoke with apparent indifference, "However, she's probably just an illegal immigrant. If she hasn't committed any crimes, we could consider helping her escape, or she could come to me. I might try to protect her for this simpleton's sake."
"The Executors are that powerful, so it seems she only has these three options: getting caught, turning herself in, or coming to you. If she doesn't surrender voluntarily, she'll end up in prison if caught," Shen Qingsheng observed, choosing to play along with Su Ze.
Hearing this, Uesugi Akizuki walked thoughtfully, no longer eating her candied haw.
Su Ze had deliberately said this for Uesugi Akizuki to hear. If that girl came back to find Uesugi Akizuki, she would certainly choose a time when Su Ze wasn't around, and Uesugi Akizuki would likely plead with the girl to seek Su Ze's help.
She certainly believed Su Ze could protect that girl, after all, she herself had been protected by him.
After this discussion, they tactfully changed the subject to Huaxia University, talking about what would happen after enrollment.
At the clothing store, the curious Shen Qingsheng quickly brought the topic back, "How long do you plan to keep her? Are you really thinking of raising her to be your wife?"
Uesugi Akizuki was mesmerized by the dazzling world before her, lost in indecision among the beautiful clothes.
"To be honest, when I first saw her, I didn't hand her over to the police purely because of her innocent demeanor. I only wanted to protect her from being taken by the Executors, but somehow I ended up becoming her guarantor. If anything happens to her, it's my responsibility, so I have no choice but to take care of her."
"No, no, no," Shen Qingsheng shook his head, "What I mean is, how long do you plan to keep her - from innocence to wedding dress, or from innocence to human trafficking and kidnapping?"
"If there's a huge difference in benefits between the two, I'd lean towards the latter," Su Ze said seriously.
Not far away, Uesugi Akizuki suddenly froze. Though she hadn't heard the conversation, she felt an inexplicable anxiety and quickly ran over to hold Su Ze's hand.
Seeing her worried expression, Su Ze was puzzled, "Who bullied you? What are you afraid of?"
Uesugi Akizuki shook her head, just holding onto him.
"Ouch~ My titanium dog eyes... they're blind... blind..." Shen Qingsheng clutched his eyes in theatrical pain.
Su Ze laughed, "Looks like your habit of looking down on people has finally been completely cured."
Ignoring Shen Qingsheng's furious retort, he took the girl to choose clothes.
This store had everything, including almost all clothing styles from Blue Star, even bulletproof vests, as they sold special items for special times.
Upon learning that Uesugi Akizuki was a shrine maiden from Japan, the shop assistant made a grand gesture, and authentic shrine maiden outfits imported from Japan slid out from a hidden door in the corner, landing on a clothing rack.
This sight truly amazed Uesugi Akizuki. She jumped up and down, clapping her hands, then ran over, bent slightly, and sniffed with her quivering nose.
In an unnoticed corner, a man wearing a baseball cap was making a phone call, "Found her. Uesugi Akizuki is in the clothing store in District Three of Dust City."
Uesugi Akizuki finally chose three shrine maiden outfits, planning to wear them in rotation, and selected more than ten beautiful dresses.
The total came to only thirty thousand yuan, which was nothing for Su Ze, who regularly risked his life for money.
Su Ze arranged for the clothing store to deliver the clothes to their doorstep, and they continued shopping.
"I want to go to the Land of the Living Dead in the next few days," Su Ze suddenly said.
Shen Qingsheng was stunned for a moment, pointing at the red-haired girl who was lowering her head to eat candied haw, "Are you planning to make her a widow?"
"No," Su Ze shook his head, "I'm planning to let you experience the pain of losing a father."
"Get lost, you're never serious," Shen Qingsheng said with disdain. "Are you serious? Once you're dead, everything's over."
"Since the Mysterious Descent, if a new generation Forerunner lives to fifty, they're considered long-lived. I'm already seventeen, if I don't live wildly now, I'll be old before I know it," Su Ze sighed.
"Seems like you're dead set on this," Shen Qingsheng said helplessly, patting his chest and smiling, "Son, go ahead and live dangerously, I'll take care of your wife."
Suddenly, Su Ze gave Shen Qingsheng a subtle look, and the latter immediately pretended to be deaf and looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
"Let go, I'm going to smoke," Su Ze shook off Uesugi Akizuki's tight grip.
Uesugi Akizuki looked at him for a while, nodded, and reluctantly let go.
But as soon as Su Ze took two steps, the red-haired girl ran after him, following closely.
Su Ze flicked her forehead, and the girl clutched her head with a grieved and resentful look.
"Wait here, don't follow me to breathe secondhand smoke," Su Ze helped rub her head.
The girl pressed her lips together and nodded.
In a corner, three middle-aged men on an electric scooter watched suspiciously as Su Ze left to smoke and Shen Qingsheng went to the bathroom.
"Should we make our move?" asked the youth in the baseball cap.
"Not yet," the scruffy middle-aged man shook his head, "They just left the target there like that, feels like a trap."
"Yes, there are many suspicious points, and why is the target with them? Who are those two really?" said the man with the middle parting.
"Let's withdraw," the bearded middle-aged man said after consideration.
Su Ze watched the three men leave, gently exhaling smoke.
"Cowards."
Shen Qingsheng came out of the bathroom.
Su Ze extinguished his cigarette and went back to hold Uesugi Akizuki's hand.
"I've already notified the Executors, these three will die horribly," Shen Qingsheng said.
"Send word to the Executors that I want to see them before they're killed," Su Ze said carelessly.
Su Ze patted Uesugi Akizuki's head, "Be more alert in the future, okay? I just used you as bait, and you cooperated so naively."
Uesugi Akizuki was stunned for a while before pouting, "...Meanie."
"Oh, so she can talk!" Shen Qingsheng was surprised.
"She doesn't talk mainly because she finds it tiring," Su Ze shrugged.
After this near-battle experience, Su Ze decided not to continue shopping with Uesugi Akizuki.
They went to the supermarket, filled two carts with snacks, arranged for delivery, and rode their motorcycle home.
At their doorstep, Uesugi Akizuki's clothes were at the designated delivery spot, and the two carts of snacks were soon delivered by drone.
A day later, piercing sirens suddenly rang throughout the city.
"Warning! Warning! The blood moon will rise tonight. All citizens please return home before the blood moon rises, lock your doors and windows, draw your curtains and block out the moonlight. Do not leave your residences during the blood moon period."
"Citizens need not panic. During the blood moon period, the Huaxia Ghost Officers, Huaxia Night Watchmen, Huaxia Forerunners, and Huaxia Executors will be with you."