Chopped Pepper Fish Head Strikes It Rich

Fang Qi opened the back door, stuffed the silver-haired girl inside first, and then got in after her.

Hmm, it was surprisingly spacious.

This pastel pink microcar looked tiny and exquisite on the outside, yet fitting two adults in the back seat didn't feel cramped at all.

The sense of deja vu was a bit strong.

The two of them were sitting in the back seat of a car once again, leaning against each other.

Senior! Are you settled in!

In the front seat, Lin Xiaoyou leaned over from the driver's side, grabbing the back of her seat with both hands, her almond eyes looking brightly at the back.

All settled, all settled.

Fang Qi replied, then subconsciously reached out and pulled on his seatbelt.

Click.

Liguang also pulled her seatbelt over and buckled it. Her movements were elegant and she wore a smile, looking like a lady from a noble family.

Alrighty! Then let's—

Lin Xiaoyou turned back around, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, her ponytail swaying behind her head.

Set off!

She stepped on the accelerator, and the pink microcar shot forward with a hum!

Fang Qi's body was immediately thrown backward!

The hand resting on Liguang's leg involuntarily tightened a bit!

Wait...

This little car has quite the fierce acceleration, doesn't it?

Senior, Senior! My driving skills are great, right!

Lin Xiaoyou glanced back while driving, her tone triumphant.

Great. Just great.

Fang Qi gave a perfunctory reply without changing his expression.

He glanced at Lin Xiaoyou's smiling little round face in the rearview mirror, and then at Xiaoqing, who was sitting silently in the passenger seat.

Xiaoqing remained expressionless, her arms crossed over her chest.

She was shrunk into her seat, looking like a cat with its fur standing on end but being forcibly held down.

Her eyes were fixed dead ahead on the windshield, not even sparing a glance backward from the corner of her eye.

It seemed she was extremely dissatisfied with the two uninvited guests in the back seat.

Hehe, then hold on tight, Senior~

Lin Xiaoyou said with a grin.

I'm taking you for a joyride! We're going to see a good place!

Then she reached out and gently twisted an inconspicuous button next to the dashboard.

...Huh?

Fang Qi suddenly felt a slight stuffiness.

It was as if some invisible cover had suddenly dropped down, and the ambient noise seemed to... decrease a little?

The pedestrians and vehicles outside the window still looked normal, but there was an indescribable...

Sense of isolation?

Master.

The voice beside him suddenly changed!

Serious! Tense!

He immediately turned his head!

The obedient smile on the silver-haired girl's pretty face had vanished.

Her heterochromatic eyes narrowed slightly, and the crimson in her amber-red eye flashed fiercely!

It is a one-way signal shield.

Her voice was very soft, her lips barely moving.

Right now, the outside world cannot detect any signals from inside the car.

...The outside world cannot detect anything inside the car?

Fang Qi was stunned.

In other words, this car had now become a sealed, unmonitored...

Master!

Xiaoqing's obviously displeased voice suddenly rang out from the passenger seat!

She turned her head to look at Lin Xiaoyou in the driver's seat, her brows furrowed tightly!

Her lips were pursed, and her eyes were full of displeasure!

Why, why do you have to take these two guys there!

She gritted her teeth, her tone suppressed!

Master, let's change to a different place!

Fang Qi blinked.

Oh?

Xiaoqing called Lin Xiaoyou Master?

It seemed his previous guess was completely correct...!

However...

Are they having internal strife?

He immediately sat up straight!

Beside him, the silver-haired girl also tilted her head slightly.

His crazy girl had also entered spectator mode, just like him!

After all, for the two of them...

They could just load a save file anyway, so what was there to be afraid of?

Xiaoqing.

Lin Xiaoyou, who was driving, finally spoke:

Since we chose to cooperate, we must be honest!

Fang Qi's breathing even lightened slightly.

The tone of Lin Xiaoyou's voice had also changed!

It was still sweet, but it seemed...

It didn't feel as silly anymore?

She had become quite a bit more astute?

And... she said cooperate?

Lin Xiaoyou held the steering wheel with both hands, looking straight ahead, her tone brisk:

We need to show our sincerity.

Sincerity...

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing.

He knew very well that Lin Xiaoyou's words were actually directed at him.

But we...!

Xiaoqing's voice rose a little, carrying obvious urgency and dissatisfaction.

Xiaoqing.

Lin Xiaoyou suddenly spoke, interrupting Xiaoqing's words.

Her voice was still sweet, even a bit sweeter than before!

But that kind of sweetness...

It was so sweet it was cloying, making one's back turn cold!

Who told you to use poison?

Lin Xiaoyou tilted her head and glanced at Xiaoqing, her almond eyes curved and the corners of her mouth hooked up.

You actually... dared to act on your own!

Xiaoqing was instantly silenced.

Her mouth opened, closed, and opened again...

Finally, she managed to squeeze out a sentence:

I, I just wanted to help Master...

Her voice was a little weak, and her eyes began to dart around.

And this plan... Master clearly discussed it with me too...!

Discussed it?

Lin Xiaoyou's voice was incredibly brisk and sweet!

We did discuss it~

She held the steering wheel with her left hand and reached out her right hand...

Pinching Xiaoqing's cheek hard!

But it was can-celled!

She enunciated every single word!

Who per-mit-ted you to use poi-son?

Xiaoqing's face was pinched out of shape, her mouth pouted, and the rims of her eyes started to turn red.

But she didn't dare to speak anymore, she just...

Suddenly glared fiercely into the rearview mirror!

Glared at Fang Qi!

That look...

Fierce, resentful, displeased!

Wishing she could throw him out of the car!

Fang Qi: ...

Wait?

Why are you glaring at me again?

I was almost poisoned by you, and you are blaming me?

Beside him, the silver-haired girl's crimson eye flashed, and she immediately glared back!

—You dare glare at my Master?

Xiaoqing gritted her teeth even tighter, her cheeks trembling slightly!

The two AIs glared viciously at each other in the rearview mirror, separated by the seat back!

Also!

Lin Xiaoyou suddenly spoke again!

Her tone also became one of gritted teeth!

Who told you to eat so much!

The fingers pinching Xiaoqing's face applied a bit more force!

Where do we have that much money for you to squander like this!

Fang Qi: ...?

Huh?

Xiaoqing was pinched so hard her tears were about to fall!

But she still said stubbornly and resentfully:

Who told Master to say she was going to bring other people to our secret base!

Her voice was a bit muffled:

I just want to eat Master into poverty...!

Uh...?

Fang Qi was truly stunned.

Ah?

What did she mean?

He subconsciously glanced at Liguang.

—Wifey, is Lin Xiaoyou acting?

Liguang tilted her small head, blinked at him blankly, and shook her head.

—Master, Miss Lin Xiaoyou does not seem to have any abnormalities right now...

Fang Qi: ...

For real?

He slowly widened his eyes, looking at the two girls in the front seat...

Wait...

Lin Xiaoyou, are you really that broke?!

So, her hands shaking when she paid just now...

Wasn't an act?

It was because Xiaoqing alone ate the portions of four or five people and blew up the bill?

Lin Xiaoyou was...

She was really bleeding cash, really feeling the pain of losing money?!

...Aren't you a member of Twilight?!

Are you really that short on money?

Fang Qi's eyes widened as he stared at the two girls in the front seats who were still locked in a deadly staring contest.

Lin Xiaoyou glared at Xiaoqing, and Xiaoqing glared right back at Lin Xiaoyou!

One was grinding her teeth, her cheeks flushed with anger, while the other had red-rimmed eyes but looked completely stubborn!

Neither was willing to back down!

Beside him, the silver-haired girl was also a bit bewildered by the situation.

She blinked, her phoenix-like eyes wide open, staring blankly at the two arguing women in front of her.

Then she turned her head and gave Fang Qi a blank look.

—Master, what is going on?

Fang Qi's eyes twitched slightly.

Wifey... I'd like to know what's going on too!

What in the world is...

...Wait a minute?

Huh?

Lin Xiaoyou is currently...

Supposed to be driving, right?!!

"Honk—!!!"

A piercing horn suddenly blared from ahead!

Fang Qi jerked violently!

He saw a massive truck roaring toward them from the opposite direction!

And their pink microcar... had somehow drifted into the oncoming lane!

Holy crap—!!!

"Car, car, car, car, CAR!!!!"

Fang Qi's pupils shrank drastically! His voice cracked!

"Lin Xiaoyou, watch the damn road!!!!"

"Ah—!!!"

Lin Xiaoyou let out a shriek and yanked the steering wheel hard!

The pink microcar violently swerved to the right!

A screeching sound of tires skidding against the asphalt immediately rang out!

Fang Qi felt his body being thrown to the side by a massive force, and he gripped his seatbelt tightly!

Lin Xiaoyou, you freaking—!!!!

The next instant, a soft, warm body threw itself over him!

Cool arms wrapped around his head, pressing his face into a soft embrace that smelled sweetly of strawberries!

The tires left long skid marks on the ground!

The pink microcar fishtailed twice in the lane before finally stabilizing!

And then...

It continued driving forward.

"Haa... haa...!"

Lin Xiaoyou's rapid, heavy breathing came from the front seat!

"A-Are you guys okay?!"

Her voice carried the panic of someone who had just survived a disaster, as if she had reverted back to being the goofy Lin Xiaoyou!

Fang Qi abruptly lifted his face from Liguang's embrace!

You freaking...!

The silver-haired girl was still tightly hugging his head!

The crimson in her red eyes was flashing rapidly, her entire body tense!

Her phoenix eyes were wide, glaring fiercely at the rearview mirror... at Lin Xiaoyou's slightly awkward round face!

In the rearview mirror, the round-faced girl was gripping the steering wheel tightly, her small face a bit pale!

...I'm so freaking done.

Fang Qi took a deep breath:

"...I'm fine."

If I didn't want to amicably figure out what exactly is going on with you right now...

I would be cussing you out right now!

...Unbelievable!

We almost got sent to respawn by a massive truck!

Moreover...

What the hell!

He had always thought that Lin Xiaoyou, having recovered her memories, should... should...

Be very reliable!

You are the mysterious Sister Twilight, the only human in Twilight allowed to remain without body modifications!

And yet...

What is wrong with you?!

How are you even more unreliable than when you didn't have your memories!

Courting death in front of a yandere is no longer enough to satisfy you, so now you're going for literal, physical death, huh!

A microcar crashing into a heavy-duty truck?!

Xiaoqing in the passenger seat, however, looked completely normal.

She wasn't scared in the slightest, and her tone was just as disdainful as ever:

"What are you scared of? Even if we crashed, we wouldn't die."

She glanced at the rearview mirror at Fang Qi, who was still being held in Liguang's arms, and returned to that lazy, disgusted expression!

"This car has been modified. Its defensive capabilities are extremely strong; a crash wouldn't kill us at all. Coward."

Fang Qi: "...?"

Defensive capabilities are extremely strong?

A pink microcar?

Just because it's modified, you dare to take on a heavy-duty truck head-on?

Wouldn't die?

Are you serious?

Material science just ceased to exist!

"Damn you, Xiaoqing!"

Lin Xiaoyou kept her eyes on the road ahead but suddenly reached out, accurately pinching Xiaoqing's cheek to her right!

"It's all your fault for distracting me while driving! We almost crashed!"

"Now the tires are worn out! It's going to cost money again!"

She gritted her teeth, her tone full of heartache and desperation over money!

"Where are we supposed to get that kind of money!"

Her almond eyes stared fixedly at the road ahead, but the grip of her hand didn't loosen one bit!

"When we get back, you're going to kneel in the corner as punishment for the whole night!"

Xiaoqing's face was pinched out of shape again, her lips pouting and her eyes red, but her tone remained stubborn and resentful:

"Fine, I'll kneel!"

Fang Qi: "...?"

He was dumbfounded.

The head he had planned to lift lost its strength and slumped back against the silver-haired girl's chest.

He looked completely bewildered.

No, seriously, what is the deal with you two...?

Huh?

Hiss.

...Now, it seems pretty certain, right?

These two...

Seem to genuinely count as teammates?

But...

His mouth twitched wildly. He turned his head, burying his face back into Liguang's embrace.

Not even the sweet scent of strawberries could calm him down now.

With such unreliable teammates...

Could he just opt out?