CHAPTER 88: FRIENDS (1)

After breakfast, Amber left for her work since she apparently didn’t like the kids. Though Leon did notice how her gaze lingered on Deniz for a while before she jumped out of the window.

Leon really wondered if she had a grudge against the door for never using it.

The next few hours passed by quickly, and since Deniz and her group had come, Leon decided to spend more time with them.

They played a lot, and even Evelyn accompanied them, as she was also fond of these kids she had watched grow up.

It was in the afternoon, when Leon was playing a round of chess with Deniz, that he received a text. Looking over, he found it was from one of his teammates.

[Natasha: We’re here, Little Brother. Where are you? Why can’t I find your handsome, blinding face anywhere? Where are you hiding?]

Leon stared at the text for a while before replying, "I’m afraid my pure light might harm your nasty self."

[Natasha: Ouch! That hurts. But I feel very happy knowing that Little Brother is concerned about me.]

Leon rolled his eyes at her and wondered if flirting skills came naturally along with the Nine-Tailed Fox Bloodline. She was really good at it.

’Or maybe I’m just terrible with women, and that’s why I find this so good,’ Leon paused before shaking his head. ’Nah, it’s definitely this fox who’s good.’

Ever since their departure, his group had been in contact with each other and also talked a lot, which certainly brought them closer.

He was happy with the development, but it also gave this seductive beauty the chance to get close to him.

But there was a reason he wasn’t allowing her advances to affect him. While he liked her a lot, he also knew Natasha didn’t really love him or anything.

He was just an unknown existence that fascinated her, so she was trying everything to make it known. She was like that, and Leon was well aware of it. So unless he managed to bring true feelings into her heart, he wouldn’t accept her advances.

This world didn’t lack beautiful women, and it was also a fact that Leon wouldn’t lack them either. He was like a magnet who would attract all kinds of women.

He knew that, but it didn’t mean he would take everyone as his partner. He didn’t even think of adding all the characters he liked as his partners or going after them recklessly.

He had a few people whom he truly wanted as partners, and he would try his best to show his feelings to them and hope they would do the same.

It was a cruel world, and he wanted partners he could trust with his back without any worries. And sadly, Natasha wasn’t there yet.

’But I will make you fall for me. Just you wait!’

Nonetheless, he needed to take it slow. He knew her very well, so he knew how quickly she would run away if he chose the faster method.

[Natasha: Send the address. We’re coming over to pick you up. Then we’ll party all day.]

Leon sighed and sent the address to Denver instead. He knew she would be furious about it, but he couldn’t care less.

"Checkmate!!" Sitting opposite to him, Deniz screamed in happiness and flashed a smug look at him. "Now what? I win!"

"You sure?" Leon smirked.

Deniz’s confidence faltered for a moment before she regained her spirit and nodded, "Yes, I’m sure. I win this round."

"Nah uh! I will sacrifice THE ROOK!!!" Leon shouted and pushed the rook forward.

"Tsk! It still won’t save you."

"You sure?"

"...what now?"

"Never lose sight of the Bishop!" Leon smiled as he watched her smile fading away. "Double checkmate!"

"WHAT!?"

Deniz was shocked, but then she huffed angrily and ran off. Leon just smiled at that, but soon it vanished from his face.

All because Deniz actually dared to bring Evelyn. This girl...

"Aunt, he’s bullying me!" Deniz complained, making Leon glare at her, but she just hid behind Evelyn and stuck out her tongue.

Just like how she did in their childhood.

’Why are you bullying her? If you want to play then play with me,’ Evelyn settled behind him and said. ’I will defeat you. If you lose, you can’t eat dinner tonight.’

"It’s her who proposed the idea..."

Sadly, he had to follow her orders and play the match, and as always, he couldn’t defeat her no matter how much he thought of future strategies.

Nothing worked against her.

Just when he was about to lose, the doorbell rang, and his eyes brightened as he jumped to his feet and said, "I’ll go check."

Without even waiting for her to say anything, he ran out of the room. How could he miss such a perfect opportunity to escape the defeat?

As he opened the door, he found four familiar faces waiting for him. It was his teammates, who had recovered well and were looking quite good in their casual clothes.

Only Natasha seemed odd to Leon, because she was wearing very modest clothes. Instead of her usual seductive presence, she seemed like a prim and proper noble lady who had come to ask for a man’s hand in marriage.

’This girl... even though she’s just fascinated with me, she’s already acting like this.’

"Won’t you invite us in?"

As usual, Bella was the one to break the silence.

"Only those who brought gifts to my mother can come in," Leon declared and stood in the way like an immovable wall.

But he had underestimated his friends a lot, as they had all brought a few gifts. They were certainly expecting such a reaction from him.

"You guys are getting good," Leon had to acknowledge that. "Come in."

"Thanks for having us," they said and came inside.

"Where is your sister?" Leon asked Denver as they went toward the living room.

"She dropped me off before leaving for her work," Denver replied calmly. "But she was very helpful and gave me a lot of pointers."

"Were you training even during vacation?" Leon was really impressed.

"That’s the way my sister and I talk." Denver said while scratching his bald head.

As they all entered the room, the first to welcome them was Deniz, who instantly noticed Natasha’s presence and narrowed her eyes.