"So, you actually managed to gather that much money." Bianka sighed softly, acting a bit defeated.
Belal became extremely confused, not understanding why his mother appeared to be disappointed. "What is wrong, mother? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, you didn't." Bianka answered back with a smile on her face. "Belal, you can use that money for yourself. There is no need to spend them on me."
"Huh!?" Belal became shocked to hear that, as did the other two. "What do you mean by that, mother?"
"You heard what I just said. I need to be cured." Bianka said, shaking her head.
"Why!?" Belal yelled out loud as he felt all his effort was for nothing.
"Belal." Bianka suddenly became a bit angry. She said this, glaring at him. "Won't you listen to your mother?"
"..Uh….I…." Belal gritted his teeth, almost trying to refute her, but he held himself back. He stood up and left the house in a matter of seconds.
Tanaka and Bailey looked at each other, communicating with just their eyes.
"I will go to talk to him." Tanaka left to chase Belal after they were done with their invisible communication.
Only Bailey and Bianka were left alone in that room.
Seeing Bianka depressed as she rested her forehead on the stand that she made with both of her hands, she decided to talk through her. "Auntie, why did you refuse? You know, Brother Belal has worked hard to gather this much money. He wouldn't be able to gather much in a short while; he could only do so after getting the help of a well-known friend he made and risking his life to complete this mission."
"Risking his life…why does he have to do it? Did I give birth to him for that?" Bianka questioned herself after hearing that.
Bailey appeared a bit angry. "How can you say that? A child has to return the love they received from their parents when their parents can't do anything, just like they couldn't in their childhood. No matter how hard you try to deny it, brother Belal won't leave you alone."
Tip Tip
Crystal clear tears started to fall from her eyes as she spoke with sadness yet with a bit of pride. "I know. I know him better than anyone. He loves me very much. He won't let his mother die like this."
"Then why are you denying it, auntie? What is it?" Bailey asked with concern in her eyes as she tried to comprehend the reason.
Hesitation began to appear on Bianka's face, not knowing if she should tell Bailey or not. Eventually, she came to a decision. "Sorry, Bailey. I can't tell you."
"But." Bianka held Bailey's hands tightly and looked at her with a pleading gaze. "Please, promise me. Promise me that you will never leave Belal alone, no matter what happens."
Bailey was stunned to hear that, as it felt like a parting wish to her. But tossing these thoughts away, she answered with a bright smile. "I will."
"Thank you." A rare sign of relief could be seen in her face, which made Bailey curious—why was she doing all this? What was her reason? What secret lies within her? — But she didn't dare to ask as it was her personal problem.
"Oh, by the way, you told me Belal made a well-known friend. Is it a boy or a girl?" Wiping her tears away, Bianka asked.
"It is a boy, and he is very famous in the city." Bailey replied with a slight chuckle. Probably knowing why she cared about the gender and the reason being for Belal still being single.
"Oh." However, Bianka didn't get disappointed; instead, she was more relieved. "I wish I could meet his friend. Belal never had a friend in his life. Well, he did, but…they were all for benefits."
Bailey thought for a bit before saying. "Auntie, let's go with me. I will introduce this friend of his."
"Really? Won't Belal yell at you for taking me out?" Bianka asked skeptically.
"Hmph, he won't dare to argue with me." Smugly, Bailey declared, showing her confidence.
She took hold of her hand and pulled her outside.
"Wait, let me wear something." Bianka said it in a hurry.
"It's alright. Auntie, you are already very beautiful. You don't need external things to help you look good."
"Well," Bianka pointed at her head. "My dress makes me look like I don't wear anything on top. I don't want to look unruly."
Bailey's forehead folded as she looked around for a solution. Surprisingly, it didn't take her long to find a white scarf lying on the clothing stand. She wrapped it around Bianka's head and said so, resting her hands on her waist. "Done. let's go. Now, it is lunch time. We might have them free now."
…
"See you later." Ravenna waved her hand at the group of boys, who looked like they were in bliss.
"See you later, Miss Ravenna." The boys group said it in unison before leaving the shop.
Benimaru watched it from his throne, gloating at the boys as he had nothing to do. 'Hehehe... man... they don't change. Beauty sure makes money.'
Benimaru had lost count of how many times his items just got sold precisely for Ravenna and Fiain. Thinking about this made him feel proud of his decision to bring them.
'Huh, so the time has come. Not even diehard fans come at this time.' Benimaru sighed after seeing that it was lunch hour and that the number of customers was decreasing slowly.
Benimaru dozed off and cultivated as usual, but that came to a halt when someone entered his shop. Unlike other times, there was something—a premonition—that jolted Benimaru's body to become tense. Not just him, but everyone inside the shop, except a few customers.
"Ravenna, it's nice to see you." Bailey greeted Ravenna, who appeared to be stunned.
"Ah.." Ravenna brought herself back to her senses and said. "It is nice to see you again, Bailey."
Bailey had become close friends with Ravenna in the past few weeks. So they spoke very casually to each other.
"Who is this young lady behind you?" Ravenna gave a curious glance at Bianka.
Surprisingly, Bianka was also in a trance state. Recomposing herself, she said. "I am Bianka, Belal's mother. Nice to meet you, Miss Ravenna."
"Wha!" Ravenna was beyond dumbfounded after hearing that, and so was Benimaru.
"Hahaha…Just like you, I was shocked too. Doesn't brother Belal's look very young? I am sure any man would agree to marry her immediately." Bailey joked with Ravenna, smirking to herself.
"Hmm" Ravenna nodded her head, agreeing with her immediately.
Bailey then took Bianka's hand and led her to the counter. "Let's go meet the boss now."
In a couple of short strides, they arrived before Benimaru, who was smiling ear to ear, as there was no bound to his happiness.
"Boss, you look very happy today? Did something happen?" Bailey asked curiously, never having seen Benimaru look so happy.
"How can I not be happy?" Benimaru instead questioned her back. "I am meeting Belal's mother. This is very fortunate of me."
Bianka stared at Benimaru for a few seconds before saying. "So, you must be Benimaru, Belal's new friend. Bailey said a lot of things about you."
"It's nice to meet you, Auntie Bianka. Also, you flatter me with such words. I am not so praiseworthy." Benimaru said it humbly.
"I see, so it looks like this is fate." Bianko looked down and said softly. Then she raised her head and said to him, "I came here today to meet you. I do not know who you truly are or what kind of person you are, but I want you to answer just one question of mine."
"Auntie, please do tell." Benimaru's face became serious, readying his mind for her question.
"Benimaru," Bianka looked into Benimaru's eyes and asked. "Will you help my son even if it brings harm to your goal?"
Benimaru didn't instantly answer her; instead, he went silent.
Others watched it quietly, as did Bailey. However, she was mostly confused and worried. 'What is happening? Wasn't they both supposed to have some happy talk? Am I missing something?'
"Auntie Bianka." Finally, Benimaru broke the silence. Bianka stared at Benimaru's face and saw him smiling now. "How could you think I wouldn't help my only friend? My friends are worth more than the goals I want to achieve—well, at least some that I can't lie about to you."
Bianka was stunned for a little while before she started smiling along with Benimaru. "I am glad; you are honest, and that is what matters to me."
The moment she met Benimaru, she felt she was seeing a fake. The way he talked and the expressions he made all looked fake to her. But this time, there was honesty to it, despite still looking fake.
"Auntie, let's forget all this. You came to my shop for the first time, and I don't know if you might come ever again, so I can't let you leave without having something to eat." Benimaru looked at Fiain, signaling her to bring food.
Bianka saw that, as she had also done it many times. "No, you do not have to. I will take my leave now, or my son might get angry at me."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel