Afterlife Department

"Huh? Shane, what's the matter?" Ethan asked when he saw Shi Jiu was just silently and motionlessly standing on the side. The ball was by his feet.

It was weekend and Yi Bing invited them, including Reine, to their villa before they decided to go to the beach and play. Ethan, Celrei and Imir are fond of playing basketball, this classic sport from ancient times, so they left the group after they found a basketball court on the seaside.

"Nothing. I am just thinking of something." Shi Jiu blinked and his eyes finally focused after being absent-minded. "Where were we just now?" he asked as he picked up the ball and dribbled it.

"About the babes in bikini over there." Imir slyly grinned and turned to look at the women sunbathing while lying face down after they unstrapped their bikini.

Ethan and Celrei whistled while Shi Jiu's face looked indifferent..

"One of them winked at me. Should I go?" Imir asked. "Her friends also looked like they are itching." He added and winked at the three ladies.

"But, there are four of us…" Ethan said.

"Not going." Shi Jiu spoke. "I actually have something to do, so I'll be going back." He told them.

"Huh? Are you sure? But these are ladies…" Imir said.

Celrei looked like he is hesitating. "I also won't go." He scratched his head. "I… feel awkward towards ladies. Sorry!" he apologized. Before Imir and Ethan could react, he already ran away.

Shi Jiu chuckled and patted the two. "Go for it!" he told them.

"Alright!" Imir exclaimed as he pulled Ethan with him to the ladies.

Shi Jiu left, so he didn't see that Loui has also approached the ladies.

"Ugh. What is he doing here?" Imir frowned when he saw Loui. Ethan immediately looked awkward. "Let's go." He said and pulled Ethan with him and left, leaving Loui with the women.

So, they didn't know that the women became disappointed. But, before they could, they saw Loui, the reason why Imir and Ethan left. The three women immediately looked at each other before they evilly smiled.

"He would do." One of them spoke before they acted as if they didn't see Loui.

Then, Loui finally approached them. "Hello, ladies." He greeted by his eyes are on their untied bikinis, showing the bumps on their chests.

The three finally turned before they seductively smiled at Loui. "Hello, handsome~" they greeted back.

…

"Hm? Shane didn't go with you?" Shou Ji was surprised after he heard from Ethan that Shi Jiu left alone.

Even Celrei was back, but Celrei didn't see Shi Jiu since when he was about to follow him, Shi Jiu disappeared. So, he could only go back to the basketball court. But, he didn't expect to see Imir and Ethan detoured. He looked at the three ladies, only to see them leaving with the familiar Loui who is hugging one of the ladies.

Without hesitation, he ran after Imir and Ethan to tell them how thirsty Loui are towards women.

"No. I don't know where he went to. He just suddenly disappeared!" Celrei explained.

Shou Ji's brows knitted.

"What's wrong?" Huo Ling asked. Yi Bing and Reine are grilling their food.

Shou Ji dismissed the alpha trio who ran towards Yi Bing and Reine to eat the barbecue. "Huo Ling. Didn't you notice that Shi Jiu seemed strange these days?" he asked.

Huo Ling's eyes widened. He pondered for a moment before he nodded. "He is. He doesn't seem to be loud or talkative these days." He said.

Shou Ji grimaced. Although that sounds a ridiculous reason but Huo Ling has a point. "Say, what do you think is happening to him?" he asked.

Huo Ling fell silent. Suddenly, he gasped. "Shou Ji. Do you think Shi Jiu was being mentally controlled or something?" he asked. "Is there a stuff like that in this world?" he said.

Shou Ji's eyes widened and his pupils shrank. His breath hitched. "Huo Ling, this… is possible." He said and felt his heart beat loudly against his chest. It hurts. He thought as he clutched his chest. "Huo Ling… what should I do?" he asked. "If something happen to Shi Jiu… the enemies… the enemies must have gotten him in some way – " he said as his eyes reddened.

"This…" Huo Ling felt helpless. "Calm down first – " he told him.

"What happened?" Shi Jiu asked when he saw Shou Ji and Huo Ling. Their expressions looked off.

Shou Ji's eyes widened when he saw him. "Where did you go?" he asked.

"You…" Shi Jiu stared at him. "You cried?" he was surprised.

"I didn't!" Shou Ji frowned. "Where did you go?" he asked. "We have to be careful lately because of the enemies. Don't wander around. There are weapons that can mentally control you without you knowing since it erased your memories when you were captured until it finishes the operation on you. You wouldn't know about this at all!" he told him.

Shi Jiu stared speechlessly at Shou Ji for a long time before he smiled. So, he equally loves us. He thought. What are we fighting over for? We are the same person. It is already enough for him to love us. he patted his chest as if reassuring something, but also looked like as if he is patting off the dust. "Don't worry. I won't leave again." He told Shou Ji.

Shou Ji was taken aback. "Huh? Yes… as long as you understand…" he told him. What was that just now? He thought. Something… seems strange. But, Shi Jiu still looked the same. Was he really experimented on?! He thought and looked at Shi Jiu's back.

Meanwhile, Huo Ling was watching on the side. His gaze is thoughtful as he looked at Shi Jiu. "Shou Ji." He called. "He's fine." He told him.

"Huh? Are you sure?" Shou Ji asked. "Maybe he was really caught and been experimented on…" he muttered.

Huo Ling retracted his gaze and turned to Shou Ji. "Do you think it is possible for us grim reapers?" he asked. "Even though a microchip was injected on our body, but our body is still a corpse so it wouldn't work." He told him. "Also, even if they would cut open our body, but they only would see still-life organs. Even if they 'killed' us, but they would still see our vital signs work again after a second passed after our 'death'." He explained.

"Oh… you have a point." Shou Ji muttered.

Huo Ling patted his shoulder. "So, you should stop worrying about Shi Jiu. I think he will be fine from now on." He said.

"Really?" Shou Ji muttered. "Then, I'll follow your advice." He said. He trusts Huo Ling judgement.

And, just as huo Ling said, Shi Jiu really returned to the lively and loud Shi Jiu.

…

"PA!" the sound of slapping was heard as Loui's face turned to one side.

"Useless! You're an idiot!" Mr. Lene shouted as he glared at Loui.

The three ladies sat on the side, enjoying the show.

"We could have caught even just two of them, if not four! But you!" Mr. Lene pointed at Loui with a finger trembling because of anger. "What did you do?! You sabotaged our own people because you are thirsty!" he yelled.

The three ladies chuckled. They really were pissed. Not only could they enjoy themselves with those handsome young men, but they can also catch their enemy's people and use them as hostages. The royal definitely wouldn't let these young men die.

But, Loui ruined everything.

"I'll have Yu Yan kill you." Mr. Lene decided.

Loui's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Bravo! A teacher killing his cheap student!" the three ladies clapped.

Mr. Lene turned to them. His eyes held no lust nor passion but just coldness. "Does this suit you?" he asked.

"Of course~" they answered. "Mr. Lene's decision satisfies us, so we won't renege on our promise to collaborate on a project." They said.

Loui felt his ears are ringing. That project is the one his father has his sights on. His father definitely would exchange his son's life just for this project! But, he got no time to think since the guards immediately took him away.

"What a fool." Loui's elder brother grinned after he finished watching the drama. Then, he left. The sound of his footsteps is gradually faint until it disappeared.

…

The next day, the news of Loui's death shocked the whole school. Some students remembered that Loui and Shou Ji had a beef with each other and they all looked at Shou Ji. But, Shou Ji presented them about their group on the beach. What's more shocking is that Loui was actually also there, and stole the three women from Imir and Ethan! He went with those women on his own will!

Imir and Ethan instantly felt cold all over and even Celrei who almost went with the two felt uncomfortable. If they have approached those women, who knows what would have happened to them! They will be left with no corpse like Loui!