"What reasons?! Don't touch me!"

  Mia shook off his hand violently, her tone carrying a stubbornness that was almost self-protective.

  "I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want to walk with you!"

  People came and went on the street, the evening breeze carrying a chill.

  The two walked side by side, Mia occasionally quickening her pace, leaving Michael briefly behind, forcing him to keep coaxing her.

  "Mia, stop this. I actually wanted to discuss something with you today..."

  "Discuss what?"

  Mia's tone held clear displeasure, but her steps didn't stop.

  "Michael, I'm telling you, I've had enough! I really couldn't take your cold shoulder these past two days!"

  Something pricked at Michael's heart.

  Looking at her profile, his Adam's apple bobbed:

  "I know, I know... But I didn't mean to. I wanted to discuss... living together..."

  Mia's eyes widened enormously this time, utterly bewildered.

  This development was the complete opposite of her expectations...

  Michael instinctively glanced around, took a few quick steps to get closer to Mia.

  And this time, Mia didn't avoid him:

  "Mia, I... I want to give you a stable home, I want..."

  Mia truly didn't want to break up;

  she was just subconsciously venting her emotions.

  If Michael had truly ignored her completely, she would have burst into tears on the spot.

  But Michael's words now were a pure nuclear bomb...

  This bomb "blew" Mia into complete immobility...

  Michael took the chance to grab her hand, pulling her away from the crowd.

  Mia no longer resisted, finally following obediently.

  He didn't know if there were people from the Eastern or Western District sales departments in the crowd. Tomorrow, it would probably be all over the company.

  ......

  An hour later, in Mia's rented room, Michael laid everything out completely.

  Being possessed by Yang Chen in the hallway next to the company lab.

  Elena's hold over him.

  The fight with the Black Bone Gang in No Man's Alley.

  And most importantly, the near two days of being taken over by Yang Chen...

  Due to Michael's sincerity, Mia tried with all her heart to understand, almost trusting Michael unconditionally.

  Mainly, Michael had indeed displayed superhuman feats in front of her before.

  She used to think it was just luck, that Michael had gotten lucky.

  But now, it seemed it might be real.

  However, Mia's expression was still stunned;

  she needed time to process it all.

  Michael was anxious too.

  A thought struck him—a way to prove it with extremely low cost.

  He walked to the kitchen counter, pulled a kitchen knife from the rack, and with a movement so swift Mia didn't have time to react, drew a shallow, long cut on his own forearm.

  Mia was terrified, cried out, and immediately rushed over, grabbing Michael's forearm and examining it in horror.

  Then, flustered, she scrambled to find something to bandage it.

  Michael wasn't nervous because he'd tried this repeatedly.

  He smiled reassuringly:

  "It's okay. The wound has already healed. See for yourself."

  Mia had just found the first aid kit.

  As the iodine-soaked cotton ball touched Michael's forearm, her fingers froze.

  Her eyes widened, her breath catching for half a beat.

  The cut, which had been oozing blood just moments ago, was visibly closing and scabbing over.

  In just a few seconds, the formerly ragged flesh smoothed out, leaving only a faint, shallow red mark.

  Even the droplets of blood had dried at the edges.

  "This... how is this possible?"

  Mia's voice trembled.

  Her fingertips gently brushed over the almost vanished trace.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The skin felt smooth; there was no sign of a wound.

  She looked up sharply at Michael.

  The terror in her eyes faded, replaced entirely by stunned disbelief.

  "Your body, Mike... you really are a superhuman..."

  Michael lowered his arm, looking at her pale face, and said softly:

  "This is a side effect left by Yang Chen's possession. He altered my body, giving me recovery far beyond a normal person's, and also turned me into a pawn in Elena's hands."

  The exhaustion in Michael's eyes couldn't be faked.

  In fact, she had already been trying to believe in the supernatural phenomena Michael described, and Elena and Yang Chen's exploitation of him.

  Now, she believed completely.

  The grievance and anger from earlier on the street all transformed into heartache.

  It stuck in her throat, making it impossible to utter a single word of accusation.

  "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

  Mia's voice was choked with tears.

  She reached out and hugged Michael's waist, her cheek pressed against his chest.

  "Do you know how miserable I've been these past two days...?"

  Michael's body stiffened momentarily, then he raised a hand and gently hugged her back, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low and hoarse:

  "I'm sorry, Mia. I was afraid of dragging you into it, afraid Elena would target you. Telling you now isn't just because of how you acted earlier. We... we need an escape plan. Are you willing to hear it?"

  Mia buried her face in Michael's chest, nodding lightly. Warm tears dampened his shirt.

  Her voice was muffled but carried undeniable resolve:

  "I'm willing to listen. Mike, whatever the plan is, I'm with you."

  She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, but forcing a smile.

  Her fingertips gently brushed the almost invisible faint mark on his forearm:

  "You really didn't have to go that far. We could just eat less cream-filled bread. I can do without the hand cream too."

  Michael's heart warmed.

  He was about to speak when she covered his mouth with her hand.

  "Listen to me," Mia's eyes sparkled, as if dotted with stars.

  "I worked in the finance department for a while before. Even after transferring to sales, I still know the specific procedures for which promotional items and damaged goods have loose audit controls. From now on, I'll keep an eye out for you. I'll secretly copy the list for you before clocking out every day. No one will know."

  She stood on her tiptoes, nuzzling his chin, a note of triumphant delight in her tone:

  "And also, if we live together, we can split the rent, utilities, everything. I can pack you lunch every day too. The boxed lunches outside are expensive and taste bad. That way, we can save at least 800G more each month!"

  Here, her face suddenly flushed.

  She twisted a corner of his shirt, her voice soft as cotton:

  "And... living together, I won't be scared of the dark at night anymore. When I slept alone before, I always thought I heard noises outside the window. With you here, I'll definitely feel much safer."

  Michael's heart felt warm.

  Though they hadn't formally lived together before, just staying over at each other's places, and not every night either.

  He hadn't realized Mia was so attached to him.

  It felt really nice.

  Mia paused, looking up at Michael, her eyes full of bright anticipation:

  "Mike, once we've saved enough money, we'll leave. Go somewhere without Ivy Corp, without Elena and Yang Chen, okay? Then we'll rent a place with a little yard. I'll grow some tomatoes and cilantro, and you... you can teach me a bit of fighting, okay? In case we run into bad people, I can protect myself too."