117 Lilith A ascended.

Standing at the threshold of his own home, Joss hesitated for a long moment, unable to bring himself to push the door open. Having handled all his previous chores, the only person left to bid farewell to was Lilith, the young woman who had filled him with such contradiction from the very beginning.

Their relationship had never been peaceful; she was a Hydra-trained assassin, and he was her target. Yet, when Joss nearly died in an accident, she had risked her life to save him. This illogical turn of events had left Joss unable to let go, eventually leading him to help her in return. Since then, Lilith had been "temporarily residing" at his place, their relationship taking on the feel of a landlord and tenant—at least, until that one day.

The various efforts Lilith had made to comfort a dejected Joss had bridged the gap between them significantly. And yet, on that same day, at the most critical moment—the kind of moment that would have led to a romantic breakthrough for any harem anime protagonist—Joss, the coward, had actually run away! Ever since, their encounters had been awkward—or, to be more precise, Joss felt they were. Lilith’s expression remained as cold as ice from beginning to end, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Forget it. We live under the same roof, so how long can I really keep hiding?"

Steeling his resolve, Joss steeled himself as if heading to the gallows and pushed open the door. He found Lilith sitting on the sofa, expressionless, watching television. Even though she spent most of her time watching talk shows or comedy programs, her face always remained as still as a porcelain doll; not even the corner of her mouth would twitch. If she were to see these performers in person, they would surely be deeply offended.

Hearing the sound of the door, Lilith glanced back and gave a nod of acknowledgment. She looked around, and finding no sign of Xiao Hei, she seemed satisfied—much to Joss’s relief. If that heartless creature were here, she would surely mock him mercilessly.

"Can we talk?" Joss sat down beside her, but not knowing how to start, he could only blurt out a dry, awkward sentence.

"Hmm?" Lilith turned off the TV and looked at him, her eyes as calm as an ancient well.

"Er... it’s like this. I’m going on a long trip in a few days..." Joss repeated the explanation he had already given several times, detailing what he was about to do.

Once he finished his long-winded speech, Lilith didn’t show any curiosity about the Hulk or extraterrestrial planets. She simply looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Is it dangerous?"

"Well... to some extent, yes. But it’s not a big problem for me, especially the return trip—I’m probably the only one who can handle that easily."

Lilith nodded, not dwelling on the issue further. She never interfered with Joss’s decisions. It might have seemed indifferent, but her direct concern for his safety revealed that she wasn’t as cold as she appeared.

With Lilith silent, Joss didn’t know how to continue the conversation, so he began to list his arrangements for her. "Before I leave, I’ll ask Tony Stark to customize some gear for you all. As for Tatsumaki and Xiao Hei, although they are strong enough to protect themselves in New York, keep an eye on them so they don’t provoke anything too dangerous."

Of the three, Joss was most at ease with Lilith; as a former Hydra assassin, her instincts and adaptability were the sharpest. Tatsumaki, despite growing up in the slums, lacked a broader perspective and might accidentally offend someone powerful. As for Xiao Hei... even in the guise of a beautiful young girl, she couldn't hide her nature as a total goofball. Truth be told, she was the one he worried about most.

"Are you done?" After Joss had finished rambling through his instructions, Lilith’s expression remained icy as she asked quietly.

Joss double-checked his thoughts to ensure he hadn’t missed anything, then nodded. "Yeah, that’s about it... wait?!"

The moment he nodded, Lilith suddenly lunged forward, pinning his shoulders and straddling his lap.

"Lilith...? What’s wrong?" Joss asked, bewildered by the sudden assault.

"Shh... don't move. You’re very strong, aren't you? If you struggle, I might get hurt." Her words immediately made Joss’s body instinctively freeze. Despite her lack of expression, as she leaned down and whispered, her warm breath brushed against his ear, sending a jolt of intolerable stimulation through him.

"What exactly are you doing..." Joss swallowed hard, his voice strained.

"What am I doing? Finishing what we didn't finish that day, of course. You’re going to a dangerous place, aren't you? Even though I believe you’ll come back, it’s going to be a long time, isn't it?" As she murmured, a faint flush finally appeared on her calm cheeks. "So, I’m not letting you run away this time." Gently, she bit down on his earlobe.

"Tch, don't underestimate me."

Joss smirked, wrapped his arms around her, and flipped their positions, revealing an aggressive look. "Whatever you say from here on out, I’m not stopping."

Under the moonlight, a soft glow illuminated Joss’s room...

...

Looking at Lilith in his arms, Joss kissed her gently and slowly closed his eyes.

"It’s not time to sleep yet," Lilith’s voice suddenly whispered in his ear.

"What?!"

...

"Hey, hey, that’s enough, right?" Joss looked at the still-enthusiastic Lilith, his cheek twitching uncontrollably.

"The night is still long."

...

"I... I really can’t go on... that’s seventeen times already..." Joss’s hands were trembling slightly.

"Didn't you promise that no matter what I said, you wouldn't stop?" Lilith’s voice remained as excited as ever.

"HELP! ME!!!"