I Can Extract Game Items

Chapter 182 The Date

Derrick smirked while continuously tapping his tablet. "Maybe he's just nostalgic. Misses the smell of grease and cheap cafeteria food."

Greg squinted, not buying it. "C'mon, man. I know he is your friend but that guy was always a loner. Now he's showing up here like this? You sure he's not into some shady stuff?"

Derrick finally looked up. "Relax, Greg. August helps out with some logistics stuff behind the scenes. You know how it is—connections, errands, the usual. He's just… a guy who knows a guy."

Greg shrugged, though his curiosity wasn't fully satisfied. "Huh. Weird, though. Feels like there's more to it."

Derrick chuckled. 'Yeah, more than you'd ever guess,' he thought, but said aloud, "Dude, you think too much. Go patrol or something."

---

August arrived at Luna Ember, a cozy yet upscale restaurant nestled between towering city buildings.

The warm glow from the hanging lanterns outside greatly differed from the glassy architecture around it. Inside lighting was dim but inviting, casting a florescent hue on the surroundings.

He spotted her instantly—Remi.

Her vibrant blue hair gently brushed against her shoulders, contrasting beautifully against the dark crimson dress she wore. It was simple yet elegant, hugging her curves in all the right places and her neckline was daring enough to catch attention but tasteful enough to leave things to the imagination.

August approached with hands tucked casually into his pockets, suppressing the slight jolt in his chest. 'She cleans up nice.'

Remi looked up and grinned mischievously. "Wow, you're not late. I'm shocked."

August pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. "Had to show up on time. I heard rumors you bite."

Remi leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand. "Only if I like you."

August smirked. "Good thing I'm a fan of danger."

The conversation flowed smoothly like rivers merging without resistance. They joked about everything—bad coffee at random cafes, August's tendency to vanish for days (which he blamed on 'business'), and even reminisced about their first meeting at her cyber cafe store, where August had been awkwardly trying to fix a computer issue.

"Remember that time you saved me from those idiots working for my ex?" Remi said suddenly, invoking laughter as she sipped her wine. "God, the way you dealt with those guys like some martial arts lord... You were so cool."

August chuckled while shaking his head. "I wasn't even trying to be heroic. I just wanted to get my key and leave. But no—you just had to be a damsel in distress."

Remi leaned back while still chuckling. "Hey, I didn't ask them to be creeps. Besides, admit it—you enjoyed playing the hero."

August shrugged with a playful grin. "Maybe. But your taste in men is horrible, by the way."

Remi dramatically gasped before placing a hand over her heart. "Says the man who hasn't dated in—oh wait, ever."

August rolled his eyes, but his smile remained. "I've got a lot on my plate, Remi. Relationships aren't exactly on the priority list right now."

Remi's gaze softened for a split second before the familiar smirk returned. "Good. I'm not asking for your heart. Just your time."

They ended up at a lively bar later in the night. Lights flickered as music thumped softly in the background.

Remi had successfully convinced August to join her for drinks, challenging him to a shot contest.

"Alright," Remi declared before slamming two shot glasses on the table. "If I win, you come back to my place and you can't say no to whatever happens."

August raised an eyebrow. "And if I win?"

Remi tilted her head, pretending to think. "I'll still take you home."

August chuckled. "Sounds like a scam."

They started with tequila shots. Remi downed hers like a champion, slamming the glass with a victorious grin. August followed, unfazed.

Four shots in, Remi's cheeks flushed a rosy pink. Her words slurred slightly, and her giggles grew louder.

However, August remained steady. His metabolism had most likely benefited from his Enders Light stat integration.

"You're cheating," Remi pouted while pointing an accusing finger. "No one's this sober after five shots."

August leaned back with a smirk. "Maybe I'm just built differently."

As Remi got up to stretch—she stumbled and fell forward—a man from across the bar reached out and grabbed her waist inappropriately.

"Hey there, sweetheart," the guy slurred with a slimy and unwelcome grin. "Why don't you ditch the pretty boy and come sit with me?"

His right hand reached down and groped her soft buttocks.

Remi yanked herself from him but his grip tightened.

Before August even processed it fully, he was on his feet.

His hand shot out, gripping the man's wrist. "Let go," August voiced coldly.

The creep sneered. "Or what, pretty boy?"

August didn't bother with another warning.

In the next instant, his fist shot upwards, delivering a clean uppercut that struck precisely at the creep's chin.

The guy's feet left the floor as his body arched backward and swept across the air before crashing onto a nearby table with a sickening *thud*.

Splinters got sent flying everywhere as the table came crumbling down.

The bar went silent for a beat before gasps and murmurs erupted.

August stood over him with cold eyes. "Touch her again, and you'll leave here in pieces."

He turned back to Remi, who stared at him, wide-eyed—then she burst into laughter, drunk and completely unbothered.

"Damn, you're hot when you're violent."

August sighed while shaking his head with a smirk. "Let's get you home."

And with that, they left the bar...

August supported Remi's wobbly frame as they got into a taxi.

...

...

August got Remi home, supporting her unsteady steps as they stumbled into her apartment.

The blue light in her cozy space gave it a warm, inviting ambiance, with soft cushions strewn around and faint music playing from a forgotten speaker.

"You're not leaving," Remi slurred slightly while gripping his wrist with surprising strength for someone who could barely walk straight. "You're staying until I fall asleep. That's the rule."

August chuckled before shaking his head. "Since when did we agree on that rule?"

"Just now," she replied while tugging him towards her bedroom.

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to stay for a little while, especially since his own apartment was just a few floors away, August relented.

They collapsed onto her soft bed and Remi spread her arms out with a dramatic sigh. August sat at the edge, glancing around her room—photos from her college days pinned on the walls, little trinkets, and books stacked haphazardly on her nightstand.

"You know, I miss college," Remi mumbled with her voice muffled against a pillow. "Those were the days—parties, freedom, bad decisions. Like dating my ex. Ugh." Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

August leaned back slightly with a smile. "Yeah? I barely got to enjoy college myself. Dropped out after... well, life happened."

Remi turned her head and her blue hair fell messily over her face, giving her an incredibly attractive look. "You should go back. You're smart, August. You'd kill it."

He shrugged. "Got too much on my plate now. Life doesn't exactly pause so I can get a degree."

Remi huffed while rolling over to face him fully. "You're always so serious. Lighten up, Mr. Mysterious. Life's short."

Eventually, her words grew softer, and her eyelids drooped. August figured she'd finally dozed off.

Carefully, he shifted, trying to slide off the bed without waking her. But the moment he moved, Remi's arm shot out like a reflex, wrapping tightly around his torso and pulling him back down with surprising force.

"Nope," she mumbled and buried her face against his chest.

"Remi, c'mon…" August sighed with an amused and slightly exasperated expression.

Before he could protest further, she shifted and straddled his waist before dropping her face till it was inches from his.

Her eyes fluttered half-open, glassy with sleep and residual alcohol.

"You're kinda hot, you know that?" she whispered as her fingers traced the line of his jaw.

"Scratched that... You're not kinda hot, you're really hot."

Before he could respond, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his in a brief, unexpected kiss.

Her warmth lingered for a moment before she slumped against him completely, falling asleep right there with her arms still tightly wrapped around him.

August stared at the ceiling as his heart raced slightly—not from the kiss, but from the sheer awkwardness of the situation.

He tried to gently peel her off, but her grip was ironclad.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered to himself and resigned to his fate.

He knew if he used any more force she'd wake up and he didn't want to struggle with how she might act under the influence so he let things be.

Her soft breathing eventually lulled the room into silence. Despite the awkwardness, there was something comforting about the warmth of another person.

August sighed as his thoughts drifted to everything—his life, the game, Sophia, AM Coven. But at that moment, none of it seemed as pressing.

Eventually, his own eyes grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep with Remi still nestled against him.