Everyone quickly flew up onto the top of the wall.
"Thanks," Jean said somewhat seriously. After all, Chen Si had saved his life.
"You owe me several lives already, Jean-boy," Chen Si teased.
"You bastard. I owe you a favor, but you can't call me Jean-boy," Jean protested stubbornly.
"Making demands of the person who saved your life? Jean-boy, you really hurt my feelings." Chen Si covered his face as if he were about to cry.
"Hey, uh… I guess that's not completely unacceptable," Jean said, momentarily stunned. After all, the guy had saved him. Being called that didn't seem like such a big deal.
"So you want to be a cute girl, huh?" Chen Si suddenly grinned broadly and slung an arm over Jean's shoulder.
"You're the worst!" Jean gritted his teeth.
"Annie, that hoodie you're wearing looks really nice. Where did you buy it? I don't think I've ever seen that kind of design inside the Walls," Chen Si said with a faint smile as he looked at Annie's clothes.
"This hoodie was… uh… bought in my hometown," Annie began to say, then suddenly stopped herself.
"Hoodie? So clothes with a hood like that are called hoodies? I don't think I've ever seen one in my village," Connie said thoughtfully.
"Just looking at Annie's clothes, you can tell she's either rich or from a noble family. How could some rural place like your village have anything like that?" Jean scoffed.
"What did you say?! The tailor shop in my village makes great clothes! What the hell do you know?" Connie immediately started arguing with Jean again.
"The material looks really high quality. I wonder if the people around the king also wear uniforms that look this nice," Marco said dreamily while looking at Annie.
None of them thought much about it. They simply assumed that clothes like that might exist within Wall Sina or in the royal capital.
"I see. Annie's hometown must be a fashion capital then," Chen Si said with a faint smile.
"Fashion? What's fashion?" Connie asked blankly, hearing the unfamiliar word.
"Uh… is it referring to the material of the clothes?" Jean guessed after thinking for a moment.
At this moment, Annie's heart was already in turmoil.
She knew very well that this backward island wouldn't know anything about clothing design, nor would they understand the concept of fashion.
In Marley, many clothing brands had already been established decades ago. As the most powerful nation on the continent, Marley naturally possessed cultural and economic centers. Fashion itself was a form of cultural influence. Even the nations of the Mid-East Allied Forces, though hostile to Marley, still imitated Marleyan clothing styles.
Sharp-minded as she was, Annie suddenly arrived at a frightening possibility.
Chen Si didn't belong here.
He didn't belong inside the Walls.
Perhaps he was a spy sent by another nation.
That was the only explanation Annie could think of.
A trace of vigilance appeared in her heart toward Chen Si—but even more than that, a hint of curiosity emerged.
Why would someone like Chen Si willingly come to such a backward island?
Suddenly, thunderous rumbling sounds shook the ground and pulled everyone back to reality. Chen Si also looked into the distance, no longer teasing Annie.
Eren had stood up.
Everyone stared at Eren's Attack Titan. On his shoulder, he carried an enormous boulder, walking step by heavy step toward the gate.
"Man, that's awesome, Eren," Chen Si said, watching Eren move forward with a rock as big as himself. His blood was boiling with excitement.
As Eren awakened and the massive commotion began, thousands of Titans beneath the wall started slowly running toward him.
"We can't let them interfere! We have to support Eren immediately!" Jean shouted.
Everyone immediately launched themselves off the wall using their ODM gear.
Annie and Chen Si both slowed down at the same moment. Seeing that the other hadn't moved, they both stopped.
"Chen Si… who exactly… are you?" Annie opened her mouth several times. She had many questions, but when she saw Chen Si's gentle smile, that was the only one she managed to ask.
Chen Si didn't answer immediately. He faced the wall and remained silent for a moment.
"Annie, don't let other people's will control you. Is this really what you want? I know you're not like Zeke… and you're not like the people of Marley either," Chen Si said, turning his head slightly toward her.
Annie's pupils trembled violently. Her heart felt like it had been turned upside down. She stared at Chen Si in disbelief and immediately assumed a stance, ready to transform into a Titan at any moment.
"Annie, I won't hurt you. No matter who you are or what kind of person you are, I will never hurt you," Chen Si said with a warm, spring-like smile.
"Why…" Annie murmured, his words reminding her of her father.
"Because you're my friend. You're someone I care about. If you really have to do something… then use me instead. Someone will eventually report my existence to Marley anyway. That way you won't have to keep bearing the guilt of harming innocent people."
After saying this, Chen Si closed his eyes and spread his arms.
"Come on, Annie. Trade me for your future."
Tears began sliding down Annie's face. Her entire body trembled slightly. No one had ever cared about her like this before. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so moved just by the single, almost apologetic sentence her father once told her.
"No… I won't hurt you either… You're someone I… care about too," Annie said softly, lowering her head. Her cheeks flushed red as large teardrops fell onto the wall.
"Annie… do you know something? There's always been someone in my heart that I couldn't let go of… and that person is you," Chen Si said gently.
Annie suddenly felt a warm hand brush across her cheek, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.
Her body trembled continuously. She had never been this close to any man before.
Yet strangely… she didn't dislike it.
Annie raised her head slightly and met Chen Si's deep black eyes. She felt as if she might fall into them. His gaze was tender, staring straight at her, his affection seeming ready to spill out.
Chen Si also gazed into Annie's blue eyes. Her face, usually strong and unyielding, now appeared somewhat fragile and touching.
Damn it… men and women really should keep some distance.
Is it really true that men and women can't just be friends? I only wanted to be good friends with Annie!
I would never betray the Queen! The Queen is number one in the world!
Your Majesty, forgive me!
"You—mm—"
Annie stared in disbelief as Chen Si suddenly sealed her lips with his. She struggled for a moment, but her arms were held firmly by him. Slowly, she closed her eyes and awkwardly responded.
On top of the massive wall, under the glow of the setting sun, two tiny figures embraced and kissed.
Below the wall, however, was a battlefield of blood and corpses.
After killing another Titan, Jean—his body covered in blood—looked around and shouted:
"Where's Chen Si?!"
"I don't know!" Connie yelled back while fighting desperately.
"Damn it! Don't tell me he's off flirting with girls right now!" Jean shouted angrily.
"It's okay, Jean. Chen Si has already done enough for us. We have to work harder too!" Marco said, as kind-hearted as ever.
"Alright! Let's go!"