I, Herrscher Slayer

What does that have to do with Shen Gonglin being a heartless cookie-eating machine?

"Fine, if you want me to carry him, I will. Don't you dare try to take advantage of Mei, I'm not as easygoing as she is!"

Just like Shen Gonglin, Kiana didn't really grasp the concept of gender boundaries. What annoyed her was him lying on Mei's back like that, taking advantage of her. It must have felt great to be carried by Mei. In Kiana's opinion, this guy was just using the opportunity to fully take advantage of Mei. Mei was just too kind-hearted; they couldn't bully her just because she was nice. Kiana would never agree to that!

"It's fine, Shen Gong isn't heavy. This distance is nothing to me... Kiana, be careful, don't run too fast."

Mei didn't really mind. Shen Gonglin wasn't moving around on her back, and given his weight, the girl who had trained in kendo for a long time wasn't bothered. She had also undergone physical training for kendo, so carrying Shen Gonglin was no big deal. But before she could finish speaking, Kiana had already yanked Shen Gonglin off her back. Watching the white-haired girl run off with Shen Gonglin, Mei felt a headache coming on. What was she doing?

Chapter 21: Outsmarted

"Hey, Kiana, what are you doing?"

The scenery whizzed by, and Shen Gonglin looked at Kiana's face, completely bewildered. The sudden change in position left him a little disoriented. He had been comfortably recharging on Mei's back, and now he was like this.

"Didn't you say you wanted me to carry him? What's wrong, if Mei can carry him, why can't I? Or do you just want to take advantage of Mei? Let me tell you, with me here, you're not getting away with anything. I'm super smart, so don't even think about it!"

Kiana wrinkled her nose triumphantly at Shen Gonglin. Mei was hers, and this mere Shen Gonglin wouldn't encroach on her private property. Kiana was very unhappy seeing him on Mei's back. Mei really needed to protect herself; there were so many perverts out there.

"So you're taking advantage of me? Fine, carry me, but why do you have to hold me like this? And it's a princess carry! It's so embarrassing, put me down quickly!"

This was what shocked Shen Gonglin. If she were carrying him on her back, it would have been fine. Who carried him didn't matter, and Kiana had a decent build. But being held like this made him feel a bit flustered. This position was indeed called a princess carry, wasn't it? He was being princess-carried by Kiana, and he couldn't stand it.

Even without his memories, Shen Gonglin felt an innate discomfort. This position was clearly not designed for men. Being held in her arms like this finally stirred Shen Gonglin's long-suppressed sense of shame. This Kiana girl was not simple.

"Huh? But this position is more convenient. I'm not carrying you on my back! My back is always reserved for Mei. You, Shen Gonglin, can only be carried by me. Enough talk. Didn't you say you were weak and couldn't walk? Then I'll just carry you like this. Do you have any complaints?"

Kiana's statement completely stunned Shen Gonglin. What kind of logic was this? Did this white-haired girl think being carried on the back was more intimate than a princess carry? It should be the other way around, shouldn't it? Wasn't she embarrassed to be seen carrying him like this? Shen Gonglin felt incredibly shy. At this point, taking advantage of someone was the last thing on his mind. He wished she would just put him down. This Kiana was more perverted than he was!

"I think I'm fine now. Put me down, I can walk."

Shen Gonglin grabbed Kiana's collar and looked earnestly into the white-haired girl's eyes. Those blue eyes seemed foolish to Shen Gonglin. He didn't seem good at dealing with this type of girl. After all, their intelligence levels were not on the same plane. Shen Gonglin couldn't keep up with Kiana's thought process.

"Didn't you say you couldn't walk... Huh? Am I seeing things? You're blushing! Haha, Shen Gonglin, so you do get shy! Don't worry, don't worry, I'll hold you tight."

She had been about to put Shen Gonglin down, but upon seeing the faint blush on his face, Kiana immediately changed her mind. Ever since Shen Gonglin woke up, he had been suppressing her. Now, Kiana had finally found an opportunity for revenge. So he got shy and blushed too? Kiana, the young lady, would never let such a good opportunity pass. She tightened her grip, and a smile that Shen Gonglin found very familiar appeared on Kiana's face.

Did she smile like that when she was being wicked?

"Yohohoho, haha! You think you can run after I've caught you? Just tremble in my arms!"

Like a huntress in an Amazonian tribe catching her prey, Kiana ran with Shen Gonglin, creating a gust of wind. The students passing by cast surprised glances at her. Wasn't that Kiana, famous throughout the school? Where did she snatch this man from?

Didn't they say she preferred girls? So she was normal after all. What a disappointment.

"Kiana, do you know what you just did? Can't you be a little less reckless? Have you thought about what the students in the school will say about you afterward?"

In the Valkyrie dormitory, Mei rubbed her temples and looked helplessly at Kiana, who was sitting on the sofa. This girl was now whistling with her head turned away. Did she even know what she had done? Mei and Bronya couldn't catch up with her, and most importantly, Kiana hadn't returned to the dormitory directly but had run all over St. Freya Academy with Shen Gonglin in her arms, as if showing off. What was Kiana thinking? Why couldn't even Mei figure her out?

"I don't care what anyone says. I just wanted to do it. This guy keeps bullying me. If I don't teach him a lesson, I'm not Kiana Kaslana."

She had no intention of admitting fault, nor did Kiana believe she had done anything wrong. Seeing Shen Gonglin slumped beside her, looking utterly mortified, Kiana felt a surge of satisfaction. She finally understood why he liked bullying them. It felt so good to bully others... No, it shouldn't feel like this. Only bullying him made her feel this good!

If she could choose again, Kiana guaranteed she would still make the same choice. Reputation, which was invisible and intangible, was nothing compared to her inner satisfaction.

Kiana had always been a good girl who followed her heart. She had finally won a round against Shen Gonglin, and Kiana was so happy she felt like celebrating with a bottle of 1982 cola.

"Sigh, honestly, you need to think before you act... Shen Gong? Are you okay? Are you out of power? If you are, I can help you recharge."

Mei was completely helpless with Kiana. Her "a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water" attitude was probably something only Teacher Himeko or the Headmaster could handle. Mei had no ideas anymore. She turned her gaze to Shen Gonglin, patting his back comfortingly. Shen Gonglin had been like this since they returned to the dormitory. It was her fault for not managing Kiana properly. Was he okay?

"Mei, I can never show my face again!"

Like a swallow returning to its nest, Shen Gonglin got up from the sofa and threw himself into Mei's arms. Shen Gonglin cared a lot about his reputation. When Kiana was carrying him, he heard many people gossiping. Him, so handsome, being princess-carried by a girl... Shen Gonglin felt like he could die again.

"It's okay, it's okay. Not many people saw your face when you were in Kiana's arms before. It's fine, it's fine."

Mei quickly patted Shen Gonglin's back, comforting him. But the completely wicked Kiana came over again, lifted Shen Gonglin's chin, and leaned in for a selfie.

"Hehe, Mei is right. I'll upload this to the school network now. Don't be afraid, Shen Gonglin, everyone will see it."

Shocked, not only Shen Gonglin but also Mei and Bronya stared wide-eyed at Kiana. What was this girl doing? This was purely self-destructive.

Chapter 22: If You Don't Bully, You'll Be Bullied

Managing these two mischievous kids... it's really a headache.

Mei sighed, suddenly having this realization. It was already a headache managing Kiana alone, but now with Shen Gonglin added, Mei felt she had a new challenge. Why did this guy like bullying Shen Gonglin so much? And it wasn't even sophisticated bullying. If Kiana really posted this photo on the school network, it would be truly self-destructive. How much of a grudge could they have? Mei had a premonition that her future days would be a bit more difficult.

"Kiana, be serious. You can't just post photos like this randomly... Shen Gonglin, don't worry, I won't let her mess around."

Taking the phone from Kiana, Mei glanced at the photo on it and glared slightly at Kiana. This girl actually took a picture, and a pretty good one at that. Both of them in the photo were very photogenic, making it look like a couple's photo shoot. Kiana was really going all out to ruin Shen Gonglin's reputation, even disregarding her own.

"Mei, thank you."

Touched, Shen Gonglin threw himself into Mei's arms again. As he expressed his gratitude, he openly took advantage of Mei. Hugging this girl felt so comfortable. She had a large chest and a slender waist, perfectly fitting Shen Gonglin's aesthetic. The feel of hugging her was simply too good, a world of difference from that wicked white-haired girl. It was great that he was into older women.

"It's nothing. Are you okay if you're not charging now? Rest for a bit, and I'll make you something delicious. You must be very hungry after being unconscious for so long."

Mei stroked the golden hair in her arms. She was an only child. If she had a younger brother, it would probably feel like this. Mei felt pretty good about it. During Shen Gonglin's unconscious period, he had been sustained by IV drips. Now that he was awake, she needed to make him some food to replenish his Blood Essence.

"Mmm... No, I didn't get enough charge to begin with, and Kiana messed with me for so long just now. I need to recharge my Mei-elements here properly. Let me help you. I feel a strange sense of familiarity with the kitchen. Maybe I'll remember something from my past."

Recharging his power was secondary. The key was that hugging Mei felt very comfortable, satisfying him both physically and mentally. Moreover, as soon as Mei mentioned cooking, Shen Gonglin felt something stir within him, making him restless. Could it be that he was a cook before he lost his memory?

"Huh? Do you really need to charge this much... Then Shen Gong, you can come in too. It would be best if you could remember your past, but it's okay if you don't."

Mei hesitated for a moment, but still led Shen Gonglin into the kitchen. What exactly was the "Mei element"? Why did Shen Gonglin and Kiana both talk about it? Was it some kind of unique scent on her? Mei quietly lifted her arm and sniffed. Such a saying was really embarrassing for a young maiden, like being told directly that you had a bad smell. But no matter how much Mei sniffed, she couldn't discern any strange smell on herself. It was truly troublesome.

"Bronya, don't you think Mei is too lenient with Shen Gonglin? I have a premonition that kid is definitely not a good person. He's definitely using his harmless appearance to gain Mei's sympathy. You and I need to pay close attention from now on."

Watching Shen Gonglin and Mei enter the kitchen, Kiana leaned over to Bronya and whispered. She had to protect Mei. Mei was too gentle and too naive. What if she got tricked by a guy? To prevent this possibility, Kiana had always planned to win Mei over herself. But now that Shen Gonglin had arrived, she felt a strong sense of crisis. No mistake, he definitely had his eyes on Mei, just like her. This was her intuition as a girl.

"Bronya feels Kiana is jealous... Shen Gonglin probably just has a simple good impression of Mei sister right now. There are relevant records in books. After being unconscious for so long and losing his memory, it's easy for him to feel a sense of closeness to the first person he sees upon waking. If Kiana needs it, Bronya can find relevant materials for you."

Sitting quietly on the sofa, Bronya took out her handheld game console and started playing. She calmly explained the reason for Shen Gonglin's closeness to Mei. Based on her observations, it was probably for this reason. Shen Gonglin's eyes had always been clear. Perhaps he didn't like Mei, but just liked being with her.

"Huh? Materials? I'm too lazy to read them. But you're saying he feels close to the first person he sees? But that shouldn't be the case. I'm also one of the first people he saw, so why doesn't he treat me as well as Mei? He took advantage of me the moment we met... He's just a plain bad boy!"

She remembered again when Shen Gonglin first woke up. At that time, he was like a bristling cat, biting anyone he saw. That bad boy actually grabbed her chest directly. Thinking of this, Kiana couldn't help but grit her teeth. No, she felt her face getting hot again. Both she and Mei were the first people he saw upon waking. Why was he so good to Mei and so mean to her?

"Bronya feels that if Kiana doesn't bully Shen Gonglin, he... he probably still would bully you."

Bronya thought carefully and gave this answer. Although she hadn't spent much time with Shen Gonglin, Bronya felt she understood his true nature quite well. Would it be okay if Kiana didn't bully him? That was clearly impossible. No matter what, he would probably bully Kiana. It was a truly unsolvable problem. Bronya started to become interested in this issue.

"...I think so too, so I have to strike first. Before he bullies me, I have to bully him."

After a moment of silence, Kiana sighed. That was it. If she didn't bully Shen Gonglin, she would definitely be bullied by him. If she could, she would also want to be a good person, but there was no help for it. That's just life.

The eldest daughter of the Kaslana family looked out the window. The sunlight shone on her face, giving Kiana a rather divine aura at this moment. Life was like this; if you don't bully others, others will bully you...

With this excuse, Kiana felt her guilt disappear. Hehe, now she could openly bully Shen Gonglin.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Something Etched in DNA

There was a strange sense of familiarity. Looking at the pots and pans in the kitchen, Shen Gonglin fell into thought. He had felt the kitchen's allure before, and seeing the ingredients and cookware, Shen Gonglin was indeed eager to try. However, when Shen Gonglin was about to start, it was as if a voice in his heart was stopping him, like several people shouting in his ear, "Don't do it!"

What was going on?

Shen Gonglin held a cabbage and stared at it, trying to figure something out. Was it different from what he had thought before? Did he actually not know how to cook?

Obviously, that wasn't the case.

"Ai-chan..."

Unconsciously playing with the cabbage in his hand, Shen Gonglin inexplicably murmured a name. Why did thinking of this name make certain parts hurt? It wasn't his heart, this thing should be... his integrity?

"How about making cream stew? Sweet things can replenish your sugar. You must have needed it after being unconscious for so long... Shen Gonglin, no playing with food, and please don't name food if possible."

After putting on her apron, Mei had decided on what dish to make. When she turned around, she saw Shen Gonglin staring at the cabbage and even calling it Ai-chan. Naming food made Mei chuckle. She took the cabbage from Shen Gonglin's hand. She hadn't intended for Shen Gonglin to help. She only brought him into the kitchen to keep him away from Kiana. If she wasn't there, they would have started fighting again. So the best way was to keep them separated.

"I'm not playing. Mei, you can make whatever you want, I'm fine with anything."

His mind was in a haze, Shen Gonglin shook his head and leaned against the counter, watching Mei cook. If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it. Even with amnesia, Shen Gonglin hadn't deliberately tried to recall his memories. He would remember someday. What he could be sure of now was that he wasn't an ordinary person before losing his memory. As for anything else, Shen Gonglin had no way of knowing.

Perhaps asking Kiana would be a good idea. After all, according to her, she found him. Besides the tattered school uniform, there must be something else.

"Anything is fine' is the hardest dish to make... From now on, you have to say what you want to eat. Today I'll make you cream stew. You can tell me what you want to eat in the future. Don't underestimate me, I'm quite confident in my cooking. I can make anything you want to eat."

Turning back, she tapped Shen Gonglin's head. When cooking, the worst is "whatever" and "anything is fine." Even Mei couldn't tolerate this. On one hand, it was her nature to care for others. On the other hand, Mei genuinely wanted to treat Shen Gonglin well. After all, both he and Kiana could be considered her benefactors. Perhaps he didn't remember, or perhaps it was unintentional, but he had saved her at that time. Just that alone was enough for Mei to treat him this way.

Moreover, Mei actually had a pretty good impression of him.

Brilliant blonde hair, deep purple eyes like hers, and that foxy little face... Mei considered herself not someone who judged based on looks, but Shen Gonglin's face was indeed very pleasing to her. Just looking at him made her want to take care of him. He must have been doted on by many people before.

"Oh... then how about 'Stargazy Pie'?"

He didn't mind being tapped on the head by Mei. If it were Kiana, Shen Gonglin would have already scratched her face. Hearing Mei say that, Shen Gonglin subconsciously suggested a famous dish. Shen Gonglin seemed to have a strong impression of this dish. He might have made this dish before. He just didn't know if Mei could make it. Perhaps eating this dish might help him remember something.

"...With so many delicious dishes, why would you choose this one? Shen Gonglin, do you really know what Stargazy Pie is?"

She had just said she would make whatever Shen Gonglin wanted to eat, but immediately she was proven wrong. Even if she was wrong, Mei didn't want to make this dish. Of course, she had heard of this famous dish, also known as the "dark cuisine of the unpeacefully deceased." The maiden had a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder. Making such a terrifying dish would surely lead to nightmares. It would be torture for both the eater and the chef.

"I don't know. The name of the dish just flashed into my mind. Mei, can you make it?"

At this moment, Shen Gonglin didn't know how serious the problem was. Seeing his innocent little face, Mei felt heavy-hearted. How could a girl say no, especially after she had just boasted to Shen Gonglin that she could make anything he wanted to eat? If that was the case, then she would have to go for it. With her cooking skills, she should be able to make up for it a little... maybe.

"I can, but we don't have the ingredients prepared in the dorm today. We don't even have dried fish, so I can't substitute with Kiana... How about this, next time, if there's a chance, I'll definitely make it for you. For now, let's make cream stew. You help me pan-fry the chicken pieces. Be careful not to get burned by the oil, okay?"

To make that dish, she had to prepare first. Since she had made a promise to Shen Gonglin, Mei had to keep it. If not today, then in the future. Mei was already planning to find videos to watch tonight. She had to make this dish well, by the honor of Raiden Mei!

"No problem at all. I'm quite skilled at cooking. Honestly, pan-frying chicken pieces is nothing to me. Mei, when should I put it in?"

Finally, it was his turn to show off. Disregarding his earlier caution about the dangers of the kitchen, Shen Gonglin rolled up his sleeves, ready to showcase his skills. The essence of seeking death flowed in his blood. If it wasn't like this, it wouldn't be Shen Gonglin. Cooking was just cooking, Shen Gonglin didn't take it seriously.

"Well, put it in when the oil temperature is at seventy percent heat... Shen Gonglin, what are you doing!"

Starting to prepare other ingredients, when Mei finished cutting the vegetables and was about to put them in, she looked back at Shen Gonglin. This glance startled Mei. The guy was reaching out his hand, about to dip it into the hot oil. Mei quickly dropped the knife and pulled him over. If she wasn't watching him for a moment, he would just mess around. Was he trying to perform the trick of putting his hand into hot oil? This wasn't vinegar.

"Didn't you say to put it in when it's seventy percent hot? I'm just trying it out. How else would I know how hot seventy percent heat is... Mei, why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?"

Shen Gonglin looked at Mei doubtfully. He didn't think he had done anything wrong, but why did Mei look like she wanted to scold him but couldn't? What was going on?

"It's nothing, you didn't do anything wrong. It's me who's wrong. You should go out and play with Kiana and the others. I can handle it here alone."

Forcing a smile at Shen Gonglin, Mei vowed in her heart at that moment never to let Shen Gonglin into the kitchen alone again. He absolutely didn't know how to cook!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Little Clever Ghost

"Ugh... Wow, Ouch, Wait, Wait a minute... Waaah, why did I lose again? Bronya, can't you let me win for once!"

In the living room, Kiana and Bronya sat in front of the TV, each holding a controller, engaged in a tense match. Of course, the tension was only on Kiana's side. Bronya remained her usual expressionless self, but her fingers, which were moving so fast on the controller that they almost left afterimages, had already crushed Kiana, who was trying to improve her game performance with sounds and actions, by several streets. The battle on the screen had stopped. Today was another day of beating Kiana.

Kiana, who had lost, threw down the controller in her hand, feeling dejected. She hadn't even landed a single hit on Bronya at the start of the match. Although she knew she was a gaming master, she couldn't be this good. She had no game experience at all. How could she play with Bronya in the future? At least she should let her hit her once.

"No. Fighting with all my might is a soldier's pride... Although even without fighting with all my might, stupid Kiana is no match for me."

She quietly put down the game controller. Since they were waiting for Mei to cook, the two of them started playing games in the living room. Or rather, it couldn't be called playing games; it was purely one-sided domination. Kiana was too clumsy. Even with her teaching, Kiana couldn't grasp it. Bronya, at such a young age, was already experiencing the feeling of a master seeking a challenge.

"Ugh... How can you say that about me? It's not like I'm the only one who can't beat Bronya... Hey, Shen Gonglin, why are you out? Is Mei done cooking already? That was fast."

It was embarrassing to lose to others, but losing to Bronya wasn't embarrassing at all. After all, Kiana had never met anyone who could beat Bronya in games. Even if she was looked down upon by Bronya, there was nothing she could do. Kiana leaned back on the sofa in defeat. At this moment, she saw Shen Gonglin walking out of the kitchen. Mei's movements weren't that fast. She had only lost one round; there was no way Mei could have finished cooking. Normally, she had to lose five or six rounds before the meal was ready.

"No, perhaps my cooking skills are just too astonishing. Mei asked me to come out and wait. What are you two playing?"

Unaware of the real reason Mei had asked him to come out, that gentle girl would never tell Shen Gonglin the truth. Seeing the big "KO" on the TV, Shen Gonglin felt a bit curious. Fine, she was working hard in the kitchen to cook, and they were here playing games. It was completely disrespectful to her labor. Two freeloaders!

It seemed Shen Gonglin had truly mistaken her meddling for help.

"Hohom Adventure... Shen Gonglin, do you want to play too?"

Her eyes darted around. Even Kiana was getting a little tired of being dominated. It was time to see someone else get dominated by Bronya, especially Shen Gonglin. Kiana now found that she particularly enjoyed seeing Shen Gonglin flustered. She hadn't had enough of the princess carry before. Anyway, with Shen Gonglin's skills, let alone Bronya, he probably couldn't even beat her. This guy clearly looked like the type with a strong desire to win. Weren't he and the class president fighting over this? If he lost to her in the game... Yes, that's it.

"Hohom Adventure? I've never even heard of it... It shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Why did he see ill intentions in Kiana's eyes? In Shen Gonglin's eyes, Kiana now looked like a creepy old man trying to trick an innocent youth into playing an adult game. Only Kiana could give Shen Gonglin that feeling while appearing as a beautiful girl. This girl had just tricked him; could she be planning to do it again?

"Not difficult, not difficult at all, it's very interesting. Come try it with me, don't be afraid, I'll let you have the first round. Bronya, give me the controller. Come sit here quickly, hurry, hurry."

Unable to wait to dominate Shen Gonglin, Kiana threw her controller to Shen Gonglin, snatched Bronya's controller, and beckoned to Shen Gonglin. She loved bullying newbies. Since he hadn't even heard of it, he definitely wouldn't be her opponent. She had been losing before because her opponent was Bronya, but if it were anyone else, Kiana would be considered a minor expert.

Since it was interesting, it didn't hurt to play. Shen Gonglin had felt a bit of an itch when he saw the two of them playing games. Shen Gonglin took the controller and sat next to Kiana. They sat cross-legged on the floor, while Bronya sat on the sofa behind them to watch. Kiana was truly useless. She couldn't beat him, so she went to bully a newbie. Bronya condemned such behavior and hoped Shen Gonglin wouldn't be taught too harsh a lesson by Kiana... She felt Kiana should be the one worried. If Shen Gonglin lost, he would definitely get angry and have a real sparring match with Kiana. If he was evenly matched with the class president, Kiana would definitely not be his opponent.

Why did she feel a slight anticipation for Shen Gonglin to lose to Kiana?

"Let's make it clear, I'm letting you get familiar with the controls in the first round. Bullying newbies is not the behavior of a master... Otherwise, I don't know what I might do."

He really disliked losing, especially if he had to lose to Kiana, so Shen Gonglin gave Kiana a heads-up before the match. If she still dared to dominate him after this, then she shouldn't blame him for truly dominating her. Shen Gonglin had no gentlemanly conduct; he was a true gentleman.