"I'm finally done moving everything!"
On the grounds of Senba Academy, Kiana stood there looking completely burned out.
"I'm exhausted~"
I did most of the work, okay?
What are you tired about?
Looking at Kiana's state, Dong Moxuan couldn't help complaining inwardly.
"Hey, what's with that look? Are you unhappy about helping Miss Kiana with the work?"
Dong Moxuan's expression did not escape Kiana's notice. She slightly furrowed her brows and spoke to him in a somewhat displeased tone.
"No, no, no! It's my honor to help Miss Kiana!"
Hearing Kiana's words, Dong Moxuan quickly apologized.
"So, Miss Kiana, can I leave now?"
"What do you think?"
Hearing Dong Moxuan's question, Kiana gave a cold laugh and said, "Something like this alone isn't enough to make up for the losses you caused me."
"Then what else do you want?"
Seeing that Kiana refused to let the matter go, Dong Moxuan spread both hands before him, looking completely resigned to whatever she wanted.
"Tch, you're really impatient!"
Seeing this, Kiana frowned slightly.
"I'm about to have class. We'll settle our account later."
"Um, Porn Xuan, what's your phone number?"
Hmm, a new nickname unlocked. Too bad he didn't want it at all.
Complaining inwardly, Dong Moxuan answered, "What do you want my phone number for?"
"Why are you asking so many questions? Are you giving it to me or not?"
"Fine, fine, I'll give it to you!"
Dong Moxuan gave Kiana his phone number with an aggrieved look.
If you want my number, just say so. Why be so fierce?
"Then, Kiana, what's your number?"
"You! What do you want my phone number for? Are you plotting something improper against me?"
After taking out her phone and saving Dong Moxuan's number, Kiana immediately became wary when she heard his question. She spoke to him with disdain.
Dong Moxuan: "..."
Fine, fine, whatever Miss Kiana says goes!
"Then can I leave now, Miss Kiana?"
"What a petty man..."
As if she could sense Dong Moxuan's discontent, Kiana crossed her arms and muttered softly.
"That's right. You're useless to me now, so get lost!"
"And one more thing!"
When Dong Moxuan turned around to leave, Kiana reached out and stopped him, then tossed him a canned bottle of Otaku Happy Water.
"I just bought this. Have a drink. Consider it payment for helping me move things just now. Don't go saying I mistreated you!"
As she spoke, Kiana opened another bottle of Otaku Happy Water and walked away while drinking it.
"Class is about to start, so I'll be going first!"
Dong Moxuan: "..."
Watching the silver-haired girl's hurried retreating figure, Dong Moxuan gave a wry smile and opened the drink in his hand.
"Whatever..."
"I'm home!"
That afternoon, after finishing a full day of classes, Mei returned home with her bag.
As she changed her shoes, she called out toward the entryway.
Of course, she was actually the only person in the house.
She did this because of habit, as well as the customs of this island nation.
Although receiving no response could be awkward, Mei had long since grown used to it.
The girl named Mei had long grown used to being alone and accustomed to loneliness.
After all, who could blame her when she had such an irresponsible father?
However, today seemed somewhat different.
"You're back, Mei."
A voice that was somewhat unexpected to her came from the kitchen. Only then did Mei suddenly remember that some shameless fellow named Dong Moxuan had moved into her home yesterday.
"Your school lets out really early! Go watch some television in the living room for a while. Dinner will be ready soon."
Following the voice into the kitchen, Mei discovered Dong Moxuan wearing an apron and stir-frying food.
"Mr. Dong, Dong Moxuan, are you making dinner?"
Looking at the scene in the kitchen, Mei was extremely surprised.
After all, although the male protagonists in anime were all capable at housework and had cooking skills good enough to make people weak in the knees,
in reality, even if skilled male cooks in this country weren't rarer than giant pandas, they were definitely a minority.
Moreover, the men of this country were deeply chauvinistic. Some of them, even if they worked as chefs, still wouldn't cook for their families at home because it would make them feel humiliated.
Therefore, as a pure-blooded young lady of this country, Mei was naturally surprised by Dong Moxuan's actions.
Besides, in her eyes, Dong Moxuan was just a freeloader... No, no, no!
At that thought, the image of Dong Moxuan bringing her a boxed lunch at noon immediately flashed through Mei's mind, and she blushed at her prejudice.
Mr. Dong Moxuan had acted like that yesterday only because he truly had no other choice. In fact, he was a good person!
Mei mentally gave Dong Moxuan a good-person card.
"Since I'm staying at your place for the time being, Mei-chan, if I don't do anything, it feels no different from freeloading!"
Hearing the doubt in Mei's voice, Dong Moxuan lightly scratched his cheek and said with a smile, "Go watch some television in the living room, Mei. The last dish will be ready soon."
"Mm, I kn... know!"
Still somewhat dazed, Mei turned and left after hearing Dong Moxuan's words.
Less than a few minutes later, Dong Moxuan brought the last dish to the dining table.
"All right, Mei. Dinner's ready!"
"..."
Looking at Dong Moxuan's smiling face, Mei suddenly felt as if time and space had become jumbled.
Yesterday had seemed to be the same: one person sitting on the sofa while the other cooked in the kitchen.
Only, without either of them noticing, their roles had quietly switched.
After sitting down at the table and seeing the delicious food before her, even Mei, who was not particularly enthusiastic about eating, felt her appetite being stirred.
Looking at Dong Moxuan's half-smiling expression, Mei's cheeks reddened. She quickly clasped her hands together and said, "Let's eat!"
Then she picked up a piece of braised pork rib still glistening with sweet, spicy oil.
"How does it taste? I'm quite confident in my cooking!"
Looking at the black-haired, long-haired girl before him, Dong Moxuan asked confidently.
In his previous life, as a shut-in, the only skill Dong Moxuan could truly boast about was his heaven-given talent for cooking.
This wasn't mere self-praise. It had been validated by the market.
At the very least, those people at the orphanage back then—cough, cough. In any case, Dong Moxuan was extremely confident in his cooking.
Before you continue