"Junior!?"
Girl stared blankly at the scene before her.
Jiang Lianqiu glanced at the two pork cutlet rice bowls on the table, then turned to Hans. "You eat this on a regular basis?"
"Reporting to the Commander! We do not need to eat!" Hans shouted fervently, his voice so loud it seemed capable of bringing down the ceiling.
"Keep it down!" Jiang Lianqiu rubbed his ears. "Then where did these come from? Did you get them from the cafeteria specially arranged for the human employees here?"
"Rep—" Hans, who had been about to shout, suddenly remembered Jiang Lianqiu's order. He lowered his voice with effort and said in a muffled tone, "Reporting to the commander, the cafeteria menu was based on British recipes compiled by big sister Belfast. The negative review rate was a little high, so we had someone buy these outside—of course, to ensure the flavor, we added a few ingredients according to human taste preferences."
Jiang Lianqiu looked at Belfast with a dark expression. "Belfast, how about we hire a few chefs from East University?"
Belfast covered her eyes, too ashamed to face anyone. "I'll contact New Oriental when I get back..."
Kasumigaoka and Machida, who had fallen silent due to Jiang Lianqiu and Belfast's sudden appearance, both smiled at the sight. Their tension gradually eased as well.
Belfast circled back behind Jiang Lianqiu with a stern expression and pulled out a chair for him.
After Jiang Lianqiu sat down, the maid and the suited thug stood to his left and right like statues, utterly motionless.
Especially Hans. The instant he came to a stop, Utaha Kasumigaoka felt as if he had suddenly turned into a lifelike wax figure, without the slightest trace of a living person's presence.
"Good evening, Senior."
Jiang Lianqiu crossed his long legs, his gaze passing over Utaha Kasumigaoka before shifting to Machida Sonoko.
The two exchanged a glance. Machida Sonoko shuddered, then grabbed Utaha Kasumigaoka's hand beneath the table and urgently whispered, "Uta-chan, Uta-chan, is this the junior you mentioned on LINE? The one you care so much about?"
"Why is he here?!"
Utaha Kasumigaoka viciously kicked Machida Sonoko in the shin, making the slip-of-the-tongue Machida Sonoko cry out, "Ow!"
"So this is a class reunion after school..."
Girl's fingertips tightened around her water glass, turning faintly white. Her usual sharp tongue, always so effortless, was now stuck in her throat.
When she inadvertently noticed the two half-eaten pork cutlet rice bowls belonging to herself and Machida Sonoko on the table, Utaha Kasumigaoka curled her toes in embarrassment. Pretending to remain calm, she said, "I believe I have the right to an explanation, mysterious Junior—could it be that you're also the young master of this monstrous Silver Crown Ring Conglomerate?"
"You could say that." Jiang Lianqiu nodded.
That answer made Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes tremble slightly. The next second, Machida Sonoko grabbed her arm and began shaking it, the editor exclaiming excitedly, "Uta-chan! You've struck it rich!!!"
"Even the president of our Fushikawa has to—"
"Shut up and eat your pork cutlet rice!" Utaha Kasumigaoka pinched the soft flesh at Machida Sonoko's waist again. Only then did she smooth her slightly disheveled hair. Following up on Machida Sonoko's mention of Fushikawa's president, she asked suspiciously, "Was the library suddenly halting publication of the later light novel volumes because of you, Junior?"
"That was merely a necessary precaution. Of course, given the current situation, the library's business can resume."
Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes had only just lit up when Jiang Lianqiu continued, "But the second volume of your novel may need major revisions. That's necessary insurance."
"Don't worry. I'll explain it to you slowly..."
Before you continue