Chapter 22

Sometimes, he really didn't know when to stop talking. It would have been fine if he were spouting nonsense online, but facing the gentle, blond man before him, Qi Chao suddenly felt a little embarrassed for some reason.

Shen Yuxi's eyes remained curved in a smile as he nodded slightly. His voice was gentle. "Of course."

Seeing that the other man was not displeased, Qi Chao immediately relaxed. They had been online friends for nearly a month, after all, and Qi Chao quickly regained the easy rhythm they had online, taking the lead.

He led the Doctor toward the villa and teased, "I only just found out that you're bad with directions, Brother Shen."

That morning, Qi Chao had been in the kitchen preparing the day's feast when he received a message from the Doctor asking for directions. It was only then that he learned from the two dolls that the Doctor hardly knew his way around at all.

"Because I rarely go out."

The Doctor explained unhurriedly, his face faintly flushed, as though he was ashamed of being bad with directions.

His skin was whiter than fresh snow in early winter. Once a blush spread across his face, it became especially obvious and made his skin look even fairer.

Looking down at this, Qi Chao began to wonder. Was this man really thirty-one? How could a grown man still be this cute at thirty-one?

That doubt persisted until Qi Chao arrived home.

When he opened the door, two dolls stood in the entryway.

One large and one small—the scene looked very familiar.

Qi Chao paused, then gently pushed Shen Yuxi beside him forward so the little dolls at home could act spoiled with their father.

He had expected Lan Luo and Moss to rush over and fawn over their father. Qi Chao had even picked up his Light Brain, ready to take a photo for the record.

Unexpectedly, after each called out "Father," the two little dolls fell silent.

How should he put it?

Their reunion was not as warm as Qi Chao had imagined a father and his children would be.

Still, every father and child got along differently.

Someone as gentle as Shen Yuxi might have been more reserved around his children.

Sure enough, Qi Chao saw the Doctor step forward and gently ask Lan Luo and Moss how they had been lately. A tender smile rested on his face, his blond hair braided into a scorpion braid that draped over his right shoulder. His entire presence was soft and clean, making it easy for others to relax around him.

It had to be said that, in Qi Chao's eyes, the Doctor was exactly this kind of gentle, harmless father.

He stood at the door and looked at the father and two sons, then chuckled softly. Leaving them space to catch up, he went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

What Qi Chao did not know was that after he left, the gentle Doctor, who had been speaking softly, suddenly fell silent. The living room sank into an eerie stillness.

Or rather, this silence was the norm.

Everything before it had only been a false disguise.

Chapter 22

System: [You mean the Doctor and the two dolls are all in the living room, right?]

Qi Chao answered in his mind: [Right. The Doctor came today to treat the little dolls.]

Damn it.

The System, which had just arrived in this plane for a follow-up visit, choked up for a moment before asking: [Then... are you cooking?]

[Yes.]

Qi Chao thought the System's question was rather pointless, but he still nodded patiently.

The System really was just making small talk. If it kept asking about the Doctor, it feared it truly would not be able to hold itself together. Was there anyone more miserable than its host? Even before dying, he still had to cook for that bunch of demons.

[I'll stay with you all day today.] The System decided to see its host through his final stretch and stand watch for one last shift.

Qi Chao did not understand why, but he did not particularly care either.

The aroma of fish slowly drifted from the pot.

Qi Chao glanced at the pot, turned to continue chopping vegetables, and heard a clear, gentle male voice beside him.

"May I join you?"

Qi Chao followed the voice and looked over. The slender, upright man stood at the kitchen door. Walking over, he said politely, "Although I'm not very good at cooking, I can still handle simple things like washing and chopping vegetables."

"Of course."

Qi Chao guessed the Doctor felt awkward about making him cook alone. Worried that refusing would hurt the man's pride, he agreed with a smile and merely took out some carrots for the Doctor to wash.

"Just wash these once. I'll peel them later."

As soon as he said that, Qi Chao saw the Doctor roll up his sleeves, revealing arms so white they practically glowed. His slender, long fingers moved through the water a few times.

People who worked with their hands rarely had beautiful fingers. Years of manual labor made them rough and covered them in stubborn calluses, sometimes even leaving a few scars.

But Shen Yuxi's hands were different. They were like the finest cold jade—slender, fair, and utterly flawless.

Qi Chao took one look before withdrawing his gaze and saying to the System in his mind: [Tell me, how can someone be this perfect? He's capable, has a good personality, and is even this handsome.]

The System remained silent. It desperately wanted to make its host wake up. If the villain had a good personality, this world would not have been classified as a high-risk plane.

Once Shen Yuxi had finished washing the carrots, Qi Chao told him to go back to the living room and rest. The Doctor froze, seemingly wanting to say something else.

"You've already helped. Go rest."

Qi Chao smiled, placed a hand on the Doctor's shoulder, and led him out. Then he turned back into the kitchen and closed the door.

Those fingers were so beautiful. They definitely needed careful care; naturally, he should do less of this rough work.

Having watched the entire scene, the System screamed soundlessly in the sea of consciousness. What the fuck had its host done?! Making the villain wash carrots was one thing, but he actually dared to chase the villain out himself?!

However, perhaps it was just the System's imagination, but the villain did not seem to intend to kill its host. Otherwise, he would not still be pretending to be so polite.

The System was utterly confused. One moment, it thought its host would definitely die at the demons' hands; the next, it thought the villain might not kill him for the time being. In the end, it chose to wait and see.

After finishing lunch, Qi Chao went to the living room.

The father and two sons were sitting on the sofa watching a projection. It was playing Lan Luo's favorite educational cartoon.