The takeout soon arrived at the door. Luo Li had ordered fragrant braised chicken with rice and a few light side dishes.
He set the food on the little coffee table serving as a temporary dining table.
"Come on, try the food from our world."
Luo Li handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Copying Luo Li, Castorice held the chopsticks somewhat clumsily, picked up a tender piece of chicken, blew on it gently, and put it in her mouth.
The next second, her violet eyes brightened slightly.
"What a... fascinating taste."
She savored it carefully. "Its flavor is entirely different from the stewed meats of Amphoreus, but it is delicious."
Watching her eat earnestly, taking small bites, Luo Li felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction rise within him.
While she ate, he took out his phone and quickly browsed a shopping app.
Women's clothing... sizes... He estimated Castorice's height and build from memory, agonized for ages, and finally chose several well-reviewed, simply styled dresses, T-shirts, and trousers, along with some necessary underwear (a process that left him red-faced, not daring to look up the entire time).
At checkout, Luo Li's heart bled at his nearly depleted balance, but imagining Castorice in properly fitting clothes made him feel the money was worth spending.
[Ding! Host detected purchasing clothing suited to this world's style for romance target "Castorice." Your thoughtfulness deserves recognition! Reward: 10,000 Longxia Currency in cash has been deposited into the host's linked account!]
The system notification sounded like heavenly music.
Luo Li froze, then hurriedly opened his mobile banking app. Sure enough, his balance had increased by ten thousand.
He instantly felt his back straighten considerably.
System, open the interface!
He silently recited it in his mind.
A translucent blue screen visible only to him instantly unfolded before his eyes.
[All Heavens and Myriad Worlds Romance Assistance System] Host: Luo Li Ability: Super-Speed Reaction (C-rank) Current romance target: Castorice (Origin: Amphoreus) [Target information panel] Name: Castorice Titles: Battlefield Saintess, Daughter of the River of Souls Status: Death Curse (removed), in another world (undergoing rule-adaptation adjustments) Affection: 28% (newly arrived, feeling grateful and dependent) Current mood: Curious and slightly uneasy about the new food and surroundings [Quest list] Current quest: None Optional quests (click to expand): 1. Share one friendly hug with Castorice (must last longer than 3 seconds). Reward: 50,000 Longxia Currency in cash OR random D-rank ability experience pack +1. 2. Successfully feed Castorice once. Reward: Upgrade the host's ability "Super-Speed Reaction" to C+ rank. 3. Go on a date with Castorice (as defined by the host). Reward: Random C-rank ability awakening opportunity +1. 4. ... (Scroll down; the quests grow increasingly outrageous...) ... Ultimate quest: Join hands with Castorice and raise offspring together (Branching Out and Bearing Leaves). Reward: ??? (insufficient permissions to view)
Looking at row upon row of quests with tempting rewards but increasingly bold requirements, Luo Li's mouth twitched wildly.
Fifty thousand for a hug? Feeding her upgrades my ability? A date gets me a new ability? What the hell are all those kisses, hugs, lifting her up, and even "Branching Out and Bearing Leaves" further down?! Is this system actually respectable?!
The rewards were undeniably generous, enough to make anyone in the apocalypse green with envy.
But looking at Castorice quietly eating across from him, her gaze as pure as amethyst, Luo Li shook his head hard.
No, no! If I do these things for rewards now, how am I any different from a bastard taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?
He cautioned himself inwardly. Take it slow. Everything has to happen slowly. We can talk once the feelings are there... yes, the feelings are the main thing!
He forced himself to close the system interface. Out of sight, out of mind.
The immediate priority was another, more practical problem.
"Castorice..." Luo Li put down his chopsticks, his expression somewhat serious.
"There's a very troublesome matter I need to tell you about. In this world, especially within the Longxia Faction, every legal resident needs things called an 'identity card' and 'household registration' to prove their identity.
"Without those, you're an 'unregistered resident' here, and there are lots of things you can't do, such as hold a formal job or take long-distance transportation. Even being questioned by a patrol would be a lot of trouble."
Although Castorice did not quite understand what an "identity card" actually was, she could hear the seriousness of the matter in Luo Li's tone.
"An unregistered resident... does that mean an existence that is not recognized? Like a wandering, lonely soul?"
She asked softly, her eyes dimming for an instant.
"That's more or less what it means."
Luo Li sighed.
"Besides, Longxia's identity cards and passports are the hardest to obtain among the five remaining countries. The screening is extremely strict.
"If a person suddenly appears out of nowhere, resolving it through normal channels is almost impossible."
This was also his greatest headache. He could hardly keep Castorice hiding at home without ever going out, could he?
Just then, knock, knock, knock came from the door, and a middle-aged woman called, "Xiao Luo, are you home? It's your landlady. I'm here to collect this month's water and electricity charges."
Luo Li's heart lurched! The landlady!
He glanced at Castorice in his oversized T-shirt, her silver hair and violet eyes incredibly conspicuous, and his scalp instantly prickled.
"Quick! Hide in the bathroom for now!"
Luo Li lowered his voice and hurriedly gestured to her.
Though puzzled, Castorice obediently rose at once, slipped quietly into the bathroom, and closed the door.
Luo Li took a deep breath, composed his expression, and went over to open the door.
The plump landlady stood outside holding a bill. She habitually glanced inside and happened to see the two sets of utensils on the coffee table.
"Oh, Xiao Luo, you have company today?"
The landlady asked casually.
"Ah... y-yes, a friend."
Luo Li answered vaguely, wanting only to pay her quickly and send her on her way.
Just as he lowered his head to scan the code and pay, the bathroom door, which had not been shut properly, silently slid open a crack.
Freshly showered, wearing a boyfriend-style T-shirt and giving off a fresh fragrance, Castorice leaned halfway out through the gap out of curiosity, wanting to see what was happening.
The sharp-eyed landlady spotted Castorice immediately. Her stunning beauty and unusual hair and eye colors made the landlady's eyes widen at once.
Discovered, Castorice immediately ducked back like a startled fawn and shut the door tight.
A knowing, suggestive smile instantly appeared on the landlady's face. She nudged Luo Li gently with her elbow and chuckled in a lowered voice. "Well, you little rascal, nicely done! When did you get a girlfriend?
"She looks like a movie star. She's gorgeous-but she does look rather young. You'd better not bully her..."
Luo Li's face instantly turned scarlet, and he stammered an explanation. "N-no! Auntie, you've got it wrong... she really is just... a distant cousin! Yes, my cousin! She's staying for a few days!"
"A cousin? A cousin wearing your clothes?"
With an "I know, I know everything" expression, the landlady smiled and shook her head. "All right, all right. Young people are shy. I won't say any more.
"I've received the payment. You two... have a good time together!"
With that, she cheerfully turned and left.
Luo Li closed the door, leaned back against it, and let out a long breath, feeling more exhausted than after playing ranked matches all night.
He walked to the bathroom and knocked gently. "Castorice, it's all right now. Come out."
Castorice opened the door, a trace of apology on her face. "Sir, have I caused you trouble?"
"No, not at all..."
Luo Li hurriedly waved his hands and scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"It was just... a misunderstanding-but..."
His brow furrowed again. "The landlady just seeing you caused this much trouble. If the authorities discover you have no identity documents, it'll be even more serious."
This problem of her unregistered status weighed on his heart like a boulder.
He called to the system inwardly again. System! Brother System! How do I solve the toughest problem, her 'unregistered' status? Are there any items or methods? I can't keep making her hide forever, can I?
[Ding! Host's core request detected: Resolve target "Castorice's" identity issue.] [Analyzing... Longxia Faction's identity management is strict. Conventional methods cannot accomplish this.] [Notice: When the target's affection toward the host reaches a certain stage, or the host completes specific key quests, an "identity rationalization" assistance plan can be unlocked. Please work hard to increase affection and actively complete quests!]
The system's reply made Luo Li's heart tighten.
So, in the end, there really was no getting around affection and quests?
He looked at Castorice before him, who knew nothing of her own predicament and was simply watching him quietly and trustingly, and felt the responsibility on his shoulders grow a little heavier.
(PS: This update was a little late, mainly because I was writing a side story just now.
Same as always: please leave comments and request updates.)