Xiao Ling: I Want to Eat Steamed Peaches

"I'm back!"

The villa's front door swung open, and the girls, each charming in her own way, returned to their cozy little home amid laughter and chatter.

Aemeath took off her shoes as soon as she came in. Her delicate feet, wrapped in white stockings, were quite a sight against the tiled floor.

"Mmm~ Ahh-home really is the most comfortable place~" She buried herself in the sofa, her stockinged feet flapping on either side of her, somewhat dazzling in the light.

"What made you girls decide to come to my school?" Xiao Ling asked them, while also dragging back a certain little blueberry cupcake who was trying to sneak into her room to sleep.

Dania, caught by the scruff of her neck, struggled a few times before realizing it was no use and resigning herself to her fate.

"Because staying home is boring. When we were at the academy, we thought about the holidays every day, but once we actually got a long break, we started wanting to go back to school," Aemeath explained to Xiao Ling, climbing out of the sofa.

"And most importantly, A-Yu, even if you wouldn't say it, you definitely couldn't bear to be apart from us!"

"So~ we took it upon ourselves to come keep you company at school~ Well? Are you touched? Are you touched~?!"

"I don't know if I was touched, but I do know I didn't dare move an inch in that class."

Obviously. Not only had the other students in the classroom glared daggers at him with bared teeth, even the teacher had looked ready to kill him.

"If you dared to date five girls at once, Ling, you should have expected to become public enemy number one." As Dania spoke, she took advantage of a pause in Xiao Ling and Aemeath's conversation to wriggle free of his grasp and straighten her clothes.

"Then what do you think of my reputation now?"

"Me? I'll think about it lying down."

Dania made herself right at home, lying across Aemeath's lap and scrolling on her phone. Aemeath couldn't help smiling gently at the lazy little peach.

Come to think of it, why did Xiao Ling have the feeling that Yaya was starting to become everyone's favorite? Personally, though, he thought that would be for the best.

"Sigrika, let me see your face. Hmm... it's completely healed. Still as soft and springy as before, and there isn't a scar left."

With Verina's help, the cat scratches on Sigrika's face had completely healed, without leaving even the faintest scar. Xiao Ling couldn't resist giving her cheek a pinch at the end.

"Senior...!" Sigrika still had a little trouble accepting such intimate behavior, and she blushed every time.

You've already been hugged, but you still get shy when someone pinches your cheek? Mandarin Orange, you...

"Hmm? Did something happen to you, Senior Sigrika?" Knowing Xiao Ling as she did, Lynae immediately sensed that something must have happened to Sigrika to make him suddenly show such concern.

"She climbed a tree to get a shuttlecock and got scratched by an orange cat in the tree. She nearly had a nasty fall."

"Ah~ Then A-Yu must have caught her safely and kept things from getting any worse." Aemeath gave Xiao Ling a trusting smile.

"Yes, so thank you so much for getting there in time, Senior!" Sigrika thanked Xiao Ling once more, then added, a little puzzled, "But maybe I should be gentler next time? I don't know why that big orange cat suddenly attacked me..."

She really was... I'm crying. She hadn't even suspected that the old cat had hissed at her on purpose.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're okay, Xixi." Even as she scrolled through her phone, Dania didn't forget to show concern for her best friend.

After that little interlude, Xiao Ling naturally asked how they felt about attending his school.

"So, are you enjoying yourselves at school?"

"No particular feelings. It's about the same as Star Torch Academy," Dania replied flatly.

Dania was the low-energy type and didn't like taking part in sports. She slept through most of her classes, and whenever a strict teacher called on her to answer a question, Little Ai and the others would help her out.

"I think the other students are really friendly. After I played a few badminton matches with Little Ai, someone invited me to join the badminton club!" Lynae shared her delight.

"So did you join?"

"No, I joined another club. It's about street graffiti. You know I like graffiti."

It seemed Lynae had also found something she wanted to do at school, which pleased Xiao Ling.

Chisa and Sigrika had joined the cooking club and photography club respectively, choices that suited their interests. Both girls were quite satisfied with their decisions.

"What about you, Little Ai?"

"Me? Actually, I think I'd be happy anywhere as long as I'm with everyone! But if I had to name one feeling, I'd say I really like my school life now!" Aemeath said with a radiant smile.

"I'm glad you like it." Xiao Ling folded his arms and nodded gently.

"It's about time. This great chef is going to start cooking, and I'm taking orders now."

"Then I want sweet and sour pork tenderloin!" Sigrika was the first to raise a paw.

"Mapo tofu!" Lynae followed right after her.

"As for me... cola chicken wings," Chisa ordered third.

"There isn't really anything in particular I want. I love everything you make, A-Yu." Aemeath wasn't picky at all. Or rather, she found everything A-Yu made delicious, so it was hard for her to choose.

"What about you, Yaya?" Xiao Ling asked Dania last, who was still scrolling on her phone in Aemeath's lap.

"Me? It might be a bit much, you know? Listen carefully."

With a "heave-ho," Dania sat up from Aemeath's lap, cleared her throat solemnly, and began listing dishes.

"I want-steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roast duck, roast chicken, roast gosling..."

The other four girls: ??????

Xiao Ling merely raised an eyebrow in surprise. Could turning into a glutton be another side effect of becoming an Aleph-1 Resonator?

"Wait, Yaya, isn't... isn't that too much? Can you finish it all?" Sigrika interrupted after Dania was halfway through her list.

"The question isn't whether she can finish it, but whether I can make it," Xiao Ling pointed out the fundamental problem.

"Yaya, it would take me a lifetime just to cook all those dishes. By the time I finished that Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, I'd be a little old man."

"You're the one who said you were taking orders."

"You're just making fun of the chef! Forget it. Who told me to spoil you? I'll make some extra dishes you like in a bit." Xiao Ling spread his hands helplessly, his gaze indulgent.

"Is there anything you want to eat, A-Yu?" Aemeath asked about the chef's preferences.

"Me? I want to eat steamed peaches."

???

"What kind of dish is steamed peaches?" Lynae scratched her head, baffled.

"Could it be a new dish I don't know about?" Chisa asked in great confusion.

"Steamed peaches? Something about that feels odd." Aemeath tilted her head in thought.

"Ha, what steamed peaches? How can you even...??!!!!"

Dania was about to laugh at Xiao Ling for not knowing how to eat peaches when she suddenly noticed him looking meaningfully at her front armor. She understood instantly.

Damn! So that's what he meant by steamed peaches!!!

Dania's little face instantly turned red enough to drip blood. She covered her front and tugged her skirt down, but still felt a little exposed, so she simply hid behind Aemeath and poked her little head out from behind her.

Seeing Dania's unusual behavior, the other three girls all realized what Xiao Ling meant by steamed peaches.

"Wow~ You're pretty bold, A-Yu~" Aemeath glanced at Dania's embarrassed, angry expression, then stared at Xiao Ling and teased him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Lynae and Chisa also stared at Xiao Ling as though he were a pervert.

Just as the atmosphere had grown quite tense, one innocent, pure, and adorable Little Orange was still completely out of the loop.

"Um? What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

Oh~ great~ How was Hajiling going to explain this to Little Orange now?

The other four girls all looked at the one who had started the topic.

Xiao Ling: Simple. He'd just explain it himself!

And so, as Xiao Ling's whispered words entered Sigrika's adorable elven ears, her cheeks turned an alluring crimson before their eyes, the color quickly spreading to her neck and the tips of her ears.

That day, Sigrika grew a lot.jpg

(Strange knowledge increased)

Sigrika was bewildered.

Sigrika understood.

Sigrika was overcome with shame and anger.

Sigrika struck like lightning!

"Senior! Don't bully Yaya!"

Sigrika cried out in shame and anger, and her slender, fair hand appeared right in front of him along with her voice.

At that moment, Xiao Ling seemed to see a stairway to heaven. Jesus was DJing at the top, saying as he worked the turntables, "Get up and party, bro!"

And then-

Smack!

A crisp slap rang out. Xiao Ling was sent flying on the spot and fell to the floor, blissfully knocked unconscious.

"Wait, Xixi, didn't you... hit him a little too hard?"

Once Sigrika recovered from her shame and anger, she realized she might not have controlled her strength.

"Don't just stand there! Hurry and wake him up! We're still counting on him to make dinner!" Lynae hurried forward to give Xiao Ling emergency aid.

Lynae's shout brought the other girls present to their senses. They immediately rushed forward to help, and the scene descended into chaos.