11:30 AM.
Shu stood in the kitchen, staring at the two huge shopping bags in front of him, lost in brief contemplation.
What was in the bags?
Groceries.
Lots of groceries.
Two pounds of pork belly, three racks of ribs, a whole dressed chicken, five carrots, three potatoes, a large bunch of bok choy, two boxes of tofu, plus some green onions, ginger, and garlic.
This was enough to feed a normal family for quite a while.
But Shu knew—
This might only be two days' worth.
No... maybe just one day?
He had witnessed the miracle of "three portions weren't enough, order another three" last night.
He had witnessed the feat of "clearing a ten-person breakfast" this morning.
He would no longer underestimate that absolutely unscientific stomach because of that impossibly slender waist.
Shu took a deep breath.
Then he rolled up his sleeves and officially began his battle with the ingredients.
Hope I haven't gotten rusty...
In the living room.
Kiana wore headphones, completely immersed in the world on the screen.
She muttered along with the lines in the game, as if trying to re-memorize every sentence spoken by those characters.
Her fingers tapped on the keyboard from time to time, dealing with the combat.
Because it was still early in the story, before the period where she had to use story characters, Kiana handled the battle scenes very easily using Shu's well-built characters.
Not to mention Kiana didn't have to worry about the three-star conditions, so when she actually played, her immersion was even higher than Shu's back then.
Her eyes were glued to the screen, unblinking.
Halfway through chopping vegetables, Shu looked up towards the living room.
He saw that white head swaying slightly with the rhythm of the game's combat.
She was muttering something, and Shu could vaguely make out the game's lines.
Shu's gaze lingered for a moment.
Watching that bobbing head, watching that serious look of complete immersion—
The corners of his mouth curved up unconsciously.
Then he withdrew his gaze and continued chopping vegetables.
Nearly an hour later.
The dining table was filled with dishes. Shu looked at them and let out a long sigh of relief, finally feeling a bit lighter in his heart.
He turned to serve a large bowl of rice and placed it at Kiana's seat, then walked towards Kiana, who was still immersively experiencing Honkai Impact 3rd on the sofa.
Sigh... the game's protagonist playing her own game. No matter how many times I see this scene, it feels a bit...
Kiana was still playing.
A story cutscene was playing on the screen, and she watched intently.
Shu stood beside her without making a sound.
When the current dialogue finally ended and the screen switched back to the operation interface, Shu reached out and waved his hand in front of Kiana's face.
Kiana blinked, finally snapping back to reality.
She took off the headphones and looked up at Shu.
"Hm?"
"Time to eat."
Kiana's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh oh!"
The next second, she sprang up from the sofa, still barefoot, and pat-pat-pat ran to the dining table.
Beside the table, stars seemed to twinkle in Kiana's eyes.
"Wow—!"
Her mouth formed an O shape.
"It's all my favorite food!!"
It would be weirder if there were things you didn't like in everyday dishes.
Shu walked over and sat down at the table.
"Eat up."
Without another word, Kiana picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat, put it in her mouth, and chewed vigorously.
"Mmm!"
Her eyes squinted, and once again that expression of ascending to heaven from bliss appeared on her face.
However... Shu could clearly see that Kiana's expression was even more exaggerated than yesterday... no, more genuine?
"Delicious!!!"
She mumbled, quickly grabbing a piece of ribs.
"Mhm mhm mhm!!!"
Another piece of chicken.
"Woooooo!!!"
Watching her look like she was about to cry, Shu finally couldn't hold back and smiled.
Looking at the table full of food gave him no sense of accomplishment, but at this moment, watching Kiana make happy noises with every bite, he finally felt that long-lost sense of achievement.
Achievement...
Shu didn't know how long it had been since he experienced this feeling.
"Eat slowly."
He chuckled lightly, admonishing Kiana.
Kiana swallowed a mouthful of chicken and finally found time to speak:
"Shu! Your cooking really is delicious!"
She grabbed another chopstick-full of food: "And your skills seem to have improved!"
Shu didn't speak, just picked up his bowl and started eating.
Kiana ate for a while, then suddenly slowed down.
Chewing her food, her eyes drifted a bit.
"Come to think of it..."
She swallowed and looked at Shu.
"I haven't eaten your cooking in a long time."
Shu's movements paused.
"Last time..." Kiana tilted her head, recalling, "Was when I stole a pot of miso soup from you... Eh? It seems... not that long ago?"
As she spoke, she laughed first.
"That time you were planning to make noodles, but I stole the pot and soup, so you had to come eat Mei's cooking with us... Hehe..."
Shu watched her immersed in her memories.
He didn't know if what she said had really happened.
But he didn't interrupt.
Kiana laughed for a while, then suddenly remembered something else.
"Right, right!"
She put down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious.
"I used to tell you to eat every meal, two bowls a meal!"
Shu was stunned.
"Did you?"
"Yes!" Kiana nodded vigorously. "Definitely!"
She looked at Shu with a scrutinizing gaze:
"What about you? Do you eat this well every meal?"
Shu fell silent for a moment.
"I can't eat this much," he said. "Usually, alone, I just eat whatever."
Kiana frowned.
"Whatever?"
"Yeah. Frozen dumplings, frozen wontons, or takeout."
Kiana's expression grew even more serious.
She stared at Shu, articulating each word clearly:
"No."
Shu: "...?"
"Starting today," Kiana held up two fingers, "you have to eat two bowls every meal!"
"I will supervise you!"
Looking at her serious face, Shu suddenly wanted to laugh.
"You just want to eat this well every meal, don't you?"
Kiana's eyes widened a bit:
"I do not!"
"I'm serious!"
Her expression became even graver:
"Because your health is getting worse and worse!"
"If you don't even eat properly, how are you going to get better?!"
Shu froze.
He looked at Kiana.
Looked into her eyes, which held not a trace of jest.
Health getting worse... huh?
He remembered the story Kiana told last night.
The Shu who constantly regressed to make up for regrets, constantly wearing himself down.
The Shu whose body was gradually collapsing but still forced himself to hold on, trying to take on all the combat needs.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say: "That kind of physical condition probably isn't something eating well can fix, right?"
But looking at Kiana's eyes, he swallowed the words back.
He just smiled.
"Got it."
He said.
Kiana stared at him for two seconds, as if confirming whether Shu was just brushing her off.
Then she nodded in satisfaction.
"Good!"
She picked up her chopsticks again, grabbed a big piece of braised pork, and put it in her mouth.
"Mmm—yummy!"
Shu watched her satisfied look, then lowered his head to continue eating.
Sunlight shone in from the window, onto the dining table.
Onto the table full of food.
Onto the bobbing white head opposite him.
It's nice.
He thought to himself.
Regardless of whether that story was true—
At least for now, she was here.