Dinnertime.
Shu brought the dishes to the table and was just about to sit down—
A hand suddenly reached over and unreasonably snatched the empty bowl from his hand.
Although it wasn't a forceful grab, the speed was so fast that Shu couldn't even react. By the time he did, he was left holding only a pair of chopsticks suspended in mid-air.
Shu looked up, staring blankly at the girl who had snatched his bowl.
Kiana stood beside him, holding the bowl, her expression as serious as if she were executing some important mission.
"What are you doing?"
Kiana didn't answer. She turned to the rice cooker, opened the lid, and picked up the rice paddle.
Then, fiercely, forcefully, and with intense personal resentment—
She scooped five full paddles of rice into the bowl.
The rice was packed tightly, piled up like a small mountain.
No, not a small mountain.
A rice brick.
Kiana carried the rice brick back and placed it heavily on the table in front of Shu.
Then she looked at him, hands on her hips:
"I've decided! Starting tomorrow... no, starting tonight!"
Her voice was loud and firm.
"I'm going to start taking care of your daily life!"
Shu: "..."
He looked at the rice brick in front of him, then at Kiana's "I'm totally serious" expression, feeling the gears in his head failing to turn.
"Wait," he said hesitantly. "Shouldn't I be the one taking care of your daily life?"
Although Kiana hadn't shown it, he was well aware that she bore the "Kaslana" kitchen curse... though perhaps not as exaggerated as setting the kitchen on fire or blowing it up...
But Kiana definitely couldn't cook.
At least, this obviously well-fed Kiana definitely couldn't.
But Kiana shook her head with a look that said "You're too naive."
"You do cook, I'll admit that." She held up a finger. "But Shu, you don't know how to live!"
Shu: "?"
What does she mean I don't know how to live?
If I don't know how to live, how am I still alive?
"Without me!" Kiana waved her finger in front of him. "Not only do you not eat properly! You even dress messily!"
Shu looked down at himself.
Pajamas.
They're perfectly fine.
He looked up, trying to explain:
"It's comfortable wearing this..."
"Comfortable?" Kiana's eyes widened. "Wearing pajamas at home is comfortable! But what about outside?"
Shu paused.
"What outside?"
"Going out!" Kiana gestured. "Going on the street! Buying groceries! Meeting people! Are you going to wear pajamas then too?"
Shu's expression gradually became subtle.
He fell silent for two seconds.
Then he spoke, his tone completely matter-of-fact:
"I don't go out, why should I change clothes?"
Kiana's movements froze.
She stared at Shu.
Shu looked back at her.
The two stared at each other for three seconds.
Then Kiana gasped.
"You... you really don't go out?"
Shu nodded: "I don't go out."
"Not even once?"
"Yeah... I can make money from home, I can use apps for groceries, socializing... none, at most chatting with people online."
Kiana's mouth slowly formed an 'O'.
So problems can be solved like this? That's really—
No, no, no!
Kiana shook her head, picking up her Dao heart that had been shaken by Shu's words.
She looked at Shu's almost pale skin, the pallor of someone who hasn't seen sunlight in a long time.
Then she looked at the faint gauntness and lingering lethargy on his face caused by an irregular routine, and the subtle dark circles under his eyes.
Her expression gradually became pained.
"How can you live like this!"
She slammed her hand on the table.
"Shu! Your health definitely got ruined because you stay at home all day like this! With an irregular routine!"
Shu was startled by her slamming the table.
"Um... my health isn't because of regression..."
"Regression is regression! That's after we go back!" Kiana interrupted him. "Once we go back, I'll find a way to help you get better too!"
She paused, her expression even more serious:
"But right now! Your body is so fragile because of this!"
Shu fell silent.
He knew his health wasn't exactly great.
But it should just be... sub-optimal health, right?
Why did Kiana make it sound like he was about to die at any moment?
He tried a final struggle.
"I really don't go out, this is fine..."
"No!"
Kiana crossed her arms in a big 'X'.
"From today on! What you eat every day! What you wear! Even what you do! I will decide!"
She puffed out her chest, looking smug:
"This is your punishment for laughing at me today!"
Shu looked at her.
Looked at her complacent "I found the perfect excuse" look.
Then he looked at the rice brick in front of him, clearly carrying personal resentment.
He was silent for a long time.
So... this isn't revenge, but the eating plan Kiana wants me to execute?
Eating like this will kill me, won't it?
Eating two bowls at lunch was already very difficult for him... making him so stuffed his brain felt foggy.
...Eating like this will definitely kill me!
Realizing that he probably wouldn't be raised to be useless, but raised to death, Shu spoke up, his tone probing:
"Um... can I refuse?"
Kiana narrowed her eyes.
Then she made a fist, shook it in front of him, and lifted the loose white T-shirt of Shu's she was wearing, showing off her smooth arm with no visible muscle definition.
"Sure."
Although she didn't seem threatening at all, her voice was light and very confident.
"If you can beat me in a fight, I'll accept your refusal."
Shu fell silent.
He looked at that small fist.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't see the terrifying power contained within.
But she was a Kaslana.
He silently calculated in his head.
What are my odds against Kiana?
Thirty-seventy.
After three punches, Kiana will be crying regretfully at my funeral.
Me fighting Kiana? Really?
Forget it.
He sighed.
"As long as you're happy..."
Kiana's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? You agree?"
Shu nodded under duress.
"Hehehe—"
Kiana smiled like a cat that had stolen a fish.
Then she suddenly remembered something and snatched the rice brick in front of Shu back.
"This is for me! Not for you! And it's not revenge or anything..."
So it definitely was revenge!
Holding the bowl, Kiana proudly announced:
"So starting tomorrow—no! Starting tonight! You have to listen to me!"
Shu looked at her, the corner of his mouth twitching.
He didn't speak.
But he thought to himself:
Fine.
Anyway—
In the end, it will always be me taking care of her.