Kael's rented apartment was not large, but it was quickly filled with a peculiar 'sense of life'.
This atmosphere mainly came from the new, vibrant silver-haired girl who had moved in.
On the evening of her first day, Kael tied on an apron and walked into the kitchen.
Thirteen years of slumber had not made his cooking skills rusty; rather, the Fusion Warrior's body control allowed him to manage heat and seasonings with greater precision.
He simply made two dishes and one soup.
— A plate of golden, smooth scrambled eggs with shrimp, a vibrant green dish of oyster sauce lettuce, and a steaming pot of mushroom and tofu soup.
When the aroma of the food wafted from the kitchen and filled the living room,
Kiana, who had been sprawled on the sofa, clutching the Haxxor Bunny (Homu) doll she had bought and reading comics, immediately perked up like a puppy summoned by a scent, dropping the doll and comic, and darted to the kitchen doorway with a 'whoosh'.
She leaned against the doorframe, peeking half her body in, her blue eyes wide, nose sniffing hard, a look of extreme delight and longing on her face: "Wow! It smells so good! Kael, did you make all of this?!"
Kael was plating the last dish and hummed a 'mm' without turning around.
"That's amazing!" Kiana exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, almost drooling, "It's a hundred times, no, a million times better than the fast food I eat outside!"
Once the food was on the table, Kiana almost impatiently picked up her chopsticks and tasted a bite of the scrambled eggs with shrimp.
The eggs were tender and smooth, the shrimp plump and springy, and the savory flavor bloomed perfectly on her tongue.
"Mmm—!!!"
She let out a deeply satisfied sigh, her eyes narrowing into happy slits, and gave Kael a thumbs-up, "Delicious! Super delicious! Kael, you're a genius!"
She began to devour the food on the table like a whirlwind, praising it incoherently while eating, as if she hadn't eaten for days.
Kael watched her gobble down the food and couldn't help but remind her, "Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."
"Wuwu... but it's really too delicious!"
Kiana's mouth was stuffed full, like a hamster hoarding food, "Kael, I declare, you are This Young Miss's long-term meal ticket! This Young Miss is sticking with you!"
Kael: "..." Why did that sound so awkward?
After the meal, Kiana was thoroughly satisfied, sprawling in her chair, rubbing her slightly bulging belly, full of praise for Kael's cooking. She looked at him as if he were a mobile mountain of gold.
However, after eating her fill, practical problems resurfaced.
Although Kiana was somewhat scatterbrained, she knew she couldn't keep eating and living for free.
The pride of kaslana in her bones wouldn't allow her to do that.
Early the next morning, Kael saw Kiana holding the newspaper with various job advertisements, frowning as she circled and marked it.
"What are you doing?" Kael poured her a glass of milk and asked casually.
"Looking for a part-time job!"
Kiana didn't look up, her tone serious, "I can't let you support me forever, can I? This Young Miss has to be self-reliant!"
Kael raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
It seemed this child wasn't completely insensible after all.
"Found anything?"
"Hmm... This convenience store seems to be hiring night shift staff, but the hours are a bit late... This restaurant is hiring waiters, requires smiling... Who can't smile!"
Kiana pointed to several ads she had circled, "And this one, the amusement park is hiring Haxxor Bunny (Homu) impersonators, that looks like fun..."
Ultimately, Kiana chose a newly opened dessert shop on the commercial street that was hiring part-time waitstaff, with relatively flexible hours.
She enthusiastically went for an interview and, thanks to her vibrant smile and reasonably nimble movements, was actually hired successfully.
When she came running back, holding the acceptance letter and excitedly 'reporting the good news' to Kael, he looked at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes from running, feeling somewhat complex.
On one hand, he was glad to see her try to be independent; on the other hand, he couldn't help but worry if this girl, with no social experience, would be bullied or get into trouble.
"Congratulations," Kael said calmly, "Be careful at work."
"Don't worry! Leave it to This Young Miss!" Kiana patted her chest, promising, already envisioning herself treating Kael to a meal with her wages.
Watching Kiana hustle for a living, Kael also began to consider his own 'identity'.
An adult male with no formal job, staying at home all day, cohabiting with a part-time working girl under the same roof would inevitably attract unnecessary attention and suspicion over time.
This was not conducive to his role as an 'observer' and could also bring trouble to Kiana.
He needed a superficial, reasonable profession as a cover.
He contacted Otto through an encrypted channel.
On the light screen, Otto seemed to be leisurely sipping black tea. After listening to Kael's request, a hint of understanding and... a touch of playfulness flashed in her emerald eyes.
"You want a superficial identity? Of course."
Otto put down her teacup, tapped her fingertip in the air, and brought up a file, "Senba Academy in Changkong City, a 'normal' private high school, is currently hiring a school staff responsible for equipment maintenance and campus security patrols. The work is light, the hours are flexible, enough to cover your identity and continue your 'observation' mission. What do you think?"
A school staff? Kael pondered for a moment.
This identity was indeed ordinary enough not to attract attention.
Moreover, the campus environment was relatively simple, which also suited his current need for 'low-key' behavior.
"Okay." Kael nodded.
"I'll have someone arrange the paperwork. You can report tomorrow."
Otto's efficiency was as high as ever. She looked at Kael, a meaningful curve on her lips, "Enjoy your 'ordinary' life, Kael. Oh, by the way, are you enjoying your time with 'Miss Kiana'?"
Kael did not answer the question and cut off the communication directly.
Otto's tone made him a little uncomfortable.
The next day, Kael appeared at Senba Academy as the 'newly hired school staff'.
His work was indeed very easy, mainly checking the locks on doors and windows in the teaching building, maintaining sports equipment, and occasionally helping to move items.
He wore dark blue work clothes, blending into the campus, inconspicuous.
The students were a little curious about this new, somewhat handsome but taciturn school staff, but quickly lost interest.
Kael was also happy with the quiet.
In the evening, when Kael returned to the apartment after work, Kiana also happened to be back from her part-time job at the dessert shop.
She looked a little tired, but her spirits were high.
"Kael! You're back!"
She took off her shoes, rubbing her somewhat sore calves, and said excitedly, "The shop was so busy today! I almost fell while carrying trays, but luckily This Young Miss reacted quickly! And also, I secretly learned how to make cakes. Although I failed three times, the fourth one actually looked pretty good!"
She chattered on, sharing her day's experiences, complaining about picky customers, and showing off her 'successful' cake. Though it was hard work, she was full of life.
Kael listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two.
He went to the kitchen, tied on his apron again, and began to prepare dinner.
This time, he made the scrambled eggs with shrimp that Kiana had praised last time, and also added her favorite fried pork chop.
When the steaming hot food was on the table again, Kiana looked at the colorful, fragrant, and delicious dishes in front of her, then at Kael, who was wearing an apron and had a calm expression, and suddenly quieted down.
"Kael..."
She spoke softly, her tone no longer as boisterous as usual, carrying a rare sincerity and gratitude, "Thank you... for taking me in and making me delicious food."
Kael's action of serving rice paused, and he looked up at her.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, casting a soft halo on the girl's silver hair.
In those blue eyes, there was less of her usual flightiness and more sincerity.
"Eat." Kael didn't say much, just handed her the bowl of rice he had served.
"Mmm!" Kiana nodded vigorously, a brilliant smile returning to her face, and picked up her chopsticks, once again throwing herself into the 'battle' with the delicious food.
Outside the window, the city lights of Changkong City were just coming on.
Inside the apartment, the lights were warm, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.
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