It was the weekend again, and Utaha Kasumigaoka still came to find Lord Chen early in the morning. She came a bit too early today, as Lord Chen and the others had just woken up.
However, the three of them had already left the room, and she still didn't know that the three of them slept together every day.
"Why don't you just move in here?" Thor couldn't help but retort when she saw her leisurely going upstairs.
"I don't mind, but don't you?" Utaha Kasumigaoka asked with a smile.
"Mind what? You come here every day now, what's the difference from living here?" Thor pouted.
"That seems to make some sense." Utaha Kasumigaoka crossed her arms, nodding in agreement.
"Hmph~" Seeing this, Thor immediately crossed her arms as well.
Hers were much more magnificent.
"..." Utaha Kasumigaoka rolled her eyes at her.
"Hehe~ I really welcome you, Utaha Kasumigaoka~" Chisato Nishikigi said with a giggle.
"Why?"
"It's livelier with more people."
"You two aren't up to something, are you?" Utaha Kasumigaoka looked back and forth between the two of them warily.
She knew exactly what the two of them thought of Lord Chen; how could they be so kind as to let her move in?
"Only you have such bad thoughts." Thor couldn't be bothered with her, rolled her eyes at her, and went to make breakfast.
Lord Chen was still waiting for her loving breakfast.
"Hmm? Did you brainwash her?" Utaha Kasumigaoka couldn't help but ask Chisato Nishikigi. She still remembered Thor's vigilance towards her from before.
"I didn't do anything, it's just that your thinking is too narrow." Chisato Nishikigi replied cheerfully and went downstairs as well.
"Narrow thinking? What does that mean?" Utaha Kasumigaoka frowned in thought.
"Why are you here?" Just then, Lord Chen came out of the bathroom after washing up.
"Where are Thor and Chisato?"
Lord Chen looked around somewhat guiltily, not finding either of them, but thankfully, the room door was also closed.
If it had been open, and Utaha Kasumigaoka saw the messy state of the bed in the room, everything would be known.
After all, the three of their pajamas were casually strewn on the bed, making it hard not to overthink.
Lord Chen didn't dare let Utaha Kasumigaoka know that he shared a bed with the two of them for now.
Even if it was forced.
He had never actively suggested that the two of them sleep with him, and had even tried to make them sleep alone, but failed every time.
It was fine when it was one-on-one, but now with Chisato Nishikigi, it was two-on-one, and he had no options left.
The motto of his household was that the minority obeyed the majority.
"They both went downstairs to make food." Utaha Kasumigaoka said, staring intently at Lord Chen's face.
"W-what's wrong?" Lord Chen couldn't help but touch his own face.
"Don't you use skincare products or anything?"
"Why would I, a man, use that?"
"Then why is your skin better than mine?"
Lord Chen was speechless: "What's there to care about? There's always someone with better skin than you, right?"
"But you're a man, and didn't you graduate from university?"
"Maybe I'm just naturally beautiful."
"I don't believe it, let me touch it." Utaha Kasumigaoka said, taking a step forward and reaching out to touch Lord Chen's left cheek.
"You're not doing this on purpose, are you?" Lord Chen twitched his lips, but didn't stop her.
"What's on purpose? I don't know what you're talking about." Utaha Kasumigaoka caressed Lord Chen's face, feeling it carefully.
"It's really that smooth..."
"I think this is unfair." Lord Chen said earnestly, feeling Utaha Kasumigaoka's hand.
"What's unfair?"
"It's rude not to reciprocate." Lord Chen said, extending his hand to caress Utaha Kasumigaoka's cheek.
Lord Chen didn't feel anything special about his own face, but Utaha Kasumigaoka's cheek was incredibly delicate and silky, warm and cool, and somewhat soft and bouncy, making him want to pinch it.
Utaha Kasumigaoka, however, was already stunned. Her hand caressing Lord Chen's face stopped moving, feeling the warm large hand on her cheek, her little heart pounding.
Until Lord Chen finally couldn't resist pinching her cheek.
"What are you doing?" Utaha Kasumigaoka quickly withdrew her hand and slapped Lord Chen's hand away, her face flushed as she questioned him.
"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't help it."
"...Why did you suddenly touch my face?" Utaha Kasumigaoka felt her face burning. She feigned composure, glaring at Lord Chen in embarrassment and anger.
"Didn't I say 'courtesy demands reciprocity'?"
"Men and women are different..."
"What era is this? Don't you understand gender equality?"
"..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka rolled her eyes at Lord Chen, then turned and went downstairs, her steps a little fast.
Lord Chen watched her hasty retreating back, smiled, and followed her down.
After breakfast, the shop was left to Thor and Chisato Nishikigi, and Lord Chen and Utaha Kasumigaoka went out.
Their destination was still the bookstore.
This morning, Utaha Kasumigaoka had already received news from Enko Machida: the decision to axe the novel was cancelled!
The sudden surge in sales, and even the possibility of needing a reprint, meant the publishing house would be foolish to axe it.
The message was actually sent by Enko Machida to Utaha Kasumigaoka late last night, along with two missed calls.
Enko Machida was very optimistic about Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel, and she also didn't want her novel to face being axed like this, but she was just an ordinary editor and couldn't do anything.
If she hadn't, on a whim, checked the sales data...
That data allowed her to make a direct decision. She was so excited that she wanted to call Utaha Kasumigaoka to inform her, but no one answered, so she had to send a message.
Utaha Kasumigaoka saw the message when she woke up and immediately called Enko Machida to confirm.
That's why she couldn't help but come to find Lord Chen so early in the morning. She knew without thinking that Lord Chen had done it.
This was also why she was in such a good mood early in the morning and even wanted to touch Lord Chen's face.
Throughout the journey, Utaha Kasumigaoka was in an exceptionally good mood, her steps light, a faint smile on her face. Anyone who didn't know would think she was happy because of a date.
However, the two of them did look like they were on a date. Lord Chen wasn't wearing his manager uniform, and Utaha Kasumigaoka was in casual clothes. Together, they looked no different from a young couple on a date.
It was just a pity that they were heading to a bookstore, which wasn't really related to dating couples.
Today's bookstore was completely different from when the two of them had come before. The entrance was crowded with people, bustling and lively, and everyone held a novel, all the same. Some even held two, and some had already started reading.
Lord Chen and Utaha Kasumigaoka both recognized the cover of the novel they were holding; it was indeed Kasumiko's novel.
"Thanks to the recommendation of 'Heavy Artilleryman Under the Starry Sky', otherwise I wouldn't have seen such a good novel."
"Exactly. I was mainly misled by the simple and crude titles of recent novels. Such a good title didn't seem good, but thankfully I didn't miss it."
"This good novel almost got axed; that would have been our sin."
"Such good writing, I'll be a Kasumiko fan from now on!"
"I heard Kasumiko is a woman."
"Then I like it even more."
"I wonder if it's good."
"Why do you care about the author when you're reading a novel? Isn't it enough if the novel is good?"
"That's true..."
The conversations of the surrounding people entered their ears. With a scene completely different from before, Utaha Kasumigaoka couldn't hide her joy, her lips curving upwards.
Lord Chen smiled too, seeing her overwhelming happiness.
"Want to go in and take a look?"
"No need anymore." Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head.
"Really? Do you have the motivation to write novels now?" Lord Chen teased.
"Yes, and Editor Machida told me to finish the second volume as soon as possible." Utaha Kasumigaoka nodded, her gaze still fixed on the bustling entrance of the bookstore.
"That urgent?"
"She said it's to capitalize on the current popularity."
"She's an editor, and she's quite good to you, so trust her."
"Mm... By the way, how did you do it?" Utaha Kasumigaoka finally couldn't help but ask.
"Do what?" Lord Chen feigned ignorance.
"Stop it!" Utaha Kasumigaoka playfully swung her hand and hit him.
"Haha, actually, I didn't do much. I just let more people discover your novel."
"Discover?"
"Didn't I say? Your novel is very good. As long as someone reads it, they will definitely like it. But because you're a newcomer, many people are deterred. Unless they are deeply immersed in novels, or it's a genre they particularly love, it's hard to immediately read a novel written by a newcomer."
"Is that so?" Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't quite understand.
She hadn't read many novels before and didn't know much about this circle. When she first started writing, it was out of interest, and it was only when her first fan recognized her that she truly fell in love with it.
"Mostly, yes, but you don't have to worry about that now."
"Indeed, thanks to you." Utaha Kasumigaoka nodded earnestly.
"Then... is there a reward?" Lord Chen blinked, asking casually.
"There is~"
"What is it?" Lord Chen was full of anticipation.
"First, come with me to my place."
"Huh?"