A faint, triumphant smile touched Ye Qingfeng's lips. In the heat of the moment, Nicole couldn't have registered every detail. She had no solid proof, no way to truly verify his story.
Playing dumb, he mused, a tactic that never fails.
His nosebleed had subsided in under a minute—a testament to the body-enhancing serum's efficacy—but the evidence needed to be scrubbed away. Otherwise... he could practically feel Nicole's wrath.
"Is Nicole still upstairs?" Anby's flat voice cut through his thoughts. She was perched on the sofa, her head tilted as he descended the stairs alone.
"She'll be down in a minute. I just need to wash up first," he replied, subtly keeping a hand near his nose as he hurried into the bathroom.
Leaning over the sink, he stared at his reflection. Water droplets clung to his long lashes as a frown creased his brow.
If anyone discovered I'm a transmigrator... the consequences are unthinkable.
His knowledge of this world was still full of gaps. Billy openly carried twin handguns without a hint of discretion. Anby moved with the trained grace of a fighter. And then there were the enigmatic terms "Hollow" and "Ether"—what did they mean? How powerful could individuals here become?
The thought of a world-ending fanatic wasn't so far-fetched. This place was far from safe.
But then he shrugged, the tension easing from his shoulders. If the sky falls, let the tall ones hold it up. No point borrowing trouble.
He straightened his already neat clothes, smoothed his expression into one of casual calm, and stepped out.
Nicole was now seated beside Anby, having changed into a simple white t-shirt. She seemed to have moved past her earlier irritation, chatting amiably.
"Good morning, Sister Nicole," Ye Qingfeng said, taking a seat on a nearby sofa.
"Morning," she replied, her eyes flicking from him to the breakfast table. "You can cook?"
He could almost see the gears turning in her head. As for the earlier incident, her reaction had been pure instinct. She had been dressed, after all—the crucial areas were covered. A little accidental exposure wasn't worth fretting over. She'd be damned if she'd start swaddling herself in layers just because a man was living with them now.
"I know the basics," he said, making a small, modest gesture with his thumb and forefinger.
"Basics are fine. Congratulations, Qingfeng, you're now the official chef of the Cunning Hares. We'll hire a professional once we're more established," Nicole declared, her voice dripping with false magnanimity.
Her ulterior motives were transparent. If she could afford a chef, she would have hired one already. For their small group, it was an unnecessary expense.
"Alright then..." he conceded, feeling the weight of Nicole's expectant gaze and Anby's unblinking stare.
"Good." Nicole took a bite of her eggs. "Don't worry," she added between chews, "we'll pay you a salary."
She shot him a look that clearly said, Know your place. Meanwhile, Anby, unable to wait any longer, sandwiched a piece of toast between two fried eggs and began devouring the creation. Ye Qingfeng found himself silently hoping she'd washed her hands.
As Nicole drained her glass of milk and swiped a thumb over the white residue on her lip, breakfast was officially over.
[Ding!! Favorability increased!]
[Anby: 15%]
[Nicole: 20%]
A spark of anticipation lit within him. What would the rewards be?
"Sister Nicole, would you come shopping with me?" he asked, putting on his most charming, wide-eyed expression. "You can fill me in on how things are going around here."
"You're hopeless." Nicole sighed in mock exasperation, then turned to Anby. "You coming?"
"I'll go." With a trace of grease still glistening at the corner of her mouth, Anby gave a curt nod and darted into the bathroom. The sound of running water followed instantly.
"Let's go, then," Nicole said, standing up with a resigned air and heading for the door. Ye Qingfeng could almost see the ledger entries flashing behind her eyes. This trip was going to cost her, and she knew it. But the Ye Qingfeng had nothing, and he needed basics. Another expense, she thought, wondering if her funds would last the month.
"Wait. I need to change." Anby emerged from the bathroom and bolted upstairs in a blur.
Left with no choice, they returned to the sofa to wait. Minutes later, Anby descended, now in a fresh outfit. Ye Qingfeng took the chance to look her over. She wore a black and green top with a matching black pleated skirt that radiated youthful energy. Her slender legs were sheathed in black stockings, and slung across her back was a sleek, futuristic backpack alongside a very real, very sharp-looking longsword.
A longsword?! Is that even legal on the streets?
THWACK!
A sharp pain bloomed at the back of his head as Nicole delivered a swift, unceremonious chop. "Yesterday it was my chest the second you woke up," she teased, a wicked grin on her face. "Today it's Anby? We're going to have to keep a close eye on you, you little perv."
Nicole understood the... curiosities of youth. A look here and there didn't bother her; better her own crew got an eyeful than some random stranger on the street. She was used to the stares, the leers from men who thought they could take liberties. They always learned their lesson, quickly and painfully.
Might as well charge a viewing fee, she thought wryly.
"Haha... Sister Nicole, what are you implying?" Ye Qingfeng laughed awkwardly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Even a rabbit knows not to eat the grass by its own burrow. I would never!"
"If you want to look that badly," Nicole purred, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "we can work something out." In one fluid motion, she placed one knee on the sofa beside him, leaning forward until her weight pressed against his back. The soft, full pressure made him stiffen instantly. Her warm breath tickled his ear as she whispered, "Look all you want. It'll just be deducted from your cooking fees. But you'd better control yourself~ or the consequences will be... severe."
Ye Qingfeng sat frozen, hyper-aware of the warmth and softness against his back. He swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Anby, observing from the side, processed the exchange with clinical curiosity. Conclusion: Granting visual access correlates with continued provision of high-quality sustenance.
Flustered and bright red, Ye Qingfeng was still searching for a response when Nicole suddenly stood up. She sauntered over to Anby, covering her mouth with a hand as she announced triumphantly, "Well, since you didn't say no, it's settled!"
His eyes widened in disbelief at her sheer audacity. He opened his mouth to protest, but she was faster.
"Oh, and by the way," she added, her tone shifting to one of business-like finality, "consider today's little 'close-contact massage' and 'soothing voice service' as payment for your shopping today. We'll deduct it from your future salary."
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