Chapter 4: Their Concern

[Kind Mother]

Recognition: 100% (Lili Ya)

Disappointment: 0%

[Training Target]: Lili Ya

[Training Effect]: None

[Recognition Lv1]: 100

[Affection Lv0 (-)]: 15

[Relationship]: Protection and Admiration

Li Si stared at the panel before her, somewhat dazed.

Three months since her transmigration, she had always thought she had triggered a cheat ability, but today she truly activated it.

In the Strict Father talent, there was also recognition, but no one had ever opened a training panel.

‘It turns out… we never established a true connection.’

Li Si suddenly found it absurd and laughable. 

Three months of effort, and she had thought she just hadn’t earned any Child Coins, but the result was that she hadn’t even built a real connection.

‘This is probably what it feels like to hold a mountain of gold without a door to enter.’

Fortunately, the Kind Mother talent let her meet the right person.

Lili Ya was very weak. 

It seemed that simply offering protection could earn her recognition.

Like the moment she invited her home—the remaining 30% recognition instantly maxed out.

“Th‑that’s… not good… I’m so dirty…”

Lili Ya waved her hands frantically, completely unaware that she had already been carried through several blocks.

Li Si arrived at the standalone wooden house at the town’s edge. 

Many adventurers were returning to their residences, but more were crowding into taverns or guild halls. 

Few had private homes like she did, so this street was relatively quiet.

Lili Ya suddenly snapped back to reality. 

Seeing the pushed‑open door, she felt inexplicably nervous.

In her mind, Li Si had always been a member of Life Vine, so the place they were returning to should be Life Vine’s team residence. 

That meant this house was the gathering point for the town’s strongest adventurers.

She felt both anticipation and fear, instinctively wrapping her arms around Li Si’s neck.

“You can get down now.”

Li Si looked down at Lili Ya, who was clinging tighter and tighter.

“Ah… s‑sorry…”

Lili Ya quickly jumped off, stumbled a few steps, and hurriedly clutched her worn‑out staff. 

Glancing around the room, she saw no signs of anyone else having lived there—it was even clean enough to look uninhabited. 

Confused, she asked, “Is this… a base for Life Vine?”

“Ao Li An Na’s Manor is to the south. This is a house I bought myself, just this month. I originally planned for it to be the team’s northern…”

Li Si’s voice cut off. 

She shook her head and stepped into the house.

The house used a magical layout. 

As soon as she entered the foyer, the magical furniture automatically sensed her and turned on.

Lili Ya, holding her staff, watched the magical lamps light up the entire hallway, her mouth forming a perfect O. 

“Th‑this… must be really expensive!”

The moment she finished speaking, she was startled again, her large, watery eyes staring as wide as the sun.

Li Si naturally took off her helmet and let out a long breath. 

A cascade of silver hair fell, and a sharp, delicate face was illuminated by the light.

“Y‑you you you you! You’re a girl!!!!”

“Hm? Is that so surprising?”

Li Si turned, holding her helmet as she walked around. 

This was only the second time she had been to this house—she hadn’t lived here since buying it—so she needed to familiarize herself with the layout.

“B‑but the Dictator Li Si is actually a girl!!!! Lady Li Si never takes off her helmet, so everyone wanted to know what the Dictator was like. Wow wow wow! This info could be worth tons of gold coins!”

“Mm… it might have been valuable before, but now that respawn points are failing and the goddess’s power is gone, the intelligence market is about to undergo an unprecedented upheaval. Information about a beginner village adventurer won’t be worth much anymore. Besides, I won’t be teaming up with those people again.”

As she spoke, Li Si walked up the stairs. 

The house had two floors, with many rooms. 

Both floors had kitchens and bathrooms. 

After a quick look, Li Si told Lili Ya to pick any room, while she headed to the bathroom.

Before entering the bathroom, she saw Lili Ya standing awkwardly in the living room, clutching her staff. 

Li Si thought for a moment and asked, “Want to come together?”

Lili Ya was stunned, “C‑can I?”

“Don’t be shy. Make yourself at home. You don’t have a team, right?”

Lili Ya tilted her head. 

The words seemed to carry a deeper hint, but maybe not what she was imagining.

‘Could it be… this strongest adventurer in the beginner village is extending an olive branch to me?’

Lili Ya felt that was impossible. 

Li Si was very kind and good‑natured, but she herself was only level 1.

How could she be invited to form a team with her?

Lili Ya pinched her chin. 

Suddenly, she felt a bit disheartened, momentarily dazed as to why she was causing Li Si so much trouble. 

She was already grateful to have been saved—how could she be thick‑skinned enough to actually move in?

She had been about to refuse earlier.

Lili Ya tightened her grip on her staff, preparing to muster the courage to voice her rejection. 

Then she heard Li Si’s second question from the bathroom.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“Ah… I’m… I’m coming!”

Lili Ya, clutching her staff, pouted as if her lips were tied in a knot and stomped her foot in self‑reproach.

‘I was supposed to refuse! But I panicked and agreed. If I refuse now, it would be too disrespectful!’

[Lili Ya Recognition +5%]

Li Si looked at the adventure panel. 

As expected, the logic was completely different from interacting with Ao Li An Na and the others.

By protecting Lili Ya and treating her well, she could earn recognition.

And this recognition could be farmed repeatedly—the 100% she just earned had automatically reset to 0.

“Th‑that… e‑excuse me…”

The bathroom door slid open. 

Through the steaming mist, Lili Ya covered her body and stepped forward cautiously.

The water vapor swirled around her small, thin frame.

Li Si suddenly realized a problem. 

She had casually said that just to farm some recognition, without considering that she used to be a man.

Looking at her like this, she actually felt a bit moved.

Fortunately, her current body wouldn’t react abnormally. 

Besides, bathing together with other girls was a normal way to build closeness. 

It was the perfect chance to test how regular social interactions would affect Lili Ya.

Li Si stood up openly and invited Lili Ya to sit in the wash area. 

As the owner of the house and an adventurer of a higher level than Lili Ya, she had every reason and condition to take care of her.

“You have really nice hair.”

Li Si began to help Lili Ya wash her hair. 

It was short and pink, very soft. 

Under the shampoo, strands of it hung around her neck. 

This sight reminded Li Si of what Ao Li An Na and the others usually chatted about—when someone said something like that, the person being complimented would be very happy.

So it was a good chance to raise Lili Ya’s attitude.

“N‑not at all… Lady Li Si, your hair is truly amazing…”

Lili Ya curled up, a bit timid but unable to hide her delight.

Li Si turned around. 

“You can touch it anytime. And from now on, you don’t need to use honorifics. Just call me Li Si.”

“Ah… r‑really?”

“Mm.”

“Li… Li Si…”

[Lili Ya Affection +5 (Each level of affection increases Child Coin gain by 1)]

Li Si’s brows moved slightly. 

This was surprisingly simple.

She glanced at the training panel. 

Besides increasing Child Coin gain, affection seemed to unlock buffs. 

At the current level, maxing it out would grant a [Reading People] effect, making it easier for Lili Ya to understand her intentions.

Li Si looked at the panel thoughtfully. 

Suddenly, she noticed a few friend messages piled up in the corner.

[Friend Messages]

[He Zi: Li Si, are you okay?]

[Ao Li An Na: Even if we aren’t teammates, we’re still friends, right? Just like Yi Li Sha Bai and the others.]

[Mei Fei Er: Hey, are you out in the wild or back? Do you need us to come save you?]

[Wei Ya: Why aren’t you replying to everyone? You should be back in the safe zone, right?]

[Mei Lin: I’m coming to find you. ]