“Mmm… another incident resolved today. How does Xiao Qian feel?”
On the way home that evening, Li Meng stretched comfortably.
Despite her slightly loose, academy-style clothing, the wonderful curves of her body were still faintly visible.
After following Li Meng to find the survivors, the group discovered they were all in a coma.
Aside from looking a bit pale, they showed no signs of injury.
Afterward, for some unknown reason, the entire Inner World began to collapse.
Fortunately, under the protection of Li Meng’s powerful Nether Breath, she not only stabilized the Inner World but also successfully dissolved it, allowing everyone to return to the Real World.
“So… how was everything resolved after that?”
Qiu Qiqian asked, remembering that the Guiyi still hadn’t been captured.
“About that Guiyi… hmm… according to the local Youxun, they tried to hold a few more Four Corners Games afterward, but… the Guiyi never appeared. I imagine… it must have been eliminated by someone else.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s for the best…”
“Speaking of which… I’m so hungry. I haven’t even had dinner yet.”
Li Meng let out a long sigh as she rubbed her growling stomach. “I feel like my stomach is touching my backbone.”
“You aren’t going to eat those instant foods again, are you? Didn’t you have plenty of vegetables in there?”
Qiu Qiqian stared at Li Meng.
Her intense gaze caused the listless, hungry Li Meng to instantly perk up.
“Well… that… didn’t I say I don’t know how to cook? Those vegetables were actually ones I bought to try and practice with before.”
“And then?”
“And then… ugh… a fire almost started… hehehe.”
Li Meng gave Qiu Qiqian an embarrassed laugh.
“…”
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qiqian could only cover her face and let out a long sigh.
Although this girl, Li Meng, possessed terrifying combat power, she was a complete idiot when it came to daily life.
‘Has she really been living on instant food all these years… can one really develop well eating only that?’
Thinking of this, Qiu Qiqian couldn’t help but glance at the protrusion on Li Meng’s chest.
Although it wasn’t overly prominent, the fact that there was still a visible curve while wearing such loose clothing meant… she should be at least a C-cup…
“Hmm? Is there… something on my chest?”
Seeing Qiu Qiqian glance at her chest, Li Meng subconsciously assumed there was something on her and didn’t connect it to Qiu Qiqian thinking about… strange things.
After all… Qiu Qiqian was also a girl.
If she really wanted to look, her own body was quite a sight to behold…
“Cough, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that even after being with you for two days, I still don’t know what your ability is. When I moved with those three girls yesterday, they showed off their abilities immediately.”
“Well… my ability, although very powerful, continuously consumes a large amount of Nether Breath once activated. So, unless I encounter a troublesome Guiyi or one that has caused serious damage to the Real World, I won’t use it.”
“Then why don’t you just tell me what kind of ability it is?”
Qiu Qiqian crossed her arms and glanced at her.
“Hee-hee… if I tell you in advance, there won’t be any surprise!”
Li Meng giggled and gave Qiu Qiqian a wink.
Seeing the girl’s cute appearance, Qiu Qiqian didn’t feel like teasing her anymore, so she changed the subject.
“Tonight… I’ll cook.”
“Great! I get to taste Xiao Qian’s cooking again!”
***
‘Hmm… blanch the meat first, then use that time to prepare the sauce. Oh, right. Since I can summon those Black Arms, I can use them to control the kitchen knife and chop the vegetables while I’m at it…’
Tap-tap-tap…
Before long, the sounds of boiling water, chopping vegetables, and mixing ingredients echoed through the kitchen simultaneously.
Li Meng, sitting on the living room sofa, swung her legs while watching television, but her mind wasn’t entirely on the program.
Her peripheral vision drifted toward the kitchen from time to time, looking at the busy Qiu Qiqian through the glass.
To make cooking easier, Qiu Qiqian had tied her light brown hair high into a neat ponytail.
She had swapped her trench coat for loungewear, with an apron draped over her front and a simple pair of shorts on her lower half.
Her white, smooth, and slightly fleshy thighs were almost completely exposed.
Unfortunately, from Li Meng’s perspective, she couldn’t see those sleek thighs at all.
As time passed, the aroma wafting from the kitchen became more pronounced.
How could Li Meng, who had lived on instant food for so long, resist such a temptation?
She quietly crept toward the kitchen and peeked inside, leaning against the doorframe.
She saw Qiu Qiqian focusing on stir-frying, her golden eyes fixed on the dish in the pan.
The pressure cooker next to her was hissing as it steamed something, emitting a faint, savory scent.
At a certain moment, Qiu Qiqian’s peripheral vision caught Li Meng’s small grey head peeking through the doorway.
“What? Can’t handle the hunger anymore?”
“Hehe… a little bit.”
“Alright, it’s almost done. Just sit properly in the living room.”
As Qiu Qiqian spoke, she turned up the heat for the final sauce reduction.
Li Meng remained at the door, watching the busy Qiu Qiqian.
For some reason… it felt exceptionally warm and cozy.
“A serious Xiao Qian… is very cute.”
“Cough! Are you… lightheaded from hunger? Saying such weird things all of a sudden…”
Despite her words, Li Meng noticed a faint blush gradually appearing on Qiu Qiqian’s face.
She didn’t call her out on it, simply covering her mouth with a sweet smile before obediently returning to wait in the living room.
After another minute or two, the sounds in the kitchen ceased completely.
Then, Qiu Qiqian was seen using her summoned Black Arms to bring out three dishes and one pot of soup, placing them on the dining table.
She then went back to scoop two bowls of rice, placing them at her and Li Meng’s respective seats.
“These are…”
“Braised pork, garlic sprout stir-fry with meat, tomato and eggs, and chicken soup. Three dishes and one soup — that should be enough, right?”
“Wow… it smells so good! Oh, I’ll go get the juice from the fridge!”
Li Meng hurried to the refrigerator to grab the juice, then took two glass cups from the counter, filling them both at the dining table.
“Here. To celebrate Xiao Qian’s first time finishing a meal — cheers!”
“What is there to celebrate about this…”
Qiu Qiqian didn’t understand the girl’s logic, but since it was a celebration for her, she followed Li Meng’s lead and clinked glasses.
Afterward, Li Meng began to enjoy the meal prepared by Qiu Qiqian’s own hands.
Her first target was the richly colored braised pork.
“Mm! Delicious!”
Li Meng’s eyes practically sparkled.
It felt as though her clothes might burst in the next second because the food was so good.
“Hmm… it seems my skills haven’t regressed.”
Qiu Qiqian nodded in self-praise before picking up her chopsticks.
She intended to grab a piece of food, only to see Li Meng’s hand flying across every dish.
In an instant, a small mountain of food was piled onto Li Meng’s rice bowl.
‘Is it really that good?’
Qiu Qiqian didn’t intend to criticize her.
After all, as a Guiyi, she didn’t technically need to eat, so it was fine if she ate less.
To her, eating was more about experiencing the flavor.
But… with Li Meng moving her hands so quickly, something was bound to happen.
For example…
Clang!
Clatter clatter…
Accidentally knocking over a glass and spilling it on her legs…
“Ah, my stockings… they’re dirty.”
Li Meng looked down at her white stockings, now stained with color, her voice tinged with regret.
“Honestly… you can’t even eat a meal properly… really… let me help you take those stockings off so I can wash them.”
As she spoke, Qiu Qiqian put down her chopsticks and prepared to stand up.
“I can actually take them off myself…”
“Yourself?”
Qiu Qiqian gave Li Meng a skeptical look, completely devoid of any improper thoughts.
“And then you’ll accidentally bump the table and spill something else?”
“Ugh…”
Li Meng pouted but didn’t argue.
“Alright, just keep eating. Don’t worry about me.”
“Then… I’ll trouble you, Xiao Qian…”
Qiu Qiqian left her seat and walked to Li Meng’s side.
Under Li Meng’s watchful gaze, she slowly crouched down and reached out to hook her fingers into the white stockings.
Because this action inevitably involved touching the skin of Li Meng’s thighs, combined with Qiu Qiqian’s cold body temperature… when Qiu Qiqian’s fingers brushed against the delicate and elastic skin of Li Meng’s thighs, Li Meng instinctively shuddered.
Li Meng tried her best to focus on the food in front of her, but… someone was currently taking off her stockings, and their fingers were inevitably brushing against her skin…
How could she possibly ignore that!
As for Qiu Qiqian… because the chair was somewhat high, when she looked up slightly while removing the white stockings… she could clearly see a pair of light blue panties embroidered with a bow…
‘No, no! Qiu Qiqian, you’re just helping take off the stockings to wash them. Don’t have stray thoughts! Besides… even if I did have stray thoughts, I couldn’t beat her!’
Qiu Qiqian lowered her head, her face flushing red.
Her heart — though she didn’t seem to have one — was practically leaping into her throat.
Even though she had seen her own panties before… seeing someone else’s felt completely different.
‘Ugh… was I crazy? Why didn’t I just let her go to the bathroom and take them off herself?! Why did I have to insist on doing this job?!’
Qiu Qiqian wanted nothing more than to slap her past self, but… it was too late now.
“Um… Xiao Qian… what’s wrong? Why did you… suddenly stop?”
“Cough… I just thought of something. Anyway… remember to lift your foot.”
Li Meng, her face half-red, nodded and obediently lifted her foot so that Qiu Qiqian could fully remove the stocking.
The lifting of the foot only made things worse.
As she did, Qiu Qiqian could faintly see that the skin beneath the stocking was tinged with a delicate cherry pink.
Moreover… perhaps because Li Meng was a bit shy, her toes were slightly curled…
Qiu Qiqian’s breath hitched.
She quickly pulled the stockings off and hurried to the bathroom.
After putting them in a basin to soak, she finally returned to her seat.
The atmosphere had grown… a bit strange.
Why