Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Hui Cui's gaze was gentle.

But the sudden turn of Luo An, Black Spot, and Short Tail's eyes were filled with "Explain yourself!"

I want you to explain too! Lin glanced at the wall clock in the living room, confirming he had only slept for two hours.

Two hours, but it felt like ten years had passed! Ten years into the future where he and Hui Cui had already formed a family!

How many judges could appreciate the sight of Hui Cui Dover wearing an apron... uh, this apron seems to belong to him?

Realizing this, Lin's face began to heat up as he sat on the sofa.

"Blushing."

"Lin is blushing."

"No way, really blushing?"

Opposite Hui Cui, the three little ones muttered.

Black Spot's voice was the loudest, earning a fierce glare from Lin.

"You're awake," Hui Cui said, retracting his gaze to avoid making Lin too embarrassed. He spoke while scooping out steaming rice cakes from the steamer, "Luo An told me you had dinner early today and ate very little. Have some late-night snacks before bed."

"Now?" Lin replied, not really wanting to eat, "I feel I—"

Rumble.

The sound came from the black-haired ritualist's stomach.

Sleeping and dreaming actually consume a lot of energy; as the Dream God, Lin deeply understood this human rule today.

Lin swallowed the words about not being hungry, moved to the dining table under the watchful eyes of the three little ones.

"Add some side dishes?" Hui Cui poured a sour-salty soup over the bowl of rice cakes, "I'll fry you an egg."

"Mm..."

Lin made a sound that suggested it could be added but wasn't necessary.

He described it this way because he hadn't left home in days, and the meat supply at home ran out the day before yesterday. He and Luo An had relied solely on eggs for protein these past two days.

He had already eaten two fried eggs and one boiled egg today.

How much he wanted to have braised pork ribs...

After so long in this world, the taste of braising seemed to have almost faded from his mind and tongue!

Seeing Lin like this, Hui Cui chuckled, but for some reason, Lin noticed that Luo An, Black Spot, and Short Tail were also smiling at him.

Wearing an apron, Hui Cui got up and walked to the kitchen, while Luo An wiped off the remaining starch powder on the table and followed. Lin brought the bowl of sour soup rice cakes Hui Cui had just served to the table and exchanged glances with Black Spot and Short Tail, who looked very expectant.

Lin used his eyes to ask them what had happened earlier.

Unexpectedly, not only did Black Spot avoid his gaze, but even Short Tail turned away without answering.

Confused, Lin heard Black Spot say out of the corner of his eye, "Some people don't tell the family anything."

Eh, Lin quickly gestured for him to lower his voice, but Short Tail also lowered his head and whispered, "Snow Claws finally managed to contact us again..."

But are there members of the family preparing to leave? Short Tail didn't say her unspoken words.

Since discovering he was an evil god, Lin knew he would eventually leave this family for various reasons. His heart suddenly tightened.

That anxiety slowly settled, and his expression became serious. Just as he was about to speak, he was drawn to a sudden aroma.

"What is this...?"

Lin followed the scent to the kitchen, noticing the sizzling sound of oil frying.

The aroma of protein mixed with fat wafted through the entire house, making Lin's mouth water and his empty stomach churn faster.

It was definitely not the smell of fried eggs. Lin instinctively wanted to peek through the kitchen window glass but stopped himself when he saw Hui Cui's back.

A beam of light from Hui Cui pointed at him, bringing a soothing warmth, as if calming his impatient stomach. Even so, despite Lin's claim to be the most knowledgeable person in the world about food, he still swallowed hard when Hui Cui placed the plate down.

Ah, it's—

"Marinated pork belly and egg." Hui Cui said.

—It's bacon and egg!

When full, pursuing more delicious food is a human instinct. This world isn't entirely devoid of delicacies; it's just that Lin couldn't afford them.

Various cured meats are the specialty of chefs here, unfortunately, both the canteen at the Judge School and the court cafeteria prioritize freshness and nutrition, rejecting highly salted and nitrate-rich cured meats.

As for the Lin household, they had only reached the stage of eating eggs every day, starting to try buying cheaper chicken and fish—Lin refused insect meat—pork was too expensive to buy, let alone the even pricier cured meats.

Now, looking at the steaming plate of bacon and egg, Lin felt his taste buds come alive for the first time since crossing over.

Hui Cui scooped a fifth of the marinated pork belly and egg into Lin's bowl and served the others.

The three children exclaimed loudly, and once Hui Cui sat down, Lin forgot to say thank you, shoveling the bacon and egg along with the sour soup noodles into his mouth with a fork.

Compared to the bland taste due to the lack of seasoning, whether boiled or fried, the flavor of the marinated pork belly, matured over time, was incredibly delicious, blossoming on Lin's taste buds.

Having gone too long without tasting such flavors, he didn't even realize it until he came to his senses, finding the late-night snack with its main dish, meat, and vegetables completely devoured.

Hui Cui, who kept pace with him while eating, put down her bowl a few seconds later. Seeing the rosy flush on Lin's cheeks from eating hot food too quickly, he felt happier than when Lin was moved by his confession.

Lin didn't know yet that their first encounter had been much earlier than he thought.

Lin wouldn't know that after their true first meeting, they had actually met many times.

Hui Cui had seen many times how Lin, even if he disliked the food, would force himself to eat it.

This sight once inspired Hui Cui, who originally detested fighting, but one day, without realizing his feelings, Hui Cui thought, "If only I could find something Lin likes to eat."

Being able to persist in things he dislikes is what Hui Cui admires about Lin's perseverance.

But no matter how much she admires it, being good at enduring pain isn't really praiseworthy. She hopes... she wants Lin to smile while eating.

Now she has found something Lin likes to eat.

Although cured meat isn't very healthy, it's more important to restore Lin's appetite, which has been lackluster lately.

Hui Cui, who receives reports from Aiper about Lin's meal weight and calorie intake, leaned against the dining table, smiling as she watched Lin holding a water cup and sipping it.

Lin didn't look up to meet his gaze, though even without looking up, Lin could feel his gaze as intense as a spotlight.

Luo An and Shorttail exchanged glances at this scene, while Little Black Spot was still savoring the taste of the cured meat.

No one knew how long this strange atmosphere lasted before Hui Cui finally spoke.

"I should be going," she said.

The Dover Birdman stood up, and Lin instinctively followed suit.

Without discussing whether to see her off, the two walked toward the door. Luo An noticed that Lin didn't even glance their way as he left, and he clicked his tongue softly.

It was the Chief Judge who turned back first, smiling and saying goodbye to them.

"See you next time!" Little Black Spot immediately replied, dreaming of the cured meat the Chief Judge might bring next time.

Shorttail, who got up with Luo An to see them off, looked at Lin, confirming that he showed no signs of resistance, then responded, "Goodbye."

Luo An said listlessly, "...Have a safe trip, Chief Judge."

Then he glared at Lin, his eyes full of "Give me an explanation."

"Cough." Lin looked away.

They stepped out of the door of No. 102, and after closing the door, Lin confirmed that no one's shadow appeared through the crack—meaning no one was eavesdropping—before turning to Hui Cui, who had hinted that there was more to say.

"There are some conference arrangements I need to confirm with you," Hui Cui said. "The conference is expected to last three days. For cybersecurity reasons, we can't send the equipment to your place, so we hope you can stay at the headquarters a few days in advance and return home after the conference. Is that okay?"

"I have no problem. Luo An and the others can ask the captain next door to help watch over things," Lin answered crisply. "When should I arrive?"

"Next Monday," Hui Cui said. "I also want to arrange for you to try hosting a study session on Monday afternoon, inviting representatives from each floor's branch of the Ceremony Department to learn your techniques, and you can get familiar with guiding others."

Online meetings are more prone to communication issues, but these can be avoided with skill.

This will also help Lin overcome stage fright, although it's not his first time speaking; getting familiar with the venue in advance is always better.

Lin nodded. Before he could ask a question, Hui Cui preemptively explained, "We'll give you overtime pay."

Lin had no more questions.

"Finally," Hui Cui's lips curved into a smile as she looked at Lin, whose eyes sparkled at the mention of the bonus, "the city museum will be free until the first Wednesday of next year. After the conference, would you like to accompany me?"

"...I haven't been to the city museum," Lin's eyes wandered, "I'd quite like to broaden my horizons."

That was almost a yes, but Hui Cui pressed further, "So?"

"...You, you set the time," Lin stammered.

Hui Cui's smile brightened instantly, "How about next Sunday afternoon?"

He wouldn't be thinking of visiting the city museum on Sunday afternoon and then conveniently stopping by his place for New Year's Eve, would he?

Lin felt that Hui Cui wasn't that thick-skinned, but then again, was he really not...?

"Okay." Pretending not to notice Hui Cui's "ambition," Lin agreed.

Hui Cui looked even happier. She reminded Lin to rest well before leaving No. A12 Green Clay Street.

Even walking down the street, she was savoring the time she spent with Lin.

After waking up, Lin seemed a bit more relaxed, but his fatigue hadn't lessened much.

On New Year's Eve, I'll buy a ham. If he likes cured meat, he should like ham too.

Thinking of this, Hui Cui's steps slowed.

Today, Lin rarely showed a preference for a certain ingredient, but the expression of gratitude on his face when he ate the cured meat and eggs seemed more like a trip down memory lane than savoring the deliciousness.

Unlike the three children in Lin's family, Lin must have eaten cured meat before.

Of course, she had guessed that Lin's past living conditions were probably good. Now, considering that Lin has no appetite and finds most foods unappealing, but if something tastes good, he has a strong appetite, the only people who could casually provide delicious food besides alchemists seem to be...

The Aberrant Cult.