I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 159

Chapter 159: I Love You, Just Like You Love Me

 

The barbecue stalls in Central Park here are located in the center of a small grove. The trees here are clearly managed and planted by dedicated individuals, with ample space between them and no weeds, shrubs, or greenery in between. Perhaps due to frequent exposure to smoke and fire over the years, the lower three meters of these tree trunks have not grown any leaves or branches, and the branches and leaves above are noticeably more yellow and black compared to those outside on the main road.

 

Surprisingly, in such harsh conditions, these trees have thrived well, with many reaching towering heights. The dense leaves provide a perfect green oasis, shading the barbecue enthusiasts below from the intense sun. It’s unknown whether this is due to sufficient carbon dioxide.

 

A main fixed stone platform is used to place things, with four fixed stone stools next to it. A little further to the side is a flat area recessed to hold the fire rack. This is the complete appearance of a 100-yuan fee booth in this part of Central Park. Overall, it’s quite rudimentary, but it’s sufficient for ordinary barbecue.

 

In any case, even in a luxurious barbecue restaurant, once the fire is lit, the smoke will billow, creating a dark scene. It might as well be open-air with a few trees.

 

“The simplest among these barbecues is tofu skin because tofu itself is cooked. It doesn’t matter how it’s grilled, it can be eaten.”

 

When the charcoal in the grill was almost ready and the smoke had diminished significantly, I carefully used tongs to flip the side that was lit on fire. Then, I placed some skewered tofu skin on it, saying, “Like this, add a bit of oil or water to maintain the moisture on the surface of the tofu skin. When the temperature is about right, add seasoning. Let me see… they’ve included a lot of things.”

 

I brought over a bag containing various barbecue ingredients and roughly checked its contents, asking, “Are these all included in the set meals?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Yin Xiamo, who seemed completely unclear about these things, nodded, “I ordered two sets and… some miscellaneous items.”

 

“So, these should be things Xiamo likes to eat, right?” I turned to another bag and asked, “What’s in here?”

 

To be honest, even though I had been living together with this girl, cuddling and sleeping together at night, and even doing embarrassing things in the flower field in the morning, when it came to Yin Xiamo’s preferences… I didn’t really understand her like a “model couple” would.

 

I didn’t know what she liked, what colors she preferred, what flavors of food she enjoyed, and I didn’t even know what she disliked. It always felt like Yin Xiamo had been silently giving and quietly protecting me, which left me feeling a bit uneasy.

 

If possible, I really wanted to take the opportunity to get to know this “grim reaper” who had lived for thousands of years a bit better.

 

“Some seafood.”

 

Under my gaze, Yin Xiamo seemed a bit embarrassed and said, “Squid, sea fish, and such…”

 

Seafood?

 

I opened the bag, and as the girl mentioned, most of the contents were various sea products—squid, oysters, large shrimp, saury, and a bunch of species I couldn’t name.

 

“Huh?” I was curious, “Xiao Mo, do you like eating fish?”

 

“Yeah,” Yin Xiamo didn’t object, “Back when there wasn’t much food on the road, I… we would often go fishing, then he would grill the fish for me by the shore…”

 

As she spoke, it seemed like she felt saying “he” in front of me was a bit inappropriate. Yin Xiamo corrected herself, “I mean… I didn’t miss him. It’s just that during that time, I got used to eating grilled fish. After he left, he didn’t tell me the grilling method. Even if I found the world’s best chef, I couldn’t recreate that taste. It’s a bit regrettable.”

 

“Oh…” I pondered, “So, Xiao Mo, are you actually feeling lonely? Missing your hometown?”

 

“I’ve said no!” Yin Xiamo’s eyes flickered, and it was the first time I saw her look a bit guilty. “Fish and mollusks are high-protein foods, very high-quality for our demon race. We can absorb them fully and convert them into magical energy reserves…”

 

“Although there’s no concept of magic in this world, many of us demons have retained this habit. Initially, he knew that my instinct was to enjoy eating such foods, so he would usually save the delicious fish and meat for me.”

 

High-protein diet? Like feline animals?

I recall that most feline animals are carnivores, and they can’t digest most of the vegetables and fruits that humans eat. So, besides cat food, cat cafes also feed them leftover chicken and chicken organs from the kitchen.

 

Research indicates that a cat’s sense of smell is completely different from humans. They consider high-protein foods to be “delicious” when they smell them. In contrast, humans are not as sensitive to protein, and we might not even be able to smell the taste of protein.

 

This is also the main reason why cats like to catch fish and shrimp—these seafood items are naturally high in protein. However, it’s the first time I’ve heard that demons in another world also like to eat fish and shrimp. Well, since Xiamo has directly told me she wants to eat fish, I’ll give it a try.

 

“I don’t know if I can recreate the taste you remember, but I can give it a shot,” I said.

 

After a brief moment of distraction, I took some oysters and two fish from Xiamo’s bag. “Are there any seasonings like garlic and chili in this otherworld?”

 

Placing the skewered fish on the grill, I adjusted the position of the oysters, found the corresponding seasonings, opened the shells, and added some garlic they had prepared for cooking. I couldn’t change the taste of the oysters. If you grill and eat them directly, they have a slightly fishy protein taste. Most barbecue restaurants add special garlic and chili to them. Since there’s no kitchen here, I couldn’t make the garlic seasoning from scratch on the spot. I had to use what they had prepared in the store.

 

Speaking of garlic, I remember near the third building of the Wujia Apartments, there’s a household that specializes in barbecue. They start chopping garlic with a rhythmic “clang clang” every day around three or four in the afternoon, then stir-fry in large pots. Every time, I have to close the windows, or else I’d have to endure the intense and potentially lethal smell of garlic while writing.

 

“People around there don’t like such pungent smells,” I remarked.

 

Under my gaze, Yin Xiamo shook her head. “Especially vampires. Things like garlic, ginger, scallions – they are unbearable for them.”

 

“There are vampires too?”

 

“Basically, all the races mentioned in modern online novels exist,” Yin Xiamo shrugged, pushing her bangs to the side, “Elves, dragons, vampires, succubi…”

 

“So different races have different taboos, right?” I pondered, staring into the girl’s eyes.

 

“Do you have any taboos or things you particularly dislike, Xiao Mo?”

 

“No,” Yin Xiamo answered bluntly. “If I have to say, my only taboo is Nuo’er.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Anyone who shows hostility towards Nuo’er or treats Nuo’er as a hunting target… I won’t let them off.”

 

Sitting on a small stone stool, Yin Xiamo propped her chin with both hands, looking at me with an expression reminiscent of “My Wife is my world.” “Ah… Nuo’er is just too adorable. I have to find a way to devour Nuo’er…”

 

“You… be more normal, I’m scared.”

 

I flipped the fish on the barbecue, which had started emitting a little smoke, and brushed some water on it. “And weren’t you just… already doing that to me earlier?”

 

Thinking about what happened at the edge of the flower field in the medicinal plant garden this morning, no matter how many times, I would feel my face heating up. The feelings on the girls’ side are completely different from boys. To generalize about boys – it’s straightforward, quick to desire, and quick to finish. But for girls… it seems like there’s no threshold at all, it can go on and on… and on in the sky without coming down.

 

Yin Xiamo probably knew this, so she gave me a “warning” the first time, continuing to be affectionate for over an hour, making it impossible for me to forget.

 

“You don’t think that counts as ‘devouring,’ do you?” Under my slightly frightened gaze, Yin Xiamo maintained that “yandere” posture. “Nuo’er’s computer has all sorts of strange things. You should be quite knowledgeable about this. I was just giving you an appetizer at that time, you know?”

 

Oh… if she puts it that way… it does seem to make sense.

 

Although there were various signs around the flower field at the time, Yin Xiamo was quite sensible. She just let me experience the touch of a girl without going too far…

 

“No, no, no!”

 

Following Yin Xiamo’s train of thought, I shook my head repeatedly. “This kind of thing is too weird!”

 

“Don’t worry, I won’t completely devour you until Nuo’er fully accepts themselves,” Yin Xiamo licked her lips. “At most, just a little lick.”

 

“A little lick is also not allowed!”

 

I clenched my fist, threatening, “I warn you, I… I’m an uncle. Just now, it was because of catnip, and I was fuzzy-minded. If it happens when I’m clear-headed… ahem, clear-headed, who knows who will devour whom!”

 

“Oh?” Yin Xiamo smiled, “I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Why aren’t you scared at all? Aren’t you a girl? If you’re a girl, facing someone who’s at least a “spiritual uncle,” you should feel fear, right? You should feel… even just a little bit, a little bit of shyness, right?

 

What’s with that expression of “even if Nuo’er pushes me down, I’m still the winner”!

 

“I won’t argue with you.”

 

Beside the barbecue grill, I felt that the tofu skin that had just been placed on it was about right. I brushed it with some oyster sauce and sprinkled some cumin evenly. Then, I skillfully cut the large pieces of tofu skin with the accompanying large scissors and handed them to the girl in front of me. “Do you remember the sequence? The simplest tofu skin, put it on the grill, add water or oil when the temperature is right, then brush with seasoning.”

 

“Probably… remembered.”

 

Yin Xiamo took the two skewers of tofu skin I handed her, putting on a look of ‘I’m trying hard to remember’.

 

“Smells so good!”

 

Alright, judging by your expression, you clearly didn’t remember.

 

“I don’t know how the hero you mentioned grills fish or what specific seasonings are used in otherworldly places. Here, I’ll try grilling one fish according to the wilderness environment of another world, and the other fish will be prepared with the traditional taste of the human big city here.”

 

I flipped one fish and brushed a bit of peanut oil and soy sauce on the other. I took the bamboo skewers of the two fish directly into my hands and started turning them over.

 

Like making bubble tea, barbecue is a skill that almost all recent graduates possess.

 

Some may have learned it during middle or high school with their peers, some may have done it during university while attending parties or club activities, and some may have become apprentices at barbecue shops for a living after graduation.

 

I belong to the category that learned it as a child at the crayfish pond in the medicinal plant garden and with friends, did it during high school outings, came to the park’s barbecue spot with club members during university, and even worked as a barbecue apprentice after graduation.

 

To be honest, compared to jobs like being a waiter or an office worker, barbecue skills have a much better working environment and income.

 

That period was also the time when I had the highest monthly income because barbecue is a real money-making business.

 

Most barbecue stalls operate in the evening, and people coming out to eat at this time usually have some “stories.” It could be couples coming out for a late-night snack, single individuals troubled by emotions seeking solace in food and beer, or long-lost friends and classmates meeting by chance, having fun and coming out for a meal.

 

Regardless of the type, these groups of people are very willing to pay. As long as the cost of alcohol and barbecue is not too outrageous, they just glance at the price list casually, pay the bill, and leave.

 

Moreover, barbecue itself is highly profitable.

 

The biggest issue with selling barbecue is the various harms caused by smoke exposure and reversed day and night schedules to the body. Barbecue stalls are generally set up on the roadside, without a business license or the need to pay for the venue. Anyone can do it. You need to start preparing when it’s not yet dark, and when everyone finishes dinner, you enter the golden business period. Then, it’s an entire night of business, being smoked by the smoke throughout the night. Those with good health might not feel much, but for those with weaker constitutions, especially those with poor throat and lung conditions, they might end up coughing for a long time after returning home.

 

This profession gives a feeling of “exchanging youth and health for money,” so I only did it for a few months at that time, as it was particularly exhausting. However, during the days when I worked as an apprentice, I did learn quite a bit.

 

“Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…”

 

Under my continuous flipping, the two fish on the grill emitted waves of enticing fragrance.

 

“Delicious.”

 

On the other side, Yin Xiamo finished eating the two skewers of tofu, looking at the fish and chicken wings in my hands with a pitiful expression. “How much longer for these?”

 

“So, learn to grill yourself, there are plenty of empty spaces here.”

 

I handed over the two skewers of tofu. “As I mentioned earlier, heat them first, then add the seasoning. Give it a try.”

 

“Okay…”

 

Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed for just standing there doing nothing, Yin Xiamo took the two skewers of tofu and placed them on the fire.

 

“How long should I grill them before adding the seasoning? What should be the first seasoning?”

 

“Just brush some oil based on the situation.”

 

“What do you mean by ‘based on the situation’?”

 

“About two to three minutes should be enough.”

 

“Is it precisely two minutes or three minutes? Is it accurate to 120 seconds? Do I need to flip them?”

 

“Look at the color on the surface. The fire’s intensity is changing, how would I know if it’s precisely 120 seconds? When it looks about right and the surface is dry, just add a bit of oil.”

 

Yin Xiamo’s barrage of questions nearly halted the CPU in my brain. “Later, I’ll eat what you make, and you’ll eat what I make. I don’t want to die of poisoning, so be serious!”

 

“Oh… well, okay.”

 

Upon hearing my words, Yin Xiamo cautiously took the brush and focused on the tofu skin in front of her.

 

Finally, I could divert my attention a bit to handle the fish and the nearby corn and chicken wings.

 

In theory, in the otherworld, where magic exists and people have completely different lifestyles and tastes, the probability of accurately “replicating” the dish of grilled fish from that world is quite low. Therefore, I decided to make two types of food, “Shenzhen Grilled Fish” and “Nuo’er’s Special Grilled Fish.”

 

The former follows the common grilling method in Shenzhen City, stacking various seasonings, brushing them with cumin and oyster sauce, creating a thick layer that looks similar to grilled beef skewers. The latter is a more simple grilled fish with just a bit of salt.

 

After all, as the saying goes, “High-quality ingredients often only need the most straightforward cooking methods.” I vaguely remembered back in the orphanage when the headmaster occasionally cooked noodles for us at lunch. The taste was unforgettable, and I never understood what soup base and ingredients the headmaster used. After graduating from college, I often bought noodles to experiment on my own, trying for over half a year but never achieving that taste.

 

In the end, one day, when I was awakened by hunger due to not eating dinner the night before and had no energy to even walk out the door, I forced myself to throw noodles into a pot, added some salt, and started eating. That’s when I finally understood the headmaster’s special noodle recipe. The recipe was incredibly simple: noodles with salt. It really was that simple. Most noodles are made from wheat, with some manufacturers adding eggs, but the taste is just that. Boil the noodles, add salt seven or eight minutes later, and it’s ready. For those who prefer a lighter flavor, it’s truly delicious.

 

Grilled fish follows the same principle. In many cases, when grilling fish, you only need to bring out the oil, maintain the moisture of the fish meat, ensure it doesn’t get burnt, use proper techniques, and then add some salt. This way, the fish becomes very delicious.

 

“It’s done.”

 

While fiddling with the corn and chicken wings on the side and handling the two fish in the middle, I lost track of time. Seeing that the fish’s color was about right, I applied seasonings to each of them and then handed them over to the front to Yin Xiamo.

 

“Give it a try. Which one tastes like home?”

 

“Wow!”

 

Yin Xiamo’s little face lit up with a happy expression. “It looks delicious, it seems like bringing Nuo’er home was the right choice!”

 

“Come on.”

I took the two strands of ugly tofu skin from the girl in front of me. “Did you make these? I’m going to try them.”

 

“Mm-hmm.”

At this point, someone had already started gnawing on the fish meat, her face filled with joy. “This is delicious… this… hmm, this taste is great too! Nuo’er is truly a little kitchen goddess!”

 

“What kitchen goddess? I’m just a middle-aged virgin uncle polished by life.”

 

After assessing the two strands of somewhat dry, and even a bit burnt, tofu skin that Yin Xiamo grilled, I chuckled and brushed on some oyster sauce and cumin. Then, I took a bite — “Crunch.”

 

It was crispy.

 

She indeed managed to burn them a bit.

 

With one bite, I immediately sensed something was off. Glancing at the person in front of me who was happily eating the fish, I hesitated for a moment and swallowed the words “you burned it” that were on the tip of my tongue.

 

Oh well, I chose the Death God; might as well indulge her a bit. She managed not to turn the tofu skin completely black, so since it won’t kill me, I should give her some encouragement.

 

“Not bad.”

 

After swallowing the dry piece of tofu skin, I tried to put on an appreciative expression. “It feels like you’ll do well with a few more tries.”

 

“Really?”

 

As I expected, she looked very pleased upon hearing my praise. “Nuo’er’s grilled fish is also very delicious.”

 

“So?”

 

I curiously looked at the two fish in her hands that she had almost gnawed down. “How does it compare to your beloved hero?”

 

“Nuo’er is jealous?”

 

“How is that possible?”

 

“Then can I be honest?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“I prefer this one over here.”

 

Pointing at the “Nuo’er’s Special Grilled Fish” on the left, Yin Xiamo looked serious. “This flavor is very sweet, bringing out the freshness of the fish, while the other one, although also delicious, has mostly the taste of the seasonings. For me… well, the richer the fish flavor, the better.”

 

“Which one is better compared to your hero?”

 

“This one.”

 

“I don’t believe it.”

 

Yin Xiamo’s happy face somehow gave me the feeling that it lacked credibility. “Hmph, you’re just trying to comfort me.”

 

“Really, I’m not lying to you.”

 

The girl said seriously, “If we’re talking about before, I might have thought that the taste back then was wonderful. But after eating the fish you made, I realized that my taste has changed.”

 

“That reason is too far-fetched!”

 

“Not at all. It’s like before, in the other world, the hero helped me a lot. At that time, he was everything in my eyes, the whole world. After coming here and being with Nuo’er, I realized that I can also like girls.”

 

Yin Xiamo explained earnestly, “The aesthetics in the other world are completely different from here. When I first arrived, I was puzzled why everyone’s taste in clothing was so peculiar, why socks were designed so long, why skirts were made so short, why the men here don’t wear skirts when fighting or working, even though, according to their physiology, they would need to cool down more. Then I slowly understood… interests, hobbies, and aesthetics can be changed.”

 

“Just like now, I like girls and don’t like boys. I like Nuo’er wearing little skirts, and I like thigh-high socks.”

 

As she spoke, the girl in front walked over to my side, forcibly squeezing onto a chair with me. “Nuo’er is the best!”

 

“Why are you using such a cooing tone like you’re soothing a child…”

 

Although I was displeased with her perfunctory tone, I reluctantly moved a bit, “If you want to eat something, make it yourself. Don’t always snatch mine.”

 

“No, Nuo’er’s cooking is the most delicious.”

 

“That’s why I hope you can learn a bit. I can’t… I can’t cook for you for the rest of our lives, right?”

 

“That’s fine. I don’t mind if Nuo’er cooks for me for a lifetime.”

 

Yin Xiamo stuck to me again. “And then, I’ll protect Nuo’er for a lifetime.”

 

“You’re being cheesy again.”

 

“Hehe, I remember Nuo’er, you have a habit of taking afternoon naps, right? After we finish the barbecue, let’s look around to see if there’s a place where you can rest nearby.”

 

“I don’t want to sleep in the park!”

 

“It’s okay. Just now in the car, Nuo’er let me use her thigh, so this time, as a return for the barbecue, I’ll let Nuo’er rest on my thigh.”

 

“You’re so kind-hearted?”

 

“Of course, the premise is… Nuo’er helps me barbecue a few more fish!”

 

“I knew it…”

 

“……”

 

……

 

This time, the barbecue ingredients we bought took Yin Xiamo and me nearly two hours to grill and finish. Corn, beef, chicken wings, shrimp, sardines… I mostly ate the corn and beef tofu, while Yin Xiamo took care of all the seafood.

 

As the sun overhead became a bit too scorching, we bought two cups of iced tea and slowly drank them under a large tree in the park. Just as Yin Xiamo mentioned, with my habit of taking afternoon naps, after a few hours of playing and focusing on grilling, I felt drowsy as soon as I sat down.

 

“I’ll take a short nap for ten minutes.”

 

I found a relatively comfortable spot on the bench and lay down. “No touching or moving.”

 

“Don’t worry, from now on, I’m Nuo’er’s guardian knight!”

 

The person beside me looked quite reliable. “I promise not to let any bad guys approach my Princess Nuo’er!”

 

There aren’t that many bad guys in this big city. I think you’re more dangerous than those bad guys.

 

Although I thought so in my heart, feeling extremely tired, I had no choice but to compromise and lie down on Yin Xiamo’s thighs, closing my eyes.

 

“……”

 

……

 

In a trance, I found myself seemingly at a somewhat desolate seaside. At this moment, two people were sitting on the beach. One man and one woman, one tall and one small.

 

?Momo, no matter what, you should learn how to cook. I know you have some aversion to it because of what happened back then, but…?

?No.?

?Be good, our current situation is very dangerous. I can’t take care of you forever. You need to learn to be independent.?

?Teach me magic, and I’ll take care of you in the future.?

?Are you serious? Do you know what it means for a magical being to learn human magic? It means that the magical beings will no longer recognize your race, and you will be forced to be caught between two forces…?

?It’s okay. Teach me human magic.?

?……?

?Teach me human magic.?

?I really don’t know what you’re thinking in that little head of yours every day. I am human, and your lifespan is much longer than mine. By the time you reach an age where you can take care of others, I will have…?

?Teach me magic to protect my companions.?

?Momo…?

?……?

?Okay, okay, don’t look at me like that. I’ll teach you. But let’s be clear, learning human magic will permanently separate you from the magical beings. If you ever encounter those people from back then again, they might become your enemies.?

?They abandoned me. That place is not my home.?

?Huh??

?The only home… is here with you.?

?……?

 

……