I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 208

Chapter 208: To Win One Person’s Heart

 

The elevator door opened, and I, along with Zhou Xiaofei, arrived in front of Ai Luodi’s rental house. I took out the keys and opened the door.

 

On the way back just now, Zhou Xiaofei kept staring at the roast duck I bought from the market, behaving like a little gluttonous cat. That could be considered the only cooked food I bought tonight, and I don’t know if the cooking method is unique to this side of Nanqi District, or if the roast duck was just freshly made when I bought it. It was still warm, emitting steam throughout the journey back, with a delightful fragrance.

 

From our first meeting until now, Zhou Xiaofei has left a good impression on me. She has slightly dark skin, resembling the children from rural farmer families, the kind of dark obtained from working in the fields or being exposed to the sun frequently, or a deeper “wheatish” shade. Her personality is good, lacking the mischievous feeling of a “rascal.” In comparison, Li Denghua’s personality is much worse.

 

Li Denghua speaks very directly, or in other words, has a “low emotional intelligence.” She has the air of a mischievous child and, when interacting with me, doesn’t seem to mind calling me “sister” for the second time, saying whatever comes to her mind, and carrying a hint of rebellion. However, it’s not to the extent of being a complete “rascal.” One could say she is still quite immature in her actions compared to adults, but basic communication is still achievable.

 

Zhou Xiaofei, on the other hand, is more mature. She knows what to say and what not to say, silently listening without interrupting in important situations. After knowing I am an adult, she shows great respect towards me, with a touch of the “child of a poor family taking on responsibilities early” vibe.

 

Physically, Zhou Xiaofei is about the same height as me and looks decent, with a single ponytail. However, due to what seems like not-so-great skin, she doesn’t stand out too much in a crowd. Li Denghua also mentioned that Zhou Xiaofei’s family is very poor, the kind that…picks up discarded rubber from the ground that others don’t want to use, and a girl who can’t afford to buy even a bottle of water at school.

 

I’m not entirely sure about the specifics of this girl’s family situation. From her conversation with her grandmother just now, it seems she lives with her grandmother most of the time, and her mother works outside, similar to what Li Denghua mentioned earlier.

 

For a girl with such background, and since we happen to be good friends, there should be no problem inviting her over for a meal, especially when we’re having a feast at home today.

 

Moreover, considering the pitiful look on Zhou Xiaofei’s face as she glanced at the roast duck in my hands… it does seem quite pitiable. She probably hasn’t had a “feast” like this in a long time.

 

“There are five of us living here now, all females. If you happen to pass by or have time, feel free to drop by as a guest.”

 

Opening the door, I reached for the guest slippers from the nearby shoe rack and handed them to the girl beside me. Then, I took off my own shoes, saying, “Or you can give me a call.”

 

“Back already?”

 

Hearing the commotion at the entrance, Lan Jiajia, who seemed to be browsing her phone in the living room, walked over. Seeing the elementary school girl beside me, she first looked surprised and then curiously asked, “Wow… whose little sister is this?”

 

“My friend.”

 

I introduced Zhou Xiaofei to Lan Jiajia, saying, “Her name is Zhou Xiaofei. She goes to the Starlight Elementary School nearby. I got to know her when I visited there once.”

 

Then, I turned to Zhou Xiaofei again, “Xiaofei, her name is Lan Jiajia. You can call her Sister Lan.”

 

“Sister Lan.”

 

After changing into the slippers, Zhou Xiaofei politely greeted Lan Jiajia.

 

“Hey, little one.”

 

Lan Jiajia first responded gently, then turned to me with a wry smile, “Your friend even covers students from Starlight Elementary School?”

 

“I don’t know why it turned out this way.”

 

I also felt helpless, “It’s just… by coincidence, I went inside to play, and then, by coincidence, I sat next to Xiaofei. We chatted for a bit, and that’s how we got to know each other.”

 

“Should I say that little Lolita’s best friends are all little Lolitas?”

 

It’s clear that Lan Jiajia likes Zhou Xiaofei’s appearance, and there’s even a kind of “overflowing maternal aura.”

 

She looked at the large bags we brought back, “Did you buy so much stuff?”

 

“Yeah, tonight I have a friend who can eat a lot coming over. She’s going to live with us from now on, and today is Xiao Mo’s birthday.”

 

I carried the things and walked towards the kitchen, “That friend will stay in Xiao Mo’s room before. And she might also work at the cafe.”

 

“The girl with the super big chest from the cafe just now?”

 

“Her name is Fei Luo.”

 

“No wonder.”

 

Lan Jiajia took the bags I left behind and followed me to the kitchen, roughly checking the contents of the bags, “These… fish? Crabs? And two chickens, so much?”

 

“We can have them for breakfast tomorrow if we can’t finish them.”

 

After putting the things in the kitchen, I returned to the living room and glanced at Zhou Xiaofei, who still seemed a bit reserved at the entrance, “Xiaofei, come in, don’t be shy. I’ve already said, treat it like your own home.”

 

“I… my home is not this big.”

 

Although still shy, the young girl gathered courage and walked in. She looked at the neatly arranged flower pots in the living room, as well as the decorations and the large TV, saying with emotion, “So beautiful…”

 

“These are all arranged by Xiao Mo, she likes playing with flowers and plants in her free time.”

 

I smiled and opened the refrigerator in the kitchen, “What beverage would you like?”

 

“Uh… I…”

 

Zhou Xiaofei waved her hand, “I’ll pass.”

 

“It’s okay, you’re too reserved. We had a good chat back at school, didn’t we?”

 

I took out a can of cola and peach juice, “Which one do you want?”

 

The girl showed an envious expression, hesitated for a moment, “The pink juice, please.”

 

“Sure.”

 

I tossed the canned juice towards Zhou Xiaofei with a flick of my hand, “Catch!”

 

“Huh? Uh, hey—”

 

My sudden move caught the girl off guard, and she instinctively took a few steps towards me, reaching out to catch it.

 

“Wait a moment, I’ll cut some watermelon for you.”

 

Back in the kitchen, I grabbed a fruit knife and brought out a slice of watermelon from the fridge. Skillfully, I cut the watermelon into pieces, neatly arranged them on a plate, and inserted toothpicks.

 

“Here, have some watermelon first. The meal might take over an hour to be ready.”

 

Using the graceful steps I learned when working at the cafe as a maid, I walked into the living room with the plate of neatly arranged watermelon. I placed the plate on the table in front of Zhou Xiaofei, found the remote control under the table, and turned on the TV.

 

“There you go, you can watch TV for now. If you like any channel, press these buttons, this one is for the next channel, and this is for the previous channel. Press ‘OK’ once you’ve decided, or if you have any trouble with your homework, feel free to ask me.”

 

“Um… thank you.”

 

It’s evident that Zhou Xiaofei is very happy. She eagerly took the fruit plate, sat obediently on the sofa, and observed the watermelon I handed over with joy. She seemed a bit hesitant to use the TV remote control to change channels, resembling those kids I remember, who, when visiting relatives with their parents, would sit quietly on a chair, afraid to move.

 

Seeing this, I didn’t say anything and returned to the kitchen.

 

“Seven large crabs, well, tonight with you, Xiao Mo, Fei Luo, and the other kid over there, five people in total. That means each person gets to eat one crab on average.”

 

In the kitchen, Lan Jiajia had already unpacked the bags I brought back, “What about these two chickens? How do you plan to deal with them?”

 

“Wait, seven crabs for five people?”

 

Lan Jiajia’s words left me stunned for a few seconds. Originally, I thought Lan Jiajia would have two crabs, I would have one, and Xiao Mo and Fei Luo would each have three, with an additional one according to the ‘cat litter box theorem.’ That should be a total of ten crabs. It seems I miscalculated and forgot to include one person.

 

Oh, right, I was thinking of “Xiao Mo and Fei Luo each getting three,” but somehow, during the calculation, I mistook it as “both getting three,” and ended up buying seven crabs.

 

Have I really become so bad at basic arithmetic even in elementary school?

 

“Yeah, isn’t it for five people?”

 

Lan Jiajia asked in confusion, “Is someone else coming tonight?”

 

“Ah… nothing, never mind.” I felt my face heating up. “I probably won’t be able to eat so much. Half a crab should be enough for me, and I’ll leave the rest to Xiao Mo and Fei Luo.”

 

“I can’t eat seafood either. The health check showed that my uric acid level is a bit high, probably from my frequent milk tea consumption. Seafood is a high-purine food. I’ll just eat half a crab with you, like you, Nuo’er.” Lan Jiajia smiled and took the bag of vegetables.

 

“I’ll take care of this.”

 

“Is it okay?”

 

Hearing Lan Jiajia say this, I was a bit concerned. “Is it significantly high?”

 

I remember that high uric acid is also known as the “disease of affluence.” Humans had a gene segment capable of breaking down uric acid in their DNA a long time ago, but due to a period of severe food scarcity, that gene was permanently closed. Modern people are prone to high uric acid if they consume too much seafood and meat, especially animal organs, such as pig liver, kidneys, and intestines, or if they drink too much meat broth. Without control, exercise, and adequate water intake to promote metabolism, it can lead to gout, causing pain in the hands and feet. In severe cases, it can evolve into kidney disease, renal failure, and organ failure throughout the body.

 

Apart from animal organs and various meat broths, high-sugar foods can also trigger this condition, such as milk tea and cola.

 

“It’s not a lot, just a little over the limit. There aren’t any particularly noticeable symptoms, but it needs to be controlled.” Lan Jiajia said while picking vegetables.

 

“That’s why I quit my editing job to do this. Being a maid at the cafe involves a lot of movement every day, and the doctor said that a high level of exercise is very helpful in reducing uric acid.”

 

Indeed, diseases of affluence tend to arise when people have sedentary jobs. Lan Jiajia’s previous editing job required her to sit in an office all day, and with a diet heavy in milk tea and rich foods, it’s easy to fall ill in such circumstances.

 

So it seems that tonight, Xiao Mo and the others will have to handle these seafood. After all, they aren’t human, they can eat whatever.

 

As for Zhou Xiao… her family is relatively poor, and they probably don’t get to eat these kinds of things regularly, so it’s okay if they have it once in a long while.

 

“I plan to make Orleans roasted chicken and a herbal steamed chicken similar to what they make in the cafe with these two chickens.”

 

I opened the lid of the pot on the induction cooker, which was filled with a large bowl of black agar jelly. Using a small knife, I carefully poked the solid inside.

 

It was soft and had set.

 

Hmm, it looks like it was a success.

Perfect.

 

Wearing gloves, I carefully lifted the pot from the induction cooker, walked to the countertop, grabbed a large bowl, started cutting the black agar jelly inside into pieces, filled it up, and then added honey.

 

After organizing everything, I placed the filled black agar jelly into the refrigerator.

 

With this, we’ll spend about an hour cooking, an hour eating, then take a short break, close to three hours in total. That should be enough time for the refrigerator to bring the temperature of this dessert down to a delicious level.

 

After completing all of this, I squatted down and found the oven that I brought home from the first floor of the Wujia Apartments and rarely used since then. I moved it to the countertop.

 

“Do we have aluminum foil?”

 

“Here you go, over there.”

 

Lan Jiajia lifted her foot and took down a roll of aluminum foil from the kitchen shelf. “Our Nuo’er is really diligent.”

 

“We were too poor back then, we had to make our own food.”

 

I found the seasoning powder for Orleans roasted chicken from the ingredient box and started preparing the whole chicken we bought.

 

“Then I’ll help prepare the steamed fish. I’ve learned it quite well too.”

 

Lan Jiajia put on an apron, assuming the appearance of a diligent mom, and opened a bag of ingredients I had bought. “Is it this one?”

 

“Yeah, the one with the cordyceps inside.”

 

I took a quick look. “Exactly, this one, this one, and this one. Add some salt, soy sauce, and chicken essence, and it should be good.”

 

“Got it!”

 

The girl beside me, wearing an apron, began to clean the chicken.

 

“By the way, Nuo’er, how did you originally meet Xiao Mo?”

 

While cooking together, Lan Jiajia casually asked.

 

“How did I meet Xiao Mo?”

 

I was taken aback, then pretended to be in deep thought while continuing to work on the Orleans roasted chicken in front of me.

 

“Well… it’s quite complicated. We met very early, and you could say it’s a kind of fateful connection.”

 

I really don’t know how to explain this to you.

 

I can’t just honestly tell you: in my previous life, I was a hero, and Xiao Mo was a little demon I saved. Because I treated Xiao Mo so well, I attracted the ethereal affection of a young girl, and then I was betrayed by close ones, eventually sacrificed. The girl sought revenge for me, followed me to this world, and turned me into the little girl I am now, right?

 

Even if I say that, not many people would believe it.

 

“It’s evident that you two have a good relationship.”

 

Lan Jiajia didn’t seem to mind my vague explanation. “Nuo’er, do you know? Several times in the morning, I saw Xiao Mo sitting in the living room, staring at her phone. It was filled with pictures of you.”

 

Huh? Is that so?

 

“And Xiao Mo’s drawing skills are exceptional. One time, I saw her holding a notebook, copying your photos from her phone. She’s truly the most talented artist I’ve ever seen.”

 

Hmm… I knew that Xiao Mo could draw. Having lived for hundreds or thousands of years, it’s not surprising that she can draw. The skill of drawing theoretically knows no boundaries, much like music. I’m a novelist, if I primarily relied on that for a living and found myself in a different world or even another country with a different language, I might struggle to make ends meet. But drawing is different, it doesn’t require language. Pictures and music are universal, even in other worlds.

 

“I suggest Xiao Mo could pursue this direction,” Lan Jiajia continued.

 

“Her artwork is truly perfect, whether it’s realistic style or anime, cel-shading, impasto, and other styles. It’s even better than the artists we had at our company when I was still an editor.”

 

Well… if Xiao Mo likes it, I’ll fully support her. But now, if she wants to draw, she first needs a drawing tablet.

 

The cheaper ones cost a few hundred, while the better ones go for thousands, and some even reach tens of thousands. For Xiao Mo, I definitely don’t want her to start with a very basic one. If possible, I’d like to buy her a better graphics tablet after I get paid next month…

 

“Don’t talk about us…”

 

Upon hearing this, I deliberately changed the subject. “How did Sister Lan and Ai Luodi get to know each other?”

 

“Ai Luodi and I?” Lan Jiajia paused.

 

“We… we met online, through playing games.”

 

“Swordnet Romance III?”

 

“Yes, that game has been around for a long time. Even now, the players who still play it are mostly veterans.”

 

Seemingly triggered by my words, Lan Jiajia fell silent for a moment. “At that time, my profession was “Little Yellow Chicken”… uh, in simpler terms, it was a hidden sword technique. This sect had a school uniform that was yellow, the same color as a newly hatched chick. And this profession used a sword, jumping around like a little chick, so the players who played this profession were said to be the cute and silly type. Thus, it got the nickname “Little Yellow Chicken”.”

 

“At that time, I had just entered university. I wasn’t into chasing stars or shopping, and there was a bit of a gap with the girls in my dormitory. So, I thought about playing online games like boys. I randomly searched online and found this online game. I was still a normal girl back then, and when I looked at the profession skills, I thought… wow, the hidden sword technique looks so cool. A long-haired handsome man with a sword, very ‘wandering swordsman.’ Even though it was a male character, considering that I was here to play a game, not to date, I didn’t care that much and chose that profession.”

 

“At the beginning of the first year, everything was pretty normal. I joined a not-so-famous guild, and because I chose a male character, they always thought I was a guy. I didn’t spend much time playing the game every day. I just did the dailies and checked if there were any costumes I liked to buy. I thought I wouldn’t get too deep into this game. In the second year, after finishing the dailies, I hung out by the roadside to enjoy the scenery. Suddenly, a husky came running over, and the first thing it said was, ‘Hey, brother, got any money? Give me some. From now on, I’ve got your back.'”

 

“Huskies in the game are officially called ‘Celestial Strategies’ because this profession, when it goes crazy, can’t be restrained, just like an unleashed husky. So, it got this nickname. When that husky approached me, I was drinking soda in front of the screen and ended up spraying it…”

 

As Lan Jiajia spoke, she placed the cleaned chicken aside and started seasoning it. “That’s how we met. Because Husky was also a male profession, a Celestial Strategy, and we both had a male character build. He called me ‘brother,’ so I jokingly called him ‘big brother.’ I thought he was a guy, and he thought I was a guy. We played together throughout university until I graduated. Even when I became an editor, he didn’t quit the game. Since my guild disbanded at that time, I joined his guild and publicly claimed that we were a couple.”

 

“A couple means partners in the game.”

 

“Do you know? Ai Luodi is really domineering in the game, very assertive. She gives me the feeling of a little gangster, but she’s also quite wealthy. She bought me a lot of costumes.”

 

“At that time, because both of us had male characters, people in the guild thought we were, you know… engaged in a certain type of relationship. Cough, cough. They teased us continuously. I didn’t realize it at the time. I thought I was a girl, and he was a guy, so there was nothing wrong. Unexpectedly, Ai Luodi also thought the same.”

 

“As for what happened later, you probably know. We’ve been playing games together for so many years. We only started using voice chat for the first time last month, and it turned out both Ai Luodi and I sound like girls. The whole guild was in an uproar.”

 

Wow… Jiajia’s story gave me a feeling of watching a romantic comedy.

 

It’s rare to have a good friend who can play games together since college, continue playing after graduation, and still maintain a strong bond while working. At least for me, during my university days, I often played games with roommates and classmates. However, after graduation, everyone went their separate ways. Even though the gaming group and dorm chat group still existed, there was hardly any conversation. Two roommates even cleared their QQ friends, and I don’t know if it was because they hadn’t logged in for too long and got deleted or if they intentionally deactivated their accounts.

 

Instances like Lan Jiajia and Ai Luodi, who continued gaming together after college, remained friends in real life within the same city, and had a good relationship after meeting in person, are indeed very rare.

 

“Xiao Ai has irregular sleep patterns and is a picky eater. It’s been like this since our college days.”

 

Putting the marinated chicken into the steamer, Lan Jiajia said in a gentle tone, “Back then, every time we did a dungeon together, she would say, ‘Oh, I’m going to buy a pack of spicy strips. I’m going to buy a bottle of cola. Brother, wait for me. Don’t eat alone.’ And now, it’s still the same. I used to oppose her working night shifts, but looking at her now, doing some exercise at night seems to be beneficial for her. She sleeps enough during the day after coming back here.”

 

“Then…”

 

I cautiously asked, “What kind of relationship does Sister Lan have with Sister Ai Luodi?”

 

“Why? Little girl, are you trying to get information from this big sister here?”

 

Lan Jiajia turned her head alertly and tossed me a handful of vegetables. “You’re small but crafty. Go cut the vegetables!”

 

I complained, “I’m not small! I’m already an adult!”

 

“In my eyes, you’re still a child. Take a look at yourself. What part of you looks like an adult? Huh?”

 

Lan Jiajia reached out and measured the tuft of hair on my head, then gestured to my waist and chest. ” Height? Appearance? Or this… it doesn’t look like an adult’s chest.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

Lan Jiajia, you are so heartless…

 

“Since you’ve bought so many things, you should eat more later. Don’t be picky like that girl Ai Luodi. You’ll only grow if you eat enough.”

 

While speaking, Lan Jiajia gestured towards Zhou Xiaofei in the living room. “I saw her eating the watermelon and only finished half. Is the melon you gave her not sweet?”

 

“Really?”

 

Only then did I notice the little one in the living room. As Lan Jiajia mentioned, only half of the watermelon on the table was eaten, and the other half remained perfectly untouched.

 

If I remember correctly, when I was cutting the watermelon, I deliberately chose the smallest piece and portioned it according to my own appetite. It couldn’t have been cut too much. Zhou Xiaofei and Li Denghua had just returned from school, so there shouldn’t be a situation of “being full.”

 

Although Nanqi District is a sparsely populated suburb, the quality of fruits here is quite good. Moreover, it is currently May, the season when watermelons ripen and hit the market. Lan Jiajia and I usually buy watermelons from nearby fruit stalls. Most of these fruit stalls have been around for several years, and it’s unlikely to get a “raw egg” watermelon.

 

Could it be that Zhou Xiaofei didn’t eat the melon because she was too engrossed in watching cartoons?

 

“I’ll go ask and see.”

 

After putting the marinated Orleans roast chicken powder and some chicken steaming ingredients into the oven and setting the time, I quickly washed my hands and left the living room.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Approaching Zhou Xiaofei, who was watching TV, I asked curiously, “Is the watermelon not sweet?”

 

At this moment, the children’s channel on TV was playing the classic animated series “Rainbow Cat & Blue Rabbit: Legend of the Seven Swords.” The plot had progressed to the scene where Niu Xuanfeng and Da Ben were having a conversation – “I’m just playing with you. We’re friends. Why would I steal your wife?”

 

“It’s sweet, very delicious.”

 

Upon hearing my gaze, the little one, still looking at the TV, turned her eyes back. “The TV show is very interesting.”

 

“Uh…”

 

I became even more curious, “Then you should eat it quickly, if you don’t finish the watermelon after cutting it into pieces, it might change flavor in this hot weather.”

 

“Oh…”

 

After hearing my words, Zhou Xiaofei hesitated for a moment. “I… I want to take it back for my grandmother.”

 

Huh?

 

At that moment, I suddenly understood the meaning behind Li Denghua’s look of “Zhou Xiaofei is entrusted to you” earlier.

 

No wonder she saw that I had bought so much and was trying everything to push Zhou Xiaofei towards me.

 

So, when she said Zhou Xiaofei’s family was poor before… it had reached this point.

 

“It’s okay, you can eat it here. We have a lot more in the fridge.”

 

Realizing the situation, I hurriedly said, “It’s okay, I can give you another watermelon when you go back in the evening. It’s frozen in the fridge…”

 

“No, no, no, I can’t take Sister’s things for free. My grandmother told me… We have to be down-to-earth and rely on our own efforts…”

 

“Did your grandmother tell you that you shouldn’t refuse gifts from friends? It’s impolite, you know?” I smiled.

 

“It really doesn’t matter. I said before, you’re too reserved. Just treat me as a friend.”

 

During this season, watermelons were really not expensive. Watermelons from street vendors could be bought for around two or three yuan, or priced at three yuan each or three for ten yuan. Even at the fixed fruit stalls, buying premium varieties like Kirin melons, seedless large watermelons, or carefully cultivated breeds would cost less than one yuan per kilogram. A melon weighing ten to twenty kilograms would only cost around twenty yuan.

 

“Ah…”

 

My words made Zhou Xiaofei even more embarrassed. She glanced at the uneaten watermelon on the table, seemed to endure for a moment, and finally couldn’t resist the temptation, bringing the plate over.

 

At that moment, there was a “ding-dong” knock on the door in the entrance area.

 

“Coming!”

 

I hurried over and checked through the peephole. Upon seeing a middle-aged woman outside, I opened the door and asked, “May I help you?”

 

“Oh, I’m Ai Luodi’s mother. I happened to be passing by and heard that Ai Luodi has been doing well recently, making lots of friends, so I came over to take a look.”

 

The middle-aged woman waved at me and glanced around the living room and kitchen, saying, “Oh, it’s lively here, huh?”

 

“Ai Luodi’s mother?” I was surprised, quickly taking off my shoes.

 

“Welcome, welcome!”

 

“My daughter said she has had a boyfriend since college, and they’ve been together till now. They met in a game, talking about something like ‘Little Yellow Chicken’ that others play. She mentioned he’s living here…”

 

The middle-aged woman, claiming to be Ai Luodi’s mother, changed into slippers and walked into the house.

 

“Is her boyfriend here?”

 

“……”

 

……