"Would you like to have some soup tonight?" Seeing Bai Yuyou eyeing the couples around them with eager curiosity, Ye Shuang quickly changed the subject.
"Soup..."
"Yeah, what kind would you like?" Noticing the little foodie's attention shift to the mention of food, Ye Shuang smiled.
Bai Yuyou thought for a moment before lowering her eyes. "I... haven't had any before."
"Never?"
"Mmm." Bai Yuyou seemed to recall something. "I've had instant noodle broth. It was salty and spicy."
"That doesn’t count," Ye Shuang said gently. "In that case, let’s make corn and carrot pork rib soup—our province’s signature soup."
"Signature soup?"
"Yep."
"What’s a signature soup?"
"Uh..."
After buying some fresh ribs at the nearby market, Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou headed straight to the kitchen as soon as they got home.
"Bai Yuyou, slice some ginger for me," Ye Shuang said, rinsing the ribs before pulling out the soup pot they’d bought.
"Okay."
Bai Yuyou had learned how to chop vegetables by now—at least she no longer raised the knife high and hacked down with all her might. That kind of technique would’ve left her with no fingers to spare.
Ye Shuang placed the ribs in cold water, added a few slices of ginger Bai Yuyou had prepared, and turned on the heat to blanch them.
"You did a great job with the slicing," Ye Shuang praised, never missing a chance to encourage her.
Though Bai Yuyou’s expression remained neutral, the slight sway of her ahoge betrayed her delight at the compliment.
"Someone from our province should know how to make soup," Ye Shuang said, smiling at her. "Pay close attention so you can make it for yourself someday."
Bai Yuyou suddenly looked up, tilting her head. "For myself... Won’t you drink it with me, Ye Shuang?"
Ye Shuang paused, surprised by her sensitivity. "Of course I will. I just meant I’d like to taste the soup you make."
"Oh." Bai Yuyou nodded, watching as bubbles began to rise in the pot.
"The first step in making rib soup is blanching the ribs," Ye Shuang explained. "It removes impurities and scum, so you have to start with cold water."
"Why cold water?" Bai Yuyou asked.
"If you use hot water, the blood and fat will coagulate and stay trapped inside the meat. Cold water lets it release slowly as it heats up."
Ye Shuang went into detail, wanting Bai Yuyou to learn properly so she could take care of herself.
The next steps were simple—skim off the foam, then add carrots and corn for a homestyle corn and carrot pork rib soup.
"Add some salt." When the soup was nearly done, Ye Shuang seasoned it. "Oh, and always add salt just before serving. If you add it too early, the ribs will toughen up, and the flavor won’t come through as well."
Bai Yuyou nodded.
"Taste’s about right." Ye Shuang ladled some into a bowl and handed it to Bai Yuyou. "Try it."
Bai Yuyou took a small sip of the clear, fragrant broth—
"It’s delicious..." A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks as the sweet, savory warmth of the soup filled her body.
"Right?" Ye Shuang grinned.
But then Bai Yuyou held out the bowl, leaving just a sip inside. "Ye Shuang, you drink too... It’s really good."
Ye Shuang looked at the bowl in her hands and sighed. "No."
"Why?"
"Because you shouldn’t share a bowl you’ve already drunk from," he said.
Bai Yuyou didn’t understand, but she nodded anyway.
Ye Shuang stir-fried a couple of side dishes and tried teaching Bai Yuyou how to fry an egg. When she produced a charred, unidentifiable lump, he realized this girl might have zero talent for cooking.
Dinner ended around seven. This time, Bai Yuyou didn’t pester Ye Shuang to bathe with her—he’d made it clear she had to choose between bathing together or sleeping together.
After some thought, Bai Yuyou decided sleeping together was better.
Bathing only lasted a little while, but sleeping meant she could stay close to Ye Shuang for much longer.
Once Bai Yuyou headed to the shower, Ye Shuang pulled out his phone to browse the news, only to see several new messages from Chen Hai.
Chen Hai: You free? Let’s grab tea!
Ye Shuang called him right away.
The line connected after a few rings. "Hey."
"Why the sudden invite for tea?" Ye Shuang asked.
"Uh..." For some reason, Chen Hai’s voice sounded strained. After a pause, he said, "Just felt like hanging out. You free?"
Ye Shuang didn’t pick up on the odd tone and agreed. "Sure, I just finished dinner. Where?"
"You’ve eaten? Never mind then, just rest up." Chen Hai abruptly backtracked.
Now Ye Shuang sensed something off. "What’s going on with you? You’re acting weird."
"It’s nothing... I’ll send you the address."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Ye Shuang glanced toward the bathroom and called out,
"Bai Yuyou, I’m heading out to meet a friend. Once you’re done showering, stay home and behave."
The bathroom door flew open instantly—Bai Yuyou stepped out, completely naked. "Going out?"
"You dummy, don’t run around like that!" Ye Shuang immediately pushed her back inside. About a minute later, Bai Yuyou reappeared, her clothes clinging wetly to her skin.
Ye Shuang: "..."
He regretted not waiting until she’d finished showering.
"Why the rush?" Ye Shuang grabbed a large towel and started drying her hair. "Arms up."
Bai Yuyou obediently raised her hands, letting him peel off her soaked, semi-transparent clothes before wrapping her snugly in the towel.
"I don’t want to be apart from you," she murmured.
Ye Shuang suddenly realized just how clingy this girl was, despite their short time together.
But considering Bai Yuyou’s past, it made sense for someone who’d once had no one to rely on to latch onto him like this.
After a moment’s thought, Ye Shuang figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring her along—Chen Hai had met her before, and he could just give her some snacks to keep her quietly occupied.
"Fine, I’ll take you with me."
"Okay."
"Don’t hug me like that—the towel’s slipping!"
Following the address Chen Hai had sent, Ye Shuang rode his motorcycle with Bai Yuyou to their destination—one of Chen Hai’s apartments.
After reaching the 20th floor, Ye Shuang rang the doorbell.
"Chen Hai."
The door opened—but instead of Chen Hai, a tall, beautiful woman with wavy hair stood there.
"Ye Shuang!"
"Chen Qin?"
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
