Family Chef

Chen Miemie had been back in Sixiang City for only three days, yet he felt that something was seriously off. The problem was, he couldn’t put his finger on what.

Tonight, it was his turn to patrol the streets with his partner, Xi.

Xi still couldn’t believe that Chen Miemie had already reached [Mystery] 5.

“Chen Miemie, how could you possibly have reached [Mystery] 5? Before you left Sixiang City, you were only at 3.4—not even as high as my 3.5. But in just three months, I worked hard on my paintings at home without slacking off for even a moment, and I only barely made it to 3.9. This is way too unreasonable.”

Xi was known as a genius among hereditary mystics. Her progress was already astonishingly fast.

Chen Miemie gave two little snorts. “Heh, heh. [Mystery] has never been reasonable.”

Xi sensed Chen Miemie’s listlessness. “Why do you seem so down? What could possibly be bothering someone who has already won at life?”

“I don’t know, either. I was perfectly fine at the Moon Library, but as soon as I came back to Sixiang City, I became like this. I can’t figure out why.”

“What’s different? Or rather, what did you do at this time every day when you were at the Moon Library?”

“Run my shop. Every night, I’d operate my little store and wait for customers to come in.”

“Is that so? Then I have a theory.”

“What theory?”

“Before, when you found out that I was a painter and a consultant for the fire department, you showed a great deal of interest. You also ran a shop while you were at the Moon Library. So… do you need to find something to do? Maybe you’re just a little bored every day.”

“That’s possible. I’ve actually been thinking about what I should do.”

“Then take your time and figure it out. When there’s something you truly want to do, you won’t overlook it.”

After Chen Miemie and Xi finished their patrol, they returned to [Silver Moon Court].

Chen Miemie received a message.

Time: 10:13 p.m.

Sender: Mian Ruyan

Message: I’ve made up my mind. I want to join. Where do I report?

Chen Miemie replied that she should come directly to his home the next morning.

The next day, at 10:30 a.m., Mian Ruyan arrived at Apartment 1803 in the South District right on time.

Chen Miemie opened the door for her and invited her to sit on the sofa.

“Mian Ruyan, we’ve been classmates for many years, so I’m going to nag you about this just once. This is a decision that will affect your entire life. If you decide to join, your life will change completely. You’ll often find yourself keeping company with strange entities. This is your last chance to change your mind.”

Mian Ruyan looked very serious.

“Chen Miemie, I only came after thinking it through carefully, and my family supports my decision.

“When I first graduated from school, I was very naïve. I thought that because I was born into the Mian family, I could rely on the family’s businesses and live comfortably without worrying about food or clothes.

“But little by little, I came to understand how hard my parents had worked to fight for resources, and how awkward my elder sister’s position was among the witches.

“Last time, when Mengmeng and I went to the [Fat Orange Hotel], I experienced firsthand what it felt like to have my life and death controlled by others.

“It’s not that I don’t want to live comfortably as a spoiled heiress forever. It’s just that everything comes at a price. In the past, my family sheltered me from the wind and rain. But if I keep muddling through life and doing nothing, then one day I’ll have to repay that debt.

“Now that you’re offering me a chance to make use of my nearly useless [Mystery], I have to seize it.”

Chen Miemie took out a small booklet and handed it to her.

“Sign your name.”

Mian Ruyan accepted the booklet. The page before her was blank, while many of the earlier pages had already been used.

She didn’t flip through the previous pages out of curiosity. She merely blinked twice and looked at Chen Miemie.

“Do you have a pen?”

Chen Miemie pointed at the booklet. A quill made of yellow moonlight appeared on it.

Mian Ruyan signed her name.

Chen Miemie put the booklet away.

“Excellent. From this moment on, you’re one of us in [As the Moon Endures].”

Mian Ruyan was a little excited, too. “That’s right! I’m a member of the new species now. Was that some kind of mysterious ritual just now? Does signing your name mean that someone gains control over your life and death, like in some super-powered notebook?”

“Not exactly. That was just a step I added at the last minute to make things feel more ceremonial. Pretty cool, right?”

Mian Ruyan was speechless, though she wasn’t particularly surprised. This was exactly the sort of thing Chen Miemie would do.

“Chen Miemie, now that I’ve joined [As the Moon Endures], what do I need to do?”

“Two things. First, make friends with the strange entities. Second, train your [Mystery].”

“Huh? You don’t need me to complete missions or go out into battle with everyone?”

Chen Miemie looked at Mian Ruyan disdainfully. “You don’t have any combat ability.”

“I can make dishes that heal strange entities right on the spot!”

“That won’t be necessary for now. Your Mystery level is too low. Focus on improving yourself first. Oh, and you can choose a room in Apartment 1801 across the hall as a temporary place to stay. There are three empty rooms in there. Pick whichever one you like.”

Just when Mian Ruyan thought the day’s business was over, she had no idea that her entirely new world was only just beginning.

Chen Miemie waved his hand. “Everyone, come on out. Mian Ruyan is weak, so don’t bully her.”

Mian Ruyan looked up—and the sight before her sent her heart rate soaring past two hundred beats per minute.

The strange entities in the room revealed themselves one after another.

Qinghua, Loop, Bobo, Pure Water, Origami, Red, Daidai, Lost One, Jinguo, Water Gaze, Black Hole, Rebel Broom, Formaldehyde, and more.

A dozen or so strange entities of all sizes and colors, each with a different expression, focused their attention on Mian Ruyan.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Everyone, Chen Miemie included, simply watched her scream.

After a full three seconds, Mian Ruyan stopped on her own. She cautiously asked, “Sorry. I just didn’t quite process this in time. Let me make sure I understand: I’m one of you now, so none of you are going to eat me, right?”

Bobo hopped forward. “I heard you’re great at cooking. Bobo refuses to accept that and challenges you to a contest.”

Chen Miemie chimed in. “The best way to fit into a new group is through everyone’s stomachs. It’s almost lunchtime, so why don’t you show us what you can do?”

Qinghua led Mian Ruyan to the open kitchen.

An hour later.

Chen Miemie stared at the eight dishes laid out on the table. Every one of them had a bizarre color and an abnormal shape. Even their aromas seemed strange.

He was just about to ask, “Is this edible?” when he noticed that all the strange entities looked as though they were starving and eager to eat.

So he immediately changed his words.

“Let’s eat. If you want some, come and get it.”

At that, even Qinghua, Origami, and Pure Water—who normally never ate—gathered around the table.

“Delicious!” Black Hole stuffed a meatball into the eye at the center of its vortex.

“Indeed, quite flavorful.” Forbidden Fruit Bestiary used a leaf of greens as a bookmark, tucking it between its pages.

Pure Water carried some broth back to the fish tank so that Water Gaze could taste the deliciousness, too.

Formaldehyde drifted around the table, inhaling the aroma wafting from the dishes in great gulps.

Bobo, the pineapple roast chicken, was constantly being eaten, but had never actually tasted anything delicious. After taking a sip of the egg custard, it immediately collapsed forward in despair, lying facedown on the plate and murmuring, “I lost. I lost.”

Seeing how happy everyone was as they ate, Chen Miemie tried a bite himself.

“Ugh, what is this flavor? It tastes worse than a can of herring soaked in fermented soybean juice!”

Mian Ruyan didn’t touch her chopsticks. “This is my [Mystery]. To the strange, anything made by my hand is an unsurpassed delicacy—but humans can’t stomach it.”

Chen Miemie tore off one of Bobo’s thighs and gnawed on it a couple of times, washing away the bizarre aftertaste in her mouth.

“You’ve worked hard too. Have a chicken leg and get used to it sooner. This is going to be a staple in our household for the long haul.”