Editor: Atlas Studios
Magong Tong still needed to buy so incense for the festival. After seeing off the white cat, she bowed deeply to Beichuan Si, said a few words of thanks, and left.
But before she left, she looked at Beichuan Si with so timid nervousness.
Because Beichuan Si had a stern face, giving no clue of his mood, Magong Tong thought she might have said sothing offensive to him, so she kept sneaking glances at his face as she left.
This small action, of course, did not escape Beichuan Si’s notice.
After Magong Tong left, Beichuan Si curiously touched his own face, took out his phone to check the cara, and, finding nothing peculiar stuck to him, shook his head slightly, not understanding.
Winter evenings always seed to co quickly; it was only half past six in the afternoon, but the sky was already turning a shade of indigo, and the surroundings gradually darkened.
Feeling the change in the environnt around him, Beichuan Si imdiately buried his chin in his scarf and began walking ho without hesitation.
The Beichuan Family ho was not far from the Cure Café.
Beichuan Si walked all the way back and picked up seven or eight skewers of oden from the convenience store, packing them into two crowded boxes.
When it was ti to pay, Beichuan Si tilted his head in thought and added three instant al boxes.
The kitchen at ho was out of ingredients, and he had been busy investigating various matters these past few days, leaving him no ti to go to the market to buy groceries.
An instant al box wasn’t overly expensive, but it still cost around eight or nine hundred yen.
However, in Beichuan Si’s mind, he had calculated that he wasn’t obligated to treat Shen Gu Mirai, so naturally she would have to pay for the third al box herself.
Thinking this way, he quickened his pace and soon arrived at the Beichuan ho.
Beichuan Si pushed open the small iron gate, and before he even took out his key, he could sll the aroma wafting out of the house.
"What is this?" Beichuan Si wondered.
After all, from what Beichuan Si knew, Beichuan Huili didn’t have the habit of grocery shopping. After school, she usually participated in art club activities, or went to karaoke or shopping with friends when invited.
Could it be that Beichuan Huili had suddenly wised up? Had she started bringing groceries ho?
Beichuan Si took out his key, unlocked the door, changed his shoes, and walked straight to the living room, carrying his things.
The scene before his eyes sowhat surprised Beichuan Si.
Shen Gu Mirai had her short hair tied into a ponytail, an apron around her waist, her fingers poised like cat’s paws as she deftly cut vegetables.
In a small frying pan, two fillets of herring sizzled, their flesh scored to absorb flavor, the edges dusted with black pepper powder, sizzling in butter with a rich aroma wafting throughout the room.
Beside her, a small pot gurgled with miso soup, mushrooms rolling in the white broth, their brown skins adorned with beautiful cross-cuts.
Shen Gu Mirai’s exquisite skill drew Beichuan Si’s attention unexpectedly, only—
Beichuan Si looked over expressionlessly to the other side.
Beichuan Huili was watching a small animal program on TV delightedly, seemingly oblivious to his return.
Shen Gu Mirai looked up to wipe her sweat and greeted Beichuan Si, "Welco back, Mr. Temple."
Beichuan Si only murmured a brief acknowledgnt. He then lifted his head to see him putting his things on the table, quickly striding over to Beichuan Huili.
He reached out a large hand, pulling a bewildered Beichuan Huili off the sofa, gripping her collar with his other hand.
"?????" Beichuan Huili.
She was watching the program with interest! So why was she suddenly hoisted up?
She flailed her limbs instinctively, her little head tipping backward.
And then... she saw Beichuan Si’s expressionless face.
The struggle stopped, and Beichuan Huili’s heart seed to skip a beat as cold sweat trickled down her smooth forehead.
Uh...
Beichuan Huili didn’t know what her face looked like now; she could only force a twitch of her mouth into a smile.
Beichuan Huili didn’t know what her smile was like, but if "bitter smile" existed as an expression, it might look just like this.
The siblings stared at each other for quite a while before Beichuan Si’s voice, faint as it was, broke the silence.
"Shinkai is over there busy cooking, and you’re here watching TV?"
Beichuan Huili shivered, her body trembling before she spoke, wronged, "I’ll go help right away..."
Though her mouth said so, her gaze involuntarily wandered back to the television.
"...." Beichuan Si couldn’t help but knock gently on Beichuan Huili’s head, saying calmly, "No need, I’ll go take a look."
Saying this, Beichuan Si set Beichuan Huili down and turned around to ask,
"Do you need any help, Shinkai?"
"Ah... No need, I was just dealing with so side dishes, and I’m almost done now." Shen Gu Mirai wiped her hands on her apron, feeling oddly guilty as she averted her gaze from Beichuan Si and Beichuan Huili.
In truth, Beichuan Huili had initially wanted to help, but Shen Gu Mirai insisted she sit down and rest.
If Beichuan Si found out about this...
Just thinking about it, the sound of Shen Gu Mirai scrubbing the impeccably clean plates intensified.
"?" Beichuan Si.
Beichuan Si seed to sense sothing, turning his head to look toward Shen Gu Mirai.
"Let’s eat." Shen Gu Mirai cleared her throat, bringing out dishes from the kitchen to place on the dining table one after another.
Steam wafting, there was miso soup, pan-fried herring, salted vegetables, and cherry tomatoes as side dishes.
Just by looking, these dishes appeared very appealing.
Yet Beichuan Si rely sniffed at the aroma, without moving his chopsticks.
And with him, as the "head of the household," not moving his chopsticks, Shen Gu Mirai and Beichuan Huili likewise hesitated, abstaining from eating.
The two girls exchanged glances, faint puzzlent on their faces.
After a while, Beichuan Si spoke,
"The ingredients for tonight’s dinner must have been bought by Shinkai, right?"
"Well, I checked the fridge this morning and found there wasn’t much left. I thought I couldn’t stay at your place for free, so..." Shen Gu Mirai scratched her head. "Is sothing wrong, Mr. Temple?"
Uh...
Beichuan Si looked at the homade al before him and then at the few cold instant al boxes he’d bought that required reheating.
He pondered for a mont, then took out the thirty-five thousand yen given to him and placed it in front of Shen Gu Mirai.
"Mr. Temple?" Shen Gu Mirai blinked.
"I’ve ntioned it before," Beichuan Si said, calm and unperturbed. "I might go to Yashan City tomorrow or the day after, and at that ti, Huili will surely need soone to look after her. So I’d like you to help take care of Huili for a few days, and these thirty-five thousand yen will be your compensation."
His deanor was steady and natural, not much different from usual.
Yet Shen Gu Mirai was stunned upon hearing Beichuan Si’s words.
She couldn’t help but give him a sidelong glance.
This kind of request, if ntioned to her, she wouldn’t have had any reason to refuse, right?
So why bother giving money for it?
Shen Gu Mirai couldn’t help but ponder.
After a while, she realized she had overcomplicated things.
To put it bluntly, Beichuan Si just didn’t want to take advantage of her.
Similarly, considering Beichuan Si’s ticulous nature, Shen Gu Mirai couldn’t help admiring his astute mind.
Thirty-five thousand yen was undoubtedly a hefty sum for a high school student.
Yet compared to owing a favor, this money seed trivial.
From this act, Shen Gu Mirai sensitively perceived that "Beichuan Si doesn’t like owing favors."
But—
A gleam suddenly flickered in Shen Gu Mirai’s eyes.
This might be an opportunity for her!
She took a deep breath and, with her exquisite large eyes, looked at Beichuan Si,
"Mr. Temple, aren’t we friends? Taking care of Huili is a small thing, you don’t need to return the money to ."
Having said this, Shen Gu Mirai felt more nervous than ever.
Her whole body tense, she looked seriously at Beichuan Si, awaiting his response.
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