Chapter Forty-Nine: The One Truly Hated

"Too little salt... No, now it's too much."
"It's fine, still salvageable. Just keep stirring my pot of fried rice, that's all it takes, simple enough."
"How did it burn? Oh, you turned up the heat. Don't worry, scrape off the blackened part and leave it out, just don't use high heat next time."
"Your chopping... Haha, uneven thickness is normal. Let me take care of it."
"Too much water. Pour some out... Never mind, I'll do it."
"How about you help me wash the pan, Rin?"
"Don't use steel wool on the non-stick pan!"

After a chaotic bout of cooperation, Rin Tsukimiya began to doubt her very existence.

Maybe we should just order takeout...

Chen Zi'ang, unaware of her inner thoughts, simply finished plating the remaining dishes and carried them out of the kitchen.

"Senpai," Rin Tsukimiya asked cautiously, "do I lack any talent for cooking?"

"You're not too bad," Chen Zi'ang comforted her with a smile. "When I first started learning..."

"Was it as bad as me?"

"...A bit better than you, maybe."

Rin Tsukimiya stood there stunned, feeling a sudden urge to blow up the kitchen.

Once all the dishes were served, Chen Zi'ang, as usual, fed his younger sister first.

As the food reached her lips, Chen Xiaozhu refused to open her mouth, pressing her lips tightly together in silence.

Chen Zi'ang paused, quickly realizing what was wrong and hurried to explain:

"Xiaozhu, I didn't mean to leave without saying goodbye. A sudden urgent case came up a few days ago, and I had to go on a trip to a remote township..."

Chen Xiaozhu still said nothing, turning her head away to leave only the back of her head for her brother.

Go on, keep talking. I won't listen.

Chen Zi'ang tried to persuade her further, but Rin Tsukimiya suddenly spoke up:

"Senpai, should I try?"

She took the rice bowl from Chen Zi'ang and, with a few gentle, clear words, managed to coax Chen Xiaozhu into opening her mouth and eating the food she offered.

Chen Zi'ang: ....................

Big sisters are impossible to keep around, aren't they?

From then on, Chen Xiaozhu accepted all the food Rin Tsukimiya fed her, while ignoring any dish her brother offered, making Chen Zi'ang feel increasingly hopeless.

Xiaozhu! I am your own flesh and blood, your brother!

He quickly shot Rin Tsukimiya a pleading look, scooped up some steamed egg with a spoon, and brought it to Chen Xiaozhu's lips.

Rin Tsukimiya narrated beside him, "Here, Xiaozhu, have some steamed egg."

Chen Xiaozhu opened her mouth, but instead of taking the spoon, she whispered softly:

"Brother, you left me behind. I hate it."

The spoon fell to the floor. Chen Zi'ang, struck as if by lightning, slumped into his chair.

Rin Tsukimiya, sensing the moment, swiftly cleaned the floor and patiently coaxed Chen Xiaozhu to finish her meal, her movements deft and sure.

Chen Zi'ang remained seated, frozen in a gray, lifeless pose, as if his soul had left his body.

"Open wide, Senpai," Rin Tsukimiya teased, bringing food to his lips, only for Chen Zi'ang to suddenly grab her hands with unexpected strength.

"Rin!" he mouthed silently, "Help me win Xiaozhu over!"

Rin Tsukimiya smiled and patted her full chest, meaning, "Leave it to me."

Chen Zi'ang went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Rin Tsukimiya sat beside Chen Xiaozhu and softly recounted their recent trip to Lingyi Town.

"In short, the book has already been taken away by the Nightmare Clan, so most of the trouble has been dealt with."

"I wanted to retrieve the book beforehand, but since it was a projection of the Ghoul King's consciousness, Senpai wouldn't have felt comfortable letting me carry it. Luckily, the Lord of the Deep Sea had been watching over Senpai all along, blocking a deadly attack at a critical moment. It was all within expectations, so we came through unharmed."

At this, Rin Tsukimiya sighed quietly.

"The Security Department of the Far North City is so unreasonable. Even when facing beings as mighty as deities, they make fragile agents risk their lives. I truly wish Senpai would leave this dangerous field, but I know he would never agree."

"Now, all I can do as a colleague and apprentice is stay by his side, helping him face those dangers..."

She paused for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Your brother said he wants to take you to see Xia Zili's concert tomorrow."

Chen Xiaozhu, who had been silent, suddenly opened her mouth:

"...Do you hate her?"

"She's not worth it," Rin Tsukimiya replied calmly. "Her nature is too kind, and it's only natural that she and Senpai, who is committed to justice, would get along."

"But getting along doesn't mean they're suited for each other. Like two identical puzzle pieces, they can't fit together perfectly. Now that she's pursuing a career in entertainment, her path no longer crosses Senpai's. Why waste energy hating her?"

"Xiaozhu, the one I truly despise is the creature who, for filthy ambition and ugly greed, chose to abandon Senpai without mercy..."

Her eyes widened slightly, a cold, dark smile appearing as she gazed out into the vast night sky beyond the window.

Deep pain and fierce malice twined around her heart like creeping vines.

"If I ever meet her again in this life, I doubt I could hold myself back from..."

"...Killing her."

"Rin," Chen Zi'ang called from the kitchen, "there's a bit of crispy fried pork left. Want to take some to eat on the way?"

"Yes, Senpai." Rin Tsukimiya rose from Chen Xiaozhu's side and gave a gentle, charming smile.

Her smile was so pure, adorable, and captivating that even Chen Zi'ang couldn't resist its magical allure. He had to turn away, pretending to check if night had fallen outside, and said,

"It's getting late. I'll walk you out."

Leaving the house, they found themselves beside the clear Tone River, its surface shimmering with pale silver under the moonlight.

Rin Tsukimiya walked along the path, taking long strides, yet always matching Chen Zi'ang's pace—never ahead, never lagging behind.

"So Senpai has always lived here?" she began.

"Yes," Chen Zi'ang nodded. "Never moved."

"Wow, that's nice," Rin Tsukimiya said, her eyes smiling. "I've moved house three times since I was little."

"Moving means saying goodbye to old friends, but you get to meet new ones," Chen Zi'ang replied casually.

"That's right," Rin Tsukimiya laughed. "That's life—you never know whom you'll meet next."

"But most people are just passing through. Even if they're with you for now, the next moment they might leave."

"So, if you ever meet someone you truly want to walk the whole journey with, you must hold on tight, never let go~"

Chen Zi'ang sensed she was speaking in riddles again, but couldn't think how to reply.

Are you talking about me?—too obvious, pointless to ask.

I don't plan on finding a girlfriend right now—too abrupt, she hasn't confessed, not right.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's concert—too forced, that's not how to change the subject.

"Hey, Senpai!" Rin Tsukimiya suddenly pointed at the night sky. "Is that a shooting star?"

"Looks like it," Chen Zi'ang followed her finger to the dark sky, where a shining streak slowly crossed. For a moment, he couldn't tell if it was an airplane's beacon or a falling star.

"Quick, make a wish!" Rin Tsukimiya pressed her hands together, closing her eyes with earnestness, her long lashes quivering.

Chen Zi'ang watched her delicate profile and, unconsciously, closed his eyes, mimicking her gesture.

May this girl find happiness, and meet someone truly worthy of her love...

...Whoever that may be.