Zhu Shi glanced askance at Lu Chan and said, "What misunderstanding? Last time you took out your phone right in front of me, I happened to catch a glimpse of it. Don't think I haven't played that game; your phone's wallpaper is..."

"Ah— the soup in the kitchen is boiling, I need to go back immediately!"

Lu Chan suddenly exclaimed loudly and hurriedly walked towards the kitchen.

I remember there should be a duplicate of him handling things in the kitchen.

Although Little Bowl ultimately didn't cook, she did help with the simple task of bringing out the cooked dishes.

By the way, this residence doesn't have any servants. During the time I was away, Mazao was mostly the only one in the residence, and later only Zhu Shi accompanied her. She didn't like strangers moving around in her living space. She could handle household chores using the Power of Return, which was indeed more convenient than hiring someone to clean.

Mr. Zhu also sent a message to notify Changan about my return.

Changan has now transferred to the Luoshan Demon Hunter Academy, becoming a very rare Luoshan Disciple who possessed achieved level powers upon enrollment. Mr. Zhu told him to come over after school, but he skipped school and sneaked over to the residence to see me.

His appearance hasn't changed much since the last time we parted. Which is expected, given that it's only been over four months. However, his demeanor seems more confident now; to put it rudely, he seems more roguish. I suspect he's become somewhat high-flying in Luoshan Academy, as if living a life straight out of an online novel. Truly enviable.

"You little punk, what did I say to you in the text messages!" Mr. Zhu blew his beard and glared.

"Ah haha, I was just eager to see Ah Cheng..."

Changan scratched his head and smiled foolishly, then he noticed Little Bowl bringing out a plate of fried vegetables, and his eyes went wide.

"Who is that kid that looks exactly like Zhu Shi when he was little?" Changan suddenly turned to Mr. Zhu.

The reprimanding voice suddenly disappeared, and Mr. Zhu fell into an eerie silence. I had to step in for Mr. Zhu to explain it all to Changan.

Little Bowl placed the fried vegetables on the table, smiling at Changan. Changan looked as if his worldview had been shattered, disbelief written all over his face, his gaze shifting back and forth between me, who was explaining, and Little Bowl.

A moment later, he finally squeezed out a sentence: "My mother acquired a loli daughter attribute and landed again!?"

"You and Zhu Shi really are true siblings." I said.

However, unlike his relationship with Zhu Shi, Zhu Jiu is not Changan's biological mother, so their relationship is not as close. As for Little Bowl's existence, Changan processed and accepted it better than Zhu Shi. In the end, he looked at Little Bowl with a complex gaze, and Little Bowl also looked at him with many emotions.

"Changan, you don't have to mind me so much." Little Bowl said, "I'm just a temporary existence. If all goes well, I will disappear in the near future. By then, Zhu Jiu will surely awaken."

"…Hmm." Changan awkwardly responded.

"There's something Zhu Jiu wanted to say to you for a long time. Can I convey it to you on her behalf?" Little Bowl asked.

"What is it?" Changan inquired.

"Can you call her mom face-to-face when she wakes up?" Little Bowl said.

Changan nodded, his emotions a mixture of various feelings, he seemed about to say something, but Little Bowl put a finger to her lips, smiling as she advised, "Don't say it to me, say it to her directly."

"Hmm…" Changan could only nod.

If Changan badgered like Zhu Shi here, perhaps Little Bowl would have to resign again.

It's said that Zhu Jiu cared for Changan, who never saw his mother and couldn't get love from his father, as if he were her own son. Changan occasionally mentioned Zhu Jiu when with me, especially after Zhu Jiu became a soul-loss patient.

Changan knew he wasn't Zhu Jiu's biological son, so he couldn't comfortably accept Zhu Jiu's love. He couldn't call her mom in person, likely not because he disliked her, but because he felt unworthy.

He probably really wanted to call her mom.

I suddenly felt that fate was capricious.

In a sense, Little Bowl is like a dream woven by Zhu Jiu for her daughter, destined to awaken; while Changan's existence is also a dream inadvertently created by Yinyue.

Zhu Jiu and Yinyue didn't just become mother and son, they also touched in an extraordinary form like this, even having such a dialogue—a testament to the unpredictability of fate.

Yet, just as Changan isn't Yinyue, Little Bowl also isn't Zhu Jiu.

After the meal began, Mazao sat to my right, and Zhu Shi was nudged by Little Bowl to sit on my left. The long separation might have built up loneliness in Mazao that still couldn't be dispelled. She ate only a few bites before silently curling into my arms. I held her small, soft body, occasionally feeding her as she lay trustingly in my embrace, her cheeks flushed as she obediently ate.

Seeing this, Little Bowl reached over and patted Zhu Shi on the back. Zhu Shi initially didn't understand, then realized, and mimicked by picking up some food with chopsticks and handing it my way—delivering it into Mazao's mouth.

Mr. Zhu suddenly sprayed out his wine with a "Pfft—"

"Ah, Jiuxing, you…" Little Bowl said, exasperated but amused at Zhu Shi.

Zhu Shi only realized her mistake afterward and gave an embarrassed smile, "Haha… I was supposed to feed Senior Brother Zhuang, why didn't you say earlier…"

Lu Chan retorted sharply, "Zhu Shi, and you have the gall to complain online about too many male protagonists in animations being like dense wooden blocks, yet you're not much better yourself?"

"I just… Wait, how do you know what I said on the internet forums!?" Zhu Shi looked horrified.

Changan answered casually, "Lu Chan has a 'possible duplicate' who does hacking and also handles our information protection. He suddenly texted me once to tell me that the female streamer I tipped online was actually a man using a voice changer…"

Zhu Shi couldn't help but laugh, while Mr. Zhu narrowed his eyes dangerously and said, "Brat… what did you say you used your pocket money on?"

"...Uh."

Changan's expression froze immediately. Seeing this, Mr. Zhu laughed sinisterly.

The scene then erupted into chaos.

Watching this lively and noisy scene, I couldn't help but think that having many people eating and messing around like this should not be such a unique thing. Whether in this strange world of Luoshan or the ordinary world, similar events were likely happening in many places at this moment.

This must be a very common scene, part of the everyday life I rejected.

Yet I felt genuine comfort and joy from this ordinary scene. If only it could continue like this forever, I even had such a strange thought. It seemed that even without life-and-death adventures, I could find spiritual fulfillment.

The adventure I pursued, what is it really…

In the latter half, Mazao left the table midway, saying she was going for a walk to digest the meal and would return. Seeing my now empty lap, I recalled the promise I made with Little Bowl in the past, so I also left the table, intending to follow Mazao's retreating figure.

Not long after stepping out, I heard Little Bowl's voice from behind me, "Brother Zhuang Cheng, are you going to tell Sister Mazao the truth?"

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