Chapter 37: Willing for a Lifetime

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"Zhu Yuan, what do you think of this Kenji?"

Aunt Zhu slipped away from the living room and into the kitchen, cornering her daughter and asking in a hushed, conspiratorial whisper.

"What do I think? He's a really good person," Zhu Yuan replied, looking at her mother with a hint of confusion. "He came the moment I asked for help. On top of that, he's been a massive asset during our missions, and honestly... he's quite interesting to talk to."

She answered according to her honest impression, unaware of the tactical interrogation she was currently undergoing.

"Tell Mom the details. How did you two actually meet?"

Aunt Zhu felt a surge of hope. Her daughter's voice didn't carry any of the usual professional coldness or repulsion she often felt when discussing male colleagues. There was a clear, unmistakable inclination toward him.

"We met at the interview," Zhu Yuan said. She had a deep, honest bond with her family, so she recounted the entire process of meeting Kenji. She mentioned the "misunderstanding" where she had accidentally injured him during his recruitment trial and spoke of their experiences fighting side-by-side in the Hollow.

Aunt Zhu nodded repeatedly. She focused on the detail of him risking his life to cover for her daughter. What immense courage and affection that must take! Although Zhu Yuan chalked it up to a "heavy vanguard's responsibility," her mother knew better.

No amount of flowery praise or sweet-talk could compare to a man putting his body between her daughter and a monster. That was a decision made in a heartbeat by someone who truly cared. Aunt Zhu was now 100% convinced: this boy liked her daughter.

"What a pity... the only drawback is that they're colleagues," Aunt Zhu sighed to herself. Kenji was perfect in every way except for the danger of the job. It was a double-edged sword: the shared combat would bond them quickly, but if one suffered an accident, the other would be devastated. As someone who had lived through the Old Eridu era, she understood the stakes.

"What's wrong with being colleagues? Isn't it a good thing?" Zhu Yuan asked, genuinely bewildered. She thought having such a qualified partner was a blessing. Her cluelessness, however, earned her a sharp glare from her mother.

"Just bring out the food. And give him an extra-large helping."

Aunt Zhu left the kitchen, leaving Zhu Yuan standing there. I haven't even done anything wrong, so why am I getting the 'mom glare'? she wondered, but she obediently complied.

The Zhu family dinner was set at a modest square wooden table. Kenji felt like the perfect "fourth person," seamlessly integrated into the ordinary domestic scene.

"Kenji, you've worked hard today. These dishes were all made by Zhu Yuan. Try them. If you like them, remember the flavors so you can ask her to make them for you again next time."

Aunt Zhu spoke with a casual air that nearly made Kenji drop his rice bowl. He looked at her with a mix of surprise and utter confusion. Could such a 'Whale' level drop happen twice in one day?

"Mom? What is that supposed to mean?" Zhu Yuan's face flushed. Cooking for a guest was one thing, but her mother's wording felt like she was signing her up for a lifetime contract.

"We just learned that Kenji has no family in the city. He just eats instant ramen when he gets home, and that stuff has zero nutritional value," Aunt Zhu said with a stern, maternal expression. She wasn't joking. It wasn't often they found a situation where both children were clearly interested; if she didn't nudge them now, they'd spend the next ten years "working through their feelings."

"Our house is nowhere near Sixth Street, and besides, I'm rarely back here myself," Zhu Yuan argued helplessly.

"So? Invite him to your place to eat! You're a Captain, but sometimes your brain is so inflexible." Aunt Zhu was nearly exasperated. She was practically screaming for her daughter to take the initiative. Kenji clearly lacked the experience to pursue her, so the "blockhead" daughter had to step up.

"Wouldn't that... wouldn't that be a trouble for Kenji?" Zhu Yuan asked, her voice smaller.

"No! Not at all! If possible, I'd be more than willing," Kenji interjected, his voice eager. He wanted to tell her he was willing to eat her cooking for a lifetime, but he knew speaking so bluntly would be awkward. He had to settle for taking the words 'lifetime' and 'willing' and wrapping them in professional politeness. "I haven't had a meal this warm in... well, ever."

"Ah... um. Then, if there's a chance next time, I'll take you to my place," Zhu Yuan responded. She justified it to herself: he was her vanguard, he burned massive amounts of energy in training and combat, and he clearly couldn't cook. He needed an assistant, and she was the most qualified for the job.

"Thank you. You're the first person who's ever been so kind to me."

Kenji was so moved by her sincerity that he almost teared up, his true feelings slipping out. The atmosphere at the table instantly became thick with ambiguity. Zhu Yuan lowered her head, focusing entirely on a piece of bok choy as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. Kenji followed suit, both of them eating in a localized silence.

Aunt Zhu nudged her husband with her elbow. They exchanged a look, seeing their younger selves in each other. They were content. Their daughter wasn't 100% "pure wood" after all; she still knew how to be shy.

"Kenji, have an apple. Do you want an orange?"

After dinner, Aunt Zhu was as enthusiastic as a whirlwind. She even peeled an apple for him herself, treating him like the son she'd never had. Kenji wondered if 02 Dad had secretly boosted his "Charisma" stat with the elderly couple, because this level of hospitality was bordering on the supernatural.

"I'm full, truly! I can't eat another bite," Kenji pleaded, holding the apple. To show his appreciation for Zhu Yuan's cooking, he had polished off every dish on the table, which had stunned the parents. They'd never seen a "strong young man" in action before.

"Alright, alright. Auntie will get you a bag."

Aunt Zhu smiled and went to find a storage bag, filling it with half of the family's fruit supply. Kenji stood there, holding a bag of oranges and apples, feeling like the luckiest "Gacha" player in New Eridu.

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