When Noira arrived at Chen Ai's shop, it was just past lunchtime.

Additionally, today was the last day that the slave merchants' group stayed in the city of Heran, so everyone had gone to the north of the city, and there were no customers in the shop.

Chen Ai was in the kitchen using the leftover ingredients to make lunch.

Upon seeing Noira, Chen Ai immediately showed a very surprised expression and said, "Oh! Isn't this our dear Captain Noira? Come in! Shall we have lunch together? I'm making lunch."

Noira was somewhat uncomfortable with Chen Ai's enthusiasm.

Whenever she came to Chen Ai's shop in the past, Chen Ai would always have a "oh, trouble's here again" expression on her face. Why was she so enthusiastic today?

Noira became suspicious.

That being said, Noira had been busy since morning until noon and hadn't even had time to drink water. Her stomach was growling from hunger. So she nodded and said, "Sure, let's eat together."

After speaking, she sat at the dining table and waited for the meal to be served.

"Okay, wait a moment, I'm still cooking," Chen Ai nodded with an apron tied around her waist and continued to busy herself in the kitchen.

Noira watched Chen Ai's back and smiled as she asked, "Today when I passed by Dong Square, I saw someone scratching the green willow tree on the square. What's going on?"

"Oh, that thing," Chen Ai smiled awkwardly, "I was just scaring him. I'll have a favor to ask you later, which also involves this person. Let's talk while we eat."

"A favor? Hmph, no wonder you've been so nice to me today," Noira crossed her arms and her smile deepened.

It seemed that this trip of hers was really a good one, and something interesting must be happening.

"The food is ready, the food is ready," Chen Ai brought the prepared dishes to the table. One plate, two plates, three plates, four, five, six, seven, eight... the plates filled the entire table.

"Hey hey! Isn't it a bit too much?" Noira raised her head and found Chen Ai wearing a seasoned smile, "It's not too much. According to my experience from yesterday, it's just right."

Just as Noira was filled with questions, Chen Ai looked up and called out to the backyard.

"Pecco, it's time to eat! Come in."

As soon as Chen Ai finished speaking, a pair of furry ears appeared from outside the backyard door, followed by a pair of amber-colored eyes.

After getting permission from Chen Ai, the enigmatic creature took small, quick steps and jumped to the table, sitting fearfully in the diagonal position across Noira, carefully observing her with its eyes.

"Eh? A demi-human?" Noira looked at this unexpected guest in shock, wondering why there was a demi-human in Chen Ai's shop.

The little demi-human was wearing Chen Ai's oversized clothes, looking somewhat comical.

The two stared at each other. Seven or eight steamy dishes were separating them.

Once Pecco confirmed that Noira didn't harbor any hostility, her attention was quickly drawn to the food on the table because she was really hungry.

Finally, Chen Ai brought a pot of soup made with leftover ingredients and placed it on the table. The meal was ready.

Chen Ai took off her apron and sat next to Noira.

"Do you have something to explain?" Noira glanced at Chen Ai with a sideways glance, pouting, "Is this a romantic debt you left behind in the demi-human country?"

"Well, it's something like that. At least I spent the money without guilt... but now I feel like I've been cheated," Chen Ai shook her head and picked up her chopsticks.

Noira's expression became even more confused after listening.

Chen Ai let out a sigh and said, "Let me explain slowly."

As they ate, Chen Ai began with Pecco collapsed in front of her door and explained everything from how she drove away the rotten toothy and bought Pecco, going through yesterday's events to today.

By the time the story was finished, both of them had eaten a lot. So they put down their chopsticks, leaving Pecco to perform the autumn wind sweeping leaves by herself.

"That's about it. Because of her, I don't have any liquid assets anymore," Chen Ai drank some soup and gestured towards Pecco, "And as you can see, this little brat can really eat. I can't afford her eating habits. So, Boss Noira..."Chen Ai turned his head and looked at Noira affectionately.

"What, what?" Noira looked a bit flustered, she wasn't good at dealing with Chen Ai's expressions like this.

Chen Ai blushed and cautiously asked, "Um... would you consider buying a hug?"

Noira blinked and paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Yesterday, when Chen Ai rejected her business proposal so decisively, she never expected that less than 24 hours later, the hero of the Chenxing Continent would slap her in the face. Life could be so dramatic.

She patted Chen Ai's shoulder forcefully and said, "Hahaha, you're really talented!"

Chen Ai felt even more embarrassed, but for the sake of Breeze Hotel's survival, he had to speak seriously with a stiff neck, "Stop playing around. Just tell me if you're buying it or not, I really need money now!"

Noira also regained her seriousness for a moment, but couldn't hold it in and bent over laughing again.

"Hey!" Chen Ai was ashamed and angry.

Noira didn't answer Chen Ai's question, instead she pointed at Pecco who was still eating messily and complained, "Look at you! How can you let a girl wear your clothes? Look, the cuffs are stained with oil."

After saying that, she picked up her handkerchief and helped Pecco wipe the oil off the cuffs.

Chen Ai scratched his head, "I was planning to buy her two sets of maid costumes, but I ran out of money, so you..."

Noira interrupted, "Leave it to me. I'll take Pecco to buy clothes later, I'll pay. As for the hug, we'll talk about it when I come back. I'm more interested in making friends with Pecco than with you now."

After speaking, Noira reached out her fair hand and twisted Pecco's chubby face.

Pecco pushed away Noira's hand with disgust, which made Noira laugh even more.

Chen Ai, on the other hand, couldn't laugh. He never expected that Noira would be uninterested in his proposal!

According to his expectations, Noira would gladly agree to the deal, after all, he had always been Noira's favorite body pillow for many years.

But why, after just one day, did Noira seem completely uninterested in him?

Could it be because they had done too much yesterday?

Upon thinking about it, it made sense. They had been together the whole afternoon yesterday, so Noira's current needs might not be as high.

"Yes, that must be it. Just like how the first sip of cola is the most refreshing, you don't immediately open another can after finishing the first one. It just needs a little time. That's right."

Chen Ai crossed his arms and nodded to himself as if he had been possessed.

He couldn't accept the fact that he had fallen out of favor, so he was desperately searching for reasons to console himself.

While Chen Ai was trying to convince himself, Pecco had already finished eating all the food on the table and was looking at Chen Ai with hungry eyes. But Chen Ai was too immersed in his own confusion and didn't notice Pecco's pleading gaze.

Chen Ai had already predetermined the amount of food for Pecco.

From yesterday's experience, Chen Ai knew that Pecco had no concept of moderation. As long as there was food left on the table, Pecco would without hesitation eat it all.

Eating like this, she would eventually become round like a ball.

So, for the sake of health and his wallet, Chen Ai decided to reduce the amount of food for Pecco to what he considered a suitable portion.

But Pecco was clearly not satisfied. When she saw that there was no food left on the table and Chen Ai didn't pay attention to her, she drooped her ears in disappointment.

"Come on, Pecco, let's go shopping." Noira took Pecco's little hand and prepared to take her to buy clothes.

Pecco drooped her ears and shrunk back into her seat with fear. She was reluctant to walk with Noira alone, as she stared at Noira with guarded eyes.

After thinking for a while, Noira revealed a mysterious smile.She leaned in close to Pecco's ear and whispered, "If you come with me, I can take you to eat a lot of delicious food. How about it?"

Food?

Upon hearing this, Pecco's ears immediately perked up, clearly showing great interest in food. However, she was also hesitant about Noira's intentions, caught in a dilemma for a moment.

In the midst of her hesitation, Noira forcefully pulled her hand.

"Ah!" Pecco was caught off guard and pulled up from her seat, stumbling and falling into Noira's arms, colliding with two soft and sweet marshmallows in front of her.

Pecco struggled to lift her head from the two ample marshmallows and saw Noira's goddess-like warm smile. Somehow, she suddenly didn't want to resist anymore.

Noira held Pecco's hand and said to Chen Ai as they walked away, "That's it, we're going out!"

"Go ahead, go ahead." Chen Ai waved her hand, since she wouldn't have to pay for the clothes herself anyway, she might as well buy them and discuss business later.

Chen Ai rubbed her chin and blinked her eyes, "I hope Pecco performs well and picks the expensive ones."

At worst, if the deal doesn't go through, once Noira leaves, she can just take off Pecco's clothes and sell them to get some quick money.

As they say, every penny counts for a hero in a financial crisis.

Feeling cornered by the economic crisis, the hero contemplated doing things that only scumbags would do, while silently tidying up the dishes and utensils.