“Yue Lin, what do you intend by giving me this?”

After a brief pause, Li Wei regarded his daughter with a complex look.

“I want to eat here,” Yue Lin said.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Isn’t it just a place to eat?”

“This is for funeral feasts.”

“What’s the difference?” Yue Lin pouted.

“If I die someday, *then* you can go,” Li Wei explained.

He recalled his daughter was rather clueless about human customs. Last time, she couldn’t even read the note he wrote right in front of her—so failing to recognize the flyer was no surprise.

Just a simple misunderstanding.

Though he’d teased her lightly these past days, he knew her well: she’d never pull the plug on him in old age.

No—she’d say:

“—Your father can still be saved.”

“Hmph! I won’t save him. Let him die!”

...then secretly do everything to keep him alive.

Classic tsundere.

The drama’s already thick—no extra salt needed!

Li Wei redirected the sharp mind that once conquered the Demon King Citadel toward imagining his golden years. Then—an image flashed: the Undying Demon Lord straddling his sickbed. He swiftly banished it.

That day felt distant.

After battling across this other world for countless years… even *he* wondered if lifespan limits still applied.

Lost in thought, he missed how Yue Lin froze—her ahoge shooting straight up into a question mark. She stepped back, utterly bewildered.

“You’d rather die than let me eat here?”

*Cough, cough, cough…*

On the sofa, the Undying Demon Lord—Tsukika—nearly choked on her tea, amused smile frozen mid-sip.

“???”

Li Wei was even more stunned.

He’d thought Tiffany reigned supreme in cluelessness… yet his own daughter showed promising signs.

*Probably just her age.*

A wry smile touched his lips. Whimsical thoughts were natural for a six- or seven-year-old.

Patiently, he explained the difference between a memorial hall and a restaurant.

Yue Lin still looked doubtful, cheeks flushing with shame.

“But candlelit dinners are for romance! Why does a memorial hall need so many candles?”

Li Wei chuckled softly. “A grand farewell to the departed—isn’t that the ultimate romance?”

For a heartbeat, he remembered his old comrades: stars who descended, then returned to the cosmos. So recklessly free.

Yue Lin blinked slowly.

Li Wei itched to ruffle her hair—but her ahoge stood rigidly alert. He held back.

She pursed her lips, dug through her pockets, and pulled out another flyer—fewer candles.

“This one.”

Li Wei took it curiously.

“—Grand Opening: Lasviden Restaurant.”

“Brandon Square, No. 23-1.”

A new place. Yet the candlelit design stirred curiosity.

“Why suddenly want a candlelit meal?”

First time she’d proactively asked for anything… and *this*?

Yue Lin turned her face away. “Just curious about human restaurants.”

“If you refuse, it’s fine. I’m used to no reply anyway.”

Li Wei: “???”

*She’s using my own tactics…*

He studied her—intentional or not?

“If Yue Lin truly wants to go… of course it’s fine.”

Slowly, she turned back, stern-faced, hiding delight. Then—

“But you’ve prepared labor to exchange for it, right?”

Li Wei kindly offered her an out.

*Little girl still has drafts in her cotton jacket… but a father protects pride.*

Yue Lin: “???”

*Trapped!*

She glared. *I worked so hard to mend Mom and this unreliable man’s bond—and he backstabs me?!*

…Though honestly, she hadn’t planned to reconcile quickly.

*She, Yue Lin, would never be the foolish child who leaps into Dad’s arms, acts cute, and says “I love you.”*

After a silent struggle, she crossed her arms, chin lifted.

“I’m prepared.”

“What do you want me to do?”

Li Wei feigned hesitation. “Well… I can’t think of anything yet. Without a task, the trade isn’t valid… so no restaurant.”

Her ahoge twitched nervously.

*Strike while the iron’s hot—Mom’s words.* If they missed tonight, mending ties might fail.

“But honestly… our old trading method was unfair.”

“W-what?”

Her delicate brows knotted; tiny fists clenched.

Li Wei spoke gently:

“You only propose trades when you need something. And you must complete the task *before* getting what you want.”

“Like today.”

“This creates delayed gratification—you never get needs met immediately.”

“Imagine: hungry, wanting me to cook… but first you exhaust yourself cleaning. Even after eating, you’d feel no joy.”

“Hmph. Trivial. Just say if *you’re* bothered.”

*But… instant fulfillment?* Damn. No wonder he’s humanity’s strongest Chosen Hero—deploying *this* temptation?

*Is he buttering me up? Now? In front of Mom?!* She steeled her resolve.

“Yes, my example was poor,” Li Wei amended smoothly. “Sometimes *I* feel unhappy when my requests aren’t met right away. So the system feels unreasonable.”

“…So?” Yue Lin watched him warily. *Helping Mom and him ≠ siding with this fool.*

“We need a fairer, smoother trading method.”

“One task for one request? Too rigid. Unfair. Inconvenient.”

“Today: cleaning once for a restaurant meal? Too easy for you.”

“I’d love you to ‘win’… but you’d refuse, right?” he added earnestly.

*…A whole meal… just for cleaning?*

Her ahoge shot up into an exclamation mark.

“And if you clean the whole house for one cookie? Also unfair. I know you wouldn’t mind—but it shouldn’t stay this way.”

“Hmph. Good you realize.”

Her frown softened. A warm flicker in her chest. *Has this unreliable man… quietly cared all along?*

But she wouldn’t fall for sweet talk!

Seeing her captivated, Li Wei cast his hook:

“So… let’s quantify it. Create our own trade tokens.”

“Like currency?”

“A special item representing value for all exchanges.”

“…Just call it money for buying things.”

*Why not say that sooner?* Li Wei smiled at her expression.

“How do we create it?”

“Simple. We assign values together. Call them ‘trade tokens.’ Clean the house once? Earn five tokens. I cook your requested meal? I earn five.”

“No more last-minute chores for cravings. Clean when free, save tokens. Crave something? Swap tokens instantly.”

“Even trade saved tokens for higher-value requests.”

“This restaurant trip? Price it at ten tokens. Clean twice—before or after—and you’re set.”

*Save… swap instantly… higher value…* Her ahoge trembled.

Sensing her interest, Li Wei pressed:

“Adults use money for wants. If Yue Lin’s grown-up… she’d prefer a mature trading style, right?”

“You’re right.” She nodded, face still stern.

*So reasonable…*

She didn’t notice Tsukika’s peculiar smirk when Li Wei began his pitch.

Li Wei watched Yue Lin—but his peripheral vision locked on Tsukika.

*The real variable.*

Her amused glance sent a chill down his spine. *Don’t interfere… please.*

“So… will you accept this new method?”

“Accepting’s fine. So… I owe you ten tokens now?” Yue Lin asked, nodding.

*As a mature kid, she liked systems.*

*Enough tokens later… riding this guy through town?*

…*Not that she’d actually do it. Just an example.*

Li Wei’s smile turned genuine.

“Yes.”

“Then, to celebrate our agreement, let’s make a pinkie promise,” Li Wei said, extending his hand—once again openly “tricking” his daughter into linking pinkies.

“Yue Lin doesn’t want to be a promise-breaker, right?”

Yue Lin had hesitated for a moment, but at those words, she immediately offered her little finger.

*What a despicable man… daring to underestimate her.*

She hooked her pinkie around the man’s much larger one.

Tsukika watched Li Wei with an enigmatic smile, observing how he “coaxed” their innocent daughter. *Honestly, this Chosen Hero really has zero shame around her.*

Still…

This coupon was surprisingly useful.

Maybe she and Li Wei could get some too?

But if she brought it up directly, the Chosen Hero would definitely be on guard—he wasn’t nearly as easy to trick as their daughter.

Tsukika gazed thoughtfully at Yue Lin, a faint smile gracing her lips.

Transferring the debt relationship could also serve her purpose.