Chapter 40
While Tiffany felt encouraged, Yue Lin sat wedged between her parents, listening to their back-and-forth with utter confusion.
Not a single dish name on the menu meant anything to her.
Their chatter sounded like pure gibberish.
She heard every word, yet had no clue what they were discussing. At first, tension crackled in the air—but suddenly… Mom looked almost shy? Happy? Even after being stopped from ordering?
Li Wei missed the Demon Lord’s shift entirely. But a daughter knows her mother best.
Yue Lin’s sharp eyes locked instantly on her mother’s translucent earlobes, flushed with a delicate blush. Puzzled, she scratched her head.
She didn’t know what happened—but she’d definitely saved the family.
*Little Yue Lin for the win!*
Relief washed over her the moment the suffocatingly proper maid quietly took the menu and left. Yue Lin relaxed, grabbed a bread roll, spread butter on it, and nibbled to settle her stomach.
High-class guests received high-class service.
Dishes arrived swiftly—one after another—without delay.
Had Li Wei not known magic existed here, he might’ve suspected pre-made meals.
“Pass the steak knife?”
The thick steak—whose Demon Lord it honored on the menu was anyone’s guess—needed the custom knife resting beside Tsukika.
“Even asking for help, the Chosen Hero won’t say ‘darling’?” Tsukika smiled sweetly at her hero.
Li Wei paused. “Could I have *darling’s* steak knife?”
Tsukika: “?”
*I’d not only hand it over—I’d stab you with your precious “darling’s” knife.*
She shot him a dry chuckle, tapped the table—and the steak silently transformed into neat cubes.
Such knife skills. A kitchen’s loss.
Li Wei ignored the faintly threatening glint in the Demon Lord’s eyes, silently mused… then dismantled the fresh “Annihilation” lobster, placing the glistening meat before Yue Lin’s bowl.
Before Yue Lin could reach it, Tsukika plucked it away with zero hesitation, adding a polite “Thank you, Chosen Hero.”
Instantly, the floating question mark migrated from Tsukika’s head to Yue Lin’s.
Yue Lin: “?”
“Yue Lin would *definitely* prefer self-reliance over Dad-peeled shrimp, right?” Tsukika preempted her daughter’s reply.
More question marks bloomed above Yue Lin’s head. Her ahoge—curled perfectly into a “?”—twitched. She pursed her lips, forcing nonchalance. “Hmph! Yue Lin is self-reliant! Of course I don’t want it!”
*Ugh!!*
She *totally* wanted it.
Not because *he* peeled it—just… hungry. And maybe a tiny bit lazy.
So why couldn’t she just say it? A quiet ache of confusion swelled inside.
Then—
The “unreliable” man in her heart plucked the largest shrimp, peeled it cleanly in one motion, and dropped the glistening meat into *her* bowl.
Joy crashed down like a gift from heaven. Her stern little face barely held back the smile tugging at her pink lips.
(Though her ahoge betrayed her completely—wagging like a happy puppy’s tail.)
Li Wei soaked in every adorable detail before speaking calmly:
“I know Yue Lin, as a big girl, values self-reliance.”
“But spending vouchers *you* earned through hard work? That’s self-reliance too.”
“Right, Yue Lin?”
Yue Lin: “…”
The warmth in her eyes dimmed. She straightened her expression.
“You’re right.”
*Huh. He actually gets me.*
She’d just refused help—and he’d handed her a graceful exit.
“Then… two vouchers, please.” Li Wei smiled.
Yue Lin: “?”
*Two?! For one shrimp?!*
“Think it’s too cheap? I can raise the price,” Li Wei added, noting the question marks hovering over her head.
“????”
“THREE!” Yue Lin declared through gritted teeth. One more word, and he’d double it again.
*How many shifts until I pay this off? How long till I earn enough vouchers to make him… no—make him APOLOGIZE?!*
*This man understands NOTHING!*
*Good thing I’m not forgiving him yet.*
Li Wei watched her stab the shrimp with fierce intensity—as if biting *him*—a gentle warmth in his eyes.
Teasing her felt a little mean… but addictively sweet.
And not *entirely* teasing.
He planned to save up vouchers, then spend them all at once—just to see Yue Lin pretend reluctance before obediently tumbling into his arms.
After finishing with Yue Lin, Li Wei turned to Tsukika.
The Demon Lord calmly enjoyed *her* shrimp. Catching his gaze, she smiled faintly. “Something on your mind, Chosen Hero?”
“Nothing.”
“Yet your face screams ‘admire my genius.’” Tsukika dabbed her lips with a napkin, eyes twinkling. “Showing off that you anticipated my anticipation?”
She glanced at her portion—noticeably smaller than Yue Lin’s—and sighed lightly.
“Pity. I knew the first portion was meant for me to take. But the fact you prepared it *for me*? I’ve already won.”
Li Wei froze.
*Wait.*
*Crap.*
*Was it… really like that?!*
Why did I prep an extra portion? If I *truly* anticipated… shouldn’t I have just popped it into Yue Lin’s mouth?
…Though snatching food from a girl’s plate? Bold move, Demon Lord.
Silence settled between them.
Tsukika’s silent laugh spoke volumes.
“—O-kawaii-koto.”
Li Wei swore he saw those exact words glint in her eyes.
Then the silence thickened—and Tsukika’s smile faded.
A violently pungent aroma flooded the air.
“Ta-da~!”
Tiffany bounced in, balancing a massive platter.
Her steps were swift, her figure swaying gently.
But all eyes locked on the dish.
—*The Ultimate Stir-Fried Undying!*
She placed the blazing crimson platter center-table.
The scent was mouth-watering… and spine-chilling.
Crimson Demon-Slaying Peppers gleamed with silent warning: *Dare to eat?*
Yue Lin jolted—fork clattering into her plate.
Li Wei lifted his head slowly. “?”
“No need to thank me, Mr. Li Wei~”
“The boss specially prepared this *just for you*!”
Tiffany flashed pearly teeth, winked, and struck a peace sign.
*So looking forward to your praise~* ❛˓◞˂̶✧
