Dinner needed to be a little more lavish, so Dad had gone out to buy the ingredients. The TV in the living room had been on the whole time, and Li Xinghe cooked while listening to the news.

“According to reports, there have been three monster attacks across the country this month. Six people were killed and seventeen seriously injured. All three monsters were eliminated.”

Monster attacks had become less and less frequent lately. Take Tianhai City, where Li Xinghe lived, for example: the city hadn’t suffered a single monster invasion in over half a year. And with powerful Magical Girls stationed in every city, these attacks were nothing like the disasters from decades ago, when a single appearance could reach calamity level.

He casually stir-fried the greens, then arranged them beside the crispy fried chicken cutlets to add a touch of color. The greens were still steaming, their fresh fragrance filling the air. With his special seasoning, they tasted just as good as anything made by a professional chef. When it came to cooking, Li Xinghe was confident he could pass the professional chef certification exam.

“Picking little mushrooms, carrying a big basket~”

He sang his own rewritten version of the song as he turned on the heat and poured oil into the pan. The oil shimmered with heat. He added the prepared eggplant pockets, and the moment they hit the pan, little bubbles began to pop around them.

“Singing, dancing, rap, and basketball—two and a half years of practice~”

The cheerful tune accompanied his practiced hands as he plated one golden, crispy eggplant pocket after another.

The air was filled with an appetite-whetting aroma. The colorful arrangements on the plates looked like works of art—all masterpieces Li Xinghe, the chef, was proud of.

They didn’t just look good; they tasted great, too. While nobody was looking, he snuck an eggplant pocket into his mouth. Its crispy coating broke with one bite, releasing the savory juices of the tender meat inside. The soft eggplant practically melted on his tongue as he chewed, and at last Li Xinghe swallowed it down, completely satisfied.

“Mmm. The flavor passes.”

Time flew by, and dinnertime was almost here. Dad sent Aunt Bai a message, and she replied that she was nearly at the door. Excited, Dad sprang up from the sofa and hurried outside to greet her.

Just then, Li Xinghe came out of the kitchen with the last dish. There were dozens of dishes, big and small: fish, meat, vegetables, and even dessert for after the meal.

Outside, Bai Qingxue sat in a little pink car, wearing sunglasses and looking every bit like a celebrity. Dad had hurried out to greet her in a sharp suit, every gesture brimming with gentlemanly charm. He elegantly opened the car door, offered her his right hand, and escorted Bai Qingxue inside.

The kitchen was on the first floor, so as soon as Bai Qingxue came in, she saw the table covered with delicious food prepared for her. There was no need to ask—this had to be someone’s handiwork.

“Make yourself at home. I cooked a few simple dishes for dinner. I hope they’re to your taste.”

Since Li Xinghe figured she might be watching her figure, he’d made only two fried dishes: eggplant pockets and fried chicken cutlets. Everything else was just simple home cooking.

Things like red-braised pork, pickled-cabbage fish, and daikon radish stewed with pork ribs.

Of course, there were lighter dishes, too, like stir-fried greens and broccoli. For dessert, he’d cut up some watermelon, dragon fruit, and cantaloupe and set them aside.

“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble. A few simple dishes would’ve been plenty.”

Bai Qingxue could tell at a glance that Li Xinghe, whose forehead was beaded with sweat, had made all the dishes. But she didn’t call Dad out for wanting to save face. Instead, she smiled gently at Li Xinghe.

That smile made every bit of effort feel worthwhile. Her uniquely Eastern beauty filled Li Xinghe’s mind; every little change in her expression seemed so graceful.

No wonder Dad was so completely smitten with her. What man could resist an intelligent, elegant beauty like that?

Good thing he was into sweet, gentle girls. Not that he was against older-sister types, but in the end, a man had to stay true to his tastes.

Outside, the sky was gradually darkening. Dinnertime had begun, and after getting a good rest, Li Xinghe sat down at the table, ready to eat. Dad was still eagerly putting food on Bai Qingxue’s plate. She didn’t seem bothered—in fact, she looked happy as she ate.

Looks like Dad’s spring really has come. Your son’s so relieved, Dad. After all this time, you’ve finally found someone who’s right for you.

“Qingxue, when do you think your daughter will be coming over?”

As they chatted, Dad brought it up. Bai Qingxue thought for a moment before answering.

“She said she’s busy for the next couple of days. She should be moving in sometime in the next few days. We have to leave the day after tomorrow, and I’ve already given her the address, so she shouldn’t get lost.”

Li Xinghe wasn’t quite sure why she had to move in. Once she did, it’d just be him and her daughter, alone together in the house. It might look bad if people found out.

“Oh, I see. An idol who’s about to debut really is busy, huh?”

Compared with his own nine-to-five job and weekends off, idols definitely had a lot more on their plates. They often practiced until midnight before heading home, and sometimes they even stayed at the agency.

“You two are leaving the day after tomorrow?”

When Li Xinghe heard the exact date, his eyes widened.

“That’s right. The company’s already arranged the whole schedule. I’ll be counting on you to look after my daughter.”

Bai Qingxue sounded as if she were asking him for a favor, asking him to take good care of her daughter. But even without her asking, Li Xinghe would’ve done it. If someone was about to become part of the family, wasn’t it only natural to look out for them?

“Don’t worry, Aunt Bai. As long as I’m here, no one will bully her.”

Li Xinghe promised with complete confidence. Maybe he was making a bit of a big promise, but Bai Qingxue seemed pleased.

“Xiaoxiao lost her father when she was little. I haven’t had much time to spend with her over the years, either. She’s the kind of child who can’t stand being alone.”

So that was why she was moving in. It made sense.

A lonely, beautiful girl like that could easily feel insecure if she’d had few friends growing up. And she’d be more likely to attract creeps, too.

That made sense, too. Her mother was so beautiful, so her daughter had to be gorgeous as well. Dad had also told him that she was an idol-in-training. She hadn’t officially debuted yet, but her looks and figure were absolutely top-notch.

He just didn’t know what her personality was like. If she was the soft, sweet type—the kind you’d be afraid might melt if you held her in your hands—then Li Xinghe would swear on his life to protect her.

“Aunt Bai, what’s her name?”

Li Xinghe asked Bai Qingxue for her daughter’s name so he’d know what to call her. If she couldn’t find his place, he could always go out and look for her himself.

“Bai Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao, with the bamboo radical.”

It sounded like a pretty cute name. Li Xinghe had never heard it before, so she was probably someone he didn’t know.

Dinner was over in no time. Bai Qingxue and Dad chatted and laughed together, giving off that unmistakable lovestruck vibe. For Li Xinghe, who’d been single since birth, it was almost too much to handle. It was hard to believe that a stunning beauty like her got along so well with Dad.

Sadly, happy times never lasted long. Before long, Bai Qingxue drove home, leaving Dad alone, lost in thought as he savored the sweetness of being in love.

“Hey, Dad. She’s already gone. What’re you spacing out for?”

The dishes were almost done, and he was still sitting there. Li Xinghe sighed. This family would’ve fallen apart ages ago without him.

“Oh, right. She’s gone already? It’s fine. I’ll see her again tomorrow.”

Of course he’d see her again. They were coworkers, after all. Besides, the two of them were getting on a plane the morning after tomorrow to go enjoy some alone time—correction, to help the company break into a new market.

Then he’d be all alone in the house. Still, that was fine. His new little sister would be moving in three days from now, and Li Xinghe was already looking forward to it.