Shen Xiao was currently in a "weakened" state, so Lu Qingyue decided to buy nutritious groceries. She planned to cook black-bone chicken and rib soup for Shen Xiao's lunch.
Moreover, after yesterday's mission, she had received over three thousand yuan, loot that Shen Xiao had allowed her to keep,so a little splurging for the young man's recovery was no issue at all.
As they passed a vegetable stall, Su Qiao asked, "So, Shen Xiao will be hospitalized for the next three days, and our mission is on hold?"
"Yes. If you're in a hurry, go find another team. I'm staying here to take care of Shen Xiao until he's better," Lu Qingyue replied firmly.
"Leave? What do you take me for?" Su Qiao snorted.
"I'm staying right here! Even though I'm so close to finishing my mission, I'm willing to wait three days for my friend!"
Of course, Su Qiao wasn't stupid.
Where else could she find a teammate like Shen Xiao who could wrap up a D-rank mission in just a day and a half?
Compared to her suffering in previous missions that failed even after thirty days, following Shen Xiao was an incredible blessing.
Besides, she could use this time to mess with Lu Zihao, eat well, and enjoy a free life for three days!
"Qingyue, don't think like that. We're a team. Leaving you now would feel incredibly disloyal," Su Qiao said.
"Coincidentally, I'm going to give you some 'extra lessons' over these three days."
"Extra lessons?" Lu Qingyue asked, confused. "What kind of lessons?"
Su Qiao pulled out a vanity mirror and pointed it at Qingyue's face.
"Look at yourself! You didn't even put on makeup before coming out. What other lesson could it be if not a lesson in beautifying yourself?"
Lu Qingyue was stunned.
She never did skincare, the only product she owned was an anti-chapping cream.
Since school, she had been too busy helping her debt-ridden family that she felt herself to be "invisible."
"I... I don't know how to dress up. The last time I wore makeup was in sixth grade for a Children's Day celebration," Qingyue admitted shyly.
Su Qiao was aghast.
"Six years ago?! My god, Qingyue! Listen, if you look beautiful every time you deliver food, that's the fastest way to win Shen Xiao's heart."
"But..."
"No buts! Think about Shen Xiao's feelings. Which would boost his appetite more: seeing a sixty-year-old grandmother delivering food, or seeing a radiant, beautiful woman?"
Su Qiao's analogy was definitely an exaggeration, but Lu Qingyue felt there was truth to it. She didn't want Shen Xiao to lose his appetite just because she looked too dull.
"Alright, Su Qiao. Thank you for the help."
...
Two hours later at the lodging, the atmosphere was hectic.
Su Qiao bustled back and forth between the kitchen and the room. She learned how to cook soup from Qingyue, while she taught Qingyue the basics of makeup.
The results were spectacular. Qingyue wore a clean white down jacket, her long hair tied neatly, and her face adorned with light makeup. Her naturally beautiful face looked so enchanting that even Su Qiao was starstruck.
"Qingyue, you are truly a natural beauty! If I were a guy, I'd definitely chase you. No wonder Shen Xiao chose you out of thousands," Su Qiao praised.
"Listen, use these three days to confess your feelings."
"I..." Qingyue hesitated.
"Okay, if that's too heavy, start by building intimacy," Su Qiao suggested.
"Like washing his clothes, peeling fruit, or... sleeping with him."
Lu Qingyue: "..."
Despite her face heating up, her hand reflexively noted down every single one of Su Qiao's words in her notebook.
"If the relationship levels up, the next steps are holding hands and kissing," Su Qiao added with a mischievous grin.
"Kissing... on the lips?" Qingyue muttered nervously. She glanced at her imperfect left hand, and her eyes dimmed.
"But with my condition... won't he feel disgusted?"
"Relax, it's just a hand. Later when we're rich, you can buy a regeneration potion," Su Qiao comforted her.
After ensuring her chicken soup was ready, and separating Su Qiao's "failed" pot of soup which was nearly destroyed, Lu Qingyue put on her gloves and prepared to head to the hospital.
"I'm leaving now. I'll go see how Shen Xiao is doing," Qingyue said.
She walked toward the hospital with a pounding heart. She didn't know how Shen Xiao would react to her new look.
But she hoped... at least it could make Shen Xiao's "lifespan" return a little faster.
...
Before entering the lodging's kitchen, a pungent, nose-stinging aroma already filled the air.
Lu Qingyue winced.
When she looked inside, she found a pot filled with bubbling black water, with thick suds popping every now and then.
She immediately checked her own soup pot.
Thankfully, my chicken soup isn't contaminated.
After ensuring Shen Xiao's food was safe, she turned to Su Qiao with a sharp gaze.
"Su Qiao, are you sure you followed my instructions?"
"Of course! But... I felt it tasted a bit bland earlier, so I took the initiative to add 'two handfuls' of seasoning," Su Qiao replied innocently.
Looking at the thick black liquid, Qingyue couldn't imagine what "two handfuls" meant to her friend.
"Two handfuls? It looks like you put the entire seasoning stock of this kitchen in there."
"It really was just two handfuls of salt, then two handfuls of soy sauce, two handfuls of MSG... uh, or maybe one and a half handfuls of MSG," Su Qiao defended herself, mimicking how she sprinkled the spices with her palms.
Qingyue massaged her temples.
"Who... taught you to cook like that?"
"That Indian chef next to the hotel. I saw them putting in spices by the handful like that, then rinsing their hands in the broth. But since this soup is hot, I skipped the hand-rinsing part. Maybe that's why the color is a bit different," Su Qiao explained plainly.
"This isn't 'a bit different,' Su Qiao. This is poison." Qingyue sighed, feeling extremely grateful she had cooked a separate pot for Shen Xiao.
If Shen Xiao drank this, instead of recovering, his lifespan might actually end today.
"Come here, I'll teach you one more time. Wash the chicken, let's save what can still be saved. Watch closely and take notes in your book. You are not allowed to add any seasoning without my permission!"
"Yes, Boss!"
...
Meanwhile, in the comfortable hospital room, sunlight streamed in, illuminating the bed. Shen Xiao stretched lazily while continuing to watch a movie on his phone.
"Life is truly chill," he muttered.
He didn't need to worry about cultivation.
With the Heaven-Seizing Fortune-Changing technique, he only needed to slot in spirit stones or experience cards, and his strength would increase automatically.
His proficiency in fire, lightning, and water elements was already at 100%. Below rank five, he was practically invincible.
His goal now was only one.
Keep sticking to Lu Qingyue. Keeping the Empress from turning into a demon was the most profitable world-saving mission ever.
[Fate Tickets: 2834.61]
[Fortune Wheel: Purple Quality]
In just two days of being hospitalized, he had gathered nearly 3,000 tickets.
Eating Qingyue's cooking, being a bit pampered, and making the girl laugh was a gold mine for him.
Suddenly his phone rang.
A video call from Lu Zihao.
As the screen turned on, Shen Xiao saw his friend's haggard face, messy hair, and dark circles under his eyes.
"Boss!" Lu Zihao called out weakly.
"How is it? Any results?" Shen Xiao asked.
"I checked, Boss. There's no one named that you mean at our campus, and Lu Qingyue doesn't have that alias either. I also checked the schools around here, nothing. The name is like it doesn't exist."
"Good job. Thanks for the info," Shen Xiao replied. He wasn't surprised, the future had indeed changed since his arrival. "So, how are you? You look like someone who hasn't slept in three days."
Lu Zihao let out a long sigh. "Boss, I can't take it anymore. Can't we change our teammates? That Su Qiao... she's completely useless! Her power sucks, and lately, she's been obsessed with cooking for me every day!"
Shen Xiao laughed. "Isn't that good? You get free food."
"Good?! The food is inedible, Boss! It smells worse than sewage! Yesterday she made me braised pork, she said she wanted to mimic the 'stinky tofu' style,smells bad outside but tastes good inside. The result? It smelled rotten, and it tasted rotten! Just one bite stuck to my throat and felt like it was burning when I swallowed..."
Shen Xiao could only sympathize internally while stifling his laughter. Zihao, at least you're atoning for your past sins in the most 'flavorful' way possible.