After dinner.
“Master, are you saying you don’t want me to cover for you anymore?” Big White blinked in surprise.
Master had only recently clung to their leg, practically begging them for help. How could the situation have shifted so dramatically in just a couple of days? Could something have transpired with Master outside today?
Big White inadvertently glanced inside, where Aya Jiu was comfortably nestled in Li Jia’s arms in the living room, both absorbed in looking at a phone.
Come to think of it…
Indeed, Master had seemed somewhat dazed upon his return, and he had brought Miss Li with him.
A sudden spark ignited in Big White’s eyes, as if a realization had struck them. A mischievous grin played on their lips as they spoke earnestly, “Master, everyone understands these things. You must be careful; we don’t want any unintended consequences.”
Aya Tone quirked a brow in confusion. He paused, bewildered, then, assuming Big White had divined his money-making scheme, nodded emphatically. The students’ safety was indeed paramount; perhaps it would be wiser to consider bringing them in batches. Too many at once, and he might not be able to oversee them all effectively.
“Rest assured, I understand the nuances. Until I achieve financial independence, I shall exercise caution.”
A sharp gasp escaped Big White. Their eyes widened dramatically. Money?
To think Master had sacrificed their body for money—Big White was deeply moved. They earnestly stood on tiptoes, extending a small hand to pat Aya Tone’s shoulder.
“Master! Money can always be recouped, but if your body falters, then truly, all is lost!”
“It’s nothing, I’m not the one doing the heavy lifting, so I won’t collapse.” Aya Tone was genuinely touched by Big White’s concern. However, exhaustion was simply out of the question for him. After all, it was the students who would be doing the actual work. As a mere middleman, he wouldn’t be the one to break!
“What?!” Big White’s hand froze mid-air, an involuntary gasp escaping them. Not even *they* were doing the work? How could that be acceptable! They absolutely could not permit their Master to be treated as a mere plaything! This had to be stopped!
“Master, those women are merely coveting your body, not genuinely fond of you. Don’t be fooled!?”
Aya Tone’s confusion deepened. His brow furrowed slightly. “What in the world are you talking about?” He certainly had numerous female classmates, but what did their affections or lack thereof have to do with any of this? Once they fell under his purview, they were simply workers. How had this evolved into a ‘domineering CEO falls in love with me’ trope when recounted by Big White?
‘Something is amiss with you!’
At that moment, observing the bewildered expression on their Master’s face, Big White finally understood. Their conversation, it seemed, was like two parallel lines, destined never to intersect…
Yet, they refused to accept that their deduction could be flawed. They whispered, “Master, weren’t you evading Miss Li Jia, which prompted your hasty departure to the academy?”
“Li Jia? Why on earth would I evade her?” Aya Tone was utterly perplexed. “Why were both of them claiming he was avoiding Li Jia? He hadn’t done anything to wrong her; what reason was there to hide? How truly peculiar.”
“Erm…”
Their small hand fell limply to their side. Wrong. Utterly wrong. Their deductions were entirely mistaken.
No, that’s not right! Big White abruptly cast off the despondency from their features. It wasn’t *they* who were mistaken; rather, Master, that oblivious fool, simply hadn’t grasped the true nature of the situation.
“I’ve clearly overthought this. Master, simply disregard everything I’ve said.”
“I keep telling you not to consume so many of those absurd videos. They lead to such bizarre conclusions.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
At this juncture, Big White had no desire to argue further; they merely yearned to witness their Master’s expression once he was inevitably caught. It would undoubtedly be a sight to behold. Having nearly been ‘seduced’ by Li Jia last time, Big White was keenly aware that Master’s friend posed a significant danger! Exceedingly, profoundly dangerous; a single misstep could lead him straight into her snare. She was a wolf cloaked in sheep’s wool! Currently, it was merely due to Master’s formidable strength that she hadn’t yet succeeded; once she ascended to S-rank… Oh, the anticipation…
For some inexplicable reason, Big White felt a flicker of anticipation in their heart.
“Aya Jiu, don’t stare at that phone for so long; it’s detrimental to your eyes.”
“Oh~”
Chided by Daddy, Aya Jiu reluctantly extricated herself from Li Jia’s soft embrace.
“Daddy, you still haven’t told Aya Jiu how much fun you had going out with the big sisters today.”
“Aya Jiu… perhaps you should go back to watching your phone with your Sister Li Jia…” Aya Tone subtly averted his gaze, clearly disinclined to pursue that particular topic. A wave of self-reproach simultaneously washed over him. ‘Why, for the love of all that’s good, did he have to tempt fate and provoke Aya Jiu?’
“No, Daddy, please tell me.”
Her small hands tugged at Aya Tone’s trousers, and in mere moments, she had scaled him, her tiny arms wrapping around his neck like a sloth. Her large, sparkling eyes fixed on him intently.
“…” Aya Tone gently adjusted the small bottom resting against his stomach, effortlessly bearing his daughter’s full weight. He couldn’t gently detach her, nor could he bring himself to set Aya Jiu down.
“You truly are incorrigible…”
Upon hearing Daddy’s resigned tone, little Aya Jiu knew she had triumphed, happily flashing her tiny canines before relaxing her body into her father’s embrace.
“Today, Daddy, bright and early, made his way to the designated meeting point…” Aya Tone narrated, his mind racing, improvising the narrative on the spot. After the little darling scampered away, Li Jia likewise put away her phone, her ears perked up. Seemingly nonchalant, she was, in fact, acutely attuned to the conversation unfolding behind her. She was eager to discern precisely what sort of presence those three girls held in Aya Tone’s estimation.
****
“Daddy, you went to indulge in delicious treats and didn’t bring any back for Aya Jiu? Aya Jiu is upset!”
“It’s simply that I was considering, if the food proved delightful, I’d take Aya Jiu along next time,” Aya Tone chuckled, gently rubbing Aya Jiu’s puffed-out little cheeks. While he lacked experience in shopping with girls, he reasoned, had he not at least tasted pork, even if he hadn’t seen the pig run? When girls venture out, their activities rarely deviate from a few common themes: shopping and dining, shopping for clothes, and shopping for photo opportunities. Indeed, these perennial three activities—no matter how one presented them—were always a safe bet!
Having surreptitiously overheard Aya Tone’s narration, Li Jia couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter. She hadn’t anticipated Aya Tone would go to such lengths to fabricate a story for his daughter. The entire narrative contained not a single shred of information about the dungeon; it was all mundane tales of shopping and dining.
“…” Aya Tone shot Li Jia an exasperated glance. He utterly despised having someone who knew the truth present while he was fabricating a story. He had no desire for his daughter to be exposed to anything concerning the dungeons. At least, not until Aya Jiu’s worldview had fully matured… Once she encountered dungeons and supernatural abilities, the countdown to his own exposure before Aya Jiu would undoubtedly commence. The time was simply not yet right…
“Really, really?”
Upon hearing Daddy’s promise to take her for delicious food, Aya Jiu threw her arms around his face and showered him with kisses. In that instant, Li Jia’s gaze sharpened, her red lips subtly pressing together.
“Absolutely, truly,” Aya Tone affirmed, a foolish grin plastered to his face as he felt the soft, damp kisses. What he hadn’t considered, however, was that he had never actually gone out to eat with Lin Ling and the others; their sole stop had been a milk tea shop. So where, then, was this fabled snack shop he could take Aya Jiu to?
Indeed! Aya Tone, on this particular day, had foregone lunch… Within the dungeon, he had been so exasperated by the trio’s ‘meal-time maneuvers’ that he had taken a few hefty bites of his own. Miraculously, after an entire day, he felt not the slightest pang of hunger, a feat more potent than a cultivator’s fasting pill. The only drawback was the risk of elevated blood pressure from overindulgence.
What a silly father.