Cousin, will you take care of me?

‘There was a time when, immersed in light novels and anime, I yearned for a beautiful girl to live next door, one who understood me deeply and secretly harbored feelings for me.

‘After a long, arduous day, she would shyly knock on my door.

‘Carrying a fragrant hotpot brimming with delicious food, she would inquire about my well-being and ask if I would like to dine with her.

‘Not only would I gain a considerate girl-next-door girlfriend, but my life would also be secured… after all, preparing a meal truly isn’t easy.

‘What should have been breakfast time had already stretched into midday by the time I finished buying, preparing, and cooking the first meal as requested.

‘Hunger gnawing at me, I stood on the sidewalk, apron and gloves still on, holding the pot as I waited for the traffic light to change.

‘Evidently, the beautiful girl who would bring me food could never exist; instead, having stepped into society, I found myself cooking and delivering meals to my high school cousin, standing on the street like an idiot, waiting for a car.

“Mmm, what a delicious smell.”

“Why is that man carrying a pot across the street in the middle of the day?”

“He looks so countrified! Just look at his pathetic demeanor; he’s probably one of those guys they talk about online—the kind with no real skills, but after a girl they like compliments their cooking, they presumptuously make meals to fawn over their ‘goddess’.”

‘The passersby’s conjectures struck me as increasingly outlandish, yet I had no time to dwell on them; after all, it was work, and there was nothing to be done.

‘It had been a long time since I had handled meat or seafood, and while I wasn’t entirely out of practice, considering the time and cost involved, certain dishes requiring complex de-odorizing, marinating, and seasoning were temporarily set aside.

‘Furthermore, to ensure my somewhat wealthy cousin’s first meal was both appetizing and filling, and to subtly convey my sincerity about resigning later, beef stew was undoubtedly an excellent choice.

‘While a simple clear beef stew seemed the best option—requiring no complex seasonings, highlighting the natural flavor of the ingredients, and being relatively inexpensive and practical—it had two significant drawbacks.

‘Firstly, it looked too plain; if my cousin sent a photo to her father, I would undoubtedly face a deduction from my pay.

‘Secondly, observing her meal preferences, I had deduced my cousin possessed a bottomless appetite; a mere pot of clear beef stew might not even be enough to whet her appetite.

‘Xiaoxin’s choice, however, was to simply use the ingredients at hand to make a pot of Hungarian-style beef stew.

‘Naturally, cooking wine replaced red wine, the broth was a cheap, pre-made supermarket variety, and rapeseed oil stood in for olive oil.

‘Undoubtedly, the aroma and some of the flavors couldn’t rival the original, yet it was still wonderfully fragrant, and with a touch of decorative yogurt (most of the rest I happily drank myself) and some celery and leafy garnishes, it looked both elegant and incredibly appetizing.

‘[Can it still be considered Hungarian-style beef stew after such modifications?]

‘The stew was intentionally seasoned to be slightly saltier, a tactic designed to stimulate her taste buds and make my cousin crave water.

‘At that point, I would present a high-carbonation cola, and through this powerful two-pronged attack of extra rice and soda, I would occupy most of her stomach’s capacity, thus achieving satiety at the lowest possible cost!

‘How clever I am! Truly, I can even squeeze money from the mundane details of daily life!

‘Twelve thousand yuan had already been deposited, and since her father’s side operated on a “pay first, then work” basis, if I negotiated my way out of the job, I would simply return the remaining funds at cost price, ensuring I wouldn’t lose anything.

‘Moreover, they were wealthy people; they might even forgo my refund entirely, just to encourage me to help my cousin in the future!

‘If that happened, I would genuinely pocket over ten thousand yuan!

‘A smile involuntarily bloomed on Xiaoxin’s face at that moment.

‘After all, I had also endured the hardship of washing my cousin’s clothes, so even if her father was somewhat upset by my reneging, my efforts might offset some of his displeasure.

‘However, if it was truly as her father claimed—that she had specifically come to study from such a distant place for my sake—and I was evading cooking for her just to save money, it felt somehow wrong.

‘At this thought, a wave of self-reproach and guilty sadness washed over him.

‘But why should I feel sad?

‘These were her father’s tyrannical terms to begin with!

‘If it were just occasionally cooking a couple of cost-price meals to nourish my cousin, that would be acceptable, but he wanted me to prepare elaborate, meaty dishes for her every single day, with a host of ridiculous demands—ensure she’s full and satisfied, and even fine me if she’s not!

‘It was clear he didn’t even consider me human!

‘With that realization, a look of anger once again flared across Xiaoxin’s face!

‘But it was no use saying anything; the decision-making power, rather than being mine, rested more with this cousin.

‘There were many relatives in the family, and I had six or seven female cousins, but since I never bothered to remember names, I couldn’t recall which one she was, nor could I tailor dishes specifically for her.

‘My greatest fear was that she would be a finicky eater, and if the taste didn’t satisfy her, she would erupt in a furious rage, hurl the pot at my face, and in the brief moment of stun from the soup splattering, deliver a powerful kick to my groin for a fatal blow, achieving true damage control.

‘Then she would follow up with ten consecutive heavy slashes, concluding with an iron mountain strike leading into an over-the-shoulder throw, tossing me out of the building to complete a solo kill!

‘Could such an absurd scenario truly happen?

‘It seemed his persecution complex had worsened; Xiaoxin neither knew nor could say for sure, but having witnessed so much misfortune, every outlandish fantasy now felt entirely plausible.

‘Indeed, anything was possible; I would simply resign myself to fate.

‘A sense of relief washed over him, and Xiaoxin’s heart settled into tranquility.

‘While the saying “the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge” was somewhat far-fetched, its widespread popularity hinted at an underlying truth.

‘His restless soul was now as calm as still water; the light turned green, and Xiaoxin strode towards his cousin’s place, a little tune escaping his lips.

‘He hummed an old, nursery-rhyme-like tune, altering the lyrics as he went: “Food is the people’s heaven, black smoke rises from the pot, I can’t afford three meals a day~”

‘Though, with his current disposition, neither heroic fervor nor a drawn sword would take him to the ends of the earth.

“Mommy, mommy, what’s wrong with that uncle?” a seven-year-old boy, utterly bewildered, tugged at his mother’s hand.

“One moment he’s laughing, the next he looks like he’s about to cry, then he seems angry, and suddenly he’s humming a carefree tune.”

“In the 45 seconds he waited for this red light, he lived through a man’s entire life.”

“From the joy of youthful ambition and fervent passion, to the sorrow of facing society’s cruelty and hitting countless walls, to the rage of defying fate with hateful strength, finally reaching old age, seeing through worldly illusions, and finding contentment in letting go of everything.”

“Oh… I see…” Such words were still too difficult for a seven-year-old to comprehend.

“Actually, there’s a more probable explanation,” a passing young man interjected, offering his analysis.

“He probably secretly rejoiced, thinking he’d found a girlfriend, only to realize he was just a backup, and she still loved her ex and other men, leading to his sorrow.”

“Then, upon discovering she had gotten involved with another man again, he was consumed by rage, wanting desperately to reclaim the one he loved.”

“Finally, he understood that to truly love someone means wishing for their greater happiness and well-being, and so he chose to let go.”

“Oh~ that’s wonderfully told, you have quite a talent for storytelling, don’t you?”

“Would you be interested in a part-time position with our publication? A single manuscript earns a fee of 3,000 yuan.”

“Yes, I’d be delighted.”

“Please guide me well.”

‘The passersby behind him launched into their impromptu storytelling session, but Xiaoxin paid them no mind.

‘Though he envied the 3,000 yuan manuscript fee, he had more pressing matters at hand; if he didn’t hurry, the beef stew would cool and its flavor would diminish.

****

‘The residential complex was exceedingly luxurious, with lion statues standing a full three meters tall, and even the entrance was equipped with several new-model, encircling surveillance cameras.

‘The security guard, too, was quite formal; as it was a community for the affluent, entry required prior approval from a resident.

“Name, address, purpose.”

“Yu Jing, Building 17, Apartment 2209; I’m the resident’s cousin, here to deliver a meal.”

‘Intimidated by the guard’s imposing presence, Xiaoxin noted he appeared to be a retired soldier, with a robust physique.

‘His right arm was a mechanical prosthetic, its exterior covered in a black carbon fiber protective layer, seemingly designed to shield the intricate machinery within.

‘He was clearly no ordinary man, yet even so, he worked as a residential complex security guard, a position that, nonetheless, felt superior to Xiaoxin’s own.

“Please wait.” Without even glancing at Xiaoxin, the guard began operating a projected cloud-based computer and sent a contact request.

[Ah, hello, may I ask who this is?]

“This is the security guard from Huasheng Residential Complex; may I confirm if you are Miss Yu Jing?”

[Yes, Yu Jing, resident of Building 17, Apartment 2209. My apologies, I’ve just moved in recently and didn’t notify you beforehand.]

‘The incredibly gentle and sweet voice of a young girl made Xiaoxin involuntarily sigh in relief.

‘He had initially feared that a girl with such a formidable appetite, judging by the menu, would be a significantly overweight woman, but her voice suggested she was a quintessential beauty.

“No problem, considering you are a new resident from out of town and need time to adjust, please send your authentication here.”

[Understood, transmitting now.]

‘In less than two seconds, the red lock on the display screen before him turned green, indicating successful remote identity verification.

“Thank you for your cooperation, and please remember to apply in advance for your next appointment.”

[My deepest apologies for the trouble.]

‘Feeling somewhat out of place amidst the high-tech present, Xiaoxin offered an awkward smile to the guard after the electronic barrier in the pedestrian walkway rose, signifying successful authentication, and then hurried into the complex.

‘Inside the complex, a completely different scene unfolded; compared to the masses of mechanically modified workers seen throughout Seacity, this place felt like a fantastical world enhanced by high technology.

‘Floating drones circled, absorbing pollutants from the air and releasing safe, purified gases, causing me to feel invigorated and refreshed upon entering the complex.

‘Beautiful green belts, an array of exquisite flowers blooming in the gardens, and neatly arranged trees and shrubs adorned the landscape.

‘Robots periodically pruned, watered, and maintained the grounds, while the fountains, gilded with gold, were particularly stunning.

‘Equipped with a projection system, these fountains could choreograph water and light effects to suit various songs, surely presenting a magnificent spectacle at night.

‘Most residents here possessed considerable capability and capital, naturally disdaining mechanical body modifications.

‘They found that flesh-and-blood bodies allowed them to better experience innate human sensations, engaging in playful exercises with simple equipment in the park.

‘Some elderly residents even had accompanying mechanical maids to assist them; when tired, they could play chess together or be served a relaxing cup of tea.

‘Compared to my own sunless dwelling, which resembled a battlefield ruin, this place was truly paradise.

‘The price of 9,800 yuan was, frankly, quite cheap; perhaps its affordability stemmed from being far from schools and business districts, and situated in the suburbs, making it more akin to an ideal retirement spot.

‘Perhaps one day, when I’m old, I could ask my children to contribute some money for me to live in a place like this, complete with mechanical maids?

‘Ha, what am I thinking?

‘In my current state, how could any woman ever like me?

‘By then, I’d probably have to scrimp and save to marry a wife, and who knows, if she didn’t want children, I might even have to spend extra money on [in-vitro fertilization] (to be mentioned later).

‘As the aroma of my beef stew wafted up, my hungry stomach responded in kind, and a powerful signal in my brain further tempted my rationality.

‘So hungry, so fragrant… Damn it!

‘Why does the food I make smell so incredibly good?!

‘I didn’t even use any expensive ingredients, yet it feels dangerously delicious.

‘Should I sneak a small piece of beef? No! I’ll be discovered!

‘I have no idea if this quantity will satisfy my cousin’s needs, and every extra bite I take now means a lower chance of success in future negotiations!

‘What about the carrots and potatoes? No!

‘Then, just dip a decorative celery stalk into a bit of the broth? Ugh!

‘That would only make me hungrier, unable to resist!

‘Resisting his inner demons, the truly pitiable Xiaoxin urged his body forward, quickly finding his cousin’s residence.

‘The complex was vast, boasting almost every imaginable facility: a gym, a zoo, a swimming pool, a sports arena, a daycare, and so on.

‘However, finding the residential area was not difficult; it was all clustered together, and I quickly located my destination.

‘To enter Residential Tower 17, one had to undergo hand sanitization and an infrared scan to check for dangerous items; it seemed every building had such robots, and the front desk attendant offered thoughtful service.

‘To prevent congestion, a single building featured eight civilian elevators, plus a special-purpose elevator for emergency evacuation and maintenance work.

‘The elevators were remarkably fast; with no one else present, I reached the 22nd floor in less than ten seconds.