Chapter 143: Confession (Please Subscribe, Please Vote)

"Are you sure you can stomach a love bento made by a man?" Hu Yifei first questioned Zhanbo, then, striking a deliberately sultry and dissatisfied pose on the sofa, she teased, "And are you sure you’re not choosing me, little cowboy?"

…

Xiao Xie shook his head, deciding not to concern himself with Hu Yifei and the others. He remembered something, though: when he visited the film set later, he could prepare a love bento for Baby.

At noon, Xiao Xie carried the lunchbox to the set. Upon arrival, he saw Baby in the middle of filming an action scene. Not wanting to disturb her, he found a seat nearby and waited for her to finish.

"Tired?" As soon as Baby finished, Xiao Xie approached her, offering a tissue for the sweat on her brow.

Baby wiped her forehead and smiled sweetly. "I’m not tired at all now that I see you."

"You!" Xiao Xie teased, gently tapping her delicate nose.

He picked up the lunchbox and smiled. "You must be hungry. I’ve already prepared lunch for you—let’s eat together."

With that, he took her hand and led her to the break room.

Liu Yifei watched the affectionate scene between Xiao Xie and Baby, a hint of bitter melancholy curving her lips. She had no idea when the relationship between the two had grown so close.

"It smells delicious!" Baby opened the box, and a tempting aroma wafted out.

"It’s just a few homemade dishes. Try them and see what you think of my cooking," Xiao Xie said with a smile.

"Mmm!" Baby nodded, picked up a piece of braised pork, and tasted it. Her eyes narrowed in delight. "It’s delicious—sweet but not greasy. I give you ninety-nine points; I’ll keep the last one so you won’t get conceited."

"Have some soup." Xiao Xie poured her a bowl of pork rib soup.

"Winter melon and pork rib soup—so good. I give you a hundred and one points. Take the extra one and be proud!" Baby giggled after sipping the soup.

"There’s also steamed egg, hot and sour shredded potatoes, and fish-flavored shredded pork. Taste them all," Xiao Xie said indulgently.

"Mmm. Xiao Xie, I never knew you could cook this well. I guess I’ll never have to worry about starving again," Baby laughed. "You should eat, too!"

"Ah!" Xiao Xie opened his mouth, pretending to beg for food.

Baby smiled sweetly, picked up a piece of rib, and fed it to him. "Good boy, little Xie Xie," she laughed.

"Are you treating me like a pet?" Xiao Xie rolled his eyes helplessly.

…

"Master Xiao Xie, are you having a secret meal?" Zhao Liying had originally come to visit, but the aroma lured this little foodie straight to them.

"Liying, since you’re here, join us!" Baby couldn’t help but laugh at Zhao Liying’s hungry gaze, fixed firmly on the food.

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly—" she said, though her actions were honest enough. She sat down without a hint of hesitation, filled her bowl, and glanced at the others. "You two eat as well; why are you just watching me?"

Xiao Xie and Baby exchanged helpless glances. Anyone with eyes could see what it meant to be a third wheel, but in the face of delicious food, Zhao Liying’s intelligence dropped to zero—she had absolutely no resistance and cared nothing for being a third wheel.

Though she’d interrupted their private moment, neither Xiao Xie nor Baby could muster any annoyance watching Zhao Liying’s silly and adorable antics. It was both exasperating and amusing.

…

In the Bermuda Triangle, within a steel fortress on the ocean floor.

"Lord Youqi, over the past month we’ve captured some magicians, but in the end they all turned out to be impostors," reported a large-headed alien in brown armor to their leader.

"The last time Gulaff appeared was during the nuclear leak on Yoshida Island. Since we can’t find them, let’s force them to reveal themselves. Send a Mebada to attack a coastal city in America. I refuse to believe they won’t show up," Youqi said coldly.

"Yes, I’ll handle it at once!"

…

"I’m stuffed. I won’t bother you two any longer—see you!" Zhao Liying drained her last sip of soup, utterly satisfied, and then left.

"That greedy bun," Xiao Xie muttered, watching her go. So she knew she was intruding on their private time and pretended not to, all for a good meal.

Baby shook her head with a wry smile, and seeing Xiao Xie’s exasperated expression, she comforted him. "Let it go—don’t hold it against Liying. She just loves to eat."

"This is for you." Xiao Xie smiled, taking out a wooden box and handing it to Baby.

"What is it?" Baby opened it to find a platinum necklace with a large, emerald-green gemstone the size of a thumb at its center.

"It’s called a Life Necklace. Let me put it on you." Xiao Xie fastened it gently around her fair neck. The stone wasn’t a regular gem, but a spiritual stone known as a Life Stone, whose aura brought clarity, beauty, and longevity to its wearer.

"It feels wonderful," Baby said, instantly feeling more refreshed.

"This is your reward." Baby lifted her head and kissed Xiao Xie on the cheek.

"Baby, will you be my girlfriend?" Xiao Xie asked seriously, gazing into her eyes.

"Mmm," Baby nodded.

"Mm—" came her soft sound.

"I’ll come see you again soon," Xiao Xie said, tidying up their dishes and smiling at Baby, who now kept her head bowed.

"Mmm," Baby replied quietly, still shy from the long, passionate French kiss they’d just shared.

Xiao Xie touched his lips, smiled at the bashful Baby, picked up the lunchbox, and left.

Only after he’d gone did Baby lift her head, her formerly fair cheeks now as rosy as a sunset. The memory of their ten-minute kiss left her utterly flustered.

Liu Yifei watched Xiao Xie emerge from the lounge, his face aglow with pride and joy. She had intended to greet him, but in the end, she could only sigh with resignation, her lovely face shadowed with sorrow. In the end, her unrequited feelings amounted to nothing—her first love ended before it even began.

"Xiao Xie, you’re back. You look so pleased—did something good happen?" Lu Ziqiao asked, noticing Xiao Xie’s jubilant air.

"Not really," Xiao Xie replied with a casual wave, glancing curiously at Guan Gu and Meijia, who were shouting at the TV from the sofa. "What’s up with them?"

"They’re watching Ultraman," Ziqiao replied, exasperated.

"Ziqiao, that’s not Ultraman. This is real!" Guan Gu protested. "Xiao Xie, come look! The news says a fifty-meter-tall monster just appeared on the beach in Seaside City, America."

"Oh, come on, Guan Gu, don’t be so naïve," Ziqiao replied. "There’s no such thing as monsters—that must be a trailer for the Ultraman show, just hyping things up!"

Xiao Xie’s expression grew serious as he listened. He walked over to the TV, where a most astonishing video played.

The video showed a gigantic, fifty-meter monster, jet-black and armed with razor-sharp claws, a sharp horn on its head, and massive wings sprouting from its back. It emerged from the ocean depths, lumbered onto the beach, and rampaged through the city before returning underwater.

During its attack, the U.S. military dispatched fighter jets, but their attacks failed to harm the beast. Instead, the monster’s horn emitted a laser, shooting down seven jets. Ordinary bombs were useless, and using a nuclear weapon would mean destroying the city before the monster could even be taken down.

Fortunately for the authorities, the monster left of its own accord after its rampage rather than continuing its destruction.

"From what I can tell, this video is real—definitely not a teaser," Xiao Xie said gravely. The monster’s actions were too deliberate, as if it were being controlled and provoking someone, trying to lure them out. Given the timing and the fact that it attacked America, it wasn’t hard to guess the purpose: most likely to draw out the magicians.