Zhou Li was thin-skinned, so after a moment's thought, he honestly typed, "I was just sitting by Dian Lake and saw West Mountain, and it made me think of you." He deliberately didn't mention wanting to eat anything.
Hong Ran: "I'm really touched."
Hong Ran: "What does Tuanzi want to eat?"
Zhou Li: "...Wensi tofu."
Hong Ran: "She certainly has good taste. I don't even know what that dish is. I'll ask around."
Zhou Li: "It requires considerable knife skills."
Hong Ran's message arrived a short while later: "I heard Chunming is organizing a chef exchange conference recently. You're in luck; famous chefs from all over the country are gathering here. What else do you want to eat? Seize the opportunity!"
Zhou Li, whose knowledge was limited, turned to Tuanzi. "Besides Wensi tofu, what else do you want to eat?"
"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Nine Turns Intestines, Fire Tooth Silver Thread, Jade Shrimp, Lotus Meat, Three No Stick, Pagoda Meat, Hollow Crystal Balls..." Tuanzi rattled off a list of dishes without a second thought.
"...Sounds good." Zhou Li nodded. It was a relief to finally hear a dish he recognized.
"Lord Dumpling also wants fish soup with rice!" Tuanzi added.
Zhou Li only relayed two or three dishes to Hong Ran. Shamefully, those were all he could remember. He didn't mention the fish soup with rice, thinking that the small eateries on the commercial street could make it.
Hong Ran: "Okay, I'll see if I can get a chef who can make these dishes. Anyway, come find me tomorrow night."
Hong Ran: "And bring Tuanzi with you."
Zhou Li then turned to Tuanzi. "How about I take you to Hong Ran's for the meal? It won't taste as good if it gets cold on the way back."
"Don't even think about it!" Tuanzi twisted her little head.
"Why not? I'll be on your side and make sure Hong Ran doesn't bully you," Zhou Li coaxed softly, reaching out to stroke the fluff on her small head.
"Lord Dumpling gets angry just seeing that demon!"
Zhou Li tactfully told Hong Ran that Tuanzi didn't want to go.
Hong Ran: "This silly cat has quite the temper."
「The next day was Saturday.」
Although Zhou Li and Hong Ran had agreed to have dinner together, Hong Ran sent the Ladybug Monster to fetch him in the afternoon. Zhou Li also brought Huai Xu along. Newest update provided by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
Hong Ran's courtyard was magical. On his previous visits, the weather had always been Qingtian with high temperatures, yet the courtyard itself remained cool. Conversely, though Chunming had been overcast and windy for the past few days, her courtyard was pleasantly warm, and the harsh wind felt gentle there.
When Zhou Li saw Hong Ran, she was sitting at a table, reading documents.
"Are you busy?" Zhou Li hesitated at the entrance.
"Come in, come in, don't worry about it," Hong Ran beckoned carelessly. "Come keep me company, or I'll go mad."
"Have you been really busy lately?" Zhou Li finally stepped inside.
"Busy, incredibly busy, it's driving me nuts..." Hong Ran leaned back in her chair, looking utterly helpless. "You should have come to visit your big sister sooner. Only when I see you can I relax a little."
"I'll give you a massage."
So Zhou Li walked over and gently kneaded Hong Ran's shoulders. "I haven't learned how, so I'm just pressing randomly."
"Don't worry, you can't break me."
Hong Ran picked up a document and continued reading. Zhou Li unintentionally caught a glimpse of it: written on yellowed paper in traditional Chinese characters, the handwriting was exquisite.
Zhou Li was not surprised; the last time he chatted with Hong Ran, she had told him—
They came from another world, not another planet. The rules, composition, and even life forms of that world were completely different from this one. The demons hadn't originally looked as Zhou Li saw them now. They didn't communicate with sound; their world lacked even the concept of air. Nor did they use writing for records; they had never encountered paper or pens. They possessed methods of communication and recording aligned with their own world's rules—methods invisible and intangible to Zhou Li.
After coming to this world, to adapt to its rules, they changed into their current forms.
He still remembered Hong Ran's lament: "The rules of your world are so tyrannical. We can only submit. Gradually, we've learned to use this world's tools, utilize its rules, even discard our original ways. To evade suppression, we've become increasingly like your world's creatures. If, one day, the world ceases to suppress us, I won't know if we've cleverly deceived it, or if its tyrannical nature has simply assimilated us."
Zhou Li softly admired, "The writing is really beautiful!"
Hong Ran chuckled, joking that once most of the demons had awakened, she would consider promoting education in simplified characters.
Zhou Li also laughed and continued to peek.
The document Hong Ran was examining concerned the rebuilding of the Local Government, the demon police organization that liaised with the Heavenly Master. About half of the demons formerly with the Local Government were now awake, but all were slacking off. They needed to be recalled.
It was a thick document, detailing an extensive implementation plan.
Hong Ran made two corrections with her pen, then pressed her index finger on the paper. A stream of light flashed, and the documents flew out.
The next document was simple, just a single page. It stated that as the new era was gradually dawning, one of the demons had proposed that Hong Ran move back to the "Old Land" for her safety.
"What's the Old Land?" Zhou Li continued massaging.
Hong Ran, unfazed by his peeking, casually explained, "It's a fragment of our original world that we brought over. It serves as a buffer zone for us to adapt to your world."
"Is it big?" Zhou Li asked.
"Vast," Hong Ran replied. "It completely overlaps with your planet, but ninety-nine percent of it is fragmented and unsuitable for long stays. Moreover, these fragmented areas are continually expanding..."