Lin Jichen wanted to explain that it was his foolishness in his past life that caused him to let down his sister's feelings, and that he had now found his way back.
But he doubted even a ghost would believe that.
"Forget it, I'm not here to blame you. I waited here just to tell you that I'm not that petty. If confessing doesn't work, we can still be friends. You don't have to avoid me."
Jiang Luoyu said seriously, though her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
"Alright, I understand." Lin Jichen nodded and said, "Then shall we continue to raid Corpse King Valley in the future?"
A slight smile appeared on Jiang Luoyu's face, but she pretended to be displeased. "Why wait for the future? Can't we raid it today? Are you trying to avoid me?"
Lin Jichen hurriedly shook his head and explained, "No, no, I took on a mission to go to Thunder Marsh. It might take a few days to return. Otherwise, I'd definitely go with you to raid Corpse King Valley anytime."
"Of course, if I'm lying, I'm a puppy."
"Alright, then we'll talk after you finish your mission. If there's nothing else, I'll be going. Good luck with your mission."
With that, Jiang Luoyu left without looking back.
Although she wasn't as cheerful with Lin Jichen as before, their relationship seemed to have improved a lot.
This was the best they could do for now.
Watching Jiang Luoyu leave, Lin Jichen felt he hadn't lost a good friend and felt much happier.
Suddenly, there was a slight sound of the door opening outside the bedroom.
Lin Jichen, alert, quickly logged off, fearing an enemy had come to find him.
He cautiously opened the door and found Ren Lan had returned.
"Little Lin! Hehe, I'm back!"
Lin Jichen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You're back, so why sneak around like a thief?"
Ren Lan laughed, "I was afraid you'd bring some girl over while I was away and I'd interrupt your fun."
Lin Jichen's forehead darkened. "Can you think more purely?"
"How am I not pure? Did I hit the mark? Did you really bring a girl home? Let me see."
Ren Lan said as she rushed into Lin Jichen's bedroom, but finding no wild girl as she imagined, she pouted in disappointment.
"What a pity, I thought I could catch you in the act and hear your tearful confession."
Lin Jichen was speechless. What on earth was this woman thinking all the time?
"By the way, I brought some of my mom's special dishes for you. You're in for a treat. Go cook some rice, I'm starving."
Ren Lan handed a tote bag to Lin Jichen.
Lin Jichen took it and complained, "Are you taking care of your mom or is she taking care of you? Isn't she sick?"
"Can't she recover? I can't cook, and besides, my mom made this especially for me. If you don't want to eat it, then don't."
Ren Lan said as she tried to take the bag back, but Lin Jichen quickly hugged it and scurried to the kitchen.
Ren Lan laughed heartily behind him.
Looking at the dishes in the bag, Lin Jichen sighed in relief that he didn't have to eat his own cooking.
"Chicken soup, meatballs, ribbonfish, pork knuckle... Wow, your mom made so many delicious dishes. Aren't you afraid you won't finish them?"
Lin Jichen opened each container, marveling as he popped a meatball into his mouth. Delicious!
"You're kidding. You know my appetite, and besides, there's your share too. If I didn't bring enough, one meal wouldn't be enough."
"True." Lin Jichen began preparing the rice.
Ren Lan came over to take over. "I'll do it. You go upstairs and ask Niu Naitang and Sister Xiaowei if they want to join us."
"Niu Naitang is closest to you. That little appearance-obsessed girl doesn't like me. I'm afraid it won't work if I ask." Ren Lan rolled her eyes.
Lin Jichen nodded and went upstairs to knock on the door.
After a while, the door opened, and a small head peeked out. Seeing it was Lin Jichen, the little one immediately opened the door.
"Brother Lin, please persuade my aunt."
"Huh? What's wrong with your aunt?" Lin Jichen tensed up, worried that Qin Xiaowei might be in trouble.
Niu Naitang's little face drooped. "My aunt is learning to cook, saying she wants to cook for me. She's chopping vegetables in the kitchen."
As she spoke, the sound of clanging came from the kitchen, more like chopping bones than vegetables. The whole building could probably hear it.
Niu Naitang hugged Lin Jichen's leg, crying, "Brother Lin, please persuade my aunt. If she cooks, Tang Tang will get diarrhea again."
Lin Jichen almost burst out laughing.
"Tang Tang, who's here?" Qin Xiaowei came out of the kitchen, holding a kitchen knife.
The knife... already had a chipped edge, full of scars.
Qin Xiaowei was sweating profusely, panting heavily.
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was doing physical exercise in the kitchen.
"Oh, it's you, Little Lin. Come in." Qin Xiaowei warmly invited Lin Jichen.
Lin Jichen smiled and said, "No need, Sister Xiaowei. I'm here to invite you and Niu Naitang downstairs for dinner. Ren Lan's mom brought a lot of dishes, and she wants us to eat together. The rice is already cooked."
"But I'm cooking." Qin Xiaowei said awkwardly, showing the already ruined knife in her hand.
Niu Naitang covered her forehead, unable to bear looking.
Lin Jichen swallowed nervously and asked, "Sister Xiaowei, what are you cooking that ruined the knife..."
Qin Xiaowei smiled bitterly, "I bought a bone and wanted to make bone soup for Tang Tang."
"You don't need to chop the bone for bone soup..."
"Really? Cook it whole?" Qin Xiaowei realized.
"Yes, and you can't chop bones with a vegetable knife..."
"Then what knife should I use? A Damascus knife?"
Lin Jichen felt a bit of heartache and said, "Just use a bone cleaver..."
"Oh, I see. No wonder this knife got dull and chipped after a few chops." Qin Xiaowei laughed.
At this moment, Niu Naitang tugged at Lin Jichen's pants, her small face full of emotion, silently pleading with him to take her away. She didn't want to be a guinea pig.
Holding back his laughter, Lin Jichen said to Qin Xiaowei, "Sister Xiaowei, why don't you give me the bone? I'll cook it, and we can eat together."
"But it's not good to always freeload at your place." Qin Xiaowei said embarrassedly.
"It's fine, the more the merrier. Besides, you're contributing a dish too. I haven't had bone soup in a long time. Let's eat together!"
"Alright, let's go. I'll bring the bone." Qin Xiaowei agreed and brought out the bone from the kitchen.
Seeing the bone in her hand, which looked like a mourning stick, Lin Jichen was speechless...