Love, Gun, Cupid

In Cupid's celestial realm, the inhabitants feed on energy and do not require material ingredients, so there's no reason for them to develop culinary skills. Du Juan tries cooking for three reasons: first, to demonstrate her value as a roommate; second, out of curiosity; and third, to refine her character.

Now, she's temporarily staying here as Lin Jiade's distant cousin, trying her best to act like an ordinary human being and quietly integrate into human society... but she probably can't keep a low profile.

Because she was already considered a "very pretty girl" by the elderly people in the neighborhood, parents with unmarried children were particularly interested in pretty girls in their neighborhood.

Lin Jiade put down his shoulder bag and washed his hands. Du Juan had already served a single serving of food. As the young man picked up his chopsticks, she took out her phone to take a picture.

"An internship assignment?" Lin Jiade asked.

"No, I sent it to my family. They were a little worried about me coming here alone."

“You can Photoshop me out. If they see me, they’ll probably be even more worried,” Lin Jiade replied.

Du Juan waved her hand: "It's okay, it's okay. My family has a good impression of you: Dad thinks you're an honest person, and Mom thinks you can practice squats more."

As for my sister… well, she thinks you're like the Prussians who successfully bewitched Napoleon before the Battle of Jena.”

Lin Jiade's knowledge of Napoleon was limited to a few historical topics that would be tested on exams, such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Civil Code, the Russian Expedition, and the Hundred Days. He didn't understand Du Juan's analogy.

However, he felt that Du Juan's sister most likely didn't like him.

He ate his meal silently with his head down. Du Juan's cooking skills were far from "delicious" than Rome to Istanbul, but he still felt happy.

How long has it been since he ate a meal cooked for him at home?

He looked up and noticed that Du Juan was resting her elbows on the table, her hands supporting her chin, gazing intently at him. Her silver earrings were faintly visible in her hair, and her glossy lipstick sparkled on her lips.

After they started living together, she folded her wings, shed the striking pink in her long hair, turning it pure black, and the memorable heart-shaped pattern in her eyes disappeared.

Now, sitting in front of him is not Cupid, but a young beauty who is only pleasing to the eye, not strange.

This was the first time Lin Jiade had looked directly at Du Juan's face. Her forehead was round, her eyebrows were curved like willow leaves, her large, full eyes were protected by fine eyelashes, and her handsome, straight nose separated her cheeks, which were glowing with a healthy rosy color, complementing her fair skin.

The woman rested her chin on her hand, allowing Lin Jiade to see the delicate skin of her fingers. Her neck was long and graceful, like that of a swan…

That's all he's seen for today.

Lin Jiade felt a mixture of awe and shyness. The azalea was the pinnacle of aesthetics and power he had encountered in the past twenty years of his life. Its exquisite beauty stirred his soul, and its unconventional power filled him with fear.

"Humans are truly incredible," Du Juan exclaimed.

Lin Jiade looked down at his plate in a panic: "Well, how should I put it?"

"Your average lifespan is less than one hundred years, which is one-thirteenth of the average lifespan of the inhabitants of the heavens. You understand the brevity of your lives, which is why you live in such a hurry."

But sometimes, your attitude towards life is much more relaxed than ours.

Lin Jiade was somewhat surprised: "In your opinion, do humans live a very leisurely life?"

"Yes, because I don't need to eat. When I sleep, my body recovers its magic, but my consciousness is clear in my dreams, and I can continue to do other things. As for you, you waste a third of your day eating and sleeping."

But seeing you eat so leisurely, I suddenly realized that living at such a slow pace might be a kind of happiness.

"Maybe, I feel...not bad right now," Lin Jiade said softly.

Du Juan changed the subject: "If we're talking about happiness, then we have to mention love. How are your preparations going regarding your relationship?"

Cupid's concern for his love life is no less than that of parents who see their children over 25 and still single—he is meticulous, subtly probing and weaving a web of "blind dates" around him.

No matter the topic, if she wanted to, she could steer the conversation to his love life within three sentences.

Lin Jiade put the rice in his mouth and said frankly, "I'm not ready, but if you introduce me to a blind date, I will definitely take it seriously."

“Okay, I’ll be wandering around the neighborhood these past few days, getting familiar with the area and observing your romantic prospects with other people,” Du Juan said.

Lin Jiade asked with some concern, "Another magic spell? Can your body handle it?"

"No, that's my racial talent; it doesn't consume energy. Once I've chosen you, I can see your predestined relationships with other people."

"You're practically acting as a matchmaker, finding me a blind date."

Du Juan joked, "According to the local custom, if I successfully introduce you to someone, you have to give me a red envelope."

Lin Jiade laughed too: "Okay, okay, I'll wait for the matchmaker to introduce me to someone."

“You said it yourself.” Du Juan put on a serious expression. “Actually, I’ve found someone. As things stand, she’s the one with the deepest connection to you. In my opinion, the probability of you two getting together is fifty-fifty.”

Chapter Seven: The Probability of Green Plums

Lin Jiade's smile vanished abruptly, as if he had just discovered that the fictional character he had admired for some time, Ogura Asahi, was actually a boy. He had initially thought Du Juan was joking, which was why he had joined in the teasing, but it turned out Du Juan was serious?

"I'm a little surprised. I didn't expect you to be so efficient. You found one for me in just two days," he said dryly.

Du Juan looked somewhat smug: "With the cover of 'purchasing ingredients,' I can move around freely in the vicinity without arousing suspicion."

This residential area is about half a square kilometer in size and has considerable living facilities. From what I've observed, the place residents visit most frequently is the supermarket.

Lin Jiade explained, "To attract customers, they sell vegetables and eggs at a loss, so naturally the locals like to go there. And then, that's where you found the person I was destined to marry?"

“Not at all.” Du Juan crossed her arms. “However, I overheard the gossip among the residents in the neighborhood and heard some interesting information. Then, following the clues, I found your destined person. It’s a 50% success rate.”

"Let me ask you this: what exactly does a 50% success rate mean?"

"It should be considered a very high success rate. If we were to compare it to a character in an anime, she would be like the protagonist's childhood friend. Although she may not always win in battles against those who suddenly appear out of nowhere, she can at least make it to the final rounds and has a certain advantage."

"I see."

Du Juan added, "However, since you are studying probability theory, you should know that probability is just a mental game for amusement in an ideal environment, and reality is not perfect."

Some young teams might have a huge advantage at halftime, ready to celebrate, but could end up being eliminated early.

You're right, aren't you, Milan Eriri? Lin Jiade thought.

Lin Jiade didn't say anything more. As he finished eating and was about to wash the dishes, Du Juan stretched out a finger, her painted nails pricking his arm. A swirling sensation of itchiness appeared on Lin Jiade's arm, and a swirling sensation of displeasure also appeared on Du Juan's face.

“You’re being a bit pessimistic. Even if I say this, you’re not interested in knowing the other person’s name?” she asked.

Lin Jiade answered honestly, "Well, I want to finish cleaning up the dishes, then play online shooting games with my friends, and then have a good sleep. I don't have classes tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, I'll just coast through the afternoon classes, and then go play soccer."

Tonight, I'd actually like to watch "Akira the Condor Heroes" or "Detective Minami," both of which are cartoons I watched on TV when I was a kid, and I want to reminisce about them.

As he narrated, Du Juan's dissatisfaction accumulated until it was clearly reflected on her face. Lin Jiade added, "But these things can be adjusted because your affairs are the most important."

The young man's unconscious shift from initial gloom to elation immediately lifted Du Juan's spirits, and she said, "Isn't love a wonderful thing?"

“I have never loved anyone, nor have I ever been loved by anyone, so I don’t understand,” Lin Jiade said. “The internet and football are altars where I offer my time and receive the reward of pleasure. The cost is lower than that of love.”

What are Miss Cupid's thoughts on love?

Du Juan replied, "You are the first lover I've ever encountered; I haven't witnessed anyone else's romance. But the elders all say that human love is something that even Cupid, the observer, finds captivating—"

In the steel jungle of the city, lovers find their own warmth, kissing, embracing, enjoying romantic moments under the moon and flowers, their bodies and souls intertwined with passion and tenderness, sharing the secrets to coping with life's hardships.

Du Juan spoke softly of her fantasies about love, her voice gentle and her expression warm, even her figure seemed dreamlike. Looking at her, Lin Jiade couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart.

He just wasn't sure whether he was falling for the love Du Juan fantasized about, or for Du Juan, who fantasized about love.

An impulse surged within Lin Jiade's chest, and he said to Du Juan, "I don't know if love is suitable to be presented in a utilitarian way, but I promise I will do my best."

I will earnestly search for a partner worthy of my life, and I will also ensure your successful graduation so you can return to the celestial realm and achieve great things.

Du Juan looked at him for a few seconds, her previous urging for him to go on blind dates lessening somewhat. She said in a lower voice than before, "Your marriage is on the 16th floor."

"The 16th floor?"

Lin Jiade knew the correct answer, but he didn't want Du Juan to know, so he pretended to be calm and said, "I've heard about it, that family is quite pitiful."

"How so?" Dujuan asked.

"In March of this year, the family went out for a trip and got into a car accident. Only the child survived. After being hospitalized for several months, he finally returned home."

I ran into her once in the elevator; she was in a wheelchair, thin and haggard, and had no one to take care of her. So, you're saying our fate was fifty-fifty?

“That’s right, half and half, or rather, evenly matched. If you don’t have a suitable partner, why don’t you try dating her?” Du Juan suggested.

An expression of disbelief appeared on Lin Jiade's face: "That girl... she's not human?"

"I do not know."

"Didn't you say you wanted me to go on a blind date with the non-human mother?"

Du Juan shook her finger: "Put yourself in Cupid's shoes. If you saw that my marriage with someone was 50/50, wouldn't you want to play matchmaker?"

"That makes sense... Doesn't Cupid have the ability to distinguish races?"

"Unfortunately, Cupid has one talent and four kinds of magic, but unfortunately, none of them are related to identifying races."

Lin Jiade nodded: "Indeed, you all bring people together across races, so why would you care what race the couple is? As long as there is love, that's all that matters."

"Back to the main point, do you want to go on a blind date with her?" Du Juan asked.

Lin Jiade protested, "He's not even an adult yet."

“But at this age, there’s not much moral pressure involved in dating, after all, she’ll be eighteen in three months.” Du Juan changed the subject: “Or are you the type who gets on the bus first and then buys the ticket, which is why you’re so concerned about other people’s age?”

"If I were that kind of person, you wouldn't be the one finding me a blind date!"

Du Juan waved her hand: "Just kidding. And if there's anything else bothering you, tell me."

"I'm not familiar with her, and besides, her appearance isn't suitable..."

"You discriminate against disabled people?"

The sudden punch left the young man a little stunned. He gathered his thoughts and retorted, "First of all, he's only temporarily inconvenienced and will recover gradually."

Second, I do not discriminate against people with disabilities;

Third, I'm talking about her mindset. After all, such a big thing happened, and she lives alone without anyone taking care of her. If I went there at this time, it would be suspected that I was taking advantage of her.

Sigh, in short, it's just not a good match. She probably needs to get her life back on track before pursuing love.

Chapter Eight: Cupid's Spider Web

Du Juan shook her head and said, "Without someone's help, she can't get back on track in life; if no one gives her love, how can she receive the sunshine in life?"

"You overestimate love, and you overestimate me." Lin Jiade laughed self-deprecatingly. "I've fantasized about something that's so cool, but it's just a fantasy."

"You don't have to let it remain a fantasy; you just need a driving force."

Du Juan drew a heart shape in the air, then gently blew on it, filling it with pink that floated onto Lin Jiade and merged with him. Lin Jiade's heart raced, and he realized that Miss Cupid's words made some sense.

Du Juan continued, "Give it a try, a 50/50 match. If it works out, you'll gain love and complete my mission at the same time; while she'll have you to support her and start a new life."

How much worse can things get? You've only lost a neighbor you didn't know well. Learn from this experience, and next time, you'll be stronger on the battlefield of love.

"Is love like a battlefield?" Lin Jiade asked.

"In my opinion, yes, there are three steps to starting a relationship: loading the bullet, finding the target, and shooting the heart."