Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

Chapter Seven: Strongly Fragrant Da Xiang Foot

Seeing Xiangzi's gloomy expression, Yanming shook his head noncommittally, not wanting to pry into other people's family affairs any further.

That old slacker doesn't even care about his daughter's feelings anymore; he's clearly no longer the father Xiangzi described as kind to her. Perhaps Xiangzi herself understands that she's only saying these things to maintain her father's last image in front of the guests.

People change. Just because someone was like that when they were a child doesn't mean they are like that now. Nothing can remain unchanged for a lifetime, at least that's what Yanming believes.

As for what Toyokawa Shoko will think, it depends on her. Even though they only spent two days together, Yanming could tell that she was a girl with her own opinions. Even if she fell into a cycle of confusion and hesitation due to temporary difficulties, she was able to break out on her own.

"Please wait a moment, I'll go prepare the food and take off my stockings." The two tacitly avoided mentioning the topic, and Xiangzi found a suitable excuse to hurriedly leave the living room.

[Host...it seems you've accidentally stepped on their landmine.]

Having found some peace and quiet, Yanming, who had been sitting down to wait, casually chatted with the system: "Minefield, minefield, do you think this is a movie? Where do ordinary people get so many minefields for others to step on? This is minefield, that is minefield, in reality, people like that would either jump on them or explode."

But Miss Toyokawa's expression changed!

Yanming shook his head: "You're still too young; you can't even understand this."

[Hmm... Host, according to human calculations, from the time my consciousness was born until now, I should be over seven hundred years old, right?]

"Cough cough cough..." Yanming choked on his own saliva.

When the Monkey King, who had been imprisoned under a mountain for five hundred years, emerged, he was only a little over seven hundred years old; he was already as cunning as a monkey.

Why do you look like an idiot?

Yanming forced a smile and said, "Age isn't the point; the key is experience. Do you understand?"

【Mmm, host is amazing! ヾ(O?O?)ノ】

"...If you had a physical form, your head would probably be pointy too."

【Huh? Why?】

I don't want to explain it to it anymore.

"In short, Ms. Toyokawa's behavior was not because my words touched a nerve, but because she was constantly thinking about and analyzing her current situation in order to seek change."

Who knows, maybe one day, the ambitious Toyokawa Shoko will abandon that old-fashioned snack shop and start her own business?

"That girl doesn't seem like the type to be easily offended by a few words from others, at least not to strangers."

Oh, I see.

[That does seem to make sense, hmm... but the host actually knows so much about what I'm thinking in just one day. You really do want to win me over!]

"You have delusions, I'm not talking to you anymore."

【Hey hey hey——】

After Yanming unilaterally ended the conversation, the living room returned to silence, with only the annoying snoring echoing from the nearby room.

Half an hour later, when Xiang's father was woken up, he was so shocked to see the young man on the dining table that even his hangover-induced brain became a little clearer.

Yanming didn't give the drunkard a friendly look: "Mr. Toyokawa, is there a problem?"

"No, no... Welcome."

Xiangzi placed the last dish on the table, sat down next to his father, and quietly explained what had happened that morning.

"Ah..." After that, the dejected man didn't say much about the matter, and his eyes trembled slightly before becoming numb again.

"Yanming-jun, please use it."

"I'm gonna start now."

There wasn't much formality involved; it was just a casual visit between neighbors, and since they were of similar age, there was no need for them to be reserved.

As for Toyokawa Shoko's father... does anyone really care about his opinion?

Before long, the clattering of bowls and chopsticks replaced any conversation, and Yanming began to savor the dishes on the table.

The dishes were all very common, but the vegetable leaves were a bit old, the rice in the sushi wasn't packed tightly enough, and there were a few other minor flaws that could be easily noticed.

However, the overall taste was still very good. At least in Yanming's opinion, by the standards of a middle school student, Toyokawa Shoko's cooking skills had surpassed most of her peers, so it was no wonder that she was confident enough to invite him.

Yanming put down his chopsticks and said, "Thank you for the meal, it was very delicious."

He finds it quite enjoyable to occasionally try food cooked by others.

Thank you for your hospitality!

What's it to you?

Xiangzi, of course, couldn't hear the strategy system's voice: "I'm glad you like it, Yanming. I was a little worried that you wouldn't be used to the food, after all, I'm still a beginner."

A beginner... which means that Toyokawa had never actually considered cooking for herself before.

In that case, the reason for learning to cook couldn't possibly be out of mere interest.

Yanming is now almost certain that a very serious change happened to Toyokawa Shoko not long ago. It was because of that change that her father became so depressed and decadent, and she had to shoulder the heavy burden of life at such a young age.

[Task completion rate increased]

Current completion rate: 30%

No new notifications.

[Phase rewards are being distributed]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: a pair of original white socks from Da Xiang Jiao (Note: Strongly scented)]

【……ah!】

"?"

I can explain...

At this point, further explanation would be futile.

Not only these socks, Yanming also began to suspect the origin of the previous photo album...

As expected, this guy is the scumbag who followed girls and committed theft and secretly filming them!

That's not how it works—T_T

Yanming stood up from the tatami mat and apologized to Toyokawa Shoko, "Miss Toyokawa, something came up that I need to take care of, so I won't bother you any longer."

He's going back to see if he can blacklist this nasty system.

Xiangzi was clearing away the dishes when he heard Yanming leaving in such a hurry. He asked in surprise, "Yanming-kun just finished eating. Don't you need to rest a little longer? It's alright."

"No, let's talk about it another time. Also, here's my contact information. You can contact me if there are any problems with the house or anything else."

"...See you later."

After saying goodbye to Xiangzi, Yanming returned home without stopping.

Seemingly sensing his thoughts, the system desperately tried to change Yanming's mind and salvage his first job.

[Please don't abandon me, sob... It's an algorithm problem, it really has nothing to do with me, please believe me, host...]

For such testimony that had no factual basis, the court sentenced Yanming to immediate execution by firing squad.

"uninstall?"

"delete?"

"Transfer to human operator?"

"Self-destruct?"

"7355608?"

Yanming ignored the system's incessant wailing in his mind and continued trying on his own.

[Host, please skip the last one... I'm a system, not C4, T_T]

Chapter Eight: A Heavy Rain

As Yanming gradually got used to being alone, within a single day, a useless strategy system appeared in his mind, and then he met a girl named Toyokawa Shoko.

This was a significant change during the otherwise uneventful period that followed his departure from the band.

What will life be like in the future?

No one, including Yanming, knew.

But now, he has more important things to do.

"Demons and ghosts, please leave now..."

[Wait a minute! Why do you have dried pufferfish in your house?!]

"It was a gift from a friend of mine, is it any of your business?"

……

Time flies. After moving here from the Toyokawa family home, Yanming and Toyokawa Shoko's relationship gradually improved through their interactions as neighbors. Although they weren't exactly close, they were at least able to chat for a bit if they happened to bump into each other on the street.

For Yanming, who had little contact with the opposite sex, this was already a rare breakthrough.

In their most recent conversation, Xiangzi told him that he had almost settled his family affairs and would be able to go back to school in time... But Yanming always felt that Xiangzi seemed to have deliberately omitted a part in his words, and his expression revealed a little sadness, as if going back to school was something that Xiangzi found very difficult to face.

As for the final outcome of the execution of that abnormal system...

...Okay, he failed.

Yanming tried every scientific and mystical method he knew, but nothing he did could have the slightest effect on the strategy system. Instead, the system kept begging for mercy in his head, giving him a terrible headache.

Finally, after repeated assurances from the system, Yanming accepted the fact that he would be its host for life.

But it's not such a bad thing. After all, one's life is much shorter than others, so just endure it and it will pass quickly.

[Hmm hmm! Let's see the change in favorability today, Host!]

No matter how Yanming treated it, this guy remained completely unmoved, showing absolutely no dissatisfaction despite his coldness and indifference.

This submissive, seemingly masochistic, and pathetic system... if it were to leave me one day, would it really be able to continue to survive?

Of course, I'm not worried about it, just a little bit concerned.

"I won't look." Yanming's eyes were fixed on the pouring rain outside the window.

The weather was truly terrible, even worse than Yanming's current mood.

What are the people he knows doing at this time?

In a daze, Yanming seemed to see his own figure in the rain that day.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of their band's breakup.

As the culprit who personally ended the band, he could still sit at home nonchalantly, leisurely dozing off with a cup of hot coffee, while the others were nowhere to be found, and Yanming had no idea whether they would get wet in the heavy rain.

They even talk about cause and effect and retribution; it's laughable.

【Master, please, just one look, just one look~ Hmm... If you're not going to say anything, I'll open it myself! Ta-da!】

Ugh... this guy is so annoying.

Yanming impatiently turned his gaze from the rain to the noisy system.

After spending these days together, he realized that if he ignored it, the system would keep yelling endlessly, even more troublesome than a "girlfriend."

So it's probably best to pay some attention to it.

【Name: Toyokawa Shoko】

[Current Intimacy Level: Casual Acquaintance (47)]

[It's improved a little bit since last time; we're now at the level of ordinary friends. Host, keep up the good work and continue to win her over! Keep it up!]

You're so attentive; it feels like I'm the one trying to win you over.

"No."

[Hey—Doesn't the host want a sweet romance? Miss Xiangzi is beautiful and has a great personality...]

Yanming interrupted, "It has nothing to do with this. Some people are just not suited to have a partner."

[Hehe—Don't be so sure of yourself, Host! It'll hurt a lot if the boomerang hits you one day!]

“Even a wild turtle in the river could see through your little schemes,” Yanming rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to be blown away by a boomerang. If I say I won’t do it, I won’t do it.”

Why would someone like him, whose life is uncertain even if he lives to 30, want to ruin a young girl's life?