Chapter 32
The newbie, her dyed hair dry and brittle, tugged at it nervously. She had been in the dungeon for two days.
Unable to understand what was wrong, she clutched her cramping stomach and spoke.
“Don’t the rules say we have to drink the cook’s soup every night? Why isn’t she giving us any?!”
If she had, she wouldn’t be this hungry!
The other players, also starving, sighed, their faces grim.
“But the cook refuses to make it for us. Come to think of it, we haven’t followed that rule at all, have we?”
The players suddenly realized this, their eyes widening.
That’s right, they hadn’t had any of the cook’s soup!
Why hadn’t anything happened?
The buzz-cut player, the calmest among them, touched her sachet prop, her face thoughtful.
“Perhaps…something has already happened?”
Could their erratic mood swings be caused by not following the rule of drinking the cook’s soup every night?
Xing Nuo, lying on his stomach on the bed, had unintentionally fallen asleep for his afternoon nap.
When he woke up, he had missed lunch.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked to the top of the stairs, where a male servant carried him down.
He yawned, tears welling up in his eyes.
Xing Nuo wiped his eyes with his hand.
“Where Daddy? Eat yet?”
Zaizai was always concerned about Daddy’s meals. He looked around for him.
The male servant replied respectfully: “Master has already eaten. What would Little Master like to eat? You can tell the cook.”
They reached the kitchen just as he finished speaking.
The cook, who had been waiting in the kitchen, hurried out, her plump face beaming, her eyes crinkling into a smile.
“Little Master is awake! Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make the most delicious meal for you!”
The pastry chef, usually overshadowed by the cook, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the little master, pushed the cook aside with his thin frame.
“It’s already afternoon. Little Master must want some sweet biscuits or a delicious cake?”
Shen Wen wasn’t interested in pastries or afternoon tea, so the pastry chef’s creations were usually relegated to a corner of the table.
Now that the castle had a little master, the pastry chef thought it was his time to shine!
The cook glared at the pastry chef’s fawning expression, gritting her teeth.
They glared at each other, then looked at the little master expectantly.
Xing Nuo, the thoughtful little one, patted both their arms.
“Auntie’s soup yummy…Pastwy chef’s biscuits yummy too!”
The pastry chef, his eyes tearing up at the little master’s praise, rushed to the oven, determined to bake the perfect biscuits!
The cook, not to be outdone, went to prepare the soup the little master had personally praised!
The kitchen became a flurry of activity, the sounds of clanging pots and pans filling the air, the kitchen maids scurrying around.
As soon as Xing Nuo left, the players emerged from their hiding spot and, exchanging glances, headed towards the kitchen.
They were immediately met with the cook’s booming voice.
“What are you doing here?! This is the kitchen, not a place for you!”
The pastry chef, also turning on them, wiped his hands, his expression sinister.
“If you interrupt my baking for the little master, I’ll rip your heads off and bake them in the oven!”
The players gasped, looking at the two powerful monsters, and quickly retreated.
Hiding in a corner, they wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, their hearts pounding.
“This isn’t working! We can’t get the cook to make us soup! She’s too powerful. We can’t force her!”
The buzz-cut player, after a moment of silence, spoke.
“Perhaps…we should try the little master again?”
The best decision they had made since entering this dungeon was to stay on Xing Nuo’s good side!
A veteran player smiled wryly and sighed.
“Good thing we were nice to Xing Nuo.”
They didn’t dare imagine their fate if they had offended him.
In the dining room, the crystal chandelier had been replaced with softer, warmer mermaid pearls.
Xing Nuo, standing on his chair, touched the pillar holding the pearl, his eyes filled with curiosity.
“No electricity?”
In his other home, the lights, the TV, the refrigerator…even the phone, all needed electricity.
How could this glowing orb light up without it?
The male servant, watching nervously, wanted to help the little master, but didn’t dare touch him, afraid of startling him. He paced anxiously.
“Little Master, please sit down. I’ll get you one.”
There were piles of mermaid pearls in the basement storeroom!
Xing Nuo touched the pearl. It wasn’t hot at all, but cool and smooth!
“Smells like Big Brother!”
He sniffed it, his eyes crinkling into a smile.
Seeing the male servant’s anxiety, Xing Nuo sat down obediently.
“Servant brother, I want round pearl.”
Xing Nuo wanted to take it back and show it to his brother!
Big Brother would definitely like this cool, glowing orb that smelled like the sea!
The male servant sighed in relief, patted his chest, and nodded.
“Of course. I’ll get one for you right away. Please don’t stand on the chair again!”
Xing Nuo nodded vigorously, watching as the male servant went to the basement.
The players, hiding in the shadows, finally had a chance to approach the little master alone.
They exchanged glances and began their performance.
“Xing Nuo, are you about to have dinner?”
The female newbie, pretty and cute, having straightened her clothes and hair, approached Xing Nuo with a smile.
Xing Nuo, tucking his bib into his shirt, nodded.
“Yes. Zaizai sleep long time…missed lunch!”
The female newbie, with her lively demeanor and short, wavy hair, reminded Xing Nuo of his kindergarten teacher.
He looked at her curiously.
The female newbie, seeing his expression, thought she had a chance. She clutched her head and let out a few weak groans.
She dabbed at her dry eyes, sneaking glances at Xing Nuo, waiting for him to ask what was wrong.
Xing Nuo tilted his head, his long eyelashes shimmering in the light, and looked at her quietly.
The female newbie, seeing him just staring at her, his chin resting on his hand, groaned louder.
Xing Nuo, who often pretended to be sick to get cuddles and kisses from his dad, watched her terrible acting and giggled, covering his mouth.
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
Someone’s acting even worse than Zaizai!
If Daddy saw this, he wouldn’t call Zaizai a Fake Crybaby anymore!
Xing Nuo’s obsidian eyes, filled with amusement, looked at the player.
“Big sister, you can’t cry like that.”
He leaned closer and whispered, sharing his expertise:
“You have to pout…like this…”
Xing Nuo demonstrated, pouting and looking up at her with big, watery eyes.
“…then Daddy will hug Zaizai!”
Female newbie: “…”
Who’s teaching who here?!
She huffed and pinched the little master’s soft cheek.
“You’re teaching me?! I’ve taught thousands of children!”
The female newbie actually was a kindergarten teacher!
Xing Nuo, feeling the familiar authority of a teacher, quickly shrank his neck and placed his hands neatly on the table.
Afraid of losing his little red flower, he even sat up straight.
The female newbie snorted, then, noticing the veteran players frantically signaling her, realized her mistake.
I got sidetracked by the little one!
She coughed and changed her tactics.
“Xing Nuo, do you know why Big Sister is so uncomfortable?”
Xing Nuo shook his head.
“No.”
The female newbie sat down beside him, clutched her stomach, and sighed dramatically.
“Because Big Sister hasn’t eaten for two whole days.”
Xing Nuo’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth falling open.
“But…but Big Brother say…no eat…Zaizai go bye-bye!”
“Big sister go bye-bye?” Xing Nuo asked, confused.
Two whole days? She must be completely gone by now!
He instinctively reached out to touch her, to see if she was cold.
The female newbie, avoiding contact, continued to sigh.
“Adults are different from children. Two days without food won’t make us go bye-bye, but it’s very uncomfortable.”
Xing Nuo nodded understandingly, clutching his own rumbling tummy, and sighed softly.
Finally, as the female newbie had hoped, Xing Nuo asked the crucial question:
“Why big sister no eat?”
The female newbie, feigning distress, her excitement barely contained, clenched her fists and spoke.
“Because the cook didn’t make us any soup or food. She looks down on us!”
Affected by the dungeon’s influence, she became slightly agitated, complaining about the cook in front of the little master.
Just as she was describing the cook’s haughty attitude, she stopped, feeling a chill.
She rubbed her arms and asked the innocent little master:
“Xing Nuo, are you cold?”
Xing Nuo shook his head, adjusted his sunflower bib, and smiled sweetly.
“No. Big sister, Cook Auntie bwought Zaizai food. You want eat together?”
Xing Nuo, worried about the hungry big sister, invited her to join him.
The female newbie’s smile vanished.
