An Intimate Evening Meal

"Hey, are you into that kind of thing?"

A disdainful glance was shot in his direction.

Jiang Chen noticed the hostility in Sun Jiao's gaze and shivered involuntarily.

"You're overthinking it. She's just a computer expert I recruited," he explained with a bitter smile. Do I really look like a lolicon?

Sun Jiao gave him a suspicious look, then sized up the little girl who had been quietly lowering her head. Suddenly, she leaned in close to Jiang Chen's ear.

"Is she safe?"

"She shouldn't have any connection to the Gray Gu Mercenaries," Jiang Chen replied, shaking his head.

"I don't like the word 'should.' It's your safety I'm worried about," Sun Jiao sighed and stepped in front of Yao Jiayu.

She gently lifted the girl's chin with her index finger and stared into her eyes.

"Do you know Zhou Guoping?"

The abrupt question caught the girl completely off guard.

But her clear, wide eyes only reflected confusion—no signs of alarm or recognition.

"N-No… I don't know him."

"Good. I'll need to search you, hope you don't mind," Sun Jiao nodded, a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Um…" Yao Jiayu replied obediently in a small voice.

Zzzip.

To Jiang Chen's surprise, Sun Jiao directly unzipped the girl's jumpsuit.

Yao Jiayu's face flushed bright red, but she didn't resist. Her trembling hands barely covered the vital areas. Her lips quivered as she stared fearfully at the older woman—unlike the man, this woman didn't radiate kindness in her eyes.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"

Jiang Chen blushed, instinctively reaching out to shield his view.

"A body search, duh. Gotta make sure she's clean… Geez, why do you still act like a blushing virgin? Haven't I trained you enough?" Sun Jiao rolled her eyes mockingly.

Trained… what the hell?!

"Wanna try me?" Jiang Chen shot her a glare.

Yao Jiayu kept her head down, trembling.

It wasn't from the cold—this luxurious room had climate control, and advanced tech at that.

No, it was shame.

Even though she tried to stay calm, being stripped for inspection in front of a man was still overwhelming.

"OK, no signal devices or weapons," Sun Jiao clapped her hands and stood, but not before pinching the girl's chest, eliciting a stifled yelp.

"Seriously? Are you even a girl? You're so flat."

Whether intentionally or not, Sun Jiao straightened her own chest proudly.

Yao Jiayu blushed but said nothing, keeping her eyes on the ground and not even daring to pick up her clothes.

"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Chen gave up trying to stop Sun Jiao's antics. He sighed and cleared his throat, turning to the embarrassed girl.

"You… uh, go ahead and get dressed."

"Yes," she answered softly, quickly grabbing her clothes. After a slight hesitation, she bit her lip and stepped into them.

Jiang Chen instinctively looked away, covering his nose. I think I just saw something I shouldn't have...

"What are you so shy about? She's your slave now, practically your property. Even if you did something to her, she wouldn't resist," Sun Jiao teased.

"Oh? You jealous or something?" Jiang Chen glared back. Maybe it was time to teach this little devil a lesson.

"I'll drain you dry…"

She whispered that right into his ear, sending a surge of heat through him.

Ahem... Maybe later then.

He shot her another sharp glare and took a deep breath.

"Okay, joke time's over. Anyway, this is Sun Jiao. I'm Jiang Chen. From now on, you're one of us," he said warmly to the flustered girl.

"Yes… Master," she replied with her head bowed.

"No need to call me that. Just call me Jiang Chen… That electronic collar makes me uncomfortable. If you trust me, I'll remove it."

Although having a cute girl call him Master was kinda thrilling, it also felt… off.

Even as Sun Jiao gave him a you idiot look, Jiang Chen ignored it.

"No!"

To his surprise, Yao Jiayu flinched and looked at him pleadingly.

"Why?"

Confused, he asked, stunned.

"…I-I don't hate having a kind master like you. Yao Yao… is already very happy. Please don't abandon me."

"I never said I would…" Jiang Chen gave a helpless smile.

"Trust isn't the same as being defenseless. Heh, she's smarter than she looks," Sun Jiao whispered in his ear.

Realization dawned on Jiang Chen.

Yeah… I'm still thinking like someone from the old world.

Betrayal—it was a harsh word, but commonplace in the apocalypse.

Brothers turning on each other for profit, families sold out for survival…

Taking off the collar might not change his feelings, but it would make him subconsciously wary. After all, Yao Jiayu wasn't with him from the start—she was a "newcomer." And wariness breeds suspicion.

If she kept the collar, Jiang Chen would feel reassured.

She understood this.

If she stayed obedient, she wouldn't be abandoned.

Yao Yao clenched her small fists quietly, making her decision.

She didn't crave power—just survival. Maybe a bit of happiness, too.

Jiang Chen chuckled softly, understanding her thoughts.

In truth, she was overthinking it. He wouldn't change how he treated her—collar or no.

But then again... he was seeing them through the eyes of someone from a peaceful world.

And they were seeing him through the harsh lens of the wasteland.

To Jiang Chen, Yao Jiayu was still just a kid. Even if she was a computer genius, he didn't see her as a threat.

Yao Jiayu was trying to interpret Jiang Chen's heart through the lens of a wasteland survivor, while Sun Jiao, who had vaguely guessed Jiang Chen's origins, was still trapped in the deeply ingrained worldview of the apocalypse.

Maybe they could sense his unusual kindness and his almost "naive" set of values—but neither of them could fully understand what Jiang Chen was really thinking.

Fearless.

Why?

Because if you could escape this dangerous world at any time and return to a peaceful one, would you still fear the cruelty of this place?

Probably not.

Of course, this kind of mindset might dull his survival instincts. But hey, beliefs don't just change overnight. After all, he had only been here for a week. He'd only scratched the surface of this world.

Sun Jiao brought Yao Jiayu into the bathroom.

Jiang Chen felt a bit disappointed that he missed a chance for a steamy bath with the lovely Miss Sun, but giving this time to the two women seemed like the better choice. After all, some things were easier to say from woman to woman.

It would be bad if any awkwardness festered between them, especially since Sun Jiao had teased Yao Yao earlier. That's probably why she volunteered to help with the bath in the first place.

Although… before going in, Yao Yao did look back at Jiang Chen with those big, teary, puppy-dog eyes, as if begging for help…

By the Bathtub.

"Yao Yao."

"Yes!" Yao Jiayu sat bolt upright like a startled rabbit.

"No need to be so nervous." Sun Jiao smiled, holding her close and gently washing her back.

"Mind if I call you Yao Yao from now on?"

"Y-Yes… that's fine." Yao Jiayu answered timidly.

"Don't be scared. I'm actually super nice to my own people."

Sun Jiao wiped away a bruise on her face and asked softly:

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little…"

"I'll put some ointment on it after your bath. By the way... your skin is surprisingly soft and delicate."

Sun Jiao gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze with a hint of envy.

Yao Jiayu just curled up, shrinking like a bunny in a tiger's grip, letting Sun Jiao poke and prod her.

"It's… it's from a Type-III cryo pod. It enhances physical condition…" Yao Jiayu mumbled.

"Oh? A cryo pod? Now that's luxury." Sun Jiao grinned mischievously.

"That means you're actually older than me, huh?"

"N-No! I went into cryo at age twelve. I stayed in stasis for about twenty years, but the inhibitors slowed my physical growth. My body's about sixteen, mentally I'm maybe fourteen…"

"Mmm… twelve plus twenty is thirty though, right?" Sun Jiao teased, her favorite hobby being messing with cute things.

"I-I'm not that old…" Yao Yao pouted softly.

"So that means... you're of age to be eaten, huh?"

"E-Eaten?!"

Her face went pale. She'd heard rumors of sickos out on the wastelands who literally ate kids.

"Not that kind of eaten." Sun Jiao chuckled, her hand playfully brushing across Yao Yao's small chest.

Yao Jiayu blushed deeply and lowered her head.

"I… I'll be a good girl… If Master wants to eat me, I won't resist…"

"You won't get eaten." Sun Jiao cut her off with a laugh.

"Huh?" Yao Jiayu looked confused.

"Because this big sister eats clean, got it?" Sun Jiao declared proudly, sticking out her chest.

Teasing this little loli was just too much fun.

Feeling that soft, smug bump press against her back, Yao Jiayu pouted in quiet frustration.

No one's trying to compete with you, she grumbled internally.

Though even she didn't notice the fleeting sense of disappointment in her own heart just now...

"Time to rinse~ heeeyah!"

"Eek!"

Laughter echoed through the bathroom.

Meanwhile…

It sounded like the two were getting along just fine.

Jiang Chen smiled at the cheerful noise coming from the bathroom.

He popped open a can with a can opener, poured the contents onto a plate, and stuck it into the microwave. One after another, warm and hearty dishes came out with ease.

The rice cooker dinged, and Jiang Chen served up the fluffy rice and brought it all to the table.

Looking over the spread, he couldn't help stroking his chin in self-satisfaction.

"Who says I'm not a good man, huh?"

Well… even if it was all canned food. Ahem.

"Whoa, this looks amazing today!"

Still wrapped in a bath towel, Sun Jiao emerged from the bathroom and sat down across from him without a care in the world, showing off way too much skin.

"Can you at least get dressed before you eat?"

Sun Jiao ignored his comment, puffing up her chest and crossing her long legs in a very deliberate way.

Her body language said loud and clear: So what? Come and make me.

Jiang Chen felt parched just looking at her. But with Yao Yao around, he couldn't exactly pounce on Sun Jiao right then and there. He could only gulp down some ice-cold beer to cool off.

Pleased by his reaction, Sun Jiao sipped on her soda and let out a happy sigh.

Hmph, I knew he liked big boobs.

If Jiang Chen knew what she was thinking at that moment, he probably would've spit beer all over the table.

"Yao Yao, aren't you going to eat with us?"

Turning away from the gluttonous Sun Jiao, Jiang Chen looked over at the still-motionless girl.

She stood frozen, staring at the feast on the table, swallowing hard.

Braised pork, curry chicken, spicy pickled cabbage...

This had to be a dream. She dumbly lifted her hand and bit the back of it.

Ouch… that hurt.

"Mmmf! So good—"

"Chew before you talk… Yao Yao, if you don't hurry up, she's going to eat everything." Jiang Chen waved her over with a smile, snapping her out of her trance.

"I—I…" She gulped again, wide-eyed, staring at him in disbelief.

"Do I… really get to eat too?"

"Of course. Mealtime's for everyone… slow down though, no one's stealing it from you."

Watching Sun Jiao scarf down her food, Jiang Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

He really was a little worried she might choke.

"It'sh sho good…" Sun Jiao mumbled through stuffed cheeks.

This girl… looked so mature, but sometimes acted like a total kid.

Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile and started eating too.

Yao Yao sat down timidly, holding her chopsticks. But she didn't move.

"Not hungry?"

"N-No… it's just…"

She lowered her head. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.

"You're being so kind to me… even though I'm just a slave…"

Slave? Jiang Chen never saw her that way.

He didn't want to be some "master"—he'd rather be a boss.

Forced obedience never compared to true loyalty.

"Hey, don't cry. Crying while eating is bad for your digestion. Come on, try this braised pork—I made it myself."

(Okay, it was canned, but still… let a man be proud.)

"Mm!"

Yet her tears flowed even faster, leaving Jiang Chen at a loss.

This hearty dinner reminded her of a long-lost, once-happy home.

For a moment, she felt a tear in the fabric of time itself—

As if they were back before the war.

The man before her was her big brother. The woman, her big sister.

That rare warmth spread around the table, blurring her vision.

Coincidentally, Jiang Chen felt the same thing.

That illusion… of family.