Chapter 26 — Explosive Dinner and an Unforgettable Prank

In dorm room 568, a strangely domestic scene is unfolding.

Skylar steps into the kitchen corner of the room, tightening the apron she brought from home. Her sleeves are rolled up. Her expression is focused. Meanwhile, Julian sprawls lazily on a chair, phone in hand, eyes locked onto the screen.

"So... what would Master Julian like to eat today?" Skylar asks playfully, glancing over her shoulder.

"Whatever," Julian replies without looking up.

Skylar freezes. Her gaze sharpens like a blade. A dangerous aura radiates from her entire body, enough to make Julian's skin prickle with goosebumps.

"I HATE that kind of answer," she says, voice low but menacing.

Julian immediately sits up straight, his hands slightly trembling. Sweat trickles down his forehead. He stammers: "O-Okay then, uh... steak, fried egg rolls, rice, seaweed soup with clams, and boiled vegetables. Is that okay?"

Skylar nods with a satisfied smile: "That's more like it."

She bends down to open the mini-fridge and is taken aback by the stocked interior: "Whoa! How considerate of you, Young Master. I didn't even get a chance to go grocery shopping yet. Did you do this in advance?"

Julian doesn't even blink: "I bought them when you weren't around."

In his mind, however, he smirks: Actually, I made Nathan buy them. What a gullible little dummy.

Then his smug expression turns thoughtful. He rubs his chin and narrows his eyes: "Wait. Do you even know how to cook all those things?"

Skylar places her hands on her hips, a smug and prideful look on her face. She smirks: "Who do you think I am? Watch and be amazed. Don't underestimate someone with top-tier survival skills."

Julian frowns. He looks up, exasperated: "That's... not exactly something to be proud of. Maybe stop flexing that every time. It's just exhausting to listen to."

Skylar pauses for a moment, then turns back to the counter and begins prepping the ingredients: "Alright then..."

"By the way," Julian adds casually: "you sure eat a lot, huh? Why are you making so many dishes?"

He returns to scrolling on his phone, pretending indifference. Skylar giggles, catching the faint blush on his ears.

"Aiya... someone's blushing again."

"I'M NOT BLUSHING!" Julian shouts, almost dropping his phone.

"Yeah yeah... sure," Skylar replies, feigning belief as she turns back to cooking.

Roughly forty minutes later, the small table is covered in beautifully plated food. Steam rises from the dishes. The aroma is rich and inviting.

Julian approaches the table, his eyes lighting up. He looks like he's trying hard not to say something overly impressed.

"Looks... decent."

OH MY GOD it looks amazing! - he screams internally.

Skylar watches him quietly, then smirks: "You say it looks 'decent' but you're drooling."

Julian panics, wiping his mouth in a flash. Nothing comes off. Furious, he snaps: "I WAS NOT DROOLING! LIAR!"

"Hahaha..." Skylar bursts into laughter.

Julian stares at her for a moment, the corners of his lips twitching. He ends up chuckling too.

She's laughing. That's good! - he thinks to himself.

Skylar unties her apron and hangs it up on the hook: "I'm going to get Nathan. Tell him it's dinner time."

As she turns toward the door, she suddenly notices something odd.

"Wait a minute. Why haven't you showered yet?"

Her lips curl into a sly grin, her eyes sparkling mischievously: "Or... does Young Master want his humble maid here to wash him instead?"

Julian freezes for a beat. His grip on his phone tightens. He then calmly places it on the table, cheeks a faint red. But his voice is steady as ever. He flashes her a sly smile.

"Is that really an option? Hold on. Let me get undressed first, and I'll call you in."

Wait... What?

Skylar's brain short-circuits. That is NOT the reaction she expects. She prepares for embarrassment, stammering, maybe a huffy Julian running into the bathroom.

Instead...

Steam practically rises from her head. Her cheeks turn scarlet. Her breath hitches.

Skylar backs up near the bed, grabbing a pillow like a shield. She hurls it at Julian.

But...

Whap!

Julian catches her wrist mid-throw. Skylar is now crimson from head to toe. Her eyes wide.

"Y-Y-You... DIE!!!"

With sudden force, she grabs his wrist and slams him down onto the floor.

"ARGH!" Julian groans.

Skylar stands over him, panting, hair messy, face flushed, sweat dripping: "YOU PERVERT! YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE!"

Julian looks up at her and laughs through the pain: "Not sure who was just volunteering to give me a bath, though."

Skylar grabs the nearest object on the table and flings it at him.

It's his phone.

"NO!" Julian shouts, trying to catch his precious device.

Too late.

Thwack!

The phone hits him square on the nose. He crumples to the floor, groaning in agony.

"Y-You're seriously evil sometimes…"

Skylar doesn't stick around to hear his complaints. She storms out of the room.

But just before slamming the door shut, she pauses, gives him one last icy glare, and says: "Because you deserved it."

SLAM!

Julian lies on the floor for a second, groaning. Then he reaches for his phone.

He quickly texts Nathan:

Julian: "Don't even think about showing up here."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dorm wall…

BAM!

The door to Nathan's room flies open. He flinches so hard he almost drops his phone. Skylar stands there, panting, red-faced and sweating.

"I-I came to invite you for dinner!"

Nathan blinks, confused: "L-Little Sky?"

He steps into the hallway, still puzzled: Why did the Young Master tell me not to come? What happened between these two?

Nathan notices how flushed and sweaty Skylar looks: "Your room's right next to mine. Why do you look like you just ran a marathon?"

Skylar laughs nervously, scratching her head: "Hehe... I ran down to the convenience store real quick. Forgot a couple things."

Nathan raises an eyebrow: "Didn't the Young Master buy everything already?"

Skylar tilts her head, mentally panicking: When the heck did that guy buy all that?!

"Are you feeling okay?" Nathan asks kindly.

Skylar waves her hands frantically: "N-No! I mean yes! I mean, I'm fine! My face just gets red when I talk to boys, that's all!"

Inside, she screams: Even if I die, I'm NEVER telling him what just happened!

Nathan stares at the flustered girl and thinks to himself: She was totally fine earlier… There's definitely a reason for this. And I bet that reason's name starts with 'J'. Better not pry...