Chong Han felt a pang of discomfort. She had saved him, yet she expected no reward?
Was she only staying for a few days?
She had clearly seemed to like him that day. Now that they were living under the same roof, why wouldn't she seize the opportunity to get closer to him?
Chong Han thought Qiao Ci was playing hard to get and decided to wait a while longer.
Time would tell, and all truths would eventually surface.
"You may go. Keep a close watch on her. Report to me immediately if anything is amiss."
"Yes, Your Exalted Demonic Lord."
After the demon servant left, Chong Han pondered, becoming increasingly suspicious of Qiao Ci.
Seeing the sky, he figured she would be going out to find food again. Chong Han changed his clothes and prepared to see what she was doing.
Following the demon servant's directions, he arrived at the West District of the demon capital. Looking at the shops filled with food and the bustling crowds, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
He seemed unaccustomed to such a lively environment.
His outing was not as ostentatious as Chi Ming's; he came alone. He deliberately lowered his presence, and the people around him saw him as just another stranger, glancing and forgetting him without a trace.
Upon reaching the restaurant where Qiao Ci was, he felt a strange sense of unease. This woman, so powerful, had such a fondness for food. This contrast...
Ahem, it was quite cute...
He quickly halted his thoughts, his ear tips warming slightly. How could he find a woman cute, especially one so powerful?
He entered the restaurant. As soon as he reached the second floor, he heard a haughty female voice.
"...Do you really think the Demonic Lord likes you? Take a look in the mirror before you speak. Dressed like that, which man would like you? The Demonic Lord certainly wouldn't. I advise you to be sensible and leave the Demonic Palace voluntarily!"
"Who are you?" Qiao Ci looked at the provocatively dressed, seductive demon woman before her.
"It doesn't matter who I am! The Demonic Lord has always been pure and self-disciplined. You are the first woman allowed to live in the Demonic Lord's harem, yet you are human! Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different intentions. I advise you to retreat!" Mei Ji looked at Qiao Ci with disdain.
Qiao Ci did not expect to receive such typical protagonist treatment just by having a meal. In the original plot, Feng Fuling, after an argument with Chang Yan, came to the demon realm. Under Chi Ming's indulgence, she could move freely throughout the demon realm.
This sparked Mei Ji's jealousy. She frequently caused trouble for Feng Fuling. Eventually, for injuring Feng Fuling, she was torn apart by Chi Ming on the spot, which greatly terrified Feng Fuling.
Finding him too cruel, Feng Fuling eventually returned to the cultivation world disheartened and sought comfort from Chang Yan.
...
Qiao Ci looked at Mei Ji, who had met a tragic end, and raised an eyebrow, "And then?"
"What then?" Mei Ji looked somewhat bewildered, then said fiercely, "You are not allowed to seduce His Exalted Demonic Lord! Otherwise, your fate will be extremely grim!!!"
Chong Han's eyes were filled with displeasure. His benefactor was not to be slandered by others.
Knowing that Qiao Ci could handle the situation, he still stepped forward: "Since when has my business required your interference? In my Demonic Palace, whoever I wish to reside here, shall reside here."
Unexpectedly seeing the reclusive Demonic Lord himself, Mei Ji immediately puffed out her proud chest and neatly knelt: "Your Exalted Demonic Lord, why have you come?"
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you were bullying my people like this." Chong Han was always indifferent in front of outsiders. After speaking, he felt something was amiss and stealthily glanced at Qiao Ci.
Fortunately, she seemed not to have noticed those four words.
Mei Ji gazed at Chong Han with adoration: "Your Exalted Demonic Lord, she is merely a human. Humans and demons cannot intermarry. It's fine if you just play around usually. Mei Ji was just teaching her the rules of our demon race. I beg for Your Exalted Demonic Lord's forgiveness!"
While asking for forgiveness, her expression was one of entitlement, and her words showed even more disdain for Qiao Ci.
"Don't you understand what I'm saying?" Chong Han glanced at her. "Qiao Ci is a noble guest of my demon realm. Anyone who bullies her is bullying me. Get out."
Mei Ji glared at Qiao Ci. Although unwilling, she obediently left.
Chong Han straightened his collar, expecting Qiao Ci to say a word of thanks for him intervening. However, there was no sound for a long time.
Looking at her profile, she was still eating, unperturbed. However, the slight frown between her brows suggested she was not very satisfied with the food.
"Not to your taste?" For some reason, the question came out naturally.
Qiao Ci nodded sincerely: "The taste is indeed ordinary. Compared to the cultivation world, the food in the demon realm is not as surprisingly flavorful."
Chong Han was still blaming himself for speaking out of turn. Upon hearing this, his expression naturally darkened: "Since you don't like it, don't force yourself. The demon realm's land is barren, unable to grow the fresh ingredients like your cultivation world."
"Oh." Qiao Ci replied faintly and continued eating.
"It's not that it's not delicious, why continue?" Chong Han did not understand.
"Perhaps I'm used to it. Three meals a day, even if I'm not hungry, I want to eat something." Qiao Ci ate a few more mouthfuls before stopping.
"..." Chong Han didn't know how to respond, only pursing his thin lips. Seeing that she was not enjoying her meal, he couldn't help but frown.
Did his prestigious demon realm not have any outstanding dishes that could make her happy?
Returning to the Demonic Palace, he summoned his left and right protectors and ordered them to carry out a rigorous mission in the cultivation world.
The protectors, who were preparing for a grand undertaking, looked at each other upon hearing this.
That's it?
However, they absolutely respected the Demonic Lord's orders and immediately swore to over-fulfill the task before leaving in a hurry.
In the mortal realm of the cultivation world, the imperial kitchens were said to have the most delicacies. The protectors sneakily arrived at the imperial kitchens and plundered all the food, not even sparing the dried radishes in the corner.
Chong Han ate the food from the cultivation world, but always felt something was missing. Although he didn't prioritize his appetite, he didn't want the food of the demon realm to be outshone by the cultivation world.
Thus, he again ordered the protectors to "borrow" a recipe book from the cultivation world and began studying it overnight with the "Divine Chef Recipe Book."
*
Looking at the shrimp dumplings, soup dumplings, and white fungus lotus seed porridge served by the waiter, Qiao Ci's expression was slightly stunned.
New items?
The little spoon in the system space covered its mouth and giggled. It hadn't told Qiao Ci about Chong Han's every move, wanting to give her a surprise.
Under Qiao Ci's puzzled gaze, the restaurant waiter nervously explained: "This is the new breakfast offered by our restaurant. Please try it and see if you like it."
His hands were tightly clutching the hem of his clothes, appearing very anxious.
Early in the morning, he had been grabbed by several masked men who told him that if the human girl who frequented the place came again, he was to serve her this meal, and if she didn't comply, they would kill him.
He knew this girl had the Demonic Lord's permission to reside in the Demonic Lord's harem. What if something happened to her after eating?
However, if he didn't comply, he would die. After thinking about it, he gritted his teeth and agreed, after all, it was better for a fellow friend to die than himself!