Zhou Heng looked at the portion of cut steak in front of him with raised eyebrows, in Ariethis City thanks to the great river in the middle of the city, the diet of its citizen is mostly compound of marine life.
He wasn't going to complain, he was from Aquari city in his real life, the sea at one side and many small rivers that flow towards it make the diet of his real life very similar to this one, of course, there were many things that he wanted to add to the current dishes but it wasn't moment to be picky so he was content enough already.
If anything he wanted to eat more red meat, the nutrients of fish were good but he needed calories to support the training his body was going through now and in the future, but the geographic characteristics of Ariethis make him helpless, the meat was more expensive and the orphanage as long as the children were somehow full after eating was satisfied.
That was why he was a bit surprised when the portion of steak appeared on his side of the table when he was eating, he looked up to see a smiling face on the other side of the table.
Seeing this girl his eyes were a bit complicated, earlier when he was doing his routine around the garden she tried to follow him, she wasn't the first trying, but he understood that the rest were children and they took his training as a game, but after experiencing the tiredness the almost immediately leave.
As for the adults around, they were curious but weren't going to try it too, of course, some of them recognized that he was in a way training his body and were baffled by this, no matter what the world wasn't compound of blind idiots unable to see that he was doing something he shouldn't at his age without others instructions.
So when they asked him with a certain caution, he answered that a man one day entered the orphanage and said that if he wanted to be strong to have a family he needed to do that training, with this excuse filled with the naivety of a child gaze and his weird temper the previous four years, they mistook him as an even more weird child already for enduring the training, but at least not weird to the point of inhumane.
Going back to the girl in front of him, his thoughts of her weren't that complex, just a child with a very sociable personality, she was certainly one of the prettiest in the orphanage, but he came from a society where you can increase your external beauty following many steps, even without make-up, so he saw many girls that were as pretty as her in his real life, and he also saw a few girls that were considered 'goddess' on his school.
Even if she was as beautiful as those goddesses he also didn't think too much, not only his current body wasn't ready for those matters, but for his real self, women weren't a priority, maybe in the future he will fall for someone over to the point of obsession or remain unmarried for his entire life, what comes will come.
So under her gaze that was expecting him to become very happy for the 'treat' he only asked with confusion.
''Why are you giving this to me?''
''...'' Her face froze but regained the motivation quickly.
''This is my favorite dish that Auntie Claire prepares especially for me.'' She said with pride on her small face.
''I see, good for you.'' After chewing his food he answered with a blank tone, his face reflecting the lack of interest.
''....'' Even though she was a little girl her emotional awareness was quite high for her peers, so she noticed that he didn't have the intention of taking the steak or having a conversation with her.
Seeing her face that was a bit tangled, he hoped that her desires to befriend him were extinguished early, he didn't want to have many emotional ties with the worlds he visited using the system.
He didn't consider that he was going to wrong her or hurt her for ignoring her, she was young, still thinking that everyone can be friends and needed to get along well, she will be a bit depressed with thoughts that maybe something is wrong with her until one of the adults that manage the orphanage approaches her and tell her that she wasn't the one at fault.
He also could follow her play, befriend her and use her to get along with the personnel of the orphanage to get more and better food. When this idea came to his mind his lips twitched a little, the path of the villain sure was creative, letting kids be bullied and fool naive girls to get resources, where one can find a better villain seed?
Seeing that his uninterested face was even more unfocused on her, Alisa felt more wronged, when the idea of sharing the steak with him came she took it well, but when the food was in front of her and with the hunger after exercise, she became reluctant, but she gritted her teeth and went forward, only to see him ignore her efforts.
''You don't want to taste it? Auntie steak is very good!'' She said with a higher voice to regain his attention.
''All right.'' He took the steak with the fork and brought it to his mouth, it was already cut, knives were forbidden for kids and the cook was kind enough to cut the meat for the little girl.
''...'' For the third time, she was speechless at his behavior, he didn't look that interested before, but now he is taking it very lightly, he even smiled a little to her, why the sudden change?
Zhou Heng decided to not ignore her as much as before for the convenience of his plans of having a healthy childhood, sure he was going to 'use' her but at least he could help her in the future, or teach her so she won't be fooled by other villains.
''Why are you approaching me?'' Even with his decision, he wasn't going to force her or act in a flattering way, if she wasn't pleasant then he also wasn't going to force himself to be close to her.
''... I'm curious about you and what you do every day in the garden. Why are you doing that? It isn't fun, it doesn't help anyone and you get very tired after running, even the body feels sticky for sweating.'' She said with a disgusting face at the end.
A small chuckle came from him, the hygiene in this world isn't that bad but certainly isn't a priority, at least for this part of the city, there is a place for washing in the orphanage with stored water but it is generally only used once per day for almost everyone in the orphanage, some women that like more cleanliness used at most twice, he himself only uses it after waking up and before going to sleep.
''Answering your questions, it isn't fun if you compare it with many other things like playing with toys or in games with other people, but is relaxing, when you were doing it, didn't you feel how your mind was more active? like your thoughts were running along with you, for me, it helps me think better.'' Zhou Heng said with a calm tone, he wanted to answer all questions in one go, but she was a child, many questions may come from her mouth but if you answer with the same speed then probably only the first or the last answer will remain in her mind.
Alisa was thoughtful after hearing him, indeed she felt that her mind was more 'awake' when she was running, even memories of her past that she usually didn't want to remember appeared.
After giving her a moment to think and seeing her more focused on what he was going to say, Zhou Heng felt like a teacher, with a small smile he continued.
''You said that it doesn't help anyone, that is not true, it helps you, if you constantly do it your body will have more resistance, it will feel better when doing physical work and your body will also grow better, taller for example.'' After saying that he continued to eat, reminding her to do the same.
Munch Munch Munch
Two little figures could be seen at a table in the dining room of the orphanage, one small pretty little girl and a smaller little boy, the two talking and stopping for a moment to eat and think about the words said in the conversation, at their surroundings many children were envious, be it for the rare type of food the two were consuming or for the attention the little boy was receiving from the girl.
She was truly popular, the adults on the scene that were supervising the children while eating were also paying attention to those two, in their point of view it was good for the weird boy, maybe their little angel could help him be more open.
Some of them work in the orphanage for the good conditions and salary, but many others also work here for love toward children, so they genuinely care about their condition.
After minutes of chatting and eating, the food was all consumed, many children in the dining room started going out, the two figures at the table looked at each other.
''Do you want to eat more? I can ask my aunties at the kitchen for more.'' The little girl said, with a shy face, she was more hungry than usual for the exercise from early.
''Of course.'' With a smile the little boy said, he looked like a little fox that got what he wanted.
The two got up and walked together toward the kitchen with their plates at hand.