Reika was tickled by Kai's breath in her ears as she blushed. She had only planned to close her eyes on Kai's lap earlier, as she wanted Lian Li and Kai to talk to each other. However, while sleeping in Kai's lap, she became so comfortable that she didn't realize she had actually fallen asleep.
Reika stammered apologetically, her voice laced with shyness. "Um, sorry... I didn't mean to fall asleep on my own."
"Why are you saying sorry, senior?"
Unable to meet his eyes, Reika took in a nervous breath before finally speaking. "I-I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. It just... it felt really comfortable, and I must've dozed off without realizing it. So, um, sorry for falling asleep. And, uh, you even had to carry me... I must've been so heavy," she mumbled, her head dropping with shame.
Kai smiled, feeling touched. "So, you found it comfortable, huh?"
Kai placed his finger underneath her chin and pulled her gaze towards him. When their eyes met, Reika fell into a daze as she looked at his beautiful black eyes staring back at her.
Kai smiled at her charmingly, making her heart throb.
"The weight of your slumber caused me no burden, my princess. Carrying you was but a mere pleasure. You need not harbor any guilt. In fact, I readily offer myself for future instances where you require such aid."
Reika giggled hearing Kai's prince-like response and before she could comprehend the situation fully, a feeling of warmth spread across her lips as Kai's gentle kiss caressed them. A few minutes passed before they finally broke apart, Reika's face flushed with crimson. She placed her head against Kai's chest, listening intently to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, while a contented smile graced her lips. 'This feeling… I don't hate it,'
After feeling the warmth of each other's embrace, they reluctantly let go, their fingers intertwined for just a moment longer.
"Hey, senior, let's dig in! I've got everything all set up and ready to go," Kai chimed in, playfully taking her hand as he guided her to the dining table, just like a true prince would.
With a graceful gesture, he pulled out the chair, placing his right hand over his heart while giving her a small, respectful bow. Reika couldn't help but let out a giggle as she took her seat, feeling like she was in the presence of a charming prince.
Just as they settled down at the table, they eagerly dove into the delicious meal that Kai had prepared. The aroma filled the air, teasing their senses and making their mouths water in anticipation.
Reika couldn't help but nod approvingly as she took a hesitant sip from the steaming bowl in front of her. The delicious flavors danced upon her taste buds, surprising her with their perfect harmony. She looked up at Kai, her newfound man, a sparkle of intrigue in her eyes.
"Did you like the food senior?" Kai asked curiously.
Reika nodded after taking a sip on the bowl "Yes, this is delicious. Where did you order this?"
Kai, a bit bashful, sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Uh, well, actually Reika, I kind of cooked this myself."
"W-what? Seriously?"
"Yes."
Reika's eyes widened, a mix of astonishment and admiration washing over her. "N-no way! Y-you cooked this? That's amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine excitement. "The flavors are almost identical to the high-class restaurant I used to go to with my mom!"
Kai's face lit up with pride and a touch of bashfulness. "Thanks."
Reika's heart was racing as she mustered up the courage to ask. "Junior, um, no, actually, h-h-husband. C-could you please, pretty please, teach me how to cook?" Her face flushed a deep shade of red, and her lips trembled with anticipation.
It seemed like Reika had used up all the energy she had regained earlier just by mustering the word "husband." But that didn't matter to her now. All that mattered was the excitement and eagerness sparkling in her eyes.
Kai, who was taken aback when Reika called him husband, couldn't help but be charmed by her sudden change. The surprise on his face quickly transformed into a playful smile.
"That's much better my princess." He beamed, his voice filled with affection. "It feels just right to hear you say that. From now on, I'll happily call you my wife instead of Senior. Let's embark on this culinary journey together."
Hearing Kai, she suddenly felt embarrassed and said "I-I think I might need more time to call you that way... I'll call you Kai-kun for now."
Kai smiled at her and nodded. "No problem. Let's take it step by step until you feel comfortable. I'll call you Rei then."
'Though, we have already taken a huge step from the start.' Kai added in his thought.
Reika's face lit up with a genuine smile, her eyes reflecting a sense of satisfaction. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, grateful for Kai's understanding and willingness to support her throughout this process.
"Oh right! You should know how to cook too, right? If you're leaving alone."
"Yes, I do know how to cook, but I'm not as good as you. Did you learn how to cook from a professional or something?" Reika replied, genuinely interested in Kai's culinary skills.
"Oh, no, nothing like that. I actually taught myself how to cook. In the beginning, I would stick to simple and quick recipes. But then my friend Rick insisted I start cooking healthier meals, so I started using the Internet as my personal recipe book," Kai explained nonchalantly as if it was normal for him to pull it off.
"That's incredible, Kai-kun! You mean to say, all these mouthwatering meals you make, you've just learned on your own?" Reika exclaimed in amazement.
"Really? Do you think so? I mean, I never compared my food to the taste of famous restaurants or anything..."
Reika, with a reassuring smile, interrupted, "Trust me, Kai-kun, your food is top-notch. Maybe one day you should give those fancy restaurants a run for their money!"
"Have you not compared your food to the food in the fancy restaurants?"
"No I don't. It cost a lot of money."
"But wait a minute," she started, her voice curious. "You're living in this kind of house, and you're telling me you've never compare your food to that of fancy restaurants?"
"Ah, this house is actually from Rick. He's a generous guy who lets me stay here while he teaches me how to fight. I'm really grateful to him since I also like it here."
"What? You mean the guard that we met earlier?" Reika asked, her eyes widening.
"Yes, that's him," Kai confirmed, nodding.
"Seriously? Why is he working as a guard?" Reika's confusion was evident in her tone.
"That's what's been bugging me all this time, but now..." Kai trailed off, pausing for a moment.
Curiosity piqued, Reika anxiously waited for Kai to continue. He took a deep breath before divulging what Lian Li had told him. As the truth about Rick's background unfolded, the doubts that had plagued Kai's mind gradually dissipated.
'If I could somehow extract that money and the luxury car from the system, maybe I can utilize Rick's background if anyone asks where I acquired such wealth and possessions,' Kai pondered, contemplating the possibility. 'But that's not a sustainable solution. I need to find a legitimate way to earn a substantial amount of money.'
Reika listened intently, her shock slowly transforming into acceptance. After all, she had read stories about CEOs masquerading as janitors or royal heirs posing as ordinary high school students. In this unpredictable world, anything seems possible and with her experience with Kai, she can only believe it.
As they sat together, enjoying their first dinner night as a couple, Reika could feel the initial awkwardness slowly fading away. She found herself conversing with Kai effortlessly, just like she would with her family and friends. With every passing minute, her romance points with him seemed to be steadily rising.