The space inside the small car was quite cramped, yet it felt warm and cozy. Fan Qingmei's driving posture was also beautiful, full of charisma.
After an hour of driving, they arrived at a high-end residential area, and Fan Qingmei stored the car in one of her spatial bags.
Kent noticed that Fan Qingmei had two spatial bags—one for her personal belongings and the other for large items like planes, cars, and various materials.
"Come on, let's go home," she said.
It was Kent's first time seeing her so happy, skipping along like a child, humming a sweet tune.
He quickly realized, though, that she had spent so many years alone, never having anyone to share holidays or birthdays with. The loneliness she must have felt was truly heart-wrenching.
High-end residential areas were different. They had private elevators, which was a sign of how money could provide a better life.
Upon entering the 12th floor, Room 3, Kent's eyes widened as he stepped inside. The apartment was a beautiful two-bedroom, one-living room layout, decorated in a light blue and pale pink tone, with a delicate, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere that made Kent feel like he had wandered into a princess's room.
"What a beautiful little house," Kent exclaimed.
"Hmph, you have good taste. I put a lot of thought into decorating this place. It's so much more comfortable to live in," Fan Qingmei proudly explained, pointing out the many unique features of the apartment.
After spending some time together and freshening up, the two went downstairs to shop for some of Kent's daily necessities and clothes. As for the idea of living together, neither of them mentioned it directly, as if they had silently agreed not to bring it up.
After shopping, they had a candlelit dinner at a high-end restaurant. The atmosphere was romantic, and they enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
"Today is the New Year. Everyone looks so happy," Fan Qingmei commented as they strolled through the streets. Every home was lit up, turning the city into a glowing wonderland, with fireworks lighting up the sky, creating a beautiful scene.
The streets were lively, and the two had a great time tasting various street foods. They played around until ten o'clock at night before returning home.
"Today..." Fan Qingmei's face flushed with a shy smile. "It's a memorable day. I... Kent, there's only one bed here. You..."
After both of them showered and changed into pajamas, Fan Qingmei hesitated as she spoke.
Kent had an inkling of what she was trying to say. Without a word, he picked her up in a princess carry and gently placed her on the bed, turning off the lights and closing the door. The sound of soft movements filled the dark room.
The next day, they stayed in bed until noon, and since they had been so tired the night before, Fan Qingmei ordered several takeouts.
Today was the first day of the New Year, and the two continued to burn with passion. Kent felt completely immersed in the experience, thinking that in this life, indeed, food and love were everything.
The following day, they visited a training facility large enough for the evolution of their beast companions.
Fan Qingmei waited outside one of the private rooms. After only a few minutes, Kent walked out with a big smile.
"That was fast? Just a few minutes?" Fan Qingmei was incredulous. Evolving a beast companion was typically a long process, often taking days or even months, yet this only took a few minutes.
Kent answered confidently, "It's that quick."
Fan Qingmei rushed inside to find her Shadow Goblin had grown stronger. Its level had increased from 43 to 46, and its tier had risen from Golden Intermediate to Celestial Intermediate.
"Wow... Kent, your Beast Master skills are amazing!" Fan Qingmei was stunned, her surprise slowly turning into admiration.
Kent couldn't help but think that if he weren't worried about scaring her too much, he could have leveled up her Shadow Goblin all the way to an Emperor-tier monster, as it was brimming with experience.
Fan Qingmei immediately began communicating with her Shadow Goblin, examining its changes.
Kent, meanwhile, rented another training room and took out the Rule Stone, inspecting it carefully.
The Rule Stone was incredibly valuable, and Kent's was of particularly high quality. Its worth was immeasurable, and Kent had been reluctant to show it to Qian Zhen, secretly hoarding it for himself.
After observing it for a while, Kent still couldn't figure out how to use it. The stone was filled with a fiery aura that made his thoughts swirl with images of a blazing fire.
"Well, I'll just take it slow. No rush," Kent thought. There was no immediate urgency to figure it out since he was a triple practitioner and had many other things to work on.
After training with the Flying Sword Meditation and Dragon's Breath Blade techniques, and practicing some archery, Kent returned home with Fan Qingmei.
School started between the 16th and 18th of the lunar New Year. Since his recent trials had gone smoothly, Kent found himself with an extra half month of free time and no distractions. He spent his days either eating, sleeping, or training.
When school finally resumed, Kent and Fan Qingmei went to school early to report their return. This time, they acted distant to avoid any rumors, especially considering Zhao Mengxi's need for a period of adjustment. It was best not to make things public too soon.
After registering, Fan Qingmei left directly to go train outside the city. She wasn't used to staying on campus and wanted to leave some space for Kent and Zhao Mengxi to spend time together.
"Kent, the time I've spent with you has made me so happy. If Mengxi doesn't approve, I won't force it. You can just forget about me," Fan Qingmei said, reluctantly.
Kent shook his head confidently and replied, "Don't worry, I'll keep my promise. Both of you are my girlfriends."
Fan Qingmei didn't say anything more. She was a little taller than Kent by two centimeters, but her legs were exceptionally long—about 1.25 meters. She gently stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his cheek.
After Fan Qingmei left, Zhao Mengxi returned to the hotel, where she found Kent waiting for her.
"Kent, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?" Zhao Mengxi asked with a bright smile.
"Of course, you're my girlfriend. Who else could I miss?" Kent answered, but he almost bit his tongue in guilt. However, he had no regrets. As a transmigrator, he wasn't bound by old rules.
After the Earth Star's anomaly, many of the old societal rules had changed. Ordinary people mostly adhered to monogamy, but many powerful individuals, elites, and second-generation rich folks had multiple wives.
Given that humanity was focused on survival and the government was busy fighting the beasts, they couldn't keep up with all the social issues. As long as it was consensual, they mostly turned a blind eye to relationships like this.
"How much did you miss me?" Zhao Mengxi giggled, teasing him.
Kent scratched his head and joked, "So much. I almost had to call the underground organization to have you kidnapped."
"Hee-hee, well, I'll forgive you," Zhao Mengxi said, playfully escaping his grasp. She then pulled out a box with a piece of clothing inside and said, "This is a gift for you."
Kent eagerly accepted it and took out a small porcelain bottle from his spatial bag. "I have a gift for you, too."
Zhao Mengxi opened the bottle, and immediately, a faint, icy fragrance wafted out. Looking inside, she found it filled with milky-white liquid.
"What's this?"
"It's Earth Milk. It's great for women's health, helps nourish the body, delays aging, brightens the skin, and keeps you youthful," Kent explained.
He had acquired a half barrel of Earth Milk and bottled it into a hundred small bottles. He gave ten bottles to Fan Qingmei, who had seen great results from using it.
Zhao Mengxi's eyes immediately lit up as she grabbed the Earth Milk. She was eager to use it but unsure how.
Kent pulled out another nine bottles from his spatial bag. Every time he took one out, Zhao Mengxi's smile grew wider.