Lucifer sat on the sofa, holding a piece of sushi in his hand. Though his expression remained composed, his deep eyes betrayed a flicker of approval. As he chewed thoughtfully, he murmured, "Mortal food… surprisingly has its merits."
"Merits?" Chen Jing almost burst out laughing. "Dude, this is just takeout, not even from a proper restaurant. Don't act like you're tasting some rare delicacy."
Lucifer looked up at her, his brow arching slightly. "This is precisely the ignorance of mortals. Even in such ordinary fare, this King can perceive hidden craftsmanship."
"Sure, sure, you win." Chen Jing waved dismissively, too lazy to argue. "But you looked pretty mortal yourself just now while eating it."
Lucifer frowned, about to retort, when the doorbell suddenly rang.
"Oh, my delivery's here." Chen Jing jumped up to answer the door, returning with a large package.
"What trivial mortal task is this now?" Lucifer asked casually, leaning back on the sofa.
"It's my package from Taobao," Chen Jing replied, tearing it open to reveal a pair of new shoes. She inspected them and then pulled out a return slip. "Ugh, they're a bit too big. Looks like I'll have to exchange them."
Lucifer watched her skilled movements with growing puzzlement, his frown deepening. "Mortal, this item is brand new. Why would you send it back?"
"Because it doesn't fit," Chen Jing replied, glancing at him as though his question were absurd. "Haven't you heard of 'hassle-free returns'? If it doesn't work, you just exchange it. What, are you still bartering in Hell?"
"Mortal society wastes resources so frivolously," Lucifer said with a shake of his head, his tone tinged with disdain. "No wonder this world is in chaos."
"Chaos? This is called convenience." Chen Jing tossed the box aside as she spoke. "You're so old-fashioned. You really ought to learn how efficient modern society is."
"Efficient?" Lucifer let out a cold chuckle. "What you mortals call 'efficiency' is merely the overcomplication of trivialities."
"You're such a fossil." Chen Jing walked to the kitchen and poured a glass of water, handing it to him. "Alright, Mr. Know-it-all, what's your take on mobile payments?"
"Mobile payments?" Lucifer echoed, looking at her with a mix of confusion and skepticism.
Chen Jing's face lit up with a mischievous grin. Pulling out her phone, she opened her payment app and waved it in front of him. "See this? With this, I can shop, order food, hail a ride, or even transfer money—all with just a few taps."
"That small device contains so many functions?" Lucifer's eyes lingered on the phone, a flicker of curiosity briefly crossing his face.
"Of course." Chen Jing waved the phone again, smugly adding, "You ancient types just don't get it. Only those truly integrated into modern life can appreciate this convenience."
Lucifer didn't respond immediately. After a moment of silence, he said, "If that's true, then mortal lives are shackled to such devices."
"Shackled?" Chen Jing raised an eyebrow. "Why do you always have such a negative view of mortal inventions? This is called technological progress, okay?"
"This King has no interest in participating." Lucifer raised a hand dismissively, his tone indifferent.
"Fine, suit yourself." Chen Jing shrugged. "But let me remind you—if you ever get hungry and want to order takeout, you'll need one of these 'devices.' Otherwise, you'll really be stuck in the past."
"This King will manage," Lucifer said, turning his head away, clearly uninterested in pursuing the topic.
Minutes later, Chen Jing settled back on the sofa with a cushion, turning on the TV. A lively urban comedy played on the screen, featuring a couple arguing over a misunderstanding, accompanied by quirky background music.
Lucifer glanced at the screen, his expression a mix of disdain and confusion. "Mortals enjoy turning such trivial matters into spectacles?"
"It's called entertainment," Chen Jing replied, rolling her eyes. "You're so stiff. Watching shows like this might actually open your mind a bit."
"Foolish mortal behavior," Lucifer muttered under his breath, though his gaze occasionally flickered toward the TV.
Chen Jing noticed and smirked. "You talk big, but your eyes are pretty honest."
Lucifer scoffed. "This King is merely studying why mortals laugh at such meaningless things."
"Sure you are." Chen Jing popped a piece of sushi into her mouth, her grin teasing.
As night fell, the soft glow of the living room lights bathed the two mismatched roommates in warmth.
Chen Jing's food delivery arrived shortly after. She brought in a large pot of spicy hotpot, its rich aroma quickly filling the room.
"Ah, smells amazing!" Chen Jing eagerly set up the hotpot and side dishes. "Beef, lamb, shrimp balls—tonight's going to be a feast!"
Lucifer glanced at the spread, his brow furrowing. "Mortals place such importance on their appetites."
"Of course we do," Chen Jing retorted. "Life's too short not to eat well. And if you're not eating, don't sit there criticizing."
"This King has no need for mortal sustenance," Lucifer said coolly, turning his gaze toward the window, feigning disinterest.
"Fine, just watch." Chen Jing dipped a slice of beef into the bubbling broth, savoring it with a contented sigh. "Mmm—this is the good life!"
Her satisfaction was interrupted by a loud grrrr from the direction of the sofa.
Chen Jing froze, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Hahaha! Lucifer, was that your stomach?!"
Lucifer's expression darkened instantly. He turned away, attempting to downplay the incident. "This is merely… an involuntary reaction of this body to its environment."
"Sure, whatever you say." Chen Jing skewered a shrimp ball with her chopsticks and held it out to him, grinning mischievously. "Come on, 'King of Hell,' try some mortal food. You might be surprised."
Lucifer hesitated briefly before taking the shrimp ball. He bit into it, and his brow arched slightly in surprise.
"Well?" Chen Jing asked, arms crossed, her expression triumphant. "Good, isn't it?"
Lucifer chewed thoughtfully before finally conceding in a low voice, "Acceptable."
"Ha! You're all talk." Chen Jing laughed, tossing another piece of beef into the pot. "Just a heads-up—I ordered medium spicy. If you can't handle it, don't say I didn't warn you."
Without a word, Lucifer reached for the pot with his chopsticks, plucking out a piece of beef.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Chen Jing teased. "Think carefully, Your Majesty. This is medium spicy—don't cry later!"
"The mild spice of mortals cannot challenge this King," Lucifer replied haughtily, placing the beef into his mouth with an air of defiance.
One second, two seconds…
Lucifer's composed expression began to falter. His lips twitched, and a sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.
Chen Jing caught the change immediately and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Are you actually struggling? You're supposed to be the 'King of Hell,' and you can't even handle medium spicy?"
"This King…" Lucifer struggled to maintain his dignity, his voice strained. "Finds mortal seasonings… slightly stimulating."
"Stimulating?" Chen Jing doubled over, tears streaming down her face. "You're practically glowing red! Here, have some water."
She handed him a glass of ice water, still laughing. Lucifer glared at her but took the glass, drinking deeply before finally regaining his composure.
"Mortal dining habits are truly… unusual," he muttered, still slightly breathless.
"Unusual? Yet you're still eating." Chen Jing chuckled, fishing out another shrimp ball.
"This King does not admit defeat," Lucifer said firmly, picking up another piece of lamb.
This time, the fiery broth pushed him to his limit. His face turned a deeper shade of red, and he exhaled sharply.
"Stop forcing it!" Chen Jing howled with laughter, clutching her stomach. "You're going to burn your tongue!"
"Enough of your nonsense!" Lucifer grabbed his water glass again, draining it in one go. His disheveled yet stubborn demeanor sent Chen Jing into another fit of giggles.
By the end of the meal, Lucifer leaned back in his chair, visibly drained. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he maintained a semblance of poise. "Mortal hotpot… is unique."
"Finally admitting it, huh?" Chen Jing smirked as she cleared the table. "You've officially been baptized by modern culinary culture."
Lucifer didn't respond, closing his eyes as if resting. Yet the faint curve of his lips hinted that the experience wasn't entirely unpleasant.
Chen Jing watched him for a moment, shaking her head with a smile. "The 'King of Hell,' defeated by hotpot. What a sight."
Though her tone was teasing, her gaze had softened, less wary and more at ease. Perhaps she was finally starting to adjust to the peculiar presence of her new "roommate."