"Bubbling... Bubbling..."
The water bubbled away in the iron pot, and as it reached a rolling boil, Yi Bai noticed the curiosity in Hill's eyes, which were watching his every move.
What was initially just a simple act of boiling instant noodles somehow seemed sacred under Hill's gaze.
"Do you eat food, Hill?" Yi Bai asked with a hint of curiosity as he stirred the noodles.
"Of course, I eat," Hill mused, her little hand waving slightly as she summoned a blood-red lollipop into her grasp.
"Does this count? Big Brother, would you like one?"
With a satisfied "crunch," Hill began chewing the lollipop, breaking it apart with a small bite, before cheerfully offering Yi Bai the other end.
Yi Bai winced slightly, his face turning serious as he took the offered candy.
"Hill!" he said, his tone firm.
"Yes?" Hill blinked up at him innocently, her amber eyes wide with confusion.
"Promise me something, okay?" Yi Bai's voice softened as he looked at her seriously.
"Anything, Big Brother! I'll do whatever you ask!" she declared, her voice full of determination.
"Good! I knew you'd be obedient." Yi Bai nodded in approval, then continued, "Promise me you won't chew it. Okay?"
Hill frowned slightly, still puzzled. "Why?"
Yi Bai faltered, then sighed. "Well, alright, if it's Big Brother's request, I'll promise." She nodded decisively.
Yi Bai smiled, pleased with her response. After that, he decided to make a call to Liu Zhen, something he rarely did voluntarily.
"Beep... Beep..."
The phone rang, and after a few moments, Liu Zhen's voice came through, tinged with caution.
"Hello, is this Yi Bai?"
"Yes," Yi Bai replied, his tone calm.
"Great! I was starting to worry, but I knew... A big shot like you wouldn't just disappear like that!" Liu Zhen said with a nervous chuckle.
Yi Bai didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Do you remember our deal?"
"Of course! Whatever you need, Yi Bai, I'll get it for you, no questions asked!" Liu Zhen quickly responded, eager to please.
"I need a box of lollipops. Different flavors, and if you can get some with fillings, that'd be even better."
"Huh?" Liu Zhen paused, clearly confused, but soon his expression morphed into one of understanding and admiration. "Got it! Leave it to me, Yi Bai! I'll handle it!"
The phone call ended, and Yi Bai turned to Hill, who was still absorbed in her treat. "I bet you haven't tried human lollipops before, have you?"
"No, I haven't!" Hill said excitedly, her eyes lighting up with pure curiosity.
Yi Bai watched with a small smile, knowing how fascinated Hill was by everything in the human world. After all, her life had been monotonous under the control of Lady Qingyuan, the Mirror Lady.
As the noodles finished cooking, Yi Bai placed two bowls on the table. Hill, though a spirit, could still partake in earthly food for the sake of enjoyment. After all, a little indulgence in simple pleasures wasn't harmful.
"Slurp!" Hill delighted in the noodles, her bright eyes widening with each bite. "So good!" she cheered, her voice muffled between mouthfuls.
Yi Bai smiled, watching her quietly, but in his mind, he couldn't help but think, Poor little girl, just a bowl of noodles, and she's this happy. If she had a full banquet... she'd probably be over the moon.
Of course, he didn't dwell on that for too long. He wasn't one for grand culinary skills—he was a survivor of the 996 lifestyle, and cooking wasn't exactly a priority.
Once they finished, Hill, ever the little perfectionist, wiped her mouth, despite not having any visible stains. She then tidied up a little before Yi Bai sat on the bed, gazing out the window at the view of the lumberyard.
The sun was setting, leaving behind a brilliant array of colors in the sky. The surrounding forest was slowly swallowed by shadows, and the scarecrows dotted across the yard took on an eerie presence in the dimming light.
His thoughts returned to the "Forbidden Zone" in the human world, an idea that had been brewing in his mind since the last game. With Hill now his spirit partner, Yi Bai felt more confident than ever.
It's time to act, Yi Bai thought, his mind already turning plans into action.
"Tomorrow," he murmured, "once the deal is done, we can begin setting things up."
"What are we setting up, Big Brother?" Hill asked, her curiosity piqued as she absently sucked on her blood-red lollipop.
Yi Bai turned to her with a grin. "A paradise, Hill. A paradise just for you and me. What do you think?"
Hill's excitement caused her to bite down too hard, and the lollipop shattered in her mouth. She looked at Yi Bai sheepishly, apologizing, "Sorry!"
Yi Bai couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. Even though the lollipop had broken, her apology was as adorable as ever.