"There are slippers by the door; change into them yourself."

After opening the door with her key, Kirishima Touka pushed it open and walked straight in.

"Oh, okay."

After entering the room, Lin Ze squatted down and changed his shoes at the shoe cabinet beside the door.

Touka didn't have many shoes, only four or five pairs, all neatly arranged on the shelf.

After glancing at them, perhaps associating them with certain images of her putting them on and taking them off, Lin Ze swallowed, feeling an inexplicable heat in his body.

After changing into his slippers, he walked straight into the living room.

"I can't believe I'm actually at Touka's house."

Lin Ze's eyes flashed with interest as he looked around.

Although the area here didn't seem large, perhaps because there were fewer furniture and other items, it looked very spacious and had a strong sense of lived-in warmth.

More importantly...

Feeling the faint fragrance in the air, Lin Ze's lips curved into a smile.

The air here had a very strong, unique fragrance belonging to Touka.

"What are you standing there stupid for?"

Perhaps seeing that he hadn't moved, Kirishima Touka couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing, I just didn't expect Miss Touka to invite me to her house; I'm just a bit surprised."

After coming back to his senses, Lin Ze gently shook his head.

"Don't misunderstand; I only asked you to tutor me because I need to prepare for exams."

"If the shop wasn't about to close, I would have definitely studied there."

Kirishima Touka mumbled softly, her delicate, aloof little face flushed crimson.

"I see, I understand."

Lin Ze smiled slightly, looking at the tsundere and cute ice beauty in front of him.

The shop was closing today, but she could have studied tomorrow.

Touka probably just made up an excuse to be alone with him, right?

"Can I look around freely?"

Lin Ze asked, walking around the living room with interest.

"Suit yourself, just don't go into my room."

Kirishima Touka said casually, busy with cooking.

After wandering around the living room, Lin Ze pushed open the glass door and walked out onto the balcony.

The lighting here was very good; he could see both sunset and sunrise.

Just as Lin Ze was breathing in the fresh air, his gaze suddenly landed on something.

On the clothesline nearby hung washed but not yet dried clothes, including some underwear.

Facing such intimate clothing, Lin Ze originally intended to just glance and look away.

But that one glance was significant; he discovered that Touka's underwear was almost all pink.

And it was the kind of soft, tender pink that had a very girlish feel.

Originally, in Lin Ze's perception, an ice beauty who kept people at a distance, even if she had a bit of tsundere and a contrasting personality, should have a predominantly black wardrobe to match her aloof aura.

But he didn't expect Touka to like wearing pink?

Thinking this, Lin Ze fell into contemplation, and her image in his mind unknowingly began to change.

"Dinner's ready... you can come and..."

Kirishima Touka was holding the freshly cooked meal, and her words stopped abruptly before she could finish.

After seeing Lin Ze standing on the balcony, looking at her underwear, an indescribable sense of shame surged from within her.

"You... get over here!"

She stepped forward, pulled Lin Ze over, then closed the glass door and immediately drew the curtains.

The entire action was seamless, flowing smoothly without even the slightest hesitation.

"Huh?"

By the time he reacted, Lin Ze was already on the floor.

Bang~

He looked bewildered, somewhat confused about the situation.

The next second, a pair of beautiful legs kicked the wall right next to him, less than ten centimeters from Lin Ze's head.

"Hey, you didn't see anything just now, right?"

Kirishima Touka leaned slightly closer, a hint of coldness in her aloof, beautiful eyes.

Gulp~

Hearing this, Lin Ze involuntarily swallowed.

It was only from this elevated position that Kirishima Touka's aura as an ice queen truly emerged.

At this moment, she exuded a cold sense of oppression from head to toe.

However, perhaps due to her excitement and shame, Kirishima Touka didn't realize she was wearing a skirt today.

And from Lin Ze's perspective, it was clear as day, very distinct.

"Indeed, I didn't see anything."

Lin Ze nodded, his clear and bright eyes very sincere.

Looking at the pink fabric so close to him, he was even more certain that he hadn't been mistaken earlier.

"That's good. The food is ready. Come eat~"

Kirishima Touka retracted her beautiful legs, her delicate little face slightly flushed, and the icy coldness on her body instantly vanished.

She looked as if nothing had happened, returning to her usual tsundere beauty.

"Okay, thank you."

Lin Ze nodded and then sat down at the table.

It seems I've discovered quite a secret today...

Soon, Kirishima Touka brought out a bowl of something that looked like vegetable soup.

"I'm not very good at cooking, so the taste might not be very good."

Kirishima Touka sat on the floor in a 'loli kneel' posture, looking somewhat obedient.

"It's fine; it smells like it won't be bad."

Lin Ze nodded; he understood this point very well.

Ghouls can't eat human food, so learning to cook is meaningless.

Thinking this, Lin Ze took a spoonful of what looked like vegetable soup.

Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty—it was hard to imagine a dish having five different flavors.

After feeling that the ingested food had been purified, Lin Ze fell silent.

This stuff, it seemed, was also poisonous?

"How does it taste?"

Kirishima Touka gently bit her red lip, appearing somewhat nervous.

After all, this was her first time cooking, and she had learned it from an online recipe.

"It's quite good, not bad."

A moment later, Lin Ze nodded, then began to drink it in large gulps.

As long as I eat fast enough, my taste buds won't keep up with me.

"Drink slowly; there's more when you finish; I made a lot."

Seeing this, a hint of surprise bloomed on Kirishima Touka's delicate, aloof face.

She didn't expect Lin Ze to find it so delicious?

A sense of accomplishment she had never felt before spread within her.

"I've finished it. I feel full of strength from head to toe."

Lin Ze put down the bowl, a look of enjoyment and satisfaction on his face.

In reality, he had just seen his great-grandmother come to pick him up, but he was pulled back by the Ma Talisman.

"Drinking so fast?"

Seeing him drink so quickly, Kirishima Touka was somewhat surprised and astonished.

"It seems you were indeed hungry. I have plenty more here. Come, I'll serve you another bowl of soup."

After saying that, Kirishima Touka took his bowl, ready to get another serving.

"No, no need, I'm already full."

Seeing disaster about to strike again, Lin Ze quickly stopped her.

"Are you full?"

Kirishima Touka slightly raised her head, her aloof, beautiful eyes twinkling.

"Yes, I'm full. I've never been this full before."

Lin Ze rubbed his stomach, looking very content.

"Thank you for the meal today, Miss Touka~"

Upon hearing the compliment, Kirishima Touka shyly lowered her head, her pretty face flushed crimson.

"I feel very clear-headed now. Let's study!"

To avoid any potentially 'harder' main courses waiting for him later, Lin Ze stood up, stretched his limbs, and proactively suggested studying.

"Are we studying right after dinner?"

Kirishima Touka slightly raised her head, looking somewhat confused and puzzled.

"Time is tight, and the task is heavy; we must make the most of every minute!"

Lin Ze nodded, then cleared away the clutter on the nearby table.

"Alright then..."

Since he had said so much, Kirishima Touka couldn't say anything more and just nodded.

Studying, though tedious, wasn't boring, and Touka's appearance while studying was also a unique kind of beauty.

"Alright, let's stop here for today, shall we?"

Lin Ze put down the book in his hand and looked up at the wall clock.

Time passed quickly; it was already eleven o'clock at night.

If he left now, he'd probably get home around half past eleven.

"Are you leaving?"

Kirishima Touka looked up, her beautiful eyes slightly flickering.

"Yes, otherwise I'll miss the last train home."

Lin Ze said, packing his things.

"If you can't get back, why don't you stay here tonight?"

Just then, Kirishima Touka suddenly spoke.

"What did you say?"

Hearing this, Lin Ze was slightly stunned.

"I said..."

Kirishima Touka gently bit her red lip, appearing somewhat conflicted and hesitant.

Lin Ze in front of her was a human, and she was a Ghoul.

How could a human stay at a Ghoul's house? This was very unreasonable!

However, for some reason, her heart was beating very fast, and her breathing had become rapid.

And when she thought of Lin Ze leaving, she felt an inexplicable sense of regret and sadness.

After a moment of internal struggle, she finally made up her mind.

"I mean, walking alone at night isn't safe. What if you get ambushed by a Ghoul?"

Kirishima Touka's voice was very soft, and a rare hint of shyness flashed across her delicate, aloof face.

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Lin Ze was slightly stunned.

According to Touka, she wanted him to stay the night?

Did she want him to sleep with her tonight?

Just then, a system notification sound rang in Lin Ze's mind.

"You have triggered a limited-time mission: Kirishima Touka's Retention."

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