C147 – The Kitchen Destroyer!


    “What’s your name?” Su Ming inquired, a smile on his face.


    “I’m Hsiao Kemeng. My parents and friends just call me Kemeng,” the little girl replied, taking another sip of her drink.


    Su Ming nodded understandingly. “I checked the weather forecast earlier. The rain won’t let up until tomorrow morning, so you should stay here tonight. Feel free to choose any room on the first floor; I’ll be upstairs on the second floor and won’te down.”


    “Thank you,” Hsiao Kemeng said, feeling a warmth in her heart. She appreciated that Su Ming was trying to put her at ease.


    “May I ask you a few questions?” she ventured.


    “No!”


    “How about just one question?”


    “No!”


    “What’s your name, then?”


    “Su Ming.”


    “What do you do for a living?” Hsiao Kemeng continued.


    “I’m a bad guy!” he joked.


    Hsiao Kemeng couldn’t help butugh.


    Su Ming was puzzled. Did he note across as a bad guy at all? It was the dead of night, a storm raging outside. She should be on high alert in a stranger’s home. Yet, she seemedpletely at ease, as if she were in her own home. Where did this sense of securitye from? Was it his kindness?


    “Alright, I’m off to bed. You should get some rest too,” he suggested.


    “Wait!” Hsiao Kemeng called out suddenly, then added sheepishly, “I haven’t had dinner yet.”


    “Do you know how to cook?”


    “A little.”


    “There’s food in the fridge; help yourself.”


    Standing up, Su Ming added, “If it’s not too much trouble, could you make something for me as well? I’m getting hungry.”


    “Sure!” Hsiao Kemeng agreed enthusiastically, rising to her feet.


    Half an hourter, Su Ming set aside his phone and stared at the charred mess before him, frowning in dismay.


    What on earth was this?


    “I’m sorry,” Hsiao Kemeng murmured, her head bowed in guilt, hands nervously clutching her apron.


    “Stop!” Su Ming quickly intervened. “Don’t ruin the apron, give it here.”


    Donning the apron himself, he rummaged through the fridge for some vegetables and meat. Hsiao Kemeng watched from the sofa as Su Ming got to work in the kitchen. In no time, the meal was prepared.


    Hsiao Kemeng’s eyes widened in admiration. “You’re incredible!”


    “You’d be a good cook too if you lived alone for two years,” Su Ming replied with a smile.


    Su Ming chuckled as he grabbed his bowl and chopsticks and started eating heartily. Soon enough, both he and Hsiao Kemeng were contentedly full. Eager to help, Kemeng took the initiative to wash the dishes. Shortly after, a crisp sound echoed from the kitchen.


    “I’m sorry.”


    “It’s fine.”


    Then, another sharp sound rang out. Su Ming had no choice but to take over the dishwashing himself. He realized he’d need to buy more bowls tomorrow; otherwise, he wouldn’t have enough for his own use.


    “Time for bed!” Su Ming dered, feigning anger as he tidied up the kitchen and gestured towards the bedroom.


    Kemeng, unphased, giggled, “I know you’re not really mad.”


    With that, she scampered off to the bedroom. Su Ming could only sigh in resignation.


    Outside, a fierce storm raged, but inside, it was as cozy as spring. Su Ming stretchedzily and settled down to y video games, his skills noticeably improving.


    He gamed into the wee hours, ande early morning, he slowly opened his eyes. After a refreshing shower and changing into a clean outfit, he headed downstairs.


    Kemeng was already up, a freshly bought breakfast waiting on the table, dressed again in yesterday’s clothes.


    “Thank you for letting me stay overst night. I really appreciate it,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I got you breakfast. You can’t skip it; it’s bad for your health. Here’s my name and contact info. I’ve got to run, but let’s keep in touch.”


    With that, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and dashed off, clearly in a rush but having waited for Su Ming to wake before leaving.


    Shaking his head with a smile, Su Ming didn’t dwell on it. It was just a small interlude in the grand scheme of life.


    After breakfast, he made his way to the field and was struck by a realization—the fennel had matured!


    “Ipletely forgot!” he eximed, a smile spreading across his face.


    He had thought Kemeng’s visit wouldn’t make a difference, but it had indeed thrown off his usual routine. Grabbing his sickle, he headed out to the field. As his feet touched the soil, he paused. Despite all his efforts, thend had yet to yield a single fruit.


    Yet now, the ground was dotted with fennel.


    Su Ming crouched down and tenderly plucked a sprig of fennel.


    The scent of fennel wafted up to him.


    Doubt swirled in Su Ming’s mind. Could there be a glitch in the System?


    Impossible!


    He was more inclined to ept the end of the world than to entertain the thought of a malfunction in the System.


    But why fennel?


    Perhaps it was akin to the Body-stretching Pill. It might possess some unique properties.