Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 92: Chapter 42 The Black Eats the Black

In the room, Li Yelai, clad in a pink battle robe and wielding a sharp weapon, focused his energy deep in his core. With a sudden swing, the blade’s light twinkled, swift and solemn...

He had chopped up a dish full of minced garlic.

Beside him, a pretty girl in a small apron was washing vegetables with her head down, her fair fingers carefully rinsing the dirt off the produce.

The pink apron wrapped around her tall figure, but beneath it, the white dress couldn’t hide her well-shaped, slender legs, looking like two creamy bamboo shoots. On her delicate feet, she wore a pair of cute little bear slippers.

Her long hair, tied back into a ponytail, revealed a stunning profile and... her ears, which had already turned bright red.

She seemed very shy, and understandably so.

After all, this was the first time she had invited someone to her room, and moreover, a member of the opposite sex.

Yes, Li Yelai had come to Doll’s room.

As for the reason...

From any perspective, Li Yelai felt grateful to Doll.

Whether it was the strands of hair she had previously given him as a trump card, or the care she had shown for his sister while he was guarding Black Prison.

It was all a huge favor from her.

Therefore, Li Yelai took the meal with Doll very seriously.

Following their last agreement, Li Yelai planned to take Doll, who liked spicy food, to the firepot restaurant that claimed to be from Chuanshu Giant City.

Unfortunately, after the chaos of recent events, the firepot restaurant was still closed for repairs.

Seeing this, Li Yelai sighed with a hint of helplessness, ”Look, my luck is acting up again. How about we try another place?”

But after some hesitation, Doll raised an advertising sign to suggest.

[How about we buy some ingredients and make firepot at home? My place is quite big (
’▽’
)]

”It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with how big your place is,” retorted Li Yelai.

[We can save money though (*^▽^*)]

Doll knew where to strike a weakness, and hearing the words ”save money,” Li Yelai hesitated.

Indeed, it would be cheaper to make firepot at Doll’s home.

No, he thought, it’s not a matter of money!

As a man, would it be improper to go to a girl’s house alone?

After pondering, Li Yelai broke the silence, ”Won’t it be too much trouble?”

[Not at all (ó﹏ò｡)]

[No one has ever visited my home (˃⌑˂ഃ)]

[I want to host a guest (ಥ_ಥ)]

[Please, let me (•́₃•̀)]

The words on Doll’s sign shifted continuously.

They revealed nerves and anticipation.

Li Yelai thought to himself that, aside from him, there probably wasn’t anyone else who could visit her home because of her curse.

Just leaving behind a single hair could cause havoc for a visitor.

Seeing Doll’s eagerness, Li Yelai naturally wouldn’t disappoint someone he owed a favor to.

If the girl herself didn’t mind, then it would be odd for him to fuss over it.

Li Yelai nodded: ”Then I’ll impose.”

...

Thus, the current scene unfolded.

Doll had shed her bulky doll outfit, wearing a white dress with a pastel apron over it, working alongside Li Yelai, also sporting an apron, in the kitchen to prepare the dipping sauces and vegetables.

The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.

But in fact, Doll was so nervous her heart was racing; she had turned the water to maximum to cover the sound of her heartbeat, and yet her ears remained a conspicuous red.

She wasn’t sure why she had been so bold as to invite Li Yelai over, yet she felt a secret joy.

Though shy, she felt her relationship with Li Yelai had grown closer.

Until the two sat down at the dining table to start eating the firepot.

The blush that started at her ears hadn’t faded but had spread to her cheeks.

Given that she seldom had visitors, Doll’s room at the branch office was arranged rather informally.

As for the dining table, it was actually a glass table.

That would normally have been okay.

But with the two sitting opposite each other at the glass table, all Li Yelai had to do was lower his gaze slightly to see, through the clear surface, Doll’s fair, long legs.

This made her even more bashful, though she was too embarrassed to stand up and change clothes.

Fortunately, Li Yelai seemed not to have noticed, as he was occupied with the lamb rolls.

This allowed Doll to relax slightly.

Meanwhile, Li Yelai was transfixed on the slices of meat simmering in the firepot.

He too was aware of the awkward situation.

From his perspective, he could even see the hem of Doll’s dress and her thighs beneath it.

But it was not his place to point this out, knowing that Doll was already so shy, any comment might just push her over the edge.

So, Li Yelai kept his focus on the firepot, sighing in relief only after filling up the table with plates of meat and vegetables.

’Thank goodness I’m a gentleman!’ Li Yelai mocked himself internally.

Thinking about it, Doll’s behavior would be quite risky for any girl living alone.

But considering Doll’s curse, it also made sense.

”How’s your recovery from the injury?” Doll inquired softly after a bite of spicy tofu.

Perhaps because she had grown much more familiar with Li Yelai, or maybe because she was in her own territory, her speech was much clearer.

”Yeah, I’m almost all healed. The reinforcement from Heart of Slaughter makes these external injuries heal fast, leaving no scars,” Li Yelai replied. ”But I’ve got three scars on my chest where Heart of Slaughter attached, though it’s not a big deal.”

On his chest remained three lightning-like red scars that hinted at a faint red glow whenever Li Yelai’s heart pounded heavily, and his body temperature rose.