I didn’t expect that the Kitchen God would be such a Kitchen God.

A frivolous old-fashioned person.

Jiang Nan stood in the courtyard, looking around slowly. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the bluestone ground. A wisp of green smoke rose from the incense burner, shrouding the entire temple in a hazy tranquility.

The hustle and bustle of the city could be heard outside the courtyard, and this part of the world seemed to have been forgotten by time. Jiang Nan smelled the aroma of incense and unconsciously breathed lighter. His tense nerves relaxed a little, and a trace of sleepiness crept up on him.

Xia Chi was kneeling on a mat not far away, looking up at the god, with a tuft of unruly hair on his head sticking up high.

It has been a long time since I felt this way. Just by looking at someone, my chest was filled with an indescribable comfort.

There was an undercurrent in the wind. No one spoke for a long time, but Jiang Nan knew that Xia Chi and the Kitchen God were in telepathic communication.

He could not hear the voice of the gods, but he took in everything Xia Chi said. The nagging monologue in his head made the whole world cheerful.

[…No, no.]

The girl who picked it up was kind and good, and this guardian beast was also very loyal. To repay her for saving his life, he… well…

[I promised myself to you...]

The last few words were spoken quickly and quietly.

The old locust tree in the yard rustled its leaves.

It was unknown what the Kitchen God said, but Xia Chi listened for five minutes.

【Forehead……】

Xia Chi's brows were furrowed so tightly that they could pinch a fly to death, just like a primary school student who had to bear the scolding of the head teacher for his classmate, and had to listen to it with gritted teeth and explain.

【no……】

[It's not that it doesn't want to come back, it just recognizes its master and can't come back for a while. It has to repay the favor before it can return...]

【Isn’t this the rule of your fairy world? 】

【……】

[This guardian beast simply wants to repay a favor. Human lifespans are limited to a hundred years. Once it's done repaying the favor, it will naturally return to serve you. Isn't that right?]

【you……】

Xia Chi bit his lip angrily.

[What do you mean by shameless beast? How dare you swear so harshly... Please use polite language, Kitchen God! ! !]

[I think this matter is understandable. The guardian beast went through life and death to defeat the barefoot ghost, maintaining peace in this area and saving so many lives. It is not a bad thing for God to give it a favor to help it overcome its calamity...]

[As the saying goes, God's plan is the best! ]

【no……】

[After all, I've become a human being. What's wrong with enjoying the sweetness of love?]

Xia Chi paused for a moment, crossed his arms, and looked at the Kitchen God, speechless.

[No, no, no... I don't mean to be kept. Why are you speaking so harshly, old man? After all, you are a male in the prime of life!]

[Not elopement! Not elopement!]

[It's not an affair! ! ! ! The guardian beast is in its prime, with all its limbs intact, so why can't it have a proper relationship? ! ! !]

Xia Chi couldn't help but stand up, put his hands on his hips, and started debating with the Kitchen God.

[I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you need to change your mindset. In this new world, new trends, everyone has the freedom to fall in love!]

[Have you never heard that when it rains, a woman will marry, or when a cat is in heat, its owner has no control over it.]

【you……】

"Why do you keep calling people evil beasts? No wonder the guardian beast won't come back. If you treat it so harshly, I'd run away too! !"

As soon as the thought came to an end, the surroundings fell into an eerie silence.

The incense sticks that had just been lit from the incense burner froze in mid-air, and even the trees outside stopped shaking.

Xia Chi swallowed his saliva, feeling something was wrong.

"Oh--"

Suddenly, a strong wind blew up from the ground, and Xia Chi flew backward in a parabola.

Jiang Nan took a quick step forward almost reflexively, with his arms firmly outstretched. The moment Xia Chi fell, he spun around to relieve the force and held him steadily in his arms.

Perhaps it was inertia or some inexplicable gravity, but his lips accidentally brushed against Xia Chi's cheek—as light as a butterfly brushing against petals, yet Xia Chi instantly froze like a puppet.

The two of them turned a small circle due to inertia, and their hair flew up, carrying a few scattered locust flowers. Xia Chi grabbed his shoulders and looked up to meet those eyes that were so close to him - his own disheveled reflection was reflected in the amber pupils.

It seems... this isn't the first time...

It was still the familiar recipe, the familiar taste, even the redness on Xia Chi’s ears was exactly the same.

I don’t know whether time is repeating itself or they are repeating time.

【Help--!】

【Why do I have this dream again?】

[The last time I gave myself a princess hug was the last time...]

【Last kiss...】

Xia Chi stared at Jiang Nan's Adam's apple so close to him in a daze.

[The heartbeat is too loud and someone will hear it! ]

【Please let time stop at this second.】

[Forget it, just hug your neck first.]

Xia Chi hugged his neck tightly and rubbed his face against his chest.

[I should just pretend to be unconscious so I can hold you longer! ]

So he closed his eyes.

Here we go again...

Jiang Nan almost laughed out of anger as he looked at the 1.80-meter-tall guy in his arms who insisted on acting like an ostrich.

"Ahem." Jiang Nan deliberately cleared his throat.

Xia Chi frowned slightly, his inner thoughts pounding.

【Wrong password! 】

[Coughing doesn't count! It takes a princess kiss to wake you up.]

Jiang Nan's Adam's apple rolled and his eyes darkened.

The person in his arms had his eyes tightly closed, his eyelashes trembling like the wings of a frightened butterfly, as if he was determined to pretend to be dead until the end.

“…”

Well, it’s not like I haven’t kissed before.

The next second, he lowered his head and covered Xia Chi's lips.

The moment they touched, Jiang Nan's breathing obviously stagnated, and his fingers unconsciously clenched the clothes on Jiang Nan's chest. Jiang Nan's kiss was just a light test at first, but it suddenly deepened after feeling the other party's immature response.

Xia Chi was dizzy from the kiss, and his eyes, which were originally closed, opened slightly, just in time to meet Jiang Nan's eyelashes which were so close to him.

The cold pine resin turns into the smell of mint candy, just like the melting glaciers in the summer, crisp and sweet.

“Ahem!”

“Ahem!!”

“Ahem—!!!”

The Kitchen God's cough sounded like thunder in my ears.

The incense burner on the altar began to vibrate as if it were having a seizure, the old trees in the yard creaked, and the leaves fluttered in the wind, as if a hundred thousand tons of vinegar vats were rolling overhead.

Xia Chi's brain, which was deprived of oxygen by the kiss, finally woke up: "Wait..."

He breathed against Jiang Nan's chest.

[If you keep kissing me, there will be an earthquake in the Kitchen God Temple.]

Xia Chi supported himself on Jiang Nan's arm and stood up, his legs still a little weak.

Jiang Nan's fingertips gently brushed the ends of his hair and picked off a leaf that had gotten stuck there at some point.

"The Kitchen God seems to be in a bad mood. Why don't we go?"

"That won't do!"

Xia Chi's neck stiffened. "I've laid out the tribute, burned the incense, knelt, and taken the beating. Wouldn't it be a huge loss to leave now?"

Xia Chi blushed and walked hand in hand to the main hall and came to the altar.

“Plop—”

He knelt firmly on the mat again.

He picked up the missing cat notice on the ground, pointed to the words "generous reward" on it, and showed sincerity on his face.

It's like nothing happened just now.

"Kitchen God, look, I've found your lost cat... no, your noble guardian beast. Here's your reward..."

[It's all easy to say... It's all easy to say...]

He quietly pointed at Jiang Nan who was standing outside the hall.

I have a friend, the one outside, who has Huagai in his fate and Xiaoshen stealing his food. He's been plagued by villains lately and suffers from insomnia every night... He needs a majestic and upright deity to protect his spirit and keep him safe and happy.

[If you could be so kind as to... adopt me as your godson or something...]

The candle on the altar suddenly crackled and sparked.

Xia Chi shuddered and immediately changed his words: [Just make sure he... makes sure he gets a good night's sleep!]

As if he heard something, his eyes lit up.

[Ah? Is this really possible? Kitchen God, you really are…]

Xia Chi blinked, but froze when he heard the subsequent conditions -

[Huh? I need to meet three more conditions?]

You...

[Why are you acting like Aladdin...ah no no no...I don't mean anything else. What are the conditions...tell me, tell me?]

[What? We need someone to sweep the floor?]

This is simple. I know a thing or two and can definitely clean your Kitchen God Temple spotlessly.

Xia Chi is extremely servile.

What else?

[What?! Your land has been taken over by a developer and is being demolished...]

[How outrageous! This is lawless! They even dare to touch the Kitchen God's territory. Who has the audacity to do this?...]

【What?】

[You... want me to buy the land? ]

Xia Chi was stunned.

[Sir, do you understand the real cost of living?! With 800 square meters in this prime location, you need to have several small goals...]

You can’t…

【I……】

【no……】

Xia Chi was so anxious that he danced with joy.

[Do you think I'm the king?!]

"Ouch!"

The bargaining did not go smoothly, and Xia Chi fell flat on his back.

Jiang Nan came in and saw Xia Chi was tossed around and covered in dirt. He couldn't bear it, so he came over and grabbed his wrist and said, "Let's go. There's no need to beg him."

Xia Chi grabbed him and said, "Sincerity is the key to success. You should also pray."

Jiang Nan was pulled to his knees on the mat. Knees pressed together, sleeves folded, the smoke from the incense burner swirled around him...

[Why does it look like a wedding ceremony?]

Xia Chi was secretly happy.

“Ahaha—”

But Jiang Nan suddenly raised his head and yawned loudly, with a sleepy red at the corners of his eyes.

He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, and his whole body slumped as if all his energy had been drained away, even his shoulders slumped a little.

Xia Chi widened his eyes, it was a blessing in disguise after a long drought.

It works.

I agree, I agree!

Xia Chi nodded frantically.

[It's just a piece of land that needs to be demolished. I can take care of it for you, right?]

[Do you have any other instructions?]

[Your...guardian beast is lost, and you're missing a watchdog. Do you want me to be your...guardian...beast?]

[Are you kidding me? I'm a man of seven feet tall, and a man should have some dignity too!]

“Don’t…don’t…”

Jiang Nan wanted to say no, but his eyelids felt heavy as if filled with lead. Xia Chi's anxious face gradually blurred in his field of vision, becoming increasingly blurred in the dim light.

His consciousness continued to fall, falling into a warm darkness. The last thing he perceived was Xia Chi's soft call as he hurriedly caught him.

"Jiang Nan, Jiang Nan——"