"Ahhh~"
Kakayan tipped back her glass of Happy Water and drained it in one long swallow. A slow, contented breath slipped from her lips, and a satisfied smile crept up the corners of her mouth.
Now she understood why they called it Happy Water.
One sip and joy fizzed through her veins.
Before it even touched her tongue, a cool, sweet fragrance drifted to her nose. Then the bubbles surged in—sharp at first, almost prickly—before bursting across her tongue in a tingling storm. The sweetness that followed was bright, electric, like every taste bud had suddenly woken up and started to sing.
The layered, almost orchestral sensation left Kakayan feeling wide awake and light-headed.
She had tasted the finest nectar in her life, yet none could rival the innocent sugar-rush of this simple soda.
"Burp..."
Half a cup and she was already half-full.
Across the room, Jiang Li held up his phone, recording every second of Kakayan's reaction.
The witch's face, he had to admit, was unfairly photogenic. No beauty filter, no ring light—just the raw camera feed—and she looked like she belonged on a magazine cover.
Was this what they called a "stats monster"?
No regard for angles, lighting, or equipment. Just flawless.
"What are you doing?"
Kakayan turned, long lashes framing a puzzled gaze.
"Filming."
Jiang Li knew an untapped resource when he saw one. The witch's looks were one thing, but the genuine, almost childlike delight that bloomed on her face when she tasted something delicious? That was pure, unscriptable gold.
He'd studied dozens of viral food streamers. Viewers kept coming back for the reactions—watching ordinary meals become mouth-watering miracles the moment they touched those creators' lips.
Kakayan's expressions were in a class of their own: impossible to fake, impossible to duplicate.
Years in video production had honed Jiang Li's instincts; he wanted to gather some test footage and see how the internet would respond.
Kakayan had no idea what he was up to. Curious, she leaned in for a closer look.
Strange—why did the glowing brick show her own face?
Was it a mirror?
She narrowed her eyes, studying Jiang Li's phone.
Then it clicked: she was watching a replay of herself drinking Happy Water.
Somehow, Jiang Li had captured her actions inside the glowing rectangle.
"What are you recording my movements for?"
Kakayan took two steps back, one hand pressed to her lips, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
In her experience, a certain type of human warrior would observe an opponent in secret, memorizing every gesture before a duel. When the fight began, they could predict and counter every move.
Was Jiang Li doing the same?
Was he planning to strike?
"Relax." Explaining would take forever, so Jiang Li simply tossed her the phone. "It won't hurt you. I'm just testing whether filming you eat can make money."
"Make money?"
Kakayan didn't understand how recording her could translate to coins.
She caught the phone and examined the glowing slab. Clearly a treasure—Jiang Li never let it out of reach.
Jiang Li walked over, intending to open a video app and demonstrate.
Bzzzt—
The phone vibrated so violently Kakayan nearly dropped it. She clamped it between both palms, thinking the device was trying to escape.
She lifted an eyebrow, triumphant—until she saw Jiang Li frowning back at her.
"What are you doing?"
"It was trying to run."
"Give it here."
As Jiang Li reached out, a man's firm voice burst from the speaker.
"Hello? Why do I hear a woman?"
"Jiang Li, where are you?"
Kakayan stared, wide-eyed. So the brick was alive—and it had swallowed a man's voice.
Before she could speak, Jiang Li clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Hey, Dad, what's up?"
He held the phone in one hand and kept Kakayan quiet with the other.
Perfect timing—Old Jiang never missed a chance to call at the worst moment.
"I'm downstairs. Didn't I say I'd drop by this afternoon?"
"Afternoon? But it's barely noon."
Jiang Li checked the time.
"Are you home or not?"
"I'm... yes, I'm home. Come on up."
Old Jiang hung up.
Jiang Li's stomach dropped. He hurried to the balcony: sure enough, the familiar black sedan was parked below.
He'd known his father was coming, but not this soon. He hadn't figured out how to explain the unexpected houseguest.
Kakayan's violet eyes were round with shock.
"Jiang Li, that brick is your father?!"
She clapped both hands over her mouth.
Oh no.
She had just trapped Old Jiang—Jiang Li's dad—in her palms and squeezed rather hard.
Was that... disrespectful?
She peeked at Jiang Li. He was rubbing his temples like he felt a migraine brewing.
Dad would be at the door any second; explaining the phone could wait.
Jiang Li exhaled, walked to the storage-room door where Kakayan had slept, and waved her over.
"Someone's coming. Hide in here and don't make a sound."
"Huh? What do you—"
Before she could finish, Jiang Li pressed a finger to his lips and fetched another can of Happy Water from the fridge.
"Stay quiet. If you get thirsty, drink this."
"Uh... can I have one more?"
If it were any other woman, Jiang Li wouldn't bother hiding her. But Kakayan's identity was... complicated. A few casual questions and everything would unravel.
In Old Jiang's eyes she'd become a beautiful stranger spouting nonsense. No father would want his son involved with someone like that. Worst-case scenario: Dad would call the police himself.
Jiang Li hadn't even finalized their cover story. Old Jiang had arrived too fast.
He couldn't kick Kakayan out now, and he couldn't risk introductions without a script.
A sharp knock rattled the front door.
Jiang Li closed the storage-room door behind Kakayan and crossed the apartment.
"Coming."
He drew a steadying breath and opened the door.