"Alice?" A startled Erina Nakiri turned towards Alice Nakiri.
Alice merely blinked at her cousin, her face brimming with provocation.
In that instant, Erina immediately understood, her expression shifting between amusement and exasperation.
'Is she still hung up on that bet?'
Their wager concerned who would participate in the new ingredients development - the stakes themselves were irrelevant.
What mattered was Alice's burning desire to one-up Erina.
Hence, Alice couldn't resist raising the question in this setting.
But for the first time, Erina found herself frowning at Alice's behaviour.
Previously, Erina might have been indifferent about the participation slot, even willing to concede it to Alice.
But now, after learning of her grandfather's efforts, she felt it necessary to do something.
The younger generation of the Nakiri family was no cowards who only hid behind adults.
Erina Nakiri took a deep breath and looked up at Luo Shu, saying:
"The question Alice asked is what I wanted to ask too."
"Director Luo, may I sign up for this research project?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu gave Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri a strange look.
'What's going on? Are the fish in the Nakiri family pond actually biting the hook on their own?'
'I'm not some legendary angler playing 'the willing fish catches itself', am I?'
While internally grumbling, Luo Shu still answered their questions:
"Under normal circumstances, the third generation of the Nakiri family would have a single spot."
At this, Alice Nakiri opened her mouth slightly, her expression instantly filled with guilt.
In contrast, Erina Nakiri looked completely relaxed, as if the spot was already decided.
Indeed, with only one spot available for the Nakiri family's third generation, who else but Erina, the future head of the family, would get it?
However, Luo Shu's following words shattered both their expectations:
"Normally, Miss Alice should be receiving contact from Chef Dōjima soon."
"After all, the next department head will be Chef Dōjima."
"Me?" Alice Nakiri sprang to her feet so abruptly that Luo Shu didn't know where to look.
Miss Alice, mind the setting!!
"Wait, why isn't it Erina?" Alice completely ignored everything else, pressing Luo Shu for an answer.
Beside her, Erina Nakiri opened her mouth but hesitated to speak.
She also wanted to ask why it wasn't her, but shame kept her silent.
Now, with Alice voicing the question, Erina secretly felt relieved.
At that moment, Luo Shu glanced at Alice Nakiri, then closed his eyes, pretending to enjoy the hot spring as he said:
"In terms of ability, Miss Erina is indeed more excellent."
"But from a research perspective, Alice, you'd better meet the requirements."
"Ehh~~"
Alice looked utterly astonished, then immediately turned to boast to Erina:
"See, Erina!"
"This is a professional evaluation from an expert!!"
"Now you really can't compare to me!!"
"...Are you a child?" Erina couldn't help muttering.
Though she complained, Erina still felt happy for Alice.
After all, it was rare for her cousin to best her at something.
Admittedly, she felt somewhat unwilling, but Erina had to acknowledge that Alice's understanding of modern science surpassed hers.
This was something Erina had always known, so she harboured no resentment.
After all, in culinary skills, Alice was still just her little sister.
She just hadn't expected to lose on this front.
"That can't be the only reason."
As these words fell, both Erina and Alice turned towards Toyomi Fujiwara.
At that moment, Toyomi smiled gently as she asked Luo Shu:
"There must be a more important reason why little Erina wasn't selected, right?"
It made no sense that the Nakiri family head couldn't access the mystical while a branch family head could - this was Toyomi's reasoning.
As expected, after glancing at Toyomi Fujiwara, Luo Shu immediately said:
"Indeed."
"There's another reason why the Nakiri patriarch had to arrange things this way."
"Eh?" Alice Nakiri's smile froze on her face: "You mean I didn't win based on my own abilities?"
Seeing Alice's dramatic change from elation to disappointment, Luo Shu couldn't help but chuckle:
"But Miss Erina lost because of her own ability."
Erina Nakiri was momentarily stunned before suddenly realising something:
"Is it because of... the God's Tongue?"
"Yes." Luo Shu looked slightly surprised at Erina, seemingly not expecting her to react so quickly: "Some special ingredients within the SDS have an excessively stimulating effect on the God's Tongue."
He didn't specify how exactly they stimulated it, but both Nakiri heiresses could guess the consequences.
After all, many previous female heads of the Nakiri family had suffered from the side effects of the God's Tongue.
Hearing this, Erina Nakiri murmured to herself:
"So that's why Mother went to America..."
Alice Nakiri looked at Erina with faint concern.
"Erina..." Alice opened her mouth, but didn't know how to comfort her.
Alice had hundreds of ways to provoke Erina's anger, but comforting her? That was completely unfamiliar territory.
Fortunately, Erina recovered quickly, controlling her emotions within moments before thanking Luo Shu:
"...Thank you for the explanation."
Noticing this, Luo Shu glanced at Erina before saying:
"The Nakiri family's gift isn't actually uncontrollable."
Here, he deliberately paused before smiling and shaking his head:
"Never mind. The Nakiri family probably can't afford the price."
With that, Luo Shu stood up from the hot spring.
"Eek!!" Alice couldn't help but shriek, hastily retreating.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu casually walked towards the exit, saying:
"I'm done. You two carry on. The weather tonight probably won't allow moon viewing."
Only after Luo Shu left the hot spring did Alice, her face flushed, return to Erina's side, grumbling indignantly:
"What nonsense! What does he mean we can't afford the price? He didn't even explain anything!"
As she spoke, Alice patted her rosy cheeks, unable to stop recalling the silhouette she'd glimpsed moments earlier. Shaking her head, she silently cursed:
"That infuriating man!!"
Meanwhile, Erina frowned beside her. She had the distinct feeling Luo Shu's words carried hidden meaning.
Uncertain, she turned to Toyomi Fujiwara: "Miss Toyomi, what did Mr Luo Shu mean just now?"
"Eh? Is Erina planning to visit Shu-kun's room tonight for moon viewing?" Toyomi looked at Erina in shock.
"No, I didn't say that." Erina hastily waved her hands, cheeks reddening: "Why would I go to his room in the middle of the..."
"Ah, midnight, evening, room..."
A terrifying realisation struck Erina. She abruptly looked up at Toyomi, only to find the woman now had her eyes closed, leaning comfortably against the artificial rock as if fully immersed in enjoying the hot spring.
'No way...'
Erina gulped.
'If grandfather finds out, he'll break my legs...'