(I said in the previous chapter, 'Should I start a new book or transform this one?' That's terrible!)
The next day, the morning sun cast dappled light and shadows on Kael's face through the blinds.
His eyelids fluttered. Before he was fully awake, his nose caught a whiff of... a burnt smell with a hint of strange sweetness.
He suddenly opened his eyes, an ominous premonition dispelling the last vestiges of sleep.
He quickly got up, put on his jacket, and walked out of the bedroom.
In the kitchen, the scene was nothing short of disastrous.
Flour and an unknown sticky liquid of an unidentifiable color were scattered across the counter. In a frying pan lay several charred, unidentifiable objects, emitting wisps of smoke.
And the culprit—Kiana—was wearing a Haxxor Bunny apron that was too big for her. She held an egg beater, vigorously stirring some yellow and white liquid mixed with eggshell fragments in a bowl, muttering to herself, "...Add more sugar... No, maybe salt? Oh, whatever!"
Sirin, meanwhile, stood at the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, observing with cold eyes.
She wore a simple white dress today, her long purple hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders, a stark contrast to the kitchen's chaos.
Seeing Kael emerge, her golden eyes flashed with an understanding of "I knew this would happen" and a hint of expectation, "Brother, quickly get her out."
"Kiana!"
Kael couldn't help but raise his voice, "What are you doing?"
"Ah! Kael, you're awake!"
Kiana turned around, her face smudged with flour like a kitten, but her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'm making breakfast! I wanted to give you guys a surprise! I thought it looked pretty simple when you usually do it!"
Kael looked at the pot of "carbon compounds," his temple throbbing. "A surprise... it certainly is a surprise. Put down the egg beater, now, immediately."
"Oh..."
Kiana reluctantly put down the tool, muttering in a low voice, "I think this time is an improvement over last time..."
"An improvement that could summon the fire department?" Sirin interjected abruptly, her tone flat but with precise lethality.
"Hey! You purple-haired girl! If you're so capable, you do it!" Kiana immediately bristled.
"I don't need to know such 'skills'," Sirin slightly lifted her chin. "Brother will make it for me."
"You!"
"Stop, stop, stop."
Kael interrupted their bickering. He rubbed his temples, resignedly walked into the kitchen, and began to clean up the mess. "Everyone out. Kiana, don't go near the stove again, especially when I'm not around."
"Got it..."
Kiana pouted, reluctantly being "ushered" out of the kitchen by Kael.
Sirin watched Kael skillfully clean up the battlefield, her gaze softening. She walked closer and said softly, "Brother, let me help you."
"No need, it's smoky here." Kael smiled at her. "You just go sit down, breakfast will be ready soon."
Sirin nodded obediently but didn't leave. She just retreated to the kitchen doorway, quietly watching Kael's busy back, as if it were a pleasure.
Ultimately, Kael took over and completed breakfast.
Simple white porridge, fried eggs, and toasted bread, yet exuding a comforting aroma.
At the dining table, the atmosphere was subtle. Kiana was probably a bit deflated from messing up the "surprise," and ate with her head down.
Mei sipped her porridge in small, elegant mouthfuls, occasionally stealing a glance at Kael, her eyes holding gratitude and a hint of unnoticeable complexity.
Sirin, on the other hand, slowly ate the crispy-edged fried egg Kael had specially made for her, seemingly in a good mood.
"Kael," Kiana finished her last bite of toast, as if suddenly remembering something, looked up, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked at him, "It's the weekend today, let's go out and play! I know there's a new amusement park with a super—big Haxxor Bunny themed area!"
Before Kael could answer, Sirin spoke coolly, "Brother is very busy, he doesn't have time to play such childish games with you."
Theresa: Achoo!
"Who said it was childish! That's Haxxor Bunny! And Kael doesn't have to go to the academy on weekends!"
Kiana immediately retorted, then looked expectantly at Kael, "Please, please, Kael! I'll treat you to ice cream!"
Kael looked at Kiana's eager expression, and then thought of her recent "disaster-making" actions. He felt that perhaps taking her out to expend some of her excess energy wasn't a bad idea, lest she set her sights on the kitchen again.
He pondered for a moment, then looked at Sirin and Mei, "What about you two? Want to come along?"
Sirin frowned slightly, clearly not interested in crowded, noisy places, but she was even more unwilling to let Kael and Kiana go out alone. "If Brother goes, I'll go."
Mei hesitated, then said softly, "I... I think I won't go. I want to tidy up my room..."
"Come along, Mei," Kael said gently. "It's not good to always stay cooped up at home. Go out and clear your head."
Finally, at Kiana's strong insistence and Kael's persuasion, the four of them arrived at the newly opened, bustling amusement park.
As Kiana had said, the amusement park had a massive Haxxor Bunny themed area, with statues, banners, and souvenir shops of the bright yellow rabbit everywhere.
As soon as Kiana entered, she was like a wild horse unleashed, shouting excitedly and pulling Kael towards the Haxxor Bunny themed area.
"Let's go on that first!" Kiana pointed to the towering roller coaster in the distance. "It looks so thrilling!"
Sirin looked up at the winding tracks and the screams coming from above, her frown deepening. She instinctively leaned closer to Kael.
Kael noticed her resistance and asked softly, "Scared?"
Sirin pursed her lips, not admitting it, but the aversion in her eyes was very clear.
"Then let's go on something gentler." Kael readily agreed, pointing to the nearby merry-go-round. "How about that?"
Kiana's face immediately fell. "Huh? A merry-go-round? That's for little kids!"
"I think it's good." Sirin immediately expressed her support, as long as it was far from those scary rides.
In the end, the four went to the merry-go-round first.
Although Kiana complained, once she sat on the white steed, she still swayed happily with the music, occasionally waving at Kael.
Sirin chose a luxurious pumpkin carriage, sitting quietly inside, her gaze always following Kael.
Mei sat on a small pony, her head slightly bowed, seeming a bit reserved, but the tense corners of her mouth had relaxed a little.
After getting off the merry-go-round, Kiana set her sights on the bumper cars next door.
"This one's fine, right!" Without waiting for Kael to answer, she excitedly ran to queue up.
This time, Sirin didn't object.
In the bumper car arena, Kiana displayed astonishing "driving talent," crashing around, specifically targeting Kael and Sirin's cars, laughing so hard she bent over backward.
Sirin was a bit clumsy at first, but after being repeatedly hit by Kiana, her competitive spirit gradually ignited, and she began to try to counterattack. Although her expression remained unchanged, her eyes became much more serious.
Kael, meanwhile, protected a somewhat flustered Mei, skillfully dodging the two girls' "Siege" (encirclement) in the arena, a helpless yet amused smile on his lips.
After several rounds of games, even Mei's face showed some genuine smiles.
At noon, they ate at a restaurant in the park.
Kiana grandly ordered a super jumbo burger, eating it with greasy hands.
Sirin only ordered a salad and juice, eating in small bites.
Kael ordered a pasta for Mei and a simple set meal for himself.
"Let's go to the haunted house this afternoon!" Kiana proposed a new adventure plan after finishing her burger.
"No." This time Sirin refused cleanly and decisively.
"Oh, come on, you're not scared of ghosts, are you?" Kiana deliberately provoked her.
Sirin gave her a cold glance. "Those low-level sound and light effects and crude makeup are meaningless."
"You are scared!"
"Say what you want."
Seeing the two about to argue again, Kael quickly intervened, "Alright, if you don't want to go, then don't. There's a water ride over there that looks good, want to try it?"
He pointed to a winding waterway with circular rafts floating on it.
This suggestion was approved.
However, just as they were queuing and it was almost their turn, a staff member in a clumsy mascot costume walked by and accidentally bumped into Mei, who was standing at the edge of the line.
Mei gasped, lost her footing, and began to fall backward.
"Careful!" Kael was quick-witted, grabbing Mei's shoulder and steadying her.
Mei was still shaken, leaning against Kael, her cheeks instantly flushed, her breathing somewhat rapid. "Th-thank you, Mr. Kael..."
This scene was fully witnessed by Sirin, who was standing nearby.
She watched Mei lean against Kael's chest, watched Kael's arm protect Mei, and her golden eyes instantly darkened, the air pressure around her rapidly dropping.
Kiana also saw it. She pouted, muttering, "Here we go again..."
Kael steadied Mei, and after confirming she was alright, he naturally let go of her hand, asking with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm... I'm fine now..." Mei lowered her head, not daring to look at Kael, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Sirin didn't say anything, she just silently walked between Kael and Mei, forcefully separating the two, then reached out and tightly hugged Kael's arm. With a cold face, she looked straight ahead, in a posture that almost declared ownership.
Kael felt the strength of Sirin's arm and the cold air emanating from her, and inwardly groaned.
He knew that his unintentional gesture just now had upset the girl again.
During the subsequent water ride, the atmosphere noticeably cooled.
Sirin clung tightly to Kael's arm the entire time, as if he were her only reliance, completely ignoring Mei.
Kiana tried to liven things up, screaming loudly as she rushed down the waterway, splashing large amounts of water, but it failed to dispel the subtle awkwardness.
Mei, meanwhile, became even more silent, trying to minimize her presence.
After getting off the water ride, Sirin's hair and skirt were a bit wet, clinging to her body, making her appear even more slender.
A gust of wind blew, and she instinctively shivered.
Seeing this, Kael took off his light jacket and draped it over Sirin's shoulders. "Put this on, don't catch a cold."
Sirin froze for a moment, feeling the jacket, imbued with Kael's body heat, envelop her. The icy low pressure instantly dissipated by more than half. She softly hummed, wrapped the jacket tighter, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards imperceptibly.
Kiana watched Kael give his jacket to Sirin, then looked at her own somewhat damp clothes, pouting, but said nothing.
In the evening, the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, and the amusement park lit up with dazzling lights.
After a day of playing, the four finally embarked on their journey home.
Kiana was probably exhausted; she fell asleep leaning against the window in the car on the way back, still mumbling, "Haxxor Bunny... don't run..."
Mei quietly looked at the night scenery outside the window, her profile appearing somewhat lonely in the lights.
Sirin still leaned closely against Kael, resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but the hand clutching Kael's shirt hem never let go.
Kael looked at his own reflection in the car window—a tired yet somehow fulfilled facex and then at the three girls beside him, each with distinct personalities, causing him endless worry. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
This day was full of quarrels, surprises, and subtle jealousy, but also some laughter and brief moments of peace.
He gently sighed, adjusted his posture, making Sirin more comfortable.
Outside the car window, Changkong City's neon lights rapidly sped past, like a flowing river of stars.