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The car silently glided into the quiet residential street, finally stopping in front of Chen Tian's house. The chauffeur swiftly got out and respectfully opened the rear car door.
Chen Tian stepped out first. Rin followed, her steps slightly hesitant, her icy blue eyes carrying a trace of lingering confusion and scrutiny, quietly observing Chen Tian's profile—as if confirming whether the man before her was truly suffering from schizophrenia as she had suspected.
"Thank you for your trouble," Chen Tian slightly nodded to the chauffeur, his tone calm.
"It's my honor, Young Master Chen," the chauffeur bowed deeply again, his movements meticulous. "Please feel free to call if you need anything."
The chauffeur got back into the car, and the black Alphard quietly drove away.
Chen Tian turned to Rin, the same perfectly innocent and gentle "brother-in-law" smile on his face: "Let's go. Your cousin, Marin,"
He gestured to the tightly closed door, from which faint sounds could be heard, "should be back already."
Rin's gaze briefly rested on his face, but she ultimately nodded: "…Mhm."
The two walked toward the entrance. Just as Chen Tian opened the door—
A strange smell, mixed with the odor of burnt food, immediately wafted out to greet them.
At the same time, clear ping-pong noises were intensely emanating from the kitchen, accompanied by a sense of frantic haste.
Rin's steps paused. A trace of realization and… deep resignation flashed in her icy blue eyes.
The smile on Chen Tian's face also paused momentarily, then melted into a look of helpless indulgence: "Tsk, it seems the process of making 'Oyakodon' is… quite intense."
The sound of the lock turning and their footsteps startled the person in the kitchen. A golden ponytail suddenly peeked out from the side of the doorframe.
Kitagawa Marin's face had some smudges of black soot, sauce was splattered on her apron, and the spatula in her hand held some charred, unidentifiable object.
"Rin-chan!" Her eyes instantly lit up. She rushed over in two strides, her apron strings flying in the air. The spatula was casually shoved into Chen Tian's hand, and her entire body lunged at Rin: "I missed you so much!"
Rin was knocked back half a step, the combined smell of burnt sugar and soy sauce filling her nostrils.
She instinctively reached out to catch her cousin, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving upward: "It's only been half a year…"
"Half a year is 182 days!" Marin clung to Rin like a koala bear, rubbing her head against Tohsaka Rin's neck like a kitten. "Ah~~ Rin-chan's scent"
A dull thud suddenly came from the kitchen.
Chen Tian stood amidst the chaos. A toppled bottle of mirin was rolling on the countertop.
He held the charred frying pan in one hand and a half-cooked egg in the other, his expression quite helpless.
Marin immediately released Rin and ran over barefoot: "Ten-kun~ My Oyakodon!"
"Theoretically…" Chen Tian poked the burnt rice with the spatula. "Shouldn't this be called 'Charcoal-Grilled Mother-and-Child'?"
Marin stuck out her tongue at Chen Tian and whined playfully: "Didn't Ten-kun say you don't like runny eggs? I just wanted to cook them a little more… and it just got overdone."
Chen Tian shook his head helplessly, pulled a napkin from the dining table, and dampened it slightly. He gently supported Marin's chin with his left hand and carefully wiped the black ash from her cheek with his right.
Marin tilted her small face up, her eyes curved like crescent moons, like a docile little cat.
"There," Chen Tian put away the napkin and gently ruffled her hair. "Go keep your cousin company. Leave this to me."
"Mhm, mhm!" Marin nodded cheerfully, skipping out of the kitchen. As she passed Rin, she winked proudly: "Ten-kun's cooking is super delicious!"
Rin stood at the kitchen doorway, her expression a little surprised.
Through the glass door, she watched Chen Tian skillfully tie on the apron, deftly clearing the mess on the countertop.
The man who had radiated a dangerous aura in the car was now focused on salvaging usable ingredients, his expression so gentle that he seemed like a completely different person.
"He… he really cooks?" Rin inadvertently blurted out. "Maybe I should go help?"
Marin giggled, grabbing Rin's arm and pulling her toward the living room: "Don't worry, Rin-chan! Ten-kun's cooking skills are amazing!"
The two sank into the soft sofa. Marin pinched her own cheek: "See? I've gained weight since living with him."
"Wait…" Rin suddenly sat upright. "You two… you live together?"
"Mhm!" Marin's eyes curved into crescent moons. "For three months and seven days now~"
The throw pillow in Rin's hands nearly fell to the floor: "Your uncle… didn't say anything?"
"My dad, huh?" Marin swung her legs. "At first, he came for surprise checks every day. Once, he even knocked on the door at three in the morning." She snorted with laughter. "But he saw Ten-kun making me brown sugar ginger tea, and he hasn't come back since."
The faint clatter of a spatula came from the kitchen, and the aroma gradually drifted out. Marin suddenly lowered her voice: "Actually, my dad really likes Ten-kun now. Last week, he even secretly asked him when he was going to marry me."
The tea Rin had just sipped nearly sprayed out of her mouth.
"Just kidding~" Marin stuck out her tongue, then suddenly turned serious. "But Ten-kun is truly super meticulous. He even remembers my cycle better than I do myself."
Inside the kitchen, Chen Tian was sprinkling chopped green onions over scrambled eggs with tomatoes, the apron strings tied in a neat bow behind his waist.
Chen Tian worked quickly. Soon, three dishes, one soup, and pan-fried dumplings were neatly laid out on the dining table.
The scrambled eggs with tomatoes were invitingly colored, the shredded pork with green peppers was tender and glossy, the stir-fried lettuce was crisp and refreshing, the pan-fried dumplings were golden and crispy, and a simple bowl of dried shrimp and seaweed soup steamed gently.
"Tohsaka-san, my apologies," Chen Tian apologized as he untied his apron. "I was limited by the ingredients at home, so I could only prepare these simple dishes."
Tohsaka Rin quickly waved her hand: "You're too kind. This is very generous." She picked up her chopsticks and put a mouthful of the shredded pork with green peppers into her mouth.
The next second, Rin's pupils contracted imperceptibly.
The taste was perfectly savory and fresh. The shredded pork was incredibly tender, without any hint of gaminess. The heat control was precise; biting into it was perfectly smooth. The sauce had distinct layers of flavor and perfectly coated the ingredients.
This level of cooking… far exceeded average home cooking.
She tried a bite of the scrambled eggs with tomatoes. The eggs were fluffy and soft, with a rich eggy aroma. The tomatoes were sweet and juicy. The two blended together seamlessly, without any metallic egg taste or raw tomato flavor.
Even the simple stir-fried lettuce was crisp and refreshing, carrying the heat from the wok, the garlic flavor just right.
Rin herself was a skilled cook, particularly proficient in Chinese cuisine. She knew how difficult it was to execute these home-style dishes to such a masterful level.
Her fingers gripping the chopsticks felt slightly loose. Just how many sides did this man have?
"It's delicious, right!" Marin proudly stuffed a pan-fried dumpling into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she mumbled, "Rin-chan, you should eat more!"
Tohsaka Rin nodded, saying nothing more, quietly picking up food and eating her rice.
The sweet and sour of the eggs, the savory freshness of the pork, and the crispness of the lettuce were all perfectly balanced. Even the simple seaweed soup was naturally savory.
Marin watched her cousin deeply engrossed in her boyfriend's cooking, her big eyes curved into bridges of joy, a look of "praise my good taste" pride on her face.
Half an hour later, the three put down their chopsticks. The serving dishes were mostly empty.
"I'll do the dishes," Rin said, standing up to clear the table.
"Oh, Rin-chan, you're a guest!" Marin quickly tried to stop her.
Chen Tian also spoke: "Tohsaka-san, please leave it to me."
Rin shook her head, deftly stacking the plates: "You worked hard cooking. Washing the dishes is the least I can do."
Her tone was gentle but brooked no refusal. Marin and Chen Tian exchanged glances, smiled helplessly, and let her go.
The crisp sound of running water and clinking dishes came from the kitchen.
While Rin was in the kitchen, Marin pulled Chen Tian's hand and quietly sneaked into the bedroom.
The moment the door closed, she buried her head in Chen Tian's chest, taking a deep breath. A muffled voice came from his chest: "Ah~~ I haven't smelled Boyfriend-kun's scent all morning Charging…"
Chen Tian naturally wrapped his arms around her slender waist, gently patting her back, remaining silent.
He knew Marin had pulled him in here for more than just a cuddle.
Sure enough, after nuzzling in his arms for a few seconds, Marin looked up, her small face displaying a look of hesitation and struggle.
"Ten-kun," her voice was quieter. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the fabric of his shirt over his chest. "Um… can I talk to you about something?"
Chen Tian looked down at her, his eyes gentle: "Mhm, go ahead."
Marin pouted slightly, seemingly finding it difficult to articulate, but finally whispered: "The reason Rin-chan came back this time… is because my aunt, Rin-chan's mother… she… passed away."
She paused, her voice even lower: "My aunt specifically asked me before she left… she hoped I could look after Rin-chan and be there for her…"
Chen Tian's arms around her tightened slightly, wordlessly offering comfort.
He understood Marin's feelings at the moment.
"My aunt didn't want to trouble me originally," Marin leaned into his chest, her voice muffled. "But Rin-chan's father also passed away a while ago… My aunt just wanted me to look after Rin-chan in daily life."
She paused. "I just thought that since I have an income from my modeling work and your concerts, and since I'm an adult… I thought maybe I could become Rin-chan's guardian…"
Chen Tian's brow subtly furrowed.
Guardian? Although Marin was an adult and had income, she was still quite young. Her social connections and experience were limited. Legally, it would likely be difficult…
I can use the Gojo clan connections to solve this. The thought flashed through Chen Tian's mind instantly.
At that moment, Marin looked up, her beautiful big eyes fixed on Chen Tian with a mix of nervousness and expectation: "Ten-kun, I want to take care of Rin-chan. So… can I let her live with us?"
She seemed afraid of putting Chen Tian in a difficult position, quickly adding, her small mouth slightly pouting, "Not for long! Rin-chan will be studying abroad soon. Can she just stay here temporarily when she's back in Neon? I don't want her to be alone…"
Her voice grew softer and softer. Her eyes were full of pleading and anxiety, clutching Chen Tian's clothes, waiting for his answer.
Chen Tian looked down at her hopeful yet slightly anxious face. The subtle frown had already disappeared.
He raised his hand, his warm palm gently stroking the top of her head, a gentle smile curving his lips: "Of course, you can."
He said it naturally, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"Really?!" Marin's eyes instantly lit up, surprise practically spilling out.
"Mhm," Chen Tian nodded, bringing her closer into his embrace with his other arm. "This is your home too. You decide."
He paused, adding, "Tohsaka-san definitely needs someone to look after her right now."
His tone was calm, betraying no doubts or difficulties regarding the feasibility of the "guardian" status.
"You're the best, Boyfriend-kun!" Marin happily stood on her tiptoes and gave Chen Tian a loud pop kiss on the cheek, her smile as radiant as a small sun.
Chen Tian chuckled, gently pinching her cheek: "Don't get too excited. But, how are you going to convince Tohsaka-san?" he reminded her, knowing that Tohsaka Rin's cool, independent nature wouldn't easily accept such an arrangement.
"Leave that to me!" Marin immediately puffed out her chest, patting it confidently, a sly and self-assured smile spreading across her face, her eyes sparkling. "Watch me! I guarantee I'll convince Rin-chan!"
Saying this, she turned around like a little rabbit and bounded toward the bedroom doorknob with a whoosh.
Chen Tian watched her excited back, a helpless yet indulgent smile on his lips. He slightly raised his voice, his tone calm as he reminded her toward the doorway: "Marin, be quiet. Tohsaka-san… might be done with the dishes."
The moment his words ended, Marin pulled the door open.
The bright light from the living room instantly flooded the bedroom.
Tohsaka Rin was standing quietly by the sofa not far from the bedroom door.
She held a dishcloth in her hand, her movements seemingly paused, clearly having just stepped out of the kitchen.
Her icy blue eyes were calm as they looked at the two figures embracing at the doorway, and at Kitagawa Marin, who was about to rush out in excitement.
The air solidified for a moment.
The bright smile on Marin's face froze, then she forced an even bigger curve onto her lips, a mix of slight embarrassment and the awkwardness of being caught. Her voice was deliberately raised: "Rin, Rin-chan! You finished? That was fast!"
Tohsaka Rin's gaze swept over her face, then glanced at Chen Tian, who stood calmly behind her. She simply gave a faint "Mhm," casually placing the dishcloth on the sofa armrest.
At the bedroom doorway, in the living room, the three maintained a subtle, silent standoff.
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