Chapter 29
Chapter 29
"Never underestimate humanity's hunger for immortality."
The barbecue restaurant was all harsh white light, the overhead bulbs pouring down like cold rain and painting Jiang Li's face in chilly tones.
Kakayan stared straight into his eyes as each word fell, sharp and deliberate, pulling at her attention until the rest of the world slipped away.
"At first, when people realize you can use magic, they'll probably treat you like one of their own—your faces are too alike. With the internet, you'd even become famous."
"But once they notice you never age, everything changes."
"Sooner than you think, they'll throw every trick you can imagine at you to pin you down. Then they'll start experimenting on your body—"
"Anesthetics, dissections, blood draws—anything and everything in the name of research."
The ceiling light flickered, plunging the room into black for half a heartbeat before snapping back to life.
"Stop."
Kakayan's voice cut through the air, calm but absolute.
Half the terms Jiang Li had used were alien to her, yet the weight of them settled on her chest until she could hardly breathe.
Jiang Li scratched his cheek. Maybe he'd sounded too grim and frightened her. He cleared his throat and tried to soften it. "If you're careful, it's not that easy to get caught."
Without a word Kakayan lifted her cola from the table, drained it in one long pull, then exhaled slowly.
She fixed Jiang Li with a stare sharp enough to draw blood. "If what you say is true—if eternal life tempts humans that much—why bother helping me at all? Why not just hand me over?"
Gone was the usual air-headed girl; the Kakayan sitting across from him now could have sliced steel with her gaze.
Jiang Li opened his mouth for a joke, anything to skate past the tension, but her expression held him still. He raised a finger and pointed straight at her. "Because we're on the same side."
By now their fates were already tangled.
If anyone discovered Kakayan, the only lead left would be Jiang Li himself. Security footage would show he'd spent three straight months at home—never eating, never drinking—and then reappeared with four-pack abs and the stamina of a soldier.
Good luck explaining that.
Laughter and clatter from the other tables rolled around them like distant surf. Kakayan kept her eyes on Jiang Li, the restaurant's noise turning the moment dreamlike.
She followed the line of his pointing finger and slipped back to that stormy night on her living-room couch, the two of them shaking hands.
—We're on the same side.
—Earth has a thousand foods, each a hundred times better than instant noodles.
—Deal. We'll earn money and eat everything delicious together.
For no reason she could name, Kakayan fell silent.
Jiang Li watched her blink, then smooth her bangs—anything to avoid his gaze.
A waiter arrived and set down three plates of sliced beef.
Kakayan wordlessly lifted a piece and laid it on the grill.
The fat hit the heat with a hiss.
"Compensation."
She flipped the cooked meat onto the plate in front of Jiang Li.
"...Huh?"
Compensation?
Jiang Li's brows drew together. So she'd known all along—that every bite she'd eaten had come from his grill.
All that pretending to be clueless had been an act.
Crafty woman. He still couldn't tell when she was genuinely dense and when she was playing dumb.
"Why aren't you eating?"
Seeing his suspicious stare, Kakayan urged him on.
Jiang Li picked up his chopsticks and popped the beef into his mouth.
He chewed twice.
"Well?"
"Undercooked."
"Tch. So picky."
Kakayan gave a soft snort and went back to the grill without another word.
Jiang Li glanced sideways; she was biting her lower lip, eyes fixed on the sizzling meat, pale jawline curved in something almost cute.
Maybe the heat was getting to her—cool face flushed faintly pink.
"Ah, terribly sorry!" Li Mou jogged back, looking as guilty as if he'd broken the law. "Something came up at work—I've got to run."
"No worries."
Jiang Li stood to see him off.
"I've already paid, so take your time eating."
Li Mou hesitated, clearly feeling cheated out of dinner, and bent down to snatch one last piece with his chopsticks.
The grill held a perfect slice.
He reached—only for Kakayan to sweep it away first.
Her chopstick work was already about seventy percent pro.
Li Mou scratched his head, gave Kakayan an embarrassed smile.
Fresh out of university, he still had a lot to learn about social graces.
Jiang Li jumped in quickly. "Go handle your business. Next meal's on me, all right?"
"Great, see you then!"
Li Mou waved and dashed for the door.
Watching him leave, Jiang Li thought, Kid's dedicated.
"You didn't even pretend to be polite," Jiang Li muttered, glancing at Kakayan sitting there like nothing had happened.
Teaching the proud witch the finer points of courtesy was clearly an uphill battle.
"I grilled this," Kakayan said, unruffled. "If he wants meat, he can grill his own."
Well, well—protective of her food, was she?
Hypocrite. She'd already polished off everything Jiang Li had cooked.
And Li Mou had invited them; he'd paid for the whole meal.
Jiang Li was still grumbling when Kakayan tossed the meat she'd snatched onto his plate.
"Here. This one's definitely done."
"...?"
Tsk.
Jiang Li clicked his tongue and lifted the beef to his mouth.
"How is it?" Kakayan asked, tilting her head.
"Good. Grill some more."
This time it was perfect—tender and flavorful.
"Grill it yourself."
She shot him a look, as if the very idea was a hassle, and made no move to add more meat.
"Everything I grilled got eaten by you."
He found it funny and couldn't help teasing her, expecting at least a hint of guilt.
Instead she raised her chin, utterly unbothered. "What you grill is what I grill."
"Says who?"
Jiang Li rapped the table lightly, pretending to be angry.
The audacity—she was pushing it again.
He was half tempted to fetch the greatsword hidden under the sofa.
"Because," Kakayan answered, borrowing his own words, lips curving in a smile soft as a distant breeze, "we're on the same side."
Beneath the restaurant's clamor Jiang Li studied her: chin tilted, eyes half-lidded, rose-pink hair brushing the collar of her burgundy cardigan.
"That saying doesn't really fit here, does it?"
Jiang Li shook his head and sighed deeply.