The high-end apartment assigned to advanced players had great lighting. The open-concept kitchen was especially well-lit, simulating sunlight streaming in through the windows, casting a faint golden halo on Yu Deng's fluffy black hair.
Yu Deng stood in front of the kitchen island, still struggling with the apron, trying to straighten out the lace ties behind his back.
His shorts and the apron barely covered any skin. His legs were fair and straight, like warm mutton-fat jade under the sunlight. Once the apron ties were fastened, his waist appeared even slimmer—easily encircled by one hand.
After fiddling with it for quite a while, Yu Deng gave up.
With a defeated tug at the back tie, he pulled the already-short apron a bit higher in the front. Tilting his head slightly, he looked over with a hint of grievance in his eyes and whined, "It's so troublesome… I can't get it on properly…"
It was like a mix of sulking, seeking help, and teasing.
Clearly, it was nothing more than an ordinary expression and gesture, and Yu Deng's eyes were pure and innocent—but with that special apron, it created a dangerously enticing contrast.
Lin Qinxu stared at him without blinking, feeling his throat go dry. A heat ignited from deep within, quickly scorching every inch of his body.
Like a clueless young man, he was utterly enchanted by Yu Deng.
"Baby, this kind of apron is a bit complicated. You're not supposed to tie it like that," Lin Qinxu strode forward and stood in front of Yu Deng. "You have to wear it a different way."
Yu Deng looked up at Lin Qinxu.
Dr. Lin wasn't in his usual white coat but had changed into a simple black shirt and trousers, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that made him appear gentle and refined.
Except for his eyes, dark and murky, brimming with unspeakable longing and obsession—like a starving wolf.
"This isn't how you wear it?" Yu Deng asked, confused. He pulled up his purchase history and checked the product description.
[Special Apron: Classic black and white color scheme, made from lightweight, breathable material. Delicately designed for a half-covered look to give you a wonderful experience in the kitchen. Note: Do not tug forcefully on the apron straps—they may break easily. Avoid layering too many clothes underneath to preserve the experience.]
Eh…? It's definitely a kitchen apron. It doesn't say exactly how to wear it, though.
Yu Deng stared at the floating text box, reading it twice over. Something felt… a little off, but he couldn't quite figure out what.
—He'd never encountered adult products before, so the clueless little fool didn't realize he'd accidentally bought something a bit risqué.
Of course, Lin Qinxu recognized at a glance that Yu Deng had purchased the wrong item—this apron was clearly not a regular kitchen accessory but a fun prop for certain kinds of activities.
Yet he didn't point it out.
Dr. Lin also saw the floating product description. But instead of wondering about the technology in this world, he began gently coaxing the oblivious Yu Deng.
"Baby, look at that last line," Lin Qinxu smiled patiently and guided his naive student. "This style of apron shouldn't be worn with too many layers underneath."
Yu Deng didn't quite believe it. He looked down at the apron and asked suspiciously, "Really…?"
"Of course. Let's put it on properly, okay?" Lin Qinxu placed his hands on Yu Deng's shoulders. "After all, if you're going to make desserts, you need to wear the apron correctly—or your clothes will get dirty."
Yu Deng thought about it for a few seconds and nodded. "You're right."
The smile in Lin Qinxu's eyes deepened. He reached behind Yu Deng and untied the messy apron. Then, with a flick of his fingers, he effortlessly slipped off Yu Deng's loose pajama top.
His pale skin was immediately exposed to the sunlight—glowing and smooth, like freshly fallen snow. A pink bud nestled on the pristine surface, youthful and lovely.
Yu Deng froze for a moment and instinctively reached out to grab his clothes back. "W-what are you doing?!"
Lin Qinxu remained patient. "Didn't we just agree? You can't wear too many clothes underneath this apron, or it'll affect the experience. I'm helping you put it on correctly."
Yu Deng glanced at Lin Qinxu's smile, then at the product description again, still unsure. "But…"
Is this really how you're supposed to wear it? This feels so weird…
Yu Deng had rarely entered a kitchen. He was well aware of his lack of cooking skills, and the few times he made desserts, the ingredients were usually pre-prepped—he only had to do a little mixing. Wearing an apron was never part of the process.
So now, the poor boy was being completely played by a bad man.
The lace straps gently settled around the back of Yu Deng's neck. The thin black-and-white apron hung over him. Dr. Lin's hands were much more skillful—he neatly tied the frilly lace ribbons at the back.
Yu Deng spun in place, inspecting the newly tied apron. The bow in the back was perfectly symmetrical. But without his pajama top, his bare back was now covered by only a few narrow straps.
So now… it was properly worn?
Lin Qinxu's hand rested on the small of Yu Deng's back and reminded him, "The apron straps are a bit tight. If you feel uncomfortable, it might be best to remove the rest of your clothing."
By "rest," of course, he meant Yu Deng's little shorts.
"I'm fine, it's no big deal." Yu Deng brushed him off casually and began examining the ingredients he had ordered.
Hmm… What should I make? His eyes scanned over the variety of ingredients on the kitchen island and finally settled on cream puffs and mini fruit cakes.
"Tongtong, does your database have any tutorials?"
[Yes, please wait a moment.] System 01 responded calmly, and while doing so, quietly saved a few photos of Yu Deng into its core database. [I've now pulled up the beginner tutorial for you.]
Yu Deng read through the tutorial carefully for a few minutes, then slowly picked up the ingredients and lined them up in front of him.
"Mm… first, crack in two eggs." Yu Deng muttered to himself, following the steps on the screen. Clumsily, he whisked the eggs and began mixing the necessary ingredients.
"Add a small amount of butter, milk, and water." Yu Deng frowned in confusion. "A small amount… how much is that exactly?"
He tried adding a whole bowl of liquid, brought it to a boil as instructed, and then grabbed a large mixing bowl to start kneading in the flour.
Hiss—seemed like he poured in too much flour. Let's add a bit of water… Hmm, maybe now there's too much water… Then, add some more flour?
Yu Deng: "?"
After a few rounds of this, Yu Deng stopped and stared at the increasingly full bowl, falling into deep thought.
By the island counter, Lin Qinxu didn't interrupt Yu Deng during his most focused moment. He simply stood silently at the side, watching him.
When they had first arrived in this space, Lin Qinxu had noticed a faint trace of restlessness between Yu Deng's brows. But once Yu Deng became absorbed in making sweets, that unease had almost completely vanished.
The little pastry chef in a lace apron was muttering to himself as he studied the recipe intently, looking unbearably cute.
The man's gaze unconsciously softened.
"…"
Yu Deng didn't have the attention to spare for the man beside him. He was at a loss facing the mess in the bowl.
He kept trying to balance the ratio of water and flour, but under his relentless "efforts," the contents of the bowl seemed to reproduce endlessly—growing bigger and more unmanageable, like some kind of bizarre spawn.
Yu Deng: "…?"
The clumsy little pastry chef finally couldn't take it anymore and cried out for help: "Doctor Lin, do you know how to make desserts?"
Lin Qinxu stepped a little closer in Yu Deng's direction. "I do. Need a hand?"
Yu Deng nodded rapidly.
Lin Qinxu placed an arm around Yu Deng's shoulders, coaxing him patiently, "But making desserts is tiring. If I help you… once it's done, how about you let me have a little fun with you, hmm?"
Yu Deng instantly became wary. "No! I won't let you do that!"
"Oh, I see." Lin Qinxu backed off a step, feigning disappointment. "I guess that was an inappropriate request. Then… how about just a kiss?"
Yu Deng pondered for a few seconds.
Compared to doing that with Doctor Lin—ending up sore in the legs and waist—just a kiss didn't sound too bad?
"It'll be simple," the man coaxed him step by step into the trap. "Just a little kiss on your mouth, sweetie. Much easier than the earlier condition, right?"
Yu Deng was still catching up, vaguely sensing something was off, but under Lin Qinxu's gentle coaxing, it somehow felt like he was getting the better end of the deal.
"…Alright then." Yu Deng emphasized, "But only if you really help me make something tasty."
"Of course, no problem."
[…]System 01 let out a soft sigh.
The cunning Doctor Lin was already standing behind Yu Deng, one hand wrapped around his waist, the other placed over Yu Deng's hand, beginning a hands-on lesson.
Their bodies were pressed close together. Yu Deng could feel his back against Lin Qinxu's shirt—beneath the fabric was a firm and well-defined chest.
With Lin Qinxu's help, the cream puffs were finally completed and tucked into the oven.
Yu Deng regained some confidence and began directing Lin Qinxu to help him cut up some fruit. He planned to whip up a fruit cake next.
Lin Qinxu obediently chopped the fruit, his knife dancing swiftly across the cutting board, even carving a few pieces into the shape of little cats.
"Wow…" Yu Deng's eyes lit up, clearly delighted by the intricate little creations. "You're amazing with a knife!"
"Practice makes perfect," the doctor said humbly. "Do you still like using the scalpel I gave you?"
"It's pretty nice." Yu Deng tilted his head. "Wait, how did you know I have a scalpel?"
"I gave it to you, of course I'd know. It's my sharpest and most reliable one." Lin Qinxu smiled.
Yu Deng agreed with that assessment. Now that he thought about it, all the items and skills he had gotten in the school dungeon were very useful.
"Eh, by the way, how come only you came here? Where are the other two? Lu Yan and Zhuang Lin—why didn't they come?"
He had used those two guys' abilities in the multiplayer dungeon instance as well—so why was it that only Dr. Lin had shown up?
"Baby, do you really want to see them?"
Yu Deng thought about it and said, "It's just that I haven't seen them in a while, that's all."
Lin Qinxu barely maintained his calm expression. "They've got something going on, so they couldn't make it."
Tsk, he had gone to all the trouble of stopping those two brats—especially that Lu brat—from coming. At the very least, they couldn't be allowed to arrive before him. Otherwise, the pretty little fool would end up getting sweet-talked and eaten again.
With that thought, Dr. Lin's aura grew a little darker.
Suddenly, the temperature in the kitchen dropped slightly, and a spatial fluctuation rippled through the air. A few seconds later, a tall figure slowly solidified and appeared not far from Yu Deng.
It was Yu Deng's ghostly dead husband from the Mansion instance—Cheng Chaolin.
The smile in Lin Qinxu's eyes vanished in an instant as he raised his head coldly.
But Cheng Chaolin hadn't spared a single glance for his rival. His gaze was fixed solely on Yu Deng, unwavering.
A hundred years ago, the world had been far less open-minded, and clothing was nowhere near as intricate or revealing. This was Cheng Chaolin's first time seeing Yu Deng dressed in such skimpy and unusually styled clothes.
Yu Deng, like this, was both pure and beautiful. He didn't need to say a word to stir desire in the men who coveted him.
The only eyesore was the strange man standing beside him.
Cheng Chaolin narrowed his eyes. This refined-looking scoundrel wasn't one of the non-humans they had encountered before... Had his little wife gone off to another place and ended up attracting yet more ill-intentioned men?
"My wife," Cheng Chaolin called gently.
Yu Deng looked up belatedly. "Eh? You're here?"
Cheng Chaolin hummed in affirmation and walked over to Yu Deng, naturally wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Wife, who is this?"
Lin Qinxu stood with arms crossed, gaze hostile.
Yu Deng looked at the two of them and introduced them, "Cheng Chaolin, this is Lin Qinxu—he's the school doctor."
"I see. I don't recall wife ever mentioning him before," the ghost said smoothly, putting on a facade of gentlemanly grace. "What made wife suddenly want to bake sweets?"
"I was just feeling a little down and wanted to relax," Yu Deng replied obediently.
Cheng Chaolin paused slightly, then gently ruffled Yu Deng's hair.
Lin Qinxu, meanwhile, was sizing up this man who had suddenly appeared. His eyes narrowed—he was clearly unhappy with this stranger calling Yu Deng "wife" and touching him so intimately.
"I recall that baby isn't even of legal marrying age yet," Lin Qinxu said calmly. "Be careful, baby. Don't get tricked by some bad man."
Cheng Chaolin smiled faintly. "Is that so? My wife and I have already bowed before the altar."
"Bowed before the altar?" Lin Qinxu easily identified the man's era by his clothes. "Sorry, but in baby's time, that doesn't have any legal weight."
Cheng Chaolin stiffened for a moment, but kept his expression composed. "And how is that any of your concern?"
Yu Deng looked back and forth between them, feeling a little lost in their escalating battle of words. He looked up and tried to stop them. "Don't fight—I still need to finish making the cake."
Cheng Chaolin instantly stopped provoking his rival and spoke in a gentle voice to comfort Yu Deng. "Let me help you, wife. I've studied Western-style baking."
"Huh? Sure!"
The two men temporarily stopped sparring and stood to Yu Deng's left and right.
Both were mature men of considerable depth, sharing a similar refined and gentle aura—and the way they gazed at Yu Deng with obsession and love was practically identical. In some ways, they almost seemed like the same person.
Yu Deng quickly got absorbed in his dessert-making mission again. However, fruit cake was more complicated than cream puffs, so he looked rather busy as he worked at the kitchen island.
A breeze blew through the window, lifting strands of his hair to tickle his ears. Absentmindedly, Yu Deng scratched at his cheek—forgetting his hand was covered in cream—and smeared some onto his face.
It took him a few seconds to realize, and in his flustered state, he knocked over another dollop of cream, getting it on his hands, collarbone, and shoulder.
Yu Deng: "??" Ugh, what the heck?
"Let me help you clean up, wife," the ghost's voice lilted with amusement as black mist rose behind him.
The ingredients on the island were pushed aside, clearing a wide space. Yu Deng was lifted up and seated on the counter.
The marble surface was cold. When Yu Deng's skin met it, he shivered from the chill—but quickly got used to the cool sensation.
Sitting dazed on the island, he turned his head toward his ghost husband and asked, "How are you going to clean it?"
Why did cleaning require sitting on the counter?
Cheng Chaolin didn't answer. He simply lowered his head and kissed Yu Deng's lips. The soft flesh was gently sucked and moistened, their breaths mingling. Yu Deng gave a little whimper as the cream on his lips was licked away.
"Mm…"
After a while, the oven chimed brightly. Yu Deng stubbornly turned his head. "My cream puffs are done baking… Stop kissing me, I haven't finished the cake yet!"
"No rush. The desserts won't run away."
Off to the side, Lin Qinxu's gaze was frosty. He had finally coaxed the little dessert maker into agreeing to a kiss, only to be cut off by this so-called husband of Yu Deng's who had appeared out of nowhere.
He wanted to pull Cheng Chaolin away, but the man's hand was pressed against the back of Yu Deng's neck—forcing him off would risk hurting Yu Deng.
Dark emotion brewed deeper in Lin Qinxu's eyes. He closed them briefly, then leaned in and bit Yu Deng's collarbone, cleaning away the cream before slowly moving downward.
Through the thin apron, his teeth grazed the tender skin like snow-kissed buds.
Lin Qinxu's hand slipped under the apron, his palm covering smooth skin, caressing it slowly.
Yu Deng was in complete chaos. He tried to speak, but his ghost husband covered his mouth. He tried to move, but was held tightly in place, and then—bitten somewhere sensitive… He vaguely realized that he was being bullied by these bad men again.
"You… what are you two doing…?!"
Yu Deng trembled, voice trembling with tears. His fair, delicate face was flushed, with red-tinted eyes glistening with moisture, looking both decadent and lovely.
A little dab of cream still clung to his pretty face, the fragrance of soft, rich skin mingling with the sweet scent of cream, making him all the more sweet and tempting.
He sat atop the marble island, trapped between two much older men. His slender neck tilted slightly upward.
He heard the ghost's praise: "Wife, the dessert tastes delicious."
The naive and beautiful little dessert maker was, in truth, the most delectable little cake of all.