Looking at the gentle smile of his wife in the memorial portrait, Kamishiro Yu complexly set down the photo frame he held.
"Is it evening already?"
After his wife passed away, the room began to show signs of decay.
Unopened delivery boxes piled up in the corner, and brown coffee stains remained on the rim of the mug on the coffee table. Only the potted lily-of-the-valley, his wife's favorite when she was alive, remained lush and vibrant —it had been pruned last week by the neighbor, Takayanagi Sumie, when she came to water it.
"Ding-dong~"
The electronic doorbell sounded especially clear in the silence.
When Kamishiro Yu pulled open the door, the twilight flowed into the entryway along the skirt hem of the visitor.
She was wrapped in a wisteria-waterfall-like dress, the chiffon fabric wrapping her waistline cinched to a breathtaking degree.
The snowy white of her upper body looked ready to spill out, creating a huge contrast with her slender waist.
"Yu-kun."
Takayanagi Sumie held the food container to her chest, her full bosom rippling like waves with the movement.
Her naturally upturned almond eyes shimmered with moisture.
However, the moment her gaze met Kamishiro Yu's, she suddenly turned and gently closed the door.
This action reminded Kamishiro Yu of his late wife —Rin always shielded him from the outside world's storms when she was alive.
Takayanagi Sumie, who was the famous Mrs. Takayanagi in his previous life.
However, according to his limited understanding, the current Takayanagi Sumie should not be married yet, only engaged.
Because his wife, Kamishiro Rin, had taken care of her when she was alive, Takayanagi Sumie often came to visit him after his wife passed away.
"Mapo Tofu that I just learned to make."
Takayanagi Sumie stood in front of the dining table in the living room, untying the knot of the wrapping cloth with her back to Kamishiro Yu.
The stray hairs at the nape of her neck slipped down with the movement, revealing the faint light reflected by her pearl earrings, and her curves outlined a peach shape.
"Sister Rin said that Yu-kun's eyes turn red when he eats spicy food, but he can't help wanting to eat it."
The moment the food container was opened, the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns surged forth, wrapped in memories.
Kamishiro Yu watched Takayanagi Sumie's busy figure at the dining table: the purple long skirt flared with intricate patterns as she moved, and her waist and hip curves resembled a porcelain vase meticulously fired by a craftsman.
He suddenly realized that Takayanagi Sumie was no longer the naive girl who followed his wife to learn flower arrangement; the status of fiancée gave her every movement the allure of someone about to emerge from a chrysalis.
[Ding! The Calamity of Women Physique has been reactivated]
[Calamity of Women: You possess a physique that attracts romance, increasing your charm toward women, enhancing your perception of women, and allowing deep resonance with women.]
These blue characters suddenly floating on the edge of the porcelain bowl made Kamishiro Yu's fingertips tremble slightly.
He looked up at Takayanagi Sumie, who was setting out the dishes. Her pale neck was glistening with light sweat, truly matching the oppressive feeling of the words "Calamity of Women" being materialized at this moment.
[Since Sister Rin is gone, I will take good care of Yu-kun for her.]
A blush crept onto Takayanagi Sumie's fair face when she thought of this.
Kamishiro Yu watched Takayanagi Sumie handling these domestic chores for him; it would be a lie to say he felt no internal stirring.
He ate quietly while contemplating the future.
Having transmigrated to this world for over twenty years, he had accumulated some savings by being a plagiarism author. He usually rarely went out to socialize, living a simple and happy life.
His wife, Kamishiro Rin, was just an ordinary company employee, yet she fully accepted his lifestyle, understood his innate dislike for going out, and said he didn't need to change, as she would handle the external socializing.
However, now all of that was gone.
Maybe it was time to step out.
Just as Kamishiro Yu was thinking, Takayanagi Sumie felt the happiest she had ever been.
Because when Kamishiro Rin was alive, she dared not approach Yu-kun at all, much less bring him a bento, especially during the ambiguous time approaching nightfall.
Watching Kamishiro Yu eat the meal she prepared, she harbored many thoughts she usually wouldn't dare to have.
[Maybe I have a chance.]
[What am I thinking? I'm engaged.]
[But that man only likes men, and he also likes gambling. Now he owes a ton of debt, and people are chasing him. What am I going to do?]
[Why did Sister Rin get to meet a man like Yu-kun?]
"I heard... your fiancé's family creditors have been causing trouble recently?"
Kamishiro Yu suddenly spoke as he swallowed his rice.
He saw Takayanagi Sumie's fingertips, holding the chopsticks, suddenly clench. The jade ring reflected a cold light under the lamp—it was the token of her engagement to her fiancé... If you take someone's favor, you are obliged to them.
Even though the distance wasn't far, Kamishiro Yu still walked Takayanagi Sumie home, as a woman of such beauty easily attracts covetous eyes.
On the cherry blossom road on the way back, Takayanagi Sumie's high heel got stuck in the gap between the flagstones.
Her crystal-clear, smooth toes couldn't pull free, even with effort.
Kamishiro Yu bent down to help.
He could clearly smell the lily-of-the-valley fragrance on Takayanagi Sumie, which overlapped with the scent of the carefully tended plant at his home.
In this instant, he suddenly understood the meaning of the system prompt: Calamity of Women might not refer to disaster, but rather the threads woven by fate dragging him toward a predetermined vortex.
Just as Takayanagi Sumie opened the door to her residence, Kamishiro Yu spoke:
"If you have any difficulties, you can come find me."
He disliked socializing, but his ability to read people was not bad. From the moment Takayanagi Sumie entered his house until now, he could perceive her emotions.
Takayanagi Sumie turned back and smiled faintly, her red lips parting slightly:
"Okay, Yu-kun! You should rest early too."
[I'm sorry, Sister Rin.]
At this moment, a sudden courage was born in her heart—she must escape that future destined to be an abyss... After returning home and a quick wash, Kamishiro Yu lay in bed.
The crescent moon outside the window was suddenly swallowed by dark clouds. Kamishiro Yu recalled Sumie's look back as she left; that hesitant gaze held many meanings.
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in his mind.
A blue light screen appeared on the ceiling.
[Ding! You have joined the Myriad Worlds Chat Group!]
[Ding! Congratulations on becoming the Chat Group Owner, gaining Group Owner Authority!]
[Ding! You have received the Chat Group Newbie Gift Package. Would you like to open it?]
Seeing the panel, Kamishiro Yu felt that this mechanical prompt sound was absolutely adorable.
Today it was the "Calamity of Women Physique," and now the "Chat Group." He had thought his biggest cheat was just being reborn.
But becoming the Chat Group Owner right off the bat?
He temporarily suppressed his confusion.
"Open the Newbie Gift Package."