Before long, a delicious and appealing dinner was ready.
"Elysia, I'll serve the dishes, you go call Kiana and the others, it's time to eat." After stir-frying the last dish, Mei poured it onto a plate.
"Okay, then I'll go call them all to come eat." Aili washed her hands, then hung her apron on the wall and walked out.
Aili first went to the living room, where Theresa and Himeko were discussing something. "Theresa, Sister Himeko, dinner is ready, it's time to eat."
"Alright, we'll be right there," Theresa said.
Then Aili went upstairs.
Instead of calling Kiana first, Aili curiously walked to Rita's door.
This time, Rita's room door was already closed. Just as Aili was about to knock, the door opened.
Aili looked at the household items inside the room with some surprise. How long had it been? Rita's room was already tidied, and even the daily necessities were prepared. She hadn't heard anyone open the door and leave while she was in the kitchen.
"Miss Aili, is there something you need?" Rita maintained her elegant demeanor.
"Miss Rita, dinner is ready, we can eat now."
"Alright, I understand." Rita turned and closed the door, then followed behind Aili.
"Miss Rita can go downstairs first, I still need to call Kiana and the others, the white-haired girl."
"It's fine, there's no rush for this short while."
Hearing Rita say that, Aili just nodded, then walked to Bronya's room door. She could already hear Kiana's noisy voice inside the room.
Aili knocked on the door, and the arguing inside instantly ceased. Then the door was opened.
"Elysia, what is it?" It was Kiana who opened the door. When she opened it, Aili also saw Kiana's pouting little mouth; she was very unconvinced at the moment.
"Alright, games can wait until after dinner. For now, let's go downstairs and eat together. Mei has already prepared dinner, you know ♬~" Aili said, patting Kiana's head.
"Is dinner ready?" Kiana turned her head and shouted towards Bronya, "Bronya, it's time to eat!"
After shouting, Kiana dashed past Aili and ran downstairs.
Then Bronya walked out.
"Alright, it's time to eat. If you still want to play, you can call Kiana to continue playing after dinner ♬~ And, Aili will tell you a little trick: don't always beat Kiana too badly. Occasionally lose to her once, or expose a weakness, that way she'll keep playing with you ♬~"
Hearing this, Bronya looked up at Aili. At this moment, Aili's face was still smiling, but it revealed a hint of playfulness.
"Okay, Elysia, Bronya will go easy on her appropriately." Bronya nodded.
"Mm-hmm, such a good girl. Let's go, let's go downstairs and eat." Aili also patted Bronya's head.
Indeed, well-behaved children are more likable, but lively children are also good.
Downstairs, everyone was seated at the dining table. Aili went to help Mei carry the dishes.
Soon, all the dishes were served on the table.
Himeko took her beer from the refrigerator, and Theresa took out her treasured concentrated bitter gourd juice.
Kiana also took some sparkling water from the refrigerator.
"Miss Rita, is there anything you'd like to drink? There are still plenty of beverages in the refrigerator." Mei looked at the dignified and elegant Rita, feeling a bit reserved herself at this moment. She felt like a noble young lady. (Although she was a fallen noble young lady)
"Miss Mei, you don't need to worry about me. If I need anything, I will get it myself."
Seeing Rita's demeanor, everyone at the table, except Kiana, found it difficult to eat comfortably.
Because when one person eats like that, everyone else feels uncomfortable. Usually, meals are very casual, but suddenly having someone like that is unbearable for anyone.
After dinner, everyone at the table breathed a sigh of relief.
Aili and Mei cleaned up the table together. Kiana and Bronya had already gone upstairs; they were probably playing games again by now.
Rita said something to Theresa and then also went upstairs.
Theresa and Himeko, on the other hand, sat in the living room.
"Theresa, when is Rita leaving? Eating like this makes even drinking uncomfortable." Himeko said, feeling a bit helpless. For someone as carefree as her, this meal was truly torture.
"Grandpa said it's until the end of this semester. Rita will go back after she observes our exams here." Theresa also felt a bit uncomfortable. Everyone at the table, except Kiana, sat there like trees.
"How about I move out for a while?" Himeko felt like retreating.
"Himeko, how can you think like that? Don't forget, I'm still here." Theresa turned and said to Himeko, a bit annoyed.
"But she's here to take care of you! How about you move out for a while?" Himeko offered another solution.
"Himeko~!" Theresa said loudly, but her drawn-out tone sounded like Theresa was pouting.
"I know, I know, sigh, what sin have I committed?" Himeko stopped saying anything.
In the kitchen, Mei and Aili were also complaining about the issue.
"Mei, this dinner, I ate it so uncomfortably." Aili's mood was a bit low.
Mei avoided looking at Aili, after all, part of the reason this dinner turned out this way was because of her.
"Mm, I know," Mei said softly.
Facing Rita, she felt as if she were back at those banquets she attended with her father.
Everyone dined according to strict rules.
Such dining, in Mei's opinion, wasn't a banquet at all, just a simple tea party for people of her father's social circle.
"Mei? Mei? How can you zone out while washing dishes?" Aili looked at Mei, who was standing there lost in thought, reached out and waved her hand, then took the plate Mei had already washed four or five times out of her hand and set it aside.
"Mei, if you're not feeling well, you should go upstairs and rest first." Aili looked at Mei worriedly.
"I'm fine, I just remembered some things from the past," Mei said, looking at Aili, who was concerned about her.
"Really, Mei, you should go upstairs and rest first. Anyway, I'm almost done washing, you can just leave it to me to put them away." Aili directly snatched the bowl Mei was holding.
"I'm fine." Mei shook her head.
"I don't care if you're fine or not, Mei. Right now, Mei, you need to go rest." Aili said in a firm tone.
Looking at Aili, who, despite her strict tone, was still concerned about her, Mei said, "Then, I'll go upstairs and rest first."
"Mm, that's a good girl, Mei. If Mei wants to talk to someone, Aili can always be there for you ♬~" Seeing Mei finally change her mind, Aili's tone returned to its usual cheerful self.
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