As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

Li Yu was suspicious of her brother's sudden claim of "sponsoring" a child for three whole days.

It wasn't that she was being paranoid; it was just that if this happened to Li Xian, it was as absurd as the sun rising in the west.

The chicken wings were still being roasted and then lifted up using [Flame Heart Control].

A guy who would rather lie down than sit, order takeout than cook, and whose life ideal is to "live a life of leisure until the end of time" would suddenly have a change of heart and go to an orphanage to do volunteer work.

Did they even "get along" with a child to the point of taking him home?

Not to mention Li Xian's nonchalant tone on the phone, as if he had just picked up a stray cat (which was true in a certain sense).

There's definitely something wrong.

During a break from another mission, Li Yu muttered to Chen Zhe while chewing on an energy bar.

"You know my brother's character. He's incredibly lazy and terrified of trouble. Adopting a child? That's a huge hassle! Something's definitely up! Besides, he's being vague and won't even send a single photo!"

Chen Zhe checked the equipment while offering words of comfort:

"Maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision by Brother Xian? Or maybe that kid is just really well-behaved and doesn't cause any trouble?"

He himself didn't seem very confident when he said it.

"No, I have to go back and check."

Li Yu made up her mind, asked the bureau chief for half a day off, and rushed home.

She wanted to see what kind of angelic and adorable child could make her lazy brother make an exception for her.

When Li Yu unlocked the door, she had already mentally prepared herself for all sorts of things—

Perhaps it's a quiet, withdrawn child who needs special care;

Maybe he's a mischievous, troublesome kid who could drive Li Xian crazy;

She even had a wild idea: could it be that her brother had awakened some strange "fatherly love" ability?

However, the scene inside the door still exceeded her expectations.

The first thing that catches the eye is a man sprawled on the living room sofa in the classic "Ge You slouch".

Li Xian was using his telekinesis to levitate a bag of potato chips and popping them into his mouth one by one.

This is very Li Xian.

Then, she saw a...cat-eared loli perched on her brother's lap?

The child looked to be five or six years old and was wearing obviously new loungewear with a strawberry pattern printed on it.

Her soft blonde hair was a little messy and sticking up, but the most eye-catching thing was the pair of light blonde cat ears on her head that jiggled with her chewing movements.

She was holding a bag of dried fish snacks, eating them with great relish.

Her eyes were fixed on the brightly colored children's cartoon playing on TV, while her tail (a golden cat tail of the same color) swayed leisurely at Li Xian's legs.

And her brother, Mr. Li Xian, who is known as "afraid of trouble".

A hand lazily rests on the little girl's back, occasionally patting her lightly without her noticing.

His other hand was still manipulating the potato chips, his eyes were glazed over, and he was clearly lost in thought.

The scene has a strange... harmonious quality?

Upon hearing the door open, the two people on the sofa, one big and one small, turned their heads at the same time.

"Xiaoyu? What brings you back today?"

Li Xian was a little surprised, but he remained limp and didn't move, only moving the dangling bag of potato chips a little.

Bell immediately sat up straight, her cat ears perked up in a wary posture.

With her big eyes, she sized up the beautiful, unfamiliar woman at the door whose aura was somewhat familiar (she had vaguely sensed Li Yu's supernatural power fluctuations at home before).

She subconsciously shrank closer to Li Xian, but didn't put down the dried fish in her hand.

"Is this the child you've sponsored?"

Li Yu closed the door and changed her shoes.

His gaze swept over the bell like a searchlight.

Cat ears! Real cat ears! And they even move!

This can't be described as just "somewhat special," can it?

Her sharp gaze then turned to Li Xian, her eyes demanding an explanation.

"Hmm, bell."

Li Xian patted Lingdang's head, signaling her to say hello.

"Lingdang, this is my younger sister, call her Auntie."

Lingdang looked at Li Yu, then at Li Xian, seemingly weighing her options.

Then, to Li Xian's surprise, she loosened the dried fish.

Slide off the sofa and stand up straight.

He bowed respectfully to Li Yu.

With a soft, clear, childlike voice, completely devoid of its usual bluster towards Li Xian, she obediently greeted, "Hello, Auntie!"

Li Xian: "???"

Isn't your differential treatment a bit too obvious?

Li Yu was also taken aback by this sudden obedience and the crisp "Auntie," and half of her doubts and scrutiny were instantly melted away by the cuteness.

There's no way around it, the bell's appearance is too deceptive; after washing it clean, it's as white and delicate as a porcelain doll.

The golden cat ears and tail added a touch of inhuman, fantastical cuteness.

With her big, round eyes wide open, she's trying her best to appear sensible and polite, which is incredibly charming.

"Hello, Bell."

Li Yu tried to make her voice sound gentle as she walked over, squatted down, and looked the bell at eye level.

"How old are you? Are you settling in comfortably here?"

"Six years old!"

Lingdang stretched out her little hand and made a six.

Then he glanced at Li Xian, seemingly considering his words:

"I'm used to... Dad is very good to me."

The last few words were said a little awkwardly, clearly indicating that the term "dad" wasn't quite coming out smoothly yet.

But to Li Yu, it sounded more like shyness.

Li Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Xian. The suspicion in her eyes lessened, but the doubt deepened: "Dad?" Is things progressing so fast?

Li Xian remained unfazed:

"The adoption procedures went smoothly, and the child is willing, so we'll keep calling him that for now."

He never mentioned that he had used pudding and grilled fish to "threaten and entice" himself to get that title.

Li Yu asked Lingdang a few more questions, such as what she liked to eat and what she usually did.

Although the bell's answer was simple, it was clear and her eyes (most of the time) were very bright.

Aside from the occasional somewhat chuunibyou-esque phrases like "I want to become stronger in the future".

Overall, he looks like a cute child who is a little precocious but generally normal (if you ignore the cat ears).

Especially when Li Yu took out a beautifully packaged chocolate from her bag (superpowered individuals always carry some high-energy snacks when going on missions) and handed it to Lingdang.

Bell's eyes lit up instantly, her cat ears twitched with joy, and she took it with both hands, saying sweetly:

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Then, I couldn't wait to open it and savor it in small, precious bites.

That contented little face made Li Yu's last bit of doubt vanish.

What bad intentions could such an easily satisfied and adorable child possibly have?

My brother might have really struck it lucky and found a treasure.

"Oh, right, the bell's ears..."

Li Yu looked at Li Xian and lowered her voice.

"Didn't it cause any trouble?"

"I'll dress up a bit when I go out, but I'm more casual at home."

Li Xian used his telekinesis to precisely throw the chocolate wrapper that Lingdang had finished eating into the trash can.

"They say it's a latent beast-type ability awakening, which isn't a big problem. It's been registered with the community."

Li Yu nodded. Such situations are indeed more common now than before. As long as there is no trouble, the authorities generally will not investigate further.

She watched as Lingdang obediently ate her chocolate, then looked at her brother who was sprawled on the sofa, lost in thought, and suddenly thought... it might not be so bad?

The house feels more lively now, and my brother seems to have gained a bit more... popularity?

"Did you have meal?"

Li Yu asked Li Xian, habitually wanting to go check the kitchen.

"Not yet, we're just about to start."

Li Xian finally managed to get up from the sofa.

"Lingdang, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Bell immediately raised her hand, and the cat's tail wagged expectantly:

"Fish! Steamed fish! And glowing pudding!"

She's very skilled at ordering food now.

"Steamed fish is fine, pudding depends on how well you make it."

As Li Xian walked toward the kitchen, he whispered something to Li Yu as he passed by.

"See? He really just picked up a freeloader."

Li Yu chuckled and followed him into the kitchen, intending to help out and observe her brother's "daily life raising a child".

The scene in the kitchen quickly broadened Li Yu's horizons once again.

Li Xian didn't even need to use his hands; the suspended cleaver automatically sliced ​​the ginger and scallions into hair-thin strands.

The fish, under the influence of telekinesis, jumped into the pool to wash itself, then landed steadily on a plate, topped with shredded ginger and scallions.

The stove lights up automatically, the pot flies over, and bottles of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar line up to add the right amount to the pot... The whole process is smooth, quiet, and efficient, comparable to a supernatural cooking performance.

"you……"

Li Yu was dumbfounded.

"You use your superpowers for this?"

She knew her brother had "awakened" telekinesis, but she didn't expect him to use it so... in everyday life.

"Otherwise what?"

Li Xian spoke with righteous indignation.

"It saves so much trouble. Otherwise, why do you think I have time to just lie around?"

Li Yu was speechless.

Okay, that's very Li Xian.

To take laziness to the extreme.

Bell was also perched at the kitchen doorway, watching this scene with curiosity.

With chocolate still in his mouth, he mumbled encouragement to Li Xian:

"Go, Old Deng! Add more of that sparkly (cooking wine)!"

Li Xian's hand trembled, and he almost smashed the floating cooking wine bottle into the pot.

He turned his head with a dark expression:

"Call me Dad! And don't call me Old Deng! Who taught you that?"

He looked suspiciously at Li Yu, who was smirking.

"I learned it online!"

The bell rang confidently, and the cat's ears twitched smugly.

"They say that sounds more imposing! It's befitting my future status!"

"Future my foot!"

Li Xian used his telekinetic power to gently flick the bell's forehead.

"If you keep yelling like that, there won't be any pudding tonight."

"……dad."

The bell immediately wilted, changed its tune pitifully, and its tail drooped down.

Li Yu was struggling to suppress her laughter.

She finally understood that this little girl was just a paper tiger, putting on airs and making childish statements in front of her brother.

But when it comes to food as a threat, he immediately backs down.

The older brother, on the surface, showed disdain but in reality indulged, and his skillful use of the "food threat method" was clearly not a first-time occurrence.

The atmosphere during the meal was strangely harmonious.

Li Xian's steamed fish was incredibly tender and cooked to perfection.

Bell ate without even lifting her head, her cat ears twitching happily, and the tip of her tail curling joyfully.

But she didn't forget to "filially" put a piece of fish tail on Li Xian's plate (she herself didn't like to eat it):

"Dad... eat this, it has a lot of thorns, it'll help you build patience!"

Li Xian looked at the piece of fish tail in the bowl, his eyelids twitching: "Thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Lingdang pretended not to notice the sarcasm, picked up another piece of the best fish belly meat, put it in Li Yu's bowl, and smiled sweetly:

"Auntie, eat! Auntie works so hard!"

"Thank you, bell. You're a good girl."

Li Yu was overjoyed and couldn't help but rub Lingdang's head and the base of her ears.

The bell, far from being resistant, even squinted its eyes comfortably and purred like a kitten.

Li Xian: "..."

Could this differential treatment be any more obvious?

After the meal, Li Yu took the initiative to clear the dishes (but Li Xian took over most of the work with his telekinesis).

Lingdang was having a great time playing in the living room with the new toy Li Yu had brought back (a smart plush ball that could light up and make sounds).

It chased the ball all over the house, its cat ears and tail swaying with its movements; it was incredibly lively.

Looking at this, Li Yu couldn't help but say to Li Xian:

"Brother, Lingdang is really cute. You...you really plan to keep her as a pet?"

"What else? Send it back?"

Li Xian slumped back onto the sofa, looking at Lingdang playing with the ball with a complicated expression.

"At least call me 'Dad'... even though most of the time it's just for food."

"She seems quite afraid of you, but she also likes to stick to you?" Li Yu observed.

"It's not that I'm afraid, it's that I can't beat them," Li Xian succinctly summarized, "plus, they're held hostage by my cooking skills."

Li Yu chuckled.

At this moment, Lingdang got tired of playing with the ball, hugged the ball, and snuggled up to Li Yu, tilting her little face up:

"Auntie, can I sleep with you tonight? I'll tell you... stories of my past adventures!"

She almost let it slip, and quickly corrected herself.

"OK."

Li Yu readily agreed, as she wanted to learn more about the child.

Li Xian glanced at him sideways: "Didn't someone say that it was impossible for him to sleep with someone else?"

Lingdang immediately made a face at him: "Hehehe, today I'm staying with Auntie! Old Deng, you can sleep on the sofa by yourself!"

After saying that, he quickly hid behind Li Yu, only showing half of his head and twitching cat ears, looking at Li Xian provocatively.

"Hey, you little ingrate..."

Li Xian pretended to get up and grab her.

With a soft "ya," she laughed and hid in Li Yu's arms.

Li Yu smiled and shielded her, saying to Li Xian, "Alright, brother, stop fooling around. Lingdang will sleep with me tonight."

Looking at the bell that was winking triumphantly at him from her sister's arms, Li Xian felt both annoyed and amused.

He found himself unable to handle this catgirl; he couldn't hit her or scold her (mainly because he couldn't bear to part with her).

I tried to scare her with a few words and then threatened her with food, and she actually fell for it.

Moreover, watching her transform from that filthy, pitiful refugee who kept talking about "ruling the world" into the vibrant person she is now, capable of being affectionate, picky about food, tattling (to him), and charming (to Li Yu), is truly remarkable.

The slight grumbling in Li Xian's mind caused by the "trouble" had long been replaced by a strange sense of satisfaction.

Maybe raising a child (even a chuunibyou cat-eared loli) isn't so bad?

At least, life has become much more "fun," like now—

"Bell! Did you use my toothbrush to sharpen your teeth again?!"

Li Xian's shout came from the bathroom.

"It wasn't me! It was Fat Orange!"

In the living room, Bell didn't hesitate to shift the blame to the fat orange cat who was licking its fur.

Fat orange cat: "Meow?! (Translation: What's it to me! Do I even use an electric toothbrush?!)"

"You dare to frame Fatty Orange? There's really no pudding tonight!"

"...I'm sorry."

He backed down in a second.

Looking at this chaotic yet lively daily life, Li Yu finally felt completely at ease.

My brother is still the same lazy brother, but he seems to have gained a different sense of responsibility and vitality.

This home seems to have truly changed because of the arrival of the bell; it's more lively, warmer, and... more interesting.

As for the mysterious origin of the bell and that amazing sequence 004?

Li Yu was unaware of this for the time being, and Li Xian did not intend to say anything.

Let it remain a sweet yet slightly hot secret within this little family.

Anyway, there's plenty of time, and there's enough pudding.

The cat-eared loli's grand plan to "conquer the world" is destined to be indefinitely postponed due to the culinary skills and "suppression" of a certain salty-faced "old man"...