Chapter 58: Exploring the house

The next morning, Kai woke earlier than usual.

Perhaps it was the food he had been eating lately, his increased mana, or something else entirely, but he no longer felt as tired as he used to. In the past, he had drifted through his days without even knowing what time it was, simply dragging himself from one hour to the next and waiting for the day to end.

Now, when he checked the time, he was almost surprised to see that it was only half past seven.

He slowly stretched his arms before looking down at Elara first.

She had woken up sometime during the night, but Jean had taken care of her before the baby eventually fell asleep again. Kai had woken up as well, though by then Jean had more or less finished changing her diaper, leaving him with little to do.

And now, Jean was sleeping soundly beside Elara.

Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted as she breathed quietly in her sleep.

Kai faintly smiled at the sight of the two sleeping angels before deciding to inspect the house.

He quietly slipped out of the room and headed outside, starting with the kitchen.

’Hmm. The basics are here, but I’ll need to buy quite a few more things.’

With his S-rank Cooking class, Kai had begun to notice how many small conveniences could make everyday life easier. A kettle, microwave, coffee machine, and several other appliances would certainly come in handy.

He had once been perfectly content surviving on tea bags and whatever food required the least effort. But now that he had the money, why not spend some of it on things that would actually improve their lives?

’Speaking of money, I should probably open another account and distribute the funds.’

Keeping so much money in a single account, especially with a bank he did not entirely trust, was hardly safe.

He also wanted Jean to have an account of her own, perhaps even a shared one they could both access. But there was always the possibility that her family could track her through her banking records.

A phone wallet seemed safer for now. She could have access to her own money without needing a traditional bank account.

’Though I’ll need to get the limit increased.’

That would require contacting customer support, which was yet another thing he would have to deal with later.

For now, Kai turned his attention back to the kitchen.

He checked the refrigerator and discovered that it was not working.

He plugged it in and decided to leave it running for a while. There was no point worrying about it until he actually had something to fill it with.

He made a mental list of what they needed and decided to order a few necessities online, including rice, eggs, and other staples. Fresh fruits and vegetables, however, were better bought in person, so he would stop by a convenience store for those.

’So many things to buy.’

Kai sighed inwardly before getting started. He climbed the stairs to inspect the upper floor as well, already wondering how much more work the house would require.

The upper floor had two rooms and a small storage area. There was also a cabinet built into the ceiling, which most likely provided access to the attic.

Kai checked the attic and realized there was enough space here to not need the extra storage room.

Then, he checked each room and noticed that the two bedrooms faced opposite sides of the house. One of them offered a clear view of the rising sun.

"Haah... this is nice."

Kai faintly smiled as he slid the window open. Golden sunlight poured into the room, bathing everything in a warm glow. He closed his eyes and simply stood there for a few seconds, letting the gentle morning warmth wash over him.

When he looked down, he spotted a few people passing by. Some wore sportswear as they jogged along the street, seemingly absorbed in their morning routines. Not a single one of them even glanced toward the house.

They were busy with their own lives.

Kai found himself appreciating that more than he expected. There was something comforting about living in a neighborhood where people minded their own business.

’Though, should I go and introduce myself to the neighbors?’

He had heard that people in high society often greeted their neighbors after moving into a new home. Some even invited them over for a housewarming gathering.

’Dunno...’

He would discuss it with Jean first. She might not be comfortable with having strangers over, especially considering once they saw her face there was a chance they might recognize her.

Kai finished ordering the things they needed and discovered that the online store operated within the same community, meaning the delivery would not take long.

When he finally returned downstairs, however, he was greeted by a rather strange sight.

"Jean?"

The woman, who had her head pressed against the refrigerator, suddenly flinched.

Kai approached her with a puzzled expression. "What happened?"

Jean looked half-asleep, her hair sticking out in every direction.

"I was thirsty and came looking for some water..." she mumbled. "But there wasn’t any, so I dozed off."

Hearing her mumble through her bed hair, Kai found the sight unbearably adorable.

He smiled, placed his hands gently on her shoulders, and guided her toward the couch.

"Sit here. I’ll bring it for you."

"Oh..."

Jean raised her head as though she wanted to say something, but Kai had already walked away.

He first rinsed the disposable glass they had been provided before filling it with water.

Seriously, they needed to go shopping soon.

"Thank you..."

Jean muttered her thanks as she accepted the glass and slowly drank the water.

Kai sat beside her, leaving a comfortable distance between them.

"Did you sleep well?"

Jean slowly nodded.

"The bed is comfortable..." she murmured under her breath. "A little too comfortable."

Kai chuckled. "If you want, you can sleep a little longer."

Jean shook her head.

"There is so much to do..."

"Not anything we can’t start doing in the afternoon." Kai urged her gently. "Now, go back and sleep. I’ll head out to shop in a bit and prepare breakfast."

As Kai guided her back toward the bedroom with his hands on her shoulders, Jean mumbled, "Elli would be so disappointed in her mama... making her dad do all the work."

Kai grinned.

"Well, it’s alright to relax once in a while. And besides, this is nothing." He had no work in particular at the moment and he was actually enjoying cooking these days. So yes, this was nothing to mention.

Once she was tucked beneath the blanket, Jean peeked out at him.

"I’m warning you again... don’t spoil me too much."

Kai rested a hand gently on her head, unable to resist how adorable she looked.

"If you allow me, there’s a whole lot I want to do. But I’m taking baby steps for now."

The tips of Jean’s ears turned red.

She immediately pulled the blanket over her head, and her muffled voice reached him from underneath.

"Be safe on your way."

°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.