Chapter 175: A Home-Cooked Meal III

"Food is ready. Now who’s hungry?"

A chorus of eager agreements immediately filled the kitchen.

Amber and Zephyra didn’t need to be told twice, already eyeing the steaming platters of seared beef with hungry eyes.

Evren chuckled and walked over to the marble island where Calista was still sitting. He gently put his arms around her waist and lifted her down from the counter, holding her close against his chest.

Calista smiled softly, resting her head on his shoulder as he carried her over to the dining table.

He set her down comfortably at the head of the table, making sure she was sitting straight and supported. Outside the wide glass wall, the bright city lights of District 1 stretched out across the dark night sky.

Amber and Zephyra carried the platters and deep bowls over from the kitchen, setting them down on the table. The rich smell of seared beef, sizzling garlic, and hot herbal broth filled the entire room.

It smelled even better than the five-star restaurants downstairs in the shopping concourse.

"I’m not waiting for official ceremonial toasts," Amber said with a laugh, pulling out her chair.

She grabbed a thick piece of seared beef with her chopsticks and popped it straight into her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut in pure bliss as she let out a long, happy groan.

"Oh, that is unbelievable," Amber said, shaking her head. "Evren, the outside is super crispy and the inside literally melts like butter."

Beside her, Zephyra sat down and took a careful sip of the golden broth with her ceramic spoon. Her violet eyes went wide as the warm, soothing soup went down her throat. A gentle wave of warmth spread through her chest and down into her stomach, instantly refreshing her tired muscles.

"This is incredible," Zephyra said softly, looking at Evren in surprise. "The mana in this broth feels cleaner and lighter than high-grade healing potions."

"That’s because it was made with fresh ingredients and a lot of care," Evren said with an easy smile, pulling up a chair right next to Calista. "Eat as much as you want, there’s plenty for everyone."

Calista smiled, reaching out her hand toward the pair of chopsticks resting beside her bowl.

But before she could pick them up, Evren’s hand gently covered hers, smoothly taking the chopsticks instead.

Calista blinked, looking up at him in surprise. "Evren? I can hold them, my hands work fine."

"I know they do," Evren replied with a warm smile, picking up a tender piece of seared beef. He held it up and blew on it gently to cool it down. "I just want to feed you."

Calista’s breath caught, and a sudden blush rushed across her cheeks. Her heart fluttered in her chest like a trapped bird, overwhelmed by the gentleness in his voice.

She looked at the man sitting next to her. Evren was a powerful hunter who had bought an entire eighty-story skyscraper with liquid cash, commanded billions of dollars, and possessed power that made the empire’s highest councils respect him. Someone in his position would normally expect an army of servants to wait on him hand and foot.

Yet here he was, sitting in casual clothes beside her, patiently feeding her just to make her feel special.

A warm, sweet feeling spread through Calista’s chest. Opening her lips, she took the bite of beef from his chopsticks.

The meat was so tender it practically melted on her tongue, bursting with rich, savory flavor. The soothing mana inside the meat flowed down her throat, warming her chest and sending a relaxing wave down her spine.

It was easily the most delicious thing she had ever eaten.

As she swallowed, her vision blurred with tears. A single crystal tear slipped down her cheek, catching the dining room light.

Evren set the chopsticks down and picked up a clean napkin. With gentle care, he dabbed the tear from her cheek before resting his warm thumb lightly against her jaw.

"Hey," Evren asked softly, looking into her blue eyes. "What’s that tear for?"

"I’m just... so happy," Calista whispered, leaning her cheek into his warm palm. "I’ve never met anyone like you, Evren."

"You don’t need to get emotional over dinner, little alchemist," Evren said with a warm, reassuring smile. "You deserve to be taken care of."

Leaning forward, Evren pressed a soft, gentle kiss right onto the center of her forehead.

Calista closed her eyes as the warmth of his lips touched her skin. The kiss was gentle, respectful, and sweet, making her feel completely safe and deeply loved. She reached up with a hand, lightly holding his wrist to stay close to him.

Across the table, Amber smiled warmly, raising her glass of water toward them in a quiet cheer. Beside her, Zephyra watched with a peaceful smile, looking relaxed and happy for them.

When Evren pulled back, Calista’s face was glowing with a bright blush, and a beautiful smile lit up her face.

"Now come on," Evren said with a chuckle, picking up a spoon of the warm golden broth. "Let’s finish this before it gets cold."

Calista nodded quickly, happily opening her mouth to take the broth.

As she swallowed, glowing golden text quietly appeared in the corner of Evren’s vision:

[SPECIAL QUEST COMPLETED: A HOME-COOKED MEAL]

[OBJECTIVES MET: PREPARED S-RANK FEAST & NOURISHED HEROINES]

[REWARDS APPLIED:]

- HOUSEHOLD HARMONY: +10% (CURRENT HARMONY: 91% -> TRANSCENDENT RESONANCE REACHED)

- HEROINE RECOVERY BOOST: +50% PHYSICAL & MANA RECOVERY (PERMANENT BUFF APPLIED)

- RAID BLESSING: HOMESIDE AEGIS (30% FLAT DAMAGE REDUCTION ACTIVE ON NEXT RAID)

A gentle, golden wave of energy rolled out from Evren, passing through the dining room like a warm spring breeze.

Amber let out a relaxed sigh as all the soreness in her shoulders vanished, while Zephyra felt her mana flow faster and smoother. In Calista’s lower back, the stiff numbness around her spine softened even more under the warmth of the buff.

The rest of dinner was full of easy laughter and fun conversation. Amber took another three helpings of beef, raving about the garlic glaze, while Zephyra quietly finished two full bowls of the herbal broth.

They joked about each other’s habits, shared funny stories, and finished every single bite of food.

By the time they were done, the living room clock showed it was well past nine at night. Amber stretched her arms with a satisfied yawn, while Zephyra helped take the empty bowls back to the kitchen, loading them into the dishwasher.

Evren stood up and walked around the table to Calista. "Time for bed, little alchemist. You’ve had a long day."

"I really have," Calista admitted with a sleepy smile, raising her arms toward him.

Evren easily scooped her up, supporting her legs while she rested her head on his shoulder.

He carried her down the quiet hallway and into her private master suite. The soft bedroom lights turned on automatically as they entered, casting a cozy golden glow across the room.

He walked over to the large bed and gently laid her down against the soft pillows. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Evren slipped off her house slippers and placed them neatly by the nightstand. He pulled the soft blanket up over her, tucking it gently around her sides.

"Warm enough?" Evren asked in a quiet voice, brushing a loose silver-blue curl out of her face.

"It’s perfect," Calista said softly, her blue eyes full of peace. "Thank you, Evren. For dinner, and for everything."

"Get some good sleep," Evren whispered, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I’ll see you in the morning."

He turned on the warm nightlight beside her bed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. He walked back down the quiet hall to his own master suite, taking a deep breath of the fresh evening air coming through the open terrace doors.

Evren took off his shirt and lay down on his bed, looking up at the high ceiling. He closed his eyes, expecting to fall asleep right away after a long day.

Instead, his body was completely wide awake.

The rich mana from the S-Rank beef and herbs was rushing through his veins, boosted by the new fifty percent recovery buff. It felt like he had drank ten cups of espresso, and his muscles were humming with restless power.

Evren opened his eyes and laughed quietly to himself as he kicked off the sheets and swung his legs out of the bed. "There is no way I’m falling asleep like this."