The BBQ restaurant stood out with its flashy neon sign, visible from a distance. Its large premises dwarfed the adjacent stores, making them look almost pitiful in comparison.

When Lin Ge followed the navigation to the entrance, his jaw dropped in awe.

“Wow, so many people!”

The image of a densely populated dining area was a sharp contrast to the deserted woods he had just passed through. The place was bustling with energy, so much so that stainless-steel tables spilled out onto the sidewalk to accommodate the crowd.

Most of the diners were burly men dressed in similar navy-blue work uniforms, creating an atmosphere that resembled a company gathering. That’s when Lin Ge remembered—there was a chemical plant nearby.

“Gulp.”

The overpowering aroma of grilled meats hit him, and he swallowed his saliva.

This… this is the life ghosts should be living!

After scanning the outdoor tables and finding no sign of that dazzling white-haired man, he stepped inside.

“Over here,” Gojo Satoru called, standing up and waving.

The indoor dining area was significantly better than outside, equipped with silent smoke extractors, built-in grills, high tables, and chairs. The lighting created a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

Lin Ge made his way over, curiosity bubbling inside. “Did you arrive early?”

He felt a little guilty. After all, he had invited Gojo Satoru out and ended up making him wait.

While speaking, Lin Ge discreetly examined him.

—Another outfit change.

The sunglasses were different, too—slightly lighter than the ones from earlier in the day.

Overall, Gojo Satoru looked so stunning it was almost surreal, practically the pinnacle of attractiveness.

His looks could rival the colleagues back at Honmaru.

Since his transmigration, apart from himself and that cab driver, Lin Ge had yet to meet anyone who fell below the “normal” attractiveness threshold. His eyes were getting spoiled by all this beauty.

A feast for a face-lover like him!

Gojo Satoru shook his head. “I paid the people who were sitting here 20,000 yen to leave.”

Lin Ge: ”…”

How much?! You said how much?!

He quickly converted the amount in his head. Around 1,000 yuan?

That’s roughly the equivalent of him and that cab driver putting on twenty separate crazy stunts together!

This was his first time witnessing someone casually paying money to secure a table. Internally, Lin Ge was marveling.

Damn, I’ve encountered a real young master.

Sure, he had plenty of koban coins back at Honmaru, along with his booming agricultural empire, but as someone who had been poor all his life, Lin Ge’s mindset couldn’t catch up to this level of extravagance just yet.

“Does your family need a dog?” he asked before realizing.

Gojo Satoru: ”?”

Lin Ge awkwardly smiled. “Just kidding.”

Gojo Satoru: ”…Is that so.”

He stared at Lin Ge, who was now furiously filling out the order form as though it were a test with only one minute left.

Gojo’s Six Eyes easily captured the numbers Lin Ge jotted down. Each skewer’s quantity seemed to have an extra zero, except for…

“Why didn’t you order beef?” Gojo asked, feigning casual curiosity. “Is it a belief thing, or are you allergic?”

Lin Ge cleared his throat. Under Gojo’s puzzled gaze, he lowered his voice and spoke with a mysterious air, as if ten bottles of carbonated water were bubbling in his throat:

“I don’t eat beef.”

There. He’d said it!

It felt amazing!

No longer just a nobody replying in Xianyu comment sections, Lin Ge had successfully flexed in real life!

Gojo Satoru, however, easily saw through him. Resting his chin on his hand, he hummed noncommittally and didn’t expose the lie. “Do you want beer?”

“Of course!” Lin Ge eagerly nodded. Beer—glorious barley juice!

The last time he had it was… well, a long time ago.

“Are you drinking too?” Lin Ge asked.

Gojo Satoru shook his head. “Not a fan.”

By the time the table was cluttered with metal skewers, the server had already cleared them three times. Even the restaurant owner abandoned his duties, stepping outside for a smoke while wondering just how much this guy could eat.

A skinny competitive eater was a rare sight indeed.

With cup after cup of beer downed, Lin Ge was thoroughly enjoying himself. His face was flushed, and the sharpness of his features had softened considerably.

Gojo Satoru suddenly spoke. “I saw something interesting on the way here.”

Lin Ge blinked slowly, staring at the stunning white-haired man. “What?”

He smells so good. Just one bite. One little bite! What’s the harm in one bite? He won’t kill me, right?

Lin Ge licked his lips. The beer had clearly muddled his sense of direction.

“I saw you swallow a purple monster whole,” Gojo said, his tone casual. “How did you manage that? Is it the same ability that makes you eat endlessly without getting full?”

He said this with deliberate malice, curious to see how Lin Ge would react.

Would he panic? Deny it? Or just avoid the topic entirely?

Under Gojo’s focused gaze, Lin Ge hesitated for a few seconds before sheepishly scratching his head. “Oh, do you think I looked cool?”

Gojo Satoru: ”…”

Huh. Not the answer he expected.

“…Yeah.” He nodded.

Lin Ge’s eyes lit up. “Great!”

Then, with a serious tone, he asked, “Were you scared? Of that monster?”

This time, Gojo Satoru genuinely laughed.

Scared? Him? Fear was an emotion that didn’t exist in his vocabulary—never before and never in the future.

But he didn’t say that. Instead, he teased, “A little.”

Lin Ge wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Gojo…-kun?” He struggled with the unfamiliar Japanese honorific.

Gojo Satoru set his glass down, his smile softening. “Just call me Satoru.”

Lin Ge seized the opportunity like a climbing vine: “Satoru.”

Then, ignoring Gojo’s startled and slightly resistant expression, he reached across the table and grabbed his hand. With solemn eyes, he declared:

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

Strawberry Shortcake, no one is allowed to lay a finger on you but me! Not even yogurt-twisted fritters! If anyone dares to beat me to it, I’ll destroy them! I haven’t even had a bite yet—don’t they know first-come-first-serve?!”

Gojo Satoru: ”…”

“Protect.”

What an amusing word.

His gaze drifted to their intertwined hands. He didn’t pull away, nor did he speak.

After Lin Ge paid the bill, the cold night breeze outside cleared his slightly tipsy mind.

Looking at the white-haired man standing beside him in the chill, Lin Ge thought about how he had claimed to be frightened of the History Retrograding Army soldier. Brushing his wind-tousled hair back into place, Lin Ge beamed:

“Let me walk you home!”

After all, even guys needed to stay safe out at night—especially handsome ones scared of monsters.

Gojo Satoru chuckled and refused politely. “No need. The place I’m staying is nearby.”

Hearing him mention “temporary,” Lin Ge asked, “Are you here on a trip?”

Gojo Satoru shook his head. “I’m here to pick up a student.”

Lin Ge gasped. “You’re a teacher?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lin Ge gazed at him in admiration. “That’s amazing! It must’ve been really tough to pass the teaching exam.”

So good-looking and studious—what a combo!

Gojo Satoru: ”…”

What a conversation killer.

Lin Ge, oblivious, pressed on. “Which school do you teach at?”

“Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College.”

Lin Ge scratched his chin. “Sounds like a vocational school. Bet it pays well!

“Magic, huh? Do you know any spells?”

He grinned, half-joking.

Gojo Satoru: ”…I know jujutsu.”

Lin Ge burst into laughter. “You’re funny, too! Super handsome Gojo-sensei, sitting in a corner, drawing curses on the floor?”

Their chatter carried them into the wooded area where Lin Ge had encountered the History Retrograding Army soldier.

The streetlight above them flickered ominously before fizzing out with a loud “pop!”

Suddenly, a grotesque creature resembling a fathead fish appeared, coiled around the lamp post. Its dozens of eyes gleamed with greed as it eyed its unsuspecting prey.

Its elongated body bristled with mouths of varying sizes, and it had an unnervingly distorted appearance.

Gojo Satoru had sensed its cursed energy the moment they entered the area. Lowering his gaze, he observed Lin Ge with growing curiosity.

Would he swallow this one whole too?

Hearing the noise above, Lin Ge looked up, locking eyes with the cursed spirit.

The fathead fish spirit: ”…”

Hello, uh, bro?

Lin Ge: ”…”

Ew, so ugly!

Even though it smelled vaguely like spicy squid, its appearance was so repulsive it tanked his sanity points.

He grabbed Gojo’s hand, determined to run.

Allowing himself to be led, Gojo Satoru mused silently. Running away, huh?

But the cursed spirit wasn’t about to let its prey escape.

Boom!

The spirit leapt from the lamppost, its massive weight sending debris flying as it landed.

The veil of cursed energy descended silently, concealing their battle from the outside world.

The fathead fish spirit, lacking limbs, opened its horrifying maw full of jagged teeth. From its throat, countless purple tendrils tipped with green barbs shot forth, aiming for the fleeing duo.

The spirit emitted an ear-piercing screech.

Lin Ge could somehow understand its words: “Don’t run, bro!”

Wait, why can I understand this ugly thing?! Is it because we’re both ugly?! No, I don’t want this ability!

Weaving skillfully through the tendrils, Lin Ge’s agility once again proved extraordinary. Despite his dexterity, he showed no signs of preparing to fight back.

Growing bored, Gojo sighed. It was time to end this.

Lifting a finger, he whispered: “Ao.”

A radiant blue energy obliterated the cursed spirit in an instant, leaving nothing but residual light.

The aftermath sent his hair flying back, revealing his flawless forehead and sharp features—a powerful and mesmerizing sight.

Lin Ge: ”…”

You actually know magic?!