Apprentice Succubus Hunting Notes

"Soften the butter, add flour, sugar, and beat; then, add egg, beat again..."

Josh was facing the recipe, chanting words in his mouth, and being careful with his hands.

He is making cookies.

This is a very important cookie!It has to be very tasty!

While helping him preheat the oven in advance, Han Tian asked, "You really don't need my help?"

Josh didn't even raise his head: "No, no, no! I can do it!"

These words are not trying to be brave.

For some reason, after being discharged from the hospital this time, Josh felt that his ability to make desserts had improved dramatically.

Basically, as long as he strictly followed the recipe, he could make a dessert that tasted good, and there was no such tragic accident of baking a big black unknown garbage.

So, this time, as a gift to Han Tian's "grandpa", Josh chose to bake a box of cookies by himself.

As for why the "meeting ceremony" was prepared, we have to start from two days ago.

When Han Tian told him that the "parents" of their family wanted to meet him, Josh felt his jaw drop, and he didn't understand why and what he needed to do.

While eating, he looked at Han Tian's calm and composed expression, organized his words for a long time, and finally found a topic as a foreshadowing: "Han Tian, ​​I heard from Lorraine before that you haven't contacted your family for a long time, why? Have your parents contacted you again?"

"Huh?" Han Tian said casually while helping Josh serve the porridge, "It's not my parents, it's my grandpa. He has always been in touch with me."

Oh, like this.

But this is not the key!

Josh looked at the porridge handed over by Han Tian, ​​took two deep breaths, and finally asked what he wanted to ask the most: "Uh, why, your grandpa, would you want to see me?"

Han Tian said nonchalantly: "Is there any reason for this? I told him, I've been living with you for almost a month now, and it's normal for him to want to see this cohabitant, right?"

"Same... cohabitant...?" Josh's face was flushed red before the porridge was in his mouth.

He bit his lip, and pointed out cautiously: "Uh, it seems that the word 'cohabitant' can't be used casually?"

Han Tian looked up at him, his clear eyes were full of doubts: "Oh? But don't we live together? You don't like this word? Then change it to 'living together'?"

Josh lowered his eyes and whispered, "It's not about the wording..."

"What's the problem?" Han Tian humbly asked.

Feeling completely speechless, Josh threw a shrimp dumpling into his mouth and muttered, "Forget it, there's nothing wrong with it."

After he was discharged from the hospital, he took advantage of the cold weather to take a shower, and secretly called the only human being who could ask for advice, Sangsang.

"Josh?" Sangsang's voice sounded very happy, but the background was a bit noisy, "What's the matter? My friend and I are at the hot spring hotel. Let me tell you, the hot spring hotel is really comfortable, soak in the hot spring and then have a meal The hot seafood pot is so delicious. You and Dr. Han must come and try it when you are free..."

Josh, who had something on his mind, interrupted Sangsang's travel experience a little embarrassedly: "Ahem, actually, Sangsang, I have something to ask you..."

"Huh...? Hehehe, is it about your friend again?" Sangsang lowered her voice and laughed mysteriously.

"Well..." Josh admitted honestly, and then said, "Just two days ago, a friend of this friend suddenly asked that his parents wanted to meet this friend..."

Before Josh finished speaking, he heard Sangsang screaming "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" on the other end of the phone, so scared that he couldn't help but move the phone farther away.

After the call over there was over, Josh moved the phone back to his ear and asked in a daze, "What happened to you just now?"

"Oh," Sangsang tried to suppress a smile, "Just now, I saw a frog jumping out of the hot spring. I was really surprised."

ha?In the hot spring, a frog jumped out?How dull is this frog?That was surprising enough.

While expressing his understanding, Josh continued: "I just want to ask, uh, for friends who are relatively close and live together, is it common for parents to want to take a look at this friend?"

"It's common! It's too common!" Sangsang said decisively, and gave him many examples in one breath: "When I first graduated, I rented a house with someone, and my parents even invited that young lady to come with me. After dinner, ask her to take care of me; also, my classmate is the same, and my classmate's classmate is also..."

Oh, I see.

It turned out to be a normal operation in the human world.

Josh was a little relieved.

"Then... I have another question. What about my friend, I don't want to leave a bad impression on the parents. Is there anything I need to remind him?" Josh continued to ask.

"Well...well..." Sangsang pondered for a while, and said, "Let your friend prepare a very thoughtful gift. I guess, this parent should also be a wealthy family, the kind that has everything at home." ?”

Josh took the phone and nodded: "Yeah, yes."

"Then, you can try the handicrafts made by yourself, or small biscuits, small cakes, etc. These things, for the daughter-in-law who came to the house for the first time... Ah bah, for the occasion of meeting friends and parents. I really appreciate it." Sangsang said affirmatively.

"Oh..." Josh thought for a while, and agreed: "Well, it makes sense!"

Next, Sangsang gave some nagging instructions to see the precautions of "friends and parents", and then hung up the phone contentedly.

However, the moment he hung up the phone, Josh seemed to hear Sangsang's screaming over there again.

Did the frog come out again?What kind of hot spring is this!

In this way, Josh accepted Sangsang's suggestion, carefully baked a batch of cookies, and then packed them in an exquisite box as a gift for grandpa.

On Wednesday morning, the two of them took the cookies and set off for Yuncheng where Grandpa Hantian was.

Yuncheng is not too far from Haicheng, and it is also by the sea. It takes about 5 hours to drive.

Originally, Josh suggested that the two of them should take turns driving, but Han Tian said that he was worried that he would fall asleep while driving.So Han Tian was the only driver for the whole journey.

At first, the large golden wheat fields along the expressway, the sparkling ponds, and the big white geese swimming around were all novelties in Josh's eyes, and he was amazed when he saw them.

However, after driving half the distance, he was already a little tired.

He turned his head to look at Han Tian, ​​who had been concentrating on driving, and wanted to chat with him, but worried that it would distract him.

After swiping his phone for a while and wiggling around in his seat for a while, he leaned his head against the window.

"Bored? Sleep for a while?" Han Tian spoke first.

"No, I'm not sleepy." Josh shook his head.

"Then, listen to something casually?" Han Tian said as he clicked on the radio on the car screen with his hands free.

It was supposed to be a talk show on the radio.First, a beautiful and cheerful tune was played, and then two hosts, a man and a woman, were chatting.

For this kind of program, Josh used to treat it as "learning material".

But now, he always felt that he didn't need to study so hard anymore, so he just raised his head and listened to each other.

The theme of this dialogue show seems to be discussing the precautions for lovers to go to each other's house for the first time.The male host inside vividly recalled how nervous he was when he went to his girlfriend's house for the first time.Including what gifts to bring, how to say hello when you enter the door, whether you should help the aunt clear the table after the meal or chat with the uncle, all of which made him think for a long time.

Hearing this, Josh couldn't help but frowned, and said, "Why is it so troublesome?"

"Huh?" Han Tian replied casually: "This is also normal. Generally speaking, lovers have a very stable relationship, and when they want to spend the rest of their lives together, they will visit their parents, hoping to get the favor of their elders." Recognition and blessing. So, being a little bit more nervous, a little bit more prepared, is pretty common."

Oh, you humans are so particular about things.Josh sighed disapprovingly, and at the same time rejoiced secretly: Fortunately, it is only because Han Tian's grandpa cares about Han Tian and wants to see me, otherwise I would be so nervous.

It's just... why are these precautions similar to what Sangsang told her?

Thinking of this, he hesitated for a long time, and finally asked hesitantly: "Well... so, if it's just two people who are going to start a relationship, usually there is no need to meet the elders of both parties in advance, right?"

"Huh?" Han Tian laughed: "No need. In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't see each other at all. Love is a matter between two people, and it has nothing to do with other people's opinions."

Oh, all right.

Josh was relieved.

After all, for a demon, if he is interested in another demon and wants to do something like this together, he has to go directly to ask for the other party's consent. Why do we need so many troublesome etiquettes?

However, according to human rules, if Han Tian is willing to fall in love with me and stay with me all the time, then I will ask his parents again and ask them to rest assured that Han Tian will be handed over to me—Josh see Watching the trees and grass along the road back quickly, I made up my mind secretly.

After driving for another 3 hours, Han Tian walked along the seaside road in Yuncheng and onto Panshan Road.After passing through a courtyard gate that automatically recognizes the license plate, he drove around the mountain road for nearly 10 minutes, finally reached the top of the mountain, and stopped in front of a white villa.

Josh jumped out of the car, and couldn't help looking into the distance—at the foot of the mountain, there was the blue sea, and the end of the sea seemed to be connected with the sky, and a cruise ship slowly passed by the horizon.

The temperature in Yuncheng is higher than that in Haicheng, but it is already November after all, and the wind on the top of the mountain is still a bit cool. Josh looked at the big white boat for a while, and was actually blown by the wind and sneezed.

Han Tian put his arms around his shoulders and said, "We'll see when we add some clothes. Let's go in first."

Josh quickly followed him up the steps, watching Han Tian push the door open.

He had thought that there would be several housekeepers and aunts in this house, but in the end, the hall was empty and very quiet, only the crystal lamp hanging from the ceiling tinkled from time to time.

Han Tian looked at his black watch, with a slightly embarrassed look on his face, and said to Josh: "Grandpa said that he is waiting for us to eat in the backyard."

"Oh, ok." Josh then followed Han Tian, ​​walked through the hall, passed a corridor, and pushed open a door leading to the backyard.

In Josh's vision, since Han Tian is a child of a "rich family", and the house is elegant enough, then, this lunch should probably be a tablecloth with knives and forks on a white tablecloth, followed by servants wearing bow ties. Man, serving dish after dish on a warm plate—

He never expected that in this kind of yard full of plane bells and frangipanis, there would be a big round table with a hot pot on it.

Moreover, it is also a half red and half white mandarin duck pot.

And beside the table, with his back to them, stood a man with a straight back and gray hair, who seemed to be studying when the water in the pot would boil.

After seeing this person's back, Han Tian showed embarrassment again and coughed lightly.

Then the man turned around with a bang, with a very hearty smile, and his voice sounded a little old: "Hey, you are here! I wanted to pick you up at the door, but I wanted to put the pot on the stand first, and I can do it when you arrive." Let's eat."

Before Josh could speak, Han Tian said faintly: "You can't wait to eat it..."

The other party laughed and didn't answer Han Tian's words, but strode up to Josh and stretched out his hand: "Josh? Hello, I finally see you."

His appearance is somewhat similar to Han Tian's, he is about 60 years old, and there are many wrinkles in the corners of his eyes, but his eyes are very bright, with a smile in his eyes.

Josh quickly stretched out his hand, and greeted him as politely and elegantly as possible: "Grandpa is good."

The man was obviously taken aback for a moment, and then he laughed again, beckoning Josh to sit down while smiling.

Josh put the biscuit box on the table and said obediently, "Grandpa, these are the cookies I baked myself, I'll try them for you."

Grandpa was taken aback again, and praised: "You know how to bake biscuits?" He opened the box without notice, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

After eating, he clicked his tongue and sighed: "It's not bad, it's almost the same taste as Han Tian."

Um?Josh always felt a little weird when he heard this sentence-is this a compliment for my good job?It seems to be, and it seems not to be.

At this time, the soup in the pot had already started to roll.Han Tian stood up and set up the dishes for the two of them.

Grandpa picked up a large roll of beef with serving chopsticks, put it into the tumbling red soup, and looked at Josh with a smile: "I heard from Han Tian that you don't eat spicy food?"

Josh blinked blankly: "Ah, don't eat."

Grandpa put another roll of beef into the clear soup, with regret on his face: "It's good to eat spicy food. Spicy is the most memorable and richest taste in the world. I usually have nothing to eat, so I finally came here Once, every time you have to eat a few hot pot meals, the hottest one is the only way to have a little fun.”

"Oh..." Josh looked at the tumbling red liquid and the large handful of peppercorns floating in it, not knowing how to respond.

"So, you really don't want to try it?" Grandpa scooped up a piece of boiled beef from the red pot, and looked at Josh almost eagerly.

Feeling deeply that he couldn't refuse, Josh reluctantly said, "Then... also, okay..."

While enjoying himself, Grandpa fished out the beef with serving chopsticks and put it into Josh's bowl.

Josh lowered his head, shivered, and bit the bullet——

Whoa, what is this!My mouth is about to burst into flames!My throat hurts too!

Josh, who was blushing from choking, had to turn around, covered his mouth and coughed earth-shatteringly.

"Don't tease him like that." Han Tian looked at "Grandpa" helplessly, and kept following Josh.When Josh's cough subsided, he poured another glass of ice water and handed it over.

As for the remaining piece of beef in Josh's bowl, Han Tian put it in his own bowl very naturally, and ate it without frowning.

For the next whole meal, Josh ate the vegetables and meat cooked by Han Tian for him. Of course, they were all non-spicy.

It was already an hour after the hot pot meal was finished, or in other words, when Grandpa finally put down his chopsticks with satisfaction.

Grandpa stretched his waist and said to Josh: "Come on, I'll take you to see my paintings."

Although Josh didn't know why, he still nodded obediently, but took a peek at Han Tian.

Han Tian didn't avoid people either, just smiled at him and said, "Go, I'll clean up here."

Josh was a little embarrassed now, so he could only follow behind the old man, thinking that it was fortunate that his grandpa could not see his blushing.

Josh thought that the two of them would go to the big house, into a collection room or something, but in the end, grandpa led him directly to another corner of the garden.

This corner is almost the edge of the top of the mountain, and it is another good place to look at the horizon.

However, what is more eye-catching than the horizon is an easel on the dark green grass, with a watercolor on it.

Josh could tell at a glance that the watercolor was the sea seen from here.It's just that the color of the sea is more transparent, probably drawn when the weather is extremely clear.

Grandpa said he wanted to show him the painting, but he didn't introduce the painting to him. He just asked him, "Haven't you seen the sea before?"

"Yeah." Josh replied honestly, "However, I have been to the aquarium, and Han Tian took me there."

Grandpa smiled, and asked again: "I heard from Han Tian that you will go to the orphanage to tell stories to the children?"

"Yeah." Josh nodded again, "But I haven't been there many times, so I only told "Andersen's Fairy Tales". By the way, Han Tian even bought a copy for me."

Grandpa looked past the painting in front of him, drifted to the sea in the distance, and continued to ask: "Then you must have read "The Daughter of the Sea"?"

Josh said, "Read it. However, I don't really like the story."

Grandpa's eyes returned to Josh's face.

This time, the old man's gaze was fierce, and even his tone of voice changed: "Since you have read it, tell me, if you were that mermaid, would you choose to kill the prince in exchange for his soul? "

Josh was startled by the majestic voice of the old man, but he still stood up straight, and blurted out: "I won't—huh?"

He clearly remembered that just over a month ago, when he saw this story for the first time, what he said to Han Tian was why the mermaid didn't kill the prince and let himself live.

Why, my first reaction now is that the mermaid won't kill the prince?

The old man naturally noticed his hesitation, and asked, "Why, this answer surprised you?"

Josh was stared at by the old man's sharp eyes that seemed to see everything. He had a feeling that "it can't be hidden at all", so he could only say what he thought at the time.

After listening to Josh's words, the old man's gaze softened slightly, and he said, "Then why do you think that the mermaid princess won't kill the prince?"

A confused look appeared on Josh's face, and his eyes became blank: "I also...don't know. But...I remember, Han Tian said, the mermaid princess chose love instead of life—so, maybe, facing A person who truly loves, probably wants the other person to live even at the cost of his own life? I don’t really understand, but... I think, if it were me, I would definitely... hope that he can live... "

Josh didn't notice that when he said these words, everything around him was still.

The insects and birds no longer chirped, and the leaves no longer rippled.The sea water stopped undulating.The wind stopped blowing.

The whole world seemed to stand still for a second.

There is only one "person" exception.

The old man in white in front of him walked up to Josh, and tapped him lightly on his forehead.

It's just that Josh didn't know anything about it.

When Josh came back to his senses, what he saw was that the old man was holding a pen and was outlining a cruise ship on the sea. At the same time, he smiled and said to Josh: "Let Han Tian make some black tea, wait a minute, we Let's have an afternoon tea here, just in time to eat your biscuits."

Josh responded cheerfully, turned and left.

Only the old man was left standing in front of the easel with a dignified expression, painting heavily on the canvas.

The author has something to say: Frog: croak.I'm almost cooked.croak.