Chapter 7: Another SSR
When Luca returned to the living room, Matilda was already comfortably settled on the sofa, having taken the liberty to turn on his brand-new big color TV, watching a Spider-Man cartoon.
Seeing Luca approach, Matilda came forward holding some snacks. “Luca, I made these myself. Want to try some?”
“Oh, thank you. I was just wondering what dessert to have after dinner. Now I don’t have to worry.”
Luca smiled as he took the bag, cupping the bottom with his palm. It was still warm, as if just freshly baked.
Inside were some cookies and biscuits shaped like cute cartoon animals, emitting a rich milky aroma.
Matilda showed a satisfied smile.
She noticed the apron tied around Luca’s waist and asked curiously, “Are you making dinner?”
“Yes, I’m cooking Chinese food.”
“Chinese food?” Matilda blinked in surprise.
“Come and try it with me. I promise it’s more authentic than any Chinese restaurant outside!”
In fact, it truly was authentic.
And what does authentic Sichuan cuisine taste like?
Simply put, when Matilda saw the plate piled high with chili peppers, her face turned pale.
Do Chinese really eat this? Isn’t it unbearably spicy?
In the end, Matilda, who preferred sweeter flavors, was almost brought to tears by the heat. She had to drink milk after every bite, constantly blowing on her mouth, which was swollen and numb afterward.
It was like an electric shock.
Luca wasn’t faring much better; he kept drinking water to ease the burn.
This body wasn’t very tolerant of spice, not as resilient as in his previous life. But if he used less chili, he felt uncomfortable all over.
The two of them, one big and one small, ate until they were drenched in sweat. Seeing each other’s miserable looks, they both broke into amused smiles.
“You clearly can’t handle spicy food, yet you put so many chilies in!”
“That’s not important. The key is authenticity. My cooking skills are enough to open a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.”
“It’s too spicy. No one but Chinese people can stand it. Your restaurant will go bankrupt,”
Matilda teased before smiling gently, “Although it’s very spicy, I like this kind of dining atmosphere. It’s invigorating!”
...
While Luca cleaned up the table, Matilda returned to the TV, watching some of the popular cartoons of the time, such as the Transformers series and Marvel and DC superheroes.
After glancing at the TV and then at the busy Luca, her eyes flickered with curiosity and suspicion.
Why was this new neighbor being so kind to her? She was clearly someone no one cared about...
Nobody cared about her at school, nobody at home. She had always been alone, unnoticed.
Before Luca moved in, only her little brother had ever hugged her and shown kindness.
Matilda instinctively sensed that Luca had some hidden agenda but felt no malice from him.
At that moment, the TV showed Spider-Man fighting crime, rooting out evil.
“Luca, what kind of work do you do?”
“Community manager.”
“???”
...
Matilda didn’t believe him. “Luca, you’re not ordinary, are you? You’re very skilled. When you threatened that jerk, my father, you were so calm, not even blinking. You remind me of my father’s gang friends... no, you’re even more formidable than them.”
Matilda knew exactly what her father was involved in; there was a small drug workshop at home. She even knew where her father hid the drugs.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m just a helpful neighbor,” Luca smiled.
“Okay.”
Matilda obediently kept quiet.
After a long pause,
“Luca, you’re a good person,” Matilda said seriously. “People who like to meddle usually aren’t bad.”
Luca: “......”
...
When Luca was about to escort Matilda home, he was pondering what reasonable excuse to make to get inside her house. But before he could say anything, Isa, now dressed in a sexy short skirt, invited Luca in herself, saying she had prepared a small party to welcome the new neighbor.
Alright, America, parties every day... Luca gladly accepted.
Under Matilda’s disdainful gaze, Isa swayed her hips and dragged Luca into the living room, where drinks, alcohol, snacks, flour, and pastries were all laid out.
They even played Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” creating a loud and lively atmosphere.
Luca didn’t partake in those things; he didn’t even drink strangers’ alcohol, only sipping the drinks Matilda handed him.
This blatant double standard made Matilda laugh happily and left Isa feeling even more resentful.
Could it be that this handsome guy preferred my sister’s plain style?
Luca ignored Isa’s teasing and suggestive glances and focused on secretly installing listening devices.
Norman wasn’t home today; otherwise, Isa wouldn’t dare throw a party. This rare opportunity had to be seized. Luca stealthily placed listening devices in all the hidden corners.
He even used the pretense of going to the bathroom to install one in there.
They were all miniature bugging devices, high-end models sourced from the Continental Hotel, costing Luca one gold coin—a universal currency at the Continental Hotel and a mainstream currency in the underground assassin world.
Having money didn’t guarantee service at the Continental Hotel, but possessing gold coins certainly did.
Intelligence, medical aid, weapons, corpse disposal... all assassin services were available.
Luca loved the Continental Hotel; the people there spoke kindly, each a talent. The hotel was nicknamed the “Peace Hotel,” emphasizing harmony and forbidding killing inside.
This aligned perfectly with Luca’s philosophy.
Opening a Continental Hotel was one of his goals.
...
After easily and happily finishing the bug installation, Luca lingered a while longer before leaving amid Isa’s reluctant gazes.
Although Luca was a bit of a mess when he woke up, he wasn’t indiscriminate. Isa wasn’t attractive, and since she had a bad relationship with Matilda, even for the sake of his bond with Matilda, he couldn’t get too close to Isa.
But he couldn’t be too distant either, to avoid Isa’s disappointment and anger turning into domestic violence against Matilda.
Harmony above all.
Isa noticed Luca’s ambiguous attitude, sensing potential but also uncertainty.
Men with such strong resolve were hard to deal with.
“Matilda.”
Isa smiled sweetly as she sat beside her sister. “You and Luca get along well, don’t you? He cares about you and even lets you eat at his place.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“From now on, the remote at home is yours. Watch cartoons anytime you want. I won’t compete with you. Talk to me more about him, okay? I want to know more about Luca.”
Matilda scoffed, “Isa, you make me sick. Don’t think I don’t know your game. Dream on. Luca would never go for a woman as uncultured as you.”
Isa struggled to control her anger and softened her tone as much as she could. “Listen, Matilda, I don’t want to argue. I just want to talk. You can make any request, as long as you help me pursue my happiness.”
“How many times have you been happy? I know you’ve had many boyfriends at school!”
“That’s different. Those were just flings. This time I’m really smitten. Do you know what love at first sight means?”
“You’re just like a horny sow right now!”
“Bitch!”
Isa’s temper flared, and she raised her fist to strike, but this time Matilda didn’t dodge. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Isa.
“Luca will teach anyone who bullies me a lesson!”
“......”
Isa clenched her fist but then let it fall in defeat. “Matilda, I’m your sister. Help me, please. At least don’t badmouth me in front of him.”
Seeing her sister beg for the first time filled Matilda with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
But she would never forgive her sister.
In this family, except for her little brother, she could forgive no one.
“Aren’t you good at picking up men?” Matilda sneered. “He lives right across the street. Go find him yourself. But I’m telling you clearly, I never badmouthed you, and you still have no chance. Not in this life.”
...
[You have stopped a domestic violence incident because of your presence. Because of you, Isa gave up beating Matilda... You have once again defended the peace of the family!]
[Skill point gained: X1]
Luca, about to open the door, was momentarily stunned by the prompt.
Good grief!
If Isa had a character card, their bond might have already surpassed friendship.
At that moment, faint footsteps approached.
Luca turned his head alertly.
A tall man wearing a long trench coat and round sunglasses, carrying a suitcase, walked expressionlessly toward him.
With that iconic look, Luca immediately recognized the man he was meeting for the first time.
[Character card discovered: Leon (locked)]
[Leon: SSR]
[Origin: “Léon: The Professional”]
[Skills: Silver Queen, Ring Trick, Shadow Assault, Lone Assassin, Oath of Protection]
[Bond: Stranger]
Sure enough, Leon was also an SSR with five skills!