Lin Ze was helping Kayako tidy up the room and make the bed, while Kayako was taking a bath. This was unavoidable. Not to mention whether Lin Ze cared or not, Kayako wouldn't allow herself to be dirty and lie in Lin Ze's house.
Thinking back to how she mustered her courage and asked if she could use the bathroom, Lin Ze couldn't refuse.
“Kayako, I've tidied up the room for you. Put your clothes in the dryer after you wash them. I'm afraid they won't dry by tomorrow.”
“Okay… okay.” The young girl, like a frightened little white rabbit, instantly covered her body, and then quickly responded.
Lin Ze slumped on the sofa, and began to sort out his thoughts again. “It just doesn't feel right. I seem to have oversimplified things. The Grudge can transcend time and space. If it involves time and space… then countless Kayakos in countless futures… Kayako is the Grudge, this is unchangeable. No matter what the ending, no matter what the timeline, as long as there is a Grudge, she will surely make all the Kayakos successfully become the Grudge! In the future… maybe things won't be peaceful.”
“Lin Ze… could you come and help me?” A soft voice suddenly rang out in the quiet living room. Lin Ze broke off his thoughts, turned his head and saw that the bathroom door was slightly ajar, and Kayako's head was sticking out… Thankfully, it wasn't the Grudge, but the current, lovely Kayako.
“I don't know how to use that dryer…” Heaven could see, Kayako was truly not being manipulative. She really couldn't use it. Though she did want to, she didn't have the guts.
“… Ah?”
“I… I'm wearing clothes.” Seeing Lin Ze's hesitation, Kayako blushed and walked out, wearing Lin Ze's short-sleeved shirt. She was clutching the shirt tightly, pulling it down. The shirt was the size Lin Ze had picked out, and Kayako could cover her behind when wearing it, but now her action made Lin Ze subconsciously look down.
“… Don’t… don’t look…” Noticing Lin Ze's gaze, Kayako was extremely embarrassed, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel happy and… excited? Lin Ze's gaze… Lin Ze's clothes were also rubbing against her skin…
“Sorry, I didn't consider that.” Lin Ze was incredibly embarrassed. He quickly ran back to his room, then took out a pair of unopened shorts. “These are men's, but they're new and unworn. They also have an elastic waistband. Kayako, you make do with these for now. Go change in your room.”
He'd been careless. He hadn't expected Kayako to wash her underwear as well. Today, his mind had been overloaded and his nerves were on edge. Really…
Kayako quickly changed her clothes, her face flushed as she led Lin Ze to the dryer. After Lin Ze demonstrated, she successfully dried her clothes.
“That… Lin Ze, thank you so much today.”
“You're welcome. Get some rest. You have to go to school tomorrow. Good night, see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, see you tomorrow.”
Lying in bed, thinking about the events of the day, Kayako couldn't fall asleep for a moment. She sniffed the scent of the blankets, her face turning red. She'd blushed more today than in her entire life before. “Lin Ze's scent.” Kayako's eyes slowly began to glaze over. She unconsciously squeezed her legs together, clutching the blanket. “I want to, I want to, I want to live with Lin Ze like this forever.”
She didn't lock her bedroom door. She was afraid that if Lin Ze really came for her in the night, what if she missed her chance? Although she felt that Lin Ze wouldn't be that kind of person. “I'll write about today's events in my diary tomorrow. Tomorrow… hehe, tomorrow not only can I stop hiding, but I can also see Lin Ze early in the morning.” Her wandering thoughts made her feel a mix of elation, shyness, and then her eyes glazed over again. She was thinking about the name for her third child with Lin Ze, and Kayako fell into a deep sleep.
As for Lin Ze, he was also lost in thought, just different from Kayako. He would be frowning one moment, then his face would be ashen the next, and then he'd be gnashing his teeth again.
He let out a long sigh. His upbringing and the education he had received meant that he couldn't just sit back and watch this poor young girl. She was just a sensitive, shy, socially awkward, cute girl, yet fate had tormented her into that state. This wasn't right! He had to rewrite his and Kayako's fate, become a light in her life, for her, but also for himself.
That night, Lin Ze had a dream. In his dream, he and Kayako lived peacefully for several years. Then they got married. They were about to have their wedding night when the lights in the room went out. The moment he looked up at the light, he heard that hoarse, alluring bubble voice in front of him! The moment he looked down, a pale face was pressed against his, its lifeless pupils like whirlpools, and his entire body was swallowed up by black hair. He couldn't resist, nor did he resist. Instead, he looked at her familiar face and whispered, “Kayako.”
The Grudge seemed to pause for a moment, her body shifted subtly, then the Grudge disappeared, and Lin Ze woke up.
After waking up, Lin Ze didn't make any move. Why was Kayako, who was still shy, sensitive, and sweet just yesterday, suddenly the Grudge, looking like that… At that moment, he wasn't afraid, only heartache for the girl.
Was this just an ordinary dream, or something else?
He heard a noise outside, glanced at the time, it was already morning. Lin Ze simply rolled over and got out of bed.
As he walked into the kitchen, he saw Kayako frying eggs. She also heard the noise and looked over. “Good morning, sorry Lin Ze, I used your kitchen without permission. I just wanted to express my gratitude by making you breakfast.” By the way, to experience the feeling of a wife preparing breakfast for her husband. She didn't dare say the last part, just adding it silently in her heart.
Seeing Kayako suddenly turn around and bow in apology, Lin Ze casually waved his hand. “Good morning. It's nothing. Rather, I'm getting a hot breakfast thanks to Kayako. If it were me, I'd just boil an egg and drink a glass of milk.”
Lin Ze took two steps forward, looking at the fried eggs and ham in the pan, he asked curiously, “Are you making a sandwich?”
“Yes, I also made some salad. Lin Ze, would you like miso soup or milk?”
“With a sandwich, it's better to have milk. You've really gone through a lot, Kayako. I wasn't wrong. Whoever gets to marry Kayako is truly blessed.”
“It's nothing like what Lin Ze said. It's just simple things. Lin Ze, you go wash up first. You can eat after you're done.”
It was fun teasing Kayako in the morning, watching her blush. Kayako, who had turned into a steamy maid this morning, bravely pushed Lin Ze out of the kitchen.
“I’m starting.” When Lin Ze was done washing up, Kayako had already laid out the breakfast. They said it at the same time.
After eating quietly and cleaning up, they both went to the entryway to change their shoes. Seeing a pair of white socks that suddenly appeared in the shoe rack, Kayako was slightly stunned.
“I looked around last night, and found some that my mother bought a while back. They’re normal socks and we have plenty of them at home. They’re all new. It’s still uncomfortable to not wear socks.”
Kayako suddenly didn't want to leave…