Idle Money System

After a few minutes of sharing each other's warmth, they slowly pulled away. Alexander finally let go of Aerolia's slim waist, allowing her some space.

Aerolia smiled gently before taking a step back and take a walk toward the table. She pulled out a chair and looked at him with a warm expression.

"You haven't eaten yet, right? I'll heat up the meal first so you can eat properly," she said, smiling as she gestured toward the table.

Outside the window, an old man observed the scene silently. It was none other than Yuno.

Watching them, he couldn't help but feel approval toward the girl standing before his young master.

She was caring, innocent, and possessed all the qualities of a good wife. But despite this, Yuno sighed inwardly. Fate is really cruel.

Because no matter how perfect she was for his young master, the reality remained, they were from different worlds.

Yuno could only shake his head as he continued to observe the scene in silence.

Meanwhile, Alexander had already taken a seat while Aerolia busied herself in the kitchen. She was using the electric stove to reheat the soup she had made.

Her movements were so skilled and natural that he felt at ease watching her cook. There were no unnecessary actions, no hesitation, she handled everything with precision.

As the pot finally began to boil, Alexander was about to stand up and offer his help. But before he could, he noticed that she had placed another pot on the stove.

Seeing this, he decided to remain seated for now and planned to assist her later instead.

Aerolia continued to carefully boil the second pot, ensuring that Alexander would have a proper taste of her dish.

When she was finally done, Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly. She was holding the hot pot with both hands, using only two handkerchiefs as protection.

Seeing this, Alexander decided to help and took the pot from her hands. Aerolia instinctively wanted to stop him, but when she met his firm gaze, she hesitated and let him take it.

A warm feeling spread through her chest, since he genuinely cared about her, thus making sure she wouldn't burn herself.

She had already noticed that his eyes never left her the entire time she was boiling the soup. The intensity of his attention made her face flush, but she quickly refocused on her task.

Alexander, on the other hand, didn't even use a handkerchief. It was as if the heat didn't affect him at all. He placed the pot on the table and then went to retrieve the second one as well.

Aerolia didn't remain idle even though he had taken over her task. She quickly brought a plate and filled a glass with cold water, placing it neatly on the table.

Once she was done, she walked over and held Alexander by the shoulders, gently forcing him to sit down. He didn't resist, allowing her to assist him.

She then picked up the utensils and carefully placed them on his plate, making sure everything was ready for him to eat.

As Alexander opened the lid of the pot, a refreshing, delicious aroma filled the room. The scent was rich and enticing, making his stomach growl slightly in anticipation.

Looking inside, he was genuinely surprised by what he saw.

Aerolia chuckled at his reaction, feeling proud of her cooking. "Why don't you try it and have a taste?" she encouraged, motioning for him to dig in.

Alexander's excitement grew as he recognized the dish, it was an homemade Adobo. Unlike the ones served in restaurants or food stalls, this was personally made by her.

Filling a bowl with Adobo, he scooped up a spoonful of the black, oily broth along with a tender piece of pork and brought it to his mouth.

The moment he took a bite, the rich, savory flavor exploded across his tongue, sending a warm and comforting sensation through his body.

The tender pork, soaked in the glossy black broth, melted in his mouth, releasing a deep umami flavor enhanced by the perfect blend of soy sauce and vinegar.

Yet what truly caught him off guard was the subtle yet distinct spices. They added a warm, slightly sweet undertone, while the earthy aroma of bay leaves perfectly complemented the freshly crushed black pepper.

The balance between acidity and saltiness was impeccable. As he savored the dish, a slight heat bloomed at the back of his throat, leaving him in awe.

It was none other than chili. She had even taken the time to add just the right amount of spice, ensuring the flavors remained balanced and harmonious.

Alexander continued chewing slowly, fully indulging in the flavors, so engrossed that he didn't even bother eating it with rice. Seeing this, Aerolia smiled brightly.

Wanting to take care of him, she gently scooped up some rice and placed it on his plate.

"Don't forget to fill your stomach with rice as well," she reminded him warmly.

"You really made this yourself?" Alexander asked, savoring the Adobo alongside the rice.

"Of course, hehe! I'm not idle, you know. I've been practicing a lot while you were away, so you don't have to go out and buy food," Aerolia replied with pride.

Even though it hadn't even been a week, she had already mastered making a delicious dish.

She then motioned for him to look at something else, "Also, don't just focus on the Adobo. Take a look at this too," she said as she opened another pot.

Inside was a light yellow broth with tender pieces of chicken and vegetables. The refreshing aroma filled the air, making Alexander's appetite grow even more.

Taking a bite, he immediately appreciated the comforting and delicate flavors. Without hesitation, he continued eating until, before he even realized it, he had finished everything.

Aerolia, who had been sitting beside him, was completely stunned.

The amount of food she had cooked was enough to feed three grown men, yet Alexander devoured it all effortlessly.

His stomach didn't even bulge, making Aerolia wonder where all that food had gone.

"Thanks for the meal, Aerolia. You could really make a great wife someday," he complimented with a satisfied smile.

The food was truly delicious. Compared to him, who could only cook eggs and instant noodles, her skills were on another level.

Feeling genuinely grateful, he blurted out the words without thinking. It wasn't until he saw Aerolia's face turn bright red that he realized what he had just said.

Meanwhile, Aerolia's heart pounded wildly, "If I really became your wife someday… Even if not, I would still cook for you," she muttered inwardly, too shy to say it out loud.

She had already fallen too deeply. The thought of finding another man was impossible for her now.

As long as Alexander didn't leave her and Anya, she would devote everything to him.

Alexander, seeing her flustered expression, couldn't help but think how cute she looked.

While she cleaned the table, Alexander remained seated, resting for a bit. To speed up his digestion, he circulated his Aether Energy, allowing his body to process the heavy meal more efficiently.

Burp.

A soft sound escaped him as he stood up, only to realize that Aerolia had already finished cleaning the plates, pots, and utensils.

"Let's go back and rest. It's already late, and not getting enough sleep is bad for your health," Alexander said.

Like a well-behaved child, she nodded and followed him as they left the kitchen. Ascending the stairs, they walked through the hallway until they reached the door to their room.

Aerolia opened the door, and Alexander patiently waited for her to enter before heading off to his own room.

But just as she stepped forward, she suddenly paused. Without warning, she turned around and ran straight into his arms.

Her lips collided with his, their softness and warmth sending a shock through his body.

For a moment, Alexander was stunned. His hands instinctively moved to her waist, pulling her closer as his fingers gently caressed her back.

The sensation was overwhelming. A beautiful woman was kissing him, and their lips had yet to part. His hands grew restless, but before his thoughts could wander too far, he quickly tapped her back, forcing himself to stop.

As they finally leaned back, Aerolia looked into his eyes and giggled softly, like a little girl deeply in love. There was no trace of embarrassment on her face, only happiness.

"Good night, Alex," she whispered, before stepping inside and closing the door.

It was only after the door shut that Alexander's mind fully returned to reality. He let out a wry smile.

"Even with my skill 'Heart Of Stone', it had no effect when it came to her… Hah, my self-control is really lacking."' He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, we've already done things that lovers would do… Should I just go with the flow and ask for her hand? Should I make her my girlfriend… and possibly my wife in the future?" He stood there, lost in thought.

But then, he shook his head. He needed to wait a bit longer before seriously considering courting her.

If he did, he knew he could easily get her approval, but first, he needed to fully understand his own feelings.

As long as he could confirm that their emotions were genuine and without doubts, then he would have no hesitation, even in marrying her in the future.

Wanting to clear his mind, Alexander made his way to the library, not entirely sure why this idea even came to him.

His eyes wandered over the shelves before he picked up a book titled "Critical Thinking Application."

For the next ten minutes, he stood there, reading.

Leaning casually against the bookshelf, he continued for another twenty minutes before finally stopping.

With a soft thud, he closed the book. He had read it all. But did he understand it?

No!

Checking his Intelligence stat, it was still stuck at 7. He groaned in frustration, "Am I really going to be average when it comes to thinking forever?"

Refusing to give up, he decided to try again. This time, he picked up multiple books covering different subjects. It didn't matter what the topics were.

As long as he could read, familiarize, and understand them, he was confident that his Intelligence stat would finally increase to 8.

Carrying the towering stack of books to the table, he cracked his neck, preparing himself for an intense battle of the mind.