NOVEL WEB chapter 16
16
“Brother, how much longer?” Mia asked, clutching her stomach.
“The meat is only a third done; wait a bit longer. If you’re really hungry, here, have this to tide you over.”
Gu Ming handed a packet of beef jerky from his system backpack to Mia. Nearby, Tina struggled to shift her gaze away from the beef jerky and moved closer to Gu Ming.
“Master Brother, do you need help?”
“No need. Let me treat you all with my cooking once in a while. If you’re hungry too, have some beef jerky for now,” he responded and then handed another packet to Tina.
“Thank you, Master Brother.”
Tina, upon receiving the beef jerky, wagged her tail happily and then glanced protectively towards Mia.
This childlike behavior genuinely amused Gu Ming. Although Tina often tried to act mature, she was actually only fifteen or sixteen years old. From Gu Ming’s perspective, it seemed like she was pushing herself too hard. He felt quite pleased that she could show this side of herself around him.
“This kid, wants to eat but is too shy to say it. how cute.”
…
Ten minutes later, drawn by the aroma of grilled meat, Mia approached the grill and said,
“Brother, I’ll help you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Mia grabbed a skewer of meat and stuffed it into her mouth. Gu Ming rolled his eyes at her and teased,
“Is that what you call helping? I’m embarrassed for you.”
“Hehe, aren’t I just helping reduce the steps needed to serve?”
“So I should thank you then?”
“Ah no need for thanks. we’re like an old married couple now.”
“Cut that out; I don’t buy into that stuff. You can bring the rest to the table yourself.”
With those words spoken, Gu Ming picked up several skewers of meat and walked towards the wooden table without looking back leaving only Mia behind wailing in mock despair,
“Ah come on brother! How can you treat your cute little sister like this?”
Gu Ming responded,
“It’s fine; there’s another one here; we won’t miss one.”
He gently patted Tina on the head and said softly,
“Tina come over for dinner now; we’ll set up the tent later.”
“Oh okay Brother Master,”
Obediently Tina ran towards the wooden table while on other side Mia stomped her foot in frustration.
“Hmph, faithless man,”
With dissatisfaction, she carried a bunch of skewers over.
During the meal, Mia, sitting beside him with puffed cheeks, stared at Gu Ming, her actions declaring she was very angry and in need of comfort.
On the other side, Gu Ming seemed oblivious, continuing to eat his own food, occasionally passing a skewer to Tina.
“Here, Tina.”
“Thank you, big brother master.”
A minute or two later, Mia’s eyes began to well up with tears.
“Crying (இдஇ; ), big brother, have you fallen out of love with me, don’t you love me anymore, crying (இдஇ; )”
After Mia cried for a while, Gu Ming looked at her pitiful state, sighed, and went over to wipe her tears.
“There, there, big brother is wrong, I shouldn’t have ignored Mia. Come on, let’s stop crying, shall we eat?”
Mia sniffled and asked,
“Really?”
“Really, truly.”
“Big brother isn’t mad at Mia anymore?”
“Really, truly.”
“So, big brother will always like Mia, is that true too?”
“Really, truly.”
Suddenly, Mia’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Then, is it also true that later I’ll share a tent with big brother?”
“Really, truly, ?”
I hope this captures the essence of the original text while preserving the line breaks and atmosphere. If you need any more assistance, feel free to ask!
After a moment, Gu Ming realized that he had been tricked by this little girl. He angrily sat back in his original position. Seeing the situation was not good, Mia walked behind Gu Ming and pinched his shoulder, teasingly saying,
“Brother, you already promised to sleep with me today. You can’t go back on your word.”
Seeing Gu Ming remain silent, Mia continued,
“Brother, didn’t you used to say that a gentleman’s word is as weighty as four horses? Once something is said, it must be done.”
Seeing Gu Ming still not speaking, Mia was about to resort to crying when Gu Ming quickly interrupted,
“Alright, alright. I surrender. I surrender okay?”
Mia wiped away her fake tears and hugged Gu Ming saying,
“Brother is the best. I like brother the most.”
Gu Ming patted her head and said,
“Alright alright. Go eat your food.”
“Got it.”
Gu Ming shook his head helplessly.
For the past few days of sleeping outdoors, Gu Ming had started sleeping separately again. Not for any other reason but ever since they revealed their true identities as three people playing cards together, Mia had become more and more bold. Especially in the two nights after leaving the village, these two girls somehow became enlightened and their actions became bolder (the culprit being Aunt Ding’s book), causing Gu Ming to almost lose control of himself even with his calming techniques for controlling desire. So on the third day, Gu Ming resolutely decided to sleep separately from them due to his firm attitude making it impossible for both women.
And now this kind of life had only lasted one night.
“Sigh…Xing…Little Bright is suffering…Wang…Little Bright still suffers…The wind howls over cold waters…”
Suddenly Gu Ming felt someone tug at his clothes beside him.
“What’s wrong Tina?”
Tina hesitated before saying,
“I want too.”
Gu Ming felt he must have misheard.
“What?”
Tina’s face flushed as she said, “I also want to sleep with brother at night.”
Gu Ming gently smiled, “Okay, Tina. Come whenever you want.”
“Mm.”
Mia interjected jealously, “Brother, why do you always favor Tina? Could it be…you like bigger…ones?”
Seeing Gu Ming remain silent, Mia thought she had guessed correctly and continued on her own accord.
“Brother let me tell you something. Both of us are still developing. Who knows who will come out on top in the future? It’s not right for you to make your bet so early. Besides, bigger isn’t always better; what matters most is compatibility… Brother are you listening?”
A minute later Mia finally stopped her incessant chatter.
Gu Ming couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic about his situation.
“Sigh… Once a brave man goes…”
At this point Mia called out again,
“Brother! Stop daydreaming and eat quickly or there won’t be any left!”
“Oh okay.”
As Gu Ming began eating he quickly pushed his previous emotions to the back of his mind.
He had to admit that the system-produced seasoning was truly delicious.
After they finished eating their hearty meal, Gu Ming suddenly asked Mia,
“Mia, I thought elves didn’t eat meat,”
“Brother, who told you that?”
“Isn’t it true?”
“Of course not. Although elves can stave off hunger by eating fruits and vegetables because they are abundant in the forest, it doesn’t mean that elves don’t eat meat. It’s common knowledge that elves do eat meat. Common knowledge! How could you not know this, brother?”
“Common knowledge?”
“Yes, brother. It’s common knowledge.”
Mia then turned to Tina.
“Tina, this is common knowledge right?”
Tina nodded.
“Master Brother, indeed it is common knowledge.”
“Eh… alright then. My apologies for my presumption.”
Mia patted his head.
“No harm done as long as you serve me well tonight; the gods will forgive your mistake.”
Gu Ming brushed her hand away.
“Don’t overstep your bounds.”
Undeterred Mia continued,
“Don’t be shy now brother; after all we’ve already crossed that line.”
Gu Ming ignored her and began washing the dishes on his own.
“Master Brother let me help,”
Tina picked up a few remaining plates and walked towards Gu Ming.
“Thank you, Tina.”
“Hehe.”
…
Time flies swiftly. As expected, Gu Ming has trouble sleeping tonight.
“One hundred and twenty-five sheep, one hundred and twenty-six sheep, one hundred and twenty-seven sheep… Damn it, how am I supposed to sleep like this?”
Mia who is sleeping next to him tightly grips Gu Ming’s hand with her feet while sleep talking.
“I married my brother, hehe.”
(￣o￣). z Z
Gu Ming sighs and looks at Tina who is also asleep on the other side.
“Master brother, I want more lollipops (´〜‘*) zzz”
“Oh my god! So this is what you’re really like Tina.
Damn it! What am I thinking? Shit! Why do I feel more perverted? ‘They say beauty is as dangerous as a wolf or tiger; don’t even think about it.’ The seniors were right indeed. Master has realized the truth. Oh Buddha! Free your mind; demons begone!
One hundred thirty sheep… One hundred thirty-one sheep…”
…