The warm creak of the wooden door accompanied my voice as I swung it open and stepped aside with a flourish. "Welcome to my humble abode," I announced with a smirk, spreading my arms wide in a mockingly dramatic gesture. Behind me, the grandeur of the house unfolded—a seamless blend of luxury and elegance that caught the others off guard.
From the marble floors to the chandeliers that hung like crystalline stars, the interior matched the lavish exterior. It wasn't long before their surprised expressions betrayed them.
Zhong was the first to voice what they were all thinking. He took a sip from his drink and raised a brow. "Why is everyone looking like they just saw a ghost?" he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement as he observed the three standing stiffly in the doorway.
Freed, Roger, and Shizu coughed in near-unison, trying to disguise their awe. They composed themselves with mild success, glancing about as if trying not to stare too openly. I couldn't help but deadpan at them, while Zhong's curiosity bloomed into an amused smile. The silence stretched until Freed broke it.
"I mean, sure, I expected you to have a place," he said, his tone attempting neutrality, "but this? This is way more than just a place." He looked around once more. "Even in the Awakened world, this is over the top. And you—well, you've always been a bit of a hidden rich kid, haven't you?" He sighed as if reaching a long-suspected truth.
I turned, folding my arms as I led them into the living room. "You speak like you all live in poverty," I said, tone flat. "You're not full-time trainees or Paranormal Officers anymore. I'd expect you to have some side hustle going on."
"We do," Roger chimed in with a composed smile. "I run the café—handle drinks at the bar, take care of the food. But... business hasn't been great."
"Because of the Chicken Cocktail place?" I guessed.
Roger clenched his fist with exaggerated despair. "Yes! That cursed restaurant. It's practically responsible for our downfall! If not for our mounting debts, I would have remodeled the entire café to match today's trends." He wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye with theatrical flair. "Now only my loyal old friends visit."
Turning to the others, I asked, "What about you two—Shizu, Diana?"
Shizu looked at me, unimpressed. "Why should I tell you?"
Diana chuckled. "We model. It pays well enough, but most of it goes into covering debts, so yeah... we're basically poor, glamorous people."
"Wow," Zhong said, admiration flickering in his eyes. "I kind of expected that. You two are stunning. I figured you did something like that."
"Hehe. We do have our charms," Shizu admitted, clearly pleased by the compliment.
"With faces like yours, it's no wonder. You two could make a man lose his mind," I added.
"Aww, thanks!" Diana exclaimed and lunged toward me and Zhong with a hug. I instinctively tried to sidestep her, but she caught me in her vice-like grip.
"I know you didn't mean it," Shizu muttered with a sharp side-eye in my direction.
I blinked. "Mean what?" I asked.
"That I could make men go crazy," she said, still watching me. "You're probably thinking, 'Why would anyone pick an annoying girl like her as a model?' Right?"
I gave her a look. "So, you do know you're annoying."
"Shut up!" she barked, a blush creeping into her cheeks.
"I wouldn't lie about your looks. You're beautiful, Shizu. That's a fact I'm confident in." I finally pried myself free from Diana and spoke without flinching.
Shizu averted her eyes, her voice barely audible. "Ehn. Okay. Baka."
"Did you just call me an idiot out of nowhere?" I asked, incredulous.
"You're the idiot! Why didn't you joke or throw an insult back at me? That was your chance, dimwit!"
"Dimwit? You expected an insult? What, do you have some kind of fetish for being roasted?" I retorted.
"Fetish? As if!"
From a short distance away, Zhong turned to Diana and whispered, "What's with them?"
"Sheesh, just watch," Diana giggled. "This is more fun than TV."
We were mid-banter when Freed returned, his voice loud and full of mock enthusiasm. "Wow! I've checked out the whole place, and you could house three more people in here, easily. And that bathroom? Luxury. You all have to see his shampoo collection—and the library, too!"
He stopped in his tracks, noticing the squabble between me and Shizu. "Seriously? Can't you two be civilized for once? You're in a millionaire's home. Act the part."
"It's my house," I replied dryly.
Freed smirked. "Anyway, what about me?"
"What about you?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Your side job. Or do you even have one?" I challenged.
Diana and Shizu both burst out laughing, and I stared at him with suspicion.
Freed looked sheepish. "I'm... jobless. So what?"
Diana crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "You contribute nothing, yet you have the gall to mock others?"
He pointed at me. "What about him? This secret tycoon doesn't lift a finger to help pay off our company's debt either!"
"You dare compare yourself to Deluke?" Diana fired back. "That's just shameless."
"I never said I wouldn't help," I said. "Nobody ever asked me to."
Freed looked away, flustered. "Anyway... Roger! Let's cook something for everyone," he said in a bid to change the subject.
"Why?" I asked.
"To throw a proper welcome party for you and Zhong," he said, grinning mischievously.
"In my house?"
"Come on, it won't hurt," Diana said, ruffling my hair.
I sighed in resignation. "Fine."
"Yay!" Zhong clapped his hands, clearly enjoying the show.
"Roger, let's go get some groceries and drinks," Freed declared, raising a dramatic fist in the air.
I slipped my shoes back on. "I'll show you where the store is."
Freed looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "Then we're buying it all on your tab."
"This is my welcome party!" I protested.
"Just kidding," he grinned. "This time, I'll show you the power of a jobless man's wallet."
As the three of us stepped out into the warm dusk air, I couldn't help but shake my head. Somehow, amidst all the chaos, mockery, and unexpected affection, it really did feel like a celebration worth having.