Chapter 281: and translation of chapter title

NO．43：This might be a kind of clear self-awareness.

Translate: "NO．43：This might be a kind of clear self-awareness."

We need to keep the same punctuation? The Chinese uses a fullwidth colon after the number. The expression translates to NO．43：This might be a kind of clear self-awareness. We'll keep the fullwidth colon and output: NO．43：This might be a kind of clear self-awareness.

To be honest, although when selecting the site and renovating the office, Aomo had considered that he would most likely need to move his main base from home here.

Translate: "To be honest, although when selecting the site and renovating the office, Aomo had considered that he would most likely need to move his main base from home here."

We need to keep Aomo as Aomo. Also office, selecting the site, renovating, main base, and move from home here.

Let's produce: "To be honest, although when selecting the site and renovating the office, Aomo had considered that he would most likely need to move his main base from home here."

Check for any omitted info: The phrase meaning 'To be honest', the phrase meaning 'although when selecting the site and renovating the office', and the phrase meaning 'Aomo had considered that he would most likely need to move his main base from home here'.

But he also considered this step from the perspective of 'having no choice'.

Translate: "But he thought of this step also from the perspective of 'having no choice'."

We need to keep quotation marks? Chinese uses the term 'having no choice'. We'll translate it as 'having no choice'. So: But he thought of this step also from the perspective of 'having no choice'.

What does 'having no choice' mean?

Translate: "What does 'having no choice' mean?"

'Having no choice' is... is the worst choice.

Translate: "'Having no choice' means… it means the worst option."

We need to keep the ellipsis? Chinese uses "……". We'll use "…". So: "'Having no choice' means… it means the worst option."

Because it is the worst choice, the preparation for this choice is also leaning towards the poor side.

Translate: "Because it is the worst option, the preparation for this choice is also leaning towards the poor side."

We need to keep meaning: Because it is the worst option, the preparation for this choice is also leaning towards the poor side.

The renovation was barely adequate, the building structure merely passable, and the impression not particularly luxurious or spacious; although it was sufficiently comprehensive, with facilities for food, clothing, housing, and transportation considered, that was all there was.

They merely considered moving in, rather than truly building it as a home.

So——

"Hey, isn't the food ready yet?" — Zhouri Ningjing standing at the doorway.

"…'Friend,' the trainer is already working hard." — Manchester Chazuo helping in the kitchen.

"Is this the attitude one should have for free food and drink?!" — Aomo Lindun, who rarely loses his composure in front of Zhouri Ningjing.

"Train~er~? Wow! Hurry up! Hurry up! Isn't the meal ready yet?" — Ailisuzhi, drawing out her words in a listless, weak manner.

"I said let me help honestly; I think this situation shouldn't be too common here, right, little Bowen?" — Qianming, who wasn't allowed to lend a hand.

"Judgment — the kitchen area is insufficient; I suggest Qianming senior follow master's instructions." — Meipu Bowen, who poked his head out at the doorway then withdrew.

"How did you all come running to the kitchen? Xiaoshe, are you making a new dish? Huh? Who are you?" — the one who just came downstairs and walked to the doorway, looking astonished at Qianming's Xintiao Qian.

"Hello, I'm Qianming, the representative, I'm Mr. Lindon's assistant……" "All right, all right, everyone go back and sit; this place isn't spacious to begin with! Except for Chazuo and Zhouri Ningjing, everyone else, get out!"

"Why do I have to stay?"

"The most nitpicky person is in charge of serving dishes and holding bowls!"

— Above chaos, this is proof that the office kitchen's functionality exceeds its capacity.

Even if the chef wasn't late, even if the cooking process itself hadn't encountered any major mishap, the large quantity of dishes required for this meal alone would be enough to delay the lunch setup.

After all, the kitchen really isn't big enough, and it never even considered needing to support a meal for seven people.

Among these seven people, there are still five horse girls,

The two — namely Bowen and Chazuo — still honestly do basic training in the morning, which also means their appetites will be considerably larger.

A certain horse girl who, after leaving the city, chases motorcycles on foot has an exercise level not far off; you can't judge her food intake by that of a standby horse girl.

That is two normal big eaters + three big‑eater‑plus, then Aomo himself and Xintiao……

At times like this, perhaps we should be grateful that Xintiao's appetite is indeed that of an ordinary jk, but Aomo still feels a sense of crisis: "If this keeps up, I'm going to die!"

Flipping the spatula until my arms are sore, as if I'd been fighting all night like Jicanghai.

With eight dishes already served, I can't help but worry and ask: "What is the appetite of a spirit body?"

He was asking Zhouri Ningjing.

Although what's on my mind is 'Since we're all ghosts, doesn't the cooking process count as you being full?' but if I were to say it out loud, the pot and dishes would probably all go to nothing.

Upon hearing this question, Zhouri Ningjing gave him a subtle look, unusually without mockery or argument, and instead offered a practical suggestion:

"If you really want to save time, you should just call for takeout, or go out to eat."

"No," Aomo flatly refused, "I've been squeezing in time these days to study nutrition; I need to verify what I've learned."

Upon hearing that, Zhouri Ningjing gave the pot a subtle glance: "…Sounds like this meal is going to be tough to swallow."

"It's not that I'm favoring one over the other; I'll improve the dishes I'm unsure about myself." Aomo shook his head.

"Hearing that really puts one at ease; Zuo Feiya would definitely insist you go and talk to Miss Furong."

As Zhouri Ningjing was just stepping back a few steps with her bowl, someone took her place, standing between Aomo and Chazuo—it was a certain Qianming representative who was just trying to mooch a meal.

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But Aomo's attitude toward her will be somewhat better, after all, when purchasing the ingredients for this meal, it was she who insisted on paying.

"How come you're back again? Did Xintiao ask too many questions?"

In this kitchen, nobody has poor hearing, including that demon chef—he really will turn into a demon for this high‑end kitchen showdown.

Then the Qianming representative, upon meeting again, had a chance to look things over, clicking her tongue in amazement.

A demon over 2.5 meters tall stood there, lifting the pot shovel and flipping it back and forth, wearing scale armor with no apron, and completely unafraid of the occasional flames that flutter up—very much in line with the promotional video for the Energy University cooking department's major back then.

— They really think hellish creatures are well suited to be chefs, especially since, after increasingly coming into contact with exotic‑race recipes, they have indeed almost completely given up eating raw meat and drinking blood.

The reason this small kitchen feels somewhat cramped also has something to do with this demon.

But if it weren't for that, things might not have gone so smoothly up to now.

Meanwhile, Chazuo, who was helping on the side—cutting vegetables, peeling, passing objects, and so on—was also exhibiting the excellent qualities of a spirit‑summoning science student.

She was completely unafraid of that demonic form that can stop a child's night crying, and even directed a few 'friends' to assist.

Several ingredients and utensils floating in mid‑air could be called the most tranquil poltergeist phenomenon.

"Not exactly; I just wanted to tell you that Sirius isn't able to come over, so later we two will have to go find her."

"Inconvenient?" the demon replied, turning his head with surprise; the flickering flames in his eye sockets swayed slightly, his fang‑filled mouth opened a little, revealing a faint silver‑white fire within.

So, Manchester Chazuo's ability to get along peacefully with that appearance is truly impressive. jpg

Zhouri Ningjing feels quite uneasy just looking at that appearance, and will find any excuse to distance herself at the slightest provocation.

But the Qianming representative's silence isn't due to the other's dignified bearing; rather, she's thinking about how to express herself tactfully, especially with children present.

"…She, she got hit by a car."

"You might as well just say she got into a car accident." Aomo felt her euphemism could only be described as tragic.

"But she insisted: "Saying 'car accident' makes it sound like she's badly hurt, which isn't appropriate."

"This manner is somewhat familiar, causing Zhouri Ningjing, who had just re‑entered the kitchen, to give the demon a sideways glance."

"The latter obviously lacked self‑awareness; the white specks in his eye sockets glanced at Zhouri Ningjing, whose look was somewhat 'strange', then he returned to tending the metal pot before him: "If coming over is inconvenient, then the injury can't be light, right?"

"That's not it, it's just that the other side of the car accident is a fairly well-known trainer," Qianming pulled out her phone to look, "Now she's surrounded by reporters, probably after the meal we'll be able to see first-hand news on TV."

That answer made the kitchen very quiet; even the things floating in mid-air paused, and the gazes of Chazuo and Zhouri Ningjing were also very sisterly.

And Aomo's shovel also paused.

"Who is that trainer?"

"James Stuart, I've actually heard of him before; do you know him?"

"Oh..."

Aomo's expression was very complicated.

"In the trainer chat room, she is called: I'm the maybe one."