The restaurant had a warm atmosphere, with dim lights, wooden furniture, and the faint scent of grilled meat and baked bread floating through the air.
Diego practically bounced inside, dragging Eliana along like a small, overexcited puppy.
They were quickly led to a private booth tucked away in the corner. As soon as they sat down, Diego grabbed the menu with the seriousness of a war general planning his next attack.
"I want this, this, this... and this!" he declared, stabbing his tiny finger at almost half the menu.
Eliana gently reminded him, "You're only one person, Diego."
Diego thought for a second and then beamed brightly, "That's why Uncle and Big Sister are here! You'll help me eat!"
Eliana smiled at his words, while Elysio dryly said, "We are not human dustbins. You will have to finish whatever you order, or I'll tell your mom about it."
Diego pouted at the threat but wisely reduced his list.
Elysio and Eliana then placed their own orders.
When Elysio noticed what Eliana ordered, he raised an eyebrow and said, "No meat? Don't be shy."
Eliana looked at him and explained, "No, I'm actually allergic to any kind of meat. I prefer a vegetarian diet."
She had been allergic since birth, and even though so many centuries had passed and she kind of died, still the allergy had stubbornly followed her.
Elysio glanced at her thoughtfully. Diego eagerly added, "Same as Uncle! But he's not allergic — he just doesn't like meat."
Eliana looked at Elysio in mild surprise. That was unexpected.
Elysio smiled faintly and said, "Then you should definitely try the vegetable dumplings here. They're delicious."
Eliana smiled back and nodded.
After ordering, they chatted easily. Well — Diego and Eliana chatted. They even exchanged contact information, and Eliana promised to play games with him sometime.
Elysio watched them, a helpless, doting look on his face — like a father observing two noisy children. Diego seemed to genuinely like Eliana, which was rare. He was usually shy around strangers. Eliana, for her part, was incredibly patient and seemed to genuinely enjoy the boy's company.
Well, that was good then, Elysio thought. Eliana seemed like a sensible child— even if she was a bit too easily flustered.
But that was an adorable trait. A cute girl.
Eliana learned that Diego's school was right next door to her own. They made tentative plans to meet during lunchtime if they ever had time.
Eliana really liked this child. While she stayed in this universe, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to interact with him more.
Elysio also spoke from time to time, his voice relaxed and unhurried. It was rare for him to be this at ease — even rarer with someone he had just met.
Since he had started understanding the world around him, he had rarely felt interested in anything. Ironically, that was part of why he stood where he did today. Whenever something posed a challenge, he would conquer it, only to find himself bored again soon after.
This was especially true in his career. He had chased after the most difficult challenges, hoping to feel something — anything. But nothing held his attention for long.
And now…
He had never been particularly interested in humans — not even in his own family. His emotions had always been distant, detached, as if he were standing outside looking in.
But something about this girl was different.
Something about Eliana made him pause, made him take a second look.
It wasn't anything dramatic.
He was just... intrigued.
And for someone like Elysio, even a flicker of intrigue was rare enough to be worth noticing.
But that was it. Nothing more.
...
After dinner, Elysio dropped Eliana off at her apartment before taking Diego home.
His elder brother, Mateo, was five years older than him and married to Isabella, his sister-in-law. The two had been childhood sweethearts, later pursuing the same career paths together.
Mateo had moved back into the Ruiz Family Estate mainly because he and his wife, both busy with their careers, couldn't fully care for Diego. They refused to leave him in the hands of nanny, preferring to have their parents, aunt, and grandparents help instead. This time, because the older generation had gone out for some event, Elysio — rare to be so free — had been assigned the babysitting duties. He didn't mind. He liked spending time with his nephew, and it had been a while since he last did.
The car stopped in front of the Eastern Gate of the estate. The estate itself was vast, built with a blend of ancient elegance and modern luxury — large enough to house several villas, sprawling gardens, and various leisure areas.
His brother's family lived on the eastern side in Rosemere Villa.
When Elysio stayed over, he usually stayed at his parents' house. But if it was for an extended period, he would move into Starflower Villa instead.
When they reached Rosemere Villa, Diego immediately bounced out of the car, arms full of shopping bags, running toward the entrance while Elysio followed at a steadier pace. Behind him, his driver, David, carried the rest of the things Diego had insisted on buying today.
As soon as Elysio stepped inside, he could already hear Diego's excited chatter, recounting every detail about the day — and, unsurprisingly, about Eliana.
Mateo, sitting in the living room, raised an eyebrow and gave his brother a very strange look.
Walking up to him, Mateo asked suspiciously, "You talked with a stranger without it being for work? Even invited them out to dinner?"
Elysio nodded calmly.
Mateo looked even more exaggerated. "So you're actually capable of social interaction outside of work? Inviting someone to eat together too? Damn, maybe there's hope yet you won't die single."
Elysio's expression darkened slightly, remembering Diego's earlier words and Eliana's expression.
He looked at his brother slowly and asked, "Have you prepared a gift?"
Mateo blinked, confused. "Gift?"
Elysio nodded thoughtfully, as if confirming something. "Ah, so you forgot."
Mateo immediately felt a sense of danger. "Forgot what?"
Elysio smiled — an evil, leisurely smile — and deliberately raised his voice just enough for Isabella to hear. "Brother, are you still going to Pinefield City tomorrow for the research results?"
Mateo, still puzzled, nodded instinctively. "Yeah, it's important. I might be gone for a week..."
Halfway through his sentence, realization struck him like lightning. Tomorrow was his wife's birthday.
He stiffened and glanced toward Isabella, who was now standing by the door, smiling very dangerously at him. He gulped. His younger brother could've reminded him quietly... but no, he had chosen arson instead.
Elysio, still looking innocent, took a beautifully wrapped box from David and walked over to Isabella. "Happy birthday in advance, sister-in-law. This is for you."
Isabella glanced at the box, and her expression instantly softened into a genuine smile. It was her favorite — rare coffee beans she had been trying to find for ages. Her brother-in-law truly understood her tastes.
She accepted the gift, smiling warmly. "Thank you so much, brother-in-law. I've been looking everywhere for these."
Elysio nodded politely. "You're welcome."
He then turned back to see Mateo's face darkening like a thundercloud, teetering on the edge of an explosion. Isabella, meanwhile, snorted in disdain, gathered up Diego, and disappeared into her room, firmly shutting the door behind her.
Mateo looked like he wanted to punch someone — preferably his brother. But he could only grit his teeth helplessly. He knew better. Elysio wasn't just clever; he was also terrifyingly good at martial arts. Fighting would only bring him double humiliation.
In the end, Mateo could only suppress his anger and mentally prepare himself for a night of coaxing and apologizing.
Elysio, watching his brother's twisted expression, leisurely added, "I actually bought that gift intending to let you give it to your wife. But you just had to say the wrong thing at the wrong time."
Mateo's face twisted even more, and for a brief moment, he really looked like he might explode.
...
When Eliana opened the door to her apartment, it was already close to eight-thirty. She stepped into the living room and was immediately met with a teasing voice.
"So, exactly how handsome was he?"
Eliana grimaced inwardly.
However, after a moment's thought, she glanced at the floating ball of light nearby and smiled slightly. "Beyond perfection and imagination," she replied.
Ion, the system, was stunned for a moment by the unexpected response. Then she said suspiciously, "Really? A beauty that could stun you—someone who's never complimented anyone before—actually exists?"
Eliana simply nodded as she made her way toward the kitchen.
Ion hovered in the air, circling her eagerly. "Now I'm really curious about this beauty," she said.
She had been curious ever since she saw the comments on the livestream.
Eliana looked at her calmly and said, "Elysio, that soul… he seems to have an unparalleled affinity with Aether and the universe. He might be what they call Heaven's favored child."
Heaven's favored children — rare souls born under the universe's special favor — often received extraordinary benefits. The universe itself might loosen its laws and restrictions for them, granting them immense luck, fortune, and blessings.
Elysio seemed to be one of them.
"Really?" Ion exclaimed. "It's incredibly rare to come across such souls."
And if her little master, who was notoriously stingy with praise, said it, then it had to be true. That made her even more curious.
Meanwhile, Eliana reached the kitchen, pulled a bottle of water from the fridge, and took a few sips, reflecting on the day.
She closed the fridge door and slowly made her way back toward her room. As she walked, she spoke casually, "We might stay here a little longer. I think I want to try becoming a..." She paused, thinking, then added, "...a star."
Ion froze in midair, then began to glow even brighter.
Wait. A star? Wasn't she already one?
Before she could voice her confusion, Eliana added calmly, "I mean entering the entertainment industry."
Ion gleamed even brighter, excitement bubbling up inside her.
The entertainment industry?
Why?
But then again, she had never questioned her little master's decisions. She was never irrational. If she wanted to try it, Ion would support her.
Actually, when Eliana came to this universe for a vacation, she could have lived in luxury if she wanted to.
She actually had enough Rions — the points or currency she had accumulated through countless missions.
Rions were omniversal. Universes automatically converted them into local currencies, allowing her to buy things even here. However, the amount one could use or exchange depended on each universe's specific limits and restrictions. Most allowed only a small amount, some permitted a bit more, and a few didn't allow it at all.
If she invested in a universe — through projects or businesses — she could also spend the profits she earned there.
It was possible to invest across multiple universes as well, but the returns rarely converted well into Rions; profits were usually extremely low. It was far better to invest in Aetherion. Even modestly successful projects there yielded higher returns than the most profitable ventures elsewhere.
There were also many jobs available in Aetherion. One could livestream missions for fame and earnings, venture into acting, or follow countless other paths.
There were multiple ways to earn Rions. Any merits or earnings accumulated across lifetimes could be converted into them.
Despite having plenty of Rions, Eliana had chosen to live modestly, preferring to experience normal life.
But now —
Ion floated excitedly, about to offer all kinds of help, when she heard her say:
"I'll do it on my own terms. Don't interfere unless I ask. We are not going to cheat using Rions or Aether energy. I'm just doing it for... fun."
Fun?
Ion almost dropped out of the air. Her little master — who rarely cared about such things — actually said the word fun?
And she wasn't allowed to help?
Sad. Very sad.
Still, if it meant she was truly interested in something, it was fine.
Even if she had to float in the background, she would still watch over her.
...
When Eliana fell asleep that night, she was woken up by a nightmare.
She sat up and looked out of the window at the sky, sighing quietly.
It was still very early, but once she was awake, she knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. She might as well finish some assignments.
Tomorrow—or technically, today—was the 5th of February, marking the end of the holiday.
When she first arrived in this universe, she had wanted to live as a teenager, so she chose the identity of a high school student.
The universe she was born in was actually very similar to this one. Aside from the matter with the stars, almost everything else was alike. When she died, she had been a senior in high school—perhaps that was why she had the strange desire now to torture herself by taking the classes all over again.
Over the past three years, she had certainly put herself through enough suffering with endless studying. But at least it was reassuring to know she was still a good student.
Even during her missions, whenever she needed to assume a temporary identity, she would subconsciously choose to become a student—a teenager.
She got up from the bed, moved to her desk, and opened her notebook, but instead of working, she found her thoughts drifting back to the events of the previous day.
…
"That's such a cool shot!"
"How did she even see that guy hiding there?"
"I missed it!"
"She's seriously good."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Shield, shield!"
Eliana was live-streaming that night. It was the weekend, so she finally had enough time to play a few rounds without rushing.
She controlled her character with steady hands, maneuvering to shoot the enemy player who was hiding behind a shield. Her bullet found its mark, cutting the opponent's health by half. Without wasting a second, she ducked behind the nearby house and used a potion to heal herself.
Just as she finished, the sound of hurried footsteps crackled through her headphones. She reacted instantly—she crouched down just in time to dodge a bullet that whizzed past where her head had been.
Without hesitating, she jumped out of the window, landed lightly, and sprinted to take cover behind a tree. Her sharp eyes stayed locked onto the house where the enemy was lurking.
She spotted two players inside.
"Oh my god, how did she dodge that?"
"That reflexes?? Insane."
"So fast!"
"Did she see through the wall or something?"
Eliana patiently waited as the two players began fighting each other. She watched calmly, fingers resting lightly on the mouse. When the winner finally staggered out, low on health and unaware of her presence, Eliana fired a clean shot.
Headshot.
The player dropped instantly.
"Wooooow! She got it!"
"Our Eli is unstoppable tonight!"
"So cool!"
"Sharp eyes, calm hands."
"Cold-blooded hunter!"
Eliana glanced at the comment barrage and chuckled softly. Then she said in her usual, composed tone, "That was an easy win."
"Hahaha, our Eli is getting so arrogant!"
"But she has the skills to back it up!"
"Eli, marry me!"
"Such good instincts! Teach me, Master!"
"She makes it look effortless."
Eliana smiled faintly and was about to queue for another match when she received a request to play a duo.
The request was from an account named Sio.
Sio had been a famous account when the game was first released. It had been ranked first for three consecutive years but then mysteriously disappeared. The first time the account had appeared after four years, was during Eliana's livestream three weeks ago.
"Ah, ah, little master appears!"
"Cutie is here."
"Oh yeah, it's the weekend. He must be here to play."
"Xiao Ruiz takes a cutie to win!"
The account belonged to none other than Diego.
Diego had explained that this account was his uncle's, and his uncle occasionally let him use it because the account had everything unlocked. He loved playing on it whenever he could.
Her audience was stunned to learn that Diego's uncle was legendary Sio—the player who had dominated the game and made it internationally famous.
Eliana was equally surprised. She hadn't expected Elysio to be someone who played games, let alone play them so well.
Without hesitation, Eliana accepted the request and turned on her mic.
"Hello, Deedee."
The excited voice of Diego came through. "Hello, Big sister!"
It had been three weeks since the Ferris Wheel incident. Every weekend, Diego would come to play with her for an hour before bed. They'd also had lunch together a few times at the school cafeteria.
"Did you finish your homework?" Eliana asked, remembering that Diego wasn't allowed to play until he did.
"Yes, Big sister!" Diego answered brightly.
"Very good. Let's play," Eliana replied.
The duo queued up, and Eliana guided Diego to victory in two matches, talking about trivial things as they played. She made sure Diego didn't say anything that could give away personal information about him, always referring to him as "Deedee" for that reason.
As they were about to queue for a third match, Diego suddenly said, "Ah, Uncle, you're here?"
A voice responded from the other end, "Yeah, I was wondering why your room light is on."