Urban LitRPG System-Chapter 102: It’s Hot Today.
Thank you Jesse_Love for gifting the Luxury Car! 🚗
Check replies, then please wait — the GIF’s are large (200MB each). ✨
Thankyou.GIF
If you send a Luxury Car or higher, I’ll add a GIF like this as a thank-you gift. It’s not a trade — just my way of showing appreciation. 🙏
Machina.GIF
.........
Max stepped out of his bedroom just as Jennifer disappeared into the bathroom. The soft sound of running water started again behind him while the rest of the apartment slowly came alive with the quiet rhythm of morning.
In the kitchen, Machina was already there. She turned slightly when she noticed him and smiled, standing beside the counter while preparing breakfast. The warm light from the kitchen lamp reflected off the stainless steel pots and pans around her, Max nodded once in acknowledgment as he walked closer.
" I made Chinese breakfast today — Mapo Tofu, Chili Oil Fried Eggs, and Spicy Beef Noodles. "
Machina said casually before lifting the lid from one of the dishes.
A cloud of fragrant steam immediately rose from the pot, filling the kitchen with the rich aroma of chili oil, garlic, and Sichuan pepper. The Mapo Tofu sat bubbling gently in a deep red sauce, cubes of soft tofu coated in a glossy layer of chili paste and minced beef, small green scallions sprinkled across the top. The scent alone carried a sharp, spicy warmth that instantly woke the senses.
Beside it, a plate of chili oil fried eggs glistened under the light, the edges crisp and golden while the yolks remained slightly runny, bright red chili flakes scattered across the surface.
And in the large bowl next to them were the spicy beef noodles, thick noodles sitting in a dark, aromatic broth, slices of tender beef resting on top with fresh herbs and sesame seeds, the red chili oil floating in small shimmering circles across the surface.
The dishes looked hot, vibrant, and deeply appetizing, the steam rising steadily as if the entire kitchen had turned into a small Sichuan restaurant.
Machina glanced at Max with a smug expression.
" It will wake you up faster than coffee. "
" Is that so? "
Max raised an eyebrow as he looked at the dishes. The aroma was strong and inviting, the kind of spicy heat that immediately filled the nose and hinted at a powerful flavor. He wasn’t particularly good with spicy food, but the breakfast Machina had prepared looked too appetizing to ignore.
He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, the warmth from the dishes drifting across the kitchen. Machina handed him a pair of chopsticks without saying anything.
Max took them and examined them for a moment, turning them slightly between his fingers.
" I can’t use it. "
He said it casually with a small smile, his shoulders relaxing as he held the chopsticks awkwardly in his hand like someone trying to understand a tool they had never practiced with before.
" I know, let me feed you. "
Machina said it with a small, smug smile that didn’t leave her face. She pulled a chair from the side of the table and dragged it closer to Max until she was sitting right beside him. Without hesitation, she took the chopsticks gently from his hand.
" Well... alright. I guess you can treat me like a baby. "
Max chuckled quietly and let the chopsticks go without any resistance, leaning back slightly in the chair as if accepting the situation, he could tell what was happening.
Machina nowadays rarely asked for attention directly, but sometimes her actions spoke clearly enough. After seeing how naturally Jennifer stayed close to him, this was probably her quiet way of claiming a little space of her own beside him, Max didn’t mind it at all.
Machina picked up a piece of tofu soaked in the deep red sauce and held it carefully with the chopsticks before bringing it toward him. The steam rose gently from the dish as she held it steady.
Max leaned forward slightly and took the bite without hesitation, the moment the flavor hit, the heat from the chili oil and pepper burst across his tongue, the spice sharp but balanced by the rich sauce.
Machina watched his reaction closely.
" Well? "
She asked with a faint hint of pride in her voice as she prepared the next bite.
" Wow, it’s super hot—shuuuhaaaah! "
Max suddenly leaned back in his chair, taking exaggerated breaths like someone who had just tasted the spiciest thing on earth. His eyes widened as he fanned his mouth with his hand, then quickly grabbed the nearby glass of water as if he was about to save himself from burning alive.
Machina’s expression changed instantly, the smug look vanished from her face and was replaced by pure seriousness. She watched him closely, disappointment spreading across her expression as if she had just failed some very important task.
But Max didn’t actually drink the water, he simply held the glass near his lips, then slowly lowered it. The dramatic expression on his face melted away and turned into a teasing grin.
Machina froze for a second, realization hit her immediately.
" You!! "
Her eyes widened in shock before a mix of irritation and amusement flashed across her face. She lifted her forearm and lightly hit him in the arm.
" What? I can’t tease you? Ahaha. "
Max laughed openly now, leaning back slightly in his chair as he enjoyed the reaction he had gotten from her, watching her like this made him realize something again, Machina felt completely human.
Not just in the way she spoke or the emotions she showed, but in the little details — the way she reacted when teased, the way her expressions changed in an instant, the way she cared about his reaction to something as small as breakfast.
If someone met her like this, no one in the world would ever think she was anything other than a normal person sitting beside him.
After that Max stopped teasing her and simply ate the rest of the breakfast from her hands without any more drama. The dishes were flavorful and warm, the chili oil giving a pleasant heat rather than overwhelming spice.
Machina had clearly adjusted the level for him — despite the deep red color of the sauce, the food was only moderately spicy. She knew very well that Max couldn’t handle the kind of heat most Sichuan dishes carried, so she had held back without saying anything.
" I still don’t get how you can learn this fast. "
Max said as he stood up from the table. He walked toward the basin and splashed a little water on his face, rubbing his hands together while cleaning up after breakfast.
The food had been good, but the clock in his mind was already moving forward. He had classes in about an hour, which meant he still had a small window of time to review a few things before leaving for the university.
Behind him Machina began clearing the table, stacking the dishes with quick and efficient movements.
" Hehe... I am built that way. "
She replied with a proud, slightly smug smile, clearly pleased with herself as she gathered the bowls and chopsticks, the kitchen slowly returning to its usual tidy state while the morning continued moving forward.
" That’s good. You see, I’m the dumb kind. "
Max said it with a relaxed expression, but there was quiet pride in his voice when he said it. He wasn’t insulting himself — he was acknowledging her ability. Machina learned fast, faster than anyone he had ever seen, and he appreciated that openly instead of hiding it.
He stepped closer while she was finishing clearing the table, Machina was still holding a bowl when she suddenly realized how close he had come. Their heights were nearly the same, and for once Max didn’t have to lean down to meet her.
Her face flushed instantly.
*SMOOCH*
Max leaned forward and kissed her cheek, but he didn’t pull away immediately, instead, he left his lips there deliberately, the contact lingering for several long seconds. It wasn’t a rushed gesture or a playful peck — it was intentional, calm, and steady.
Almost twenty seconds passed like that, Machina stood completely still, her face growing warmer by the second while her mind struggled to process what he was doing.
At that exact moment Jennifer stepped out of the bedroom, she was wearing Max’s T-shirt, the fabric hanging loosely on her smaller frame and falling halfway down her thighs. Her hair was still messy from sleep, giving her an effortless, slightly cute appearance.
Jennifer paused for a second when she saw them, not shocked. Just mildly surprised, she simply walked around them without saying anything and sat down at the dining table like it was the most normal scene in the world.
Only when Max finally moved his lips away from Machina’s cheek did Jennifer speak.
" Woooh... today feels hot. "
She said with a teasing tone, resting her chin in her hand while looking at the two of them, Max didn’t look embarrassed at all.
The gesture had been intentional from the start, Jennifer is his first girlfriend, and second was Machina — and Max had no interest in hiding that fact or making either of them feel like they had to stand in someone else’s shadow. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
So instead of sneaking moments or acting awkward, he simply gave Machina the respect and acknowledgment she deserved right in front of Jennifer.
Jennifer understood that immediately, which was exactly why she was smiling instead of questioning it.
" It really is hot today. "
Max said it casually as he turned his head toward the window. The morning sunlight was pouring through the glass, bright and almost golden as it filled the apartment.
He narrowed his eyes slightly while looking outside and gave a small nod, even in October, the sun in Munich was a rare sight like this. Most days the sky leaned toward gray clouds and cool air, the kind of weather the city was known for. But today the sun was blazing brightly, lighting up the quiet Schwabing street below and warming the buildings across the road.
