Chapter 1395: Mint, are you in danger?

The next day...

"Ouch..."

Benjamin woke up with soreness in his neck. Touching it, he sat up groggily, his face scrunching up as he realized the pain wasn’t just in his neck—his shoulders and arms were sore too.

"Did I sleep in a bad position? But I just bought this memory foam and pillows..."

His voice trailed off as memories of last night resurfaced. The last thing he could recall was Mint trying to get something from his neck. However, everything after that was blank.

"That girl..." His face slowly turned red, his eyes blazing. "Mint!"

Benjamin immediately jumped out of bed, incensed at what he assumed Mint had done to him. This wasn’t the first time she had knocked him out. There had been many occasions in the past, and she had promised never to do it again. But she still did.

"Mint!" Benjamin yelled, kicking open the bedroom door. As soon as he did, he paused, looking around briefly. It was Mint’s place, not his. No wonder his body was sore. Without dwelling on it, he marched out, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Mint!" He checked the other rooms, only to find them empty. "Mint!"

He walked around, searching for his cousin, but even after reaching the living room and kitchen, she was nowhere to be found. Deep lines appeared between his brows as he stood motionless in the living room.

"Did she already leave?" he muttered, frowning deeply. "Don’t tell me she fled, thinking this would save her from a well-deserved earful?"

His face soured, but then, the front door opened. A sense of relief secretly swelled in his chest.

"Hey there~" Mint poked her head in, flashing him a big smile. "You’re awake? Don’t tell me you were looking for me?"

"Where did you go?" he grumbled.

Mint chuckled. "Oh, you’re so sweet! Benjie, don’t tell me you missed me the second you woke up? Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you or anything." She walked over, bumping her shoulder against his playfully. "I just went out for a quick run and maybe buy something for breakfast."

Benjamin, still frowning, studied her from head to toe. Mint didn’t look like she had gone for a run—there was no sweat on her hairline or skin. On top of that, she wasn’t carrying anything to back up her excuse of buying breakfast.

"Where’s the food you bought, then?" he deadpanned. "Mint, if you’re going to lie, at least make it sound less pathetic."

"But I did! I went out to buy breakfast, only to realize I didn’t bring my wallet—HAHAHA!"

"..." Benjamin frowned deeply, sighing. "Tch. Fine, I’ll just find something in your fridge and make something quick."

Mint’s mouth stretched into a wide grin as she watched him turn his back on her and drag himself toward the kitchen. She giggled, only to wince slightly as she placed a hand on her hip.

"Benjie, wait for me~" Mint cleared her throat and followed him happily.

---

Shortly after saying he’d make something, Benjamin found himself standing in front of the refrigerator. His face twitched as he stared at the almost empty appliance. There was food inside, but most of it looked like it had been there forever.

Reaching for a container, he opened it—and immediately frowned. The soup inside was as hard as a rock. Disgusted, he turned back to Mint.

"Mint, what the hell?!" he yelled, making her jump. "Why do you even have a fridge if you’re not going to use it to store actual food?!"

"I do store food!" Mint quickly defended herself. "See! You’re holding it!"

"This soup is solid. Why would you even put it in the fridge?"

"Just toss it in a pot, and it’ll turn back into soup!" she said matter-of-factly. "I heard it lasts longer if I freeze it."

Benjamin’s expression died as he stared at her. "When did you put this in here?"

"..." Mint didn’t answer immediately, just smiling as she tried to remember. "Probably... around two—three months ago?"

"!!!"

Benjamin touched the back of his neck, feeling his blood pressure spike.

Surely, this girl didn’t know how to take care of herself.

Even with his busy schedule, Benjamin still made time to cook dinner most nights. He rarely ordered takeout, knowing that staying healthy was the only way to keep functioning at work. But this lady...

Benjamin couldn’t help but cast Mint a disgusted look. "Don’t talk to me right now. In my eyes, you’re basically a walking fast-food chain."

"Huh?" Mint furrowed her brows. "How do I look like a fast-food chain?"

But before she could get an answer, Benjamin was already walking away.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" she asked, pouting.

Benjamin stopped and glanced back at her. "I’m going to buy some food."

"Oh."

"Stay here. I’ll be quick."

---

Benjamin was only gone for about ten minutes. When he returned, he had bought some ingredients for a quick breakfast. Mint, on the other hand, just sat there admiring her little cousin—who was clearly not pleased with her but still made her breakfast anyway.

"Beanie, you’re really talented," Mint said as she sipped the hot soup and took a bite of her omelet. Her eyes twinkled, and she nearly moaned at the taste of real food.

Ever since she left the island, Mint had been surviving on instant meals and takeout. Not because she wasn’t given time to rest, but because she had terrible time management.

Meanwhile, Benjamin watched her savor the simple meal and sighed. He hadn’t taken a bite yet, instead swirling his spoon in his bowl before finally voicing the question that had been on his mind.

"Mint, are you in danger?"

His question made her pause. She looked up at him, slightly surprised.

"You had all night and this morning to come up with an excuse for knocking me out," he continued. "And you only do that when you don’t want me to see something."

His tone softened, concern flickering in his eyes. "Don’t lie to me. What level of danger is it this time?"