37: Chapter 37 is also a story of a pair of star-crossed lovers.

“Commander, I’m back... huh?”

Olena opened the door to the waiting room, only to find it empty. Lin Yuming’s military jacket hung on a nearby rack, and his personal saber was neatly placed beside it.

Where did they go? Olena was puzzled. Subconsciously, she went out and tried to open the doors to several other rooms, but found them all locked, which immediately set off alarm bells.

Drawing her saber, she walked along the corridor and down the stairs to the next deck, where she smelled the aroma of food.

The ship's kitchen? Olena thought to herself.

“May the Kitchen God bless... this... mm!” She vaguely heard Finn’s voice and couldn’t help but quicken her pace towards the source of the aroma and sound.

Opening a slightly ajar hatch, Olena saw her dear Commander sitting at the dining table, frantically shoveling a bowl of what appeared to be a yellow, unknown mushy food with a spoon. It smelled like... potatoes?

“Lin, how did you come up with such a great way to make potatoes? This is truly too...”

Finn saw the expressionless Ship Girl, and the look on his face completely froze.

“Um... Olena, would you like to try some?” Finn looked at her with a guilty conscience.

Li Ming, who was chopping vegetables, turned his head and looked at the young couple, as if he was seeing himself when he caught Fujian licking her plate. They could have just come to him if they wanted to eat, but they insisted on not saying anything.

“Please sit, Miss Olena. You’ve worked hard. Since the storm won't be over for a while, why not rest a bit first?”

Seeing that Li Ming had given him an out, Finn quickly echoed, “Yes, yes, Olena, come try Lin’s cooking with me!”

Olena shot a wary glance at Li Ming. Seeing that he showed no ill will, only continued to chop vegetables (looking clumsy and uncoordinated), and Finn was also in high spirits, she really couldn't resist. She sighed, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

The smell of what was supposedly potatoes wasn't a problem in itself, but how was this muddy stuff related to potatoes?

Taking the spoon Finn handed her, Olena gently scraped a little from the bowl and tasted it.

A mixture of cream and butter, intertwined with the original potato flavor, filled her mouth, making her eyes light up. Although she had eaten better things before, this was the first time she had encountered something so distinctive.

“How is it? My taste, your Commander’s, isn’t bad, right?”

Olena gently put down the spoon and looked at him. He was completely oblivious, just like a triumphant general.

Olena raised her hand, and then... clenched it into a fist and slammed it hard on Finn’s head.

“Ouch! Why did you hit me!” Finn asked, tears welling up in his eyes, as if a large bump had swelled on his head.

“What do you think, my dear Commander?” Olena said with a smile, enunciating each word.

“Hiss! Sister Olena, can we make peace?” Finn broke out in a cold sweat.

“Are you joking at this moment? You’re even calling me ‘sister’ just to save your life? Little one, I look down on you.”

“Lin, save me!”

“I’m chopping vegetables, you idiot!” Li Ming, whose arm was grabbed by the pouncing Finn, nearly dropped his knife.

After a flurry of activity, Li Ming finally lit the stove.

“Ahem, Captain Lin, I hope to ask you some questions.” Olena’s expression turned serious, and her hand hesitantly pushed away Finn’s spoon that was inching closer.

“Ah, please go ahead.” Li Ming began to pour oil.

“I saw your flight armament, but I haven't seen this type of military equipment before.” Olena hesitated, “What is it?”

“P-51D-NA-20, the ‘mustang’ multi-purpose fighter jet.”

“But, Captain Lin, your fleet doesn’t seem to have a place for such aircraft to land, does it?”

“They take off and land on the aircraft carrier behind us. They are reinforcements I called to deal with potential risks... Don’t you have any ships that can accommodate aircraft?”

“Does a large airship supply vessel count?” Finn finished the last bit and asked, then was stomped on by Olena again. “Ow...”

“I guess so?” Li Ming was unsure.

“May I ask where it is? I think this might be a very important diplomatic matter...” Olena herself was a bit unsure; Finn’s interruption had her mind a little muddled.

“...That’s actually a military secret.” Li Ming added the vegetables, and the oil in the wok sizzled.

“I understand... I’d like to ask why most of the cabins on your ship are locked, and why I haven’t seen any other crew members on your ship?”

“Those cabins are storage rooms. As for the crew... they are all on the Bridge and in necessary areas, places I’m sure Miss Olena knows not to casually look into, right?” Li Ming skillfully scooped the vegetables in the wok... though he also skillfully flipped some out. “As for the storage rooms, you can look if you want, maybe even take some souvenirs?”

“That won’t be necessary... Thank you for your generosity, Captain Lin, this should be the last question... How do you view us? I mean, the Federation behind us?”

“Huh?” Li Ming was stunned. “This is our first meeting, isn’t it? How can I judge...”

“Exactly, exactly...” Finn seemed to have gotten Li Ming’s permission and began rummaging through the kitchen for snacks. “This is our first contact with them, how can we analyze friend or foe...”

“Ensign Hawke...” Olena’s face darkened, but she still smiled. “Do you remember the purpose of our trip?”

“Aren’t you doing it?” Finn opened a box of cookies.

Olena’s dark aura almost materialized, and she could no longer control herself, picking up a stool and throwing it over.

“Woah!” He was so scared that he dodged directly, throwing the cookie box aside. The scattered cookies fell into Li Ming’s wok, and also hit Li Ming in the face.

Looking at the ruined dinner, and then at the chaotic kitchen, Li Ming smiled.

“You two... get out!”

Watching the two at the door reflecting on their actions, Li Ming sighed and began to prepare dinner again.

But before that, he had to clean up the messy kitchen and the completely ruined dishes. Fortunately, this wasn't his first time doing these things, so it wouldn't take too long.

Outside the kitchen, he heard the two talking in low voices and Finn’s uncontrollable laughter. Li Ming suddenly found them a bit amusing.

These two children, who love and kill each other, are also a pair of star-crossed lovers.

...Damn it! Let their star-crossed lovers go eat some 'Oli Gie'!

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