18: Post-war warmth

Gu Zhixia's efficiency was astonishingly high.

Lin Mo hadn't even finished rechecking all the ship's data in the cockpit when the dashing figure in the jk uniform reappeared at the gangway.

She moved quickly, returning to the deck with a few agile leaps, carrying only a faint scent of blood, without a trace of disarray.

She threw a huge, vine-bound package onto the ground, producing a dull thud.

"There's too much wood and ore, too heavy, hard to carry. I only brought some food and water."

Her voice remained cold.

Lin Mo stepped forward and untied the package.

"Received: Fresh Vegetables * 30"

"Received: Clean Fresh Water * 20L"

These were all basic survival supplies.

"That's it?"

"Mm."

Gu Zhixia nodded, then pulled a crystal stone from her uniform pocket, its entire body emitting a warm, orange glow, and handed it over.

"Found it next to the Elite Savage's corpse. Not sure what it's for."

"orange crystal core * 1"

"Evaluation: A crystal core containing peculiar energy, seemingly a high-grade material."

Lin Mo put away the crystal core and asked, "What about those players?"

Gu Zhixia's eyes showed no ripples.

"Your missile was too powerful; it blew them and their ship to ashes. Nothing was left."

"Tsk."

Lin Mo clicked his tongue, shaking his head with considerable regret.

"Next time, I'll need a different weapon. Targeted elimination will do; otherwise, I can't even loot their bags. It's too wasteful."

Gu Zhixia's eye twitched, but she didn't respond.

This man's focus was always so peculiar... As noon approached, the gnawing hunger in their stomachs began to remind everyone.

Despite her body still being very weak and her face somewhat pale, Gu Nianqiu struggled to get up from the sofa and walked towards the kitchen.

"I... I'll go make lunch."

Her small face was etched with stubbornness.

"You sit down!"

"You rest properly!"

Lin Mo and Gu Zhixia's voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Gu Zhixia rushed over, pressing her sister's shoulders, her tone a command that couldn't be refused.

"What you need most right now is rest. You don't need to worry about cooking."

"But..."

Gu Nianqiu wanted to say something else, but her sister's stern gaze silenced her.

Gu Zhixia took a deep breath, as if making a major decision. She turned to Lin Mo, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

"I... I'll go cook."

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, watching her with interest.

"You can cook?"

This question was like a needle, instantly piercing the courage Gu Zhixia had so painstakingly mustered.

Her pretty face flushed instantly, burning all the way to her ears. Her eyes darted away, not daring to meet Lin Mo's gaze.

"A little... a little bit..."

She stiffened her neck, forcefully maintaining her aloof persona.

"Let's get this straight! No matter how it tastes, you both have to finish it! No complaints!"

With that, she rushed into the kitchen without looking back, almost as if she were fleeing.

Lin Mo watched her retreating figure, a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

He returned to the captain's chair in the cockpit and began re-planning the route, while Gu Nianqiu obediently sat in the co-pilot's seat beside him.

In the quiet cockpit, only the faint hum of the instruments remained.

Suddenly, a suppressed, soft sob broke the silence.

Lin Mo turned his head and saw Gu Nianqiu hugging her knees, her small face buried in her arms, her slender shoulders trembling as she cried heartbreakingly.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Mo's voice was very soft.

Gu Nianqiu lifted her head, her beautiful big eyes red and swollen from crying, tears falling like broken pearls, tugging at one's heartstrings.

"Brother Mo... Am I very useless... Am I just a burden..."

Her voice was thick with sobs, full of self-reproach and helplessness.

"Today... if it weren't for protecting me, Sister wouldn't have been distracted, and you wouldn't have been ambushed by so many people... I can't help at all, I only drag you both down..."

The more she spoke, the sadder she became, and her tears fell even more fiercely.

"I'm so scared... scared that next time we encounter danger, something will happen to you because of me..."

Lin Mo was silent for a moment.

He didn't offer empty comforts like "You're not a burden."

He simply reached out and gently tapped the Little Girl's head with his knuckles.

"Without the food you cook, where would your sister and I get the strength to fight?"

His tone was calm, yet it carried a convincing power.

"The steak you make can temporarily boost attributes. The breakfast you make can also boost attributes. Do you think this ability is a burden?"

Gu Nianqiu's sobbing paused. She lifted her tear-filled eyes and stared blankly at Lin Mo.

"Did you forget? Your sister is an S-Class Weapon Master, and you are an A-Rank Culinary Master. The two of you, one responsible for offensive power and the other for logistical buffs, are indispensable core members of this team."

Lin Mo looked at her, speaking each word with utmost clarity.

"And I'm just the one who drives the ship."

Gu Nianqiu was completely bewildered by his words, even forgetting to cry.

She sniffled and softly retorted.

"That's not true... Brother Mo is the most amazing..."

"Then stop crying."

Lin Mo withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair.

"Heal well, recover quickly, and then make us even more delicious food and provide stronger buffs. That's what you should be doing."

Gu Nianqiu nodded vigorously, the gloom in her heart largely dispelled.

She wiped away her tears, and as if remembering something, her eyes lit up again.

"Brother Mo, actually... actually, if I had special-grade ingredients, I... I could even make cuisine that permanently increases attributes!"

Permanent buffs!

Lin Mo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"What are special-grade ingredients?"

Gu Nianqiu tilted her small head, saying with some distress, "I don't know either... My Talent only tells me that such a thing exists, but it doesn't give any hints about what it looks like or where to find it."

"It's okay."

Lin Mo's gaze deepened.

"I'll pay more attention during our future voyages."

He looked at the Little Girl, whose face was still streaked with tears but was already envisioning the future, and his heart stirred.

Perhaps, in this cold and cruel apocalypse, protecting this innocence was also a very meaningful thing.

After chatting for a while, the knot in Gu Nianqiu's heart was untied, but a wave of physical exhaustion washed over her.

She leaned against the soft co-pilot's seat, her head nodding, her eyelids beginning to droop.

Finally, her small head tilted, and she leaned against Lin Mo's shoulder, falling into a deep sleep.

Her breathing was steady, carrying a faint, sweet scent.

Lin Mo's body stiffened for a moment, but he ultimately didn't move, letting her rest against him.

After an unknown amount of time, a fragrant, slightly burnt smell wafted from the kitchen.

Gu Zhixia emerged, carrying two plates, her expression somewhat stiff.

When she saw her sister sleeping soundly on Lin Mo's shoulder, her steps paused, and her brows furrowed unconsciously.

Lin Mo immediately made a "shush" gesture to her, lowering his voice.

"She just fell asleep. Don't wake her."

Gu Zhixia opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed the words she was about to say, only nodding.

She placed the plates on a nearby table.

Lin Mo carefully adjusted his posture, then said to Gu Zhixia, "Come, lend a hand, let's carry her back to her room."

Gu Zhixia didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and gently supported Gu Nianqiu's back.

Lin Mo, meanwhile, cradled Gu Nianqiu's legs around her waist.

Their movements were gentle and coordinated. Together, they lifted the sleeping girl and steadily carried her back to her princess room, filled with lace and dolls.

After tucking her in, they quietly tiptoed out.