185: False warm sunshine, lies of strawberry cream

When Gu Nianqiu opened her eyes again, she was greeted by a familiar and comforting scent.

It was the aroma of butter slowly melting in a pan, mixed with the slightly caramelized scent of wheat flour being toasted.

She blinked her sleepy phoenix eyes and found herself lying on her small bed, adorned with lace trim and strawberry-patterned sheets. A gentle, faintly orange ray of sunlight streamed through the porthole onto her face, warm and soothing.

She sat up, rubbed her eyes, feeling a bit dazed.

Did… I fall asleep?

She shook her little head, her memory a bit hazy. It seemed… it seemed Brother Mo and her sister were going to fight a big bad guy called Leviathan? And then… then she was wiping plates, and then she… couldn't remember.

She was probably too tired.

The Little Girl stretched, her cream-white and strawberry-pink Lolita dress neatly hanging on a hanger by the bed, while she wore cute pajamas with a bear pattern.

She ran barefoot across the soft carpet, pattering out of the room.

The rich aroma of food was coming from her “mobile kitchen,” the cozy corner next to the Bridge that she had transformed.

She peeked her little head in and saw a sight that brought her immense peace of mind.

Lin Mo was sitting in front of the main console on the Bridge, wearing comfortable casual clothes instead of his cold combat suit. He wasn’t studying complex star charts and data, but was leisurely… toasting bread.

Yes, toasting bread.

He used a small table knife to meticulously spread butter on sliced bread, then placed them into a small toaster that emitted a golden glow. His movements were focused and gentle, his profile serene in the morning light.

And her sister, Gu Zhixia, was uncharacteristically not training in the Gena Ku or the gravity chamber.

She was wearing a loose tracksuit, sitting on a nearby sofa, holding a data terminal. She seemed to be watching an interesting movie, a faint, relaxed smile playing on her lips.

Her phoenix eyes, which usually burned with fire, were now narrowed, like a contented cat basking in the sun.

The Natural Selection hung quietly in an unfamiliar but exceptionally beautiful nebula. Outside the porthole, colorful, magnificent gases like a Van Gogh painting swirled, and in the distance, a soft glowing orange dwarf star shone.

No battles, no dangers, no hideous enemies.

Everything was as beautiful as a dream she never wanted to wake from.

“Nian Nian, you’re awake?”

Gu Zhixia was the first to notice her. She put down her data terminal and waved to her.

Her voice was much gentler than usual, losing some of its habitual coolness and sharpness, and gaining a touch of familial laziness and intimacy.

“Sister… Brother Mo…” Gu Nianqiu rubbed her eyes, calling out softly, “Aren’t we… fighting the big bad guy?”

“We finished already,” Gu Zhixia said matter-of-factly. She walked over and habitually pinched her sister’s chubby cheek. “He was a really weak guy; Brother Mo and I took care of him in no time. We didn’t even have time for you to prepare a celebratory feast, it was so boring.”

“Oh…” Gu Nianqiu nodded, still a bit confused.

So, it was already over.

Well, it made sense; her sister and Brother Mo were so amazing, defeating bad guys was a normal thing for them.

“Come eat breakfast.”

Just then, Lin Mo’s voice came. He had already taken the golden-crisp toast out of the toaster and neatly arranged them on a plate with a bear pattern. Beside them were two steaming cups of milk and a small dish of strawberry jam that Gu Nianqiu had made herself.

“Brother Mo… you, you’re cooking?” Gu Nianqiu’s eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief.

This was huge news! When had Brother Mo ever touched a kitchen, besides using the ship’s nutrient synthesizer to make some unpalatable nutrient paste?

“Occasionally, we need to let our Master Chef rest,” Lin Mo smiled. His smile was gentle, even carrying a hint of tenderness she had never seen before. He handed her a cup of milk and a slice of bread spread with strawberry jam. “Try my cooking.”

Gu Nianqiu carefully took the bread and took a small bite.

It was fragrant and crispy.

The savory taste of butter, the sweet and sour of the jam, and the wheaty aroma of the bread itself, all blended perfectly.

The taste… was actually pretty good?

Although it couldn't compare to what she made herself, it was already better than ninety-nine percent of the food she had eaten.

“Delicious!” she praised sincerely, then gulped down a large mouthful of milk, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

“Hmph, it’s passable,” Gu Zhixia also picked up a slice of bread, feigning pickiness, but her rapid chewing movements betrayed her true thoughts.

Inside the Bridge, an unrealistically warm, “home-like” atmosphere permeated.

After breakfast, Gu Nianqiu, as usual, began tidying her small kitchen, preparing to think about the lunch menu. Lin Mo and Gu Zhixia, meanwhile, sat back down on the sofa.

“Zhi Xia and I are going out this afternoon,” Lin Mo said casually, scrolling on his data terminal.

“Eh? Going out again?” Gu Nianqiu stopped what she was doing, asking with some curiosity.

“Hmm, there’s a resource-rich asteroid belt nearby. ‘World Tree’ scanned some rare crystal ores that would be very helpful for upgrading the ship’s energy core,” Lin Mo explained. He brought up a simplified star map, showing only a green flashing coordinate point that didn’t look far from them.

“It’s very safe, just a routine resource collection mission, as simple as picking vegetables from the backyard garden,” Gu Zhixia added. She patted her sister’s head. “We’ll be back very soon, just in time for your lunch.”

“Oh, okay,” Gu Nianqiu nodded, not thinking much of it.

Collecting resources, that was a very normal thing. They did it often before.

She watched Lin Mo and Gu Zhixia stand up and walk towards the Gena Ku. They weren’t wearing heavy mechs, just lightweight, life-sustaining outdoor combat suits. Lin Mo even looked back and gave her a reassuring gesture.

Everything seemed so routine, so natural.

Just like every time they briefly left the ship.

Gu Nianqiu ran to her small refrigerator, like a busy little housewife, deftly taking out various ingredients to prepare a “love bento” for them.

“This is the ‘Eat and Be Full of Strength’ sandwich!”

“This is the ‘You’ll Definitely Dig Up Treasure While Mining’ courage cookie!”

“And my newly invented ‘Safe Return Home’ juice!”

She stuffed a full bento box, decorated with carrot patterns, into Lin Mo’s hand, then stood on tiptoe and earnestly instructed, “Brother Mo, Sister, you must be careful! And come back early! For lunch, I’m making your favorite ‘Universe Super Invincible Awesome’ thick soup with seventeen kinds of mushrooms!”

“Got it, Little Miss Bossy,” Gu Zhixia playfully flicked her nose, her eyes full of laughter.

“We’ll make it back,” Lin Mo also rubbed her head, his tone gentle.

Watching them enter the Gena Ku and board a small shuttle for short-distance flights, Gu Nianqiu waved vigorously.

The shuttle silently slid out of the hull, transforming into a tiny speck of light, flying towards the green-glowing asteroid belt.

The Gena Ku’s massive gate slowly closed.

Buzz—

The heavy alloy door completely sealed, cutting off the magnificent nebula outside.

Inside the Bridge, silence returned.

Only Gu Nianqiu was left.

She looked at the empty Gena Ku, and for some reason, her heart suddenly felt hollow.

An indescribable, small, unfamiliar sense of unease, like a thin feather, gently tickled her heart.

How strange… Before, when Brother Mo and her sister went out, she would worry, but more often, she anticipated the joy of them returning with spoils.

But today… why did it feel… so quiet?

So quiet… it was a little scary.

She shook her head, dismissing the baseless thought.

She must still be half-asleep!

Yes, that must be it!

Gu Nianqiu patted her cheeks, cheering herself up.

“Alright! Gu Nianqiu! Cheer up! Time to start preparing lunch! I’m going to make the best, best mushroom soup to surprise Brother Mo and Sister when they get back!”

She hummed an off-key tune and turned to run back to her small kitchen.

The clatter of pots and pans soon echoed in the quiet Bridge.

She sliced “Rainbow Mushrooms” collected from an ecological planet, which looked like tiny umbrellas, and carefully broke a bioluminescent “Starlight Fungus” into small pieces. The rich, earthy aroma of the mushrooms quickly dispelled the inexplicable panic, once again filling the small space with the warm, comforting scent of “life.”

She believed that by the time the soup was ready, the tightly closed Gena Ku door would surely open on time.

Then, Brother Mo and Sister would walk in, covered in stardust and with smiles on their faces, and say to her:

“Nian Nian, we’re home.”