34: Gu Zhixia's feelings

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Mythical-grade cuisine!

Lin Mo’s pupils contracted sharply.

The cool current that surged into his brain was not an illusion, but a genuine surge in mental power!

He could clearly feel his thoughts becoming sharper, his perception of the surroundings improving a notch, and even the severe pain from overdrawing his mental power was now mostly soothed.

“Come over and eat, we all need this.”

Lin Mo looked up, his voice hoarse from his brush with death, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

He pushed the small cake to the center of the table.

Gu Zhixia and Gu Nianqiu exchanged glances, both seeing disbelief in the other’s eyes.

“Brother Mo, you…” Gu Nianqiu was about to ask something.

“Eat.” Lin Mo only said one word.

Gu Zhixia no longer hesitated; she picked up another clean fork, dug out a small piece, and elegantly brought it to her mouth.

The next second, the expression on her usually frosty face froze.

Her beautiful phoenix eyes widened abruptly, filled with extreme shock and incredulity.

A warm current surged from her limbs and bones, finally converging in her mind, dispelling all lingering fear and apprehension.

“This… this is…” She couldn’t even complete her sentence, only muttering, “This is definitely divine cuisine… I’ve never eaten anything this delicious on Blue Star…”

That feeling was beyond words.

It was not merely the ultimate enjoyment for the taste buds, but also a cleansing and sublimation at the soul level.

“Hehe.” Seeing her sister’s reaction, Gu Nianqiu finally broke into a smile through her tears; she also picked up a fork, happily dug out a large piece, stuffed it into her mouth, and blissfully narrowed her eyes.

The shadow of death that had enveloped the three of them was finally, at this moment, completely dispelled by this small cake.

What remained was only the relief of surviving a disaster and boundless hope for the future.

After eating the cake and replenishing their strength, a wave of mental exhaustion washed over them.

Especially Lin Mo; the forced overload of his mental power and the activation of “Full Speed Ahead” had taken the greatest toll on him.

A sharp, piercing pain came from his temples, making him frown involuntarily and raise a hand to press his forehead.

“I need to rest; my mental power is severely overdrawn.”

He stood up and said to the two sisters.

“I’ll leave the cockpit to you. If anything happens, wake me immediately.”

“Mm! Brother Mo, go to sleep quickly!”

“We’ve got it here.”

Gu Nianqiu and Gu Zhixia immediately nodded, their faces filled with worry.

Lin Mo, with heavy steps, returned to his cabin.

Only the two sisters remained in the cockpit.

Gu Nianqiu leaned by the porthole, looking at the boundless deep blue sea outside, humming a tuneless song softly, trying to make the atmosphere lighter.

Gu Zhixia, however, seemed somewhat restless.

She occasionally glanced in the direction of Lin Mo’s cabin, her sharp eyes filled with complex emotions.

Finally, she stood up.

“Nianqiu, I’m going to check the hull for damage. You stay here and monitor the radar.”

“Oh, okay, Big Sister!” Gu Nianqiu nodded obediently.

Gu Zhixia walked out of the cockpit, but her steps involuntarily paused in front of Lin Mo’s cabin door.

The door was ajar, not fully closed.

As if possessed, she gently pushed the door open and peered inside.

Lin Mo was already asleep.

He lay on the bed, his breathing steady, but his brows were still tightly furrowed; even in his sleep, he seemed unable to find true peace.

His usually calm and composed face was now etched with exhaustion, and even… a hint of vulnerability she had never seen before.

Gu Zhixia’s heart inexplicably clenched.

It hurt.

From his selfless rescue in the barbarian tribe, to his unwavering protection of her behind him under the World Tree, and finally, his roaring command that led them out of desperation.

Scene after scene flashed rapidly through her mind.

This man always stood in front of all of them in the most dangerous moments.

She remembered falling into his firm, warm embrace in the jungle.

She remembered the warmth of his hand holding hers as they frantically ran through despair.

A strange, bittersweet emotion began to wildly grow in her heart, almost melting the heart she had built with ice and arrogance.

She realized that her reliance on this man had long exceeded her imagination.

Gu Zhixia held her breath and tiptoed to the bedside.

Her heart was pounding rapidly, as if it would leap out of her throat.

The whole world fell silent, leaving only Lin Mo’s steady breathing and her own drumming heartbeat.

She looked at his sleeping profile, at his tightly furrowed brow.

A crazy thought, uncontrolled, sprang from her heart.

She slowly, slowly lowered her head.

She gently, lightly pressed her cool lips against Lin Mo’s cheek.

Soft, warm.

The moment of contact, like an electric current, made Gu Zhixia’s body tremble violently, instantly waking her up.

What… what did she just do?!

With a “boom,” her entire pretty face, along with her fair neck, instantly turned red like a ripe apple.

She abruptly covered her mouth, her phoenix eyes wide and round, filled with panic and shame.

She dared not look at Lin Mo again, turning and running, her movements so flustered that she almost tripped over the carpet.

Like a startled fawn, she scurried away from the scene of the crime… When she woke up, it was already dusk.

The sky outside the window was dyed a magnificent orange-red by the sunset glow.

Lin Mo opened his eyes and let out a long, turbid breath.

The excruciating pain that had lingered in his mind had completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and comfort.

He sat up, feeling completely refreshed and energized.

His stomach rumbled inconveniently.

He leaned against the wall, walked out of his cabin, and prepared to go to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.

As soon as he reached the kitchen door, he froze.

Gu Nianqiu was wearing her cute lace apron, humming a song, skillfully processing ingredients on the cutting board.

And next to her, Gu Zhixia was surprisingly also there!

She held a cleaver, clumsily, repeatedly… chopping a green vegetable.

It was less like cutting vegetables and more like having a vendetta against them.

This unprecedented scene somewhat surprised Lin Mo.

“You two…”

As soon as he spoke, both sisters turned their heads simultaneously.

“Brother Mo! You’re awake!” Gu Nianqiu’s face immediately broke into a brilliant smile.

Gu Zhixia’s movements stiffened noticeably; she subconsciously avoided Lin Mo’s gaze, and an unnatural blush floated onto her cheeks.

“Are you… feeling better?” Her voice was still clear and cold, but if one listened carefully, a hint of concern could be heard.

“Much better.” Lin Mo nodded, not exposing her odd behavior.

“Brother Mo, you go sit in the dining room first; dinner will be ready soon!”

Gu Nianqiu pushed Lin Mo out of the kitchen without further ado.

Lin Mo came to the dining room, where the mess had already been cleaned up, and the tables and chairs were neatly arranged.

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

Soon, a fragrant aroma wafted out.

Gu Nianqiu and Gu Zhixia brought out steaming hot dishes to the table.

A whole roasted chicken, golden brown and crispy, sizzling with oil, made from fresh meat they had found in a supply box yesterday.

A platter of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, colorful and pleasing to the eye.

A pot of rich soup, simmered with fish and mushrooms, its creamy white broth bubbling, exuding an enticing freshness.

And a small bowl of pudding made with blue berries and milk, as a dessert after the meal.

A whole table full of dishes, so lavish it didn’t seem like the apocalypse, but rather a celebratory banquet at some high-end restaurant.

“Wow! It smells so good!” Gu Nianqiu put down the last dish, unable to resist swallowing her own saliva first.

Gu Zhixia arranged the bowls and chopsticks, her face still expressionless, but the slight upturn of her lips still betrayed her current mood.

She looked at Lin Mo and, uncharacteristically, spoke first.

“This meal is to celebrate our narrow escape from death.”

She paused, seeming a little embarrassed, and her voice dropped.

“And… and to thank you for saving us again.”