The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 1485: Chapter 1485: Feeding

Staring at that basin of braised pork ribs, Ji You’s eyes lit up instantly, the corners of her eyes and brows full of unhidden joy. In the place where Ji You couldn’t see, the corners of Senior Shi Ya’s lips couldn’t help but curve with a faint smile, but it flashed by in an instant.

Shi Ya handed over a pair of chopsticks.

Ji You accepted them without ceremony, her whole face brimming with smiles. "The one who truly understands me is you, Senior."

After speaking.

Ji You picked up a piece of rib and stuffed it into her mouth. The ribs were crispy on the outside yet soft and tender, bursting with rich juices the moment they entered her mouth. Ji You ate until her mouth was slick with oil, squinting her eyes in happiness. "I really like this kind of plain and simple... ahem... gift, Senior, thank you."

Shi Ya watched calmly and nodded. "Mm."

Ji You ate several pieces in a row, one bite one rib, completely unable to stop. Only when her mouth was stuffed full did she realize she was eating a bit too ravenously. Then Ji You put down her chopsticks and asked, "Senior, do you want some?"

Shi Ya shook her head, then raised her hand and pushed the basin closer to Ji You.

So Ji You hugged the basin and continued eating happily.

Her way of eating could in no way be called refined or elegant; it was pure wolfing-down mode. There was nothing she could do about it—ever since she had accidentally ended up in the Combat Department, she had tossed all that stuff about external image aside. She had to. Take eating, for example: if you chew slowly and daintily for half an hour, and in the end the enemy has already arrived while you’re still eating—

What are you even eating then?

Your last meal?

...

In short, in everything in the Combat Department, you either rush or keep rushing. Don’t waste even a second; keep moving forward, never stopping.

So things like dining etiquette—most people had thrown them away. Even someone as refined as Shen Changqing or as vain as Sheng Qingyan ate extremely fast.

Let’s skip the rest.

Ji You ate more than a dozen pieces of rib in a row, and then discovered that this big, heaping basin, piled high, had barely gone down at all. For a moment she was both delighted and troubled.

Delighted because there was still so much left.

Troubled because there was no rice to go with it.

Right at this moment, Shi Ya seemed to guess Ji You’s thoughts, or perhaps she had long been prepared. She suddenly took out a basin of rice from the Space Button.

Rice fragrant and steaming, sending up thick waves of heat.

Ji You’s eyes widened. "!!!"

Shi Ya said lightly, "Eat."

Ji You opened her mouth wide. "Senior! I really, really, really... like you so, so, so much!"

Shi Ya’s expression remained composed, but her dark eyes brightened slightly.

Ji You said, "Because you’ve given me way, way too much!" There was just no way not to like her.

Shi Ya: "..."

Shi Ya’s face stayed cool, without the slightest change.

Ji You lowered her head, scooping up rice while eating meat, her mouth shiny with oil, her lips smacking nonstop.

In just a short while, half the basin of rice was gone, and the pile of braised ribs stacked high had also decreased by half.

Through it all, Shi Ya maintained an extremely indifferent attitude, not saying a word, just staring at Ji You as she ate.

Then.

Ji You ate while occasionally lifting her head, now and then flashing Senior Shi Ya a simple, goofy smile. "I can’t stop, it’s just too good, too good. This has always been my dream, you know. I’ve been thinking about when I’d finally get to eat my fill of the braised ribs you make, Senior. I didn’t expect it to come true in less than a year."

Hearing this, Shi Ya pressed her lips together slightly, but still said nothing.

Ji You shoveled in rice and meat without even pausing for breath, huffing and puffing as she gnawed down several more pieces.

When she lowered her head to gnaw on the ribs, the look in Shi Ya’s eyes as she watched her carried a hint of helplessness, and also a trace of indulgence. The corners of her lips even subconsciously curved slightly.

But every time Ji You lifted her head, Shi Ya’s expression would be pulled back on cue.

Ji You remained completely unaware.

Then.

The ribs and rice went down by another half.

Shi Ya watched quietly, her expression unchanged all along. She watched as half the rice and meat disappeared, then couldn’t help glancing at Ji You’s stomach.

Flat.

Shi Ya: "..."

Shi Ya fell silent.

This was at least enough for three people—three adults eating their fill. Shi Ya had thought it could at least last Ji You for two meals. Now it seemed she hadn’t prepared enough.

Shi Ya remained silent, saying nothing.

In the entire pavilion, the only sound was Ji You’s happy chewing. Then, deep in her mind, Xiao You spoke, face flushed, sounding embarrassed: [Sis, should we maybe... slow down a bit with the eating?]

Ji You looked blank. "Huh? Why?"

Xiao You: [Ahem... It feels like we’re eating a bit too fast. I just counted the time, and suddenly thought that at a normal person’s speed, it’s probably impossible to eat this fast, right?]

Ji You didn’t care. "Am I a normal person?"

Xiao You: [...]

Ji You chuckled. "There are plenty of abnormal things I’ve done; being a fast eater is nothing. Besides, eating is all about technique. You look at the rib, have your teeth bite down on this side, then give a little push with the tip of your tongue, and the meat slides straight into your mouth. Compared to nibbling slowly like everyone else, that’s at least three times the speed! How can I not eat fast?"

Xiao You was persuaded by her sister’s string of twisted logic, and then all her scruples vanished as she started pigging out as well.

Then.

After just a few more seconds of eating, Xiao You suddenly stopped. [Ahem... Sis, what I was actually worried about was that if we eat too much, too fast, will it affect Senior Shi Ya’s impression of you?]

Ji You’s chopsticks trembled, almost losing their grip.

She’d forgotten about that.

Ji You suddenly lifted her head and met Senior Shi Ya’s eyes head-on. The smile in Shi Ya’s gaze hadn’t had time to fade and was caught by Ji You on the spot. The next second, Shi Ya’s face cooled as she feigned nonchalance and asked, "Why did you stop eating?"

Ji You opened her mouth. "..."

That slightly kind, almost maternal look in Senior Shi Ya’s eyes just now—what was that about? It almost made Ji You think she was only one year old this year.

Ji You stalled for a moment, then said, "It’s too tasty, I’m afraid if I finish it all at once, there’ll be none left." As she spoke, she began tidying up, planning to pack it up and save it for tomorrow.

Shi Ya glanced at the basin. The pile that had been stacked high before, a full heaping basin, had now reached the bottom. Counting what was left, there were probably fewer than ten pieces.

Rice?

There was just a small lump of rice remaining.

Shi Ya stood up and said, "I’m leaving tomorrow. In the future, if you want to eat ribs, try bribing He Bi. He Bi likes to drink lemon water with vinegar—two extra spoonfuls."

Hearing this, Ji You thought she’d misheard. "Senior, are you joking? No normal person would like lemon water with added vinegar, right?"

Shi Ya kept a straight face. "Yes, I’m joking."

Ji You: "..."

What now?

Senior was just too adorable. Even when she was talking complete nonsense with a straight face, she still seemed so cute.

Shi Ya suddenly said, "In the chip I’m keeping for you, there’s a compilation and summary of everything I know about current Biological Mecha, as well as some of my immature ideas. If you need to learn about it, you can take a look."

As she said this.

Shi Ya’s gaze flicked, almost imperceptibly, toward Ji You’s shoulder. There, hidden in Ji You’s thick, smooth hair, a small golden dragon was lying limp, looking utterly listless. Even Ji You’s big mouthfuls of braised meat weren’t enough to stir its interest.

After speaking, Shi Ya turned and left.

"Okay. Got it." Ji You had just answered when she saw her Senior lifting her foot to go. She hurriedly swept the ribs and everything else into her Space Button and said, "Senior, I’ll see you off tomorrow, okay?"

Shi Ya’s steps paused, but she didn’t look back. "No need."

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