Chapter 246: Three Men, One Drama, and the Vat of Jealousy is Overturned Again and Again
Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Three Men, One Drama, and the Vat of Jealousy is Overturned Again and Again
"Yun Sheng, you can stop hiding it. We all see it—Xing Che treats you differently."
Li Wen leaned in close, her eyes burning with intense curiosity, wearing an expression that said, ’I’m not leaving until I get some answers.’
Yun Sheng felt a little uncomfortable under their stares. She lowered her gaze and chose her words carefully. "He... He knows. The two of them know each other."
Cheng Nian’s eyes grew even wider, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Know each other? Tsk, tsk... Looks like you’re planning on keeping them both, Yun Sheng."
Yun Sheng’s lips twitched. She responded, both exasperated and vague, "It’s complicated right now. I can’t explain it in just a few words. I’ll tell you everything once we’re back on Capital Star."
Cheng Nian took her hand and swayed it gently, her eyes sparkling with a playful light.
"Alright, we’ll be waiting. And no brushing us off then. Oh, and... you’ll have to come clean about the White Tiger Officer, too! The way he treated you was so special, anyone with eyes could see it."
Li Wen reached out and gently tapped her on the forehead, chiding, "You’re the one who talks too much."
Cheng Nian stuck out her tongue with a smug look, but she obediently shut her mouth.
Watching them chatter away, Yun Sheng felt the tense exhaustion from her journey being washed away by their lively banter.
A small smile touched her lips as she said softly, "Alright. Once we’re back on Capital Star, I’ll treat you all to a meal. You can ask me anything you want then, and I’ll answer everything."
Cheng Nian’s eyes lit up, and she immediately patted Yun Sheng’s hand. "You said it! No backing out!"
Yun Sheng smiled and nodded.
Just then, Luo Cheng came over and began organizing the injured into groups to board another aircraft for early evacuation.
Cheng Nian and Li Wen both had minor injuries. Although not serious, they were placed on the recuperation list and had to return with the group.
Cheng Nian looked reluctant. She wanted to keep talking with Yun Sheng, but Li Wen half-dragged, half-coaxed her away.
Before she left, Li Wen glanced back at Yun Sheng and reminded her in a low voice, "Take care of yourself."
"I will. You two take care of yourselves, too."
Yun Sheng watched as they boarded the aircraft.
Si Jin had returned at some point and was now standing quietly beside her. "Finished chatting?" he asked in a low voice.
"Mhm," she answered, voluntarily reaching out to take his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Si Jin responded by taking her hand securely in his. He gently caressed the back of it with his thumb, his voice soft. "Are you tired?"
Yun Sheng shook her head. She turned to look at him, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"Not tired, just a little hungry."
Si Jin gazed at her, a gentle light instantly blooming in his eyes. He reached out and lightly tapped the tip of her nose, his tone impossibly fond.
"I’ll cook for you. There’s a kitchen on the aircraft. Let’s go see if there are any ingredients."
Yun Sheng was astonished, her eyes widening slightly. "You know how to cook?"
In her mind, Sentinels like him—constantly on missions and frequently venturing deep into contaminated zones—relied almost exclusively on high-energy nutrient solutions for sustenance. Just getting a full stomach was a victory, so how could they possibly have time to cook for themselves?
Besides, Si Jin had been the Star Alliance War God. Even when he wasn’t on a mission and was on leave, he surely had someone to cook for him.
And after he fell and became a Dark Sentinel, she was even more certain he wouldn’t have the spare time or inclination to cook.
Si Jin let out a low chuckle, his fingertips gently tickling her palm. His tone was light and natural.
"It’s just a little hobby, nothing special. Come on, let me show off a bit."
With that, he took Yun Sheng’s hand and turned toward Bai Ye’s main aircraft.
The aircraft was equipped not only with standard lounges and medical bays, but also a private kitchen and a climate-controlled pantry—a setup reserved for only a handful of top-tier combatants.
After boarding, the two of them walked through a spacious, tidy corridor and quickly found the private kitchen at the rear of the aircraft.
The kitchen wasn’t large, but it was spotless and fully equipped.
The smart refrigeration unit on one side was stocked to the brim.
Bai Ye was always meticulous and thorough. The aircraft was perpetually stocked with fresh ingredients to handle long missions and maintain peak performance in extreme conditions. However, the kitchen usually went unused, with the smart system simply keeping everything fresh.
Si Jin glanced at the ingredients, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Just wait a little while. It won’t take long, I promise you’ll have a hearty meal."
After he spoke, he released Yun Sheng’s hand and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his lean, well-defined forearms.
A far cry from the cold, deadly warrior he was in battle, he now exuded a warm, domestic air.
Kitchens in the interstellar era were highly automated. Voice-controlled stovetops, automatic food processors, precision seasoning dispensers... with a simple command, machines could do most of the work.
Yet Si Jin didn’t rely entirely on the automated system.
He first used the smart panel to sanitize and preheat the surfaces, then selected a few fresh vegetables and some meat. He placed them on the counter and drew a knife from a drawer.
The tip of the knife glided over the cut of meat, slicing it into perfectly uniform thin pieces, each one nearly identical in thickness.
After slicing the meat, Si Jin picked up a vegetable. The blade danced around a bell pepper, neatly removing its seeds and stem.
Leaning against the counter, Yun Sheng watched his fluid, practiced motions and couldn’t help but smile.
She had seen Si Jin wield a blade in battle—cold, decisive, every strike laced with killing intent.
But here in the kitchen, focused on the ingredients in his hands, his features were softened with peace.
Watching him, Yun Sheng suddenly understood. ’What Si Jin calls "a little hobby,"’ she thought, ’is probably his way of fighting off loneliness during all those solitary years no one knew about.’
In that moment, her heart gave a sudden, gentle flutter.
It wasn’t shock, nor was it dependence. It was an incredibly subtle, incredibly soft tremor.
’So this is who he is,’ she realized. ’Not only can he shield me from harm, but after the smoke of battle clears, he’ll even roll up his sleeves and cook for me.’
Si Jin placed the prepared ingredients into the smart cooker, set the time and temperature, then turned and leaned against the counter. A faint smile touched his lips. "What is it?"
Yun Sheng pressed her lips together, a soft light unconsciously entering her eyes. She shook her head gently. "It’s nothing."
Her gaze was tender and her cheeks were slightly flushed, like moonlight softened by an evening breeze.
Si Jin’s heart pounded. He could no longer hold back.
He took a step forward, his long arm wrapping naturally around Yun Sheng’s waist, pulling her gently toward him.
The pads of his fingers pressed against the soft fabric at her waist as he lowered his head. His gaze fell on her slightly trembling lips, and his breathing grew shallow.
Just as his lips were about to descend...
"CLICK."
The kitchen hatch slid open.
Two figures walked in, one after the other.
The air instantly froze.
Xing Che had just stepped into the kitchen, a nonchalant, roguish smile still on his face. But the moment his gaze landed on them, he froze, the smile on his lips slowly turning to ice.
And behind him, Bai Ye stopped dead in his tracks, an intense chill instantly radiating from him.