Chapitre 210: On, how many people are sweetened by bell pepper curry?
And when the everyone eyes return to the game,
As Mei approached Kiana's room, Kiana's muffled voice drifted through the door – words of isolation and a determination to fight her battles alone.
with Einstein also made her despair of reality, and she couldn't help but recall the advice the raven gave her:
"What are you going to use to save her, ideals? Hope? Or the feelings between people?"
"Don't you want to save that girl? Schicksal can't do it, Anti-Entropy can't do it too, and even the direct descendants can't do it."
"But the World Serpent... we can offer a solution."
"Consider my offer – come back in two hours. The leader of the World Serpent will be here, waiting for your decision."
The soft but sharp words of the other party echoed in her ears at this moment, and they were extra clear when she was leaning against the wall. Every word hit her heart.
If it were her before, she would've dismissed her enemies' words without a second thought.
If it were her before, she wouldn't have walked straight into a blatant 'trap' like this.
If it were her before, she would've held onto Kiana's promise with Fixed faith.
But she is not.
She is no longer a girl who only believes in the fairy-tale endings. She has already understood the cruelty of reality.
Kiana's life hangs by a thread, with only two months left. Anti-entropy cannot save her, Everything her enemy says rings painfully true.
Kiana will die.
As soon as this thought came out, it firmly occupied Mei's heart. She can't picture a world without Kiana's vibrant presence.
She didn't dare to imagine the scene after Kiana was gone.
if she remains passive, if she doesn't reach for even the slimmest chance...
---
"Can the World Serpent really save her? Mobius, is there truly a way?" After so much contemplation, she surrendered to the need for answers.
She had to turn to the one person who might know the truth.
"Me? How would I know what tricks Kevin has up his sleeve?" Mobius's voice was cold and dismissive. "And even if I did know, why would I share it with you?"
"Oh, my good Mobius, don't get a little emotional just because of the little joke. This is not like you." Elysia twisted her fingers and said it without any disappointment.
"Like me? Please, don't act like we're old friends, like you understand me at all. The truth is, you don't." Mobius didn't bother looking up from her work, her voice dripping with disinterest.
Anyway, she didn't offend the other party by doing this; she just ignored her and treated her coldly.
The other party was too out of touch, and Mobius felt strongly uncomfortable.
Moreover, has she been eyeing her recently?
Besides, hadn't she been watching Mobius a little too closely lately? Sure, back in the days of the Fire Moth, she knew this woman's interests could be unpredictable, but I didn't expect that she would be so interested in me today.
Speaking of which, can you take this opportunity to put the other party on the experimental table?
As for reaching the top, That's not at her mercy.
"Come now, Mobius. We share a bed, after all. Surely there's room for a little friendliness?" Elysia's voice was a playful whisper close to Mobius' ear.
The warm breath rushed from the tip of the nose to the ears, itching slightly and carrying a delicate fragrance, which was the fragrance of flowers and candy.
A faint blush crept onto Mobius' ears. She instinctively raised her hands defensively, trying to push back against the unexpected intimacy.
...
"Hey, Kiana, look, Mei is about to be snatched away, and you are still there, showing off as a hero."
Kiana blinked, confused. Why did everyone seem determined to push her into a corner? And why the emphasis on "old"? It felt...off.
She shook her head, trying to ignore the niggling feeling of unease. Throwing a playful grin at Bronya, she replied with unwavering confidence, "Mei wouldn't leave, right Mei?"
Silence. Mei's eyes were fixed on the screen, her expression unreadable. A sigh escaped her lips, a subtle release of tension that Kiana couldn't quite understand.
---
Mei took a deep breath to steady herself. Kiana must be starving after waking up and not eating all day. Pushing those nagging thoughts aside, she focused on the task at hand – bringing a hot meal to her friend.
And she doesn't know why, Was it the raven's haunting words, or those overheard whispers in the corner?
Something felt off, like a switch had been flipped within her. Mei kept her concerns hidden, burying them beneath a practiced smile.
This wasn't her usual way. She always wore her heart on her sleeve.
But people change, don't they? Maybe this was just part of growing up, of facing the harsh realities of the world.
"Here. I figured you might be getting hungry, so I whipped up a little something." Mei set the plate of steaming curry in front of Kiana.
"Oh! It's the curry made by Mei!"" Kiana said happily, and the smile on her face was as innocent as ever.
Kiana straightened up, hugged the plate, and started to devour it.
"Slow down, Kiana. We don't want you choking on your food." Mei couldn't help but chuckle.
It was good to see Kiana's appetite hadn't suffered, a small sign that things weren't as Bad as she'd feared.
Before long, the plate was empty.
"I'm full!" Kiana leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"Four months away, and you haven't lost your appetite one bit," Mei remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Well, some things stay the same." Kiana smiled. "This curry... it brings back so many good memories."
"Ahh, just the right amount of spice, the warmth spreading through me... turns out, your cooking is still the best, Mei!"
Mei paused, a flicker of worry crossing her face before she managed a smile. "I'm glad you like it. I was afraid I'd made it too spicy."
"No, no! The spiciness is just right. It makes you sweat while eating. It's very comfortable. I like it very much."
"Don't worry about choking. Just take a sip of water." Mei handed Kiana a glass, watching as her friend drained it and settled back with a contented sigh.
"Well, Kiana, you're going to be fine."
"You will definitely get better."
…
Wow—— _
The cool water ran over Mei's fingertips, a relentless rhythm against the silence.
Tiny droplets danced, shattered, and vanished down the drain, echoing the muffled sobs she tried so desperately to hold back.
She'd washed the plate, ready to replace it in the cupboard, when her hand brushed against the wooden bowl beside it. A few stray pieces of bell pepper, leftovers from the curry, tumbled to the floor.
"Idiot..." she choked out.
The clock was ticking, her two-hour deadline with the raven looming closer with each passing second.
Tears blurred her vision. Her hands clenched, searching for something, anything, to hold onto – a futile gesture of defiance against the empty feeling Growing in her heart.
"Bell pepper curry, how can it be spicy?"
She left the kitchen, the familiar warmth fading behind her.
The hallway stretched before her, quiet and empty, The only source of light was the infirmary's fluorescent glow, flickering faintly at the far end like a distant, dying star.
She turned around and left in the direction where there was no light.
---
[This bell pepper curry... taste so sweet.]
[Wait, wasn't it supposed to be spicy? What's with all this sweetness?]
[Ugh! I watched that scene with Sora and got so hungry, I ordered takeout! Turns out, this dish is a total Secret Knife that bleed my mouth, This bell pepper... I cried while eating it. Why?? It's so cruel. Why treat them both like this? ]
[Anyone else make their own bell pepper curry after watching the cooking with valkyrie? Mine could feed a whole army. Talk about overestimating my tolerance for sweetness! ]
Kiana's words, once innocent and carefree, now cut through Mei's heart like a dull blade. Her question – "How can bell pepper curry be spicy?" – had become a cruel metaphor for their situation.
And as the player community buzzed with complaints about the overly sweet dish, a bitter truth settled within Mei.
"They were both so careful, trying to shield each other from the pain," Bronya observed, shaking her head. "Trying to leave only happy memories behind, BUT As a result, in the end.."
For months, they had each borne their burdens in silence, No one wants to reveal their deepest hurts to the person they love.
But in the end, their unspoken suffering became crystal clear, as if neither could truly hide anything from the other.
Kiana has long known the haggardness in Mei's eyes, and Mei has also seen the countdown of Kiana's life.
"Ah, hehe, I will inevitably make mistakes sometimes. Who would have thought that there are non-hot peppers?"
Kiana scratched her head in embarrassment. She thought the so-called bell peppers were just not that spicy.
Obviously, Kiana, in reality is also a kitchen killer who has no knowledge of the kitchen.
"But Kiana, by doing this, you're pushing Mei further away." Bronya's voice was calm, her analysis cutting through the pretense.
a stark reminder that even the best intentions couldn't hide the harsh reality of their situation.
"So, Kiana, stop trying to pretend everything's fine. Just like you don't want Mei to worry about your fading sense of taste, hiding things only makes her more anxious," Bronya pointed out.
"I understand."
"Bronya doubts; what do you know?"
"I see. Are bell peppers sweet?" Kiana tried to give a result and carefully looked at Mei's expression.
Mei's expression darkened. "Ki-A-Na," she said, her voice dangerously low. It was clear Kiana's innocent question had struck a nerve.
"I also learned that I won't lie to Mei. Mei cares about me very much. I can't hide anything from Mei. Mei is the best to me!"
Kiana said it quickly. Obviously, her mind was running On Overclock now, and she had learned to suppress first and then raise.
"Hehe--" This made Mei couldn't help but smile and rub Kiana's hair. "You are not allowed to do such a thing in the future~."
"Okay, okay! Mei, you're the best," Kiana replied, Smiling. A wave of relief washed over her, knowing she'd made things right again.
Even though Kiana didn't fully understand why her actions had been met with such concern, one thing was undeniable – Mei cared for her deeply. That fierce protectiveness, the way she refused to let Kiana face anything alone...
Watching this scene, even Bronya had to admit she was surprised by a flash of wisdom from the usually carefree Kiana.
It seemed that even that paramecium could even learn and grow.., if you push her to corner
...
In the golden courtyard,
Silence, still silence.
"Those small moments...they cut deeper than expected," Elysia murmured, breaking the silence. Even Mobius, her usual sparring partner, seemed subdued.
In other words, the farce during the day was stopped and moved to the night.
Suddenly, Vill-V spoke up, her question oddly out of place. "Did anyone have lunch?"
" Huh? Why don't you eat? It's not like we can't taste delicious food. Wow, Vill-V, are you implying that Kiana has no sense of taste? You are too bad."
Elysia pouted, her life here with her pals had been good, and she was enjoying this life of thirteen people, with her best friend right next to her.
Except for a certain game that had somewhat dampened her mood.
"Maybe you forgot, so let me just remind you that I think Some food company said something about planning to make one of the meals advertised on the anime when Luo Mo mentioned it to you guys."
(I'm still confused about who "百味 - bǎi wèi" is meant by Vill-V, I think that's what she means most closely, a fast-food company that wants to sponsor the anime 'Cooking with Valkyrie' and put Mei's Bell pepper recipe on the menu.)
Velvet coughed and said quietly.
She was thinking that it didn't matter but looking at Elysia not-so-good face, she felt that she was hanging on for dear life, really afraid that the other party would eat and recall the gameplay footage and burst into tears - appearing as if there was something wrong with Momiji's cooking.
"... You mean?"
"It's the bell pepper curry! The scene you saw earlier...who would've guessed They even tried to recreate a dish from that 'Cooking with Valkyrie' animation?" Vill-V sighed. "Let's just hope They didn't follow the recipe too closely..."
Velvet spread her hands and said helplessly.
She likes to create accidents, but in this kind of accident, she feels inexplicably lost to Luo Mo. After all, she is not the one who surprises others. Speaking of which, the other party's preparations are deep enough, Vill-V thought as she touched her chin.
"Ugh!" Elysia groaned. Just a moment ago, she was reveling in the lighthearted chatter online, and now she was the target of this bittersweet twist.
Suddenly, the prospect of dinner wasn't so appealing.
Anyway, she felt that she couldn't eat that meal these days. After all, Flame-Chasers ate to enjoy life, not to feel pain.
"Can we skip dinner? Please?" Elysia asked eagerly, trying to escape.
"No, it's not okay to waste food. That's the behaviour of a bad girl."
Aponia said quietly from the side that she had never wasted any food in the orphanage before, and she couldn't do it now. She had to supervise the other party.
"Ahem——, I've made a lot; let's all eat together... I think we can just have another meal in the evening."
Unable to resist Elysia's eyes, Vill-V told her the 'good news'.
…
"You want to skip dinner? Tonight?" A stunned voice echoed through St. Freya's cafeteria, a place where an empty window was a shocking sight indeed.
The cafeteria aunties exchanged bewildered glances.
They were used to girls filling their trays with enthusiasm, not turning away in tears.
Sure, maybe they weren't Michelin-starred chefs, but no one had ever cried over their cooking before! Was their food really that bad?
"Immortal, surely this looks tastier than those 'eternity' pickles of yours? Care to give it a try?"
Looking at the few dishes left in the cafeteria and the full windows on one side, Book of Fuxi said with a smirk, "And maybe grab a serving for Cheng Lixue while you're at it?"
Fu Hua sighed inwardly, staring at the bell pepper curry and recalling the recent 'Sweet' plot. As seasoned as she was, her heart felt heavy.
Her thoughts drifted to that lone jar of preserved vegetables in her dorm – wild, untamed greens pickled for an unknown eternity. It was hardly ideal for Cheng Lixue's recovery. Yet, facing the infamous curry, it seemed the better option of two evils.
So I had no choice but to nod my head and say, "That's fine."
…
As for the food at MiHoYo Company, this is a matter of opinion.
Luo Mo, ever the opportunist, realized sadness was a goldmine for those coveted "emotional points." And what better way to cultivate a little despair than with a company-wide culinary disaster? No one works harder than employees on the brink of tears, which means more crystals for the boss!
So, in order not to leave any chance, In a move of pure "selflessness,", he had already removed all the snacks from the company and replaced them with better ones.
Today, the only meal served at the company is bell pepper curry.
Luo Mo thought that this would help the employees save some of the cost of eye drops. Their eyes must be very tired after working in front of the computer for so long.
Therefore, I still understand righteousness very well!
"Boss, you might want to watch your back,"
Su Lu hesitated to speak, looked at the ungrateful Luo Mo in front of her, and said, to be honest, it is normal for the boss to be murdered again at any time.
The kind that didn't surprise her.
"Relax Su Luo. I stashed two boxes of instant noodles for just such an occasion. We'll work through lunch here, away from the cafeteria." Luo Mo nodded and said it with a smile.
"As expected of you, the boss is indeed far-sighted." Su Luo gave a thumbs up without hesitation.
After all, adaptability was key to survival in the workplace, and if that meant switching sides when the revolution came...well, who could blame her?
…
For a time, countless people were "sweetened" by the bell pepper curry.
This actually caused the price of bell peppers to drop, although I don't know if it was really due to the influence of the game, but that's a story for another day.
The players all said in unison,
[This must be what MiHoYo doing!! ****, screenwriter, suffer death! ]
[Wait, why is this SWEET? Everyone said it would be spicy. I've been lied to!]
[Seriously, who cries like this from eating bell peppers? Is there something wrong with me?]
[My mom asked why I was sobbing over dinner. I told her it was the sweetest thing ever. She was so proud of herself for making it perfectly...and now I have to eat it again tonight!.]
It is worth mentioning that later on, Kiana went to the cafeteria later today, so... she really experienced the taste of bell pepper curry.
"...it's not sweet at all," she murmured, the first bite revealing nothing but bitterness and a sharp, hollow feeling.
With a sigh, she set down her chopsticks and gazed out the window.
"There is only bitterness and astringency in my heart, and there is no Mei to cook it... Forget it; Mei should not make this dish."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone