(1)
In the Lounge of the Karting Track, the rough cement floor and walls made An Jing feel especially at ease.
She sat atop a high stool, gently swinging her legs, leisurely sipping a cup of Glucose Water held in her hands.
“This is actually my first time realizing how good Glucose Water tastes.”
“Really? You don’t think it’s too sweet?” Jiang Yujing was filling out a Report on a Form. “But you shouldn’t drink it recklessly. If you have too much, your blood sugar metabolism could get all messed up.”
“If my body wasn’t so weak all the time, I wouldn’t drink it at all.” An Jing took another sip from her glass. Suddenly, the Entrance Door was pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in against the light. She waved her hand lightly, cheerfully calling out, “Huihui-jie!”
“Xiao Jing, are you having fun here?”
“Yeah, I’m having a good time. But I didn’t expect driving to be so tiring.” An Jing downed the rest of her Glucose Water in one gulp. “Huihui-jie, do you want to try?”
“Hmm? Karting? I’ll pass.” Yu Minghui walked over, gently patting An Jing’s head. “Later, when you’re having your checkup, if you feel uncomfortable at any point, you have to refuse, okay?”
“Mm… Sometimes I do want to challenge my limits…”
“Just remember not to overdo it,” Yu Minghui said seriously. “You need to treasure yourself first. Only then will others treasure you.”
“Okay, got it!”
“So, let’s go have a big meal and properly regain some energy.” Jiang Yujing glanced at Yu Minghui. “Just tell me whatever you want to eat, I’ll have the Back Kitchen prepare it.”
“Uh… Sea Cucumber, Abalone, stuff like that?”
“Even more expensive ingredients are fine too.”
“Is there anything more expensive?”
“…Shark Fin?” Yu Minghui was clearly not too familiar with these costly foods.
“We don’t have that,” Jiang Yujing smiled. “If Xiao An Jing needs to replenish nutrients, then have some Steak. Seafood is also a good choice. After all, we’re on an island, so it would be a waste not to eat some of the freshest Seafood—how about King Crab?”
“Ah, you mean those huge ones, packed with tons of meat?”
“That’s right, and there are also big Prawns from the sea. Those are delicious too.” Jiang Yujing picked up the walkie-talkie in her hand. “So, where would you like to dine? The room you’ll be sleeping in tonight, the Penthouse Restaurant, the Cruise Ship, or perhaps the Park built here on the island?”
“The Park, I guess?” An Jing barely hesitated.
“Alright, I’ll take you to the Park in a bit.”
“Does this count as VIP treatment?”
“Of course! After all, you are our very important… guest!”
“Weren’t you about to say ‘test subject’…”
“By the way, what Dessert would you like? Ice Cream, Cake, milk tea, Juice, all available.” Jiang Yujing swiftly changed the subject, pretending not to hear An Jing’s comment at all.
(2)
After passing through the artificially planted Apple Grove, they reached the deepest part of the Island Park.
It was especially tranquil here. The trees formed a barrier, shutting out the noise of the world; only the sound of waves and seagulls could be heard.
Waves crashed against the rocks, the breeze softly rustled the emerald grass, and the shrubs and flower beds were all meticulously trimmed.
This sense of order brought unparalleled peace of mind.
The nearby streetlights glowed with the same gentle, clear hue as the moonlight.
An Jing looked up to see the star-filled sky spread out above her, and from afar came the sound of wheels scraping against the cement. When she looked back down, the Serving Cart had already been pushed to the table.
Dishes were brought out one after another. None of them were large, but all were exquisitely crafted. Of course, what caught An Jing’s attention most was the plate of already peeled, gigantic Prawns.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Prawns this big.” She wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and reached out to grab one, but Yu Minghui gently tapped her hand. “This is Western food—use your Knife and Fork.”
“It’s fine,” Jiang Yujing said with a light smile. “Eating with your hands is the best, right, Xiao An Jing?”
“Ahem… Isn’t it kind of a hassle to use Knife and Fork for this?”
“Not really. I’ll help you cut it up. And here’s a special Condiment you can dip it in. But the Prawns themselves are flavorful, so if you like it natural, you can just eat them as is.”
“It doesn’t matter at home, but outside, Xiao Jing, you should mind your table manners.” Yu Minghui nodded gently. “This is how you hold the Knife and Fork. For example, when you want to eat Steak, you use the Fork to steady it and slowly cut with the Knife.”
“…So troublesome. Can’t I just get some Chopsticks and eat it directly?”
“Tsk… Westerners are really unskilled, using such inconvenient tools to eat. Clearly, Chopsticks are so much more versatile!”
“Would you like Chopsticks? I brought some spare ones,” the staff pushing the Serving Cart asked with a smile.
“Yes, yes!! And could you help me cut the Steak too? That way, I can just pick it up with Chopsticks and eat it!”
“Of course.”
Yu Minghui sighed softly and shook her head helplessly.
“Enjoying delicious food—whatever way makes you happy is the right way.” Jiang Yujing spoke up for An Jing. “Miss Yu Minghui, just let her be.”
“Wow, Huihui-jie, these Prawns are so good! I’ve never had such a big chunk of prawn meat in one bite before!”
“Didn’t you have Shrimp Paste in Hotpot before?”
“That’s different!”
“Slow down.”
“Can I pack some to take home for tomorrow?”
“Xiao Jing—”
“Of course! Do you want fresh ingredients or prepared ones? I’ll tell the Back Kitchen to have some ready for you to take home.”
“Great! Then Fei-jie can try it too! It’s freaking delicious!”
Yu Minghui swallowed her words, her helpless look melting into a gentle smile. “I’ll cook it for you when the time comes, and you can invite Xiao Ying over too.”
“If we invite Xiao Ying, should we also ask Zhou Chao, A-Qiang, and the rest? After all, good things should be shared—”
“Of course!”
“Xiao An Jing, try this Sea Cucumber Tofu Soup. I guarantee it’s even fresher than what you’ve had outside.”
“The last time I had this was when I went out to eat with Dad…” An Jing sipped it, “I’ve long forgotten how it tasted, but this is definitely delicious. Ah—so happy! I really love the crunchy texture of Sea Cucumber… There’s so much of it in here.”
“Naturally! We’re not stingy like the outside restaurants.”
“Eat slowly, watch out for burns.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
(3)
There was no main course at this dinner. If anything counted, it would be the Steak.
Though she only had side dishes, An Jing still ended up with a rather full belly, though her mouth didn’t feel quite satisfied yet—she still wanted to keep tasting delicious food.
“Phew… My whole body feels warm and cozy. So comfortable.” An Jing walked along the path in the Park with Jiang Yujing, the streetlights on either side making her rosy cheeks look especially inviting. “Can I take a bath tonight?”
“Of course. Your room has a private bathroom with a Single Bathtub.”
“It really feels like a vacation—so enjoyable.”
“It’s good you think so.”
An Jing rubbed her slightly rounded belly. “I know what your real purpose is, but still, thank you. At least next time I won’t dread coming back so much—there’ll be something to look forward to.”
“Xiao An Jing, you’re such a mature kid.”
“I’m about to graduate junior high, so I’m pretty much not a child anymore,” An Jing pouted. “Besides, don’t treat kids like idiots. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we don’t understand things.”
“I suppose that’s just the arrogance of adults.”
“Yeah, it’s funny, isn’t it? Weren’t adults kids once too? Did they never go through the same things themselves?”
“When you grow up, you forget a lot.”
“If growing up means losing tenderness, thoughtfulness, and empathy, then I think it’s really cruel.”
“Cruel?”
“You have to kill your former self to grow up—isn’t that cruel enough?”
“Maybe… Some things really are out of your control, or just too hard.”
“Xiao Jing can do it, but not every adult becomes so different from their childhood self.” Yu Minghui rested her palm on An Jing’s shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze, her face beaming with encouragement.
“Every generation is different. After all, I’m part of the new generation, so I won’t go down the same road as the old one.” An Jing lifted her chin confidently. “By the way, I can go home tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yes, you can. But how about getting a more formal full-body Massage first? It’ll really energize you. Miss Yu Minghui, you could join too.”
Yu Minghui didn’t refuse. “Actually, my back’s been aching lately.”
“I’ll give you a good treatment tomorrow—think of it as a family benefit.”
“How long will it take?” An Jing was more concerned about this.
“Full-body Massage, plus various treatments, and a Sauna at the end—it’ll take almost the whole day. You’ll finish by evening.”
“Wow… That long?”
“Xiao Jing, let me enjoy it for once, okay?” Yu Minghui gave her a playful smile and winked.
“Ah… Since it’s free, well, okay… But I don’t want to do it for too long.”
“That won’t do. If you’re going to do it, do the full package.”
“Uh… Will it hurt?”
“A bit.”
“How much is ‘a bit’? It already hurt a lot today, you know.”
“Just a little more than today~”
“That’s still ‘a bit’?! If it hurts more, it’ll be like Scraping Therapy when you have heatstroke!”
“Most people don’t find it that painful—it’s just that you’re too sensitive, Xiao An Jing, can’t help it~”
“Can you be gentler, then, when the time comes…”
“If I don’t use strength, it won’t be effective.”