The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Red-Braised Spare Ribs

Cafeteria.

The students lined up in a long queue to get their meals.

Ever since Shen Changqing agreed to treat Ji You to a meal, Ji You’s gaze towards him had become far from pure. How should she describe it now? A bit complicated, to put it simply, it was akin to looking at a sheep ready for slaughter...

Shen Changqing = Honest person.

Honest person = Sheep.

Sheep = Ready for slaughter.

And so, Ji You quickly solved this complex equation and came to a conclusion.

Following that—

The queue kept moving forward, and Ji You and her friends finally reached the serving window. Ji You craned her neck to see that the person serving the food was not a robot but a girl with a gentle appearance, with her face tensed up the whole time, not eager to talk or smile, and her eyes emitted a faint indifference.

Hmm—

Anyway, she didn’t seem like an easy person to get along with.

The face of the girl serving the food vaguely seemed familiar to Ji You, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen her before.

Ji You retracted her gaze and focused on the dishes.

Separated by a transparent glass window were more than ten iron pots, each containing a cooked dish... These were similar to the cafeteria of Ji You’s former school in her previous life.

Some of these dishes looked like a culinary nightmare, while others appeared rather appetizing. The most eye-catching among these was a large pot of red braised pork ribs; the golden-red color looked very delectable, surprising Ji You.

She had always thought that in an era where everyone consumed a nutrient solution, prioritizing convenience and practicality, no one would bother with cooking anymore. She never expected that red braised pork ribs hadn’t disappeared from culinary tradition!

That was indeed worthy of celebration.

The boy in front of Shen Changqing spoke to the girl serving the food: ”A serving of red braised pork rib rice, please.”

Hearing this, the girl, without saying anything, grabbed a ladle, scooped up a box of white rice, then ladled some red braised pork ribs, and at that moment, her hand holding the ladle started to wobble...

The boy looked on, hopefully praying: Don’t let the meat fall off.

Please don’t fall.

Don’t fall.

Result—

The girl’s trembling hands were experienced. She scooped a ladle of red braised pork ribs, accidentally including two extra pieces. She gently shook the ladle once around, and the extra pork ribs fell off, before pouring the red braised pork ribs over the white rice—precisely 10 pieces.

A deep regret flashed in the boy’s eyes as he took his tray and left.

Ji You, who had been observing the whole process, sighed inwardly:

Alas!

Although times have changed, some bad habits have made it thousands of years into the interstellar era. Like the habitual trembling of the cafeteria serving aunties. Ah ha~ Even though the server now is a young girl~ a bad habit is still a bad habit! It must not be praised!

Next, it was Shen Changqing’s turn.

Shen Changqing looked at the girl serving food and said, ”Senior, please give me a serving of the red braised pork ribs rice.”

Upon hearing this, the girl glanced up at Shen Changqing unintentionally and then examined his handsome face. Calmly facing her gaze, he was not flustered at all, even harboring a hint of inexplicable anticipation...

The girl then looked away and resumed her indifferent demeanor. She started serving the food.

This white rice, each grain distinct, snowy and lustrous, seemed to stimulate one’s appetite greatly...

With ease, she picked up the ladle and scooped the pork ribs.

At that moment—

Ji You could clearly feel Shen Changqing’s breathing pause abruptly, as if he were very tense.

And then—

The girl scooped up too many pork ribs this time.

Shen Changqing’s eyes widened slightly, and as he watched the girl’s characteristic trembling of the hand, it started again—one shake, two shakes, three shakes... When the pork ribs were poured onto the rice, there were precisely 10 pieces, neither more nor less.

Shen Changqing lowered his gaze, took the tray that was his, and softly said, ”Thank you.”

Ji You stole a glance at him, inexplicably feeling that Shen Changqing seemed somewhat disappointed. Was it because the pork ribs fell off? So that was why he was disappointed, sad?

Gosh—

That’s actually kind of cute.

Then, it was Ji You’s turn.

Ji You opened her bright, shining eyes and sweetly said, ”Senior, please get me a serving of red braised pork ribs rice, too. He’s paying!” She raised her hand, pointing at Shen Changqing, who was waiting beside her.

Shen Changqing nodded.

The girl serving the food cast a glance at Ji You, her expression as cold as ever, not saying a word, repeating her previous action—

Ji You’s eyes widened, staring intensely at the ladle in the girl’s hand. Suddenly, she kind of understood the feelings of the boy and Shen Changqing earlier—

Tense!

Super tense...

The girl serving food lifts her hand, scooping up a spoonful of braised pork ribs, and Ji You, with sharp eyes, instantly notices there are two extra pieces.

Ji You opens her mouth, wanting to tell the other party not to shake their hand —

Then —

Before she could even say anything, the girl serving doesn’t shake at all, and instead ladles a full spoonful of meat onto Ji You’s rice.

Ji You: ”!!!”

What’s happening?

Could this girl be my long-lost sister? Has sister, through some telepathic connection, sensed my uniqueness and felt an inexplicable kinship, so she gave me a whole bowlful of meat in one go?

Wuwuwu~

This is just too wonderful.

Ji You almost cries out of emotion, as she’s the kind of person who always knows how to take an inch and push for a mile. Since this could be her long-lost sister, of course, there’s no need for politeness. Tentatively, Ji You says: ”Senior, could I have another spoonful of sauce?”

”Just the sauce from the plate of braised pork ribs, I’d like to mix it with my rice...”

Directly ask for more meat?

That’s too bold.

Better test the waters by asking for some sauce first.

Yingyingying~

Ji You is waiting to be refused, but unexpectedly, upon hearing her request, the girl serving doesn’t make a peep, and simply scoops up a full spoonful of sauce, pouring it onto Ji You’s plate.

Ji You is absolutely moved to bits~

What kind of immortal senior is this~

She’s an angel!

An angel!

Sweet-talking Ji You, as if honey-coated, says: ”Thank you, senior, you’re so nice.” She sneakily glances at the senior’s name tag and discovers that she’s from the Mechanical Manufacturing System, named Shi Ya.

Huh?

Don’t recognize her at all.

Really don’t recognize her at all.

Sheng Qingyan, waiting behind, notices Ji You receiving special treatment and his eyes light up: ”Senior, could I also have a plate of braised pork rib rice?”

Senior Shi Ya hears this and remains as indifferent as before, calmly repeating the same steps.

Then —

Her signature move, the shaking spoon, here it comes again.

Sheng Qingyan watches with wide eyes as the extra pieces of pork ribs fall off, pointing at Ji You, anxiously saying: ”Senior, that’s not fair~ How come her meat didn’t fall off?”

Senior Shi Ya responds coldly: ”Do you still want the rice? If not, next please.”

Sheng Qingyan’s fire instantly douses, and he looks at her, meekly asking: ”Can I also get a spoon of sauce, please?”

Senior Shi Ya, expressionless: ”No, next please.”

Sheng Qingyan: ”...”

The three find a table and sit down with their plates, Sheng Qingyan biting his lip, glaring fiercely at Ji You: ”Why should your pork ribs have two more pieces than mine?”

Ji You: ”Because I’m cute?”

She’s just finished feeling smug when, unwittingly, she falls for Sheng Qingyan’s trick, letting him snatch away a piece before she can chase after him, he’s already running! Without waiting to be chased, Shen Changqing, this honest kid, starts to behave sneakily; taking advantage of her inattention, he steals a piece.

Ji You: ”...”

Gritting her teeth, Ji You asks resentfully: ”Why?”

Sheng Qingyan, with a piece of pork rib in his mouth and oil dripping everywhere, says: ”Because you’re annoying...”

Shen Changqing: ”I... just wanted to eat another piece.”

Ji You: ”...”

So, you’re all bullying me? Can’t stand to see me being favored by the girl serving food?

And —

Am I really that easy to bully?

Humph~