The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 1486: Chapter 1486: You Are the One I Want to Protect

”No need.”

Those words were spoken.

Shi Ya started walking, not even turning her head.

Ji You stood behind, somehow watching the tall, thin figure of Senior Shi Ya gradually fade into the distance, a sudden wave of bittersweet feeling rising in her heart.

”Senior!” Ji You finally couldn’t help but shout loudly.

Shi Ya’s footsteps paused slightly, but she neither turned around nor stopped.

They were a few hundred meters apart; Ji You hurriedly walked forward, speaking as she walked: ”Senior, do you have time tonight? Let’s have dinner together?”

Hearing this, Shi Ya, in a place where Ji You couldn’t see, felt the icy coldness in her eyes melt away, a slight smile appearing at the corner of her lips, as warm as the winter sun blooming: ”No, thanks.”

Upon hearing that, Ji You quickly responded: ”It’s okay, I won’t waste your time. You know what? I’m actually pretty good at cooking. They call me the Alliance’s undisputed number one culinary god. Do you know why? Because I trained at New Oriental. I’ve already thought it through. To uphold my title as a culinary god, once this war is over, I’ll open a restaurant and aim to satisfy foodies from around the world.”

Shi Ya listened quietly, and during the silence, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift: ”Hmm, I believe you.”

Ji You waved her hand, grinning: ”Really, Senior, I’m not boasting. I really did train at New Oriental.”

Ahem ahem...

Anyway, about New Oriental and such, Senior definitely doesn’t know, so I might as well boast all I want.

Ji You’s eyes sparkled with anticipation: ”Senior, shall we go?”

Looking at those bright eyes, Shi Ya wanted to say yes. But reason made her instantly become clear-headed, her eyes showing a rare trace of a smile, her voice gentle: ”Another day. When I return after completing the mission.”

Ji You felt a little disappointed, ”Okay.”

”Senior, I’ll wait for you to come back, and I’ll cook something delicious for you. By the way, what do you like to eat? Last time’s chocolate, or candies, pastries? Eating sweets all the time isn’t good, it’s easy to get cavities. How about we balance it with some meat and vegetables? Let’s start with braised ribs, then a steamed fish, then a stir-fried vegetable, and maybe a soup, or how about cream of mushroom soup?”

Before Shi Ya realized it, Ji You had already walked beside her and took her hand, walking side by side with her. On the way, Ji You chattered away like a bothersome little sparrow.

Shi Ya didn’t shake her off.

They kept walking, the sunset dipped in the west, the sunlight spreading down, elongating their shadows...

A breeze blew by, and the treetops swayed gently, painting a serene, harmonious, and beautiful picture.

Unconsciously, they reached Shi Ya’s dormitory. She was in the third grade now, and the third-grade dormitory area was about five kilometers away from the second-grade one, but Ji You was a self-funded student, needing to go three kilometers farther, so Shi Ya stopped. She turned and looked at Ji You, who was a head shorter, and said, ”Ji You, go back.”

Ji You was surprised: ”Huh? We’ve reached your dormitory so quickly? I haven’t walked for long. Right, Senior, where were we in our conversation? Were we talking about what dessert to get? I like strawberry pie; do you like it? Or shall we try making one ourselves?”

The usual sternness on Shi Ya’s face was already gone. Looking at Ji You, she softly said, ”Go back.”

Blah blah, an unstoppable stream of Ji You’s chatter finally came to a halt.

Shi Ya gently said, ”Go back and have a good night’s rest, and fix your face.”

Ji You instantly touched her own face; she had forgotten!

She was still in a disfigured state.

Darn!

Her innocent, pure, beautiful, cute junior sister image was suddenly gone.

Ji You lamented, ”I almost forgot about that! I’ll get it fixed tomorrow.” Tomorrow she wouldn’t look for Dr. Luo, she’d check the prices with other doctors at the school clinic and see whose rates were lower before making a final decision.

That’s the plan.

Ji You thought silently.

Shi Ya looked at Ji You, pursed her lips, and suddenly said, ”Ji You, try harder. The Beast Tide might come soon; it could be a year, it could be two years, or it could just be a month, two months... In any case, we don’t have much time left.”

At these words, Ji You fell silent.

The atmosphere felt a bit heavy.

Shi Ya looked at Ji You and said, ”I know you work hard. But in such a catastrophe, hard work isn’t enough. Strength is what counts!”

Her voice was soft, but every word seemed as heavy as a ton, harshly striking Ji You’s heart.

After speaking, Shi Ya extended her hand to Ji You, finally resting it on her shoulder, gently patting it: ”I hope you’ll survive.”

Shi Ya finished speaking and lifted her foot.

Ji You suddenly said, ”Senior, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m stronger and more capable than you think, whether it’s protecting myself or my family and friends. Even if I don’t have the ability now, I’ll definitely have it someday in the future.”

Shi Ya’s steps halted.

Ji You looked at the back of Senior Shi Ya, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips: ”Of course, that’s all a preamble. My main point is—Senior is also someone I want to protect.”

Shi Ya’s fingertips trembled slightly.

At that moment, Shi Ya nearly couldn’t hold back from turning around, reaching out to squeeze Ji You’s cheeks and hair, wanting to say something to her, but—

Shi Ya held back.

Shi Ya stood straight, nodded lightly: ”Hmm, I know.”

—You’re also someone I want to protect.

—And, the most important one.

Shi Ya said no more. She lifted her foot, walked into the third-grade dormitory building, step by step, not looking back at Ji You standing outside the door.

Sigh!

Originally wanting to seize the opportunity to have dinner with Senior Shi Ya, unexpectedly, she was refused silently like this. Ji You stood for a little while until she could no longer see Senior Shi Ya’s figure, then turned around and headed towards the self-funded students’ dormitory.

It was a bit of a distance, but for Ji You, even ten kilometers didn’t matter. She began to stride forward, making standard running movements, then started to run.

At first, it was a slow jog, followed by a gradual increase in speed.

Along the way, many students could be seen, both upper and lower grades. Initially, they didn’t pay much attention to the small figure running along the road.

Wait!

The small figure...

So short?

The entire school had only one like this.

The key was, this person still had a ruined face.

Everything matched!

Ji You kept running, running, and found that people on the roadside suddenly started talking among themselves, and then they all stared at her, each gaze like fire.

Ji You: ”???”

Ji You felt a bit mystified in her heart, but her face remained calm, maintaining her running posture. Then, she heard someone shout: ”Ji You!”

”It really is Ji You!”

”Oh my god! Ji You!!!”

”Quick, notify the classmates, that pervy king is back at school! The teacher said, everyone should hurry and pay homage, learn a bit about her face-wall-like thickness technique.”

Ji You: ”...”

The first few sentences were fine, but what on earth was that last one?