[On a side note, I feel like this book is going to flop.
Although the backend data looks okay at 1300/340, the readers are mainly the thirty or forty fans who have been following since the beginning.
Without fresh blood, I wouldn’t be surprised if it flops one day.] …
Just as dawn was breaking, the grass on the training ground was still damp with a slight chill.
Mei was already standing in the center of the field holding her katana, the morning light outlining her tall and straight silhouette.
Nana strolled over yawning, her hair a mess, clutching half an unfinished biscuit in her hand.
“Mei~ You’re up too early today.
The pudding hasn’t even been digested yet…” Mei turned around, her katana spinning a clean circle in her hand before the tip tapped the ground with a soft sound.
“If you want to learn how to make pudding, build up your physical strength first.
Today, we’ll practice close-quarters combat.
You attack, I’ll defend.” Nana curled her lip, stuffed the biscuit into her mouth, chewed it up, and swallowed it with a gulp of water.
When she took her stance, her eyes instantly became sharp, and she lunged at Mei, her feet pushing off the ground.
Her movements carried the recklessness of a novice.
Her fist went straight for Mei’s face, but Mei skillfully dodged by sidestepping, grabbing her wrist with a backhand and pulling it behind her.
Nana stumbled but immediately thrust her elbow backward, trying to break free.
Mei had anticipated this; she lightly pressed her knee against the back of Nana’s knee, forcing her to half-kneel on the ground.
“Nana.
Your force is too scattered.
When closing in, keep your center of gravity low.
Don’t leave an opening at your waist.” Mei let go and reached out to pull her up.
“Again.” Nana rubbed her wrist and readjusted her posture.
This time, she slowed down, her feet sliding across the floor as she tested with a punch.
Mei still responded calmly, sometimes parrying and sometimes dodging, occasionally tapping Nana’s neck or waist with her fingertips to remind her that these were weak points easily exploited.
After dozens of rounds, fine beads of sweat appeared on Nana’s forehead, and her breathing became hurried, yet she gritted her teeth and refused to stop until Mei raised her hand to call a halt.
“Take a five-minute break.
Next, we’ll review energy control.” Several targets specifically customized by Mei stood on the field.
Mei walked up to one of them.
Pale purple lightning condensed in her palm, which she lightly placed against the surface of the target.
“Concentrate your power into your palm and inject it slowly like this.
Remember, it’s not a brute force collision; it’s precise guidance.” Nana nodded and raised her hand, mimicking her.
A pale pink glow emanated from her palm, but as soon as it touched the target, the energy spiraled out of control and exploded, instantly cracking a fine line across the target’s surface.
She felt frustrated.
“Messed up again…” “Don’t rush.” Mei walked over, took her wrist, and guided her hand back to the target’s surface.
“Feel the trajectory of the energy flowing through your meridians.
Slower, even slower.
Imagine it as a thread, not a flood.” Nana closed her eyes, adjusting her breathing under Mei’s guidance.
The glow in her palm gradually stabilized, softly enveloping the target.
A few seconds later, she let go.
The target was intact, with faint energy fluctuations still lingering.
“I did it!” Nana’s eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Mei, a wide grin spreading across her face.
Seeing her jubilant expression, a smile rippled in Mei’s eyes.
She reached out to wipe the sweat from the tip of Nana’s nose.
“Not bad, but not enough~ Ten more sets, then we’ll go make pudding.” Nana’s face fell, but she immediately turned to the next Energy target, muttering to herself.
“For the pudding, I’ll give it my all!” The morning light gradually filled the training ground.
On the metal floor, two figures practiced repeatedly within the glow of energy.
Sweat dripped onto the ground, forming small wet marks, but it couldn’t hide the tenacity in the youth’s eyes or the gentle expectation in the eyes of the person beside her.
After finishing the training, the two went to the kitchen side by side.
The morning light slanted through the window onto the counter, where the caramel jar and egg carton were placed quietly to the side.
Mei first preheated the oven, then turned to take the milk out of the refrigerator.
“Start by making the caramel.
Keep the heat low, or it’ll burn easily.” Nana huddled nearby, standing on her tiptoes to stare at the sugar and water in the pot.
Just as she was about to reach out and stir, Mei gently pressed down on her wrist.
“Don’t rush.
Wait until the sugar is completely melted before moving.
If you stir now, it will crystallize.” Her palm carried a faint warmth as it covered the back of Nana’s hand.
Nana stiffened for a moment.
With the faint scent of Mei mixed with the sweet aroma of caramel lingering around her nose, she couldn’t help but steal a glance at her.
Mei focused intently on the bottom of the pot, her eyelashes casting shallow shadows on her eyelids.
Not until the sugar syrup turned amber did she hold Nana’s hand and pick up the silicone spatula to stir slowly.
“Stir in one direction, and keep your movements light.” Nana moved slowly following her lead, feeling the caramel in the pot bubbling with tiny bubbles as the sweet fragrance suddenly intensified.
“It didn’t burn!” “Turn off the heat and pour it into the bottom of the molds while it’s still hot.” Mei let go and watched Nana carefully pour the caramel into each small pudding bowl, the corners of her mouth curving up.
“Don’t spill it when you pour.
This is the sweetest part.” Next was beating the eggs.
Nana clumsily cracked an egg, nearly dropping the shell into the bowl.
Mei laughed and reached out to catch the shell, then took hold of the hand holding the whisk.
“Use your wrist to whisk in circles.
Blend the eggs and sugar together, but don’t create too many bubbles.” The two were very close.
Nana could feel Mei’s breath on the top of her head.
The whisk made rhythmic circles in the bowl, and the egg yolks and sugar slowly blended into a pale gold paste.
She couldn’t help but daze off for a moment, and the whisk almost slipped.
Mei gently squeezed her wrist.
“Daydreaming?
Careful, or the pudding will turn into egg drop soup~” “I-I am not!” Nana immediately snapped back and seriously followed her rhythm to beat the egg mixture.
Once it was smooth and delicate, she slowly poured in the warm milk under Mei’s guidance, stirring as she poured.
When filtering the egg mixture, Nana’s hand holding the strainer shook, and a bit of the mixture splashed out.
Mei took a tissue and wiped her hand clean, then gently circled her from behind, one hand supporting the strainer and the other holding the bowl.
“Keep it level and pour slowly.
The strainer should be close to the edge of the bowl.” Nana’s cheek brushed against Mei’s shoulder, and she could clearly smell the scent on her.
Her heart skipped a beat for some reason, but she still obediently followed her movements, filtering the smooth egg mixture into the molds containing the caramel.
Finally, when putting them into the oven, Nana stood on her tiptoes trying to place the molds on the middle rack but couldn’t reach.
Mei supported her waist from behind and gently lifted her up a bit.
“Set it down steadily.
Don’t burn your hands.” The moment the oven door closed, Nana belatedly blushed.
She turned around and leaned against the counter, looking at Mei.
“It seems…
it wasn’t that hard after all.” Mei wiped her hands and looked at her with a smile.
“Then next time, Nana does it alone?
I’ll be in charge of tasting?” Hearing this, Nana immediately wilted.
She only succeeded this once because Mei helped her…
The two leaned against the counter, waiting for the pudding in the oven to slowly set.
The sweet aroma of caramel mixed with the milky egg scent filled the kitchen, and the morning light fell upon their overlapping shadows.