As if she understood what Cheng Xi meant, Mani asked in surprise, “Cheng Xi, you mean you know how to cook?”
Cheng Xi nodded and made an OK gesture at them.
Mani and Mary were still a bit skeptical, but they didn’t stop her.
“If you know how to cook, then go ahead and buy some.”
Cheng Xi hummed in agreement.
After selecting ingredients and seasonings, she headed over to the kitchenware section.
‘Since I’m planning to cook for myself, I need to pick out a good set of cookware.’
‘Truth be told, I’m not a great cook; I just know the basics.
If I’d known I was going to be abducted and brought to Outer Space, I would’ve somehow found the time to really learn.’
‘But it’s too late for that now.’
She handed the cart full of ingredients to Mary, then grabbed an empty one to go pick out kitchenware.
A rice cooker, a wok for stir-frying, a small saucepan…
Half an hour later, she had bought nearly everything she needed, though she couldn’t find a cutting board.
‘This cookware is a little different from what we have on Earth, but it’s not a big deal.
I’ll get used to it after a few uses.’
Just then, Hotte found them.
He was surprised to see the petite human with a cart full of kitchenware.
“What are you trying to do?”
Cheng Xi looked at her haul with satisfaction, flashing a bright smile.
“Cooking, of course.”
Her unguarded smile made Hotte pause.
He subtly averted his gaze, looking toward Mary and Mani.
Mary explained, “Sir, Cheng Xi said she wants to cook her own food…”
Hotte replied with a cool “oh.” “Then go ahead and buy them.”
They had arrived in a grand procession, and now they were returning, laden with goods!
The first thing she did upon returning was head straight for the kitchen to wash all the new pots and pans.
Mary Mani helped her, approaching it with the mindset of playing house with their human pet.
But while she had helpers, she also had a troublemaker.
Cheng Xi planned to wash some rice for dinner and maybe stir-fry a couple of simple dishes, but the big cat was constantly getting in her way and causing trouble.
She was in the middle of washing the rice when a mischievous black paw reached out, blocking the stream of water and letting a few hairs fall into the rice.
Cheng Xi’s lips twitched in exasperation, but she was helpless.
‘A smart pet should know that you can act cute toward your master, maybe even throw a small tantrum, but you must never, ever offend the master’s favorite little brat.’
‘If they get into a conflict, the pet is screwed.
Best case scenario, you get a scolding.
If it’s serious, you’ll get a beating and then get sent away.’
‘There’s no way around it.
If I want to eat a clean meal, I’ll have to placate him.’
She put down the bowl of rice, scooped the big black cat into her arms, and gently stroked his fur.
“Be good now, okay? Just sit here and don’t move. How about I sing you a song?”
Hart looked up at her, confused.
Cheng Xi fell silent for a moment, then placed Hart on an out-of-the-way corner of the kitchen counter.
She continued to stroke him as she began to softly hum a melody.
The melody made Hart’s ears perk up.
‘How did the human’s voice suddenly become so pleasant?’
She was a vocal music major; even a simple a cappella line from her could sound as if it had its own reverb.
Before she was abducted and brought to Outer Space, a talent agency had been on the verge of signing her.
Just as a wonderful future was beckoning, God, it seemed, had thrown down a cage and whisked her away.
Seeing that he had finally settled down, Cheng Xi freed her hands.
She continued to sing a cappella while washing the rice and vegetables.
‘Cooking while humming a song…
isn’t this one of life’s little pleasures?’
As she prepared to chop the vegetables, her rendition of “The Girl with Wings” reached its chorus.
When she turned to get a knife, Cheng Xi jumped in fright!
“Uh… what are you guys doing?”
Mary and Mani, who were supposed to be washing the pots, had stopped at some point and were now staring at her, stunned.
And her master, who was supposed to have gone upstairs, had returned at some point and was now leaning against the kitchen doorway, watching her.
His sharp gaze was so deep it felt as if it could pull a person in.
Cheng Xi: “…” ‘What’s going on?!’
Hotte seemed very surprised.
“So this is what you humans call a song?”
Cheng Xi nodded, flustered by their astonished expressions.
“Does it sound bad?”
The male beast’s golden eyes darkened.
“Sing for me again tonight.”
He left the kitchen immediately after saying that.
Cheng Xi: “…?”
Mary Mani, however, were very supportive and began to clap.
“Oh my god, Cheng Xi, your voice is so beautiful!
If only we could understand human languages.”
“Cheng Xi, how do you do that?
Will you sing for us again in the future, please?”
“…”
‘Don’t be so dramatic, please.
I just sang one song.
Don’t they have music here or something?’
Little did she know, she was right.
Rabbit Star was a planet of highly advanced lifeforms.
It boasted astonishing high-tech products, devastating biochemical weapons, and cities with all-encompassing defense systems.
Every member of the Beast Clan was a formidable warrior in their own right.
They ate the wildest meat, drank the strongest liquor, and fought the fiercest battles.
Yet, they had nothing in the way of the arts—no painting, no music.
It was as if they were born with no talent for it.
The most delicate lines they ever drew were likely on weapons blueprints. Find the original chapter at g.com.
They poured all their tenderness and emotion into their young and their mates.
It was precisely because of this monotony that they kept all sorts of pets to pass the time.
This was the first time Mary Mani had ever heard a song.
Even though it was just a cappella, they found the melody utterly captivating.
‘How does she even make a sound like that?’
Cheng Xi felt a little unnerved by their intense gazes.
‘Have I just gained my first fan club?’
She gave a wry nod.
“Please don’t look at me like that.
I’ll sing again when I get the chance.”
“Okay, you should head out for now.
I need to start cooking.”
She awkwardly ushered them—and the big black cat—out of the kitchen.
After closing the kitchen door, she could finally prepare dinner in peace.
She selected a few of the vegetables they had bought.
What they called “flour” and “rice” here were actually different from the varieties on Earth, and the same was true for the vegetables.
If she hadn’t tried them once at the Pet Plaza, she wouldn’t have dared to buy them, even if she had seen them.
There were no open flames here; everything was electric.
Each pot had its own integrated power source, which was actually quite convenient to use.
Cheng Xi started the rice steaming first, then began chopping vegetables.
When she figured the rice was nearly done, she heated up some oil in a pan.
Twenty minutes later, two vibrant green vegetable dishes were done.
She plated them and carried them to the dining room.
She served herself a large bowl of rice.
Even though it was such a simple meal, Cheng Xi was moved to the point of tears.
‘Two months!
I’m finally eating a proper meal!’
‘Just…
could you guys please not stand around and watch me eat?!’
With several pairs of eyes fixed on her, Cheng Xi felt a palpable sense of exasperation.
‘I’m eating rice, not a bomb.
Having you all stare at me is really embarrassing…’
Mary Mani were just watching and sniffing the air.
“It smells amazing,” they said in wonder.
“So just adding a few seasonings to vegetables can make them smell this good?”