Chapter 16: Two Skilled Hands

Feng Jingxuan seemed to be quite skilled, though it was unclear where he had learned his tricks.

He headed to the kitchen and deftly heated the pan with oil. Unfortunately, his method differed from what Xiao Ningxue was familiar with, and she couldn’t make sense of the remaining steps at all.

She could only hope that the interstellar cuisine would suit her taste.

Who knew?

She was nervous when she cooked for two people; with Feng Jingxuan cooking, she was even more on edge.

In short, there was no chance of a relaxing meal this time.

Feng Jingxuan clearly cooked often—his movements were swift and efficient.

The aroma soon wafted through the air, prompting Xiao Ningxue to wrinkle her nose slightly.

Why did this fragrance feel strangely off?

It was as if there was something unpleasant lurking within it.

Zang Zexin looked relaxed, clearly having eaten well over the past few days.

Xiao Ningxue’s mood eased a little.

Zang Zexin appeared to be a serious and practical person, and his expression suggested that Feng Jingxuan’s cooking skills were actually quite good.

Xiao Ningxue noticed that the first dish Feng Jingxuan finished was the bitter chrysanthemum he had brought himself.

It contained nothing but the bitter chrysanthemum and some seasonings.

“The first dish is ready!” Feng Jingxuan called out, and Zang Zexin obediently carried the stir-fried bitter chrysanthemum over.

Watching the two work so smoothly, Xiao Ningxue suddenly realized that Zang Zexin hadn’t mentioned that he also had edible plants, probably for the same reason as her.

Who would have thought this cold-faced Wolf King was so considerate?

“What do I need to do?” Seeing that their roles were clearly divided and she had no way to help, Xiao Ningxue asked.

Indeed, military training was the best time to build rapport; missing it would only make later joining in feel awkward.

Zang Zexin paused, then said, “It’s the first day. Just wait to eat.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed about sitting idle, Xiao Ningxue stood up and said, “Then I’ll leave it to you two. I’ll go tidy up the dorm.”

Since she couldn’t help, she’d focus on handling her own affairs.

Feng Jingxuan continued cooking while saying, “Go on, hurry!”

Zang Zexin silently went to fetch more ingredients.

With their clear division of labor, Xiao Ningxue had no way to join in.

She smiled and shook her head; these two roommates were easy to get along with. It looked like her next four years at university would be wonderful.

Turning, she entered her room.

The bedroom was simply furnished.

There was a bed, a bedside table, a wardrobe, and a desk.

There was also a small room, which Xiao Ningxue curiously explored—it turned out to be a bathroom!

It served both as a restroom and a shower.

Xiao Ningxue’s face lit up with delight.

The school’s facilities suited her perfectly.

This way, she could wait until she returned to her dorm to attend to personal matters instead of going to the restroom during class!

Especially since the school only had men’s restrooms and no women’s.

Xiao Ningxue had few belongings, and with the space available, she didn’t intend to leave everything in the dorm.

After all, could convenience in the dorm beat having her own private space?

She tidied up a bit, arranged her bedding and toiletries, then clapped her hands, satisfied with her handiwork.

She wanted to add some decorations but hesitated, fearing that someone might accidentally enter and reveal her identity.

Reluctantly, she abandoned her favorite ornaments and chose some neutral decorations that wouldn’t give anything away.

The room transformed from empty to warm and inviting.

Xiao Ningxue was pleased.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Please come in,” she called, still surveying the room for anything else to put away.

Zang Zexin entered, coming to invite her to try Feng Jingxuan’s cooking.

“The edible plants Feng Jingxuan stir-fried are ready.”

Xiao Ningxue was taken aback. “That fast?”

How many dishes had he cooked?

Looking at Zang Zexin, she noticed a flicker of excitement in his eyes, as if he wanted to say something but was a bit embarrassed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked kindly.

“Your edible plants… did you cultivate them yourself?” Zang Zexin hesitated but, prompted by her question, finally asked.

Xiao Ningxue’s heart skipped a beat. Could there be a difference between what she grew and those from the interstellar world?

As for whether what she grew was edible…

She had never considered that question.

The vegetables she brought were from her supplies during the apocalypse and guaranteed completely uncontaminated.

If those weren’t edible, then the interstellar world probably had nothing edible at all.

During the apocalypse, her vegetables tasted better than those cultivated by other wood-element ability users.

So Xiao Ningxue was absolutely confident in her crops.

“Yes,” she replied.

Upon hearing this, Zang Zexin’s eyes brightened. “Um… do you still have some? I don’t know why, but when Feng Jingxuan cooked your plants, they smelled especially fragrant… I want to buy some to take home for my family…”

So that was it.

“I’m not sure either. I still have some here, though not much—my abilities are limited. You and Feng Jingxuan can split it and take some back for your relatives to try!” Xiao Ningxue generously offered.

“Hey! Dinner’s ready!” Feng Jingxuan’s voice came from outside.

Zang Zexin froze, then scratched his head awkwardly. “Ah! Feng Jingxuan must be getting impatient…”

Such an expression on his usually cold face was oddly endearing.

Xiao Ningxue, trying to suppress a smile, said, “Let’s go. Let’s try Feng Jingxuan’s cooking first.”

As they stepped out, Feng Jingxuan was already seated at the living room table waiting for them.

“What’s going on with you two?” Feng Jingxuan asked curiously.

“Zang Zexin said he thought my edible plants were pretty good. I only have a little left. You two can split it however you like,” Xiao Ningxue explained briefly and pulled out a chair to sit.

Zang Zexin followed and sat beside her.

Feng Jingxuan’s eyes lit up. “Really? That’s great! What’s the name of this edible plant? It smells so special! Can I have more of it later?”

Following his finger, Xiao Ningxue looked and saw he was pointing at…

bamboo shoots?

“Is your true form a panda?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Feng Jingxuan was surprised. “How did you know?”

Xiao Ningxue grinned mischievously. “Just a guess.”

She rubbed her hands together over her stomach with a particularly sly air.

Feng Jingxuan suddenly shivered. “What… what are you thinking? Want to fight?”

Why did he feel this kid had some ill intentions?

Coughing once, Xiao Ningxue quickly composed herself. “I’m from the Botany Institute—I don’t fight.”

Botanists tended to have flexible bodies, and most awakened wood-element beast men were herbivores. That was one reason why society stayed balanced.

Females, botanists, warriors—all different species, and the social structure barely stabilized.

Feng Jingxuan clicked his tongue. “Forgot.”

In truth, he wasn’t very close to Zang Zexin. They had fought several times during military training, and only recently had their relationship improved, so their way of interacting still felt unfamiliar.

He almost ended up hitting the First Military Academy’s precious gem.