Castorice, hungry, want noodles

The ward fell silent, save for the faint ticking of the medical equipment and the distant noise of the city outside the window.

Luo Li lay on the hospital bed, but her eyes were wide open, showing no signs of sleepiness.

His mind was Castorice's indifferent "hmm" and "oh" on the phone, and the fact that she was about to be born.

My Castorice is angry... how should I comfort her?

Sending flowers? I don't see any flower shops near the hospital. Besides, Castorice doesn't seem to be interested in ordinary flowers and plants; she prefers the unique "glowing moss" of Amphoreus, which carries the scent of the River of Souls (where on Earth can you find that stuff?).

He wanted to say sweet words, but facing the depressed Castorice on the other end of the phone, he couldn't utter a single one of his "super brave" flirtatious remarks. All that was left was a dry "I'm sorry" and clumsy attempts to be cute.

Write a guarantee? Promise never to take on dangerous missions again? But in this apocalypse, where is there absolute safety? The path to becoming stronger is inevitably accompanied by risks, a fact that he and Castorice both know very well.

Luo Li scratched her head in frustration, feeling that she had never had such a headache even when facing an A-level vampire.

Just as he was racking his brains and even started searching for "how to appease a girlfriend who's angry" on post-apocalyptic survival forums (which yielded a bunch of completely unreliable suggestions such as "give her a can of unexpired luncheon meat" or "take her to the outskirts of the safe zone to kill a few low-level vampires to vent her anger"), extremely faint footsteps came from outside the ward door.

It was very light, with a unique rhythm, a gait that Luo Li knew all too well.

He jolted awake instantly, shoved his phone under his pillow with lightning speed, lay down quickly, closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and tried his best to appear "weak," "exhausted," and "in need of care."

Click.

The door was gently pushed open.

A familiar, cool, and faint fragrance, along with the slightly chilly outdoor air, quietly permeated the ward.

Luo Li kept her eyes tightly closed, but she could clearly feel that gaze falling on her.

They didn't approach immediately, but paused for a moment at the doorway.

His heart involuntarily quickened.

It's here! The moment of judgment has arrived!

Footsteps sounded again, very lightly, approaching the bedside step by step.

Luo Li could sense that she had stopped by the bedside, seemingly looking down at him.

He tried to maintain a calm, "coma-like" expression, but his eyes couldn't help but move slightly beneath his eyelids.

Suddenly, a cool, soft hand gently, tentatively, touched the back of his hand, which was outside the blanket and receiving an IV drip.

The coolness at his fingertips almost made him tremble uncontrollably, but he held it back.

The hand lingered for a moment, as if checking his temperature, before slowly moving away.

Immediately afterwards, he heard a very faint rustling sound of a plastic bag, and the sound of a thermal container being gently placed on the bedside table.

Is it... noodles? Did she really make noodles and bring them over?

Luo Li's heart felt like it was being soaked in warm water, both sour and tender.

She was clearly angry, but she still remembered that he wanted to eat noodles...

He couldn't keep up the act any longer.

His eyelashes fluttered a few times, and he slowly, somewhat weakly, opened his eyes, just in time to meet Castorice's gaze as she looked down at him.

Today she wore a light purple knitted cardigan, which made her skin appear even whiter, and her long, silvery-purple hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders.

But her stunningly beautiful face remained expressionless; her purple eyes gazed at him calmly, revealing no emotion.

"Castorice... you're here..." Luo Li's voice was deliberately hoarse and weak, and her eyes tried to squeeze out a pitiful light.

Castorice looked at him quietly without saying a word, but pointed to the insulated food container on the bedside table.

Luo Li followed her finger and saw a pink insulated box that he often used at home.

"Is it... noodles?" he asked cautiously.

Castorice gave a soft "hmm" in response.

Luo Li struggled to sit up, his movements "difficult" as he supported himself with his arms. He "accidentally" pulled the needle in the back of his hand, hissing in pain, and stole a glance to see Castorice's reaction.

Castorice frowned almost imperceptibly, stepped forward, reached out to support his back, and adjusted the position of the pillow so that he could sit more comfortably.

Her movements were very gentle, but she kept her lips pursed and remained silent.

"Thank you Castorice..." Luo Li took the opportunity to gently grab Butterfly's wrist with the hand that hadn't been injected, before she could pull it back.

Castorice's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but she didn't immediately break free. She simply turned her head slightly away, avoiding looking at him.

Her hands were cold.

Luo Li held her wrist, feeling the faint pulse beneath her delicate skin, and her guilt deepened.

"I'm sorry..." He dropped his feigned weakness, his tone becoming serious and low.

I'm sorry to have worried you.

Castorice still tilted her head, her long eyelashes drooping, obscuring the emotions in her eyes, and only slightly pulled her wrist away.

Luo Li didn't let go; instead, she gripped it even tighter.

"This mission... I underestimated the risks."

He continued to confess.

"I never expected to encounter an A-level aerial attack... I almost..."

He felt Castorice's wrist tremble slightly in his palm.

But I'm back.

He gazed at her beautiful profile, his voice firm.

"I promised you I would come back safe and sound. I did."

Castorice remained silent for a long while before speaking in a very low voice, "... When the communication was interrupted... I couldn't reach you..."

Her voice finally betrayed a hint of lingering fear and... grievance.

Luo Li felt as if her heart had been violently clenched.

He imagined her at home, repeatedly dialing his number that went unanswered, watching the news reports of possible "reconnaissance team missing," bearing the unknown fear and torment alone...

But he was fighting for survival in the canyon, and even had the mind to test a survivor of unknown origin.

"It was my fault."

Luo Li pulled her slightly cool hand over and placed it against his warm chest, letting her feel his strong and real heartbeat.

"From now on... I will try to take on more reliable tasks."

If you absolutely must go to a dangerous place, you must find a way to inform me in advance, or... find a way to maintain communication.

He cannot promise to never take any risks; that's unrealistic.

But he can promise to be more careful and more considerate of her feelings.

Castorice felt his steady, powerful heartbeat beneath her chest; the real touch seemed to gradually dispel the coldness and fear that had accumulated in her heart.

She slowly turned her head, and her purple eyes finally met his.

Those eyes still held a trace of lingering life, but more than that, they held a sense of relief and weariness, and a deep-seated love.

"Really?" she asked softly, with a hint of uncertainty.

"Real!"

Luo Li nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with utmost sincerity.

"I swear! From now on, whenever I go on a long trip, I'll send you a message every day... no, every half day! to let you know I'm safe!"

Seeing his earnest and almost sworn oath, the last bit of frost in Castorice's eyes finally melted away, revealing a faint, helpless ripple.

She gently withdrew her hand, turned around, and opened the insulated box.

A familiar aroma, carrying a faint scent of scallion oil and soy sauce, wafted out—the smell of Luo Li's favorite homemade plain noodles.

"Let's eat the noodles first." Her voice had regained some of its usual softness. "They're getting cold."

"Good!"

Luo Li felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and her face immediately lit up with a smile, showing no trace of her previous "weakness".

He took the chopsticks and noodle box from Castorice, and his appetite was whetted when he saw the clear soup and white noodles inside, garnished with bright green scallions and a perfectly fried egg.

"Castorice's noodles are the best!" He couldn't wait to pick up a mouthful with his chopsticks, blow on it, and stuff it into his mouth, praising indistinctly, "Delicious! The best in the world!"

Watching him wolf down his food, his cheeks bulging, Castorice couldn't help but sigh softly, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upwards into a tiny arc.

This person can single-handedly kill an A-level vampire outside, but at home he acts like a child who hasn't grown up.

She picked up the water glass next to her and handed it to him. "Eat slowly."

Luo Li took the water glass, took a big gulp, and grinned foolishly at her.

After finishing a bowl of hot noodles, both my body and my heart felt warmed.

Luo Li leaned against the headboard contentedly, watching Castorice quietly tidy up the tableware. Her profile looked especially gentle in the soft light of the ward.

"Castorice..." he suddenly spoke.

Are you not angry anymore?

Castorice paused, without looking up, and asked softly, "Do I look... like I'm angry?"

Luo Li: "..."

Doesn't it look like it?! That low pressure just now almost froze him solid!

But he didn't dare say it, and could only force a smile, "No, no! My Castorice is the most understanding!"

Castorice finished packing her things and sat down on the chair by the bed. Her purple eyes looked at him, and her tone returned to its usual ethereal quality, yet carried an undeniable seriousness. "Luo Li, I'm not angry."

She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

"I just... don't want every time you leave, I to feel... that I might never see you again."

Her voice was soft, yet it struck Luo Li's heart like a heavy hammer.

He stopped smiling and looked at her seriously.

I know this world is dangerous.

I know you're becoming stronger to protect me, to protect our future.

Castorice continued, her eyes clear and firm.

"But please... rely on me a little bit, okay?"

I am not a flower that needs to be raised in a greenhouse.

In Amphoreus, I have journeyed alone along the River of Souls for a thousand years. I too have my own power.

"If... if you must face those dangers, at least... let me know, give me a chance... to face them with you. Instead of just sitting here, helplessly waiting for an unknown outcome."

Her words were calm, yet they contained immense power and emotion.

Luo Li was stunned.

He never imagined that Castorice was thinking this way.

He always believed that protecting her and keeping her safe was the best way to show his love for her.

However, they overlooked the fact that she is a strong and independent individual who craves not one-way protection, but trust and reliance to fight alongside others.

Yes... she is the Battlefield Saintess of Amphoreus, a being capable of summoning the River of Souls Dragon. The power she possesses may not be much weaker than his current [Spacetime] Path.

He... was too arrogant.

"I'm sorry, Castorice."

Luo Li apologized again, this time sincerely. "It was my oversight. From now on... I won't hide anything from you anymore, and I won't exclude you anymore."

He reached out and took her hand again, his eyes filled with solemnity. "I promise you, no matter what we face, we'll be together."

Looking at the sincere reflection and promise in his eyes, Castorice's purple eyes finally broke into a genuine smile, like the first melting of ice and snow, and the ripples of spring water.

She gently squeezed his hand back and nodded. "Mmm."

The two smiled at each other, and the small misunderstanding and cold war from before completely disappeared in this frank exchange.

"However..." Castorice suddenly remembered something, tilted her head slightly, and looked at Luo Li.

"You were quite good at pretending to be asleep just now."

Luo Li: "!!!"

Damn it! We've been found out!

His face flushed red, and he stammered, "I... I'm just... a little tired..."

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Castorice couldn't help but chuckle softly, her ethereal voice like the swaying of a wind chime.

"Fool."

She whispered something, her tone full of doting affection.

Looking at her rare, untroubled smile, Luo Li felt as if the entire ward had brightened up.

He scratched his head and started grinning foolishly.

As long as she doesn't get angry, I'll pretend to be asleep, or anything else!

"Oh, right," Luo Li suddenly remembered the safety amulet Lu Jingheng had given her, and pointed to the bedside table, "That was a gift from the survivor, a thank-you present."

Castorice's gaze fell on the simple wooden safety buckle. Her purple eyes flickered slightly, as if she sensed something, but she didn't say anything, only nodded gently. "Yes, keep it."

Her reaction was indifferent, as if it really was just an ordinary object.

Luo Li didn't think much of it; all his attention was now focused on the girl in front of him who had regained her smile.

"Castorice..."

"Um?"

I think... I'm hungry again...

"... I just finished eating noodles."

"That's a snack! We haven't had our main meal yet!"

"... scoundrel."

As darkness fell outside the window, the lights inside the ward shone with a particularly warm glow.

For Luo Li, no A-level mission or bizarre survivor could compare to the sweetness of his beloved Castorice's reproachful "rascal."

It's so good to be back alive.

It's even better to be "criticized" by her like this.