Solaris's Strongest Resonator

Cartethyia: Little Dania's preferences?

Cartethyia: Hmm... aside from a birthday cake, there probably isn't anything she particularly wants.

Cartethyia: From what the Righteous One said, you being there in person would mean more to her than any gift.

Cartethyia: If you really want to express how you feel with a gift, just pick something you think suits her.

After taking a moment to reply to a few of Iuno's messages, Cartethyia put her phone away. Her gaze drifted to Xiao Ling, who sat staring at the oven with his head propped on his hand, waiting for the cake to finish baking.

It was the weekend, and just like last time, they had come to the old woman's cake shop together to learn how to make a cake.

Aemeath and the others had gone to the badminton court and would probably be home that afternoon, barring any surprises. Cartethyia and Xiao Ling, meanwhile, would likely be busy here until evening again.

Little Cart checked the time. It was already past noon, and her stomach had begun to protest audibly.

"Righteous One?" Cartethyia tiptoed over to Xiao Ling and gently poked his arm. "It's lunchtime, you know?"

"Mm... mm... huh? Let me check the time." Xiao Ling jolted awake from his doze and immediately pulled out his phone. "You're right. It really is time for lunch."

Xiao Ling had just stood up to take Little Cart out to find food when he suddenly remembered something. He looked troubled as he gazed at the cake baking in the oven.

"Why don't I stay here and keep an eye on it for you? That way it won't end up like last time."

Cartethyia understood at once. Her Righteous One was worried the cake would overbake and turn into charcoal again, and he was torn over what to do.

"I guess that's the only way." Xiao Ling spread his hands helplessly. "What do you want to eat? I'll bring it back for you."

"Then I want this!" Cartethyia browsed through her photo album and found a picture of some mouthwatering food.

After taking a look, Xiao Ling smiled and made an OK sign. "You got it. This humble servant will bring it right back for the Holy Maiden."

"Call me Cartethyia!" Little Cart pinched Xiao Ling's thick cheek in annoyance, then said with a smile, "Hurry back, and stay safe on the way."

"Okay."

Now Xiao Ling had a pretty good idea what the cake felt like before it finished baking.

He had only been outside for a short while, but a fine layer of sweat had already formed on his face, and even his hair was slightly damp.

Cartethyia was right. It really was better to hurry back.

He turned left and right until he reached a food alley not far from the cake shop.

It was called a food alley, but it was really just a collection of inexpensive home-style restaurants and snack stalls. The alley buzzed with everyday life, filled with the mingled aromas of food and the cries of vendors.

Of course, it really was hot, too.

Xiao Ling knew exactly what he wanted. As soon as he entered the alley, he headed straight for a snack stall.

What Cartethyia wanted wasn't some rare delicacy or exquisite feast, but something found on roadsides everywhere-

"Boss, three jianbing guozi, please."

The vendor wasn't the kindly middle-aged uncle Xiao Ling had pictured. He was surprisingly young, around 1.9 meters tall, muscular, and tall and upright. His deadly gaze made it hard to imagine he sold jianbing guozi, and his long silver hair made him stand out even more among the surrounding vendors.

Hearing the customer at his stall, the vendor lit the stove and immediately began skillfully making the jianbing guozi. Neither of them exchanged any unnecessary words.

Xiao Ling watched the taciturn vendor with interest, his thoughts unknown.

Before long, the vendor packed the three freshly made jianbing guozi into a bag and handed it to Xiao Ling, pointing to the QR code on the cart as well.

"Not going to say anything to me?" Xiao Ling asked with a smile after paying and taking the jianbing guozi.

"Should I say something?" the vendor replied in a steady male voice. "Or should I ask, 'Do you truly remember nothing of our past?'"

"What have you even been learning here...?" Xiao Ling couldn't bear to watch.

"At least I'm very skilled at making jianbing."

"Oh, come on. If people found out the New Federation's legendary mercenary was making jianbing here, who knows how hard they'd laugh."

"They'd have to get the chance to laugh first."

"Come on, Calcharo. Is there any need to wipe them all out?"

"Of course I'm joking. You know that yourself. The sort of people you're talking about aren't worth my trouble." The corners of Calcharo's mouth curved slightly. "And it's been a long time, Rover."

That was right. Xiao Ling had recognized him from the start. This jianbing vendor, whose style was so different from the people around him, was none other than Mr. Calcharo, affectionately known to many Wuthering Waves fans as Solaris's strongest Resonator.

Still, it was hard to imagine the legendary mercenary, who usually wielded blades, standing here making jianbing so dutifully with a spatula. The contrast was striking.

"Do you live here now?" Calcharo asked as he began making another jianbing. "Then why haven't I seen you before?"

"No, I'm here to learn a skill." Xiao Ling found a small stool somewhere and sat down on the spot. "How to make cakes."

"Is someone close to you having a birthday?"

"Yeah, sometime soon."

"You're still willing to put thought into things like that, just as you always were."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Their conversation wasn't particularly lively. Perhaps because they were both people of action rather than words, it mostly consisted of questions and answers.

After chatting on and off for a while, Xiao Ling felt it was time to head back. A certain Little Cart was still sitting in front of the oven, famished and waiting for him to feed her.

"I have to go." Xiao Ling stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait."

Calcharo quickly packed another jianbing guozi and pressed it into Xiao Ling's hand without taking no for an answer.

"If you give me another one, I won't be able to finish it," Xiao Ling teased, looking at the fourth jianbing guozi in his hand. "Waste is shameful."

"Of course it's not for you. It's for the birthday celebrant," Calcharo replied. "I'm not very comfortable at lively gatherings, so consider this jianbing guozi my birthday wishes for this person whose name I don't know."

"That's thoughtful of you too. It's a pretty practical gift." Xiao Ling smiled and waved goodbye to Calcharo. "I'm off."

"I won't see you out."

"Oh no... how is it almost one already?"

Xiao Ling was a little annoyed with himself. He had been so caught up chatting with Old Cal that he had almost forgotten a certain Little Cart was still waiting to be fed at the cake shop.

Fortunately, the alley wasn't far from the shop. Xiao Ling hurried back and made it just before the clock struck one.

The wind chime jingled, and Cartethyia spotted Xiao Ling as soon as he came through the door, his head covered in sweat.

"Righteous One, you're back!"

"Sorry, something came up on the way, so I'm late." Xiao Ling smiled sheepishly.

"It's all right, as long as you came back safely," another female voice said.

The additional voice was gentle and soft as a spring breeze, making Xiao Ling's heart skip a beat.

Of course, it was from fright.

He stared blankly as he turned toward the voice and met a pair of gentle violet eyes.

"It's been a long time. Should I... call you Rover now, or... Xiao Ling?"