Chapter 9: How Was the Experience?

Hua Susu was awakened the next morning by the robot’s alarm service. It was clamoring incessantly at the crack of dawn, leaving her no choice but to get up. She let out a yawn, headed to the bathroom, and emerged after freshening up.

The butler was already setting the table. Seeing Hua Susu approach, the antelope-horned butler bowed and lifted the food cover: "Princess, you are awake. Breakfast is ready; please enjoy."

Hua Susu gave a slight nod and a word of thanks, preparing to eat. However, her expression froze the moment she looked down to see a single, round, glass-tube-like object sitting on a silver platter. "Where is the breakfast?"

"Does the Princess not like the green apple-flavored nutrient solution today? Shall I fetch you the grape-flavored one instead?" Seeing her dissatisfaction, the butler asked with an immediate smile.

Nutrient solution? It was only then that Hua Susu realized people in the interstellar era did not eat carbohydrates. This greenish substance looked unappetizing, like a bowl of repulsive slime. She curled her lip. "Is there anything to eat besides this nutrient solution?"

"Anything else? Does the Princess mean compressed biscuits or energy cubes? I shall immediately—"

"Stop. I don't eat those either. Is there any normal breakfast?" Hua Susu frowned at the mention of compressed biscuits. They were dry and crumbly; one bite and your throat would feel as stretched as a giraffe's—hardly appetizing.

"Normal? I am not sure what the Princess refers to." The butler looked puzzled.

"Just things you're supposed to eat in the morning: steamed buns, fried dough sticks, savory crepes, noodles, that sort of thing."

"We have those. Would the Princess like all of them, or just one of these items?"

If she ordered everything, how could she possibly finish it? She was merely giving examples. Hua Susu waved her hand. "No need for that much; I can't finish it all. Just bring me a bowl of beef noodles."

"Very well, Princess. Please wait a moment." The butler nodded and retreated.

So it could be made! She had feared it wasn't possible; it seemed the interstellar era wasn't so bad after all. The butler returned quickly—in less than three minutes, he had brought the noodles out. Hua Susu couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency of the interstellar age; even a bowl of beef noodles could be prepared so fast.

*Could it be pre-packaged food?*

Well, pre-packaged or not, it was better than that green nutrient liquid. Hua Susu adjusted her mindset.

***

After the butler placed the beef noodles on the table, Hua Susu couldn't wait for him to lift the lid. "I'll do it. I'm starving; this time I must eat my fill..."

However, the moment the lid was lifted, Hua Susu was stunned speechless. *This is how they make beef noodles?* It was a real eye-opener. The dish before her did resemble beef noodles, but the entire thing had been printed out of powder.

Hua Susu asked, half-amused and half-dismayed, "Are you sure this is beef noodles?"

The butler nodded. "These are beef noodles printed from refined powder. If the Princess does not like them, I can exchange them for something else."

*Something else?* Hua Susu decided she shouldn't hold her breath, lest her disappointment be even greater. She finally understood: the things she mentioned simply didn't exist here. She had just checked her optical computer and found that people in the interstellar era lived primarily on nutrient solutions and compressed biscuits. The food she had eaten in the modern world was long forgotten, belonging to a distant, archaic palate.

Hua Susu looked at the green nutrient solution on her left, then at the printed beef noodles on her right, and finally at the butler. "Where is the kitchen?"

The butler was taken aback. "What does the Princess need in the kitchen?"

"To make something to eat."

*To make something?* These nutrient solutions and powdered beef were delicious, high-quality foods; he didn't understand why the Princess wouldn't like them. Hua Susu couldn't get through to this man of the future. Guided by the butler, she went to the kitchen.

Inside, various robots were scurrying about, either mixing powders or filling test tubes with green liquid. Hua Susu couldn't help but twitch her lip. If this was how they cooked, it would be a miracle if the food tasted good. While it looked nutritiously dense, what was the difference between this and pig feed? She couldn't fathom what these interstellar people were thinking, choosing to eat pastes, powders, and liquids instead of real food.

Hua Susu immediately began rummaging through the cupboards. Seeing her search, the butler asked, "Princess, what are you looking for? Do you need my help?"

"I'm checking to see if there is anything I can cook."

As she spoke, her eyes lit up. She spotted flour and, nearby, some minced meat intended for meat-flavored nutrient paste. She pointed to the mince and asked, "Can this meat be eaten?"

The butler was confused but nodded. "Yes, this is meat from domesticated beasts."

Hua Susu didn't know what a "domesticated beast" was, but as long as it was meat, that was enough. She immediately kneaded the dough and prepared the filling, and within a short while, she had made a steamer full of buns.

***

After they were steamed, she took one and ate it, feeling a wave of pure happiness. The butler watched her, his face full of shock. *Since when could the Princess do this?* Yet, the aroma was truly fragrant, completely different from the scent of the nutrient solutions they ate daily.

Seeing the butler staring intently, Hua Susu smiled. "There are two more left; go ahead and eat them, Butler." As if remembering something, she pointed to the remaining buns and added, "Send these over to the beast-men."

***

When Xin Bai returned to his quarters, he was still in a daze. He could not believe that he had actually been healed by Hua Susu’s mental power. He remained lost in thought, unable to recover for a long time.

Ye Xi saw his expression and teased, "Xin Bai, don't tell me you've been so bewitched by that wicked female that you’ve lost your soul!"

"How could that be? Ye Xi, Xin Bai would never compromise with Hua Susu, right, Xin Bai?"

Before Xin Bai could organize his thoughts, the two voices began firing questions at him. He looked up and realized all four of them were in his room. He frowned slightly. "Why are you here?"

Que Qing stood with his arms crossed, his voice cold. "They insisted on asking about your experience."

Que Qing was truly blunt; he had asked so simply and crudely. Recalling what Hua Susu had done, Xin Bai’s eyes narrowed, and he drifted into a trance.

"No way! Xin Bai, you really were bullied. I told you, how could that wicked female suddenly be so kind?"

"Let me see, where are you hurt?" Yan Luo reached out to pull at his clothes.

Xin Bai held his clothes shut, not letting Yan Luo pull them off. Yan Luo began pacing anxiously. "Xin Bai, don't cover it up! Let us see. If she did this, we must report it to the Queen."

Xin Bai held Yan Luo’s hand, shook his head, and said in a low voice, "Yan Luo, I am fine."

"How could you be fine? Your expression wasn't looking so good just a moment ago!"

Ye Xi raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing in his fox-like eyes. He said meaningfully, "Yan Luo, Xin Bai is just shy. There might be something indescribable hidden under those clothes. If you are so rough, what is Xin Bai supposed to do?"

"Indescribable!"

"I knew that wicked female wasn't simple. What exactly did she do to you?"