Chapter 26 — ILK Chapter 26

The glass seemed to appear out of thin air, a perfect fit for the frame. Before the robots could finish the installation, Lin Changli floated inside.

"Where did this come from?" Sang Ye asked, dumbfounded.

"Don't you know?" Lin Changli remained suspended in mid-air. "The base has a processing plant, and a fairly large one at that. Weapon maintenance, daily necessities, and even a portion of the nutrient solutions are produced there."

It took less than twenty minutes. After the robots finished the installation, they cleaned up the area. With the new glass in place, it was as if there were no barrier at all; the view was crystal clear, and the ocean stretched endlessly toward the horizon.

Lin Changli floated in front of the dazed Sang Ye and leaned down. "You're awake? You should get to making my cake."

Lin Changli had reined in his overflowing mental energy quite a bit today; he looked much more like a normal person now.

Because there was a strange man in her space, Sang Ye had slept in her clothes the night before. Her braided hair wasn't too messy, but the hair near her crown had puffed out, looking like a fresh little bird's nest—disheveled, yet possessing a natural, organic beauty.

"Your Highness, we need to set some ground rules," Sang Ye said helplessly as she watched Lin Changli float around her room as if he owned the place. "First: without my permission, you are not allowed to enter my room directly."

Lin Changli finally looked at her. Seeing Sang Ye return his gaze without backing down an inch, he curled his lip. "Fine. I'm leaving now."

The Interstellar world didn't seem to have strict "segregation of the sexes"; gender concepts had evolved significantly over time. Sang Ye was generally adaptable, but having a strange man barge into her room was still a step too far.

By the time she finished getting ready and stepped out, she had changed into a summer outfit the adjutant had sent her the day before. Sang Ye had looked it up online and discovered this style was called a Grecian Gauze Dress. It was a recreation of the style worn by ancient Greek women, though it omitted the flowing hemlines and complex pleats in favor of a simpler, draped silhouette; it was sleeveless, leaving her arms bare.

When she stepped out, the door opposite her own was wide open. The furniture remained exactly as Sang Ye had moved it in; the quilt hadn't been touched, with no sign of anyone having slept there.

Sang Ye felt a prickle of goosebumps. If Lin Changli didn't sleep at all last night, what was he doing all night? And for heaven's sake, why on earth can he fly???

Outside, Lin Changli was still hovering with his feet off the ground. He had stopped by the small vegetable garden and was curiously plucking a leaf from a pepper plant. As a result, he predictably let out a massive sneeze.

Sang Ye bit back a laugh and walked past him, eyes fixed forward, pretending not to notice.

…

Making a Sacher Torte was incredibly labor-intensive and demanded high fundamental skills. Although Sang Ye was proficient in both savory and pastry arts and could master a recipe after one look, a cake was still different from the traditional pastries she used to make. She dared not be careless.

There are many types of cake bases; a Sacher Torte uses an "all-egg" sponge composed of eggs, chocolate sauce, butter, and flour.

Sang Ye pulled out a snow-white ceramic jar, about 6 inches in diameter. She first spread a layer of butter on the walls, then dusted it evenly with fine flour until it was pure white. She turned the jar upside down and tapped the bottom gently to shake off the excess flour. This would serve as her baking mold.

She took four eggs and separated the yolks from the whites. In a transparent bowl, she added several chunks of butter and enough white sugar to cover them. After stirring them together, she detached a whisk arm from one of the robots—Sang Ye didn't intend to let the robots participate in any part of this cake to ensure nothing went wrong—set it to medium speed, and began mixing the butter and sugar.

At this stage, the mixture was slightly thick and pale, but still somewhat flakey; they hadn't fully bonded yet. This was where the yolks came in. She added half of the yolks and mixed thoroughly; the bowl turned a bright, beautiful carrot-orange. After about three minutes of mixing, she added the other half. She continued until the three ingredients formed a creamy, semi-thick substance. Her Butter Frosting was ready.

Next, she added the egg whites and a pinch of salt to another bowl. Using a different whisk arm, she whipped the whites until small white bubbles appeared, then added sugar in small batches. She whipped them into a fine, soft foam that looked as smooth and flat as whipped cream. The Meringue was ready.

She heated the chocolate until it softened into a sauce, stirred it into the butter frosting, and then added the meringue and flour. She folded the mixture continuously but avoided over-mixing until the entire batter turned a deep chocolate brown. This was the base for the Sacher Torte. She poured the batter into the prepared ceramic jar and smoothed the surface.

Sang Ye preheated the oven. By the time she returned to the kitchen, Lin Changli was standing by the ceramic jar, holding a glass of iced Pineapple Plum Tea. He had even put the pig-shaped ice cubes Sang Ye had frozen last night into his cup! Those were meant for Wu Jianing.

The Pineapple Plum Tea was an improvement over the sparkling water. Sang Ye had realized that once sparkling water was exposed to the air, the carbonation dissipated quickly, losing its refreshing quality and becoming overly sweet. So, she brewed a pot of tea to replace the sparkling water. After filtering the leaves, she mixed it with pineapple jam and Green Dew Plums. It was a refreshing, mind-clearing drink that lasted much longer than sparkling water. It was the perfect thing for a summer day at the base.

Sang Ye quickly grabbed the pig-shaped mold, refilled it with boiled water, and put it back in the freezer.

"Ningning is coming over later. If she sees that someone ate her little pigs, she'll be unhappy," Sang Ye said, her eyes full of the silent accusation: A grown man stealing from a child.

"Ningning? Wu Jianing?" Lin Changli raised his oversized cup—he had specifically picked the largest one in the cupboard—and took a sip, the ice clinking inside.

"Yes."

"I heard you healed her legs. They regrew and you cleared out the Zerg toxins," Lin Changli mentioned, seemingly casual.

Sang Ye didn't know who he had heard it from; she had no real understanding of the base or the military high command. Her inherited memories were empty in that regard, as the original owner was just a minor figure. However, his statement wasn't a question, so she just gave a vague reply: "Just a coincidence."

Sang Ye placed the cake in the oven and stepped back. She then began preparing the Apricot Jam. Making jam was relatively simple; she simmered apricots with white sugar until the mixture reached a thick consistency. She calculated the amount of sugar she had used today and clicked her tongue. This was the result even after she had exercised restraint; if a true sugar-lover made a Sacher Torte, she couldn't imagine how much they would add.

Despite having another living person in the kitchen, Sang Ye didn't feel awkward. Instead, she gradually found peace in her work. This kitchen space belonged to her; even if others came, they couldn't do anything because they didn't know how.

Sang Ye thought of the original owner. She had lived in a room with many other orphans, then shared a room with a roommate in the military district, and was forced into a team with her classmates during school. After graduation, she finally rented a place of her own, only to be told she was being transferred to an alien garrison... She never had a space that was truly hers; her whole life was an "invasion."

If her classmates hadn't been so self-righteous, the original owner could have lived the quiet life she wanted on the Capital Star. If she had just endured, given how fast garrisons change, who knows what the future would have held? As long as one is alive, there is infinite hope.

Lin Changli finished inspecting the kitchen decor and the dining table. Hearing the oven chime, he turned to see Sang Ye still standing with her head down in thought, her hands continuously stirring the orange-yellow jam. He walked over and opened the oven as prompted.

The aroma of chocolate wafted out, accompanied by a heavy, sweet breath. These were small items with meager mental energy; cocoa beans were just ordinary crops, and even after years in her storage ring, they hadn't absorbed much energy. When meeting someone like Lin Changli, that tiny amount of energy was like a drop in the ocean, vanishing instantly.

Yet Lin Changli keenly sensed the infiltration of this trace of mental energy. Silent, invisible, and irresistible.

"Don't! It’s hot!" Sang Ye snapped back to reality, her voice sudden as she tried to stop Lin Changli from grabbing the scalding ceramic jar with his bare hands.

But Lin Changli simply pinched the jar with one hand, his fingers steady against the bottom. He turned around expressionless, as if he couldn't feel the heat at all. Sang Ye’s worry instantly turned into shock.

Lin Changli walked over calmly and set the jar on the heat-resistant rack she had prepared. When he pulled his hand away, Sang Ye noticed it was as pale and unblemished as before. Sang Ye was bewildered. Was the cake not done? In her confusion, she wanted to reach out and touch it herself.

A large hand reached out, firmly grasping her wrist. "What are you doing? Do you want to lose your hand?" His palm was ice-cold, a stark contrast to his mental energy. There was no hint that he had just touched a burning jar.

Sang Ye snapped out of it, realizing how foolish she had just been. Withdrawing her hand, she put on insulated gloves and turned the cake out. It emitted the rich, distinct smell of chocolate and cocoa butter mixed with the sweetness of sugar.

After it cooled, she sliced the cake in half horizontally and spread the apricot jam on the cut surface. Using a regular knife was a bit inconvenient; she had to be careful not to point the blade toward the sponge, or she might accidentally cut off a large chunk. Seeing her struggle, Lin Changli gestured for her to hand him the knife. Sang Ye was confused but wiped it clean and handed it over.

The next scene made Sang Ye’s pupils contract slightly.

The knife began to deform in Lin Changli’s hand, as if being reshaped by an intense flame. The base bent into a slight Z-shape, and then Lin Changli wiped his fingers across the edge—and actually flattened the blade!

When Sang Ye took back the reshaped offset spatula, she still couldn't quite believe it. But the waves of heat emanating from the tool confirmed one thing: when Lin Changli said he could burn her to ash, he wasn't joking. This quiet, effortless control of fire was both godly and terrifying; she hadn't even seen a single spark!

With the help of the spatula, the apricot jam was spread quickly. She joined the two halves, the jam acting as a glue, and then covered the entire cake in a layer of jam. She set it aside to let it firm up slightly.

The final step was the Chocolate Glaze. She simmered sugar and water until the surface bubbled, then stirred in the chocolate. Sang Ye wanted a "mirror glaze"—one so shiny it could reflect a face. The secret was keeping the glaze between 30° and 35°C.

Tension mounted as she measured the temperature. The moment it hit 34°C, she poured it over the cake. There was no need to smooth it out; the most important thing was to let the chocolate flow naturally, covering every corner and edge.

The mirror glaze, as reflective as glass, was complete. The Sacher Torte was finished.

Sang Ye looked up. Lin Changli wasn't looking at the cake he had demanded; he was staring at her.

A woman with a red braid draped over her chest, wearing a pure white sleeveless Grecian dress that revealed her firm, strong arms. She was tall, with a few smudges of flour on her face, and she radiated the comfortable, pleasant scent of chocolate.

It was like a dream.