Chen Huihong’s Maybach slowly drove into the underground garage, not attracting anyone’s attention.
Everything went smoothly.
Before getting out of the car, Qin Huai put on his hat, scarf, and mask again, ensuring that even if Zhao Rong and Qin Congwen stood in front of him, they wouldn’t recognize him immediately. He dragged his suitcase, listening and watching all around, and quickly slipped into the elevator.
Only after stepping out of the elevator and arriving at the door of Luo Jun’s house did Qin Huai slightly exhale a breath of relief.
Zhang Shumei opened the door.
"Master Qin, the room has been cleaned for you. Time was limited, so there’s a temporary air mattress. See if it suits you; if not, I’ll have someone switch my bed to the guest room," Zhang Shumei said.
Luo Jun’s house doesn’t have a guest room; there are only a master bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a studio, a media room, and a display room. The servant’s room has been used by Luo Jun for storage, and Zhang Shumei, the live-in nanny, stays in the secondary bedroom.
Qin Huai glanced and found that Zhang Shumei had temporarily organized the media room into a guest room. The room was quite large and livable, even bigger than his master bedroom.
"It’s good, no problem at all," Qin Huai smiled and said, opened his suitcase, and took out the 20 pounds of flaky pastries and the raw Steamed Fruit.
This time, Qin Huai only brought flaky pastries, Steamed Fruit, and a set of clothes for changing, so there wasn’t much to organize. He took his things and went to the living room.
Chen Huihong was already eating the fruit platter.
Luo Jun was sitting on the sofa watching TV and, upon seeing Qin Huai come out, gave him a look, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "Xiao Zhang, the usual, spider plant."
Five minutes later, the tidied Zhang Shumei happily went out with a big bag.
Qin Huai went to the kitchen to steam the Steamed Fruit for Luo Jun. When he entered the kitchen, he found several bowls of ingredients on the stove.
The ingredients for Dried Tangerine Peel Tea.
The intention was already obvious.
"Mr. Luo, shall I make Dried Tangerine Peel Tea?" Qin Huai poked his head out to ask.
"What else?" Luo Jun said sarcastically, "Master Qin is indeed busy day and night. You come all the way back just to quickly complete the task, not even willing to let your task target drink one more bowl of Dried Tangerine Peel Tea."
What palace drama have you been watching recently?
Anyway, making Dried Tangerine Peel Tea isn’t troublesome; it’s just something to do along the way. Qin Huai first put the Steamed Fruit in the steamer to steam, then started making the Dried Tangerine Peel Tea, and rummaged through the cabinet to find the prepared ingredients by Zhang Shumei, and began kneading the dough.
It’s rare to be back, so I should make some delicious snacks for Luo Jun and Chen Huihong, to let them see my achievements in learning at Huang Ji during this time.
Having learned Fire Control for a week, my pastry skills have improved by leaps and bounds.
Soon, when the dough was kneaded and left on the workbench to proof, the Steamed Fruit in the steamer was ready to be served.
The Dried Tangerine Peel Tea still needed some time, but there was no rush as the Steamed Fruit hadn’t been colored yet. Qin Huai prepared the red vegetable juice and created casually, timing it perfectly.
When the coloring of the four Steamed Fruit was complete, the Dried Tangerine Peel Tea in the pot was also successfully ready.
Luo Jun was already sitting by the dining table. Qin Huai served three bowls of Dried Tangerine Peel Tea on a tray and brought them out together, sitting down to eat a bit himself.
Already impatient, Chen Huihong eagerly picked up a piece of Steamed Fruit, took a bite, and ate it blissfully with her eyes closed in satisfaction.
Luo Jun remained unmoved. He didn’t even look at the Steamed Fruit on the plate, calmly taking a spoon to slowly drink the Dried Tangerine Peel Tea.
Spoonful after spoonful, this action and demeanor were very familiar to Qin Huai, only missing a newspaper to resemble Luo Jun’s routine every morning in his memory after getting up and drinking Dried Tangerine Peel Tea.
Five or six minutes later, a bowl of Dried Tangerine Peel Tea was finished.
Chen Huihong was almost done with her second Steamed Fruit, looking a bit full already, holding the last small piece for a long time without eating.
Luo Jun put down the bowl without touching the Steamed Fruit, appearing somewhat hesitant.
"Oh come on, don’t hesitate. Whether you stick your neck in or pull it in, it’s just another cut. You won’t lose out by letting Xiao Qin see your memories. If Xiao Qin, after seeing your memories, makes a new snack for you and you successfully transcend tribulation, won’t you actually benefit and live many more years!" Chen Huihong, having been through the experience, advised.
Luo Jun rolled his eyes at her: "You think I’m like you, remembering nothing. Do I care about living many more years? Dying now and reincarnating isn’t it the same life again?"
Despite the words, Luo Jun moved his hand, picked up a piece of Steamed Fruit, placed it near his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and took a small bite.
Almost the moment Luo Jun started chewing, a game notification sounded in Qin Huai’s mind.
"Ding, congratulations on completing the side mission [Taste of Memory] and receiving the mission reward [a memory fragment of Luo Jun]."
Luo Jun’s final fragment of memory is now in hand.
Qin Huai looked at Luo Jun, cautiously asking, "Do you...have any instructions?"
Qin Huai was well aware that Luo Jun must know what the content of the forthcoming memory is.
Luo Jun was silent for a long time, and Qin Huai also sat at the table waiting for him for a long time, not opening the game panel.
Finally, Luo Jun spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Remember her appearance, don’t forget it."
Qin Huai nodded, opened the game panel, and selected [a memory fragment of Luo Jun].
Firelight, explosion, disaster.
When Qin Huai entered the memory, all he saw was utter devastation.
Obviously, it was nighttime, yet the burning firelight illuminated the surroundings very brightly. Everywhere were bomb-razed ruins, charred and collapsed houses, occasionally making creaking and shattering sounds, with no cries or calls for help, it felt as if all life had vanished into nothingness within the rubble.
Qin Huai looked up and saw planes circling above, continuing to drop bombs.