Poseidon in Arknights

"Hmm?" Xi Yue took the bag, weighed it in her hand for a moment, and looked at Nian's smiling face, guessing what was inside. "If you want to eat, I can cook a separate pot for you. Just don't add it in, not everyone can eat this kind of spicy food with you."

"Is this a good idea?" Nian scratched his head. "It's too much trouble. It's not that spicy, actually."

Xi Yue weighed the bag in her hand and looked at Nian helplessly: "If you want to eat, I can cook a separate pot for you. It's not much trouble. Besides, I don't want to have a few proctology patients after we finish eating."

Exusiai curiously leaned closer, looking at the bag in Yuuki's hand: "Really, is it that scary?"

"Smell it?" Yuuki opened the bag, took out a shriveled chili pepper, and held it in front of Exusiai.

"Hmm, no, no." Exusiai waved her hand at the chili pepper in front of her. "It's up to you."

When it comes to cooking, Exusiai has absolute trust in Yuuki. As the only cook for Penguin Logistics, Exusiai supports all of Yuuki's decisions regarding food, as long as they are not demanding desserts.

Yuuki shrugged at Exusiai, who was both cowardly and eager to cause trouble, then looked at Nian and waved the bag in her hand: "So, do you want to eat?"

"Hmm." Nian glanced around and saw that everyone was sprawled on the sofa watching TV, and it seemed that no one had any objections to this matter.

So Nian nodded to Xiyue, "Since that's how it is, then I'll trouble you, Miss Xiyue?"

Xi Yue nodded, took the bag, and headed towards the kitchen: "Okay, wait a moment, it'll be ready soon."

--------------

"I just feel like something's not right." Nian squatted on a small chair, looking at the small hot pot that was constantly bubbling and emitting a spicy aroma on the makeshift table in front of her.

Xi Yue pushed open the balcony glass, placed the plate of dumplings on the small table, and smiled at Nian, who had a strange expression: "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's still windy outside." Nian pointed to the still-windy outside, then to the warm interior. "Can't you just let me in?"

Xi Yue smiled and pointed to the still bubbling scarlet hot pot: "Your flavor is too strong. It hasn't even been cooking for long, and the whole room is already filled with the smell of spiciness."

"Well, they can barely open their eyes and are coughing constantly, but if you feel cold~"

Xi Yue raised her hand and coated the balcony with water to keep out the cold wind: "Is this alright?"

"Um, that's not what I meant." Nian looked at Xiyue, but all she saw was Xiyue's back as she put down her things and left.

As Nian watched Xiyue's departing figure, even though the cold wind outside the window was blocked by the flowing water, Nian still felt a chill on his back, and it even seemed as if snowflakes were falling.

————Inside the house————

"Miss Nian seems a bit pitiful." Exusiai looked at the somewhat desolate Nian on the balcony. "It looks like it's about to snow behind her."

"That spiciness is too strong." Muirsey pinched her nose. "I never expected there to be such a spicy chili pepper."

"It looked like the bubbles coming out of the hot pot were tinged with red smoke. I really don't know how Miss Nian managed to eat it."

“Everyone has their own preferences.” Xi Yue pulled out a chair and sat down. “I don’t want Miss Nian to sit on the windowsill either, but if she cooks here, the smell is really too strong.”

"Hmm." Texas and Red nodded. As the two with the most acute sense of smell in the room, they had just sneezed the most frequently.

Especially Hong, the curious little wolf cub, had curiously gone over to it while it was cooking. Directly facing the terrifying spiciness, she is now constantly sneezing, her nose filled with the smell of spiciness.

So Xiyue had no choice but to move Nian to the balcony to isolate him from the smell, as she would have to figure out a way to get rid of the odor if things continued like this.

"Actually, I'd like to try one." Ghost Shark swallowed the dumpling in his mouth in one gulp. "It sounds like it would be really interesting."

“It really is that spicy. I’d like to try what it would taste like if it were cooked in that broth.” Croissant nodded in agreement as she listened to Specter Shark. “It’s rare to see such a spicy broth.”

“Ghost Shark wants to eat. I’m not going to stop him.” Xi Yue glanced at the croissant. “But Croissant, you better be careful. Ghost Shark will only get a little spicy, but as for you, I don’t want to have another patient in the proctology department later.”

"And it probably won't have much flavor. Once you put it in your mouth, you'll probably only feel a spiciness that goes straight to the top of your head."

“That makes sense.” Croissant nodded. “It smells so spicy, eating it would be like eating fire. You probably wouldn’t taste anything at all.”

So, take it easy.

——————Nighttime·Penguin Logistics Headquarters·Rooftop——————

At this moment, bright lights still shine everywhere in Longmen, showing that the nightlife is just beginning.

However, everyone from Penguin Logistics, along with Muirsey and Specter, were sent back to bed early by Yuuki, who told them to go to sleep. Nightlife was out of the question for them, at least for now.

On the rooftop, Nian leaned on the railing, looking at the lights before him, his fan tapping against the railing below, making a clanging sound.

"Miss Nian, would you like a cup?" Xi Yue's voice suddenly rang out, and a cup of coffee appeared in front of Nian, carried by a stream of water.

Nian turned her head and saw that Xiyue had appeared behind her at some point. The blue water formed chairs and tables, emitting a soft blue light.

"Tsk, it's clearly me who's always sneaking up on people from behind." Nian took the cup that Liu Shui was dragging along. "Miss Xiyue, how come you're more skilled than me?"

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Yuuki shook her head. “I just came here this time.”

"You appeared behind me silently, without my noticing?" Nian looked at Xiyue, who was swishing her tail, with a strange expression. "I feel like you're faking it, but I don't seem to have any proof."

“It’s perfectly normal for me to be anywhere.” Xi Yue smiled. “Sit down, the night is still quite long, we have plenty of time to chat.”

Nian pulled out a chair made of water, sat down, picked up a teacup, and took a sip: "This coffee is quite interesting. I wonder if Sister Shu could grow some. But my older brother and the others probably prefer tea. They might not be used to black tea or coffee."

"I have tea here too. Would you like me to brew you another pot?"

"No need~" Nian shook her head, "Drinking something else is fine too."

"Speaking of which, did anyone know you were looking for me tonight?" Xi Yue looked at the distant scenery, picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Or perhaps someone would care?"

“As long as I don’t cause trouble, they won’t bother me.” Nian shook his head. “But I guess it’ll be soon. Even if I don’t cause trouble, they’ll probably still come after me.”

"On the contrary, Miss Xiyue, you've been here the whole time, haven't they looked for you at all?"

“Who knows?” Xi Yue shook her head. “Perhaps they don’t know I’m here yet, which is why they haven’t come looking for me. Or perhaps they know I’m here, but haven’t figured out how to contact me.”

“Sigh, what are you saying?” Nian smiled and looked into the distance. “I think it’s more like the latter. They’re not ready to get in touch with you. They can’t predict your attitude, and you’re involved in more than just a few things.”

“I know.” Xiyue nodded. “To them, I can’t just be a doctor.”

“Mountains and seas take shape, turning the world upside down, nothing can stop them, nothing can destroy them.” Nian looked at Xiyue, “Now those sea creatures are nothing, you are now the most unpredictable person on this land.”

“That makes sense.” Xi Yue nodded, calmly holding her cup and drinking her coffee.

Nian silently sipped his coffee, glancing at Xiyue for a while before finally asking, "What are your thoughts on your water clones?"

Xi Yue paused in her coffee-drinking motion: "What is Miss Nian referring to?"

"If your clones left your body and became independent individuals, would you consider taking them back?"

“Miss Nian seems to be implying something?” Xi Yue chuckled. “If they become independent individuals with their own consciousness, then their lives belong only to them, not to me, and naturally I have no intention of taking them back.”

“Then…” Nian hesitated for a moment, “If you die, your body will split into several clones, and after several years, they will develop their own independent consciousness.”

"And your awakening is inevitable, and your awakening is destined to be accompanied by the dissipation of these clones. What will you think?"

“My thoughts may not necessarily apply to you, Miss Nian.” Xi Yue shook her head with a light laugh. “I don’t want to wake up. If one person’s life can be exchanged for several people, that would be enough.”

"They have already moved on with their own lives, why should I let them risk their lives to find a new wife for me?"

"Why remarry?" Nian paused for a moment, "But you are a doctor, you can save more people."

“They could be too.” Xi Yue looked at Nian. “There can be many people who are doctors, and everyone can save more lives. Why does it have to be me?”

“…How carefree you are.” Nian looked at Xiyue. “However, it seems we are not so lucky. Sui is not as kind as Miss Xiyue.”

“We are destined to disappear.” Nian gazed at the distant scenery. “The traces we leave behind are destined to disappear, as are the films I make and the things I create.”

Xi Yue looked at Nian: "So that's why you want to make more movies, to leave more of your mark?"

“Yes.” Nian nodded. “That way, even if I disappear, people will still remember that someone made a lot of movies. That way, there will still be some trace left.”

"It was just a bunch of nonsense. In the end, it was all a waste of time. I just wanted to have some fun and leave something to remember me by."

"..." Xi Yue looked at Nian, "So, do you think you need help?"

"Help?" Nian paused in his coffee-drinking motion, looking at Yuzuki with a mixture of surprise and worry in his eyes. "Our disappearance was due to Nian's call, Miss Yuzuki. Even though you are part of the ocean, you couldn't stop it, could you?"

"And if you come to help us, things might get uneasy on Si Sui Tai."

"If I wanted to, there's nothing in this world I couldn't protect if I wanted to." Yuuki picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. "How about it? Do you need my help?"

“…I can’t wait.” Nian shook her head. “If you help, Si Suitai’s opinions will be much more than just a little bit.”

"Is that so?" Xi Yue nodded, then handed over a teardrop-shaped ice crystal. "Here, take this first."

"What is this?" Nian took the ice crystal and placed it in his palm. The ice crystal was not large, only about the size of a thumb, and it was crystal clear. If it weren't for the slight chill emanating from his hand, one might not have been able to tell that it was an ice crystal.

“If you need to crush it, just do so.” Yuuki took a sip of coffee. “I’ll come over, no matter how difficult the situation is for you.”

"Even if there are other troubles later?" Nian tossed the ice crystal in his hand. "Besides, we don't seem to have any special relationship, and Sui is not easy to deal with."

“You are a potential patient, and I am a doctor.” Yuuki took a sip of coffee. “That reason is enough.”

"Besides, you're not the only one who can be saved in this matter."

Nian held the ice crystal in his hand and carefully put it into his pocket, then gazed at the night view of Longmen.

Although it was already night, the lights of Longmen were still bright, and there were still many mobile food stalls along some streets. People were bustling about, and the bustling street scene and the moving crowds showed that Longmen was still a vibrant nightlife.

“Yes, resolving this matter saved more than just me.” Nian nodded, looking at the night view in front of him. “And I can’t let go of this world.”

Chapter 122: Leisure Time

—————Penguin Logistics Headquarters·Exus's Room—————

"Hmm..." Exusiai sat up in bed with dazed eyes, rubbed them, and then looked towards the door. "What's that sound?"

"Ah~ Ooh~ Yuzuki, be gentle."

Exusiai could tell it was Specter's voice, but something seemed off about the sound.

At this moment, Xi Yue's slightly helpless voice rang out: "How can you be gentle? Just bear with it, it'll be over soon."

"Hmm!!!" Upon hearing the noise, Exusiai's eyes widened instantly, and the halo above her head became incredibly bright. She then immediately rolled over, got off the bed, and rushed out of the room without even bothering to put on her slippers.

"What are you doing..." Exusiai had just rushed into the hall when she saw everyone else sitting on the sofa as usual, while Yuuki and Specter, who had just made the sound, were sitting to the side.

At this moment, Ghost Shark was lying on Yuuki's lap. Her shirt was lifted up, revealing her smooth back, but her spine seemed to be emitting a faint yellow light.

And Yuuki's right hand... seemed to be reaching directly into the Ghost Shark's body, doing something?

"Hmm, you're awake?" Yuzuki looked up at Exusiai. "If you're hungry, wait a bit, I'll be done soon."

"What are you guys doing?" Exusiai scratched her head. "Making that noise, I thought, um, I thought you guys had done something wrong, like something happened?"

"Oh?" Specter turned to look at Exusiai, enduring the pain. "So... um... simple? Miss Exusiai... you weren't thinking about anything... strange, were you?"

Before Specter could finish speaking, and before Exusiai could say anything, Yuuki patted Specter's head with her free hand: "You were screaming in so much pain just now, and you still have the mood to talk nonsense?"

"Isn't this just trying to distract me?" Ghost Shark casually replied to Yuzuki. "This is the first time I've had surgery while I'm awake. I didn't expect it to hurt so much."

Yuuki patted Ghost Shark's head: "After all, I'm completely reshaping and regenerating your nerves, so pain is inevitable."