Great, we're doomed now!

...Generally speaking, if their civilization could continue normally, this might evolve into a fixed festival.

Ye Shougang completed his "medical tour," which involved re-infusing life into the victims he had rescued. The gentle ripple energy effectively healed the "deficiencies" in their bodies. Seeing the renewed vitality on their faces, his mood improved considerably.

He looked around but didn't find any shops that interested him, so he slowly walked to a corner of the square and found a small table to sit down.

Interestingly, he was surrounded by all sorts of people every day, and had always been the center of attention since childhood—but he actually didn't like crowds.

He simply had to interact with many people, both acquaintances and strangers, to maintain the overall situation.

In such lively occasions, he prefers to stay quietly by himself, so he can enjoy the hustle and bustle without disturbing his private space—a perfect balance.

He took a bottle of wine from his private space, took a sip, and casually surveyed the bustling crowd in the square, savoring this long-lost sense of ease.

"Young man, this was specially prepared for you." A middle-aged woman came over carrying several plates of beautifully presented late-night snacks, her face beaming with joy.

"Thanks to you, my child was able to wake up from his dream."

The plate contains crispy biscuits, sweet dried fruit, and chunks of meat coated in honey... It looks so appetizing.

Ye Shou nodded his thanks, but looking at the table full of food, he raised his hand to the children watching around him and said, "Let's eat together, I can't finish it all by myself."

The children's eyes lit up, but they subconsciously took a half step back, then giggled and ran off to another place.

Seeing this, Ye Shou stopped insisting and turned his attention back to the delicious food in front of him.

The flatbread was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the candied fruit was sweet and juicy, and the meat was fragrant but not greasy. The spices of this era were richer and more intense than those of later generations, fully awakening his taste buds.

call!

At midnight, a bonfire was lit in the center of the square, and leaping red lotuses illuminated half the sky, accompanied by cheerful music and tunes.

Everything was going well, but suddenly Ye Shou noticed that the noise around him was gradually subsiding. The campfire in the distance was still lively, but here... people were even lowering their voices unconsciously.

Time and space seemed to have been subtly frozen.

"Ok?"

He looked up curiously and saw a beautiful figure slowly walking towards him in the dim light of the fire – Carmilla.

Contrary to her usual style, she wasn't wearing her combat uniform today, but instead donned a gorgeous long dress, the hem adorned with delicate light patterns that fluttered gently in the breeze.

Her hands were still tied with the signature gold ribbons, her gait was elegant yet carried an innate arrogance, like a dark queen descended to earth.

The surrounding residents were all stunned by the sudden appearance of this stunning figure. They held their breath, their eyes instinctively lowered, and no one dared to make a sound.

They had never seen Carmilla in her "human form," but their biological instincts led them to bow their heads.

"Humph!"

Carmilla completely ignored everyone's gaze, walked straight to Ye Shou's table, looked down at him, her eyes sweeping over the food on the table, and a disdainful smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "You clearly possess the power of a giant and do not need to rely on food to survive, yet you insist on imitating mortals to eat. Isn't this just self-degradation?"

Hmm? Corruption?

Ye Shou glanced at Carmilla: "Together? My treat."

"You think I would eat food made by inferior beings?"

Carmilla pressed down on the hem of her skirt and gracefully sat down opposite Ye Shou.

"But let's make an exception and try it today... Where's the fork?"

"Give."

Ye Shou took out a small plate, casually picked up a small piece of grilled meat, and placed it directly under Carmilla's nose.

"...Hmm? What, are you worried it's poisonous?"

“Poison…” A faint blush rose to Carmilla’s face, and her eyes darted around, making her look like she really was poisoned.

Chapter 430: Then I'll Share Some of My Happiness with You (4.5K)

Just as Carmilla was about to open her mouth, she suddenly glanced at Ye Shou, then lifted a strand of hair with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, nodding her head slightly before quickly pulling it back. She chewed slowly, her eyes flickering slightly, as if she were somewhat surprised.

"Well... it's not bad."

Carmilla commented modestly, "The taste is better than I expected. I never thought that a mere human could possess such skill."

"Isn't it delicious?"

Ye Shou picked up the wine bottle and poured himself some more, jokingly saying, "Eating is never just about survival; often it's about enjoying the process."

However, this kind of simple joy is quite distant for you; you probably don't experience it on a regular basis, which is a real shame.

Carmilla frowned slightly, but then Ye Shou raised his hand and summoned a crystal cup out of thin air.

shh~

He unscrewed the bottle, and the deep red wine slowly poured into the glass, its sweet aroma filling the air.

"Want to try some?" Ye Shou pushed the crystal glass in front of her, looking quite expectant.

Seeing his expression, Carmilla couldn't refuse. She stared at the slightly swirling liquid in the glass, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally reached out and picked up the glass.

She examined the contents of her glass with demure composure, her skirt spreading out elegantly, making her look like a still oil painting, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle in the distance.

Carmilla would never touch human food on a normal day. Firstly, as a dark giant, she did not need to consume food to replenish her energy. Secondly, she sincerely believed that the desire for food was a pursuit only inferior beings had, and she had transcended it.

But just now... the taste wasn't bad at all.

After a moment's thought, she tilted her head back slightly and took a small sip of the clear, deep red wine...

"!"

The rich aroma of Carumira lingered on her tongue, causing the female warrior's brow to relax slightly.

Alcohol has been known since ancient times for its ability to open people's hearts and encourage conversation, and this principle seems to apply even to giants.

She put down the crystal glass, her tone no longer so harsh, but still carrying an air of superiority: "I didn't expect that these humans could put so much thought into things during the apocalypse..."

Her tone shifted, and her eyes regained their coldness: "But that's all."

Living beings have inherent limitations in their senses; these fleeting pleasures are ultimately finite, and what they strive so hard for is nothing more than a mirage.

She raised her hand to smooth her hair, her tone carrying a strange meaning, "I can witness the birth and death of stars and the passage of billions of years. This kind of fleeting happiness is simply not worth my attention."

Ye Shou picked up a piece of grilled meat and chewed it carefully. Hearing this, he said calmly, "Even if you could control the stars and look down on time, you still couldn't cook such delicious food."

Carmilla paused, nodded subconsciously, and then snorted coldly, "Why should I waste my energy on such trivial matters?"

"It's not a waste of energy, it's that you can't do it." Ye Shou put down his chopsticks and looked at her calmly.

"You have your strength, capable of overturning mountains and seas, traversing the universe. But there are things you can't do, like cooking a meal—"

From ingredient selection to cooking, the process of slowly refining the flavor requires dedication and a thirst for food. A person without an appetite cannot create delicious food, just as a person without a desire to express themselves cannot write a good article.

Carmilla leaned back slightly, arms crossed over her chest, giving off a very wary vibe.

She felt that Ye Shou was trying to convince herself.

"Humans are weak, but they can create beauty in the little things in life."

Giants and humans are simply different in their strengths; there is no inherent superiority or inferiority between them.

Carmilla shook her head, her certainty leaving no room for argument: "The difference is huge!"

Human life is too short. In the blink of an eye, they might be a different generation. What worthwhile things can one accomplish in such a fleeting life?

"The meaning of life is never about its length." Ye Shou raised his finger and pointed to the small insects dancing in the light in the square.

"Mayflies are born in the morning and die at night, but at noon, they will still flutter their thin wings and complete their last flight."

Although human life is short, it leaves behind so many precious things—art that touches the soul, literature that records joys and sorrows, and architecture that has stood for centuries.

These are proof that they are alive, warmer than eternity.

"Architecture? Is it that impressive? Ants build houses too." Carmilla scoffed, her tone disdainful. "Do you consider ants to be equal life forms just because their nests are complex?"

“I’ve seen ant nests that are taller than a person and like stone pillars,” Ye Shou replied calmly. “That’s not something a single ant could build. It’s something that countless ants built together little by little. They may be small individually, but their creations are as tall as us.”

A complex emotion flashed in Carmilla's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference: "I've seen asteroids collide with celestial bodies, witnessed supervolcanic eruptions, and seen a cosmic civilization a hundred times more powerful than humanity ultimately swallowed by a black hole... In the face of the universe's immense power, all 'creation' is futile and utterly vulnerable."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a hint of pressure: "Only things that can exist forever are worth investing your emotions in!"

Will humanity still exist 50 million years from now?

Will this planet be able to escape being devoured by its star in five billion years?

Even looking at the near future... five thousand years from now, what traces will these animals you cherish now, whether they're food or familiar people, leave behind?

The firelight illuminated her face, half bright and half dim, and the emptiness in her voice lingered like the swaying shadow behind her—Ye Shou paused slightly, as if he had realized something.

He did not respond immediately. Although he had a lot of things to say, Ye Shou did not intend to use those words because this was not a debate competition, and winning was not about silencing the other party.

True victory is when the other party genuinely agrees with your position and viewpoint.

Clearly, Carmilla views humanity from a rather "detached" perspective, making all human rhetoric seem rather pale in comparison to her.

He remained silent, his fingertips slowly tracing the crystal glass, his gaze shifting to the distant, flickering campfire, his expression calm and undisturbed, yet his eyes held a distant longing.

Seeing this, Carmilla's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, secretly pleased with herself for hitting the nail on the head—

This guy, who could always refute her, was ultimately stumped by "time" and "reality".

"..."

Next, the two simply savored the food on the table in silence, letting the rich aroma of the wine and the fragrance of the roasted meat mingle in their mouths, but there was no more conversation, and the atmosphere suddenly became stiff.

A sense of regret began to creep into Carmilla's heart:

She had clearly gained the upper hand, but this "victory" felt empty and devoid of any sense of satisfaction. She actually wanted to say more to Ye Shou, even if it was just an argument... It would be better than this, which was driving her crazy!

"!!!"

Suddenly, a loud shout rose up in the square, attracting Carmilla's attention.

The bonfire in the center of the square was raised higher, and a lively drumbeat suddenly sounded. People of all ages and genders joined hands and circled around the huge bonfire.

Some people throw old clothes and shoes that they no longer need into the fire. The flames leap higher, and the orange-red light reflects on everyone's faces, depicting one heartfelt smile after another... This is probably their custom. The old things that are thrown away and burned symbolize the dispelling of illness and disaster.

As Ye Shou watched this lively scene, his gaze softened involuntarily.

Carmilla wanted to mock this "futile ritual," but when she caught sight of Ye Shou's focused expression, she silently shut her mouth, her gaze involuntarily following the crowd around the campfire.

The bonfire party officially began, with the crowd first divided into men's and women's teams. The women's team danced lightly and gracefully, while the men's team danced with vigor and strength. Their synchronized movements drew cheers from the crowd.

After the performance, the crowd dispersed, and everyone formed their own groups. Young men and women had already found partners, or even married couples. Even elderly people with gray hair held their partners' hands and walked into the arena in pairs, linking arms and dancing slowly to the melodious songs.

Carmilla watched coldly, but as she watched, she was also infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere. Her tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and the indifference in her eyes faded a little, revealing a hint of immersion.