Gu Ya didn't know how he got home all the way.
With Ye Ying by his side, his mind was like it was covered in a veil, hazy and unfocused.
Ye Ying remained her usual aloof and unapproachable self, her demeanor as calm as ever.
Gu Ya couldn't figure out what Ye Ying was thinking. She answered everything he said, even if it was just a "hmm," she would follow it up with another "hmm."
This relationship was truly difficult.
The two returned to Gu Ya's home, but Youyou hadn't gotten out of school yet.
Ye Ying sat quietly on the sofa where Gu Ya slept, opened her communication bracelet, and browsed the internet.
Gu Ya went into the kitchen, checked the ingredients in the worn-out refrigerator, and pondered for a moment. He decided to make his specialty, a vegetable medley, and a plate of sweet and sour pork. Girls would be happy to eat sweet dishes.
Gu Ya first started the rice cooker and then boiled water in a pot, adding the washed and cut bolts of cabbage, wrench mushrooms, and nut melons.
The ingredients in this world were also very interesting. Some looked like tools and materials, and people named them accordingly.
The first time Gu Ya saw these ingredients, he mistakenly thought he was a robot.
But after tasting them, he slowly accepted the reality that they were food ingredients.
"Even a medley requires skill," Gu Ya proudly manipulated the spoon in his hand, pouring soy sauce, sesame oil, and chicken essence into the pot in proportion.
Next was the sweet and sour pork.
Gu Ya skillfully chopped the meat, each slice uniform in width, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.
This was his signature dish from his previous world.
Gu Ya placed the meat slices into a small basin, added salt and cooking wine to marinate for ten minutes, and finally coated the slices with starch.
The marinated meat slices were then placed into the hot oil. As the "sizzling" sound of oil filled the air, the aroma of meat permeated the kitchen.
Ye Ying smelled the fragrance, got up, and walked to the kitchen door, watching Gu Ya cook.
Gu Ya very skillfully sliced the lemon, shaped like a bearing, squeezed out the juice, and poured it into another small basin, then added sugar, starch, soy sauce, ketchup, and other seasonings.
After preparing these, Gu Ya took out the fried meat slices and placed them on a plate. He poured the seasonings into another pot, heated it until it boiled, and let it thicken into a sauce.
Finally, he poured the sauce over the meat slices.
A plate of golden, fragrant sweet and sour pork was ready.
In less than half an hour, a simple lunch of vegetable medley, sweet and sour pork, and two bowls of rice was laid out on the dining table.
"Eat up," Gu Ya said to Ye Ying with a smile.
Ye Ying picked up a slice of sweet and sour pork and put it in her mouth. She experienced both softness and crispness simultaneously, with sweetness mixed with the aroma of meat instantly filling her mouth.
"Delicious!" Ye Ying's face revealed a look of satisfaction.
Gu Ya also smiled and said, "Youyou loves it too. Every weekend, she nags me to make it for her."
Ye Ying's face instantly turned red upon hearing this. She said, "You really dote on your sister. Why don't you save some for her?"
Gu Ya quickly replied, "I need to feed you first!"
Ye Ying's face grew even redder. She lowered her head and ate slowly, not saying another word to Gu Ya.
The afternoon passed with both of them busy with their own things, hardly exchanging any words.
In the afternoon, Youyou returned and looked at the two of them at home in surprise.
Gu Ya had already prepared dinner.
Without waiting for Youyou to ask, Gu Ya quickly gave her instructions and took Ye Ying to the school.
As night fell, the school was quiet, but the playground was bustling with activity.
Even though most students had not passed the mecha pilot assessment, it couldn't dampen their aspirations for the future.
After tonight, they would all part ways.
Therefore, tonight was their last time together.
The girls were elegantly dressed in their most dazzling dresses, while the boys had neat hair and donned their cleanest and most presentable casual wear.
The previously stifling academy atmosphere became relaxed and joyful.
As night descended, over a hundred graduates gathered around a blazing bonfire, listening to lively music.
Some were singing, but more were dancing in pairs to the upbeat music.
It seemed as though the world was meant to be this joyous.
Liu Feng was unusually well-behaved tonight. He declined many dance invitations from girls and sat quietly beside Gu Ya, watching the festive scene.
Gu Ya was also infected by the joyous atmosphere. There was a kind of magic that made him feel slightly tipsy.
He stole a glance at Ye Ying. The firelight reflected on her face, casting a hint of red on her fair skin, making her look even purer.
On this small playground, in the vast sky, shadows rapidly traversed the clouds.
They emitted whistling sounds, lost in the joyful human voices.
Ye Ying was the first to notice something unusual. She raised her head and gazed at the sky.
Gu Ya also heard the ominous sound, stood up, and looked up at the sky.
The sky was cloudy at this moment, and the stars shyly hid behind the clouds.
But that couldn't escape Gu Ya and Ye Ying's eyes.
Those shadows streaking across the sky didn't look like friendly entities at all.
Ye Ying quietly stood up and walked towards the darkness where the bonfire's light couldn't reach.
Gu Ya followed her.
Liu Feng watched the two of them, smiled, and shook his head. He didn't follow, muttering to himself, "Gu Ya is finally growing up."
Gu Ya caught up with Ye Ying and asked, "Did you report to Instructor Wu?"
Ye Ying nodded and inquired, "Yes, he told me to return quickly. I need the academy's mechas."
"I'll go with you," Gu Ya said resolutely.
Ye Ying replied coldly, "This doesn't concern you."
Gu Ya's expression turned grim. "I want to protect the people I care about in this city."
Ye Ying looked at Gu Ya with disbelief and said no more.
The two quickly arrived at the mecha hangar, each getting into their respective mechas.
With the roar of engines, two mechas rapidly exited the hangar and soared into the dark, boundless sky.
Fifteen minutes later, Gu Ya and Ye Ying simultaneously arrived at the No. 12 team camp of the Wuhe City Mecha Guard.
It was already chaotic here. More than ten mechas had already taken off, and many more were preparing to launch.
Seeing Gu Ya and Ye Ying, Wu Chuyang spoke urgently and seriously, "Intelligence indicates that this is a formal armed mecha invasion by Black Star Walkers, with a total of 257 mechas. Other teams are currently engaging the enemy, and the entire city is under martial law."
"What can we do?" Gu Ya asked firmly.
Wu Chuyang shook his head and said, "You are non-combat personnel. Stay in the camp for now."
With that, Wu Chuyang put on his combat helmet and ran towards his mecha.
Ye Ying was obedient and waited quietly in the hangar.
Gu Ya quickly called Youyou, telling her to go to the nearest air-raid shelter.
At this moment, a commotion erupted in the hangar. Seven or eight mecha mechanics gathered beneath the two mechas, discussing anxiously.
"The pilots of mechas 14 and 29 are out on a mission and cannot arrive for now. Our team has no spare pilots."
"What should we do? The enemy numbers are high, and the situation is not good."
"I heard that a vanguard Major General of the Black Star Walkers himself has come."
"Which Major General?"
"Intelligence shows it's the 'Slaughter Princess,' Honglian Ziwu."
"It's her! Honglian Ziwu, who massacred ten thousand mechas! This is bad..."
"No pilots, what do we do!"
Gu Ya and Ye Ying exchanged a look and walked forward together.
"We are the pilots," Gu Ya said firmly to the mechanics who were talking.
The mechanics looked at the two young people in disbelief.
"This is war, not a joke! People can actually die!" one of the mechanics reprimanded.
Gu Ya's expression became more resolute. "I don't have time to joke with you either! One more person is one more strength. Let us go!"
Ye Ying also said with a cold face and extraordinary composure, "We are official mecha pilots."
The mechanics looked at each other, their minds made up. They nodded and said, "Get into the mechas for debugging! We will cooperate fully!"
Gu Ya nodded and, along with Ye Ying, quickly got into their mechas.
Sitting in the pilot's seat, Gu Ya's gaze was sharp. The [Preemptive Driving] skill in his mind quickly simulated a playthrough, familiarizing him with all the operations of this mecha.
This tension, this excitement, Gu Ya felt all his cells come alive.
At this moment, a crisp "[Ding!]" sound was heard.
[Main Quest Activated: Destroy Ten Enemy Mechas]
[Quest Reward: 3000 System Coins]
[System Store Rare Item Acquisition Rate Increased by 15%]
[Reduced Store Item Costs: 20%]
[Reward: A set of mecha equipment, automatically stored in the void pouch.]
Whenever Gu Ya faced an emergency, the system would issue a mission.
As Gu Ya operated, the mecha's engine roared to life, and the mecha energy battery continuously supplied power.
Beside the hangar track, six guides crouched down, spreading their arms towards the hangar exit, signaling that they could sortie for battle.
Gu Ya took a deep breath and pushed the control stick forward forcefully.
Instantly, the back thrusters of Gu Ya's and Ye Ying's mechas exploded with flames.
Two streams of pure blue flames tore through the night sky, rushing towards the aerial battlefield.
"I will protect this city and the people I care about!"