As soon as she saw the names Little Nian Gao and Little Sesame, Liang He couldn't help but start planning her dinner menu.
She first processed the venison brought back by the Mojin King Tiger and the Canglan Hunting Eagle from their hunt today. After sprinkling some nutrient powder on it as usual, she fed the little wolf pups some goat's milk. Only after finishing these chores did she begin preparing her own ingredients.
"The Animal Protection Zone's perks are really great. The delivered ingredients are all so fresh."
Since most interstellar people lived on nutrient solutions, Liang He rarely had the chance to buy fresh ingredients. She considered herself lucky to even find frozen vegetables and meat; mostly, she still relied on the stockpile she had brought from the Blue Star.
"Since I was just reminded of nian gao and sesame, I might as well make some spare ribs with rice cakes."
Liang He chopped the premium spare ribs into small pieces. After blanching them, she pushed out the bones and stuffed the meat with pieces of rice cake to replace them. Once the prep work was done, she began cooking the ribs. She first caramelized some sugar to coat the meat, then added seasonings and boiling water to let it stew. Finally, she reduced the sauce, plated the dish, and sprinkled a handful of sesame seeds on top.
Richly sauced and beautifully caramelized, the dish looked so enticing that it made everyone's mouth water.
"Oh no, I'm doomed. I feel like I can smell the aroma right through the screen. I'm drooling."
"Watching Liang He cook and eat every time feels like a blissful torture. It hurts so much, but I just can't help watching. Ugh."
"How on earth do Blue Star people come up with so many ways to eat? Liang He cooks something different every single day!"
Ever since they tasted the meat buns and pork-and-cabbage dumplings Liang He had given them, their inner gluttons had been completely awakened. They finally understood why Governor Huo had suddenly become so utterly disgusted by nutrient solutions back then. However, Liang He was, after all, a Breeder for Fierce Beasts, not their personal chef. They felt too embarrassed to keep asking her for food, so they could only settle for feeding their cravings visually.
Yes, exactly—by watching her mukbang!
"When the Governor comes back, let's all submit an application together and ask him to hire a chef from the Blue Star, shall we?"
"Doesn't that mean we'd have to clear out space for a kitchen and a cafeteria? Speaking of which, Liang He needs a proper kitchen over there too."
"That's right, we'll submit applications for everything! I absolutely must make up for the regrets of the first half of my life when I couldn't eat delicious food!"
The crowd stared longingly as Liang He paired her rice cake ribs with white rice, eating with absolute relish. They swallowed hard unconsciously, wishing they could dive right through the screen and take a massive bite. Just like that, completely unaware of the resentful, envious gazes locked onto her, Liang He finished her eating broadcast.
"It's still early today, so let's find some entertainment, alright?"
After washing up and lying in bed, Liang He stroked the tiger's fur while pulling up her Light Brain. She brought up the videos she had specially downloaded before leaving the Blue Star and found one of her classic childhood cartoons: "Tom and Jerry".
"I'll show you a simple cartoon first. Later on, we can admire the heroic bearing of the Monkey King to inspire you all!"
Afraid of dealing a blow to the enthusiasm of the Mojin King Tiger and the Canglan Hunting Eagle, Liang He considerately planned to take things one step at a time. Watching a cartoon for the first time, Cedriel lay lazily beside Liang He. However, his eyes kept glancing at the screen, feigning nonchalance. His tail flicked slightly, and the tips of his ears twitched along with the plot. Without realizing it, he had already been drawn into the story.
Because the bed wasn't big enough, Liang He had specifically asked the colleague who delivered supplies to help transplant a large tree into the animal dorm. The Canglan Hunting Eagle was currently perched on the tree, tilting his head with his eagle eyes locked onto the mouse on the screen.
"Do Little Nian Gao and Little Sesame want to watch too? Come on up then."
Since Cedriel slept with Liang He, she had prepared a separate nest for the two little wolf pups for fear they might get crushed. But right now, it seemed they much preferred sticking together. After she brought Little Nian Gao and Little Sesame onto the bed, they constantly hopped and bounced around the screen. Their round eyes darted back and forth following the running mouse, brimming with curiosity.
Eventually, Cedriel grew impatient. He picked them up by the scruff and dropped them directly into his embrace. A tiger paw gently pressed down on their restless little bodies. After being lightly nipped as a warning, the wolf pups finally settled down.
While Liang He's side was a picture of tranquility, Huo An and Xu Yi, far away on Star D139, were clearly not having such a relaxing time.
"Damn it, how on earth did the Rebel Army manage to transport so many Fierce Beasts to Star D139?!"
A rebellion had suddenly broken out on Star D139, and Xu Yi and Huo An were ordered to provide backup. When dealing with Fierce Beasts, only Beastmen, who were born with formidable strength, could be immune to the viruses the beasts carried. The interstellar army was primarily responsible for rescuing ordinary citizens and providing combat support.
This also meant that many Beastmen would be injured during combat, triggering Beastification. Thus, they required treatments from Veterinarians like Xu Yi. Fortunately, Beastmen who were not in their Evolutionary Stage would still retain their consciousness and instinct to speak even after Beastification, allowing them to cooperate better during treatment.
"They probably weren't transported from other planets," Huo An said.
The reason Huo An had been summoned was because he was also a Beastman. Moreover, he was one of the extremely rare SSS-level Beastmen who had survived the Evolutionary Stage and possessed a Beast Spirit Body. However, no one knew what Huo An's Beast Spirit Body looked like. They only knew that when he returned after disappearing for five years, he was appointed by the Federation as the Governor of the Tianyao Star Protection Zone.
"Hiss, Xu Yi, could you be a little gentler?"
Admiral Kuang Ye licked his wounds with a deep frown. His sky-blue pupils were clear yet profound, and his white leopard-print tail was currently lashing about in annoyance, making loud slapping sounds.
"According to our investigation, we found that the original zoo on Star D139 was acquired a year ago. On the surface, they claimed it was going to be rebuilt, but in reality, almost all the animals inside vanished without a trace," Huo An noted.
"Respected Admiral Kuang Ye, allow me to remind you that you are already an adult and could enter the Evolutionary Stage at any moment. I must use strong medicine while you are still clear-headed; otherwise, I may not get the chance to treat you in the future." Faced with a disobedient patient, Xu Yi didn't care who he was—he would clap back just the same.
Kuang Ye's Beast Form was a Mengji Snow Leopard. The word "Mengji" was actually taught to them later by a leader from the Blue Star who attended a Federation meeting. The leader mentioned that Kuang Ye looked remarkably similar to a Divine Beast from the Blue Star's Classic of Mountains and Seas. Crowned with the title of a Divine Beast, Kuang Ye indeed did not disappoint. Even before reaching adulthood, he had already participated in multiple campaigns to wipe out the Rebel Army. With an illustrious military record, he had successfully secured his position as an Imperial Admiral.
"I heard you guys recently got a new Breeder who can get close to Beastmen in their Evolutionary Stage. With her around, what do I have to fear?"
The key royal Animal Protection Zone on the Sky Shining Star didn't just belong to the Federation. The Empire, the Royal Court, and even the temple all held shares in it. At the very least, sending a Beastman there for treatment was absolutely no problem.
"This matter has not been one hundred percent confirmed. It might just be an isolated case, so you had better not harbor any wishful thinking." Seeing Kuang Ye setting his sights on Liang He, Huo An lowered his eyes. Looking down from above at Kuang Ye on the treatment bed, he spoke with cold and ruthless detachment.
"Tsk, tsk. Huo An, could it be that your possessiveness is acting up, and you're saying this on purpose? However, you don't get the final say in this matter."
Having finished his treatment, Kuang Ye lightly shook his limbs and leaped off the treatment bed. In the blink of an eye, he reverted to his human form. Standing nearly two meters tall, he sported the clearest and most innocent blue eyes, yet his entire body exuded a wild, untamed arrogance. The leopard-like gaze he directed at Huo An was brimming with provocation.
"Once I take out these disgusting scumbags, I'll go meet this Miss Breeder from the Blue Star myself. I heard she can make delicious food, and even... kiss Beastmen who have transformed into Fierce Beasts."