Chapter 82 Welcome Home

Chapter 82: Welcome Home

The butter-fried matsutake was gone, and the tea eggs were almost ready.

Everyone’s appetites had just been whetted by the matsutake, and they were still craving more when the steaming hot tea eggs arrived.

“Sheng Xingyao, these are what you wanted. Here, you can have the first one,” Shen Tong teased.

Sheng Xingyao’s face flushed. He couldn’t help but glance at Yu Xin, who returned his gaze with a confused look. Flustered, Sheng Xingyao quickly averted his eyes and reached into the pot for an egg.

“Ouch, it’s hot!”

Sheng Xingyao instantly let go, pulling his hand behind his back. With a plop, the egg fell back into the pot.

The eggs had just finished cooking and hadn’t had time to cool down. It was no surprise he got burned, grabbing one so carelessly with his bare hands.

Everyone burst into laughter. Qin Shizhen chuckled, saying, “Xingyao, no matter how much you want to eat, you can’t be so impatient. The eggs will cool down in a bit.”

“…I wasn’t,” Sheng Xingyao mumbled in weak protest, wishing he could slap himself a few times.

Ahhh! He was so stupid!

Why did he always act like a fool in front of him? Why?!

[HAHAHAHAHA Sheng Xingyao, we know you’re eager, but don’t rush!]

[Oh, sweetie… why are you so clumsy? It’s okay, Mama feels for you.]

[Ahhhhhhh, as a fangirl, I’m devastated! Who understands? Where did the all-powerful idol Sheng Xingyao go? Can you give him back to me…]

[Wait, has no one noticed how often he looks at Yu Xin…?]

The tea eggs had cooled enough to handle, at least not burning to the touch. Sheng Xingyao picked up another one, peeled the shell, and saw that the egg white had turned a light brown from the braising liquid, with dark patterns matching the cracks in the shell. The braising liquid had seeped through the cracks, thoroughly flavoring the egg.

He carefully peeled one and took a bite, devouring half of it in one go.

The unique quality of tea eggs lies in the blend of savory aroma with a subtle tea fragrance, making the flavor even more exceptional.

Sheng Xingyao finished the egg in two bites, his mouth too full to speak, so he could only nod enthusiastically, using body language to express how delicious it was.

The others each took an egg as well, peeling and eating them.

The good tea was well worth it. Boiled eggs are usually the most ordinary of foods, but combined with tea, they gained a second life—the egg whites were springy, the yolks were creamy, leaving a lingering aftertaste after each bite.

Some eggs had cracked during cooking, making the egg whites slightly tougher, but the flavor was even richer and more delicious, making it hard to resist having one after another.

After a few eggs, everyone was pretty much full.

They let out satisfied burps, still carrying the faint scent of tea.

“The roses are still drying in the fireplace, right? Shouldn’t they be almost ready?” Ruan Qing reminded everyone.

Shen Tong slapped her forehead. “Oh right, the roses! I totally forgot if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

Yu Xin opened the fireplace door, and a fragrant rose aroma filled the entire cabin. He gently picked up a rose and tested it in his hand. “Hmm, they’re about ready to take out.”

Using tools, he carefully removed the tray full of roses from the fireplace.

Under the high heat inside the fireplace, the rose petals had completed what would normally take days to dry, becoming dehydrated and brittle. The flowers had shriveled from the heat, but their colors remained vibrant and beautiful.

Ruan Qing picked one up and gently sniffed it. “The fragrance hasn’t evaporated; it’s still locked inside the flowers.”

“Let’s make a cup and try it.”

She specifically chose a transparent glass cup, selected a relatively intact flower, placed it in the cup, and poured in hot water. The withered rose petals softened and unfurled in the water, as if the flower had bloomed all over again.

“So beautiful…” Shen Tong marveled, holding Ruan Qing’s hand beside her.

After letting it steep for a while, the water in the cup turned a light, translucent pink, encapsulating the rose inside—dreamy and beautiful.

Taking a sip, the rich, fragrant aroma of roses filled their mouths, leaving a sweet aftertaste long after drinking.

The rose tea was also a success. Everyone worked together to pack and seal the roses, each taking some with them.

After eating and drinking for most of the day, it was almost time. The pickup shuttle would soon land on the planet.

As they prepared to leave, everyone felt a real reluctance to part with the little cabin they had built with their own hands and lived in for several days.

“Can’t we really find a way to take the cabin with us?” Shen Tong asked, looking at everyone with desperate hope.

If possible, she really wanted to encase the entire cabin in resin, turning it into a giant specimen to display in her home.

After all, she had built it plank by plank with her own hands—the first and possibly only house she would ever construct herself!

“Do you really think that’s possible? Even if we could take it, there’s only one cabin, and we’d all want it. Who should get it? I certainly wouldn’t give it to you,” Sheng Xingyao poured cold water on her idea.

He also wanted to take the cabin with him!

“How about this: we take lots of photos and have a custom-made replica made when we get back,” Ruan Qing suggested a great idea. This way, they could commemorate the cabin without fighting over who gets to keep it.

[You know, that’s not a bad idea. I’m kind of tempted.]

[We could just 3D print a model later, but the material might not be as refined.]

[Why doesn’t the show partner with a building block company and release merch? I’d be happy to pay for it!]

[And the tea, jam, rose paste from this episode—they could all be sold as merch. The opportunity to make money is right in front of you, production team!]

[Forget it, I only want the ones made by Yu Xin himself, but I definitely can’t afford them.]

“That’s a great idea, Qingqing, you’re so clever,” Shen Tong said cheerfully, directing the flying camera ball to capture every angle of the cabin, inside and out. She planned to have a replica made as soon as she returned.

Having previously dabbled in custom models, she knew several experts in the field and confidently promised, “Just wait for my good news! I’ll have them made and send one to each of you!”

[Ahhhhh, Miss Shen, think of me! I want one too!]

[I’m willing to pay for it!]

While they were still lingering around the cabin, reluctant to leave, the shuttle arrived, slowly landing on the ground. The hatch opened, stirring up a gust of wind.

This time, everyone boarded the return spacecraft happily, carrying precious handmade tea or fruit and flower jams.

Waving at the camera ball from the spacecraft, they called out, “Goodbye, everyone! See you next time!”

[Aww, another episode is over. I’m so sad to see it end.]

[After finishing the third episode, the first one is new again. Time to rewatch it, hehe.]

[Not me, I’ve already replayed the wait for new episodes so many times I could practically recite it by now qaq.]

[Yezi—how am I supposed to live without you, Yezi—]

[I feel inexplicably sad; it somehow feels like this is the last episode. Please don’t let this happen—]

The spaceship quickly ascended, igniting its thrusters and flying deep into the cosmos. The planet they had just left gradually shrank into a tiny dot behind them until it vanished from sight.

Away from the cameras, the celebrities relaxed into their seats. Though these five days had been enjoyable, they were still exhausting.

Shen Tong sprawled across her seat, declaring fiercely, “When I get back this time, I’m taking a whole month off! I’ll sleep in every day, do absolutely nothing, just play!”

Ruan Qing said miserably, “I can’t do that. I definitely have a pile of work waiting—my new album isn’t even finished yet.”

Sheng Xingyao stayed silent, quietly upset. He, too, had surely accumulated a lot of work and was destined to be busy nonstop upon returning.

He couldn’t help but glance at Yu Xin. Unlike the others, the young man remained sitting upright, facing the window, quietly gazing at the cosmic scenery outside.

What does Yu Xin do in his free time?

It was only then that Sheng Xingyao realized he knew almost nothing about who Yu Xin is now.

He only knew that Yu Xin had left the Yu family and seemed to be living on his own now.

Where does he live now? How does he make a living? Can he support himself alone?

Sheng Xingyao felt a moment of anxiety, but quickly snapped out of it. Yu Xin was so capable—he surely had plenty of ways to live well.

He couldn’t help but mock himself: Yu Xin had left the Yu family so long ago, and only now did he think of this? Where was he earlier?

When Yu Xin was at his most difficult and helpless, was there anyone who treated him well?

He gazed at Yu Xin for a long time, as if trying to see through that dark, rounded back of his head to understand what Yu Xin was thinking, to see if there was even the slightest place for him left in there.

Yu Xin… Yu Xin wasn’t thinking about anything, quietly letting his mind go blank.

He wasn’t as exhausted as the others. This level of intensity was nothing to him, far from making him as eager to return home as the rest.

But, compared to before, something was indeed different.

When he saw the spaceship land and the cabin door open, the first emotion that washed over him was actually a faint sense of joy.

That joy hadn’t faded yet—not too strong, not too weak, but occupying his thoughts.

He pressed a hand to his chest, calmly analyzing himself.

On the previous two return flights, he hadn’t felt much of anything. Only this time did he find himself looking forward to the spaceship’s arrival, anticipating his return.

The only variable was that the previous two times, he returned alone to his rented room. Perhaps only the viewers waiting for his livestream anticipated his return.

But this time, he knew someone was waiting for him to come back.

The spaceship slowly descended onto Imperial Capital Star, and the cabin door lowered.

The guests bid each other farewell and went their separate ways, heading toward those who had come to pick them up.

Yu Xin retrieved his terminal. Iris Base had thoughtfully arranged for a spaceship to take him back, and Yu Xin followed the location on his terminal to find it.

He left the bustling civilian docking port, crossed a secluded path, and arrived at a more advanced private docking port that generally wasn’t open to the public.

Using his access privileges to swipe open the gate, a service staff member warmly guided him to where the spaceship was docked.

Beneath the spaceship, Yu Xin once again met Guard Team Members No. 7 and No. 12, who had come to pick him up the first time.

Dressed in full combat gear with only the upper halves of their faces exposed, they appeared cold and solemn in their work state, like two humanoid mechs devoid of personal emotion.

They noticed him too. No. 7 turned his head slightly and secretly winked at Yu Xin.

Yu Xin responded with a nod, already picturing the cunning smile beneath the young man’s mask.

They were probably here to take him back, though it really wasn’t necessary. He wasn’t some important figure—there was no need to send two elite members of the guard team to escort him every time.

He was thinking this when, as he approached the spaceship, he saw someone entirely unexpected.

Bai Yizhou stood outside the cabin door. When he saw Yu Xin approaching, his smile brightened even more.

Bai Yizhou?

Yu Xin halted, his pupils dilating almost imperceptibly. If even Bai Yizhou was here, along with No. 7 and No. 12, it could only mean one thing—

“Yu Xin, you’re finally here!”

Bai Yizhou personally opened the cabin door for him, his tone cheerful and warm. “Hurry inside, we’ve been waiting for you.”

Yu Xin stepped inside, passing through a doorway. Inside, someone sat upright in a seat, wearing a finely crafted white shirt. The person looked up from a stack of complicated documents, rose-gold eyes behind thin lenses gazing at him, gradually softening with a smile.

He spoke, his voice mellow and deep, carrying an inexplicable tenderness:

“I came to pick you up. Welcome home.”