Chapter 373: A Gift for Bai Bai Mengmeng

In the end, Li Luo did not return to Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy overnight, because Jiang Jiang Qinge told him that at this hour the instructors were likely already resting, and no one would see his initiative, so Li Luo readily agreed to spend the night with her.

However, after dinner, Jiang Jiang Qinge went alone to the training room, leaving Li Luo to sigh at the empty room and go to bed.

The next day, Li Luo returned to Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy with Jiang Jiang Qinge; she would continue training in the Dark Cave, a place that, though eerie and oppressive, offered clear advancement for those who could endure the pressure from alien forces.

So upon entering the academy, the two parted ways. Before parting, Li Luo had intended to warn Jiang Jiang Qinge to be careful in the Dark Cave, but he decided against it—while the Dark Cave was indeed terrifying for new students like them, to Jiang Jiang Qinge it was probably just another dangerous training ground, and her abilities were more than sufficient.

After parting, Li Luo went straight to the dormitory building.

He pushed open the door to find Student Xin Fu eating breakfast at the table; the latter, surprised to see Li Luo, said in a low voice: "You're back."

Li Luo nodded: "I'm back."

Student Xin Fu said slowly: "You've missed too much training this past month—you have no idea what you've lost. I've already reached the Third Mark, Li Luo. If you keep slacking off like this, I'll take your position as team leader."

Li Luo said gravely: "Sorry, I've already reached the Fifth Mark."

Student Xin Fu fell silent for a moment, then used his shadow qi to pull out the chair in front of him, revealing a smile: "Have you eaten yet? There's still a portion left."

Li Luo waved his hand: "No need to be polite. It seems you haven't been working hard enough this past month—I'll have to report this to Instructor Chi Chan. Our team's Bai Bai Mengmeng is a support, so when we face stronger teams, the two of us must bear all the pressure—you absolutely cannot be the weak link."

"By team leader's order, you must reach the Fourth Mark within one month!"

He finished with a smiling face, then went down to the basement.

Student Xin Fu stared at Li Luo's back, his face heavy with thought as he rubbed his chin, muttering: "Fifth Mark already… How is this even possible? I underestimated him. The team leader really is the team leader."

While Student Xin Fu reflected inwardly, Li Luo had already reached the basement and found Bai Bai Mengmeng immersed in her research on the Spirit Water Miracle Light in the alchemy chamber. Today, the girl wore a light blue coat, appearing petite and slender, her pure face flushed with a rosy glow, her skin translucent and luminous.

At this moment, she was in that self-hypnotic research state—her eyes like Binghu Lake, methodically processing numerous materials, one small hand holding a pen to record every change.

Li Luo did not disturb her, instead sitting quietly beside her to wait.

He waited for a full hour. Then, at a certain moment, Bai Bai Mengmeng's gaze suddenly caught sight of Li Luo's figure. Her movements froze instantly, and her Binghu-like eyes rippled as if stirred by waves; her previously expressionless face gradually came alive.

"Team leader? You're back!" Bai Bai Mengmeng exclaimed in delight moments later.

Li Luo smiled and nodded, teasing: "Your shift in state is quite amusing."

While researching the Spirit Water Miracle Light, Bai Bai Mengmeng had been utterly focused, impervious to all external distractions; but now that she had exited that state, she had become lively and animated.

The contrast between these two states—the difference in her aura—was like two different people.

Bai Bai Mengmeng's cheeks flushed slightly, but she said nothing, instead lowering her head to tidy up her research notes.

Li Luo stepped forward, wearing a mysterious smile: "Bai Mengmeng, I brought you a gift this time."

Bai Bai Mengmeng kept working, but lifted her eyes, curious.

Li Luo brushed his palm over the space sphere, and a pastry resembling rainbow hues appeared in his hand. He placed it before Bai Bai Mengmeng and smiled: "Rainbow Cloud Cake. It was made by a master chef from our Luo Lan Mansion—its flavor is unmatched in Da Xia City."

Bai Bai Mengmeng froze, staring at Li Luo for two seconds.

Li Luo knew she had no sense of taste—yet he gave her a pastry… What did this mean? Had he forgotten? Or was he just being careless?

The smile on Bai Bai Mengmeng's face faded slightly, but she said nothing, only nodded gently: "Then I'll try it."

She reached out toward the cake.

But at that moment, Li Luo's hand suddenly blocked her path. Then, under Bai Bai Mengmeng's puzzled gaze, he pulled out a dark green crystal tube.

"Drink this first," Li Luo smiled.

Bai Bai Mengmeng picked up the crystal tube filled with strange liquid, then seemed to sense something—her fine eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice grew shaky: "Team leader… what… what is this?"

"Try it," Li Luo encouraged with a smile.

Bai Bai Mengmeng gripped the crystal tube tightly with her slender fingers, her eyes flickering, as if swirling with countless emotions.

Hope. Fear that hope might be shattered. Nervousness. Unease.

But finally, she closed her eyes, pressed the tube to her lips, and poured its entire contents down her throat.

The cold, viscous liquid rolled into her throat—the strange sensation nearly made her vomit—but she gritted her teeth and swallowed it all.

After swallowing, Bai Bai Mengmeng felt no special change—only a slight numbness in her mouth.

This made her heart sink slightly.

Li Luo picked up the Rainbow Cloud Cake and handed it to her. She hesitated, then pinched off a piece with her fingers and shoved it into her mouth.

Her red lips moved gently as the soft cloud cake crushed between her teeth—something seemed to explode inside.

Li Luo watched her chew, his gaze tense. This liquid was the medicine he had concocted to restore her sense of taste—the greatest achievement he'd made during his rest in Luo Lan Mansion these past two days. If his calculations were correct, this potion should help Bai Bai Mengmeng overcome her psychological block.

Under Li Luo's anxious gaze, Bai Bai Mengmeng simply chewed silently, her face expressionless.

Li Luo's heart leapt—had it failed?

As Li Luo began blaming himself, he saw large, heavy tears suddenly roll down the pale cheeks of the girl before him, splattering and breaking on the alchemy table.

"Bai Mengmeng?" Li Luo froze, utterly at a loss—was she crying from sadness… or joy?

The girl said nothing, but grabbed the Rainbow Cloud Cake and shoved piece after piece into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster storing food. Then, wiping her tears, she sniffled: "Team leader… I… I can taste it!"

"My sense of taste—it's back!"

Watching the girl before him, tears streaming down her face like blossoms in the rain, Li Luo exhaled deeply in relief—his potion had worked.

Then he looked at her puffed cheeks and couldn't help laughing: "Be careful, don't choke."

Bai Bai Mengmeng's cheeks flushed red, then greedily chewed every last bit of the cake, savoring it thoroughly. To others, the sweetness was ordinary—but only someone who had lost taste could understand how precious this was.

At this moment, the entire world seemed brighter to her.

She finally swallowed the last bite of cake, wiped her reddened eyes, and looked at Li Luo with shining eyes. She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, pouring out her excitement and gratitude.

"Thank you, Team Leader," the girl's soft voice reached Li Luo's ears.

Li Luo smiled helplessly. Why did all these girls insist on expressing gratitude with hugs? Oh well—he'd let it slide, given their emotional state.