As soon as Tendo finished speaking, Caroline's calm and steady voice chimed in at the perfect moment.
"Liuli, in addition to the mango-flavored Nebula Mousse Tendo mentioned, there's also the caramel pudding you prefer. It should arrive with tomorrow's reconstruction supplies."
"Furthermore, considering the high physical exertion during the reconstruction period, I've finalized an agreement with the logistics department. They will prepare an extra portion of warm dessert to be delivered to the relocation site every day, ensuring you can eat something hot."
Hearing this, Jing Liuli, who still had half a mouthful of pudding in her mouth, suddenly widened her eyes. Her amethyst-like pupils were filled with flashes of surprise and delight, and she even forgot to wipe the cream from the corner of her mouth.
"Wow! Caroline, you're too thoughtful! You practically understand my tastes better than Tendo!"
Looking at the child-like Jing Liuli, Caroline brushed aside the silver-white hair hanging over her shoulder. A barely perceptible trace of softness flickered in her green eyes. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to her childhood days at the Ember Base.
Come to think of it, back then, she seemed much the same as she was now. The difference was that in those days, she was helping Tendo secure desserts from the cafeteria. This time... there was the addition of Liuli.
As she thought about it, Caroline's expression suddenly became somewhat dazed.
"What's wrong?"
Caroline turned back and found Tendo holding out a portion of pudding to her. Seeing the concern hidden deep within Tendo's eyes, Caroline smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the past."
Faced with Caroline's sudden sentimentality, Tendo thought for a moment before saying, "Then we should find an opportunity to go back and visit."
Caroline was stunned, and then she seemed to realize something. For a long time, she had thought that "Ember" had completely disappeared. But hearing Tendo's words, things... might be different from what she had imagined.
"Yes."
Caroline nodded, took the pudding Tendo handed over, and lowered her head to eat.
The next morning, the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds, gently falling upon the ruins of Rock City, coating the scarred land in a layer of pale golden warmth.
Tendo had long since risen. The pale blue vector force field expanded quietly around him like a pair of invisible giant hands, steadily lifting large chunks of building debris from the streets and precisely stacking them in designated areas, clearing obstacles for the engineering crews.
His movements were swift and efficient. In just one hour, three major thoroughfares had been cleared.
"Tendo, morning!"
A crisp voice carrying the lethargy of one who had just woken up rang out as Jing Liuli walked over, yawning. Her signature long purple hair was tied casually into a loose bun, and her cheeks still held the flush of sleep. With her slightly reddened nose, she looked adorable and naive.
Jing Liuli held two warm breakfast buns in her hand. She walked quickly to Tendo's side and handed him one, her tone soft and sweet.
"Caroline just got these from the logistics tent."
Tendo took the breakfast bun and replied, "Morning. Did you rest well last night?"
"Mm! It was super comfortable!" Jing Liuli nodded vigorously, took a large bite of a rice ball, and said indistinctly, "The tent Caroline prepared has everything!"
"Oh, right. When I was coming over, I saw her already at the entrance of the logistics tent checking the inventory. She seems to get up this early every day; she never slacks off."
As they spoke, Caroline walked over, pushing a supply registration cart. She was dressed in a sleek silver-gray combat suit, her silver-white hair tied high in a ponytail to reveal her smooth forehead and sharp jawline. Her green eyes were focused on the tablet in her hand, her fingertips sliding rapidly as she verified information.
Noticing their gaze, Caroline stopped, her tone remaining steady.
"Tendo, the engineering crews have arrived at the designated areas. I have synchronized the coordinates of the paths you cleared to them."
"This is today's reconstruction supply manifest. It mainly consists of materials for building temporary housing and daily necessities. I need you to confirm and sign it."
Tendo took the tablet, his fingers quickly scanning the contents on the screen. After a moment, he tapped lightly to complete the confirmation.
"No problem. Also, there is a mix of residual Star Beast energy in the west side of the city. I'll go purify it in a while to avoid affecting the condition and health of the construction workers."
"I'll go with you!" Jing Liuli immediately raised her hand, hurriedly swallowing the food in her mouth, her eyes sparkling. "My 'Daydream' Star Source can soothe the emotions of the construction workers. If we encounter any stray Star Beasts, I can help deal with them. I definitely won't be a burden!"
Caroline frowned slightly, analyzing rationally, "The residual energy in the west side isn't lethal, but long-term exposure will deplete your Star Source. You just replenished your Star Source yesterday and haven't fully recovered. Staying at the relocation site to assist with logistics and being responsible for soothing the public's emotions would allow you to play a greater role, and it's safer."
"Oh, it's fine! My Star Source recovers very quickly, and besides..." Jing Liuli waved her hand and reached out to gently tug Tendo's sleeve. Her tone carried a hint of coquettishness, her eyes full of anticipation. "Tendo will protect me, right?"
Looking at the anticipation in her eyes, Tendo shook his head helplessly but eventually nodded.
"Let's go. Keep close to me and don't wander off."
Seeing this, Caroline stopped insisting and simply urged, "I will have the patrol teams on standby at the outskirts of the west side. If the energy concentration exceeds the safety limit or other abnormalities occur, they will support you immediately. Use the communicator if anything happens."
"Also, hot food will be delivered to the temporary rest point at noon. Remember to return on time to replenish your strength."
As she spoke, she took a small energy detector from the supply cart and handed it to Jing Liuli. "This can detect the surrounding energy concentration in real-time. It will automatically alarm if it exceeds the safety value. Keep it with you."
Jing Liuli took the detector and gripped it carefully in her hand, playfully giving Caroline a non-standard salute.
"Roger! Mission completion guaranteed! Thanks, Caroline!"
In the air of the west side area, there was indeed a faint scent of residual Star Beast energy, carrying a slightly oppressive, fishy smell. Scattered claw marks and residual slime could still be seen on the ground.
The pale blue vector force field around Tendo expanded slowly like a gentle, giant net, enveloping and purifying all of the chaotic energy. As the energy dissipated, the oppressive feeling in the air gradually faded, becoming fresh once more.
Jing Liuli followed closely by his side, gripping the energy detector, occasionally using her 'Daydream' Star Source to soothe passing construction workers. The light purple energy halo descended gently, causing the construction workers—who had been tense due to stress and exhaustion—to gradually relax their expressions, their faces showing more composure.
After purifying a section of the area, Jing Liuli leaned toward Tendo and said, as if seeking credit, "Look, Tendo, I am useful after all! Those construction brothers just now had so much more strength for work after being soothed by my Star Source!"
"Yes, very useful." Tendo nodded seriously, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
At noon, the three met up smoothly at the temporary rest point on the west side. Caroline had already arranged for logistics personnel to deliver hot food in advance. The three dishes and one soup were nutritionally balanced, and a portion of mango pudding prepared specifically for Jing Liuli was kept separately in the thermal box, the pudding topped with a fresh strawberry.
"According to the construction progress, the first batch of temporary housing can be completed this afternoon, and some citizens can move in tonight." Caroline spoke with a steady and certain tone as she opened her own portion of hot food and took out her tablet to report on the work. "In addition, the support personnel sent by the Star Envoy Association have arrived at the relocation site. They will assist us in the energy purification work across the entire city, which can speed up the reconstruction progress."
"Thank you for your hard work." Tendo picked up a bottle of warm energy water and handed it to her. "I'll go assist the support personnel with the city-wide energy purification this afternoon. I'll have to trouble you to take care of the housing coordination and supply allocation."
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Caroline took the energy water, her green eyes filled with absolute certainty. Her gaze turned toward Jing Liuli, who was taking small bites of her pudding, and her tone softened a bit. "Liuli, you can go to the relocation site this afternoon to check on the needs of the citizens, especially the children. Most of them are still somewhat terrified after experiencing the beast tide. Your 'Daydream' Star Source is most effective at soothing their emotions."
"Okay! That's what I'm best at!" Jing Liuli's eyes lit up, and she immediately agreed, swallowing the pudding in her mouth. "I already prepared a large bag of fruit-flavored candies, just waiting to be given out to the children!"
Although they didn't technically need to do these things, because it was uncertain whether the beast tide had completely "ended," Tendo and the others decided to stay here for a few more days.
In the days that followed, the three of them performed their respective duties with perfect unspoken understanding, like precisely running gears pushing the reconstruction of Rock City forward steadily.
Tendo focused on clearing dangerous areas and purifying residual energy. When encountering large debris that heavy equipment couldn't handle, he used his vector force field to deal with it easily, sweeping away all obstacles for construction.
Caroline coordinated the overall situation, interfacing for supplies, arranging personnel, and formulating detailed reconstruction plans, managing the complex affairs in an orderly fashion without error.
Jing Liuli was like a warm purple light, weaving through the relocation site and various construction areas, using her 'Daydream' Star Source to soothe the terrified citizens, telling interesting stories to children, and handing out sweet candies. Occasionally, she would help the logistics staff distribute supplies; wherever she was needed, her figure could be found.
Once, the water supply equipment at the relocation site suddenly malfunctioned. The citizens were temporarily unable to get clean drinking water, and the originally orderly site began to experience some commotion.
Caroline arrived at the scene immediately, calmly troubleshooting the cause of the failure. She soon discovered that an underground pipe was blocked by rubble and had been corroded by residual Star Beast energy, causing the water supply to be cut off.
It just so happened that Tendo returned after purifying an area. Seeing this, he said nothing; the pale blue vector force field around him expanded instantly, precisely reaching into the underground pipe. Like countless invisible small hands, it cleared the blocking rubble bit by bit while using pure energy to purify the corrosive energy inside the pipe.
Jing Liuli immediately walked among the citizens and soothed them gently, "Everyone, don't worry. Tendo and Caroline are doing their best to make repairs; the water supply will be restored very soon! How about I create a small illusion for everyone to first relieve the feeling of thirst?"
As she spoke, her pale purple Star Source expanded slowly, enveloping the entire relocation site. In the eyes of the citizens, clear spring water and sweet fruits appeared. Their originally anxious emotions gradually calmed down, and order was restored to the site.
In less than half an hour, the water supply equipment returned to normal. Watching the citizens happily collecting water with buckets and cups, their faces showing smiles of relief, Jing Liuli ran quickly to Tendo and Caroline's side and handed them two bottles of warm energy water she had prepared long ago, her tone full of a sense of achievement.
"Mission accomplished! The three of us still have the best chemistry! With us here, there's no problem that can't be solved!"
Night fell, and Rock City gradually grew quiet. The energy lamps at the relocation site emitted a soft glow, dispelling the darkness and cold of the night.
Tendo, Caroline, and Jing Liuli sat on the open ground outside the logistics tent. Before them sat a sweet mango-flavored Nebula Mousse and several plates of delicate snacks. This was something Caroline had specifically set aside from the logistics supplies, knowing Jing Liuli loved sweets. Jing Liuli ate the mousse in large mouthfuls, her cheeks bulging as she said indistinctly, "I didn't expect reconstruction work to be so tiring. I'm busy all day long, but as long as I'm with you guys, it seems like no matter how tired I am, it doesn't feel hard to get through."
Hearing this, Caroline said softly, "I feel that the days now are more meaningful than before."
"Besides, no matter how bitter it is here, could it be more bitter than the Doctor's training when we were little?"
At these words, Jing Liuli suddenly shuddered. Because just as Caroline said, compared to the Doctor's devilish training in their childhood, this little bit of hardship now really seemed like nothing.
Tendo looked at the two of them immersed in their memories, the corners of his mouth curling into a slight arc. He said, in a very annoying manner, "I felt the Doctor's training was average. There wasn't anything bitter about it, was there?"
Caroline and Jing Liuli: "..."
Looking at the speechless pair, Tendo immediately burst into laughter.
Next, the three sat together, chatting about interesting things from their childhood at the Ember Base, occasionally eating snacks in silence. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable. The night breeze blew gently, carrying the faint scent of grass and wood from the newly planted seedlings in the reconstruction area, fresh and healing.
In the distance, the lights of the temporary housing stretched out in a line like a myriad of stars in the night sky, gently reflecting the figures of the three, infinitely magnifying this peace and warmth.
After chatting for a long time, Caroline looked at the communicator on her wrist, stood up, and said, "It's getting late. I'm going to check tomorrow's supply manifest to ensure there are no omissions."
"You guys should rest early and get enough sleep."
Jing Liuli finished the last bite of mousse and let out a large yawn, a faint watery sheen appearing in the corners of her eyes. She stood up, patted the crumbs from her skirt, and walked toward her tent. After a few steps, she stopped, turned back, and waved at the two, her voice soft, "Goodnight, Tendo! Goodnight, Caroline! See you tomorrow!"
"Goodnight, see you tomorrow," the two responded in unison, their tones full of tenderness.
Tendo stood where he was, watching Jing Liuli's figure disappear into the tent entrance, then looked at Caroline's back as she walked toward the logistics tent. His eyes were full of peace and warmth.
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