Captain Fu Chen stepped onto the bridge of the Asgard, where the scent of new equipment mixed with a faint smell of lubricant wafted over him. Data streams surged across the main screen, and indicator lights on the control panel flickered, exuding the cold efficiency characteristic of machinery.
"Captain identity confirmed, Fu Chen, A-rank Valkyrie, S-rank authority. Welcome aboard." The ship's AI voice was soft yet unruffled.
"Pull up the system self-check report, prioritize engine and weapon arrays." Captain Fu Chen walked directly to the command seat, his fingers quickly sliding across the touchscreen. He suppressed the complex emotions he felt about his appointment; at this moment, he was only a commander.
For the next dozen hours, Captain Fu Chen practically lived on the bridge. He familiarized himself with every operation interface, verified system data, interfaced with department heads, and simulated handling various emergencies. The high-intensity work made him forget his fatigue, fully immersing himself in the intricate workings of this steel behemoth.
When the last pending document was electronically filed, the simulated sky outside the window had darkened once more.
"Phew..." He let out a long breath, leaned back in the command chair, and rubbed his dry eyes. He had finally sorted things out, at least initially.
Just then, an encrypted notification popped up from the headquarters' logistics and HR department.
"[Notification: Captain Fu Chen. In light of your recent high-intensity work and the successful completion of the Asgard's initial docking mission, you are hereby granted three (3) days of paid leave, effective immediately. Please return to duty promptly after your leave concludes. -- Schicksal Human Resources Department]"
Captain Fu Chen: "...?"
He froze, even rubbing his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating from overwork.
Vacation? Paid leave? Three days?
These words, combined, were as foreign as an ancient text to him, a "corporate slave" who had been constantly on missions and debugging front lines for years.
"Me? Vacation? Is this real!?"
He muttered to himself in the empty bridge. When did Archbishop Otto become so humane? Or was this... another new type of stress test?
After repeatedly confirming the authenticity of the notification and the issuing authority, he finally believed that a pie had indeed fallen from the sky, landing right on him.
Though full of doubts, his body's craving for rest overcame his skepticism. After all, dozens of hours without sleep, even an iron man couldn't endure it.
He temporarily handed over command to his adjutant, set up an emergency contact channel, and then practically floated off the Asgard.
Back in his single dorm room at headquarters, Captain Fu Chen didn't even take off his uniform, simply collapsing onto the soft single bed.
The moment his head touched the pillow, his consciousness plunged into darkness.
He slept for what felt like an eternity, through the reversal of the universe and the erosion of the Great Dao itself.
When he regained consciousness again, he was woken by the setting sun outside his window and an intense hunger in his stomach.
He sat up groggily, grabbing his personal terminal from the bedside to check the time.
"...6:30 PM?" He had slept from yesterday afternoon until the evening of the next day? A full twenty-plus hours!
"No wonder I'm so hungry..." He clutched his rumbling stomach, shuffled in his slippers towards the kitchen, intending to find some nutrient paste or instant military rations to get by. A single man's life was just that simple and unpretentious.
However, just as he opened the refrigerator door, before he could even see the contents, he heard a soft "beep" from his dorm door—the sound of the access control being forcibly unlocked by special authority.
Captain Fu Chen's movements paused, and his heart skipped a beat.
At this hour, he knew exactly who could barge in using such a method, even without thinking.
He sighed helplessly and turned around.
Sure enough, the dorm door was pushed open, and a petite white figure nimbly slipped in, closing the door behind her.
Theresa Apocalypse, wearing a cute casual dress and clutching a game controller package, was blinking her big eyes at him.
"A'Chen! You're awake!" Her tone was as cheerful as if she were returning to her own home. "I guessed you'd be waking up hungry around this time!"
Captain Fu Chen looked at this uninvited guest, a faint ache in his temple: "Theresa... I've told you many times, at least knock before coming in."
Though saying it was futile. Theresa's night raids on his dorm were not a rare occurrence. Her reasons were varied and impossible to guard against.
"Oh, come on, do we really need formalities between us!" Theresa waved her hand dismissively, walked familiarly into the living room, put down the box, and naturally sat on the sofa, dangling her short legs. "You slept for so long, I came looking for you twice and you still weren't awake."
"...Because I needed rest." Captain Fu Chen resignedly closed the refrigerator door. It seemed military rations were out of the question. "So, what's up this time? A new game?"
He walked to the counter and habitually began preparing ingredients—judging by Theresa's demeanor, she definitely hadn't eaten and expected him to cook.
"Half right!" Theresa giggled. "It's the new Haxxor Bunny Adventure: Endless Brawl two-player collector's edition! And... I'm hungry."
As expected.
Captain Fu Chen sighed, took out eggs, noodles, vegetables, and minced meat. His cooking skills were quite good, honed over years of field missions. And Theresa, he didn't know when, had started seeing him as her "free chef," especially fond of his Sichuan cuisine, despite her tolerance for spice being... a long story.
"What do you want to eat? Noodles? Fried rice?" He asked, tying on his apron.
"Mapo Tofu! Extra spicy!" Theresa replied without hesitation, her eyes sparkling.
Captain Fu Chen's movements stiffened. He turned to look at her: "Are you sure? Who was crying tears last time from the spice, drank an entire carton of milk, and still complained her tongue wasn't her own?"
"That was an accident! I underestimated it!" Theresa's face flushed, and she argued with her neck stiff, "I can definitely do it this time! Besides... it's spicy, it's painful, but it feels so exhilarating!"
Captain Fu Chen: "..." Only Theresa could describe the pain of spiciness as "exhilarating."
"Alright, you said it yourself." Captain Fu Chen shook his head and began slicing tofu. "Don't cry if you lose."
"I won't!"
Soon, the sizzle of a wok and an enticing aroma filled the kitchen. Theresa wasn't idle either; she unwrapped the game, connected the cables, and hummed an off-key Haxxor Bunny theme song.
Before long, a steaming bowl of Mapo Tofu, red with chili oil, and two bowls of rice were placed on the small dining table.
"Wow! It smells so good!" Theresa eagerly scooped a large spoonful of hot tofu into her mouth.
Captain Fu Chen didn't even have time to warn her it was "hot."
"Mmm! Hiss—ha—so spicy! But so delicious!" Theresa instantly gasped from the spice, her cheeks visibly reddening, tears welling in her eyes, but her hands didn't stop. She scooped another spoonful and mixed it with rice.
Captain Fu Chen watched her, amused by her eagerness despite her low spice tolerance, and pushed the iced fruit juice closer to her: "Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it."
"Mm-hmm! A'Chen, your cooking is the best!" Theresa praised indistinctly, inhaling sharply between bites as she ate quickly.
Looking at the uninhibited little girl in front of him, her nose beaded with sweat, Captain Fu Chen genuinely had no romantic thoughts. With over a decade of friendship, he knew Theresa too well. In his eyes, she was an important friend, a reliable comrade (perhaps?), and occasionally a childish younger sister who needed care and indulgence. Captain Fu Chen had long grown accustomed to her affectionate, boundary-crossing behavior.
After a quick and "intense" dinner, Theresa leaned back in her chair, contentedly rubbing her slightly bulging stomach: "I'm alive again..."
Captain Fu Chen dutifully cleared the dishes: "Full? Then it's time to play games?"
"Oh right!" Theresa instantly revived, jumping up and rushing back to the living room. "Come on, come on! This time I'm definitely going to beat it!"
Captain Fu Chen washed and dried the dishes, then resignedly walked over and took the controller Theresa handed him. On the screen, colorful Haxxor Bunny and Ho-Mei characters were jumping.
"First things first, we play until 10:30, 11 at the latest." Captain Fu Chen set an alarm. "You have a mission tomorrow, and I also need some personal time."
"Got it, got it ~ Start, start!" Theresa excitedly stared at the screen, unconsciously leaning closer to Captain Fu Chen.
In the dorm room that night, only the game sound effects and Theresa's exclamations or commands remained.
Captain Fu Chen looked at Theresa beside him, fully engrossed and shouting at the game's plot, and shook his head, a subtly indulgent smile playing on his lips.
Oh well, just spoil her.
What else could he do?