"Lan Xing..."
Lu Mingming repeated the old woman's words, the familiar name unmentioned by anyone for a long time.
A bittersweet, swollen feeling surged within her. She remembered the saying from childhood, "On festive days, one misses their loved ones even more." Lu Mingming felt she understood.
"When you went there, what did that planet become like?"
Lu Mingming's question caught the old woman's attention.
"You seem very interested."
The old woman smiled, her eyes twinkling, and pondered for a moment. "Let me think... It was a small planet. When I first arrived, the locals introduced it to me. Two-thirds of the land was submerged by the ocean, and the species had drastically reduced. All races lived gathered on a single continent.
From a young age, I aspired to be a master chef, collecting all the world's delicacies. So, I brought some of their local products with me. Later, I wanted to go back but couldn't find the way.
It wasn't until a few months ago that our team passed through a spacetime rift and unexpectedly returned to that area. I then publicized this news, and Elder Lu recorded the past route..."
After speaking, the old woman's gaze subtly shifted to Lu Yan.
"Lan Xing has changed immensely. I could hardly recognize it as the Lan Xing I had visited before. It's a pity their lifespans are too short."
A hint of melancholy flickered in the old woman's eyes.
The place where the locals she knew had lived was now mostly covered by forests. She hadn't even found their graves.
"Currently, the ocean still occupies the largest area. However, nearly one-third of new land has emerged, giving people much more living space than before."
"Yes, perhaps the fear of the ocean is etched in their minds, which is why the locals highly worship the so-called Sea God."
Lu Yan stroked his chin, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
"Lan Xing's gods favor them. Whenever danger appears, it is easily resolved by the 'Sea God'."
What is the Sea God? A new faith?
Lu Mingming was stunned.
So much had changed in the thousands of years she had been absent.
"It's truly magical, you know. I haven't seen such a pure race in a long time. They lived in forests for all their needs – food, clothing, shelter, and transport – much like children of nature. When you've spent too long in concrete jungles, you start seeking something beyond technology, like us old folks..."
The old woman took another sip of her hot tea and sighed.
"Sorry, I've gone off track. Those three boxes of tea were obtained through some external information and by trading some interstellar products. If you wish to go, I suggest you prepare more interstellar technology items, otherwise, trading will be difficult."
Lu Yan added, "I heard about this from my 'uncle.' As a Level Four civilization, Lan Xing's technological development is very lagging. They call all interstellar people aliens, so any information about the stars is welcome."
"I see."
As time passed, the tides ebbed and flowed, making Lan Xing's history more ancient and profound. Lu Mingming's mind gradually sketched a vivid image of Lan Xing.
There were natives! She definitely had to go back and see her compatriots.
Lu Mingming made up her mind. If she had the chance, she would tell them more about common knowledge in the interstellar world, preferably bringing a few Lan Xing natives to see the sights and help Lan Xing develop upon their return.
"When are we going to Lan Xing next time? If we're lucky, we might find more ingredients and make some delicious food."
The confusion on Lu Mingming's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a new longing, a slight anxious urgency appearing between her brows.
"That depends on Elder Lu's decision."
The old woman dug into her past memories, sharing more useful information with Lu Mingming.
"Although they are all Lan Xing people, they are still divided into races, much like the beast-men. The place I reached had a very cute animal locally, round and plump, composed of only black and white.
It looked a bit like a bear, and a bit like a cat. If the locals hadn't refused to sell it, I would have definitely taken it home to raise as my cub."
The old woman spoke of this with endless nostalgia and regret, clearly having truly wanted it.
"Is it a panda?"
Lu Mingming blurted out, clutching the hem of her clothes, her face flushing. She had found a new life goal.
This trip to Lan Xing was a must! Perhaps she could pet a panda!
"I don't know, I forgot."
The old woman pointed to her temple and sighed.
"If you want to go, I'll have Uncle reroute the course to Lan Xing tonight. We can go to the Phantom Sea for supplies later."
Seeing Lu Mingming's excitement, Lu Yan didn't mind owing this talented individual a favor, as the route was ultimately his decision.
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming spoke sincerely, the starlight sparkling in her moist eyes, a smile blooming on her lips.
Lu Yan composed himself, appearing calm and collected. "No need. Perhaps we can leverage your broad perspective to discover more things that are beneficial to our relative development, like tea."
For once, his words were from the heart.
Lu Yan was indeed waiting for Lu Mingming to find other rare items, which he could then send to the auction house for a high price.
Moreover, from Lu Mingming's statements, it was clear she knew of Lan Xing's existence. This recently awakened cryogenically frozen person might have had a deep connection with Lan Xing in the past.
"Grandma, can you tell me what kind of things the locals like?"
Knowing their preferences was better than aimlessly wandering like a headless fly.
"As for that... from my observations, I think they might prefer things related to farming."
The old woman gave an answer that was both within Lu Mingming's expectations and beyond her imagination.
"It's quite magical, isn't it? In a high-tech interstellar world, they use ancient tools unfamiliar to us to cultivate fields and carefully grow vegetables. Although the vegetables they grow aren't as plump and juicy as those from disinfected and climate-controlled cabinets, they are watered with the dedication of the farmers."
Lu Mingming breathed a sigh of relief. This was an old tradition of her homeland; at least there was some connection.
Having obtained enough of the information she desired, Lu Mingming stood up and bowed gratefully:
"I will prepare well. Thank you again for the information."
"No need to be so polite, it's just a small memory. We are all family now."
The old woman waved her hands shyly, her gaze darting between Lu Mingming and Lu Yan.
"Go get some rest, it's quite late already."
The two then bid farewell to the old woman and left the staff dormitory.
On their way back to their rooms, Lu Mingming stood at the elevator door and said goodbye: "I'll bring you something delicious tomorrow as a thank-you gift!"
Lu Yan was about to refuse, but upon hearing the words "delicious food," he quietly agreed. "Then I'll wait for you in my room on the second floor tomorrow."
The next morning, Lu Mingming woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy.
She had dreamt of returning home all night, as if she had found a sense of belonging again.
She wasn't someone abandoned in the interstellar world!
Perhaps because the cub was still young, Hong Yu was still wrapped in his blanket, fast asleep. He hadn't opened his eyes for more than ten hours a day.
"Baby, have some goat milk."
Lu Mingming placed the warmed goat milk on the bedside table, coaxing the little one awake.
The sleepy cub struggled to escape his silkworm-like state, his face rosy. He leaned into Lu Mingming's embrace and obediently drank the goat milk sip by sip.
"Good boy."
Lu Mingming wiped away the milk stains from the cub's mouth with a tissue.
Although the cub hadn't been born long, his growth rate was increasing day by day. He didn't require extra effort from Lu Mingming to teach him to walk or basic life skills. Beast-man cubs could learn through inherited memories, making it much more time and energy efficient.
"I'm going to make some snacks. I'll bring some back for you later. Wait for me in the room."
After comforting the cub, Lu Mingming tucked him in and gently closed the door as she left.
The young cub, possibly still sleepy, sat on the bed, dazed and unwilling to move. After a while, he clumsily got out of bed and went to the balcony outside.
The balcony was close to the sea of stars, facing the vast and boundless starry sky, making it feel as if one were in the center of the cosmos, able to touch a twinkling star with a reach.
Hong Yu lowered his gaze and softly hummed: "******"
Invisible sound waves emanated from his mouth, like ripples from a stone cast into water, continuously transmitting a circle of special signals outwards, until they completely disappeared into the sea of stars.
Without waiting long, a similar sound wave emanated from the abyss of the universe, responding to Hong Yu, filled with urgency.
Hong Yu lowered his eyes: "****"
The communication was completed, and everything went unnoticed.