Early the next day, Himeko was brewing coffee as usual in the Astral Express's Party Car—the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans gradually drifted through the air, filling the quiet car with a familiar warmth.
However, this time she prepared enough for two people rather than just herself.
"How about... I make a cup for you too? You can try my coffee for a change."
Lucian suddenly walked over to her side and casually suggested.
After living within the script for so many years, brewing coffee was naturally a skill he had learned long ago, and during his free time, he had even spent quite a while studying different brewing methods out of personal interest.
While he could not compare to professional baristas who had dedicated their entire lives to the craft, he was more than confident in his ability to make a good cup of coffee.
Himeko was visibly stunned for a moment, her long eyelashes trembling faintly.
'Eh? He's making coffee for me, too?'
As she watched Lucian's tall figure walk toward the coffee counter, a strange sense of anticipation quietly rose within Himeko's chest.
'What kind of coffee will he make?'
Filled with curiosity, Himeko remained standing near the counter, quietly watching him work.
Lucian's movements were clearly different from Himeko's particularly 'refined' brewing style, as his actions were steady, efficient, and natural. Every step flowed smoothly into the next without any unnecessary flourishes, giving the impression that he had performed the process countless times before.
"You're not planning to use an atomic saw to grind the coffee beans, are you?"
Himeko suddenly asked something outrageous.
"Of course not."
Lucian immediately replied, rolling his eyes.
"What about edible molecular adhesive?"
Himeko tilted her head slightly and asked again.
"...Definitely not that either."
Lucian looked at her speechlessly for a moment before answering rather helplessly.
'Good lord, no wonder Himeko's coffee was so terrifying...'
Indeed.
Even someone like Welt, a man who had once saved the world, would shiver with fear after drinking it.
With so many bizarre techniques added to the process, it was no surprise the coffee ended up bitter enough to chill a person to the bone while simultaneously feeling like magma burning through their throat.
Fortunately, Lucian's brewing process looked perfectly normal—the coffee beans were ground normally, and the water temperature was controlled properly.
Everything about the process looked so ordinary that it almost felt refreshing.
Not long afterward, he carried a freshly brewed cup of coffee over and gently handed it to Himeko.
"Give it a try. See if it matches your taste."
Himeko accepted the cup, and as their fingertips brushed together by accident, a subtle electric sensation seemed to spread from the point of contact, causing her heartbeat to skip slightly.
Even though the feeling lasted for only an instant, it left behind a faint ripple that was difficult to ignore.
Lowering her gaze, Himeko deliberately took a soft sniff of the coffee's aroma to hide her reaction.
A rich fragrance immediately entered her senses.
It smelled smooth and comforting, carrying a subtle sweetness beneath the deeper notes of roasted coffee beans.
'It smells amazing... just like him, a little hard to understand, yet strangely attractive...'
Himeko thought in a daze before carefully taking a sip.
'Hm? This flavor...'
In her mouth, the coffee tasted unexpectedly rich and smooth, carrying a unique sweetness that completely exceeded her expectations.
'It's delicious... He really knows how to make coffee, and he's actually this good at it...'
It wasn't overwhelmingly bitter at all—instead, the flavor was balanced and mellow, leaving behind a pleasant warmth after she swallowed that spread slowly from her throat throughout the rest of her body, accompanied by a lingering aftertaste that made her instinctively want to take another sip.
"So? What do you think?"
As Himeko was lost in thought, Lucian asked with a faint smile.
Himeko lifted her head, surprise and admiration clearly visible in her eyes.
"It's delicious... the flavor is really unique... I like it a lot."
Lucian truly was incredible.
It almost felt as though there was nothing he couldn't do.
Whether it was combat, knowledge, leadership, or even something as ordinary as making coffee, he always seemed capable of exceeding expectations without even trying.
However, immediately after saying those words, Himeko suddenly realized the phrase 'I like it' had appeared a little too frequently today, causing the warmth that had only just faded from her cheeks to quietly return once again.
A faint blush gradually spread across her fair face.
Seeing the subtle color blooming on her cheeks and the soft light flickering within her eyes, the smile on Lucian's lips deepened slightly.
"I'm glad you like it. Looks like we'll be able to swap coffee-making tips pretty often from now on."
"Mm... sure."
At Lucian's words, Himeko gently nodded, her voice soft and calm.
Exchange coffee-making tips pretty often?
Honestly, that actually sounded rather nice.
For some reason, the simple image of the two of them standing together in the future, discussing coffee and exchanging coffee-making tips, caused the corners of Himeko's lips to rise ever so slightly.
Just like that, the two looked at each other and smiled, while an atmosphere sweeter and more intimate than the aroma of coffee itself gradually spread throughout the car.
Meanwhile, March, who had been hiding in the corner and had only just managed to swallow the bread in her mouth, stared at the scene before her with wide eyes and could not help voicing a soul-searching question.
"Are they really just talking about coffee? Why does the atmosphere suddenly feel so lovey-dovey?"
Behind her, Dan Heng and Welt silently exchanged glances, neither of them saying a word.
A moment later, they quietly picked up their things and discreetly moved their seats a little farther away from that suspiciously 'lovey-dovey' atmosphere.
At the same time, Pom-Pom continued wiping the train windows while happily thinking to themself.
'Looks like Passenger Lucian really is a perfect fit for the Astral Express, pom! He even managed to conquer Passenger Himeko's coffee! Impressive, pom!'
At that exact moment, Stelle finally woke up.
Still rubbing her sleepy eyes, she wandered over to grab breakfast.
Her hair was slightly messy, and she looked as though her brain had not fully started working yet.
However, as she passed by the coffee counter, she looked at Lucian, then at Himeko, before suddenly blurting out.
"Godfather, Mommy Himeko, are you two dating or something over here? Drinking the same bitter water while whispering secrets to each other?"
*Cough!*
Himeko instantly choked on her coffee and hurriedly covered her mouth as she coughed lightly, her cheeks turning visibly red.
Lucian, on the other hand, merely smiled without saying anything and pretended not to hear Stelle.
He had to admit that this abstract little gremlin somehow managed to deliver perfect assists every now and then.
Unable to endure it any longer, Himeko raised her hand and lightly flicked Stelle on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
Stelle immediately covered her forehead and looked at Himeko with an aggrieved expression.
"What was that for?"
"Eat your breakfast."
Himeko answered without hesitation.
Stelle blinked, then looked at Lucian, looked at Himeko, and finally nodded with an expression that clearly said she understood everything.
"Got it."
Unfortunately, that expression only made Himeko feel even more embarrassed.
"Don't talk nonsense. We're just exchanging coffee-making experiences."
Lucian quietly took another sip of his coffee, then calmly clarified, the faint smile on his face never fading.
Stelle covered her forehead and puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction, clearly unconvinced by his explanation.
"I'm not making things up! You two totally look like you're on a date! Isn't that exactly how it goes in dramas? At first, the male and female leads are chatting while having drinks together in a nice kitchen, and then afterward they're gonna—"
"Stelle!"
Himeko hurriedly interrupted her before she could continue, the blush on her face deepening even further until even the tips of her ears seemed faintly tinted red.
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll make you drink coffee. Ground by me personally."
At this point, Himeko felt as though her elegant composure was on the verge of completely collapsing.
She had faced countless dangerous situations throughout her life and remained calm under pressure, yet somehow Stelle's teasing left her feeling more flustered than she cared to admit.
"Okay, okay, then I'll stop being the third wheel here."
Stelle immediately raised both hands in surrender.
'Then leave already! You keep saying you're leaving, but your body isn't moving at all!'
Himeko complained inwardly, her right eyebrow twitching slightly.
Using the motion of drinking coffee to hide the awkwardness on her face, she secretly glanced toward Lucian, only to discover that he was wearing the same helpless yet amused expression.
At that instant, however, their eyes met briefly, and for a short moment, neither of them said anything, yet they seemed to understand exactly what the other was thinking.
In the next second, a quiet laugh escaped both of them almost simultaneously.
After that, neither Lucian nor Himeko spoke again, simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of that brief moment together.
Just like that, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air while the Astral Express continued its journey through the endless sea of stars.
Life aboard the Astral Express continued peacefully over the next two days, and after several warp jumps across the starry expanse, they finally arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu.
Central Starskiff Haven was bustling with activity.
Crowds constantly moved through the massive port like flowing streams, while countless starskiffs rose into the sky and descended toward their docking platforms one after another. Merchants, travelers, officials, and visitors from various planets filled the area with noise and energy, creating an exceptionally lively and prosperous scene.
Thinking about it carefully, Lucian realized it had already been quite some time since his last visit to the Xianzhou Luofu.
Even though Jingliu and Fu Xuan still kept in regular contact with him, he had deliberately chosen not to inform either of them about his return this time, planning instead to quietly surprise the two of them.
For this Trailblazing journey, the ones leaving the Astral Express this time were Himeko, March, and Stelle, while Dan Heng stubbornly refused to come, no matter what.
Lucian naturally understood the reason, so he did not force him.
After all, the Xianzhou Luofu contained far too many memories and unresolved matters for Dan Heng.
As for Welt, he remained behind to guard the Astral Express.
However, just as Lucian arrived at the port with the three women, and before he even had time to properly admire the bustling prosperity of the Xianzhou Luofu, a gentle voice carrying a faint trace of playful charm suddenly drifted over from nearby.
"My, my~ just look who I happened to run into today. I heard magpies chirping happily this morning, and it turns out I was destined to meet an honored guest."
Lucian turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing not far away was a graceful foxian girl smiling brightly at him, and the moment she appeared, she naturally drew the attention of many passersby.
She possessed breathtaking beauty and a naturally seductive charm capable of captivating anyone at first glance, yet despite that alluring aura, her style of dress remained unexpectedly conservative.
Dressed in elegant traditional attire, the fitted design outlined her slender waist and ample chest beautifully without appearing excessive. Golden ornaments decorated her clothing, adding an additional touch of nobility and refinement to her appearance.
Most eye-catching of all was the fluffy, soft fox tail swaying gently behind her—the thick, snow-white fur looked unbelievably soft, making people instinctively want to reach out and touch it, if only to find out how it felt.
Her fair oval face and exquisitely delicate features made her resemble a carefully crafted porcelain doll, especially those smiling fox-like eyes whose flowing gaze carried an indescribable sense of charm without feeling vulgar in the slightest.
A foxian beauty capable of being this seductive while remaining elegant was naturally someone Lucian knew very well—Tingyun.
"Greetings, this humble girl is Tingyun, an amicassador from the Sky-Faring Commission."
Tingyun slightly lowered her body in a graceful bow, the smile on her face becoming even warmer.
"Lady Yukong personally sent me your portrait and repeatedly instructed me to remember your appearance carefully, no matter what."
Yukong?
Back within Jingliu's script, Lucian had once changed the outcome of the Third Abundance War and successfully resurrected Caiyi, Yukong's close friend.
Yukong had most likely learned the details afterward from Jing Yuan.
Given Yukong's personality, it was hardly surprising that she would remember such a favor.
Nearby, Stelle quietly whispered to March.
"March, this fox lady is seriously pretty."
"Yeah, yeah. Lucian's so handsome that pretty girls get drawn to him everywhere he goes."
March nodded repeatedly as she whispered back, looking as though she had already become completely accustomed to such situations.
Meanwhile, Himeko remained expressionless as she quietly stood to the side, calmly waiting without interfering with Lucian's social interaction.
Tingyun continued speaking in her soft, sweet voice.
"Lady Yukong specifically instructed me that the moment I saw you, I absolutely had to provide the finest hospitality possible and not neglect you in the slightest. Since she entrusted me with such an important task, naturally, I must keep you firmly in my heart."
Her tone remained polite and professional, yet somehow, every word carried a subtle warmth that sounded unusually intimate.
Lucian's heart twitched slightly.
Why did that sentence sound a little flirtatious?
He had to admit that this fox lady's conversational skills were seriously impressive.
No wonder Tingyun had been able to serve as one of the Xianzhou Luofu's most famous representatives. Her ability to make people feel welcomed and valued was genuinely extraordinary.
Still, he should first take a careful look and confirm her identity, just in case this was actually Phantylia in disguise, just like in the original story.
After all, considering the trouble Phantylia had caused in the original story, being cautious was never a bad thing.
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