"Since I can decide how to dress up later, then..."
Elle walked into the bathroom muttering to herself.
——Half an hour later.
Radiant--well, that's not a strict description--Elle looked just like her usual self. Wearing training clothes and her own jacket, Elle came to the first floor of the dormitory.
"Good morning, Elle." Jessica greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning, Jessica." Elle replied cheerfully. Looking at the letter paper on the table, as well as the ink and pen in Jessica's hand, Elle asked: "Are all these letter papers yours? This amount is huge
It’s really…”
Jessica nodded slightly: "Yes, these are all greetings that need to be sent... There are Christmas blessings and New Year blessings. So I have to write double the usual ones, which may seem a bit much."
Even if the thickness of the letter paper is reduced by half, this amount is still quite a lot... Elle felt that Jessica might have used up more letter paper in one mailing than she had written in her entire life.
Her greetings are usually sent via email.
"I made black tea...do you want to try it?" Jessica looked up and asked.
The teapot and tea set were obviously Jessica's personal belongings - there wouldn't be such exquisite things in the dormitory's public area.
"If that's okay, thank you." Taking the black tea from Jessica, Aieryi sat on the sofa where Jessica was sitting and watched Jessica write letters to others.
Of course, she will not read the contents of the letter carefully. Such respect is necessary.
Jessica completed one letter after another quickly—definitely not copying and pasting the content. Such speed can only mean that she has a draft in mind, or is accustomed to this type of work.
...What a beautiful cursive calligraphy.
So many letters, are they to business or family partners...
Elle drank black tea and remained silent. She did not want to take the initiative to inquire about her friends' family situations - they would not hide it if necessary.
And most of his friends in Black Steel are very mysterious. Especially Hank and Nate, they seem to be deliberately concealing their past and keep silent about their past.
Jessica just doesn't discuss it, which is very different from them.
Speaking of Nate and Hank…
"Where's Hank? Is his condition better?" Elle was a little worried. They were not present when Hank fainted in the training room yesterday. Fortunately, Hank received timely rescue - but they don't know what his condition is now.
Hank slept in the intensive care unit at the base yesterday and did not come back.
The pen in Jessica's hand did not stop and she replied: "It seems that Hank has come out of the ward. He plans to do some basic training before coming back."
"Yeah……"
There has obviously been an accident...why are you still training so hard...
"I hope everything is fine with him, and it's best not to miss tonight's party." Jessica's voice carried some worry.
"……yes."
Why...Hank can persist in such hard training and never give up?
The Caprini are not a strong race, but Hank took the initiative to take on heavy equipment duties when he chose to do so.
Hank never mentioned this question, and Elle couldn't figure it out because of this.
"Where are Nate and Ai Luo?" Putting aside the doubts that had troubled her for the time being, Ai'er continued to ask about the situation of the other two teammates who were still in the base.
"Speaking of Nate and Ella..." Jessica sealed the envelope and turned around to ask Elle:
"You haven't had breakfast yet, Elle?"
Aier put down the teacup: "No...what's wrong?"
Jessica had a wry smile on her face: "You also know...the cafeteria is closed."
Indeed - this is the information they confirmed two days ago. So the members of Team 7 are already preparing to handle Christmas dinner by themselves.
For example, ordering food from outside.
Jessica continued:
"After all, today is Christmas Eve...the staff in the logistics department will also have a holiday. There will be a week from now on, and we will not be able to eat in the cafeteria."
At this point, Jessica changed the subject: "Isn't it Hank who was originally responsible for ordering food?"
Yes, it was Hank. Elle remembered this.
But something feels wrong...
"Ah! Hank was always in the ward yesterday!" Elle suddenly realized.
"Yeah, so we didn't book any place to eat." Jessica said with a wry smile.
"But Alan and Nate went to the cafeteria and borrowed tools from Mr. Walton's shop. We can cook by ourselves."
What's going on?
No, no, no, although it is good to cook by yourself, but this emergency treatment comes too quickly, right?
Then the situation now is...
"Ah, Aier, good morning." A familiar voice came from behind - it was Ai Ruo.
At the same time, there was the smell of freshly baked bread.
"Ah, good morning, Ai Ruo...is this one?"
Ai Luo still had that reassuring smile on his face (I don't know if it was born like this), "Nate and I prepared it together. We have done it at home before... I don't know if I can do it with the tools here."
Elle saw clearly the source of the scent - Christmas bread.
"Isn't this something that can be prepared quickly?" Elle asked doubtfully. She had never baked bread, but she also knew that baking Christmas bread was not easy and usually needed to be prepared in advance.
Ai Ruo nodded: "Didn't I say the day before yesterday that I would hold a Christmas party in the dormitory? I was thinking about whether to try it."
"Although I have already decided to go out to eat, so there is no need to do it - but Nate and I planned to contact each other when we had nothing to do. Now it seems that we missed the mark."
Ai Ruo quickly cleared the space on the table full of miscellaneous items and put down the plate: "These are trial products. Come and try them. If there are no problems, we will try to bake the second oven before night."
"Then...I'm not welcome anymore."
Elle and Jessica each took out some bread and put it in their mouths.
The taste is very reliable.
How should I put it... While eating this somewhat late breakfast (compared to normal training days), Ai'er began to recall the impression Ai Ruo had on her.
To sum up, it's just ordinary. Just like these breads.
Ai Ruo never hides his past, and he is also happy to talk about his family - a very ordinary and happy family. Ai Ruo gives people the impression of being a completely ordinary citizen.
Compared with them, Ai Ruo gave her more of a sense of intimacy close to life.
And why did Ai Ruo join Black Steel as a trainee?
And what kind of consciousness did he rely on...
Training from scratch, learning from scratch?
Ai'er knows very well that Ai Ruo's education level is not high - it can be seen from taking "art" classes with him. Although Ai Ruo is not stupid, it is not easy to learn from scratch.
But he achieved success through hard work.
In the competition, he shouldered one-third of the tasks alone, and played a role in breaking the tie at the last minute - these are Ai Ruo's proofs for himself.
Why did he do all this?
"How's it going? What do you think?" Ai Ruo asked the two ladies.
"I think it's okay." Jessica's voice was brisk - was it because she felt happy preparing her own meals?
"...I think this is fine." Aier gave a very pertinent opinion.
"Really, that's good."
Ai Ruo showed a relieved expression.
Everyone is happy for the upcoming Christmas, and Elle has even more complicated emotions.
…Obviously a better evaluation should be given.
Aier secretly gritted her teeth.
Why do I... is because...
That ridiculous self-esteem...
Just as she worries - her teammates are not ordinary people.
How should I admit that there is a difference in consciousness between me and them?
How should I admit that I chose to join Black Steel for such a random and ridiculous reason?
What should I do...
Catch up with them?
PS: I wonder if Elle’s indescribable “girl’s troubles” have been passed on to you...
Among a group of people who all have dreams and goals, how should ordinary girls grow up——