Chapter 264: Bumansa’s Cookies
After leaving the high tower atop the mountain, Lolan Hill put away the piece of paper with her reading list in her pocket, then dived into the sea of clouds and returned to the central school building.
She crossed through the moonlit clouds and sky, then retracted her emerald butterfly wings, her dress fluttering in the air before gently descending onto the school building below.
As winter approached, the apricot trees beside the school building had shed their leaves, looking rather bare. Only a few fir trees stood straight between the buildings, serving as natural screens.
Before entering the school building, Lolan Hill shook her dress slightly, letting a few snowflakes fall, before stepping into the relatively quiet dormitory building.
Since she arrived early, there weren’t many people in the dorms yet, and many rooms were still dark. Lolan Hill ran her hand along the pine wood handrail as she walked up the stairs, the chandelier hanging from the ceiling casting a warm yellow glow, though the air was still chilly.
A few senior students dressed in white dresses walked ahead of her, chatting about current events.
“This year is colder than usual. Why does the school feel even colder than my hometown in the Cold Leaf Territory,” one of the seniors whispered.
“Haha, you, a white-feathered raven, also feel cold? That’s rare.”
“It’s normal because Emanas has a more humid climate, being in the middle region. Unlike Xiao Ai’s hometown in the Southern Islands, even if it’s humid, it’s still warm.”
“If the air is humid, heat dissipates faster. The teacher explained that.”
“Mmm, Nongnong knows so much.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about this. What good performances are expected at the Winter Festival this year?”
“Not sure yet. This year’s event is hosted by Luweiji, one of the ten champions. It shouldn’t be bad.”
Lolan Hill turned a corner and entered the corridor leading to her room. Just as she was about to open the door, a familiar voice sounded beside her.
“Is that Lolan? How was your holiday?” The voice was warm and inviting. Lolan Hill turned and saw Bumansa. She wore a white cotton coat with a brown leather belt around her waist, looking both fitting and simple.
“The holiday was quite interesting,” Lolan Hill recalled her recent experiences, her voice tinged with a hint of sigh.
“Come sit for a while. I’m the only one here in the dorm tonight, so it feels quite lonely.”
“Okay.” The young lady nodded.
Closing the door, Bumansa lit a candle and asked Lolan Hill to sit at the table. Then, she brought out a plate of gingerbread cookies from the kitchen.
The color of the gingerbread resembled chocolate, deep and rich, with clear flour particles visible after baking. White frosting decorated the surface, forming little human shapes, making them look lively and cute.
“Eat some, Lolan. These are what I made at home earlier, just reheated,” Bumansa recommended.
Lolan Hill picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, and bit down, savoring the sweet taste with a hint of ginger. The texture was excellent. Unfortunately, she didn’t particularly like ginger in her previous life, so her feelings were somewhat complex.
“Mm, delicious.” The young lady then finished the rest of the cookie and put her hand down.
“Eat more then.” Bumansa pushed the plate towards her.
“No, no.” The plate was pushed back.
“Don’t be shy, Lolan. Since we’re the first ones here and no one else is around, it would be a waste if you don’t eat it.”
“Guh.” Lolan Hill picked up another cookie and took small bites.
Watching Lolan ‘happily’ eating the cookies, Bumansa rested her hands on the table and started talking about old memories.
“As a child, I really loved cookies, but since our family wasn’t well-off, I had few opportunities to eat them. I always wished I could eat as many cookies as I wanted.”
“What happened later?” Lolan Hill stopped her actions and listened quietly.
“Later, my father became a gardener for a noble family, and things improved a bit. But my mother gave me little pocket money, so I still craved more.”
“So I learned to make snacks and cookies myself, gradually getting better at it.”
Bumansa picked up a cookie, broke it with a crisp sound, and put part of it in her mouth.
“What plans do you have for the future? Personally, I’ve always dreamed of opening a bakery or a pastry shop.”
“Me?” Lolan Hill fell into thought.
If it were her past life, she did have a dream. It was to plant a fruit orchard, spending only a short time working each year and resting the rest of the time, sitting under the trees, reading books, and enjoying the sunrise and sunset.
“I want a peaceful life,” Lolan Hill added silently to herself, knowing it wasn’t easy.
“An admirable dream,” Bumansa praised, holding a cookie.
“Huh? Why do you say that?” Lolan Hill was puzzled.
“Because it’s you, Lolan. If you could live a peaceful life at home, it must be a time of great peace and prosperity.”
“That’s not true, you make it sound like I need to save the world,” Lolan Hill shook her head, her long hair sliding over the fur lining of her hood.
“But that’s who you are, Lolan. You think and care about many things.”
“Other girls are concerned about their looks, fun, and finding perfect partners. But you rarely spend time on these things. Even when teaching those boys earlier, you remembered their strengths and weaknesses despite not being in our club, and explained them accordingly.”
“Moreover, you care about their life perspectives, just like an old lady.”
“That’s not true!” Lolan Hill quickly shook her head, trying to hide her slightly embarrassed expression, then stood up and pinched Bumansa’s cheek to stop her.
“Fine, fine, I won’t say anymore.” Bumansa held Lolan Hill’s slightly cold hand and let go.
“But if Lolan can live a peaceful and comfortable life, it will surely be a wonderful world,” Bumansa said softly, the warm candlelight reflecting off her golden hair.
“Why can Bumansa think so much? Maybe I just care about others a little, not as far as she thinks.”
“Many people care about others, but they are limited by themselves and won’t go too far. Like a wheel constantly spinning, it will eventually hit a wall and stop.”
“But you can actually do what you want, and the wheel seems to spin endlessly.”
“So, if you can take it easy, try to rest more. Otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out someday,” Bumansa took a piece of gingerbread and put it in Lolan Hill’s mouth, stopping her from arguing.
“Guh.”
Thank you to Kaihuayunyan Shu, Shu Zhongshaonian, Shimie Rizi, Jianwen Xinshen, Dangxianyu De Azhai, and Luo Yu MK for your support.
