Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

Meanwhile, Mei felt a mix of emotions. 'Come to think of it, Fu Lin and Elysia have surprisingly similar tastes… Maybe it's just a coincidence. I'm probably overthinking it.'

Elysia wiped the corner of her mouth, swallowed her saliva, and looked at Mei expectantly,

"A Basque cheesecake with a caramelized crust and a soft, pudding-like interior… I wonder how Mei's version will taste. Just imagining it makes me want to eat it already~"

'Basque cheesecake sounds really delicious…' Fu Lin, just hearing Elysia's description, swallowed his saliva in curiosity (???.???).

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When the last rays of the sun completely disappeared, the hidden stars gradually emerged. Elysia crossed her hands over her chest, her eyes sparkling.

"Mei, sometimes I really admire myself. Look at how dazzling the stars of the Elysian Paradise are. Aren't they brilliant and mesmerizing, just like me?"

Mei folded her arms and gazed at the starry sky. She couldn't deny that it was breathtakingly beautiful, but now was not the time to admire the stars.

Seeing Elysia immersed in the scenery, Mei sighed and said, "Elysia, if we don't go back now, we won't be able to eat Basque cheesecake tonight."

"That won't do at all, Mei! Let's hurry back!" Upon hearing this, Elysia's eyes widened. After bidding farewell to the stars, she grabbed Mei's hand and ran back.

Fu Lin watched their silhouettes gradually fade into the distance, then took out Eden's golden goblet, poured himself a drink he had conveniently acquired from Otto, and spoke to the night sky,

"May this moment shine like gold, and may this world be as glorious as tomorrow. It won't be long before the Elysian Realm faces destruction, but it will also usher in a new beginning."

Elysia stopped in her tracks, looked at Fu Lin standing still in the distance, and called out loudly, "Fu Lin, if you don't come now, Mei and I won't wait for you!"

"I'm coming!"

Hearing this, Fu Lin stopped pretending to be refined. Just as he was about to pour out the wine in her cup, he suddenly remembered its value and downed it in one gulp before running toward Elysia and Mei.

...

Mei arrived at the kitchen Elysia had prepared, looked at the ingredients for the Basque cheesecake, and then wrote them down on a piece of paper, handing it to Elysia.

"Elysia, I need 340g of cream cheese, 200g of heavy cream, 3 eggs, 1 egg yolk, 90g of sugar, 140g of cornstarch, and 20g of rum."

"Oh, and the oven should be preheated at 230°C for 24 minutes."

At some point, Elysia had changed into a maid outfit. Looking at the list of ingredients, she clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly at Mei.

"My dear Mei, I've already prepared all the ingredients. I'm just waiting for you to start."

Mei neatly arranged the tools beside her and glanced at the ingredients on the table, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Hmm? That fast? Then I'll take it from here."

Elysia nodded in response. "Mhm, I'll just quietly watch from the side. If you need any help, let me know."

"Alright, first, microwave the cream cheese for one minute until it softens."

After putting the cheese in the microwave and waiting a minute, Mei took out the softened cheese, poured in the sugar, and then handed the whisk to Elysia.

"Elysia, I'll leave this to you. Mix the softened cheese and sugar together until it's smooth and free of lumps."

Elysia took the whisk and stirred vigorously while playfully teasing Mei.

"No problem! Mixing warm cheese with sugar makes it easier for the sugar to dissolve—just like me and Mei~ I'm the clingy cheese, and Mei is the sweet sugar."

Mei's face instantly turned red. It was just a simple task of mixing cheese and sugar—how did it sound so different coming from Elysia?

"Elysia, keep stirring. Don't stop. I'll add the eggs one by one to ensure they mix evenly."

"Mhmm~ As long as Mei doesn't say stop, I won't stop."

"...Are they really making a cake?"

Fu Lin leaned against the sofa, listening to the conversation from the kitchen with a doubtful expression. She glanced at the system task and shook her head. She had already failed once, so another failure wouldn't make much of a difference.

[Task Triggered: Help Mei Make Basque Cheesecake]

"Next, add the rum, sift in the cornstarch, and mix until smooth."

"I know this! Rum removes the eggy smell and makes the cake taste better!"

"Yes. I'll go get the parchment paper and cake mold while you continue mixing."

"Just shove the parchment paper into the mold—it doesn't have to be neat. Just make sure it sticks to the inner walls."

"Mei, you're so forceful... but I like it."

Fu Lin: "..."

"Elysia, pour the batter through a sieve into the cake mold. I'll take care of the rest."

"Okay~?"

"Sifting one last time helps remove any possible eggshell fragments and ensures a smoother texture."

"As expected of Mei! So professional!"

"Elysia, you don't have to repeat everything I say..."

"Now, tap the cake mold on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles."

"You're so mean! I'm just trying to match your vibe, Mei~"