Whether by coincidence or miHoYo's inherited fatalism, MEI's home wasn't exactly the same as the Chef's home 50,000 years later, but the similarity was at least 85%.
This made Jiang Qiao highly suspect that MEI's electromagnetic physicist father might be the Previous Era's Ryoma.
Electromagnetic physics, combined with Ryoma embezzling funds to secretly build the Plasma Shadowcaster in the later era… the connection was hard to ignore.
Fortunately, from MEI's words, he didn't hear any news about her father being imprisoned for strange reasons.
Of course—he was indeed not at home.
As a world-renowned electromagnetic physicist, MEI's father was either in the lab or flying around the world to attend seminars, so MEI was often home alone.
"Want some instant noodles?"
After bringing Jiang Qiao home, MEI didn't rush to learn more, but instead took two cups of instant noodles from the kitchen and gestured towards Jiang Qiao.
"Eh? Inviting a cute girl like me to your home and then offering instant noodles… MEI, you can't be like Dr. Mobius."
"Uh… is that inappropriate?"
MEI usually didn't think much of it when she was alone. Focused on her studies, she had low culinary standards, either eating out or making do with instant or frozen food at home. Seeing the dissatisfied and annoyed expression on the beautiful face before her, MEI nodded uncertainly.
"Then should I cook myself?"
"Sure… Wait!"
Jiang Qiao initially wanted to try Dr. MEI's cooking. After all, as the Chef's reincarnation, MEI should have some culinary genes, right? But he instantly remembered Elysia's complaints.
If he remembered correctly, not only was the Chef's early cooking skill terrible, Dr. MEI's cooking was disastrous! It was said that even Kevin, as a fusion warrior, couldn't handle it!
"…Forget it, let me cook."
Putting his hands on MEI, who was about to get up and go to the kitchen, the pink-haired girl, not wanting to experience the dark cuisine that could take down a fusion warrior, took over the task with a slightly helpless expression.
He was invited to someone's house, but ended up being the one cooking. What was this?
Forget it, just consider it a whim.
Even though he wasn't very good at it…
Arriving in MEI's kitchen, the pink-haired girl found the apron in the cupboard and skillfully tied it around her waist. Then, she tidied her hair, making it more suitable for cooking.
"This is the first time I've cooked in a girl's body."
Squeezing her slender hands, Jiang Qiao opened MEI's refrigerator. Inside were a bunch of frozen instant foods. As for ingredients… he could勉强 find some usable ones.
About ten minutes later, the dishes were brought to MEI's desk, where she had been boredly searching for literature and continuing to write her paper.
The home-style dishes with a distinct Shenzhou flair were quite novel for MEI, who was born and raised in the Far East and wasn't picky about food.
But—
"Delicious!"
This was MEI's evaluation.
She was initially just a little curious about Elysia's cooking, but honestly, MEI was just planning to quickly finish the meal.
Compared to enjoying the food, she was more interested in learning about what would happen next from Jiang Qiao.
However, Jiang Qiao's culinary skills were unexpectedly superb.
The perfect heat control, exquisite knife work, and meticulous, almost insane seasoning combinations…
Let's just say, this was the most delicious meal MEI had had in recent years. She could eat two bowls!
Elysia just sat across the table, watching Dr. MEI with a smile, her cheek resting on her hand, looking like a wife watching her husband.
Of course, don't misunderstand, he was just thinking about what to do next.
—The most pressing issue at hand was the Previous Era's Third Eruption.
Unlike the Third Eruption 50,000 years later, which was mostly confined to Nagazora City, this Eruption in the Previous Era affected almost the entire Southeast Asian region, with confirmed disasters in Nagazora, Canghai, and Arc City.
Compared to this one, the one 50,000 years later was child's play.
Moreover, the way to resolve the Third Eruption in the future was different.
These two Eruptions had the distinction of being naturally and artificially induced.
Compared to the latter, the former would be more intense and less controllable.
Fire Moth couldn't detect it, but as the Herrscher of Origin, Jiang Qiao could vaguely sense the Imaginary energy accumulating in the Imaginary Space.
Once this undetectable Imaginary energy accumulated to a certain point, the eruption that would engulf Southeast Asia would begin.
Lost in thought, Jiang Qiao slowly explained the information about the Honkai, Fire Moth, and what was appropriate for MEI to know at this time.
"..."
MEI fell into a long silence.
Although she had been somewhat prepared, as an ordinary person, after being bombarded with information about the Honkai, Fire Moth, and so on, she was still deeply shocked and bewildered.
The other side of the world was actually like this, and Nagazora City, the city beneath her feet, was so fraught with danger.
At this moment, MEI's heart became incredibly heavy.
She, still young, couldn't imagine what she could do in such a war.
Taking the glass of water Jiang Qiao handed her, she took a large gulp to moisten her dry throat and asked in a low voice:
"What do you need me to do?"
No further invitation was needed.
Dr. MEI, with her benevolent heart, after learning these secrets and understanding that she would inevitably fight against the Honkai in the future, made her decision instantly, just like her original self.
Although she knew very little about this girl named Elysia, she subconsciously felt that she probably already had a plan.
In that case, she just needed to unconditionally assist her and fulfill her requests.
Of course, she might have her own considerations later.
But for MEI now, she wanted to try placing the hope of saving the world on this girl who claimed to be from the future.
"Very good~ As expected of MEI, talking to smart people saves a lot of effort~"
The pink-haired girl clapped her hands in satisfaction, but became very serious the next moment:
"Then I'll get straight to the point."
"—MEI, next, I need you to join Fire Moth, and gain control of it as quickly as possible!"