Guo Xuyang was unaware of these matters concerning buying wine, as Liu He always completed his assigned tasks perfectly, never causing him any worry.
He, Xu Dahai, and Tong Xin each ate half a jin of mutton and drank two bowls of clear soup.
"It's so comfortable to eat like this. If I ate like this for half a month straight, I'd probably gain ten pounds," Guo Xuyang said, patting his stomach.
"What are you thinking? How would you drink this soup if you took it up there? How would you heat it?" Xu Dahai asked.
"You don't need to worry about that. Mountain dwellers have their own clever plans," Guo Xuyang said smugly.
"Then I'll see how you take it and how you drink it."
"There's a lot you don't know. Just follow along and eat and drink when the time comes. There's no obligation to publicize it when we get back."
"I know about the secrecy regulations."
"That's good. While there's still time, get some rest. We'll depart precisely at midnight."
"Why so late? Can't we go now?"
"It's too early now. Yu'er and Ye Zi haven't arrived yet. The food I asked people to prepare isn't ready."
"Which room should I go to?" Tong Xin asked.
"You two come upstairs with me. There are several guest rooms upstairs. Li Minxi's friends have all gone back. Rest for a while so you'll have energy tonight."
Guo Xuyang led Tong Xin and Xu Dahai upstairs.
"These two rooms were tidied up yesterday. You can rest in these rooms. When we leave tonight, I'll have Ye Zi call you."
"Why does it feel so much like going on a trip? There's no sense of tension at all," Xu Dahai said with a grin.
"Just think of it as a trip."
"Why didn't you bring Captain Xin along?"
"I'm not comfortable around him. His sister is my friend."
"Good heavens, how did you manage that?"
"It's not my fault. She's the one who latched onto me."
"Aren't you being a bit boastful? I know his sister. She's a top student and very beautiful."
"My charm is too great; I can't help it."
"Hmph, just show off. What time do we leave tonight? I need to set my alarm."
"No need. Ye Zi and the others will call you two then. Hurry up and rest."
Guo Xuyang said and went downstairs.
He had no intention of waking the two up. Instead, he planned to hypnotize them, making them travel with him to Kasa's planet in their sleep. He had never been there before, so Kasa would have to lead the way.
"收." He silently recited and stored all the braised beef, mutton, and mutton soup from downstairs into his mind.
"Mom, I'm going out for a bit. It could be half a month, or at least twenty to thirty days."
Guo Xuyang arrived at the artificial lake villa and said to Wu Shangqing, who was playing with little Guo Yishun.
"Didn't you say you were going on a honeymoon trip? Can you make it back by leaving now?"
"No problem, Mom."
"Then go and come back quickly."
"Okay, Mom. I'm leaving now."
After greeting Wu Shangqing, Guo Xuyang took Yu'er and Ye Zi to the Junyuelai Hotel.
"Manager Liu, how is it? How much is prepared?"
"The mutton is also cooked, but the roast chicken and roast duck are still marinating and haven't been prepared. They should be ready by eight o'clock tonight at the earliest. The wine and the Cao County Wang Guang braised beef, Weishan Lake salted duck eggs, Zaozhuang spicy chicken, and Dezhou braised chicken you requested are all in the warehouse and can be picked up at any time."
"When the roast chicken and roast duck are done, put them together with the mutton. As for the wine and those cooked foods, I'll come to pick them up together tonight."
"Certainly, President Guo. I'll find some helpers to assist you then."
"No need. You can stay here by yourself. I'll find a way."
"Alright. It's just that there's a lot of stuff."
"Take me to the warehouse to have a look. I need to get a clear picture."
"This way, please." Liu He led Guo Xuyang to the warehouse downstairs.
He saw that one entire wall of the warehouse was filled with the purchased cooked foods. On the other side were some cooked foods commonly used in hotels. The fifty cases of wine were also conspicuous, occupying nearly half a wall.
"When you bring back the cooked mutton and all the chickens and ducks, put them in this warehouse," Guo Xuyang said to Liu He.
"Certainly, President Guo. Will you be taking these cooked foods?" Liu He asked, pointing to the hotel's common cooked foods.
"Leave them there. I'll see. If I need them, I'll take them."
"Alright. I'll be waiting at the hotel."
"Mm. Then it's settled. We'll be going back now." Guo Xuyang bid farewell to Liu He and went to the King's Villa.
Since Li Minxi's bridesmaids had left, Li Minxi no longer stayed at the King's Villa. Finding it too quiet here, she had gone back to the artificial lake villa to be with Guo Yiyang, Wang Lihong, and Lin Zixuan. Pregnant women could do prenatal exercises together, go shopping, have tea, and listen to music, which was much better than living alone in this villa.
"出." Guo Xuyang released Kasa.
"Woof, woof." Kasa wagged its tail and barked twice.
"Kasa, you look so cute like this," Yu'er said, petting its dog head.
"Master, why have you released me?" Kasa asked, speaking human words.
"Kasa, how far is your planet from here, and how long would it take to return?"
"I'm not sure, Master. I was beaten so badly that only a wisp of my soul remained. If I hadn't attached myself to that caterpillar, you probably wouldn't be seeing me now."
"Can you ask your descendants?"
"I can try to ask. What do you want to do, Master?"
"Are there any of your kind, your people, still on your planet?"
"It's hard to say. The opposing side is too powerful. Furthermore, they are here to plunder resources, and they won't be polite to my people."
"Do you know the origin of the opposing side?"
"They are a type of creature from nearby planets. They can bewitch people, making them lose their will to fight and use them. They invade our brain cells, consume our marrow, and extract our memories."
"They can extract memories? That's incredible! Then how did you fight them?"
"That's why we were defeated so miserably. However, they have a fatal weakness: they cannot survive in space for too long and must find a host to survive."
"Then how did you only escape as a wisp of soul?"
"I don't know about that either. I remember a female from the other side devoured my marrow, and at that moment, I lost consciousness."
"If you were to go back now, could you distinguish which ones are your people and which ones are the hosts of the other side?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"I can tell by their scent. Their hosts have no trace of life; they are all lifeless."
"That makes things easier. I will take you to your planet to search for those creatures. Then, we'll find a way to drive them out and restore freedom to your people."
"That's an ideal scenario. We'll see how things go when the time comes."
"Mm, ask your descendants first how long it took them to travel from your planet. That way, I can allocate the time. I need to take them for a grand wedding in May," Guo Xuyang said.
"Alright, Master. Please take me back first."
"收." Guo Xuyang silently recited and put Kasa back into his mind.