Exhausted from cooking, Lu Mingming had no time to catch up on trending news.
She emptied her mind of all emotions and stress, and slept soundly that night.
It wasn't until ten o'clock the next morning that Lu Mingming and her companions woke up and packed their luggage.
Lu Mingming changed into a newly bought, exquisitely crafted beige knit dress and a warm, brown cashmere coat. She then took the little cubs with her on the cable car to Dreamy Star Sea.
Dreamy Star Sea, as its name suggested, was a tourist spot primarily featuring the starry sea, a rare sight.
Much like Lu Mingming's rented star sea accommodation, which backed onto a breathtakingly brilliant Milky Way, the rent was understandably astronomical even outside the capital's inner ring.
The closest places to the galaxy were naturally found on the mountains.
The Dreamy Star Sea park was nestled in the mountains, with the entire area covered by the galaxy.
During the day, one could see faint stars in the sky. Every night at precisely 8 PM, meteor showers from different constellations would descend, making it a must-visit spot for couples on dates.
The cable car's final stop was built outside the Dreamy Star Sea park, very close to the galaxy, creating a sense of tearing between nature and interstellar technology.
Lu Mingming looked around, observing her surroundings, holding a cub in each hand as she entered the park.
It was currently the coldest time of winter. Lu Mingming wrapped a thick scarf around the lower half of her face to shield herself from the harsh mountain winds.
Fearing the two little ones might catch a cold, she had meticulously dressed them up for the day, swaddling them like dumplings and layering them in thick clothing.
The little white tiger wore a thick wool hat and a pale pink cashmere sweater.
A golden bell was printed in the center, and the sweater was just the right size, leaving a little room around its chubby body for movement.
The neckline had a fluffy, off-white floral trim, providing excellent warmth and adding a touch of freshness and cuteness to the little one.
Compared to Tangyuan's academic style, the little Samoyed resembled a Christmas elf.
Xue Gao wore a red vest as an inner layer, with a robe of the same color draped over its shoulders, tied with a white ribbon into a beautiful bow, with two fluffy fruit charms hanging below.
The two little ones attracted the attention of many people in the park along the way. Talent agencies even approached them, asking to sign the cubs as child models, but Lu Mingming politely declined with thanks.
There were many tourists.
Even though it was afternoon and not yet the bustling evening, the queues were packed shoulder to shoulder, with new travelers like Lu Mingming arriving continuously.
While waiting in line, Lu Mingming looked afar, noticing how different the sky looked in the east and west.
"Wow, look at this."
She opened her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening into perfect circles.
The two little cubs followed her gaze—
The area outside the Dreamy Star Sea park was already faintly emitting pinkish-purple starlight, as if spilled ink, spreading layer by layer across the sky until it met the blue sky, covered by cotton-like clouds.
It was indeed as advertised on the travel website, no photoshopped deception.
In the sky, stars the size of sesame seeds twinkled incessantly, but they weren't particularly visible during the day.
Lu Mingming had only witnessed such a spectacle in her childhood, gazing at the night sky while lost in thought in the countryside.
"It's so beautiful..."
Lu Mingming stood rooted to the spot, sighing in admiration.
In that moment, she was stunned by the unique beauty of the interstellar world, and even the most eloquent language couldn't describe this magnificent scene.
This was the first time since arriving in the interstellar world that Lu Mingming was awestruck by the grandeur of a planet's landscape, realizing how small humanity truly was in comparison.
The two little cubs nodded in unison, agreeing with Lu Mingming's sentiment.
As they walked into the park, the little cubs were arranged by staff members to sit on specially designed children's chairs, which were adorned with playful cartoon patterns and moved fully automatically via electronic controls.
Lu Mingming didn't have to exert any effort and could leisurely stroll while sipping on a warm cup of milk tea.
Since they came for the scenery, naturally, they couldn't miss out on walking around and taking photos.
Whether it was the Purple Bamboo Forest, the Star Lake, or the Fairy Sea, Lu Mingming loved every single one of them.
There was hardly any attraction that could be found on Earth; it felt like scenes from a dream.
Lu Mingming never understood why her parents insisted on posing her for photos at scenic spots when she was younger. The resulting pictures were always strange and unflattering, each one a black mark on her past.
But today, faced with such beautiful scenery, she found herself mirroring the mindset of all parents from Earth, her first thought being to drag her own cubs over for photos, marking every moment of their journey as if she had endless energy.
What could the two little cubs do? They could only put on their fake professional smiles and pose with their companions—spoiled they were.
The afternoon flew by quickly, and colorful twilight began to paint the sky.
Lu Mingming's feet were almost worn out, yet she had only visited four attractions. The two cubs, led by automated machines the entire way, hadn't exerted a single bit of effort.
She, having expended considerable energy, was the first to give in, clutching her rumbling stomach and finding the nearest lawn. She spread out a picnic blanket to prepare for dinner.
The renowned Star Sea Waterfall was not far away, providing a perfect view of the attraction.
"This is the meal I made yesterday, try it and see if you like it?"
Lu Mingming took out three lunchboxes made of special materials from her bag, her eyes automatically widening like stars, eagerly awaiting the cubs' opinions.
As soon as they were opened, the aroma of the food mingled with the rising steam, wafting towards them.
Carried by the gentle mountain breeze, the scent of various dishes drifted into the distance.
Preserved overnight in special material lunchboxes, Lu Mingming's food had lost not a bit of its original flavor.
The black pepper crispy chicken leg and stir-fried lettuce double-dish meal was eye-catching.
One bite of the chicken leg revealed a crispy skin, tender and juicy meat, with a rich sauce enveloping the smooth chicken, the black pepper sauce seeping into every grain of the soft five-grain rice. The sweet mashed potatoes wrapped around fragrant lettuce slices were incredibly refreshing.
The milky white sturgeon soup was undoubtedly a hit. The soup was as milky white and rich as milk, its sweet and fresh taste lingering in the mouth.
The shredded radish was crisp and juicy, and the tofu and fish meat were indistinguishable, both equally tender and flavorful.
On a slightly chilly night, a bowl of warm soup felt like a comfortable soak in a hot spring.
Paired with the beautiful music composed by the cascading purple waterfall and the collision of water and rocks at the scenic spot, and the dreamlike Milky Way in the sky, it was truly a delight.
The little cubs, not picky eaters, devoured their meals clean, leaving the lunchboxes empty and without a single grain of rice, silently giving Lu Mingming a thumbs-up.
They finished with the milk candy and double-skin milk that Lu Mingming had brought, leaving a delicate sweet aftertaste in their hearts.
Replenishing the energy expended throughout the afternoon, Lu Mingming gently patted each of the cubs' round little bellies, a look of indulgence on her face.
"If it was delicious, I'll make it for you again when we get home..."
The two little cubs were always united when it came to food.
Before Lu Mingming could finish speaking, the little cubs had already nodded, considering missing out on a delicious meal a great loss.
The time spent the previous day had now fully transformed into satisfaction.
An uncontainable smile bloomed on Lu Mingming's face, her lips slightly parted as if to say more.
A somewhat regretful, aged voice drifted from afar, interrupting her.
"Alas, we walked too slowly! Everyone else has finished eating! If only I hadn't been so shameless and taken a child's stroller to catch up!"