However, whether these delicacies would be popularized in the future remained to be seen. For now, Lu Wanqing was enjoying them, and they tasted exceptionally delicious!
Full and content, they were to set out together in the evening.
Since they were going to the botanical garden, Shushu called Yu Nong over before they left. Their whole family would travel to the botanical garden by aircraft.
This was Lu Wanqing’s first time traveling by aircraft at night. Seated in the aircraft, they looked down upon the entire Capital Star, a sight of peculiar beauty. Warm yellow lights illuminated orderly rows of houses, making the planet appear exceptionally beautiful and warm.
However, they soon left the bustling city and entered the quiet mountain forest area.
Lu Wanqing had initially thought that the wilderness at night would be pitch black. Yet, as they looked along the way, she discovered many luminous things on the ground, which were very beautiful.
Lu Wanqing’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to those things; they were so captivating.
"Mom, those are also mutated plants that glow, but their luminescence is quite dull. I'll take you to see something much prettier," Shushu told Lu Wanqing.
"Luminous... and even prettier ones?" Lu Wanqing asked, her surprise evident.
Shushu nodded, "Yes, super beautiful. Mom, you'll definitely love it!"
Lu Wanqing began to anticipate it, imagining how stunning it would all be.
Yu Nong had been quiet for the most part, accompanying them. He would occasionally explain to them what the luminous plants on the ground were, their properties, and whether they were dangerous.
Lu Wanqing listened with great interest, genuinely fascinated.
Two hours later, the aircraft was finally nearing their destination. From a distance, Lu Wanqing could already see the entire forest glowing ahead.
"So beautiful!" Lu Wanqing exclaimed uncontrollably.
Shushu smiled faintly and then said, "Mom, the botanical garden has many, many luminous plants, and they are all incredibly beautiful!"
"Mhm," Lu Wanqing nodded emphatically.
The aircraft landed quickly at the botanical garden. As soon as it stopped, Lu Wanqing couldn't wait to get to the entrance.
When the aircraft door opened, Lu Wanqing eagerly stepped out, followed closely by Shushu.
Even from afar, it had appeared stunning. Up close, Lu Wanqing was further astonished by the beautiful plants. She examined everything with curiosity, like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.
Some plants had beautiful tendrils. She couldn't resist reaching out to touch one tentatively.
It felt... soft, even a little fuzzy, and very comfortable.
"Shushu, that plant is huge. Can I climb on it?" Lu Wanqing asked Shushu, spotting a particularly beautiful luminous plant.
"You can sit on it for photos," Yu Nong's low voice explained from beside them.
Hearing this, Lu Wanqing's eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Yu Nong.
Yu Nong nodded, "Yes, I brought the camera equipment."
"Great, then let's go take pictures!" Lu Wanqing exclaimed excitedly.
When she had stayed at Shushu’s house before, she had taken Shushu to the virtual botanical garden on the star network with Yu Nong, and they had taken many photos there. Yu Nong must have remembered what they did back then, which was why he mentioned taking pictures.
Yu Nong looked more mature on the outside, but up close, she could tell that his inner self was still as endearingly simple as before.
Thinking this, Lu Wanqing suddenly recalled the photos they had taken before and said, "How about we retake some photos in the same style as the ones we took back then?"
"The same poses, let's take some more pictures," Lu Wanqing suggested.
Shushu's eyes sparkled, and she happily agreed, "Okay!"
So, the three of them opened their old electronic photo album and, following the poses from their past photos, retook pictures one by one.
Years had passed in a blink of an eye. Lu Wanqing and Yu Nong had aged considerably, and Shushu had grown up a lot. The only thing unchanged was the sense of happiness that enveloped the three of them. They were just as happy as before, no, even happier now.
In the past, Yu Nong had been noticeably nervous and awkward in front of the camera. But now, he was much more natural, and the three of them interacted with a greater sense of familiarity and ease.
Unknowingly, they had played the entire night. Fortunately, the next day was a weekend, and Shushu didn't have school, so they could play to their heart's content.
They played until past midnight before finally feeling tired and stopping.
It was too late to return now, and there were houses at the botanical garden. They decided to stay overnight in one of the houses there.
It was late, and everyone was hungry. Lu Wanqing went to the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack. Shushu and Yu Nong, knowing she was going to cook, offered to help. Thus, the family of three busied themselves together and prepared a late-night meal.
The fragrant wontons were served, and Lu Wanqing ate them with great happiness, while Shushu ate them with equal joy.
That night, Lu Wanqing and Shushu shared a room and a bed, while Yu Nong slept in the next room.
The next day, Lu Wanqing slept late and woke up only when it was already bright outside.
Lu Wanqing turned to look beside her and saw that Shushu was still asleep. She gently turned her head, gazing at Shushu's peaceful sleeping face. Her eyebrows curved slightly, and she carefully turned over and got out of bed.
Lu Wanqing went out of the room and saw Yu Nong at the doorway feeding small animals. They were a group of white, cat-sized creatures, and they were very cute.
Lu Wanqing was shocked again. Her steps faltered, and she stared at the scene before her, afraid to even breathe heavily lest she scare away the adorable, fluffy creatures.
Yu Nong seemed to sense something and turned to look at her.
Lu Wanqing was excited and hurried over. She carefully extended her hand, wanting to pet the furballs.
However, the furballs were shy. They immediately scattered and darted into the botanical garden, disappearing from sight.
"What are those?" Lu Wanqing asked curiously.
"Furballs," Yu Nong replied concisely.
Seeing that Lu Wanqing didn't understand, he further explained, "They are the guardian beasts of the lantern grass."
"Lantern grass?" Lu Wanqing was curious.
Lu Wanqing knew about lantern grass. More than three thousand years ago, lantern grass was a very common plant, found everywhere in fields and vegetable gardens. The entire plant wasn't very large.
But last night, she had seen the lantern grass in the botanical garden. Perhaps it had mutated. Here, the lantern grass had grown very large, as tall as a person. The lanterns hanging from it were as big as a fist, and they glowed at night, looking beautiful.
However, she hadn't known that the plants here had guardian beasts, just like... like in fantasy novels from over three thousand years ago.
"Yes, the furballs live near the lantern grass. They spontaneously protect the lantern grass. If other creatures harm the lantern grass, they will rush out to defend it," Yu Nong explained.