Chapter 130: Autumn Rain Walk

Lin Lan originally thought he would wake up earlier than Roon.

But it turned out the biological clock of a professional chef was something that should never be underestimated.

When he woke up, Roon—the pink-haired big sister who had slept in his arms—was already gone.

"This Roon... She's really too hardworking. An iron-blooded model," Lin Lan muttered.

He didn't need to guess where Roon was; she would undoubtedly be at the cafeteria in the port area.

Roon, the ever-gentle elder sister, always prepared meals for her companions, unless she was required to fight.

On the battlefield, however, she transformed into a terrifying force, tearing through enemies like a ghostly warrior.

After getting dressed and washing up, Lin Lan walked over to the window. He opened the curtains to find a cloudy sky outside and steady rain falling.

"Well, it's autumn in Orlan. Rains are bound to happen," he thought. 

Still, he couldn't help but be reminded of the gloomy weather he always seemed to face during Siren encounters.

"Hope it didn't rain when Roon left. It'd be a shame if she got caught in it," he murmured.

There's a saying: An autumn rain brings a chill.

With that thought, Lin Lan stepped out of his room.

When he reached the door to his office, he noticed it was already ajar. Inside, a tall, black-haired beauty in a black-and-gold gown sat elegantly on the sofa.

With her porcelain complexion, deep crimson eyes, and graceful demeanor, she was unmistakable.

"Kurumi Tokisaki—wait, no," Lin Lan corrected himself.

Wasn't this the "time management guru" who helped him curb his procrastination a few days ago?

"Peter Strasser?"

"Commander, you're earlier than I expected," Peter greeted him with a soft smile, her delicate features glowing as she poured mint tea into a porcelain cup.

"You're early too, Peter. It's not even work hours yet… well, if that even exists in the port area," Lin Lan replied with a chuckle as he stepped into the room and sat behind his desk.

His gaze landed on a wet umbrella leaning against the wall.

"I'll remind Akashi to set up an umbrella stand in your office," Peter remarked with a serene smile, placing a steaming cup of mint tea in front of Lin Lan.

As she handed him the tea, she continued, "I checked the weather forecast earlier. It's expected to rain for the next few days."

Lin Lan picked up the cup, blowing gently to cool the fragrant liquid. He smiled and said, "The weather forecast here is just guesswork. Orlan doesn't even have satellites."

"Satellites? What's that?" Peter tilted her head in curiosity.

"Well… how do I explain this…"

Lin Lan scratched his head and gave her a crash course on satellites, explaining their purpose and functions as best he could.

Peter listened attentively, her burgundy eyes lighting up as she grasped the concept. 

"A machine even higher than airships and aircraft carriers? The idea is fascinating."

She glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Commander, it's time for breakfast. I went out to fetch some earlier, but I realized Akashi hadn't prepared an umbrella for you. That's my oversight as your secretary ship."

Lin Lan checked the clock—it was 8 a.m. As expected of Peter, the time-conscious secretary ship.

But rather than letting her go alone, he suggested, "Why don't we head to the cafeteria together? It'd be boring to eat alone."

Peter, noticing there was only one umbrella, immediately understood what Lin Lan meant. A faint blush appeared on her elegant face.

"Hehe, Commander, I'd be happy to take up your time," she teased gently.

…

The two stepped out into the autumn rain. Peter initially offered to hold the umbrella, but Lin Lan stopped her with a smile.

"Leave it to me."

"Very well, Commander," Peter replied, her smile soft as Lin Lan took the umbrella from her hand. 

She watched him step into the rain, bending slightly and extending his hand to invite her forward.

Peter gracefully took his arm, and together they walked under the umbrella.

As they strolled, Lin Lan noticed Peter's height—thanks to her heels, she was a head taller than him. 

Glancing sideways at her elegant figure, he couldn't help but marvel.

The rain fell gently, the sound of droplets on the umbrella blending with the quiet rustle of leaves. The air was cool and crisp, filled with the earthy aroma of wet soil.

"Commander, I didn't realize you had such a gentlemanly side," Peter said with a chuckle.

"What kind of person did you think I was before?" Lin Lan asked curiously.

Peter tilted her head in thought, placing a finger on her cheek. 

"Someone who likes to tease the secretary ship, give nicknames, disappear without notice, overwork the fleet, and occasionally get inexplicably irritable."

Lin Lan blinked in surprise. "Wait, hold on. The first four, I admit. But irritable? What do you mean by that?"

Peter smiled knowingly. 

"Whenever we run out of oil, supplies, or wisdom cubes, you start wailing about how unfair life is. And when you send your companions on repeated missions and don't get what you want, you mutter things like, 'Still nothing?'"

Lin Lan's cheeks flushed. He knew exactly what Peter was referring to. 

Those moments of despair during limited construction or salvage missions when resources ran dry without achieving results.

"I'll reflect on it and try not to let it happen again," Lin Lan said, embarrassed.

Peter chuckled softly. 

"There's no need to apologize, Commander. We're used to it. Besides, you're our Commander—we wouldn't want you to change too much."

Lin Lan felt a wave of warmth at her words. The devotion of his ship girls was truly unmatched.

"Of course," Peter added playfully, "I'll still make sure you fix your time management habits."

Lin Lan let out a groan. "Time management master, please spare me!"

The two laughed as they approached the cafeteria, its silhouette gradually emerging through the rain. 

The sound of laughter and raindrops accompanied their footsteps, marking another peaceful morning in the port area.

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