18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 66

Stella returned home and harvested veggies, picked chives, and pulled celery. She also got some chicken. With ten kilograms of flour, it felt like it would take most of the day to finish. Jasper was by her side, washing the vegetables while Stella ground the meat with a manual meat grinder she had taken from Arcadia.

Once the dough was kneaded and ready, she taught him how to roll out the pie crust.

Jasper turned out to be quite meticulous, always making sure that the pie was perfectly round. He even used a round copper cutter to achieve this. Stella was impressed.

The filling was soon prepared and it was time to make the pie. Rosie, the little girl dashed into the kitchen, "Stella, I want to help too."

Always patient with children, Stella agreed and started teaching Rosie.

At first, Rosie's pie were quite messy, but Stella encouraged her, "Rosie, you're doing great. I bet your big brother will love these." Jasper just chuckled.

Cooper, was anxiously waiting by, looking quite disappointed that he couldn't help. 'Rosie's pie looks so ugly. If he had thumbs, he would make much better pies than hers.'

Rosie was determined to get it right. With some practice, she finally made a decent dumpling and proudly announced, "This one's for Stella."

"Why not for your big brother?" Jasper asked.

"Because Stella taught me. The next one will be for you, then Cooper, and then me."

With two people making pies, the process was quite efficient.

By the time they finished, it was past lunchtime. Stella baked the pies. "Let's have some pie now, and we'll make more in the afternoon."

The pie was served, and all, including the dog, enjoyed the meal. The pie was chewy and delicious, bursting with fresh ingredients.

Rosie, in her delight, exclaimed, "These are so good."

make them more

his portion and then nudged his empty bowl towards Stella,

becoming quite the

meal, they

but his pies were even

him along. Eventually, even Rosie stepped in to help her big brother, "Jasper, your pie look

down, allowing Rosie to teach him, "Am I too

kissed him and said in her cute, sweet voice, "No,

guidance of the little

was not

they all had

friends from the apartment next door came by, they too joined in the fun, making the process

the end of the day, they had made about a

with her friends, trading them for more dough

call from Jasper, "Stella,

"Sure," Stella replied.

archery, you

over to Jasper's apartment. There, she saw a wooden target set up in the living room. Jasper handed her a crossbow, a weapon she

"Did you make this yourself?" This was a dangerous weapon which ordinary

way, Jasper replied, "I

want to say more, Stella didn't insist on getting to

arrow, and explained the structure, aiming, and shooting of the

living room was insufficient, so Jasper took her to the corridor outside his room. He loaded an arrow on the stretched-out crossbow, and stood behind

close. Especially when he was adjusting the sighting line, his warm breath sprayed on Stella's neck. Her body tingled and stiffened instantly. Her heart suddenly tightened, and she could smell the faint

this...was they

to it and unconsciously wanted to move away. Jasper noticed her stiffness and

her senses, cast the chaotic thoughts out of her mind, and concentrate on aiming. His warm hand gently supported her arm holding the crossbow,