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."

smiled at her, "We'll make them more often

Cooper, gobbled up his portion and then nudged his empty bowl towards Stella, as if asking

becoming quite the

they continued

but his pies were even messier than

however, was patient and guided him along. Eventually, even Rosie stepped in to help her big brother, "Jasper, your pie look funny."

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

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

guidance of

seemed she was not qualified enough

gentle teasing, they

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

of the day, they had

happy. She shared some of the pie with her friends, trading them for more dough

she prepared to take a nap, she got a call from Jasper, "Stella, are we still up

"Sure," Stella replied.

you want to practice archery, you can come

a wooden target set up in the living room. Jasper handed her a

a bit strange, but its lethality was undoubted. Stella curiously asked, "Did

Jasper replied, "I

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

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

so Jasper took her to the corridor outside his room. He loaded an arrow on the stretched-out crossbow, and stood behind Stella, "Hold the bow with

and leaned forward to keep his line of sight parallel with Stella's. As a result, the two were very close. Especially when he was adjusting the sighting line, his warm breath sprayed on Stella's

this...was they

wanted to move away. Jasper noticed her stiffness and

of her mind, and concentrate