Zhao Shuigen went home after get off work at the construction site in the evening.

As soon as I reached the 7th floor, I saw Xu Xiufeng waiting at the main entrance with a serious expression on her face.

"What's wrong? You look so distressed." He walked into the room, glancing at his child who was doing her homework at the table: "Honey, did you make your mother angry again?"

Zhao Jiajia looked speechless: "I didn't."

Xu Xiufeng tugged at Zhao Shuigen's sleeve: "You know the old lady I told you about this morning, right? She used to live downstairs from us."

"Then what?"

“Let me tell you, that old lady is so pitiful.” Xu Xiufeng looked like she was about to cry: “She lost her child and her husband. She’s all alone, helpless and destitute.”

Zhao Shuigen knew exactly what kind of person his wife was.

Seeing that Xu Xiufeng was overwhelmed with sympathy again, he could only comfort her by saying, "Then let's bring her some food and drinks more often. When you're not busy at home, you can also chat with her and keep her company."

Xu Xiufeng thought about it and felt that Zhao Shuigen made a lot of sense.

So she turned to Zhao Jiajia and said, "It'll be the weekend in a couple of days. You and I will go to Grandma's house together to keep her company."

"What about my homework?"

"Just take it with you and write it together, what else can we do?"

Zhao Jiajia looked utterly hopeless...

...

In the few days since moving to Longshou Village, Ning Wan has not interacted with many people, except for Xu Xiufeng.

Xu Xiufeng would often bring her homemade snacks and food. To avoid making Ning Wan think too much, she would say that she had too much at home and couldn't finish it all.

Ning Wan refused several times, but she could never get her way.

Over time, the two became acquainted.

On the weekend, Xu Xiufeng brought Zhao Jiajia to the 6th floor and knocked on the door.

But there was no response after knocking for a long time.

She went downstairs and asked around, only to find out that the old lady had taken a woven bag and gone out to collect scraps early in the morning.

Xu Xiufeng felt a pang of sadness and quickly searched the vicinity, eventually finding her next to a trash can.

In just one morning, Ning Wan had collected quite a few bottles.

She adjusted the bag and tightened the opening. When she looked up again, she saw Xu Xiufeng holding Zhao Jiajia's hand, standing in front of her.

Seeing Xu Xiufeng's teary eyes, looking like she was about to cry, Ning Wan couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Don't overthink it. Picking up bottles is nothing. It's a job. Plus, the hours are flexible, you can choose the location, and you can control your own get off work hours." Ning Wan said casually, "It's great, and it suits an old man like me perfectly."

Xu Xiufeng was amused by her words.

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "Sometimes I don't know whether you're the one comforting me or I'm the one comforting you."

She was clearly an elderly woman who walked unsteadily and needed a cane to go anywhere. Yet, her eyes were bright and clear, as clean as if they held a bowl of clear spring water.

His wrinkled face always radiated a smile, showing both resilience and fortitude.

Ning Wan did not answer, but simply looked at Xu Xiufeng with a kind smile.

Whether it's the Xu Xiufeng I remember or the one standing in front of me now, Xu Xiufeng has always been kind.

She is compassionate and can truly feel the pain and sorrow of others, and empathize with them.

However, such people also have a tough time.

Fortunately, she has a loving and understanding husband and obedient and sensible children by her side.

Ning Wan looked at the little girl holding Xu Xiufeng's hand and asked, "Is this your daughter? She's so cute. How old is she?"

Zhao Jiajia smiled sweetly and said, "Hello Grandma, my name is Zhao Jiajia, and I'm 6 years old!"

"Six years old..."

Ning Wan was momentarily stunned, then took out some money from her pocket and said, "Here, take this and buy some candy."

Zhao Jiajia dared not take it.

She glanced at Xu Xiufeng beside her, and only after her mother nodded in agreement did she smile and accept the money: "Thank you, Grandma!"

Xu Xiufeng helped Ning Wan carry the bags home, while Zhao Jiajia followed behind them.

On the way back, Xu Xiufeng couldn't help but ask, "Where's your husband? Why isn't he with you?"

Ning Wan's expression remained calm as she smiled and said, "In this world, there are people more important to him who need to be protected. He has his own life to live, and I shouldn't disturb him... But one day in the future, we will meet again."

"I believe we will meet again..."

...

Living alone for a long time can easily make you forget the passage of time.

Before she knew it, Ning Wan had been in this world for 3 years.

For the past three years, apart from Xu Xiufeng, she has had almost no contact with anyone else.

The thing I do most every day is pick up bottles from the garbage dump near my home.

"Don't you ever feel lonely?" 057 once asked her. "In this world, you have no identity whatsoever, not even that of a fictional NPC."

057 said: "You have no name, no past, and no future. If the mission fails, you will be completely erased. From then on, no one will remember you, no one will care about you… Aren't you afraid?"

Ning Wan thought about it seriously for a while, and then said frankly, "To be honest, I'm very scared."

057 asked, puzzled: "Then why do you still insist on coming back?"

“It’s probably because of love,” Ning Wan said. “…I love them very much. So I want to fight for a future for us.”

Her voice was very soft, like a feather landing on 057's heart.

It's itchy and uncomfortable when I scratch it.

Suddenly, Ning Wan asked 057, "Do you know what it feels like to love someone?"

057 shook her head in disbelief: "When our system was created, we were forbidden from adding any settings related to emotions."

This did not help their mission in the slightest.

"Really? That's such a pity." Ning Wan sighed. "I hope that one day in the future, I can meet someone who makes me feel loved."

"Love isn't just about romantic love; it also includes familial love and friendship. Those are all beautiful things..."

057 looked at Ning Wan's profile in the sunset, somewhat understanding but not quite.

Humans are truly a very complex species.

Passersby came and went, all casting strange glances at Ning Wan as she talked to herself.

Ning Wan couldn't help but chuckle: "If you do this a few more times, the neighbors will think I'm a crazy person who talks to himself."

057 scoffed, her expression arrogant: [Hmph, do you think I wanted to come? I just came by out of boredom... I'm never coming again.]