Chapter 21

When Shi Ye woke up, he felt as heavy as if his head was filled with lead.

She stared at the ceiling for five seconds, her first thought being, "This drug... is too strong! Did I sleep for three days and three nights?"

My second thought was, "Wait, why isn't the system reporting the task progress today?"

As if in response to her question, the system's electronic voice lazily sounded: "Good morning, host. Drug effects detected; some system functions are restricted. Current time: 10:23 AM."

10:23?! She's been sleeping since 8 pm last night?! She's slept for fourteen hours?!

Shi Ye struggled to sit up, feeling as if she had been disassembled and reassembled. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and, sure enough, there were more than a dozen unread messages.

Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shi Ye! Are you awake? We need to set up the exhibition today!"

Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shi Ye???"

Lin Xiaoyu: "Oh no, did Sister Shi get drugged?"

Qi Jin: "Are you awake? The effects of the medicine might make you drowsy."

Qi Jin: "Do you need any help?"

Father: "Yeye, I'm going to the company now. Remember to eat."

There's one more thing... Jiang Chen: "Shi Ye, do you need any help with setting up the exhibition today?"

Shi Ye stared at Jiang Chen's message, the little voice in her head slowly awakening: "Jiang Chen, are we that close? How did you know I went to the doctor yesterday? How did you know I might not be able to get up today? How much did Lin Xiaoyu tell you?!"

She replied to Lin Xiaoyu first: "I'm awake, just woken up."

Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly: "You scared me to death! I thought you fainted! How are you? How are you feeling?"

Shi Ye: "Head feels heavy, I feel sleepy."

Lin Xiaoyu: "That's normal! My cousin was like that when she first started taking the medicine! Just drink more hot water!"

Shi Ye: "...Okay."

Then she replied to Qi Jin: "I'm awake, I'm fine."

Qi Jin replied instantly: "Do you need me to come over?"

Shi Ye: "No need."

Qi Jin: "Okay. Call me if you need anything."

She replied to her father, "I understand."

She thought for a moment and replied to Jiang Chen, "Thank you, I'll contact you if I need anything."

After replying to all the messages, Shi Ye got out of bed to wash up. In the mirror, her eyes were swollen, her face pale, and she looked as if all her energy had been drained.

"Is this the beginning of treatment?" she muttered to herself in the mirror. "It feels like I have a bad cold..."

After washing up, she went downstairs and heated up some porridge. The medication was still working, and she yawned as she ate the porridge.

My phone vibrated again. It was Lin Xiaoyu calling directly: "Sister Shi! Can we come over? We have to start setting up the exhibition today, time is tight and the task is heavy!"

Shi Ye glanced at the time: "Now?"

"Yes! Senior Sister and Senior Jiang Chen are with me, we'll come find you right away!"

Shi Ye: "..." So today is another four-person activity? Setting up an exhibition at her house? While she was in a daze?

"Okay..." she said weakly, "You guys come on."

After hanging up the phone, Shi Ye finished her porridge and sat on the sofa in the living room to wait. She felt like a prisoner awaiting trial, and the judges were three energetic young men.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Shi Ye went to open the door, and standing outside were Lin Xiaoyu, Qi Jin, and Jiang Chen. Lin Xiaoyu was carrying a large roll of design drawings, Qi Jin was carrying a tool bag, and Jiang Chen… was carrying a potted plant?

"Sister Shi!" Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up when she saw her. "You look like...you need coffee!"

Shi Ye: "...Indeed."

Qi Jin walked in and casually touched her forehead: "You don't have a fever, do you?"

"No," Shi Ye shook his head, "I'm just sleepy."

“It’s normal,” Qi Jin said. “It will get better in a few days.”

Jiang Chen walked in and placed the potted plant on the coffee table: "This... is for you. The doctor said that green plants are good for your mood."

Shi Ye stared at the small succulent plant for a moment, then paused, "Thank you..."

Lin Xiaoyu winked at him from the side: "Isn't Senior Jiang Chen very thoughtful?"

Shi Ye: "..." So Lin Xiaoyu is still trying to match her up with Jiang Chen?! Didn't we already make things clear yesterday?!

“Xiaoyu,” she pulled Lin Xiaoyu close and whispered, “Didn’t I tell you…”

"I know, I know!" Lin Xiaoyu said softly, "But Senior Jiang Chen meant well! And succulents are so cute, just accept them!"

Shi Ye remained silent. She looked at Qi Jin, who was looking at the succulent plant with a calm expression.

"Let's get started," Qi Jin said. "Xiao Yu, here are the design drafts."

"Alright!" Lin Xiaoyu unfolded the design drawings. "We plan to transform the first-floor living room into a temporary exhibition area! This side will hold old items, this side will hold my renovated works, and this side will be an interactive area..."

As Shi Ye listened to Lin Xiaoyu's explanation, her mind was buzzing. The effects of the medication made it difficult for her to concentrate, and Lin Xiaoyu's words seemed to come through a layer of water, muffled and unclear.

"Sister Shi?" Lin Xiaoyu noticed her distraction. "Are you alright?"

"No..." Shi Ye shook his head, "It's just... I can't hear very clearly."

Qi Jin walked over: "Go and rest, we'll take care of it."

"No need..." Shi Ye tried to insist, but her body wouldn't obey. She felt like she might fall asleep at any moment.

"Go to sleep." Qi Jin's tone left no room for argument. "Help me when you're awake."

Lin Xiaoyu nodded, "Yes, yes, Sister Shi, you go and rest! We'll take care of things here!"

Jiang Chen also said, "Get some rest; your health is the most important thing."

Looking at the three people's concerned eyes, Shi Ye felt that physical warmth return to her heart. Although she knew it was all an act—at least to her—at least someone cared.

"Okay..." she conceded, "I'll take a nap then..."

She returned to her room, closed the door, and collapsed onto the bed. Faint sounds drifted in from outside—Lin Xiaoyu's commands, the sounds of things being moved, and Qi Jin's occasional responses…

She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

This time she had a dream. In the dream, she was seeing a psychologist, but the doctor was a system. The system told her, "Host, your mission is to bring Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu together, but you are currently being treated for depression, and these two things conflict."

She asked, "Then what should we do?"

The system said, "You can choose to abandon the mission and accept the collapse of the world, or abandon treatment and continue the mission."

She hesitated. If she abandoned the mission, Qi Jin would disappear. If she gave up treatment, she would never feel anything again…

Then she woke up.

It was already dark outside. She glanced at the time; it was seven o'clock in the evening. She slept for another six hours.

She sat up, feeling her head wasn't so heavy anymore, but she was still very sleepy. She opened the door, went outside, and saw that the living room had changed drastically.

The original furniture was moved to one side, and the center of the living room was set up as an exhibition area. On the left was the "Memory Zone," where old objects were displayed—the original owner's mother's painting supplies, her father's old camera, her grandmother's sewing machine, Qi Jin's typewriter and tea set... Each item was carefully arranged and accompanied by a simple explanatory card.

In the middle is the "Creative Zone," which displays Lin Xiaoyu's transformed works—chairs made from bicycles, decorative paintings from bottle caps, sculptures from scrap wood, etc. The lighting is very sophisticated, highlighting the creativity of the works.

On the right is the "interactive area," which has a workbench with various tools and materials, allowing visitors to experience the renovation process.

The overall arrangement is simple yet exquisite, showing that a lot of thought and effort has been put into it.

Lin Xiaoyu, Qi Jin, and Jiang Chen were adjusting the lights. Seeing Shi Ye come out, Lin Xiaoyu cheered, "Sister Shi Ye, you're awake! Come and see! Our exhibition area!"

Shi Ye walked over and looked at the exhibits. When she saw her mother's self-portrait, carefully framed and placed in the most prominent position, her eyes stung a little—another physiological reaction.

“This painting…” she said softly.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Lin Xiaoyu said. “I specially found the best frame and adjusted the lighting angle to make the painting look more layered.”

Shi Ye looked at Lin Xiaoyu. Lin Xiaoyu's eyes were bright and sparkling, full of a sense of accomplishment and enthusiasm.

"Thank you," Shi Ye said.

"You're welcome!" Lin Xiaoyu hugged her. "Sister Shi's mother must be a very gentle person."

Shi Ye nodded. Although she had never met the original owner's mother, judging from the self-portrait and those paintings, she was indeed a gentle and talented person.

"How's the setup going?" Qi Jin asked as he walked over.

“Very good,” Shi Ye said. “Even better than I expected.”

Qi Jin's lips curved into a smile: "Xiao Yu is very thoughtful."

"Of course!" Lin Xiaoyu said proudly, "This is my first solo exhibition!"

Jiang Chen also came over and handed her a glass of water: "Have some water."

Shi Ye accepted it: "Thank you."

Jiang Chen looked at her with concern: "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better," Shi Ye said. "Thank you for the succulent."

"You're welcome." Jiang Chen smiled. "Put it on the windowsill and let it get some sun."

Qi Jin glanced at Jiang Chen but didn't say anything.

With the setup mostly complete, the four of them sat down on the sofa to rest. Lin Xiaoyu took out her phone and started sending invitations: "I'm officially sending out invitations tomorrow! Senior, Sister Shi Ye, Senior Jiang Chen, you all have to come!"

“Of course,” Qi Jin said.

"Definitely," Jiang Chen said.

Shi Ye nodded: "Mm."

"Oh right," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly remembered something, "I also invited a few media friends, as well as teachers and classmates from school... I reckon there will be quite a few people!"

She looked at Shi Ye, her eyes darting around, and asked, "Sister Shi Ye, would you... like to be my opening guest?"

Shi Ye was taken aback: "Me? Why me?"

“Because…” Lin Xiaoyu said matter-of-factly, “you are my source of inspiration! If it weren’t for you lending me those old objects, this exhibition wouldn’t have been possible!”

Shi Ye: "..." This reason is too far-fetched!

"I'm not really suitable..." she wanted to refuse.

“Perfect, perfect!” Lin Xiaoyu pulled her along. “Sister Shi Ye, all you have to do is go up and say a few words! Like, ‘I’m honored to participate in this exhibition,’ ‘Xiaoyu is a very talented designer,’ ‘I hope everyone likes it’… It’s very simple!”

Shi Ye looked at Qi Jin with pleading eyes. But Qi Jin said, "We can try. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. There's no need to force yourself."

“Yes!” Lin Xiaoyu said, “Senior is right! If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t! But I really wish Sister Shiye could be here!”

Looking at Lin Xiaoyu's expectant eyes, Shi Ye couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Okay..." she reluctantly agreed.

"Yay!" Lin Xiaoyu cheered, "Then it's settled!"

They chatted for a while longer, and then it got late. Qi Jin and Jiang Chen had to leave, but Lin Xiaoyu said she would stay and help Shi Ye tidy up the rooms—the living room had been converted into an exhibition area, and the other rooms needed cleaning.

"I'll help you," Qi Jin said.

"I'll help too," Jiang Chen said.

So the four of them started tidying up the other rooms. Shi Ye's medication hadn't completely worn off, and she almost fell while moving things—Qi Jin caught her in time.

"Be careful." Qi Jin's hand was steady.

"Thank you..." Shi Ye steadied herself and felt Qi Jin's hand still on her waist, its warmth seeping through her clothes.

Jiang Chen saw this scene and his eyes flickered.

It was already 10 p.m. when they finished tidying up. Qi Jin and Jiang Chen were really leaving, and Lin Xiaoyu said she should go home too.

"I'll take you," Jiang Chen said to Lin Xiaoyu.

"Okay!" Lin Xiaoyu nodded. "Thank you, senior!"

After the three left, Shi Ye stood alone in the living room, looking at the temporary exhibition area. Under the lights, the old objects quietly told stories of the past, while the renovated works showcased contemporary creativity.

It's beautiful and meaningful.

But inside, she still felt empty.

"System," she asked in her mind, "how long will it take for the drug to take effect before I feel anything?"

"Antidepressants typically take 2-4 weeks to start taking effect and 6-8 weeks to reach a stable effect."

In other words, she has to wait.

She walked to her mother's self-portrait, gazing at the gently smiling woman in the painting. If the original mother were still alive, would she be happy to see this exhibition? Would she be comforted to see her daughter undergoing treatment for depression?

have no idea.

All she knew was that she had to keep taking her medication, continue her treatment, and continue...doing her missions.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Qi Jin: "I'm home. Get some rest."

Shi Ye replied, "You too."

Qi Jin: "I'll pick you up tomorrow to go see the exhibition."

Shi Ye: "No need, I'll go myself."

Qi Jin: "I'll pick you up."

Shi Ye: "...Okay."

Qi Jin: "Good night."

Shi Ye: "Good night."

After putting down her phone, Shi Ye returned to her room. On the bedside table sat the small, green succulent plant; it was quite cute.

She remembered Jiang Chen saying that "green plants are good for your mood," and smiled. The smile was faint, but at least... she smiled.

Perhaps the treatment really works.

Maybe one day, she will be able to truly laugh, truly cry, truly... feel.

Until then, she has to persevere.

She took her medicine, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes.

The design exhibition opens tomorrow.

Tomorrow, she will be the opening guest.

Tomorrow...may be different.

Maybe not.

But at least, she's moving forward.

That's enough.