Without explanation

"Is Little Pig in a bad mood? Why did he suddenly leave while we were chatting? He doesn't seem very interested."

"I don't dare to ask directly, have you told me about it?"

Chi Nuo didn't understand Mo Wen's hesitation and casually reassured her, "She might be thinking about something. She's got a lot on her plate, so it's normal that she doesn't have time to chat. Don't worry."

"Really? We were chatting quite lively just now. Maybe something really happened." Mo Wen lowered his eyes, his expression shifting frame by frame as he recalled the events.

He changed his account again and sought help from Wen Zhuyao, even though he had no hope.

I dare not ask for more.

"If you're worried, just ask. Once you ask, you won't have to worry anymore." Ji Shu didn't understand what there was to hesitate about.

It's just a matter of a word.

Mo asked, "Then... I'll think about it."

The messages that were eventually sent out became just everyday trifles.

"How was the food at that restaurant? Was it good?" Mo Wen's question brought them back to lunchtime, with their usual meal serving as the start of the meal.

He guessed that they would disappear while they were chatting, but there was no news all afternoon, and he couldn't wait any longer.

Wen Zhuyao sat in front of the computer, chin in hand, deep in thought. Hearing a noise, she moved her stiff body and temporarily saved the video that had been interrupted halfway through editing.

I shut down the computer.

"Lunch?" She got up and sat on the bed, looking at the message she had received and muttering to herself.

Wen Zhuyao thought about it carefully and replied, "It's delicious, really delicious, but where did you find it? Can you recommend the shop to me?"

The reply reassured him somewhat.

They are genuinely busy.

"It's an old shop, they don't advertise much, it's all recommended by the old men on the street." Mo Wen skillfully forwarded the address to her, wanting to make an appointment.

Wen Zhuyao lay down and turned over, holding up her phone to type: "You either go to the old store or the new store, and you specifically choose the ones without any advertising."

My finger hovered over the screen for a moment, and I saved the address.

"Okay, I got it. I'll treat you to dinner later. I'm going to tidy up and go to bed now." She got up immediately to pack her clothes before the screen lit up.

I left the room.

Mo Wen wanted more, but the work she turned down in the morning she had to make up for in the evening.

After thinking about it, I didn't send it again.

"Thump...thump thump..."

Hello... Is anyone home?

Wen Zhuyao, who was focused on taking a shower in the bathroom, did not hear the sound. When she came out in her pajamas after drying her hair, she just happened to see a flash of light.

She reached out and picked it up, only to find it was a message from the property management group chat.

"There will be a power outage tomorrow due to maintenance. In case we don't hear the knocking or notices on the door, we're just letting you know in the group chat."

Wen Zhuyao looked at the notice on the door, got up to open it, and indeed saw one on the back.

I checked the time; I didn't hear anything while I was showering.

Fortunately, it wasn't during the days of the gathering. The moment this thought popped into her head, she felt a bit self-pitying and inexplicable.

The thought has faded, and I'm starting to worry again: what will I do tomorrow?

"There will be a power outage tomorrow. Do you have any suitable plans?" Wen Zhuyao typed and whispered back to herself before getting into bed, wanting to indulge herself a little while she still had time.

But...

The group was quiet; no one popped up.

"Okay, wrong timing, what a pity." Wen Zhuyao put down her phone, found two power banks, and charged them both.

The advantages of having multiple data cables.

After charging this, she went to check what else was in the refrigerator, things she didn't know about.

The refrigerator is empty except for the drinks from last time. I've been alternating between eating out and ordering takeout these past few days.

Only one bag of shrimp paste was cleared out; there was also a bunch of ice cream that wasn't finished last time.

Wen Zhuyao thought for a moment and decided to eat it tomorrow!

"Knock knock knock..."

She turned her head in surprise, thinking that the property management staff had gone over and opened the door.

As a result, a takeout order was handed to me.

Wen Zhuyao checked the address and found that it was correct. She discovered that the name she filled in was her own game ID, with the note: "I know you don't keep anything in your fridge, so grab something to eat if you get hungry."

The contents are convenience store bread and small cup noodles.

She closed the door in a daze, put it on the dining table, took a picture, and wanted to send it to the group chat to ask who it was.

Then the knocking on the door interrupted them again.

This time, there were two deliverymen outside, and they stuffed two more deliveries into her arms.

One note: Don't mistreat yourself; eat well.

Lots of snacks.

One note: Eat well.

Luncheon meat, self-heating hot pot, etc... are the most popular fast food items.

Wen Zhuyao looked at the three takeout orders, put her hands on her hips, took photos of each one, and sent them to the group chat so that they could claim them themselves.

Chi Nuo had been checking the order completion status right on time, intending to ask about it and receive some praise, but instead, three pictures were thrown at her face.

The uniqueness is gone.

She opened them and looked at them carefully. One was hers, and the other two were self-evident.

"Really? Nobody paid any attention to me. They all ended up ordering takeout. I thought I was the only smart one."

Chi Nuo said disappointedly, "I thought I was going to have a surprise to tell you."

"Who isn't? I didn't expect you guys to be so fast." Ji Shu got up, took a few steps, and leaned against Bai Yuzhou, sending the screen of her phone towards him.

Ji Shu: "You're a step too late; you're missing snacks."

Bai Yuzhou said helplessly, "I don't eat that kind of stuff, and even if there's a power outage for a day, I can't be that indulgent. I should try to be healthier."

“Yes, yes,” Ji Shu typed in the group chat.

"Don't worry, my older sister has packed your lunch for tomorrow. It will be delivered at 12 o'clock sharp."

Wen Zhuyao happily accepted it: "Thank you, big sister, I love you."

"I'll pack breakfast for you, don't worry, I know how to pick good food, even though there's not much takeout over there." Chi Nuo succumbed to reality, looking timid...

"Staying in the same hotel with them makes me feel guilty, like I'm doing something wrong. It's not convenient to sneak food or anything."

Mo Wen took a moment to reply to the message: "Good to hear. I'll take care of dinner."

The four of them made plans for tomorrow in just a few words.

"Do I still have room to resist? Actually, I'd like to indulge myself for a day." Wen Zhuyao tried to negotiate and make room for me.

“That day will come, but not tomorrow,” Mo Wen retorted.

Chi Nuo retorted, "I've had several healthy days, you should too, it's good for your health."

I'm outta here.

Wen Zhuyao silently ran away, continuing to look at the unfinished version on her phone. She trimmed and re-edited it, then posted it as a preview.

Then I snuggled into the blankets and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning passed normally, noon was normal, and the evening passed normally without any surprises.

Actually, Wen Zhuyao also felt a sense of surprise, like opening a blind box, looking forward to the food. She had super delicious soup dumplings and wonton noodles for breakfast this morning.

Lunch was a healthy meal, low in calories and light, with a harmonious combination of dishes.

Then the unexpected happened.

"Do you have time? Let's have dinner together."

Wen Zhuyao thought her meal had arrived, but it turned out to be a question. She replied in confusion, "Weren't you on a business trip? How come you still have time after your vacation is over?"

"You'll know once you open the door," Mo Wen said, not explicitly stating it.

She cautiously approached, imagining many scenes along the way, but upon closer inspection, her fantasies were dashed.

Wen Zhuyao opened the door and looked down. The first thing she saw was the takeout order at the door. She took a picture and went over to ask, "You said we'd eat together, is that right?"

"Yes, I've been quite busy with work lately, so we won't have much time to chat. Is that alright?"

"Hmm... when I have time, should I call or video chat with you?"

Mo Wen changed the subject, though he wasn't really sure: "I want to talk to you, so could we do something like we did when we played games together?"

She placed the takeout on the table and replied, "Of course!"

"Okay, then you can eat first." Having received a response, Mo Wen stopped worrying about the subsequent arrangements.

Wen Zhuyao didn't know what he liked to watch, but since they were having dinner together, they should watch something together too. She searched for a movie she wanted to watch and sent it to him.

"Let's eat together, let's watch together." Wen Zhuyao shared that they would watch together, and the two of them finished watching a movie, each busy with their own things.

A question had been lingering in Mo Wen's mind.

"Will we still chat by phone like before?" he finally asked. "What about video calls?"

Without thinking too much, Wen Zhuyao made a call: "Isn't it usually you who contacts me? You called me once before."

"Why are you suddenly asking me if it's okay?" She wasn't opposed to video calls. "Our relationship has changed, so video calls are fine."

Mo Wen chuckled to himself: "Alright."

What's wrong with me? I'm being overly nervous.

Our time together was only about the length of a movie; after that, we went our separate ways.

Wen Zhuyao continued editing the final piece, which was also the last submission. The sequence of topic stories was always fixed.

For one topic, we selected twenty people to communicate with in advance, and then gradually turned them into videos.

Once this part is completed, further submissions will remain open.

When Wen Zhuyao saw the chat between her and the other person, she couldn't help but feel regretful, as she had also stayed up all night listening to the other person's story.

I felt sorry for him, so I made it extra long.

The desire to do something more perfect, to be better, led to additional setbacks.

The protagonist meets a very sunny and cheerful person, but his approach brings criticism to the other person.

He chose to leave and completely cut off contact with the other party.

No one is wrong. Discussions are like sparks from a flame; as long as the flame exists, it will never be extinguished or disappear.

A week has passed since she picked it up. Wen Zhuyao finished the video to the point she wanted and sent a private message to the other party.

"The video is edited and will be released today."

I don't know if the other party will receive it, but I still have to say what I need to say.

Wen Zhuyao took a nap and then went online to do her daily tasks. Since the gathering, she hadn't been online except to shoot materials for her submissions.

Upon launching this time, I received a private message from Chi Nuo.

"Wow, two busy people are online, let's play Dou Dizhu." Chi Nuo was just worried about not being able to find anyone, and a suitable partner appeared.

Wen Zhuyao accepted the invitation, and the scene changed, leading her to a room specifically for playing Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).

We've entered the live chat.

"Come on, relax a bit, how about a full round with double the stakes?" Chi Nuo already has a lot of chips, but that doesn't stop him from having a little more.

Wen Zhuyao quickly refused, protecting her game wallet: "No thanks, I can't match your luck."

"You should think about it, don't let it all end up in my wallet." Mo Wen appeared at the table with a cup of tea, typed this sentence, and clicked "ready."

Chi Nuo: "Fine, I give up."