[This... it's a coincidence, isn't it? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't... If it is, well, that's roughly the idea. To put it more precisely, it means it isn't. That's what I mean. Just get the gist of it, and you'll understand what I mean...]

666 stammered and mumbled, but all it said was nonsense. Before Tongsu could say anything, it was so frightened that it trembled and burst into tears.

"...I'm just a weak, pitiful, and helpless newbie system. I don't know anything..."

It shed a line of green code that formed wide noodles of tears, its voice choked with sobs, sounding aggrieved, which was enough to make anyone who heard it feel sad and anyone who saw it weep.

[Miss, I just got into the Time Management Bureau, and you're my first mission host. I have no experience...]

Tong Su remained unmoved, showing no sympathy whatsoever, her eyes flashing with even greater ferocity: "Then who would know?"

[Are there forums or discussion boards? There are many experienced players there who write guides and answer questions for newbies.]

Tong Su said, "Then open the forum, I want to ask."

It cried even harder: "We don't have permission yet. Only after you complete 10 A-level tasks, and I'm promoted from junior staff member to junior officer, will I be able to browse the forum."

Okay.

Tong Su couldn't tell if she was disappointed or what, but she had no hope that 666 would actually give her an answer.

She had made up her mind. She called out to the little firebird and let it squeeze through the gap in the door. From the outside, it unlatched the bolt that Cao's father had fastened. The toilet door creaked open.

Tongsu washed her hands and went to turn off the gas stove in the kitchen, which was whirring and burning. The water in the pot was almost dried up.

If she had played for even a minute longer, she probably would have caught a fever.

The little guy babbled twice, its black bean eyes curiously examining the gas stove, as if it thought it was made of flames and wanted to taste what the blue flames were like.

Tongsu called to it, and it obediently turned around and flew to a nearby table, where it settled down.

【Okay, you go ahead and finish your task, I'll log off now?】

666, feeling guilty, said, "[It's already mid-November in the main world of our Time and Space Administration Bureau. I should start preparing to report the mission data and completion status in advance, and help you apply for year-end benefits.]"

After saying that, it quickly went offline.

Tongsu ignored it, opened the pot lid, used chopsticks to "poke" out a steamed, slightly yellow, plump bun, carefully broke it into small pieces while still hot, and then took out a packet of pickled vegetables from the cupboard, which she shared with Xiao Hongniao.

Cao's parents had both gone out, and they wouldn't be back for three to five days unless there was a fire.

They didn't leave Tongsu a single penny, and the only food in the house was this pot of steamed buns and a few packets of pickled vegetables.

The steamed buns didn't taste good, and the pickled vegetables were just salty. The little red bird was a bit picky, but it was very well-behaved and didn't make a sound. It finished eating seriously and then hopped under Tongsu's hand, wanting to "touch" it.

When has this young lady ever suffered such injustice...?

It was on the verge of tears, looking pitifully at Tongsu.

He looked as if he was about to go out any second to catch bugs for Tongsu to eat later.

"Huo Huo is so good, it's okay, don't worry about me."

Its method of comfort was so insignificant, yet it still lifted Tongsu's originally gloomy mood, even making her heart melt.

"We have absolutely no money at home right now, so I can't buy you any good food. But when things get better, I'll get you whatever you want to eat."

Ee-ya—

The little red bird chirped excitedly.

Tongsu gently rubbed the tuft of hair on the top of her head, got up to change her clothes, and prepared to go out.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Let's go rescue some big shot who's going to die tonight and extort some living expenses from him!"