The Diary of a Renter
56. The Texture of Happiness
The "Seed of the World" atop the Tree of Hope is becoming increasingly solid, radiating a warm and peaceful glow, like a miniature cosmic heart, its harmonious and orderly pulse spreading to every corner of the building. The arrival of the three primordial beings (Azure Emperor, Forging Heavenly Lord, and Void Sound) is like injecting a stabilizing force into the building, making the energy flow as solid as the earth and the network of rules as stable as the trajectory of stars.
Everything is unbelievably good.
Anne's Fairy Tale Path, now, with every step, unfolds a flawless holographic flower corresponding to the story, even the dewdrops on the petals refracting a perfect rainbow. Uncle Bloodaxe's barbecue is always cooked to nanometer-level precision, each skewer reaching the theoretical peak of taste enjoyment, with the lean-to-fat ratio following the golden ratio. Gulu's "Surprise Kitchen" can no longer cause any ripples—all unexpected events are resolved in advance by an invisible force, and the final product is always "unexpectedly perfect." Even Zero's pranks, after causing minor annoyance, are perfectly transformed into harmless fun.
Arguments? Misunderstandings? Grief? These words seem to have been quietly erased from the dictionary of this building. Doctors no longer need to treat heartbreak, because no one is heartbroken; the shield of rock has not withstood a real impact for a long time, because all conflicts have been extinguished before they even begin.
"Isn't it a bit too quiet here?" One evening, Zero squatted by the corridor, looking at the energy flow and residents below that flowed smoothly and silently like a brocade. For once, he didn't have a joking smile. Instead, he scratched his head, his tone carrying a hint of... boredom.
"Order stability is 99.999%, residents' happiness index continues to reach new highs, and energy utilization efficiency is optimal." The fox looked at the data on the holographic panel, pushed up his glasses, and said calmly, "The system is operating at its best level in history."
Jiang Yu stood by the window, gazing at the ever-radiant yet unchanging sunset woven by Xilin, and softly hummed in agreement. The feedback from the source key was utterly stable, like solidified amber. Everything was fine, as fine as a beautiful lullaby playing on repeat, reassuring yet... making one drowsy.
57. Anne's Tears
Annie was the first to notice that something was wrong.
She hugged Teddy and ran to Jiang Yu's little house, her face full of confusion: "Brother Jiang Yu, my tears... seem to have disappeared."
Jiang Yu was taken aback, then squatted down: "Annie, why do you want tears? Isn't it better not to cry?"
“But…” Annie struggled to find the words, “Yesterday, Teddy’s arm fell off again, and I couldn’t put it back together no matter what I did. If it were before, I would have cried in a panic, and Uncle Zero would have laughed at me while fixing it for me, and the doctor would have given me a piece of candy to comfort me… But yesterday, before I even felt sad, Teddy’s arm just flew back together on its own! Uncle Zero happened to be passing by, just smiled at me and walked away. It wasn’t… not fun at all!”
She looked up, her big eyes filled with confusion: "Also, last time I wanted to tell Grandpa the manager a sad story about a little bird that couldn't find its mother. But... but I couldn't think of anything sad in my mind. Halfway through the story, it automatically turned into the little bird meeting a magical star and flying away happily... Grandpa said it was a nice story, but I felt... that wasn't the story I wanted to tell."
Annie's confusion, like a tiny needle, pierced the perfect facade. Jiang Yu felt a chill. He recalled that Uncle Blood Axe seemed less enthusiastic about developing new dishes lately, simply grilling those flawless meat skewers day after day; Shirin's starry dream, beautiful as it was, lacked its former boundless imagination; even the most inquisitive fox's research reports had become increasingly... rigorous and predictable.
Jiang Yu once again immersed herself in the Garden of Images in Her Mind. Everything here was still breathtakingly beautiful, but upon closer inspection, she discovered a subtle sign of "solidification."
Anne's Fairy Tale Path always ends with a happy ending; Shirin's Starry Terrace always has a mild, clear night; even the "Maze Challenge House," which was once created out of frustration with Zero, has now become a winding but never confusing "fun sightseeing path." All potential "imperfections" and "uncertainties" are quietly smoothed and corrected by an invisible force, leading to the most harmonious result.
Jiang Yu focused his consciousness on the Source Key, engaging in deep perception. This time, he caught details he had previously overlooked: the order field maintained by the Source Key, empowered by the vast power of the three primordial beings, had become excessively powerful and sensitive. It was not only defending against external enemies and maintaining basic rules, but also unconsciously "optimizing" everything it deemed "disharmonious"—including minor negative emotions, accidental mistakes, and even risky, "uncertain" ideas. It was turning the building into a giant, sterile, absolutely safe "greenhouse," protecting its inhabitants while depriving them of the possibility of experiencing trials and tribulations and truly growing.
This is not order; it's a higher-dimensional form of "domestication." Jiang Yu felt a chill.
58. Heated debate
Jiang Yu summoned the core members to a quiet room in the library. The air was filled with the calming scent of old books and ink, but the atmosphere was unusually heavy. He got straight to the point, revealing the unsettling discovery.
"...That's how it is. With the power of the three primordial beings, the Source Key's field of order is too strong, and it has begun to unconsciously 'optimize' away all minor negative emotions, accidental mistakes, and uncertainties. Our home is becoming an absolutely perfect, absolutely safe, but also... absolutely static greenhouse."
After the words were spoken, there was a deathly silence. Then, like a lit fuse, the argument suddenly erupted.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with it!" Uncle Bloodaxe was the first to slam his fist on the table, his voice booming so loudly that dust fell from the bookshelves. "We have roasted meat and wine every day, no need to worry about any dungeon raids, no need to worry about our brothers getting hurt! This is the kind of life I've always dreamed of! What's wrong with Perfect World? Does life have to be filled with crying and fighting to be considered a good life?!"
“Blood Axe, calm down.” The doctor frowned, his tone professionally cautious. “From a physiological and psychological perspective, being in an absolutely stress-free environment for a long time can indeed lead to emotional dulling and a decline in stress response. Just like muscles, they atrophy if not exercised. However… the current happiness index and stability coefficient are indeed at their highest levels in history. The risk-benefit ratio of introducing uncertainty for the sake of potential emotional ‘training’ needs to be rigorously assessed.”
“Risk assessment? Doctor, this isn’t a risk issue at all!” Zero jumped up from his chair, grabbing his messy hair in frustration. “It’s the realism! I just wanted to play a prank, the thought had barely formed before I felt some invisible force ‘smooth’ my thoughts out! I can’t even get into an argument with the fox; the words just get on my lips and we automatically make up! Is this even alive? What’s the difference between this and a toy with a pre-programmed sequence?!”
He pointed to the breathtakingly perfect garden outside the window, "Look at those flowers, they always bloom the same way! I'd rather they had a few leaves blown off by the wind and rain!"
The fox adjusted its glasses, and data flowed across the holographic screen: "Zero, your subjective feelings lack data support. According to monitoring, the volatility of 'mental reality' has indeed decreased by 87%, but residents' overall satisfaction has increased by 32%. From the perspective of maximizing management efficiency, sacrificing some uncontrollable 'fun' in exchange for extremely high stability is reasonable. We cannot shake the foundation just because it's 'boring'."
"Foundation?" The silent rock slowly spoke, its voice deep and resonant like the rubbing of rocks together. "The foundation of a fortress is solid, but if not even a whisper can be heard within, the warriors will lose their vigilance. What I protect should not be merely a stagnant pool." He looked at Jiang Yu. "I support the administrator's concerns."
Shirin's shimmering light swayed gently in the corner, conveying a melancholy thought: "Perfect starlight... is beautiful, but after looking at it for a long time, one will miss the hazy moon when the clouds cover it, and even... the occasional shooting star that streaks across the night sky with a tragic air. That makes the starry sky more layered, more... real."
The old man, the administrator, stroked an ancient parchment scroll in his hand and sighed, "An ancient book says, 'Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers.' Absolute order, like stagnant water without a ripple, may maintain its purity, but it also loses the possibility of nurturing countless lives. Harmony should not be lifelessness."
Anne hugged Teddy and whispered, "I want to be able to cry, and I want Uncle Zero to comfort me when I cry... that would feel real."
The debate intensified, with those supporting maintaining the status quo (Blood Axe, Fox, leaning towards conservatism) and those eager to break the deadlock (Zero, Rock, Shirin, Annie, with the management holding a cautiously supportive attitude) each holding their own ground, unable to convince the others. The situation briefly spiraled out of control.
59. Visiting the Void Sound
Seeing that the argument had reached a stalemate, Jiang Yu raised her hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
“I understand everyone’s concerns. Bloodaxe and Fox want stability, while Zero and Rock want reality. These two are not entirely opposed.” He glanced at the crowd. “What we need is not a destructive ‘chaos,’ but a controlled, small-scale ‘chaotic variable.’ Like throwing a pebble into a calm lake, it will create ripples, breaking the stillness, but it will never cause a tsunami.”
“Controlled variables? Where can we find them?” Rock frowned. “The chaotic forces from the outside world are too dangerous and unpredictable.”
“Perhaps we don’t need to look outside.” Jiang Yu’s gaze turned toward the direction of the Sleeping Corridor. “There is a neighbor whose power originates from the ‘void,’ which is not pure ‘nothingness,’ but a ‘chaotic sea’ containing infinite possibilities. He once whispered madness, but now he has learned to listen within order. Perhaps he can provide a method to simulate ‘health uncertainty’ within the framework of order.”
This suggestion stunned everyone. Seek help from the most enigmatic "Voice of the Void"?
"That's too risky!" the fox immediately objected. "We know almost nothing about Xu Yin! What if his 'possibilities' get out of control?"
“But this is currently the only possible way to introduce variables without disrupting overall stability.” Jiang Yu’s attitude was firm. “I will go alone and set the strictest contractual boundaries. It’s worth a try.”
Without anyone with him, Jiang Yu returned to the Corridor of Slumber, standing before the pure black crystal door that absorbed all light. He took a deep breath, fully activating the Source Key, emitting a stable and clear light of order, and then sent out his thoughts:
"Mr. Xuyin, this is Jiang Yu, the order administrator. I have something to ask you."
The darkness behind the door seemed to ripple, and a transcendent, ethereal melody of thought responded directly: "Holder of Order...what is it?"
Jiang Yu clearly conveyed her dilemma and her concept of "controlled chaotic variables": "...We are not seeking chaos, but rather yearning to retain a trace of randomness and reality within absolute order. We need a force that can safely amplify tiny random factors on a small scale, producing unpredictable but boundary-controlled 'ripples.' Can you provide such a... 'seed'?"
The ethereal melody remained silent for a long time, as if calculating infinite possibilities. Time itself seemed to thicken within the corridor. Finally, the clear, ethereal melody rose again, carrying an indescribable meaning:
"Order... craves ripples? Interesting. The symphony of life certainly needs pauses and variations... I can offer you a 'fragment of possibility'."
A tiny crystal, resembling a broken piece of glass and refracting a mesmerizing, ever-changing light, slowly floated out from the crack in the door and hovered in front of Jiang Yu.
"This item will attach itself to the framework of order, amplifying microscopic randomness in its gaps and producing 'accidents'. You can set the effective range and the upper limit of its strength. However, the way of balance is like walking on thin ice. Use it with extreme caution."
Jiang Yu solemnly accepted the fragment, sensing the dangerous yet vibrant power it contained. "Thank you, Mr. Xuyin. We will use it with caution."
Jiang Yu returned to the library with the "fragment of possibility" from the Void Sound, which reflected a mesmerizing light from within. The arguing crowd immediately fell silent, their gazes fixed on the small crystal that appeared fragile yet contained unfathomable power.
"This is... the 'Seed of Chaos'?" Ling stepped forward, curiously wanting to poke it with her finger, but Jiang Yu stopped her with a look.
“The illusory voice calls it a ‘fragment of possibility.’” Jiang Yu carefully held the fragment in his palm, the light of the Source Key gently enveloping it, conducting preliminary analysis and constraints. “Its function is not to create chaos, but to amplify random, non-destructive variables at the micro level within our existing order framework, thereby generating controllable ‘accidents.’”
The fox immediately brought up the holographic modeling interface, its brow furrowed: "How do we ensure 'controllability'? What is the variable amplification factor? How is the scope of influence defined? If it overflows the preset boundaries, is there an emergency braking mechanism?"
“Good question.” Jiang Yu nodded and looked at everyone. “This is exactly the solution we need to work together to develop—the ‘Tears Reappear’ plan. We are not trying to overthrow the existing harmony, but rather to cleverly open a few floodgates on the solid dam to allow the water to flow in a healthy way.”
The next few hours became the most meticulously planned collaborative operation in the building's history:
Fox was in charge of data modeling: based on the order field parameters provided by the source key, she set the effective range of the fragments—limited to the Mind Garden and a few non-core living areas closely connected to it. The intensity of the impact was set to an extremely low threshold, ensuring that any "accidents" remained at the level of "minor troubles" or "minor surprises," and would never escalate into a crisis.
The steel godfather was in charge of safety redundancy: he designed multiple layers of energy barriers, like putting a "safety valve" on the debris. Once the variable fluctuation is detected to be close to the critical value, the barrier will immediately contract, forcibly suppressing the impact of the debris back to a safe level.
Grandpa, the manager, and Xilin are responsible for the mental buffer: together they have woven a soft "dream filter" at the edge of the mental garden to ensure that any emotional fluctuations caused by fragments are not too intense and can be quickly channeled away.
Rock and Zero are responsible for the physical emergency response: one is ready to stabilize any tiny spatial ripples that may occur, while the other is ready to rush in and help as soon as a real little trouble arises (such as when Annie actually gets pricked by a needle).
The doctor had prepared a soothing plan for minor emotional fluctuations and... a band-aid.
The plan was meticulously detailed, considering almost every possibility. Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, Jiang Yu carefully implanted the "fragment of possibility" into a special patch of soil near the roots of the Tree of Hope, at the core of the Heart Garden. The light of the Source Key, like a precise scalpel, set the final operating rules for it.
The effect is not immediate, but rather like ink dripping into clear water, spreading slowly and gently.
The next morning, changes began to occur quietly:
Anne sat by the fairytale path in the Garden of Dreams, mending Teddies' arm that had been torn during their play yesterday. This time, as she focused intently on threading the needle, the needle, influenced by the "fragment of possibility," did indeed veer slightly off course and gently prick her delicate finger!
"Ouch!" A soft cry of pain escaped her lips. A drop of bright red blood seeped out, accompanied by a real, subtle stinging sensation. Annie froze for a second, staring at the drop of blood, her eyes quickly reddening, and long-dormant, glistening tears finally rolled down her cheeks in large drops. This wasn't a programmed reaction, but a genuine cry filled with grievance and genuine pain.
Almost simultaneously, the spatial beacon, which Zero had secretly "marked" for Annie's emotional fluctuations, emitted a faint glow. Zero was no longer "just passing by," but rushed over like lightning, not stopped by the invisible force as before. He hurriedly squatted down, awkwardly blowing on Annie's fingers: "Oh my little darling! How could you be so careless! Does it hurt? Uncle Zero will blow on it for you!" As he spoke, he tried to fix the needle and thread with his half-baked spatial skills, and magically pulled a shiny rainbow candy from his pocket (actually from a hidden spatial fold).
Looking at Uncle Zero's comical yet sincere expression, Annie felt the pain and grievance in her fingers lessen with his warm comfort. She burst into laughter through her tears. The complex emotions she felt—a genuine mix of grievance, pain, the warmth of being comforted, and the sweetness of candy—made her little face glow with an unprecedented and vibrant radiance.
On the same day, similar minor incidents occurred one after another within a controllable range:
When Uncle Bloodaxe tried a new sauce, he made a small mistake for the first time—the sauce was a little too salty. He slapped his bald head in frustration and cursed, but he was immediately spurred on by his competitive spirit and began to seriously and wholeheartedly study and improve it. The kitchen was once again filled with passionate banging and strange gurgling sounds.
On Shirin's Starry Terrace, a shooting star streaked across the sky "imperfectly," leaving a trail that was a little longer than expected, yet it was unexpectedly more dazzling.
Even the path that has been "optimized" into a tourist trail can actually make people "get lost" for a few minutes at a certain fork in the road. It takes a little observation and a bit of wisdom to find the right direction, which adds a bit of adventure to the experience.
Imperfect, yet brimming with vibrant life, it has returned.
The building didn't descend into chaos; instead, it became more vivid and three-dimensional, filled with the warmth of everyday life, because of these small, real moments—including setbacks, frustrations, minor sorrows, and the joy of overcoming difficulties. The texture of happiness transformed from an illusory, ethereal perfection into a tangible reality, with tears and laughter, weight and warmth.
60. Actual weight
At night, Jiang Yu sat at his desk. Outside the window, he heard the noisy commotion of Annie and her friends playing hide-and-seek, their voices trembling with laughter after accidentally bumping into a pillar. He also heard Uncle Bloodaxe's booming voice shouting, "Dinner's ready! The sauce is guaranteed to be a hit today!" A slight smile played on his lips as he wrote a profound reflection in his diary:
On [Date], a gentle breeze carried a hint of smoke and a faint, sweet scent of rainbow candy.
Today, Annie pricked her finger with a needle and cried.
Uncle Ling rushed over immediately and frantically tried to comfort her.
Uncle Bloodaxe's sauce was too salty, but his frustrated roar sounded energetic.
Perfect happiness is light, like a feather, making one feel light and airy, but it is also easy to lose oneself in it.
It is the happiness that includes tears, regrets, and unexpected little moments that gives it weight, like soil, making us feel grounded and truly alive.
Balance is not about eliminating all fluctuations, but about allowing the waves to rise and fall without breaching the banks.
Thanks to Mr. Xuyin for the "fragments of possibility," and thanks to all the partners for working together to develop such a meticulous plan.
Our home has finally heard real cries and laughter again.
Goodnight, this imperfect yet all the more vibrant and lovely home.
His pen paused, and he felt a steady, vibrant pulse emanating from the Source Key in his chest. It was no longer stagnant water, but resonated harmoniously with the ebb and flow of life. Protecting this place was not merely about maintaining order, but about protecting this real, precious, and vibrant life.
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