Chapter 50 Lantern Jingyuan: Life is bitter.
After leaving Shence Mansion, Shen Mi went directly to the driving school.
She was distracted the whole way, and the thought of what Yu Tie had said made her uneasy.
Logically speaking, very few people in the entire Immortal Boat Alliance know that Danfeng has been reincarnated as a dragon, except for a few generals of the alliance and elders of the Chiming Clan.
Even Yu Tie was unaware of the truth, so the general public on the Immortal Ship were even more likely to be kept in the dark. They believed from the beginning that the sinner, Yin Yue, was still in prison.
Since it has nothing to do with Danheng, what was Elder Chiming doing at the Ten Kings' Division? And what was Jingyuan so anxious about?
But why did she always feel uneasy? Shen Mi looked at her phone and opened her conversation with Dan Heng. The latest message was sent two days ago.
She had so many questions for Danheng: Did the company's people arrive on the desolate planet safely? Why didn't you reply to my messages? Were you too busy or was there something else?
Shen Mi's mind was a complete mess. Even though she knew more than others, she couldn't piece together the various clues. She was restless, confused, anxious, and helpless.
Thinking of this, Shen Mi suddenly remembered something and called out "System" in his mind.
The system responded immediately.
[Host, what did you call me for?]
[Can you find the coordinates of the target character?]
"This..." The system looked troubled.
[It's a bit difficult.]
Chen Mi: ...
[Is it possible to detect the vital signs of the target?]
The system thought for a moment.
[It is possible, but host, it will cost money.]
"How much?" Shen Mi asked without hesitation.
【Three hundred and sixty stars.】
"Good, good, good. Earn money here and spend it here, don't even think about taking a penny home." Shen Mi truly understood the meaning of this saying in the field of life sciences.
[I'll spend! Check!]
[Which person would you like to query? A: Dan Heng, B: Jing Yuan, C: Ren (Not yet activated, cannot be queried)]
Shen Mi glanced at option C, thinking, "How come even blades are included?" But right now, she was more concerned about Dan Heng's condition.
She said it without hesitation.
I choose Danheng!
[Payment deducted, searching in progress—search complete. Target Dan Heng currently has 3411 HP, at full health.]
"Good, good, it was worth it, it was worth it," Chen Mi thought with relief. But when the system announced the life points, the tone of its voice suddenly reminded her of the mechanical female voice she'd heard when she accidentally pressed a certain power calculator before.
The tone was exactly the same, which stunned her for several seconds.
After the rain, the sky cleared, and Chen Mi, feeling refreshed and relaxed, rode all the way to the center of Xingchahai.
Carrying food in her hands, she floated away as soon as she entered the courtyard, carefully avoiding the flowers and plants on the ground, and came to the pavilion. Bai Xuan was eating tea and snacks, and looked around curiously when she smelled the aroma.
What smells so good?
"Some home-style dishes that are often cooked."
Shen Mi opened the insulated bag, took out the food one by one, placed them on the stone table, and took out clean chopsticks.
Bai Xuan's craving was aroused, but she was too embarrassed to speak up because of her status. She was also unsure if it was Shen Mi's lunch, so she could only sit up straight, turn her head away and pretend not to see him, and continue eating the plate of mung bean cakes she hadn't finished.
The more Bai Xuan chewed, the less flavorful the mung bean cake seemed; she preferred the aroma that wafted into her nose.
Shen Mi took in Bai Xuan's expression and understood. It was because the master was embarrassed to take something from the disciple. If she didn't invite him, Bai Xuan would never have the nerve to ask her for it, even though he was already drooling over it.
Shen Mi picked up the chopsticks and respectfully handed them to Bai Xuan: "Master, please."
Bai Xuan's eyes froze for a moment, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.
He had intended to maintain a semblance of the aloofness of an elder, but Chen Mi's demeanor was too respectful, so respectful that it carried a hint of mischief, as if a disciple were openly playing tricks on him, or perhaps trying to win his favor. His own craving, which he should have kept hidden, was completely exposed.
He coughed lightly, reached out and took the chopsticks, lowering his head to hide the smile in his eyes: "Then I won't be polite."
His words and actions matched, yet his chopsticks moved with lightning speed, as if afraid someone would snatch them from him. He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, chewing slowly and deliberately, much like Jing Yuan when he first ate there. However, compared to his master, Jing Yuan was much more honest and straightforward. Thinking of this, Shen Mi couldn't help but smile.
"It tastes good." Bai Xuan nodded, her voice calm but genuinely sincere. "Did you make it?"
Shen Mi nodded, feigning arrogance, but said in a serious tone, "It is my honor to receive praise from my master."
Bai Xuan glanced at her sideways, unable to suppress a smile: "You certainly have a sweet tongue."
He added, "Jingyuan is quite lucky."
Shen Mi blushed involuntarily after hearing this. She scratched her head, completely at a loss for words.
Shen Mi looked around but didn't see Bai Qi.
"Master, where is Bai Qi?"
When Bai Xuan saw her shy demeanor and recalled the way Jing Yuan looked at her while they were drinking last night, she knew that her guess was correct.
He clicked his tongue inwardly. How could two hot-blooded young people not develop feelings for each other while living together? He was an experienced man and knew this expression all too well. He just hoped that things wouldn't escalate into a fight.
However, everyone has their own destiny, and perhaps they won't actually fight.
Bai Xuan picked up another piece of grilled eel and casually replied, "She went to buy hot goat milk, saying that they recently released a new flavor and she wanted to try it. Do you want some, my good disciple? I'll ask her to bring you an extra portion."
Shen Mi waved her hand, saying that she had just drunk some.
Regardless of whether she had drunk anything or not, Bai Xuan took out her phone and sent a message to Bai Qi.
Yu Yi Yu Yao: Did you manage to buy it?
Ice cream: Not yet, there are too many people.
Yu Yi Yu Yao: That's perfect, I'll buy one for your junior sister too.
Ice cream: ...Then you pay.
Yu Yi Yuyao: "Transfer of funds"
After replying to the message, Bai Xuan picked up another piece and stuffed it into her mouth. Satisfied, she didn't even care about her manners when faced with such delicious food. She chewed and smacked her lips continuously.
When Bai Qi returned, sweating profusely and carrying drinks, he had almost finished the food in the lunchbox, leaving only two pieces of grilled eel and some vegetables.
Bai Xuan wasn't afraid of incurring her niece's wrath; she even leaned forward and said in a cheeky tone, "You're late."
Bai Qi has known her uncle for nearly a century, so she naturally knows what kind of person he is. Beneath his seemingly refined and cultured exterior lies a mischievous heart.
She was already used to it, but Shen Mi seemed greatly shocked.
Bai Qi picked up a grilled eel from the lunchbox, ate it in one bite without expression, and then grabbed another one three or four seconds later.
Shen Mi was busy studying the theoretical knowledge of the Star Chariot, so naturally he didn't see Bai Qi looking so happy.
Bai Qi asked her uncle in a low voice where it came from. Although she was already prepared, when Bai Xuan said that Shen Mi made it, she still pouted unwillingly and looked at Shen Mi with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
At least I can't cook anything delicious myself.
*
After resting for a while, the other trainees gradually arrived.
Looking at the students sitting around her, most of whom had animal ears, Shen Mi couldn't help but exclaim, "So many foxes!"
Shen Mi listened for an entire afternoon, filling her notebook with dense notes. The pen here was different from the ballpoint pen she was used to in the real world; when Shen Mi was taming it, she accidentally flicked it onto the clothes of the classmate in front of her.
The other person turned around as if sensing something, and met Shen Mi's guilty-looking face.
Shen Mi apologized several times.
Fortunately, the other person was wearing black, so they didn't criticize her harshly. They accepted her apology and turned back to listen.
Shen Mi stuck out his tongue and lowered his head in embarrassment.
On my way home after class, Jingyuan sent me a message saying he would be home for dinner on time that night.
On time? Does that mean the matter with the Ten Kings Division was resolved smoothly?
It was rush hour after school when Shen Mi received the message. She was squeezing onto the Star Chariot, sandwiched between two people. Just when she finally managed to free her hand to look at it, she was pushed aside by others.
The man was wearing a baseball cap, and Shen Mi couldn't see his face clearly. He frowned and walked inside.
On the way, she was still thinking about what to eat tonight.
When she got home, she glanced at the time and saw that it was almost five o'clock. She quickly put the lunchboxes she had brought back into the kitchen sink, put on her apron, rinsed the rice, and took out the vegetables she needed from the refrigerator to defrost.
Let's make something simple today: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar. The weather is getting warmer, so something sour can whet the appetite.
After rushing around, it was finally finished before six o'clock. Chen Mi poured another cup of hot water and put it on the table to cool.
Time passed slowly, and it gradually grew dark outside. The automatic lights in the courtyard came on, but Jingyuan still hadn't returned.
Chen Mi sat there, watching the lingering twilight outside the window slowly paint the horizon with gray and black. The warm yellow light shone through the plants in the courtyard, casting shadows on the wall.
At first, Shen Mi could convince and comfort herself by saying that something had delayed her, but as the minute hand went round and round, she felt an inexplicable panic.
She picked up the water glass and took a sip; it was already ice cold. Shen Mi frowned and walked towards the kitchen, but stopped by the kettle.
She suddenly realized that she hadn't done anything for the past hour or so, just kept looking back at the door and listening to the rustling of the wind in the yard.
At least during the time she was in Xianzhou, Jingyuan never broke his promise. Whenever he said he would keep his word, even for something small, he would send a message to remind her.
Shen Mi picked up his phone, his finger hovered over the call screen, hesitated for a few seconds, and then pressed the button.
Beep—
The call rang for half a minute, then automatically switched to voicemail mode.
“Hello, this is Jingyuan,” his voice was still warm even though it was a recording. “If you can’t reach me, there are probably two reasons—I’m sleeping or my phone is out of battery.”
Shen Mi stared blankly at the brief fragment of language, as if waiting for it to remain connected even after it ended.
Shen Mi picked up a lantern he found in the warehouse and sat down next to the stone lions at the entrance.
As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of Chang Le Tian gradually subsided into silence.
As dusk fell, two pairs of hurried footsteps echoed on the bluestone slabs. Yonghai followed behind Jingyuan, repeatedly apologizing.
Jing Yuan was thoroughly annoyed and rubbed his temples wearily with his index finger. All he wanted now was to get back as soon as possible.
Ke Yonghai's mouth was still chattering away.
"General, please let me escort you back. I feel truly guilty for causing you this much trouble. Please let me escort you back."
Jing Yuan sighed, and just as he was about to say that they had arrived, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Beside the snow-white stone lion, a slender figure sat quietly.
Yonghai was still apologizing when he bumped into the general's back without noticing. He was about to apologize again when he saw the general standing there, staring intently ahead with a heavy look in his eyes.
Following the general's gaze, Yonghai also noticed the figure. He glanced at the general's expression, quickly said goodbye, and turned to leave, not caring whether the general had heard him or not. He knew that if he didn't have the sense to stay, the general would probably get angry.
Chen Mi sat on the threshold, hugging her knees. Directly in front of her was a small lantern, an old object that had been lost for a long time and whose origins were unknown. The swirling pattern on the lampshade was vaguely imprinted on her, casting a soft yellow light that enveloped her in warm shadow.
At that moment, Jingyuan suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.
Hearing footsteps, Chen Mi looked up at her. There was no weariness or blame in her eyes, only a silent, heartbreaking wait.
Jingyuan ignored Yonghai's words, walked straight to her, stopped in front of her, and said softly, "Why are you sitting outside?"
"Wait for you."
Jing Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He rubbed his forehead, trying his best to describe his tumultuous journey in the calmest and simplest language.
"I'm sorry. There was a slight accident on the way. Yonghai—that is, the clerk of the Shence Prefecture—drove the Star Chariot into a ditch on his way back."
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Author's Note: Yonghai: General!!! I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to.
I'm back! I rested for three days during the Dragon Boat Festival and slept like a log! It was awesome!!! Everyone, I've started nurturing my seedlings, can you help me nurture them? [starry eyes][starry eyes][starry eyes] You can also take advantage of some freebies from Jinjiang!
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