Chapter 53 The Cat Planet Trade Hub: Life itself possesses the most powerful...
That night, Shi Wan did not sleep well.
In a bizarre dream, data streams intertwined with starlight, and a blurry figure gently lifted her up.
She woke up before dawn, her heart still pounding with the lingering sensation of her dream. Staring at the familiar ceiling, she couldn't tell which side was reality.
A warm touch and a steady gurgling sound came from beside me.
It's tangyuan (glutinous rice balls).
She didn't know when he had slipped in, but he was pressed tightly against her arm, his fluffy head resting on her pillow, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
The kitten's body is warm and cozy to the touch, with soft, fluffy fur that feels wonderful and solid.
Even Huanhuan, who is usually reserved and prefers to sleep alone, was unusually curled up on the soft cushion at the foot of the bed. Hearing the sound of her waking up, her ears twitched slightly.
These small discoveries, like a gentle stream of warmth, quietly smoothed out the last trace of panic in her heart.
She reached out and gently stroked Tangyuan's chin, and he made an even louder gurgling sound before rubbing against her hand.
Get up and wash up.
My reflection in the mirror still had a slightly unfocused look in my eyes, but the panic of yesterday was gone.
She changed into comfortable loungewear and opened the door.
The cool morning air, carrying the unique freshness of plants, filled her lungs. The farm awoke in the gradually brightening morning light, and everything was exactly the same as before she learned the truth.
The automated irrigation system started working, and the water mist created tiny rainbows in the rising sun.
The call ducks preened their feathers by the pond, making satisfied "quack" sounds.
Life itself possesses the most powerful healing power.
As usual, she went to check the hydroponic greenhouse first.
As she passed the office building, her steps faltered almost imperceptibly. Her gaze swept over it, and a subtle ripple stirred within her, but it quickly subsided.
She kept thinking about that scene on the surveillance camera.
But now is not the time to confront that dialog box; she needs to find her rhythm and breathing again in her own territory first.
"Good morning, everyone." She greeted Yaoyao, Bubu, and Qiqi, who were stretching on the edge of the field.
The three kittens immediately ran over and affectionately circled around her ankles.
Big Yellow also trotted over from the warehouse, wagging its tail happily, and placed the small stick it was carrying in its mouth at her feet, its wet eyes full of expectation.
Shi Wan bent down, picked up the stick, and threw it forcefully into the grass in the distance. Da Huang dashed off like a yellow lightning bolt.
Looking at her energetic back view, Shi Wan couldn't help but smile.
These simple and genuine interactions reassured her more than any words.
She began her work, harvesting ripe catnip and checking the baking progress of a new batch of cupcakes.
Aunt Li and Xiao Zhang arrived at work on time, and the conveyor belt in the warehouse started running. Everything proceeded smoothly, efficiently, and in an orderly manner.
This order was brought about by Xinglin, and she is both the maintainer and beneficiary of it.
Her busy schedule left her little time to dwell on that astonishing secret, but that name and those blurry yet gentle hands would always quietly surface in her mind during her breaks.
She found that when she recalled the conversation from the previous night, her fear had faded, replaced by a complex and indescribable feeling, like carrying a warm but not yet fully understood secret.
The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon.
She sat on the terrace outside the fresh food kitchen and made herself a cup of herbal tea.
Bingbing followed closely behind, unceremoniously jumping onto the empty chair, putting her hands in her pockets, and staring longingly at the teacup in her hand.
"You can't drink this." Shi Wan poked his chubby cheek helplessly.
Bingbing meowed in dissatisfaction, turned its head and turned its back to her, but the tip of its tail still brushed against her arm, clearly trying to be affectionate.
At this moment, Mianmian also walked over with elegant steps, lightly jumped onto the railing next to her, found the sunniest spot, lay down, and began to slowly lick her fur.
Sunlight filtered through her soft, beautiful long fur, making it look like she was wearing a golden dress.
Looking at this warm and ordinary scene before her, Shi Wan's last bit of hesitation suddenly loosened.
Regardless of where Xinglin comes from or what form he takes, he truly has no ill intentions right now.
He himself has long been an indispensable part of this peaceful scene.
His interactions, which were so human, were not a malfunction of the program, but a manifestation of his genuine emotions.
She remembered the carefulness in his words when he apologized, the helplessness he felt when he couldn't show up, and the earnestness in his words when he said he cherished her—it was almost palpable.
A person struggling to survive in dire straits still did his best to create a safe haven for her, even when he himself was in dire need of protection, and even felt sorry for possibly disturbing her.
She shouldn't keep dwelling on the grievances and anxieties of being kept in the dark.
Life goes on, and if Xinglin really wants to harm her, there's nothing she can do.
Let's just keep things as they are for now; who knows what the future holds?
The truth may be surprising, but sincerity is even more precious.
She was willing to believe in Xinglin's sincerity.
After feeding all the cats in the evening and watching them find their own places to rest contentedly, Shi Wan felt a long-lost sense of peace.
She took a deep breath of the cool night air and walked towards the office building.
Pushing open the door, the room was dark.
Xinglin would always turn on the lights in advance when she needed them, and she always thought it was the system's automatic control. But after discovering Xinglin's existence, he probably didn't want her to be stressed, so he stopped pretending to be an AI and interfering in her life.
She opened the farm's customer service system interface.
The familiar dialog box remained there quietly.
After a moment of silence, she neither questioned nor hesitated.
Instead, she chose the most direct way to express her current state of mind.
"Agent: Starfall".
The first time she typed that name in the chat box, she felt a little strange, yet inexplicably fitting.
"Agent: Everything is normal at the farm today. The cat grass in the hydroponic greenhouse is growing very well. Bingbing is still the same as always, trying to steal some freshly baked cake but was caught by Huanhuan. Aunt Li praised the smart warehouse management system as very convenient."
She shared the farm's daily life as usual, her tone calm and natural, as if yesterday's earth-shattering conversation had never happened.
After sending the message, she waited quietly.
Almost instantly, a message appeared above the chat box indicating that the other person was typing. The message flashed quickly, as if the person on the other end was anxious because she had finally spoken again, or as if they were carefully considering each word.
A reply appeared a few seconds later.
"Starfall: Received, it's good that everything is normal."
It was a very brief response, but Shi Wan could almost sense the subtle relief he was feeling.
Then, he sent another message of thoughtful concern.
"Starfall: The weather is getting cooler today, please remember to dress warmly at night. I have adjusted the insulation settings in the warehouse area to ensure that the inventory is not affected."
He didn't rush to ask her what the outcome of her thoughts was, nor did he repeatedly apologize for what happened yesterday. He simply continued his silent protection in the way he was most used to.
This considerate restraint dispelled the last bit of resentment in Shi Wan's heart.
She looked at the words and a slight smile curved her lips.
Agent: Okay, I understand. Thank you, Starfall.
This time, her thanks contained more and more complex elements than ever before.
There was understanding, acceptance, and perhaps even a new kind of intimacy that she herself didn't quite understand.
The dialog box was silent for a moment, then new text slowly appeared, carrying a gentle sense of relief.
Xinglin: You're welcome, Shi Wan.
As the night deepened, the farm lights slowly went out, leaving only a warm glow emanating from the office building.
A few days later, one afternoon, Shi Wan was in the Fresh Food Kitchen trying to make a pet treat with freshly harvested blueberries.
Sunlight streamed in through the cat paw window, and Bingbing squatted by the door, sniffing the sweet fruity scent in the air, its tail wagging expectantly.
Huanhuan lay on the supervisor's platform, half-closing her eyes, enjoying the tranquility.
Suddenly, the system emitted a soft but continuous notification sound. Unlike the usual gentle sound, this sound had a strange ethereal quality.
Shi Wan paused, put down what she was holding, wiped her hands, and with a hint of doubt in her heart, she quickly walked towards the small building, preparing to sit down and see what was going on.
Upon opening the system interface, the order page automatically pops up, and the background is no longer the familiar pastoral scenery, but a deep cosmic landscape.
In the center of the interface, an icon with a dried fish symbol and a cat's paw print is jumping around happily.
It's Cat Planet!
That cat that once ordered 10,000 portions of catnip
Shi Wan immediately clicked on the new message.
This is a big client!!
"Dear Meow Meow Mimi Farm Owner:"
This is the Cat Planet Trade Hub.
First of all, we would like to express our high praise once again for the exceptional quality of the top-grade cat grass from the last transaction! According to the authoritative testing and analysis by Miaofang, its gentle energy has a significant effect on stabilizing kittens' emotions and promoting healthy and shiny fur, and it has been included in Miaofang's rare resource library.
The complimentary catnip biscuits also delighted the cats, who said they loved them.
Based on the outstanding production capacity and integrity demonstrated by your farm, Miaofang is now extending a new round of cooperation invitations.
Order Request: 5000 portions of specially made freeze-dried duck meat and pumpkin mixture.
Requirements: Preserve the original flavor of the ingredients as much as possible, use a low-temperature slow baking process to ensure nutrition and crispy texture.
Payment Method: Miaofang is willing to exchange the design blueprints for an automatic hair grooming device. This device can effectively alleviate the problem of seasonal shedding in cats, is gentle and painless, and we believe it will bring benefits to your farm and many more cats on Earth.
Looking forward to working with you again!
Your best trading partner, Miao-∮-7349
Freeze-dried duck meat and pumpkin?
Automatic hair comber?
Looking at this interstellar order, Shi Wan was both amused and bewildered, yet also incredibly curious.
Cats' tastes seem to have evolved, from simple cat grass to the current blend of freeze-dried cat grass, and the rewards they offer are always so practical and ahead of their time.
She could almost imagine how many cat lovers around the world would go crazy for this portable automatic hair comb if it were actually made!
This is undoubtedly another huge development opportunity for the farm.
"Xinglin," she said instinctively into the interface, then realized he might be listening, "What do you think of this order...?"
The background of the universe and stars on the interface rippled slightly, and Xinglin's reply quickly appeared, carrying his unique calm analysis.
"Star Arrival: The order requirements are clear, and the process requirements are within the farm's existing capabilities."
The automatic hair combing device for payment products has extremely high technological value and aligns with the development direction of farms.
Risk assessment: Low.
The suggestion is to accept it.
"Starfall: It should be noted that large-scale freeze-drying production puts some pressure on energy supply and needs to be planned in advance."
His analysis was always so accurate and reliable, instantly easing the slight pressure Shi Wan felt due to the number of orders.
“Okay, let’s accept!” Shi Wan made the decision and quickly clicked the confirmation button.
Almost the instant she pressed the send button, a soft glow appeared on the surface of the office coffee table.
In the light, a silver metallic object, roughly the size of a palm and with an intricate and complex structure, slowly solidified from its ethereal form and finally appeared steadily before her.
There was also a scroll emitting a faint glow next to it, which must be the design blueprint.
"Wow, isn't this time it a 'payment in advance'?" Shi Wan was a little surprised.
Cats are as efficient as ever.
Shi Wan picked up the cold metal object. It had a strange, warm feel to the touch, and it was engraved with runes she couldn't understand.
Is this the core module that will solve the problem of cat shedding in the future?
She felt a strange excitement.
However, just as she was about to examine the blueprints closely, she caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a fleeting, extremely brief display of gibberish on the customer service interface, so fast it seemed like an illusion.
At the same time, the interface used for interstellar communication flickered almost imperceptibly, and its stability seemed to be slightly worse than last time.
Is the signal bad?
still……?
Shi Wan's heart skipped a beat.
She remembered Xinglin saying that his existence was not stable and any energy fluctuation could bring risks.
Will this transaction with the cat consume too much energy, or will it attract the attention of the main system?
She turned her gaze to the window.
The farm remains peaceful and beautiful under the sun, with cats frolicking on the grass and ducks playing in the pond.
The new orders brought new hope, but also sowed the seeds of new uncertainties.
Shi Wan gripped the slightly cool metal object in her hand, feeling the technology and goodwill from another world contained within it. Her heart was filled with anticipation for the future, but a hint of vigilance and anxiety also slowly emerged.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com