Chapter 107 After the Snail Boy's Morning Breakdown, It Was Discovered That the Snail Boy Had Returned...
The route that Xinglin ultimately determined was an extremely complex one, requiring him to pass through seventeen layers of dynamic firewalls, avoid thirty-four sensing nodes, and bypass three logical trap zones.
The entire process must be flawless; any mistake will trigger an alarm.
He needs to conserve his energy and wait for the most opportune moment.
But before that, he once again extended his consciousness to the farm.
The farm was quiet at night.
Shi Wan was already asleep, and Tangyuan nestled beside her pillow.
Crops in Zone 1 grow quietly under the moonlight, while seedlings in Zone 2 unfurl their leaves in the night dew.
The small animals in the breeding area huddle together and sleep side by side.
The mountain breeze made a soft snoring sound in the bungalow.
In Chen Xi's room, Xing Lin "saw" that even in her sleep, the girl maintained a state of alert relaxation.
That's the physical memory left by long-term training.
The new logistics specialist has taken over most of Starfall's work almost perfectly.
Only those irreplaceable parts remain as they were when he left.
However, Xinglin was not unhappy about being replaced. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little happy.
At least during this period when he can't take care of everything, Shi Wan's burden won't be so heavy.
With someone to share the burden, she can eat and sleep well.
He shouldn't have dragged Shi Wan into this danger in the first place.
Xinglin's "gaze" swept over everything, finally settling on the view outside Shi Wan's bedroom window.
He once thought he had become numb from countless missions.
He became an accomplice in the deception, losing his own world and family, and then causing more people to lose their lives and families.
Perhaps meeting Shi Wan was fate's opportunity for him, allowing him to do everything in his power to end it all.
There is still time to make amends, and there is still time to stop it.
We can't let more people die.
He will always protect this place, no matter the cost.
Until they can forever greet each sunrise in such peace.
Shi Wan woke up to a subtle, indescribable scent.
It was a smell that was... a mixture of cat litter, some unspeakable biological byproducts, and the damp, humid smell that comes with a floor scrubber.
It stubbornly squeezed through the crack in the door, permeated the air in the bedroom, and successfully dragged her out of deep sleep at 6:30 in the morning.
"Hmm..." Shi Wan sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes.
Tangyuan was still curled up next to her pillow, sleeping on her back, her little belly rising and falling with her breath.
But the smell became clearer and clearer.
Shi Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly became much more alert.
She tiptoed out of bed, afraid of waking Tangyuan.
This is an old family rule: Tangyuan can wake her up, but she'd better not wake Tangyuan up, because it depends on how Tangyuan will treat her that day.
She didn't want to be ambushed and attacked by glutinous rice balls all day long.
The moment Shi Wan pushed open the bedroom door, she saw a scene that shocked her to her core.
On the living room floor, Little Orange Cat sat uneasily in the corner, its big eyes brimming with tears, its ears drooping, and the whole cat exuding a pitiful aura.
On the floor in front of it was a small patch of indescribable substance that had been evenly smeared.
The culprit was the smart floor scrubber that was set to work automatically at six o'clock every morning.
It is diligently fulfilling its duty, moving back and forth in the mess, turning the disaster that was originally concentrated in one place into a uniform coating covering an area of about 1.5 square meters.
The slight humming sound of the floor scrubber sounded to Shi Wan at that moment like the whisper of a demon.
"..."
Shi Wan stood at the bedroom door, silent for a full ten seconds.
Her mind went blank for a moment, then filled with a barrage of cries for help, followed by philosophical reflections on "What kind of human suffering is this?", and finally settled on the soul-searching question, "Who am I? Where am I? Am I still asleep?"
When the little orange cat saw her, it let out a weak and guilty "meow" and tried to move its body with its front paws, but because it was emotional and the support was not very responsive, it just spun around in place and looked even more pitiful.
No, I can't get angry, I can't get angry.
Shi Wan took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare herself.
My little orange cat has already tried its best. It's all my fault for not buying it a more convenient and better litter box... Blame... Blame that stupid floor scrubber!
She walked over to the little orange cat, squatted down, and patted its little head. "It's okay, it's okay, it's not your fault. It's my fault. The litter box I chose isn't suitable for you. I'll buy you a better one right away, okay?"
Little Orange rubbed her hand with her wet nose, her big eyes welling up with tears, as if she was about to cry at any moment.
Shi Wan's heart instantly melted.
She picked up Little Orange Baby and checked its little support and the condition of its hind legs.
Thankfully, it didn't get dirty; it was just that its anxiety made it tremble a little.
"Sweetie, why don't you go out onto the balcony and get some sun first? Then I'll take care of... uh, this." Shi Wan tried to make her tone sound relaxed.
After settling the little orange cat in a cushioned corner of the balcony and giving it a cat treat to calm it down, Shi Wan turned to face the "battlefield" in the living room.
The flavor is even richer now.
This taste... is intoxicating.
Shi Wan pinched her nose, feeling like she was about to suffocate. She glanced at her phone; it was 6:35.
Chen Xi usually gets up at 6:50 a.m. for morning exercise, accompanied by the mountain breeze.
Su Qing won't arrive until 7:30.
In other words, she has to clean up this mess all by herself within fifteen minutes, otherwise...
Otherwise, the farm's hardworking and reliable logistics specialist and her military dog partner would witness the owner's living room turning into a biological weapons testing ground during their morning exercise.
If this gets out, what will become of my image as the pride of the farm?!
A sharp explosion erupted in Shi Wan's heart.
How am I supposed to survive in the agricultural sector now?!
If someone asks, "How's the farm doing lately, Mr. Shi?" am I supposed to say, "It's doing great, except my cat has smeared its poop all over the living room?"
Despite the breakdown, work still has to be done.
Shi Wan resignedly walked towards the bathroom to get cleaning tools.
As she passed by the full-length mirror, she glanced at herself.
Her hair was a mess, like a bird's nest, and she had sleep in the corners of her eyes. She was wearing pajamas with the words "lying flat and being a lazy bum" printed on them, and she exuded a confused aura of "who am I and where am I?"
Great, another dose of social media slam material has been added to today's list.
She tried to find a bit of humor in her suffering.
After taking out rubber gloves, disinfectant, a mop, a trash can, and a bunch of cleaning cloths from the bathroom, Shi Wan took a deep breath and, unsurprisingly, coughed for a while before preparing to get to work.
But when she returned to the living room fully armed, she was stunned.
The floor is clean.
It's not just ordinary cleanliness; it's the kind of cleanliness that's so shiny it reflects your image and has a faint, refreshing lemon scent.
The "accomplice" floor scrubber sat quietly in the corner. The roller brush and wastewater tank, which were originally covered in indescribable substances, were gone, replaced by brand-new parts. The machine's outer casing had been carefully wiped clean and gleamed in the morning light.
Little Orange's little bicycle was also cleaned, and every joint of the frame was polished to a shine.
The living room window was slightly ajar, and a gentle morning breeze carrying the scent of fresh grass was blowing in, carrying away the last trace of any unpleasant odor.
Shi Wan stood there, stunned, even the cleaning tools in her hands seemed a little lost.
Am I still half asleep or am I dreaming?
She pinched her cheek. "Ouch—it hurts!"
It's not a dream.
So this is... the Snail Fairy?
Besides her, there were only two female employees on the farm: Chen Xi and Su Qing. She knew Chen Xi's schedule very well; she should have just gotten up now, it was impossible for her to be up so early...
Just as her brain was about to burn out, she heard a slight noise coming from the direction of the kitchen.
Shi Wan walked over cautiously.
Then, she saw that familiar yet unfamiliar figure.
Xing Lin was standing in front of the kitchen counter with his back to her.
He was dressed in a simple light gray casual outfit, with a tall and slender figure and neat short black hair.
He was holding a cup of steaming soy milk in one hand, and with the other hand he was taking several plump white buns out of the steamer and placing them on a porcelain plate.
The kitchen lights were soft, shining on him and making him look as if he were shrouded in a faint halo.
Xinglin turned around as if she had heard footsteps.
His features were handsome and refined, with gentle eyebrows and eyes, especially his distinctive eyes.
His eyes weren't the typical brownish hue, but a deep, dark black. When he looked at people, he was focused and calm, as if he could soothe all the noise.
When he saw Shi Wan, a smile naturally appeared on his lips, a smile that was clean and warm, like snow melting in early spring.
"Awake?" Xing Lin's voice, like his personality, was clear and gentle. "Perfect timing, breakfast is ready too."
Shi Wan opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, "Xing... Xing Lin? You're back?!"
Her voice was filled with disbelief and surprise.
Xinglin nodded and placed the soy milk and steamed buns on the dining table. "Yeah, I came back to see you."
Shi Wan seemed to have been switched on, instantly switching from a dazed state to an excited mode.
She practically skipped over, stood in front of Xinglin, looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes, and fired off a barrage of questions.
"When did you get back? Is everything resolved? Are you hurt? Are you staying this time? Oh, your clothes look different from last time? Is this a real thing? Can I touch them?"
As she spoke, she tentatively reached out and poked Xinglin's arm with her finger.
It feels warm and real to the touch, not unlike human skin.
Xinglin let her do as she pleased, his smile deepening. "Ask slowly, one at a time."
He gestured for Shi Wan to sit down and eat first.
Shi Wan then noticed that she was still wearing that "lying flat and salty" pajama and her hair was all messy, and she immediately felt a little embarrassed.
But with such delicious food in front of her, she didn't care. She pulled out a chair, sat down, picked up a steamed bun, and took a bite.
It was her favorite mushroom and vegetable filling, with a thin skin and a generous filling, perfectly seasoned, and at just the right temperature.
Shi Wan squinted her eyes happily, feeling as if the breakdown she had experienced that morning had been healed.
She continued to ask questions with her eyes while eating.
Xinglin sat down opposite her and patiently replied, "I just got back not long ago, and things aren't completely resolved yet. It will take some more time."
Shi Wan slowed her chewing and swallowed the food in her mouth. "Is it troublesome? Is there any danger?"
“There are some.” Xinglin didn’t hide anything, but her tone remained calm. “So I just came back to see you and make sure you’re alright.”
Shi Wan's lips drooped, clearly showing some disappointment. "Oh... so you're leaving?"
But soon, she perked up, straightened her back, and showed a smug little expression. "Have you noticed any changes at the farm lately? Let me tell you, I've done so much! We've chosen a location for the activity room in Zone 2, the newly planted hydrangeas are almost in bloom, the rabbits in the cages are going crazy, and we've even connected with a European chain supermarket!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke, gesturing wildly, "Oh, right! I also hired a super amazing new employee! Her name is Chen Xi, she's a retired female soldier, and she has a retired military dog named Shanfeng! She's incredibly efficient at her work, managing the farm's logistics perfectly! And also, Tangyuan and Shanfeng are now best friends, and Tangyuan rides on Shanfeng's back every day..."
Xinglin listened quietly, his gentle gaze falling on her radiant face, occasionally nodding in response.
He smiled and said after she finished speaking, "Of course I felt it. The farm is full of energy and very warm. It helped me a lot."
His voice was filled with sincere gratitude.
Shi Wan said seriously, "If it really helps you, then just say so! If you need more energy, I can do even more! I have many plans right now. After the pet activity room in Zone 2 is built, I plan to hold quarterly events; I also want to open a small medicinal plant garden on the farm; Isabella said that if we want to expand our business, she can also help us connect with a children's nature education base..."
She became more and more enthusiastic as she spoke, her eyes shining like stars, as if she had endless energy and ideas.
Xinglin looked at her, slightly taken aback.
His fingers, which were under the table, curled up unconsciously.
After hesitating for a moment, he spoke softly, "We will indeed need a lot of energy next. If it won't be too much trouble for you..."
"No trouble at all!" Shi Wan immediately interrupted him, patting her chest readily. "Just tell me! I'll definitely help if I can!"
Xinglin's eyelashes trembled, and a complex emotion seemed to flash across the depths of her dark eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.” His voice was soft but clear. “Keep running the farm well, keep doing what you want to do, keep living happily. The positive emotions and vitality you generate are the best energy.”
Shi Wan blinked. "That's it? I don't need to do anything else? Like... chant a spell? Set up a formation? Or contribute some blood or something?"
As she spoke, she stretched out her arm to look at it.
Xinglin was amused by her, and her smile became much more genuine, with a glimmer of light in her eyes. "No need, it's enough that you stay here and behave yourself."
Although Shi Wan didn't quite understand the underlying principle, since Xing Lin said so, she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she confidently assured him, "Don't worry! I will definitely make the farm a great success, with plenty of energy!"
She took another bite of the bun and said indistinctly, "But you have to be careful too. If it's really dangerous... why don't you just stay at the farm? Anyway, Chen Xi can help me with the work, so one more person won't make a difference."
Xinglin shook his head. "Some things have to be done by someone."
His tone was calm, but Shi Wan inexplicably detected a hint of determination in his voice.
She put down the steamed bun and looked at him earnestly. "Then promise me you'll be careful. If... if things really don't work out, come back. There will always be a place for you on the farm."
Xinglin met her gaze, and after a long while, he nodded gently, "Okay."
After breakfast, Shi Wan wanted to help tidy up, but Xing Lin pressed her back into her chair, saying, "Sit a little longer, I'll go wash up."
He worked with practiced ease, washing dishes and wiping tables, restoring everything to its original state.
Shi Wan rested her chin on her hand, watching his busy figure in the kitchen. She felt warm inside, but also a little bittersweet.
I wish Xinglin could stay forever.
She couldn't help but think about it.
Although he doesn't talk much, he's incredibly reliable; with him around, it feels like there's nothing to worry about.
After finishing tidying up, Xinglin walked up to her.
The morning light streamed through the window, casting a soft golden glow around him.
"I'm leaving," he said.
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