Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

I... feel like I've really arrived in another world.

According to Kave, there seem to be only seven countries in the world, and when I tried to search my memory, I couldn't find the familiar name of my birthplace, nor the land I called my "mother country".

In particular, when I tried to say the name of that country, which was deeply ingrained in my memory, no sound came out of my throat.

At the same time, a cold, emotionless notification sounded directly in my mind, warning, "Real country or region names are prohibited."

It's very strange, I have absolutely no idea what's going on.

It felt as if some force was restricting me.

“Elhesen said you were from Liyue before.” Kavi carried me on his back, walking steadily on the way back. “So you’re not from this world at all.”

I ran a long way, and my feet ached, like I was stepping on burning coals. My throat was also dry and sore from crying and screaming for so long out of fear.

Only now that I'm basically certain that the young man with red eyes and yellow hair who's carrying me isn't the bad guy I imagined, but rather the one who took me in, do I dare to relax a little and have the energy to feel the pain signals coming from all parts of my body.

My head was throbbing with pain, and a strong drowsiness kept pressing down on me. I felt as if all the bones in my body had been removed, leaving me limp and completely unable to move. I could only lie helplessly on his back, relying on his strength to move forward.

Returning to my temporary lodging, a sense of unease and confusion still lingered deep within me.

“Brother Kavi,” I rested my chin on his shoulder and whispered the question that had been lingering in my mind, “What exactly is your relationship with that Uncle Elhesen? Why are you living together?”

In my understanding, only family members live together under one roof; this is the only situation I can comprehend.

“Hahaha… Uncle Elhesen…” Upon hearing this address, Kavi burst into laughter, his whole body trembling, causing me, who was on his back, to bounce up and down as well, forcing me to hold onto his clothes tightly.

"He and I are roommates... that's all we have for now. But even so, he shouldn't be called 'uncle,' right? That guy's face would definitely turn even uglier if he heard that." He spoke with a hint of schadenfreude.

“But he…” I recalled Al-Hysen’s expressionless yet sharply defined face, with the sharp features of a mature man: “He looks so fierce, like a very serious adult. I’m eight years old this year, nine in the traditional Chinese way. Just a few days ago… I was still in third grade… I feel like calling him uncle… is probably okay?”

I tried to use my limited social experience to argue for the validity of this term.

"Huh? Eight years old?" Kavi paused slightly. "You...you don't remember anything that happened after you turned eight?"

I instinctively shook my head, then immediately realized he couldn't see what I was doing behind him, so I had to speak, my voice hoarse with exhaustion: "Don't you remember...did it happen?"

“Well…” Kavi seemed hesitant, not answering my question directly, but instead steer the conversation elsewhere: “I’m really curious how that guy Alheisen met you. It feels like you just appeared out of nowhere in his life. With his routine that’s so rigid and boring, I can’t imagine what… anything living could fit in there? And then you just appeared. That guy, he really hid it well; even as your roommate, I didn’t notice you existed beforehand.”

As he walked, he kept grumbling about Elheisen, his tone full of inquiry and a hint of dissatisfaction at being kept in the dark. Listening to his steady narration and occasional complaints, a strong drowsiness washed over me again, and my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

I don't even remember when or how I got back to that makeshift bedroom. My consciousness sank completely into darkness with the steady back of Kavi and the rhythmic footsteps.

*

When I woke up in that unfamiliar bed again, the room was unusually quiet.

It seemed that only me and that "Uncle" Elhesen were left in the whole house.

A strange sense of tension resurfaced.

I carefully and silently opened the door, peeking out only half my head to secretly observe the situation outside.

Al-Hysen sat on the tidy sofa in the living room, leaning back slightly with his legs crossed, holding a thick book in his hands. His gaze was focused on the pages, as if the whole world consisted only of him and the book. He didn't even glance at me, seemingly unaware of my prying eyes.

This uncle...

I secretly sized him up.

If you look closely, he does look very young.

But...why does he always exude such a gloomy, unapproachable aura? He's so young, yet he seems even scarier than our school's principal...

And... putting aside his intimidating aura, he's actually... quite handsome...

Kavi is handsome too, but the two of them have completely different styles. Kavi is very friendly, while the guy across the sofa is cold and aloof; you feel like you'd get frostbite if you got too close.

Did Brother Kavi go to work? Then... doesn't Uncle Elhesen have to go to work? Is he just sitting there reading like this?

I dared not make a sound, and he seemed to have grown accustomed to silence. For a moment, the only sound in the entire space was the occasional soft rustling of pages turning.

I even felt that Kavi was the only vibrant "living person" in this house, while Elhesen and I were just two quiet ghosts wandering around.

With nothing to do and no time to go out, I retreated to my room and began to look through the luggage that Kavi had told me about, supposedly from before I "lost my memory."

It was a magical little bag that looked like it could only be put in a pocket, but inside it seemed to have infinite space, capable of holding a lot of things.

Especially the astonishing number of game coins piled up like a small mountain inside? Each one was heavy and gleamed with a metallic sheen.

It shouldn't be made of gold, right? Otherwise, wouldn't I have been an incredibly wealthy woman before I lost my memory? This thought feels a bit unreal.

Just then, the footsteps outside the door made me immediately stop searching. I held my breath, pricked up my ears, and listened intently, afraid of missing any sound. My heart also jumped involuntarily.

Soon, an enticing, sweet aroma, mixed with the unique caramelized scent of cooked protein, wafted into the room.

So fragrant...

Is he making breakfast?

Will I get a share?

If I go out later and look at him with those longing eyes, will he be willing to share with me?

I forced myself to look away and down at the jewel-encrusted butterfly that I had somehow found myself holding in my hand again.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the exquisitely cut colored gemstones and refracting them into a dazzling display of light.

If...if all the gems on these are real...then I might be really, really rich...

After about ten agonizing minutes of waiting, I heard the crisp sound of a porcelain plate gently tapping against the floor by the door.

Immediately afterwards, the enticing aroma of food became clearer and closer.

There really is a share for me!

An indescribable feeling of gratitude welled up in my heart.

I almost couldn't wait and quickly grabbed the plate of breakfast that was placed by the door.

Once back in a relatively safe corner, I immediately began to feast.

Mmm! So delicious!