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

I had a long and vivid dream in which I was aboard a sturdy ship, struggling to sail through turbulent waves.

The howling wind tore at the sails, and the giant waves crashed in like mountains, each time they broke through the crest of the wave, bringing a breathtaking and awe-inspiring experience.

The thrill and danger of sailing through storms stand in stark contrast to my peaceful daily life today—not that they are completely unrelated, but rather that they are entirely irrelevant.

When I awoke from this adventurous dream, I found myself still carrying the salty scent of the sea breeze, as if I had just returned from the sea.

I rubbed my eyes in confusion, slowly sat up, and looked around the unfamiliar room, but I had no recollection of how I fell asleep.

My last memory is of... that gentle goodnight kiss, Al-Hysen's lips lightly touching my forehead, as soft as a feather.

Elhesen!

I instinctively reached out to my side, only to find it completely empty, without even a trace of anyone having rested there. The other half of the bed was perfectly flat, as if no one had ever lain on it, and the pillows were perfectly smooth.

Where did he go?

What unsettled me even more was that my pajamas weren't right either—this wasn't the one I wore to bed last night. It was a traditional Chinese style pajama, different from the style of Sumeru.

I quickly looked at the sofa, but there was no trace of Kavi there. The corner where his belongings should have been piled up was empty, and the whole room was unsettlingly tidy.

I nervously walked through the room, which felt both familiar and strange, my fingertips lightly tracing the surfaces of the furniture, searching for any trace of their presence. In drawers, in wardrobes, on bedside tables—I searched every possible place where clues might have been left.

But there was nothing there...

Everything has changed...

Fear surged into my heart like an icy tide.

I was terrified that I had been transported to another world, that I would have to meet new people again, and that I might encounter bad people this time. This unease made me feel cold all over, and my fingers began to tremble involuntarily.

……

dong dong dong-

The knocking on the door behind me sent a chill down my spine. I hurriedly hid behind the curtains, my heart pounding in my chest.

“E... Elhesen?” I asked in a trembling voice, so soft it was almost inaudible.

"It's me." A familiar voice came from outside the door, and that calm and steady tone instantly put me at ease.

I couldn't wait to open the door and rushed barefoot into his arms without even putting on my shoes. I hugged his waist tightly, buried my face in his chest, and tried to calm my anxious heart.

He carried the coolness of the morning and a familiar scent, which calmed my wildly beating heart.

That's great, he's still here.

I don't know how I would sever this feeling if I had to leave this place one day. If it weren't for that brief separation just now, I probably wouldn't have realized how dependent I've become on his presence.

"Change your clothes, and we'll go home." He didn't comfort me, he just said this simple sentence, handed me a new piece of clothing, and gently patted my back.

He doesn't seem to be very good at comforting others, but I think that's enough.

Actions speak louder than words.

*

Back in familiar surroundings, the house I had "demolished" was restored to its original state.

The exterior walls were spotless, the windows were intact, and not a single tile on the roof was out of place; it was as if yesterday's disaster had never happened.

I was so focused on Elhesen that I held his hand so tightly that I didn’t even realize we were returning to this place.

It wasn't until I stood in front of the door that I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

"Do you still have the magic to repair houses?" I asked, bewildered, looking up at the perfectly restored building, my heart filled with disbelief.

“No. We are in a cycle that lasts seven days. After the cycle ends, everything will return to normal,” Elhesen stated calmly.

"Reincarnation?" I felt that the word he used was different from what I knew.

……

While we were cooking together, Elhesen told me in detail about the demon god.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of ingredients. He stood behind me, his arm around my body, holding my hand as we slowly turned the ladle in the pot.

I didn't really understand a lot of things; those complex theories about gods, reincarnation, and the rules of the world were far beyond my comprehension.

In short, these things don't seem to have a direct connection to my daily life.

I was already spending most of my energy on the work at hand, and another part of my energy was completely devoted to feeling the touch of him—the warmth from his chest, the gentle breath brushing against my ear, the strength of his hand holding mine. These sensory experiences made it impossible for me to concentrate on his explanation.

"Is there anything you didn't understand?" he asked me, looking down at me so close that my ears involuntarily turned red.

"...If you were a little further away from me, I might be able to understand a little."

I thought it to myself, but I didn't dare to say it out loud.

"Didn't you listen at all?" He immediately noticed the fact I was trying so hard to hide, his tone carrying a hint of helpless indulgence.

"...I had nowhere to escape in his arms, and could only lower my head in shame, staring at the boiling soup in the pot."

"Have you heard of negative feedback regulation?" He gently lifted my chin with the back of his hand, forcing me to look him in the eye. "It can forcibly correct certain habits for a short period of time."

"Huh?" I have a feeling something bad is going to happen.

"...Seeing my pitiful gaze, his expression softened, the sharpness in his eyes replaced by tenderness: 'However, there's also a positive feedback mechanism, which corrects behavior more slowly. But I can wait.'"

"Do I need to correct... my behavior of always thinking about you and not being able to listen to anything else?" I want to know the answer because I feel like I've made a lot of mistakes, and this inability to concentrate is really affecting my learning and comprehension.

This is what adults mean when they say you shouldn't date too early, because it really affects your studies.

“No need, it’s a good habit, keep it up.” He smiled faintly, a rare smile like the warm winter sun, instantly dispelling all my worries.

Really? But what he just told me was something very important, wasn't it?

I blinked, puzzled, trying to understand the logic in his words.

*

In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the windows into the living room, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor.

“Elhesen, you knew all along that there was…” Kavi, who had just returned from outside, hung the key aside, turned his head and saw Elhesen and me nestled beside him. He stared at me with wide eyes, speechless. His expression changed from surprise to confusion, and then from confusion to disbelief.

“You’re back, Brother Kavi.” I stood up to greet him.

"You...you...who are you?" Kavi looked at Elhesen for confirmation, and seeing that Elhesen didn't speak, he thought of the most likely possibility: "You are...a relative of Elhesen?"

"Huh?" Why does it seem like he doesn't recognize me? This discovery puzzled me greatly.

We met just yesterday, and he even argued with Elhesen over me. Why is he acting like we're meeting for the first time today?

“She’s my girlfriend,” Al-Hysen replied calmly.

An eerie silence filled the air as Kavi's gaze shifted back and forth between us, seemingly trying to process this sudden information.