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

This bed! This soundproofing! This window! This pillow! This blanket!

Everything was simply unbelievably perfect.

The mattress is so soft it feels like embracing a cloud, perfectly supporting every curve of the body while providing solid support, making you sink into it and never want to leave.

The room has excellent soundproofing. The occasional footsteps in the hallway outside and the noise of the city in the distance are all filtered into a blurry background noise, creating an absolute tranquility as if you were in a separate space.

The wide windows were partially covered by thin gauze curtains, allowing the soft golden light of the morning to stream in unobstructed, neither glaring nor lacking in a gentle warmth that awakens life.

The pillow's height and firmness are carefully designed to perfectly conform to the natural curve of the cervical spine.

The down comforter covering my body was as light as a warm cloud, fluffy and breathable, dispelling both fatigue and the chill of the night.

This is the comfortable life I've always dreamed of and strived for!

The traveler's body was completely relaxed, sinking into that cloud-like softness. Even a simple action like stretching became more languid and enjoyable due to the extreme comfort, and every inch of his bones seemed to be groaning with pleasure.

Not to mention the hotel's meticulous "room service"...

"Yes! Right there... a little more pressure, um... ah... no, it's a little sore there, a little lighter." Indistinct murmurs spilled out from between sleep and wakefulness, it was hard to tell whether it was a dream or a wakefulness.

*

The day after returning from the desert, perhaps because his body and mind desperately needed compensatory rest, the traveler woke up unexpectedly early.

However, just as she was nestled in the soft blankets, contentedly lazing in bed, and had just begun to think of sitting up...

Knock, knock, knock—

A soft, rhythmic knock sounded at just the right moment.

"No way..." The traveler paused, a thought creeping into his mind.

Does Jin Moli have mind-reading abilities?

The timing of her arrival was just too "perfect"! It was as if she had timed it perfectly, right when I woke up and was about to get up.

"Vice Hall Master, are you awake?" Jin Moli's uniquely gentle voice came from outside the door: "The inn's morning meal is ready. Would you like them to be brought up now, or would you like to wait a moment?"

"...Bring it up." After a brief struggle, the emptiness signal from her stomach finally overcame her rationality of "not wanting to see that face that always had a subtle smile."

The traveler gave in and called out towards the door.

……

As the elegant food cart was wheeled into the room, the aroma of food filled the air. Jin Moli methodically placed the still-steaming dishes one by one on the small table by the bed. The traveler's initial resistance began to soften in the face of hunger and this meticulous service.

Actually... Golden Jasmine is quite nice too...

At least in terms of caring for people, she is impeccable.

The thought surfaced uncontrollably.

I think I've... changed my mind a bit.

Regardless of whether she is "Old Deng" himself, or what kind of intricate relationship she has with "Old Deng"...

It seems like it doesn't matter anymore. Faced with ultimate comfort and attentive care, the vigilance and entanglement brought about by suspicions about identity seem to have been temporarily set aside and diluted.

"Chew, chew, chew..."

After all, it feels so good to be served so attentively, with food even brought to your mouth.

Relax your mind and body, without having to worry about any trivial matters.

The traveler comfortably leans against the fluffy headboard, letting the warm morning sun bathe half of their body, warm but not scorching.

With her eyes closed, she enjoyed as Jin Moli spooned the delicious breakfast into her mouth, savoring each bite and letting her taste buds and body immerse themselves in a sense of peace and satisfaction, as if she had survived a disaster.

At this moment, the world's turmoil, the desert's stench, and the laboratory's mysteries all seem as distant as another world.

……

Breakfast concluded in a tranquil and pleasant atmosphere.

Without being told anything, Jin Moli took the initiative and began to clean up efficiently. She gently gathered the used tableware onto the serving cart and then put everything back in its original place.

Before leaving, she carefully closed the room door gently to ensure that no noise would disturb the traveler's peace and quiet.

As the traveler watched her do all this, his feeling that "this guy might not be so bad after all" deepened.

She slid off the headboard and crawled back into the cloud-like, warm quilt, wrapping herself in a comfortable cocoon, intending to follow her body's needs and have another nice nap.

However, just as she adjusted her posture, her eyelids closed, and her consciousness was about to drift into a hazy state—

"Click".

The sound of the door opening was extremely faint.

The traveler opened his eyes instantly and looked warily toward the doorway.

Jin Moli returned, carrying a long, thin, soft-looking cushion that she had somehow found.

She still wore that impeccable, gentle smile.

Why is she back again!

The traveler's sleepiness vanished almost instantly, and his body involuntarily tensed slightly.

“Deputy Master,” Jin Moli stopped beside the bed, her voice as gentle as ever, “After a long and tiring day yesterday, including a fierce battle, even after a night's rest, there’s bound to be some stiffness and discomfort deep within your bones and muscles. Lying down for too long can make them even more rigid. I happen to have learned a unique massage technique for relaxing muscles and tendons. The technique is gentle and aims to unblock blood and qi, relieve fatigue, and it’s quite effective.” She leaned down slightly, her gaze concerned, “Would you… like to try it?”

"No." The traveler refused without hesitation, instinctively pulling the blanket up a little to increase his "defense."

Fierce battle? What fierce battle? Who was fighting?

"Hehe." Jin Moli seemed unsurprised by her rejection, nor was she discouraged. Instead, she chuckled and said in a slightly persuasive tone, "How will the Vice Hall Master know the wonders of it if he doesn't try it himself? It's just for relaxation, and you won't feel uncomfortable at all."

As she spoke, she walked straight to the bedside, her demeanor calm and natural, as if she were doing something perfectly ordinary.

"What are you doing..." Upon seeing this, the traveler immediately hugged the blanket and shrank to the other side of the bed, his face showing obvious vigilance, as if he was saying, "If you take another step closer, I'll call for help (although I don't know who to call)."

In stark contrast to her nervousness, Kim Mo-ri remained composed.

She didn't even notice the traveler's attempt to avoid her. She gently placed the long cushion at the head of the bed, then very naturally sat sideways on the edge of the bed, her position perfectly blocking the traveler's easy escape route.

"I'm really just helping you relax so you can rest better later," she explained gently, extending her hands. Her hands had long, slender fingers, well-proportioned knuckles, and fair, delicate skin; they certainly didn't look like hands used for rough work.

Before the traveler could refuse again or react more strongly, Jin Moli gently placed her warm palm on the spot where the traveler's neck and shoulder met, which was exposed outside the blanket. Her fingertips carried just the right amount of warmth, and she pressed down with gentle yet steady pressure.

"Hmm..." As she pressed and slowly kneaded with her fingers, a strange warm current, accompanied by a slight soreness, spread from the acupoints that were being touched.

The traveler's body stiffened instinctively, but then an indescribable sense of comfort replaced her initial wariness. The slight soreness in her neck, caused by maintaining one posture for a long time and which she herself had not even noticed, quickly melted away and eased under Jin Moli's fingers.

"Yes, this is it..." The comfort made the traveler murmur almost unconsciously, and his tense body gradually relaxed. He even unconsciously adjusted his posture slightly, exposing more of his neck to those magical hands.

Forget it...

The will to resist crumbles in the face of tangible comfort.

Anyway... it doesn't cost any money, and it seems really comfortable. So... whatever.

The traveler, in a state of self-abandonment, simply relaxed his body completely, closed his eyes, and let Jin Moli go.

*

The construction of the Xumi branch of Wangshengtang is progressing smoothly, even exceeding expectations, under the supervision of professional architect Kawi.

All the construction difficulties that might have been encountered were resolved one by one by Kavi with his genius creativity and rigorous project management.

The foundation has long been firmly filled in, and now the wooden and stone frame of the main building has taken shape, standing majestically on the planned land, with a clear outline, and one can vaguely see the magnificent and exquisite style that will be combined when it is completed in the future.

However, the traveler knew in her heart that she probably wouldn't live to see the day when the branch hall was fully completed and officially inaugurated. Her main business in Sumeru was finished, and her next journey was already on the agenda.

Before leaving, the traveler specially invited Kavi to dinner to thank him for his hard work and excellent design during this period. She even winked at Kavi several times, implying that she hoped it would be a farewell dinner "just the two of us," with a clear purpose—to shake off the ever-present Jin Moli.

However, whether he genuinely didn't understand her winking and subtle hints or was deliberately pretending not to, he politely and firmly declined each time with seemingly legitimate work-related reasons such as "there's still one detail in the drawing that needs to be revised overnight" or "I need to confirm the materials with the construction team first thing tomorrow morning."

This left the traveler quite frustrated.

He better really didn't understand my hint!

"What a pity." Seeing that Kavi said again that he had to go back to work after the meal, the traveler could only sigh with feigned disappointment, but his words were pointed: "Then I will have to find something to eat by myself."

She emphasized the word "alone" with exceptional clarity, making it all the more obvious that she didn't want to have dinner with Jin Moli.

“But…” Jin Moli, who had been quietly waiting to the side, spoke up at the right moment, her face showing just the right amount of worry: “Vice Hall Master, you see, it’s getting late. Although the night in Sumeru City is bustling, it’s still a bit unsafe to dine out alone, isn’t it? After all, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be any unscrupulous thieves…”

"Safety? Me?" The traveler almost laughed in exasperation, looking at Jin Moli's face, which was full of "sincere concern."

She saw it all firsthand: how I dealt with those 'bad guys' in the desert! I even took down that cyborg monster who called himself a god in one hit! And now she's telling me it's 'unsafe'? That's clearly on purpose! She's just using this as an excuse to cling to me!

*

However, Jin Moli's "prophecies" or "arrangements" always seem to carry a strange accuracy.

When the traveler, with a "I refuse to believe in bad luck" attitude, arrived alone at the entrance of the Lombard Tavern, he was about to open the door when he encountered a tall figure face to face—Elhesen.

The two met at the door, and the atmosphere instantly became subtly tense.

Just then, Jin Moli appeared silently beside the traveler from some unknown corner. Looking at Elhesen before her, a knowing expression of "I knew it," and "I expected it," she spoke softly in a tone mixed with worry and disapproval:

“You see, Deputy Hall Master, as I just said, it was unwise to let you travel alone at night. You immediately encountered… some people with ‘malicious intentions’.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for the people near the door to hear clearly.