Lin Xi went to the intersection mentioned by the courier station owner and found it was very close to the subway station.
She told Ah Shuishui about this.
Ah Shuishui, who had been anxiously waiting for news, burst into tears instantly: [Ah Shuishui from the Primitive World: My Caocao was waiting for me to get off work. Only my Caocao in the whole world would wait for me after work, no matter how harsh the weather was.]
[When I found him, he was only three months old. His leg was bitten lame and his eye blinded after fighting stray cats for food.]
[That day, I had just gotten off work when I saw him in the bushes outside the subway station, bleeding heavily and nearly dead.]
Ah Shuishui missed her Caocao so much that once she had Lin Xi’s attention, she couldn’t stop talking about their first meeting: [It was such a coincidence—that day, I had just gotten my paycheck. After paying off debts and setting aside living expenses, I had a few hundred yuan left.]
[I felt we were destined, so I took him to the vet. Treating him and getting him vaccinated used up what little savings I had. After paying for his shots, I could only afford steamed buns and pickles for lunch, but I never regretted it.]
Raising a cat was a heavy responsibility for Ah Shuishui. Many called her foolish for keeping Caocao and urged her to give him away, but she could never bring herself to do it.
[We relied on each other. He’d stay by my side when I slept and jump onto my lap when I was upset. We hugged and kept each other warm. With him around, I finally had a companion who was truly mine.]
Ah Shuishui was lonely. She felt like a speck of dust in this world, drifting without roots. To put it bluntly, she believed she had nowhere to go in life and nowhere to be buried in death.
For her, traveling to another world just meant being lonely somewhere else. The Primitive World was harsh, but at least no one there hounded her for repayment debts. Still, in her free moments, she always missed her Caocao.
She was the flower, and he was the grass—they were meant to be together forever.
Reading Ah Shuishui’s words, Lin Xi recalled how she had first joined the chat group and seen Ah Shuishui’s messages begging for spices. The flood of excited "ahhhs" seemed like they came from a completely different person compared to the one now confiding her loneliness. But then again, what adult in modern society didn’t wear multiple faces?
Wasn’t Lin Xi the same—different around those she trusted versus those she barely knew?
Ah Shuishui sent another message: [Xiao Xi, I usually get off work around 10 p.m. Can you go to the subway station at that time?]
The flow of time in the dimensional worlds differed from Earth’s. One day on Earth equaled two days elsewhere. Ah Shuishui hadn’t been gone long—she remembered that before she left, the temperature in Jing City had already dropped sharply. The northern winds were brutal, especially at night, cold enough to freeze a person to death.
Since Ah Shuishui’s suggestion aligned with her schedule, Lin Xi agreed. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Xi—now with a bit of spare cash—hailed a ride-share.
The driver was a chatterbox, talking nonstop the entire trip. By the time they arrived, Lin Xi was parched from all the conversation.
Back at the shop, Sister Xiu, Sister Fang, and Brother Feng had arrived, but He Chun was nowhere to be found. No surprise—she was probably out on another date with Manager Wang.
Sister Fang, the oldest in the shop at over thirty, loved gossip. When Lin Xi walked in, Sister Fang was already deep in discussion with Sister Xiu and Brother Feng about He Chun and Manager Wang.
"I heard from the management department that Manager Wang and He Chun do it in the stairwell on the top floor." Everyone knew Manager Wang was stingy, but being this cheap in such matters was downright disgraceful.
The top-floor stairwell was sweltering in summer and freezing in winter, not to mention people could walk in at any moment. It was downright disrespectful. But if He Chun didn’t mind, what could the others say?
Sister Xiu changed the subject, inviting Sister Fang to dinner, but Sister Fang declined. Her husband also worked nearby, and the two rarely ate out—they even brought homemade lunches to save money. They pinched pennies relentlessly, but back in their hometown, they’d already built a villa.
Sister Xiu grew even fonder of Lin Xi—where would she find another dining buddy this compatible?
In the afternoon, Sister Xiu got busy, so Sister Fang seized the chance to pull Lin Xi aside. "Xiao Xi, be careful around Manager Wang lately."
Manager Wang was a notorious womanizer who had preyed on many young women in the building materials market. Lin Xi despised men like him.
Frowning, she asked, "I’ve barely even seen Manager Wang. Why would he notice me?"
Lin Xi knew she wasn’t unattractive, but she rarely dressed up—just a cushion compact and lipstick for work. In a place full of beauties, she didn’t stand out.
Sister Fang studied Lin Xi’s delicate, gentle features and nearly scoffed. This girl was clueless about her own allure.
"According to the office staff, He Chun’s been bringing you up a lot lately—showing Manager Wang your photos, too." Like most decent women, Sister Fang had zero tolerance for cheating men or homewreckers.
Unfortunately, Manager Wang and He Chun fit the bill. Even more unfortunately, Sister Fang genuinely liked Lin Xi, which was why she’d rushed to warn her.
Lin Xi’s expression darkened. "What’s He Chun’s problem? I’ve never had issues with her. Why’s she dragging me into this?"
She wracked her brain but couldn’t recall any recent conflicts—the biggest disagreement was when He Chun had asked her to calculate cabinet dimensions a few days ago, and Lin Xi refused. Was that it? Was He Chun really that petty?
Sister Fang had an idea. "Manager Wang’s getting divorced. He Chun wants to be the next Mrs. Wang but has no leverage, so she’s recruiting backup."
"Did she binge too many palace dramas?" Lin Xi couldn’t believe anyone in 2023 could be this delusional.
"Lately, I’ve caught her watching The Legend of Mi Yue during work hours." Sister Fang patted Lin Xi’s shoulder before leaving to reply to a customer.
Lin Xi had seen clips of The Legend of Mi Yue—a story about a noblewoman married off to another kingdom, with her half-sister sent along as a concubine.
Was He Chun taking inspiration from this? Was she that deranged? Had the dent in her forehead at birth never healed?
Sitting at the checkout counter, Lin Xi slammed the table twice in frustration. It took the entire afternoon for her anger to subside.
Finally, the workday ended, and Lin Xi went to a familiar hotpot restaurant with Sister Xiu for dinner. He Chun hadn’t returned to the shop all afternoon. According to Sister Fang, she was busy currying favor with Manager Wang—practically turning herself into his personal secretary. In response to He Chun’s behavior, Sister Xiu quietly marked her as absent on the attendance sheet.
At the hotpot place, they ordered the broth, prepared their dipping sauces, and settled in to chat. Sister Xiu also ordered a glass of plum wine with ice—sweet yet carrying a pleasant alcoholic kick.
As they ate and drank, their conversation drifted from work to life and then to the future. Lin Xi didn’t mention He Chun’s scheming against her, nor how He Chun often skipped work, slacked off, and regularly tattled to Sister Xiu about others.
He Chun acted so brazenly because she had Manager Wang’s backing. As the leasing party of the building materials market, Manager Wang could easily make trouble for any shop. Sister Xiu had worked hard for over a decade to secure her position as shop manager, so Lin Xi didn’t want to add to her worries.
After all, she was leaving soon anyway. As for He Chun—if she dared lay a hand on her, Lin Xi would chop it off without hesitation!
At nine, the two parted ways at the entrance. Lin Xi hailed a cab and headed toward Wangpingzhuang. The autumn night was chilly, and the area around Wangpingzhuang subway station was bustling with street vendors.
Most sold food or clothes, but a few braved the cold to sell flowers.
Lin Xi loved flowers. In her decades of memories, the clearest were the blossoms that grew everywhere in her hometown, and the floral dishes that graced their dining table when the season was right.
Living away from home, Lin Xi made it a habit to buy a bouquet or two every payday, placing them in her rented apartment. It was a way of life for people from Yunnan—no matter the circumstances, flowers were a necessity.
Tonight was no exception. She bought two bouquets: one in her favorite shades of pink and purple, dotted with white daisies, and another of champagne hues paired with sunflowers.
Lin Xi thought the sunflower bouquet would be perfect for Ah Huahua. She hoped Ah Huahua’s life would be as bright and hopeful as the sunflower’s symbolism—always facing the sun.
Not far from the subway station, Lin Xi spotted a pet shop. She bought the cheapest cat treats and canned food—the same ones Ah Huahua often fed to Cao’er.
By the time she left the pet shop, it was already 9:45. She reached the intersection at exactly ten, but Cao’er was nowhere in sight.
The biting wind sent people hurrying past her. Lin Xi found a sheltered spot to wait.
She checked the weather on her phone—tomorrow’s temperature would drop sharply, from a few degrees above zero to three or four below. This was normal for this time of year. In another half-month, the capital would see its first snowfall, and the cold would only worsen.
Every winter felt the same. But this year, with her plans to return home, the days seemed especially hard to endure.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xi checked the time again—past 10:10. A rustling sound came from the nearby wall. She turned and saw a cat approaching. Its front legs were slightly impaired, making its gait slower than other cats. It must have been a stray for a long time—under the dim streetlight, Lin Xi could clearly see its blind left eye and matted fur.
It settled under the first streetlamp at the intersection, gazing into the distance and occasionally grooming itself.
Lin Xi stood a short distance away, recording a video of it before sending it to Ah Huahua. Then she approached Cao’er, opening the cat food and treats Ah Huahua had asked her to buy, placing them in front of it.
Cao’er bolted, scrambling onto the wall in an instant.
Lin Xi squeezed the cat treats onto the canned food—Ah Huahua had said this was Cao’er’s favorite way to eat.
The aroma of the food teased Cao’er from its perch. Its throat rumbled with a low growl, and its claws dug restlessly into the wall.
Lin Xi stood up and spoke softly, "Ah Huahua told me she misses you terribly, but she can’t come back. She doesn’t want you to wait for her anymore."
At the sound of the familiar name, Cao’er stilled. Ah Huahua had said the cat was unusually perceptive—Lin Xi hadn’t fully believed it until now, seeing the stark contrast in its behavior.
“Ah Huahua wants you to come with me. She’s already paid me for it,” Lin Xi added. She had originally planned to send Cao’er to Ah Huahua through the remote transfer function, but unfortunately, living beings couldn’t be transmitted that way.
So Lin Xi decided to care for Cao’er on Ah Huahua’s behalf. The cat’s expenses would be covered by the payment from Ah Huahua’s tasks. Just by the color and clarity of the gemstone Ah Huahua had sent, Lin Xi knew it was valuable. Once she exchanged it for money, she could easily afford not just one Cao’er, but ten—or even a hundred.
Cao’er leaped away again. Lin Xi waited a while longer, but there was no further movement. It was almost eleven, and if she didn’t leave soon, she’d miss the last subway train. She started walking toward the station, planning to return tomorrow.
Stray cats were naturally wary. She had known from the start that winning Cao’er’s trust would take time. Her plan was to come every day, feeding it until it grew accustomed to her. Then, taking it home would be easy.
As she crossed the street, a shadow suddenly appeared beside hers. Lin Xi stopped—the shadow stopped too. She took a step, and it followed. After a few rounds of this, Lin Xi couldn’t help but smile in delight.
She headed back to the pet shop near the subway station, buying a bag of cat litter and a small basin. The whole time, Cao’er trailed her at a distance. Finally, at the subway entrance, Lin Xi crouched and held out her hand. After a long hesitation, Cao’er placed its uninjured paw in her palm.
Lin Xi lifted it gently. The cat was thin and light, but its warmth made the winter night feel less harsh. On the subway ride home, Lin Xi nuzzled Cao’er’s head. The cat let out a soft meow, half-closing its eyes and tolerating her affectionate fussing.
No wonder Ah Huahua, even after transmigrating to the primitive world, still missed it so much. Sometimes, little animals had a way of healing the soul.
...
In the primitive world, Ah Huahua was overjoyed to hear that Lin Xi had taken in Cao’er. She rushed out of her hut, trading dried meat with the chief’s daughter, Ah Shuishui, for a large red gemstone to send to Lin Xi.
[Ah Huahua from the primitive world: No need for long speeches—thank you for adopting Cao’er. This is its dowry. Take good care of it.]
At the same time, Ah Huahua received a package from Lin Xi. Before she could open it, a message arrived:
[Ah Huahua, consider this my bride price. From now on, your Cao’er is mine. Don’t worry—I’ll raise it well!]
Ah Huahua's eyes welled up with tears as she read the note. She opened the package Lin Xi had sent her—everything she needed was inside. Seasonings, a lighter, a kitchen knife, a sickle, steel pipes, a machete, an iron pot, rice, noodles, and flour.
Ah Huahua used these supplies to cook a bowl of noodles, garnished with greens she had grown outside her cave.
She ate and cried at the same time. She knew Lin Xi had sent these things to reassure her—if it were possible to send living things, Lin Xi would have surely sent her beloved grass too. But it didn’t ease the ache in her heart. She just wanted to sob.
A whirlwind of emotions tangled inside her, impossible to sort out.
