Lin Xi unpacked the newly bought cat bed, placed the litter box in the bathroom, and found a plate and a bowl to fill with cat food and water. She also opened a can of cat food and set it beside the bowl.
The moment Cao'er entered the room, it leaped onto the top of the only double-door wardrobe in the house, curling up there and watching Lin Xi with calm eyes as she bustled about preparing everything for it. Ever since Ah Huahua had disappeared, Cao'er had been left unattended, unable to compete with the other strays in fights due to its physical limitations.
During this time, Cao'er had never had a full meal. At its most desperate, it had resorted to scavenging through trash bins and drinking from gutters to survive. Earlier, at the subway station entrance, it hadn’t even touched the canned food or cat treats Lin Xi had offered.
Now, in the warmth of the room, with a soft bed nearby and the aroma of food right in front of it, Cao'er couldn’t resist. It approached the canned food and began eating, its eyes darting around warily as it emitted low, rumbling growls from its throat. The cautious little demeanor was undeniably adorable. Lin Xi couldn’t help but capture the moment on her phone and send a short video to Ah Huahua.
On the other side of the dimensional divide, Ah Huahua watched the footage of Cao'er eating, her anxious heart finally settling, though an indescribable ache lingered within her.
Lin Xi had never kept a pet before, but she understood the weight of longing. Putting herself in Ah Huahua’s shoes, she sent a message: [I’ll send you videos of Cao'er every day from now on.]
[Ah Huahua from the Primordial World: Thank you.]
Sometimes, the simplest words carry the deepest gratitude. Ah Huahua’s reply was exactly that—profound in its sincerity. Lin Xi could feel the weight behind those two words.
Items received through private messages weren’t confiscated. As Lin Xi watched the cat eating nearby, she held the ruby Ah Huahua had sent her.
Under the light, the ruby shimmered brilliantly, its deep red hue mesmerizing Lin Xi. In all her years, the finest piece of jewelry she’d owned was the silver bracelet her grandmother had given her when she started college.
During times when money wasn’t as tight, she’d bought herself a crystal bracelet, but the texture of that cheap trinket was nothing compared to the ruby in her hand now.
This gemstone felt similar to the jade pendant Lin Duxi had given her—substantial, smooth, and flawless, so transparent it almost seemed unreal.
Lin Xi had no intention of selling the ruby. It was Cao'er’s dowry, after all. She planned to take it home and have it crafted into a necklace for the cat.
She wasn’t worried about theft either—these days, fake crystals made of glass were everywhere online.
She wrapped the ruby in two layers of tissue paper and placed it inside a small black pouch embroidered with green bamboo and plum blossoms. The pouch was shaped like a traditional lucky charm, beautiful but worn with age, the colors of the embroidery now faded.
They say memories before the age of five are hazy, but Lin Xi had always remembered this pouch. Her mother had embroidered it for her on her fourth birthday.
Every time she looked at it, an image surfaced in her mind: the dim glow of a lamp, a beautiful woman sitting on a stool, stitching the pouch with careful hands. Little Lin Xi had crouched by her legs, asking what she was sewing. The woman’s gentle reply had felt like a dream, too tender to be real.
After a long pause, Lin Xi tucked the pouch into her bag, turned on the nightlight, and glanced at Cao'er. The canned food and treats were gone, and the cat had retreated beneath the table instead of curling up in its bed.
Lin Xi didn’t intervene. She knew animals instinctively sought out dark, hidden spots in unfamiliar places.
She turned off the light, whispered “Goodnight” to Cao'er, and went to bed.
Perhaps because she’d been thinking of her mother earlier, Lin Xi dreamed of the past that night—her younger self playing indoors while her parents sat in the main room, chatting and smiling at her. She ran to them, and they each took one of her hands, one wiping her sweaty face with a handkerchief.
The dream stretched on endlessly, and when her alarm woke her the next morning, she was still lost in it. The scenes were from so long ago that she couldn’t even be sure if they’d really happened.
As she got out of bed, her hand brushed against something warm and soft. She looked down to find Cao'er curled up beside her, having crept there at some point in the night. The lingering sadness from her dream melted away, replaced by a quiet warmth.
She immediately took a photo and sent it to Ah Huahua, who rewatched the video Lin Xi had sent multiple times.
Lin Xi refilled Cao'er’s bowl with kibble, then cleaned the litter box in the bathroom.
Before leaving, she gave Cao'er a few affectionate strokes.
The cat stared at her with wide, calm eyes as she walked away, only yawning and settling back into sleep after the door clicked shut.
With her resignation imminent, Lin Xi arrived at work later than usual. Leaving at 7 a.m. instead of her usual 6, the extra hour of sleep made a noticeable difference—she felt refreshed, and even the walk to work seemed more vibrant.
By the time she reached the store, it was nearly 9, and He Chun was still the only one there. After changing into her uniform, Lin Xi stepped out to find He Chun approaching her with a meat floss bun in hand.
“Here, Xi-jie, for you.” He Chun smiled brightly.
Lin Xi eyed the bun but didn’t take it. “No thanks, I’ve already eaten. I’m not hungry.”
In their year as colleagues, this was the first time He Chun had ever brought her breakfast. The gesture felt suspicious—after all, unsolicited kindness often came with strings attached.
He Chun wasn’t deterred by the rejection. She hadn’t actually intended to give the bun to Lin Xi anyway; she’d only offered because she needed a favor.
Studying Lin Xi’s strikingly beautiful face, then thinking of her own plain features, a flicker of envy passed through He Chun’s eyes before she masked it. “Xi-jie, I heard you’re resigning? Let me treat you to a meal—to thank you for looking out for me all this time.”
“Sorry, I don’t have time.” Lin Xi didn’t care what He Chun was scheming. As long as she didn’t engage, He Chun couldn’t rope her into anything. Besides, this was a society governed by law—what could He Chun possibly do to her?
A customer walked in, and Lin Xi seized the chance to walk away. According to store policy, during her final week, she was to remain on the shop floor. Any orders she secured in that time would earn her a 3% commission.
Three percent wasn’t much, but every little bit counted.
He Chun gritted her teeth. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. She glanced at it, then headed for the top floor.
In the top-floor office, everyone was busy with their tasks. He Chun walked familiarly toward Manager Wang's office. Manager Wang, in his forties, had a receding hairline and a beer belly larger than that of a woman six or seven months pregnant.
A flash of disgust crossed He Chun's eyes, quickly replaced by a coquettish smile as she approached Manager Wang...
The workday was dull, but since she didn’t have to go out, it wasn’t particularly exhausting. By 4:30 in the afternoon, Lin Xi was already off work, heading straight to the nearby farmers' market.
After buying a pile of seeds, farming tools, quilts, sickles, and other supplies, she stopped at a shop. When she walked out, she was carrying a mini stun gun and a bottle of extra-strength anti-assault spray.
She mailed them to Ah Huahua in a secluded spot.
At that moment, Ah Huahua was out gathering with others from her tribe. In this Stone Age era, before the dawn of agricultural civilization, foraging was the primary means of survival for primitive humans.
The chief’s daughter, Ah Shuishui, stood beside Ah Huahua. "Huahua, I want to move into the cave next to yours. Can you teach me how to plant wild vegetables in the soil outside?"
Recently, a major event had shaken the Luoyue tribe. Ah Huahua, who had just reached menarche and was deemed ready to bear children, refused to mate with anyone after a fall. She even moved out of her parents' cave to escape the partners her mother had chosen for her.
Worse, she neglected her duties, planting inedible grasses outside her cave that withered quickly!
Every one of Ah Huahua’s actions sent shockwaves through this matriarchal, Stone Age tribe. These days, whenever people gathered, the topic was always Ah Huahua.
Her plants thrived outside her cave, and lately, many had been sneaking glances at her dwelling.
Ah Shuishui was a confident young woman. Only three years older than the body Ah Huahua had transmigrated into, she was just nineteen but already a mother of two, with two men sharing her cave.
Rumors said she was pregnant again. Ah Huahua glanced at Ah Shuishui’s flat stomach and replied, "Of course, you’re welcome anytime."
Ah Shuishui beamed. Her mother, the tribe’s chief, had raised her with hands-on leadership training, grooming her as the next chief. Her foresight surpassed everyone else’s—while others were baffled by Ah Huahua’s gardening, Ah Shuishui glimpsed the future in it.
After foraging, Ah Shuishui fetched a piece of dried meat from her cave and headed to Ah Huahua’s. The moment she stepped into Ah Huahua’s territory, her eyes widened. Thorny plants budding with flowers, neat rows of vegetable plots—everything was mesmerizing.
Inside the cave, she was spellbound by the layered leaf-padded animal hide bed, the soft bedding, the smooth floor, and the functional layout.
"Ah Huahua, can you teach me how to make my cave as tidy and beautiful as yours?"
Ah Huahua had already hidden anything anachronistic. Smiling, she said, "Of course, I’d love to help."
Overjoyed, Ah Shuishui linked arms with her and hurried back to her own cave. She adored the square structure against the wall, piled with grass and hides—it looked so soft.
Imagine sleeping there with He and Qing... Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
With Ah Huahua’s help, Ah Shuishui’s cave transformed. After her men returned and tested the new bed, her admiration for Ah Huahua skyrocketed.
From that day on, Ah Shuishui treated Ah Huahua as her closest friend, inviting her everywhere.
In this primitive world, Ah Huahua had finally found companionship.
...
On the third morning after Lin Xi brought Caor home, she woke to a pinned message in the chat group:
[System Notification: Earthling Lin Xi has completed the task issued by Ah Huahua of the primitive world. Reward—violet gemstone—has been deposited into Lin Xi’s backpack. Note: 5% service fee deducted.]
Lin Xi eagerly opened the bag by her pillow. Inside was a violet gemstone the size of a baby’s fist.
Dawn light streamed through the curtains. Under the natural glow, the gem radiated an elegant, enchanting hue, its glass-like interior indescribably beautiful.
After wrapping the gem securely, Lin Xi hugged Caor tightly, inhaling its scent, then skipped out the door.
The moment she set it down, Caor darted under the bed.
These two-legged creatures and their cat-sniffing habits—terrifying.
By midday, during lunch break, Li Yucheng called. Lin Duxi’s trial was set for next Tuesday. Today was Sunday. Lin Xi checked her calendar, then messaged Sister Xiu to request leave in advance.
Later, she joined the lively group chat. Perhaps because some emotional knots had loosened, the banter was spirited. Lin Xi occasionally shared Caor’s videos, much to everyone’s delight.
As she scrolled through the messages, she frowned. Ye Bingbing, the villainess transmigrated into a CEO novel, had gone silent for days—unusual, given her daily rants about that absurd world.
Lin Xi opened the member list and sent her a private message. But by Tuesday, when she attended the trial, there was still no reply.
