The first thing Shen Jianxi did upon returning to modern times was to pick up her phone and check the date.
The moment she saw the date displayed, her vision went dark—ten days had passed since she left!
Forget about a full attendance bonus; she wasn't even sure if she'd be fired for being absent for so long.
Worried about her salary, Shen Jianxi ignored the 99+ unread messages and missed calls from Feng Chuyao and instead called Su Ying.
"...Hello?"
As soon as the call connected, Shen Jianxi blurted out, "Teacher Su, has the director been very angry about my disappearance these past few days?"
"Yes..." The voice on the other end began, but then the pendant flashed blue. Su Ying changed her tune, "What are you talking about, Teacher Shen? While the director is a bit strict, he wouldn't be unreasonable at a time like your mother's passing."
"Right, how are you doing now? Do you need me to come keep you company?"
"Ah?!" Shen Jianxi didn't understand what she meant and mumbled reflexively, "...Ah, no need, I'm fine."
"If you need anything, you must tell me. Don't try to bear it alone!"
"Okay... Thank you."
The call ended, and Shen Jianxi was dazed.
What... what was going on?!
She understood every word, but how did they make such little sense when put together?
Her mother passed away?
But she grew up in an orphanage!
She's an orphan!
Shen Jianxi had a strong feeling that this matter was related to the pendant. She scrolled through her phone and, after some thought, called Feng Chuyao. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Drip... drip... drip..."
The phone rang for half a minute with no answer. Just as she was about to hang up, a familiar voice, clear and deep, came through, "Hello."
"It's Shen Jianxi," she responded softly from her end.
Feng Chuyao sat in his office, twirling a pen, a medical record spread out on his desk. He heard her reply and pursed his lips into a silent smile, "Mmm, I know."
"You..." Shen Jianxi hesitated, not daring to be too direct.
"Have you returned?" Feng Chuyao asked.
"I have."
There was a long silence on the other end. Just as Shen Jianxi was about to check if her phone was malfunctioning, a short sigh reached her ears, followed by Feng Chuyao speaking again, "My condolences."
By profession, Feng Chuyao had witnessed many partings and deaths, but this time, he found himself unable to utter the usual comforting platitudes.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I bought lamb chops. If it's convenient, after work, would you like to try my cooking?" He thought about it and this was the only way he could think of.
They say good food can lift one's spirits, and he was quite confident in his culinary skills. Since he didn't know what else to say, he might as well express himself through actions.
In Feng Chuyao's opinion, doing was always more important than saying.
"Okay." Shen Jianxi nodded initially, then realizing he couldn't see her, she said aloud, "Then come to my place. I've been a bit tired lately and don't really feel like going out."
"Then I'll come find you after work," Feng Chuyao's voice was gentle as he coaxed her, an unconscious hint of indulgence in his tone.
After hanging up, Shen Jianxi was certain that these events were linked to her pendant. It would rationalize her disappearance and provide her with an excuse. This way, she could occasionally spend a few extra days in a world if she wished.
Confident that she wouldn't be fired, her mood was now exceptionally bright. She took a bottle of "happy water" from the refrigerator, took a sip, placed it on the table, and then threw herself onto the beanbag chair.
"Ah~" she let out a contented sigh.
This was the life of a goddess!
She no longer disliked her small apartment; this was paradise!
Her body had fully recovered, not even a scratch remained. She was in the same condition as when she left this world.
Despite this, Shen Jianxi couldn't shake off the lingering unease. After resting enough, she got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
She hadn't avoided bathing in the other world, it was just that there was no body wash or anything, so she could only wash up in the river.
Warm water cascaded from the showerhead, quickly filling the bathroom with mist.
Shen Jianxi stood under the spray, holding her breath, letting the water stream onto her face.
Her thoughts drifted, and she couldn't help but recall Qin Lang's condition.
It seemed Axian and the others had done something. She wondered how he was doing now.
Realizing she was actually worrying about Qin Lang, Shen Jianxi shivered violently and berated herself internally. Was she crazy? Although they had gone through thick and thin together, she had to endure these things because of him.
She was absolutely certain that her sudden disappearance to that world this time was because Qin Lang was in danger.
Even as a staunch materialist, Shen Jianxi couldn't help but think of terms like "destined soulmates."
Shaking her head vigorously, she dispelled these absurd thoughts from her mind. After reciting Marx's dialectical materialism to herself once more, she finally emerged from the bathroom.
...
Six thirty.
Feng Chuyao knocked on her door.
Shen Jianxi, with a towel wrapped around her head and a face towel in her hand, rushed to open the door.
"You're here, quick, come in." As she said this, she bent down to get the men's slippers she had bought last time.
Feng Chuyao was startled by her appearance when she first opened the door, but he quickly regained his composure. He carried several large bags, changed his shoes, and walked in.
"You go ahead and do your thing. I'll handle the ingredients, and you can eat after your skincare routine."
He knew that skincare for women was a complicated and often time-consuming process, and Feng Chuyao was not short on patience.
The man seemed to have a fondness for white shirts, which accentuated his tall, lean physique. Every inch of his clothing was pressed perfectly flat. Perhaps it was a bit warm from his journey, as a few buttons at his collar were casually undone. The ingredients in his hands added a touch of domesticity to his otherwise composed and almost ascetic demeanor.
Shen Jianxi didn't stand on ceremony and handed over the kitchen to him completely, while she continued her skincare regimen.
Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but she felt her skin had become rougher after this trip.