"Haitang, what's wrong with you?"
When they returned to work, Xu Xinyi and Hong Xiumin saw Song Haitang, whom they hadn't seen for two days.
But Song Haitang's haggard appearance startled them both.
Although Song Haitang usually didn't wear heavy makeup, she still applied light makeup, looking youthful and radiant.
But at this moment, Song Haitang was gaunt, with sunken eyes and a dazed expression, completely unrecognizable from her past self.
When Xu Xinyi and the other asked her questions, she would stare blankly for a while before looking up and answering out of context, "Good morning."
"Good morning? What's wrong with you? Can you still work today? If not, take a leave and go home to rest for two days. I think the boss's wife will agree," Xu Xinyi and the other said with concern.
"I'm fine, I'm doing very well," Song Haitang said, walking directly towards her flower garden.
With no one to tend to them for two days, some of the flowers were already wilting and needed to be picked out and discarded.
Xu Xinyi and Hong Xiumin observed her from time to time, filled with worry.
But the more they watched, the stranger they found it, because as Song Haitang worked, she kept looking back behind her, as if there was something there.
But in their eyes, there was nothing behind Song Haitang, which made them recall what Song Haitang had said that day, and they felt a chill run from the base of their spines straight to the top of their heads.
It could be said that the world had become increasingly strange recently. First, plants grew wildly, the air became fresher, and various minor ailments were cured without medicine.
These were all good things, but strange occurrences had also increased. The internet was filled with all sorts of bizarre claims, it was hard to tell truth from falsehood, and the government seemed to have given up on control, making many people skeptical.
And now, something unusual seemed to have happened to Song Haitang.
This made the warm morning feel cold to the two of them, though it was possible it was just their imagination.
"Ding ding ding."
Just then, the doorbell rang, startling them both again.
Why "again"? Because they had been startled like this last time, and the memory was vivid.
This time, the ones who entered were still the boss and the boss's wife.
What they didn't know was that the boss's wife was still a transformation of Su Huamei.
As for Su Jinxiu, she planned to stay in the world of "Guanshanhai" for a while longer. The baby had just been born, and without inheriting the mother's powers, it was almost no different from an ordinary child and was extremely fragile.
Therefore, Su Jinxiu wanted to stay in the world of "Guanshanhai" for a while longer before coming out. On one hand, it was to give the infant time to grow, and on the other hand, it was because the world of "Guanshanhai" was rich in spiritual energy. Even though spiritual energy was beginning to recover outside, it was definitely not comparable to the world of "Guanshanhai."
Moreover, the world of "Guanshanhai" lacked nothing at the moment, and Su Jinxiu's entire focus was on her child. It didn't matter to her where she was.
However, Liu Zonghe and Yu Huilan had returned home first and did not continue to stay in the world of "Guanshanhai." After all, they were ordinary people with limited lifespans. Although the spiritual energy in the world of "Guanshanhai" had a nourishing effect on their bodies, it was not worth it compared to their lifespans.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Clearly, "Su Jinxiu" had seen their frightened appearance just now.
Hearing this, Xu Xinyi and Hong Xiumin immediately looked at Song Haitang beside them.
"Su Jinxiu" followed their gaze and was also surprised to see how haggard Song Haitang looked.
"Haitang, what's wrong with you? What happened?"
As "Su Jinxiu" spoke, she looked at the giant guardian spirit behind her. With the recovery of spiritual energy, the guardian spirit had also benefited slightly, becoming more solid and lifelike.
Unlike before, it was like a soulless puppet.
"It's... it's nothing," Song Haitang said, but her guilty expression was obvious to anyone.
"Come with me."
"Su Jinxiu" thought for a moment, then turned and walked towards an empty space nearby.
With such an undeniable demeanor, Song Haitang didn't even have the thought of resisting and obediently followed behind.
"Alright, it's okay now. You can go back to your tasks," Liu Nanfeng said with a smile to the remaining two.
The two were curiously craning their necks to look in Song Haitang's direction.
"Boss, how have these past two days been?" Xu Xinyi asked him, glancing at him.
"Why do you ask?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously.
"Because you look especially happy," Xu Xinyi said.
Hong Xiumin also nodded repeatedly beside her.
"Is it that obvious?" Liu Nanfeng said with a smile.
"Of course, your mouth is almost split to your ears, and even your eyebrows are brimming with joy," Hong Xiumin said.
"Alright, alright, something good did happen. You'll know in a few days. Go back to your work. Oh, and see what's expired and doesn't need to be kept. Also, list what else needs to be purchased..."
The two looked at Liu Nanfeng blankly.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Boss, these things are usually handled by the boss's wife. Your sudden behavior is really making us unaccustomed."
After saying that, they turned and ran without waiting for Liu Nanfeng to speak.
Liu Nanfeng shook his head helplessly. He usually didn't meddle in affairs, so everyone wasn't afraid of him.
Moreover, Su Jinxiu had a strong aura, and the coffee shop was her domain, where her word was law and no one dared to object. Over time, they had all become accustomed to obeying her, and Song Haitang was one of them.
Although she found it absurd, she still spoke to "Su Jinxiu."
Su Jinxiu was a bit dazed. The reason she looked so haggard was that she was frightened, which had led to her not resting well for the past few days.
However, "Su Jinxiu" did not see anything dirty behind her. Even if there was, it would likely have been driven away by her guardian spirit.
Looking at the guardian spirit behind her, full of maternal radiance, "Su Jinxiu" suddenly realized something.
Could Song Haitang have been scared by her own guardian spirit?
Thinking about it, it seemed quite possible.
With the recovery of spiritual energy, Song Haitang's guardian spirit behind her had greatly increased in power. Not only had its previously shaky form become more solid, but its image had also become more three-dimensional and lifelike. Perhaps it could even transform into a physical entity capable of walking in the mortal world.
Moreover, Song Haitang herself had decent aptitude. With the recovery of spiritual energy, even without cultivation, her body had been passively strengthened, and her spiritual senses had become more acute. Therefore, it was not strange that she could sense the guardian spirit behind her.
"Boss, I... I'm really fine. Maybe I just didn't rest well. I'll be fine in a couple of days, and it won't affect my work."
Seeing the boss's wife staring intently at her, Song Haitang felt a little nervous. She was worried about being fired. It was difficult to find a job with such high pay, easy work, and good benefits, and she genuinely loved flowers.
"Silly girl, you're just scaring yourself."
"Su Jinxiu" smiled and reached out, flicking her finger on Song Haitang's forehead.
"Ah..."
Song Haitang touched the spot where she had been flicked and let out a soft cry.
It wasn't that it hurt, but she let out an involuntary gasp. However, at the spot where she had been flicked, there was a strange sensation, as if something had drilled into her forehead from the boss's wife's fingertip.
At that moment, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes watching her from above, and she subconsciously looked up.
Then--
"Mom..."
Looking at the person in front of her with a smile and kind eyes, Song Haitang's tears flowed like rain.