Chapter 1338

NO. 242: As they say, concern leads to chaos.

At half past three in the afternoon, Shu came to see Xi once, just to borrow the kitchen.

Although the Rhodes Island Building had divided the dormitory area and taken care of most employees' lodging, there was also a staff canteen that provided three meals a day.

But the company also had quite a few employees like Shu who enjoyed cooking themselves.

There was no conflict, because the staff canteen also welcomed confident employees to apply for part-time work, and was even willing to expand its scale for them.

Shu occasionally did part-time temporary work there, drawing praise.

Praise was nice, but far from enough to make her lose herself.

So she remained a temporary worker, never holding an official title there.

Thus, when she suddenly felt like borrowing the kitchen, it would be a bit inconvenient—there it was often unavailable.

Although the label 'staff canteen' sounds hard to view favorably, as a company with a strong otherworldly nature, Rhodes Island's employees are not only mostly otherworldly beings, but also otherworldly beings from various cultural food circles.

The food is varied, the cuisines are varied, and there is no shortage of ingredients and sauces that need advance preparation.

These are the reasons the kitchen is often busy, and also the second reason Shu occasionally comes to see Xi.

You ask what the first one is?

Pulling her out for a few steps to catch some sun—this is her standing wish for the sole shut-in in the Sui family.

But a wish remains a wish precisely because it's hard to fulfill, just like how many parents' nagging for years, even decades, can't change reality; likewise, Shu, who has been nagging for years, treats Xi with an indifferent 'whatever' attitude.

Even so, she is remarkably patient.

After all, with the ability to oversee cause and effect, it means knowing the outcome from the very beginning.

One must face the cruel fact that most attempts in the world end up not being very wonderful.

So, are you still willing to make those attempts that seem futile?

As for that, Shu's answer is her unchanging practical action.

After finishing in the stove that Xi had drawn, she carried the similarly pre-prepared pickles and placed them in the corner of the dormitory room; this girl with hair like watercolor then stood up, turned her head, and looked at the little sister sitting at the computer, feigning seriousness.

"Xi, has Aomo been in touch with you lately?"

"Ah?"

The volume was too loud, her eyes widened in surprise, then followed several seconds of silence, along with the ensuing expression and actions.

Xi continued to put on an act, striking a pose of earnest surfing, not even looking this way as she asked: "Why would he want to contact me?"

"It's not that I want him to contact you; I just thought that, after all these years, the only friend who could get you out of the house seems to be him."

"Ugh… Sister Shu, you're talking nonsense; if Nian hears that, who knows what it'll turn into."

"If she really jokes like that, just tell me and I'll decide for you."

"Having others decide is so childish…… I and Nian wouldn't do that, but Sister Shu, are you done over there?"

"Done. Although they're all first attempts, I feel they should turn out well."

"What… huh, is there nothing else to attend to?"

No stutter, her tone steady, her expression remained composed—perfect!

Artist Xi, on one hand, acknowledged herself inwardly, while on the other continued to feign indifference to hide some facts.

For example, Sister Ling has been here these past two days, and also, Sister Ling has gone missing again from last night to now, which is clearly not the same reason as her previous disappearances.

When Shu had previously come to see her, Xi already felt her heart pounding like a drum, somewhat like the tension of a criminal in hiding being greeted by an unaware police neighbor.

Although I don't know why I should conceal it, upon reflection perhaps there's no need, yet I don't even want to think about it.

When Artist Xi grew tense, she didn't care about much else; upon suddenly hearing Aomo's name, she almost twitched, nearly thinking that one of her random guesses—that Shu would suddenly show up to borrow the kitchen—had come true.

She shouldn't have come for this, right?

Shouldn't she have been busy with her experimental field lately?

After the autumn harvest, there was a lot of work to handle, and she was chatting enthusiastically with the little East Kingdom deity called Sakuna, spending all day in her greenhouses…… How did she end up coming to borrow the kitchen today…?

Today, today shouldn't be a workday, right?

Miss Xi, the unemployed individual with exceptionally rich inner thoughts, though she often stays at home, never misses any updates from friends' circles or family groups, having a basic grasp of each villager's recent situation—this is the confidence brought by surfing the net day and night.

But precisely because of this confidence, she panics uncontrollably when faced with Shu's unconventional visit, for she has a guilty conscience and is moreover inept at organizing information and logical deduction.

Now, anything that flashes through her mind seems possible; ruling things out is impossible, not thinking about it is basically 'you do you,' and when facing her older sister she simply puts on her usual cold, taciturn demeanor and counts that as success.

She feels she has already tried very hard.

She's already given plenty of face to her older sister!

Even without knowing where she ran off to, still helping her cover up like this already counts as deep sisterly love, being a model younger sister; if the family were to scare her again……

Then she too would have to disappear!

Then she heard the other party reply: "Anything else? Probably not—aside from preparing those German dishes for Aomo, all that's left is to make two jars of wine for Sister Ling? That just requires me to check the wine cellar…… What's wrong?"

Before she finished speaking, Shu saw Xi's eyes full of alarm, startled for a moment, recalling what she had said, and let out a soft sigh.

"... I never said that Sister Ling invited Aomo to eat, did I?"

"You really didn't say anything…"

Xi didn't know what expression she was making; she actually wanted to shout that out, but in reality it was just like a lump in her throat, her voice so low it sounded desolate.

"What I see is that you know about this…… ah, I can't tell."

After reacting, Shu coughed a couple of times to cover up the fact that future events had confused her present judgment, and also drew a slightly worried glance from the little sister:

"You aren't also suffering from lack of rest lately, are you?"

"Don't worry, for people like us, losing a bit of sleep isn't a problem."

"That's precisely why I'm more worried—you've been busy with the experimental field research lately, right? It's a very troublesome project, and it even made you break your precepts and use your ability."

"It's not that serious; it's not a big deal in itself, but Sister Ling's matter is more important, causing me to make this little slip."

""That's true... On this topic I can only stay silent; I really don't know what to say and what not to say, evening, but I alone agree that Sister Ling's matter is something that easily makes everyone overly concerned."

Besides, don't try to shift the topic with my affairs, eh, Xi—you already knew your older sister's worries from the start, right?

Um… Shu Sis, did you see it or did you talk to Elder Sis about it?

Is that important?

It doesn't seem very important either, so… Shu Sis, do you know where Elder Sis went? She's been missing since last night, and I don't feel comfortable telling Elder Brother and the others… I've been worried she might do something foolish; in this regard she's still quite… quite odd.

After repeated consideration, Xi decided to use the word 'strange' to describe Elder Sis's thinking, which is like that of marching and waging war.

If it were ordinary times, that would be fine, but these days leading up to the year-end are exactly when everyone is swamped, and living conditions absolutely cannot improve.

For a great painting, one can infer insufficient ability, but one cannot possibly have weak observation.

They rely precisely on that gaze to bind everything, on that perception to seize everything, only then can they engrave the meaning of all things, moving and fixing both the 'spirit' and the 'substance' into them.

Dotting the dragon's eyes, moving the spirit and fixing the substance—nothing surpasses this.

Therefore, Xi's suggestions to Elder Sis always start from a conservative angle, just as consistent with her usual attitude to life.

She clearly understands that after a terrible day filled with pressure, inviting some disruptive results that break stability—when she had not yet withdrawn from society, was still walking among crowds, and had witnessed the days of chaotic famine—those scenes contrary to expectation are truly countless.

Moreover, it left her with a rather deep impression.

"Emmm… strange… I think it's okay?"

From cause to effect, from effect to cause, and because new causes and effects constantly arise, Shu, whose perspective is diverse, merely gave a subtle smile, then lowered her head to glance at her own preserved food placed in the corner.

"As long as the result is good."

"No need to worry about where she is or what she'll do; after all, she won't put herself in an awkward situation."

"That's our carefree and spontaneous Elder Sis."