Chapter 31: Swollen into a Giant Steamed Bun

Finally, the main event—food!

Various snacks wrapped in oil paper, still warm and giving off tempting aromas, were taken out one by one and neatly arranged on a clean cloth.

Mingou Cake, Mo Mo Roll, Qiongshi Bird Skewer, Floating Goat Milk…

A dazzling array instantly filled this gloomy space with mouthwatering aromas of everyday life.

Xi Lian's blue eyes widened, her mouth slightly open, as she watched the scene before her shift instantly from "bare walls" to "a dazzling array," her brain nearly grinding to a halt.

"Th-this… all these…?"

"It's bought with the lady's funds!"

Bai Hang stood with hands on hips, her face saying "praise me," "Look, this bracelet makes things convenient! You can pack as much as you want! From now on, this place won't be so desolate!"

She picked up a still-warm Mo Mo Roll and shoved it into Xi Lian's hand: "Try it! This is Luofu's current specialty snack, it's delicious! I bought a lot!"

Xi Lian stared blankly at the fragrant food in her hand, then at the soft blanket on the ground and the pile of books like a mountain, finally her gaze settled on Bai Hang's lively, caring smile.

A long-lost warmth, almost forgotten by her, slowly flowed through her chest, making her icy fingertips seem to regain some warmth.

"……Thank you."

She lowered her head, voice a little choked, and gently bit into the Mo Mo Roll in her hand.

The sweet, soft texture melted in her mouth, accompanied by a flavor called "Being Cared For."

"Oh, why be polite with me?"

Bai Hang also plopped down on the blanket, picked up a piece of Mingou Cake and started munching, speaking indistinctly: "From now on we're companions! We share blessings! Look at these books—you can read them when bored, to pass time! I also bought a chessboard; sadly I don't know how to play, but we can learn later!"

She chattered away like a happy little sparrow, constantly showing Xi Lian everything she'd brought back and describing what she'd seen and heard in Luofu.

Xi Lian listened quietly, occasionally nodding, the corners of her mouth—unnoticed by herself—turning up slightly into a genuine arc.

She gently stroked the soft blanket, flipped through the ink-scented pages, feeling the warm fullness the food brought.

This space, once only cold chains and despair, for the first time gained color, warmth, and… hope, thanks to Bai Hang's arrival and these lively items.

Bai Hang watched Xi Lian, who remained silent but whose eyes now held more vitality and sparkle, her heart feeling as sweet as if she'd drunk honey.

She made a silent resolution: she must find a way for Xi Lian, and any other Golden Descendants similarly trapped, to feel again the warmth and joy of being alive.

【Starry Sky Train Cabin Carriage Corridor】

San Yue Qi rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawned, and pushed open her cabin door.

She was a bit worried about Xing, after all, sleeping in a hallway cardboard box couldn't possibly be right.

Her gaze instinctively went to that corner—sure enough, the gray figure was still curled up under a huge cardboard sheet.

"Xing? Xing!" She stepped forward and gently shook Xing's shoulder.

Xing gave a dazed "hmm," slowly sat up, her face showing an unfamiliar bewilderment.

She blinked her golden eyes, looked around the familiar train corridor, then down at the uncomfortable cardboard beneath her, brows knotting: "I… how did I end up here?"

San Yue Qi was taken aback by her question: "Wasn't it you who insisted on sleeping here? Saying 'Heaven as quilt, earth as mat,' wanting to 'train'…?"

She imitated Xing's solemn, heavy tone from yesterday.

"Really?" Xing wore a "I have no idea what you're talking about" expression, instinctively reaching to scratch her head.

However, just as her fingertips touched the back of her head—

"Hiss—ah!"

A piercing pain, like an electric current, shot through her whole body in an instant, making her cry out involuntarily, her body curling slightly, tears uncontrollably welling in her eyes.

"Xing?! What happened?!" San Yue Qi jumped, quickly crouching down.

Xing couldn't speak from the pain, only able to point a trembling finger at the back of her head.

San Yue Qi cautiously reached out; the moment her fingertips touched Xing's hair, she felt an abnormal bulge—warm, hard, a huge swelling.

"Whoa! Xing! Your head… how did it get swollen like this?!"

San Yue Qi exclaimed in shock, the swelling's size beyond imagination: "It's… like… a big steamed bun!"

The commotion here quickly drew others' attention.

Dan Heng was the first to come out of his room; seeing Xing with tears in her eyes, clutching her head, his usually calm face showed a hint of surprise.

Immediately after, Jizi and Walther rushed over upon hearing the noise.

"What's going on?" Jizi asked anxiously.

"There's… a huge bump on the back of Xing's head!" San Yue Qi gestured wildly.

Walther pushed up his glasses; his gaze behind the lenses quickly swept over Xing's pained expression and her hand covering the back of her head, a flash of complex, indecipherable emotion flickering in his depths, but he quickly regained his usual composure: "Looks like she hit her head. The train happens to be docked at the space station—let's send her straight to the medical department for a check‑up."

【Black Tower Space Station – Medical Department】

After a busy examination, the space station's doctor held the diagnosis report, his expression somewhat subtle.

"The test results show the patient's head suffered……multiple external impacts, causing severe soft‑tissue edema locally and a mild concussion."

The doctor read the report, his tone tinged with doubt: "But fortunately, no intracranial bleeding or more serious injury was found. It could be called a million‑to‑one lucky break in misfortune……perhaps we should be glad the patient's skull is hard enough? Or……"

(Inner thought: Or maybe there's more space inside, giving a good cushion?)

"Multiple impacts?" San Yue Qi's eyes widened: "Xing, what exactly were you doing last night in that cardboard box? Practicing acrobatics?"

Xing looked innocent and bewildered: "I…… I don't remember……"

She not only couldn't recall how she'd hit her head, but also why she'd insisted on sleeping in the hallway, and what she'd experienced before—all turned fuzzy, as if shrouded in a thick fog.

Walther stood silently to the side; when he heard "the missing memory mainly concerns experiences related to the 'simulated universe' test," he imperceptibly let out a sigh of relief.

Aisida, upon hearing the news, also rushed over and handed the detailed test report to Jizi.

"Good thing it's nothing major, but for the next few days she should rest well and avoid strenuous activity."

Back on the train, Xing kept worrying about the huge bump on the back of her head, tightly wrapped in gauze and looking utterly ridiculous.

"Why is my head swollen like this? And I've lost my memory?" she muttered quietly.

San Yue Qi finally couldn't hold back, bursting out with a "pfft" laugh, quickly pulling out her phone: "Don't move, don't move! This 'classic' look must be recorded! Hahaha, it's like some tribe's head‑wrapping ceremony!"

Jizi also smiled helplessly, and gently patted Xing's shoulder.

Walther stepped forward, his tone gentle, carrying the special concern of an elder: "Perhaps you were unaccustomed while resting in the hallway and bumped into something unintentionally. From now on, it's better to sleep in bed; it's safer."

His words sounded reasonable and proper, and no one noticed the fleeting guilt—and a hint of relief—in the depths of his eyes.

(Walther's inner thoughts: The goal has finally been achieved…… although the method was a bit…… but at least she no longer has to bear those heavy memories that don't belong to her. However…… what's with the "multiple impacts" mentioned in the report? I clearly only tapped once……)