The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

Days are like the leaves of the sycamore tree outside the window, turning green and then yellow, passing by one by one without us even realizing it.

Ye Shu's life gradually developed a stable rhythm:

Preparing breakfast in the kitchen in the morning, working in the shop during the day, and cooking dinner at home in the evening—this cycle repeats itself day after day.

An Suxue was still shy, but when he came home, her eyes would always steal glances at him through the carrot pillow.

Xia Qing still acted like a boss, ordering him around, but her attitude seemed a bit softer and less aggressive than before.

Zhi Qiu is the most stable source of warmth, always keeping this little family in good order with her smile and just the right amount of care.

However, the calmer the days became, the clearer the vague sense of unease in Ye Shu's heart became.

It seems like someone is missing from this house...

It's not a physical absence, because there are only two people in the family, it's a void in our sense of presence.

Ye Shu thought back carefully and realized that he hadn't seen that emotionless girl since he returned from grocery shopping the day after he moved in.

She was like a drop of water, evaporating silently into the air; unless one consciously thought about it, her absence was almost imperceptible. Yet, once recalled, that vague sense of her existence left Ye Shu with a strange unease.

Finally, at dinner time, the neon lights of the street scene outside the window were flashing, and a simple four-dish-and-one-soup meal was laid out on the table.

Zhi Qiu picked up a piece of vegetables with her chopsticks and put it into Ye Shu's bowl, which Ye Shu had already gotten used to. As long as Sister Zhi Qiu didn't open her eyes and scare people, she was the gentlest and most considerate sister in the world.

Ye Shu took a bite of rice, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked the question that had been on her mind for several days:

"Sister Zhi Qiu, there's something I've been curious about for days... Why haven't I seen Xiao Nuan come out?"

"Um......"

Zhi Qiu wasn't too surprised. She picked up her chopsticks, thought for a moment, organized her thoughts, and explained softly:

"Well, that child is a bit special. She's not usually online like we are... well, frequently. She only appears when we need her, or rather, when the three of us encounter something we can't handle."

This is a novel concept, Ye Shu thought, finding it interesting, and casually asked:

"Things you can't handle? For example?"

Zhi Qiu tilted her head slightly in thought, the lamplight casting a warm glow on her soft profile.

"For example, when we encounter real-world problems that are difficult for the three of us to solve on our own, such as analyzing some data, or when the three of us have different opinions, or when the three of us are in a very low mood for some reason and have no mind or energy to deal with daily trivial matters, Xiao Nuan will appear to handle these things."

The ultimate trump card that only appears when everyone else is stumped? Usually keeping a low profile, but carrying the whole team at crucial moments?

For some reason, an image of a black-clad swordsman standing on a rooftop suddenly appeared in Ye Shu's mind, facing tens of thousands of soldiers in front of him, leaving only a cold sentence: "Don't worry, I will take action."

This is so handsome it's practically flying off the edge!

Ye Shu didn't even think about it before blurting it out:

"Could this be the legendary strongest system?!"

Zhi Qiu clearly didn't understand what he said, and tilted her head slightly. This somewhat childish gesture looked exceptionally cute on her.

"What system? Xiao Nuan... she's not a computer program."

"Uh...it's nothing, it's nothing, I was just talking nonsense, just a random analogy...let's eat."

Ye Shu quickly shoveled down a couple of mouthfuls of rice, thinking to himself: It seems that Sister Zhi Qiu doesn't usually read online novels.

After dinner and washing the dishes, Ye Shu, exhausted from the day, returned to her room and collapsed onto the large bed that felt increasingly comfortable to her.

"ah--"

It was a long, satisfied sigh from the depths of his soul. He rolled halfway comfortably on the bed, burying his face in the soft pillow, looking rather like he was enjoying the good fortune while feigning innocence.

"Seriously... it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagance to frugality... This lousy bed, it's all your fault! How come it's getting more and more comfortable to sleep on? I've become so pampered, how am I going to sleep on a hard bed again...?"

He complained, but his body language betrayed him as he sprawled out, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation after a busy day.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

The phone in Ye Shu's hand suddenly vibrated. He lazily raised his hand and saw the word "Dad" on the screen.

The timing of the call... a strange premonition flashed through his mind, and he swiped to answer.

"Hello, Dad? Why are you calling me at this hour? What's wrong?"

His voice still carried a hint of languor from lying down.

On the other end of the phone, my father's familiar voice came through, but his tone was different from usual. It lacked vigor and was more heavy, with a hint of suppressed fatigue in his voice.

"Shu, could you... see if you can take some time off recently and buy a ticket to come back?"

Ye Shu's faint premonition instantly magnified, and he sat bolt upright in bed, his voice unconsciously tense:

"Dad, what happened? Your voice sounds off..."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, a brief pause that made Ye Shu's heart sink. Then, her father's voice rang out again, this time lower and more somber:

"Your grandma... suddenly felt unwell this afternoon and was taken to the county hospital. She's not doing well... You... try to come back as soon as possible."

With a buzzing sound, Ye Shu felt as if he'd been hit on the back of the head with a blunt object, his mind going completely blank. He held up his phone and said:

"No way, they were fine when we called last week!"

But then his brain forced him to calm down, all the laziness and leisure vanished instantly, replaced by an abnormal clarity.

"Okay! I got it, Dad! I'll pack my things and head back right now."

After hanging up the phone, the room suddenly fell silent, with only his own rapid breathing remaining.

He froze for two seconds, then jumped off the bed, ran barefoot to the wardrobe, forcefully pulled open the door, and dragged out the battle-damaged suitcase that had been with him for many years from the very back.

His mind seemed a little out of control, not chaotic, but rather a stream of aimless thoughts scattering around him. He was thinking about all sorts of things, yet didn't know what to think about. Helpless, he could only mutter to himself:

"Clothes, pants, charger, phone, wallet..."

They would put one item into the box as soon as they were told to.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and before he could respond, the door was carefully pushed open a crack.

Zhi Qiu stood at the door, already dressed in her pajamas, her long hair loosely tied up. But when she saw Ye Shu squatting on the floor inside the room packing her luggage, her expression froze instantly.

A hint of panic flickered in her eyes, and she instinctively took half a step forward, her voice trembling slightly:

"Little Shu, why...why are you packing your bags? Where are you going?"

Her gaze was fixed on Ye Shu and the suitcase, as if it were a terrible omen that something important was about to be taken away.

The question, "Where are you going?" was asked urgently and softly, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor at the end, revealing a panic that she herself was not fully aware of.

Ye Shu was engrossed in stuffing a coat into a suitcase when she heard this. Without even looking up, she quickly explained:

"My dad just called and said that my grandma was suddenly hospitalized this afternoon. It sounds like her condition isn't good, so I have to go back right away."

"……oh."

Upon hearing this reason, Zhi Qiu subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew she shouldn't think that way, she couldn't help herself.

It turns out it wasn't...it wasn't anything else.

She reverted to her reliable older sister persona, took out her phone, and offered words of comfort:

"Don't panic, Xiao Shu. The more this happens, the calmer you need to be. Tell me your address, and I'll buy you a ticket."

"Okay! The address is..."

Ye Shu gave the name of her hometown, and without stopping packing, finally zipped up her suitcase.

He stood up and looked at Zhi Qiu, saying:

I'll transfer the ticket money to you later.

Zhi Qiu stared at the ticketing information on her phone without even looking up:

"Don't worry about money, we'll talk about it when you get back."

She paid as she spoke.

"The next train is the 11:30 pm high-speed train tonight. It's a bit rushed, but it's the fastest."

"Buy it! This is the one! I'll leave as soon as I'm done packing, I'll make it in time!"

At the entrance, Zhi Qiu leaned forward slightly, her voice even softer:

"Be careful on the road, don't rush, keep an eye on your luggage and documents, and let me know when you arrive. Okay?"

Ye Shu nodded heavily, a strange feeling of tingling in his nose. He didn't say anything more, tightened his grip on the suitcase handle, and left home.

Outside the window, the city's neon lights still flickered, and the night traffic flowed like a galaxy.

The lights in Yunduan Garden seemed much quieter than usual because of someone's hasty departure.

Zhi Qiu walked back to the living room, her gaze sweeping over the spot on the sofa where Ye Shu often sat, now empty. She sighed softly, a sigh as light as a feather, falling into the silent air, yet seemingly carrying weight.

he's gone.

This house suddenly seems... a bit too big.