Chapter 37:

Jing Qizhen: “Have you eaten yet? I’ll take you home later.”

Seeing Jing Qizhen suddenly rubbing his forehead with a helpless expression, Manman and Yan Hong asked at the same time, “What’s wrong?”

Jing Qizhen: “Let’s talk while we walk!”

Manman and Yan Hong nodded.

Out of consideration for Manman, Yan Hong and Jing Qizhen were standing on both of her sides before. Now, Manman naturally changed positions and stood on Jing Qizhen’s other side, so that he could communicate with the two people at the same time.

Jing Qizhen: “The planet said that Tang Song and the others outside detected two different bands of energy in this erosion area.”

Yan Hong frowned in confusion.

Manman asked directly, “I remember those professors said that the Seismic Monitoring Center detected energy fluctuations at the moment the erosion area was formed while we were in Yunhai Wancheng Department Store?”

Jing Qizhen: “That’s right. Because Yunhai Wancheng Department Store was the first erosion area to form, that was the only thing recorded by the Seismic Monitoring Center. Tang Song did not have the authority to directly mobilize professionals for detailed on-site inspection at the time!”

Manman immediately understood. “In other words, although Tang Song and the others detected two energy bands this time, they did not conduct the same energy monitoring at Yunhai Wancheng Department Store previously. Without data to compare, we won’t know whether the two energy fluctuations are generated in every erosion area or if something is different in this erosion area.”

Jing Qizhen: “That’s the case.”

When he said it, he was also a little unsure. After all, Earth had just suddenly appeared with the load of information. Not to mention that Jing Qizhen only heard the news secondhand, he also suspected in his heart that even Earth itself was half-informed.

The clues that could be determined so far were that Xu Siya might possibly be a core of the erosion area, while the little girl who looked exactly like Xu Siya but was strange in every other aspect was likely to be another core.

Compared with Miss Li, the female ghost they met previously at Yunhai Wancheng Department Store, the scope of the current erosion area was much larger and there were at least two variables within, making it difficult to clearly distinguish things.

Jing Qizhen rubbed his forehead again and discussed with Earth, “Ball.”

Earth, who had just been sulking and insulting other planets with abandon, came to its senses and responded blankly, “Eh? What are you saying?”

Jing Qizhen: “Are you going to take a look at the situation over there with Tang Song? If they come to any conclusions or the experts have any conjectures, come over and let me know, okay?”

Earth agreed. “Oh, okay, I’ll go take a look again!”

When Earth, which had been pointing fingers at other planets and cursing them in his mind suddenly disappeared, Jing Qizhen breathed a sigh of relief and rejoined the conversation with Manman and Yan Hong. “It left to check the situation with Tang Song again. Let’s wait for it to return later.”

Yan Hong touched his chin and sighed. “It’s a pity that you are the only one who can hear Earth’s voice. Otherwise, Earth can help the communication between the real world and the erosion area.”

Although they were not working alone in the erosion area and they had companions to join forces together, it felt very different to have national support within the erosion area.

Speaking of that, Yan Hong suddenly thought. “I don’t know if Earth can write on the ground outside to help deliver messages.”

Manman: “I don’t think it can… Just imagine if the planet moves its crust, then the scope of area affected will be huge.”

Jing Qizhen truly pondered about it. “It’s not completely impossible, but the premise is that we have to find an uninhabited area first, and then if there are any words written on the surface, there must be satellite photography transmitting information in real-time.”

However, after conveying his thoughts, Jing Qizhen shook his head again. “I don’t think that ball accepts being micro-managed.”

Otherwise, Earth would not monologue an impassioned speech that was very much like second-grader syndrome, about the warriors saving the Earth and defeating the Demon King, even without the presence of an audience.

If large-scale slogans like ‘Humanity must fight for the Earth’ suddenly appeared on the world’s surface, it would be a whole new unsolved mystery in the reality! Since humanity couldn’t possibly accomplish something like that, various countries and governments would naturally take it seriously.

Especially considering what Jing Qizhen knew, that Earth itself was proficient in a few languages. He had at least heard Earth cursing out other planets in a dozen or so different languages in a venting rage…

“By the way,” Manman exclaimed as something suddenly came to mind. “The time inside the erosion zone should be synchronized with the outside, right?”

Jing Qizhen paused slightly. “That’s right.”

Manman: “Let Earth help us check the exact time when they detected two different energy fluctuations outside.”

Jing Qizhen immediately understood.  “You mean to match it with the time here? Then we may be able to figure out the cause of the energy fluctuations!”

Manman: “Exactly. Actually, I suddenly thought of a two-player puzzle game and the similarity with our situation.”

Though Earth, acting as the messenger, might be just a tad unreliable.

Jing Qizhen and Yan Hong were both taken back. “Two-player puzzle game?”

Manman smiled. “Yeah, Jiayang and I have played it before, but to be honest, it wasn’t very fun.”

Jing Qizhen: “Tell us briefly?”

Manman: “It’s actually very simple. Two computers, Player 1 and Player 2, each see a different screen. The clues Player 1 finds can help crack Player 2’s puzzles, and vice versa. Honestly, it’s more a test of patience than cooperation.”

Jing Qizhen suddenly got it. “Ah, the legendary ‘break-up game’, right? By the time the game is over, the couple has probably also broken up.”

Manman: “Yep, that’s a pretty accurate summary.”

Jing Qizhen glanced at Manman silently. “When you said you suddenly thought of a two-player puzzle game, what you really meant was that with Si Jiayang outside, he is the perfect partner to play the game with you!”

After revealing his thoughts, Jing Qizhen lamented emotionally, “I didn’t expect that even without Si Jiayang, you can still feed me dog food.”

There was a certain significance for the two players who were addicted to games to be able to stay together after playing the legendary break-up game.

Manman was speechless for a moment, before bursting into laughter.

Half joking and half serious, they continued chatting and Jing Qizhen, Manman and Yan Hong, who were originally burdened with worries, gradually eased up.

When they finally left the mountain, the sky had completely darkened.

Under the night sky, the three circled the village and successfully gathered enough ingredients to make a hot pot from the village chief and several other households they met before.

Jing Qizhen still remembered the music box he had brought with him. As he was walking towards their temporary residence, Jing Qizhen suddenly whispered, “I wonder what the situation is like at Lu Lingxi’s side.”

Although he mentioned Lu Lingxi, both Manman and Yan Hong understood very well that Jing Qizhen was referring to the weird little girl.

Manman pointed to the earpiece and questioned, “Ask directly?”

Jing Qizhen took a deep breath and nodded.

When Lu Lingxi sewed his first cotton-padded coat, it took him a whole morning and afternoon. After practice, he started mending the second coat with improved efficiency.

It was getting dark, and while Jing Qizhen and his company hurried to return to the village, Grandma Fang was still chatting with the local villagers. Of course, the topic of conversation had long since turned into Grandma Fang’s agricultural science lecture.

As for Lu Lingxi and Jin Guijuan, who were left behind at home, they were sitting on pins and needles.

No one knew what unexpected things would happen when Xu Siya met that strange little girl.

For the sake of safety, Lu Lingxi and Jin Guijuan glanced at each other and reached a consensus—try to separate the two little girls.

Xu Siya was a growing child but she had suffered from malnutrition and severe physical abuse since she was a child. When she fell asleep in the backroom, she slept very deeply. For a child who often did not rest well, it would be beneficial for her.

Jin Guijuan had been staying by Xu Siya’s side, planning to keep the child in the backroom even after she woke up, on the pretext of teaching her how to read or letting her play mobile games.

As for Lu Lingxi in the main room outside, under the quiet gaze of the weird little girl, he mended the second cotton-padded coat into a completely different color scheme, although the style was the same.

Lu Lingxi: “It’s done!”

He put down the needle and thread in his hand and rubbed his shoulders and neck. He was a little sore from working at the table for a long time.

The strange little girl stretched out her hand and gently touched the cotton coat that belonged to her. Her dark eyes displayed undisguised joy.

The little girl suddenly broke into a bright smile. However, paired with her dark eyes and faint voice, it revealed an indescribable eeriness.

“This is mine, not someone else’s…Thank you, Little-big brother Lu.”

Lu Lingxi, whose scalp was numb, also allowed himself to crack a shallow smile. Little Lu’s Bambi-like eyes seemed to be wet, making him look very innocent, even though he was already panicking inside.

The little girl was deeply immersed in her own happiness and was about to take off the cotton-padded coat originally mended for Xu Siya and put on hers.

Lu Lingxi quickly turned his back and subconsciously reminded, “Be careful not to get chilled in the cold!”

The little girl giggled and hummed. Her laughter seemed to be echoing, making others think only of the horror of endless laughter.

At that moment, Jing Qizhen’s voice rang from Lu Lingxi’s earpiece. “We are at the door of the house. How is the situation inside?”

Lu Lingxi was anxious. Of course, the situation was not good!

But in front of the weird little girl, he really didn’t know how to remind the other. He could only turn on the earpiece, bite the bullet and whisper softly, “I finished mending the second cotton-padded coat. The little girl likes it very much. She is just about to try it on!”

Manman and Yan Hong naturally heard Lu Lingxi’s reminder.

Manman: “That little girl has been here all afternoon. It’s been hard on Lu Lingxi…”

Yan Hong: “…What should we do?”

Jing Qizhen whispered, “Let’s just keep it casual!”

He pointed towards the music box and whispered to Manman and Yan Hong, “I’ll go in directly. You guys wait outside for Grandma Fang and the others.”

Manman frowned slightly and warily asked, “Are you going to use that music box?”

Jing Qizhen: “Xu Siya is still at home. That weird little girl stayed with Lu Lingxi all afternoon, so we have to face her.”

While speaking, Jing Qizhen fully wound the key of the music box. As long as he opened the lid, the music inside would start playing.

Once he was done with his preparation, Jing Qizhen took a deep breath to calm down, then opened the door and walked in. When he saw the little girl again, he didn’t even raise an eyebrow. He carried the vegetables inside and asked calmly, “Hey, you are here? Have you eaten yet? Do you want to eat with us? It’s already late, I’ll take you home later.”

The little girl, who had just put on the newly mended cotton-padded coat, raised her head and glanced at Jing Qizhen.

The next moment, she stared straight at the bag in Jing Qizhen’s hand…

Where the music box was kept within.