Part 2
Why not run around the island with Ruǎn Bái Bái? If she was with it, Ruǎn Bái Bái wouldn’t be lonely.
Time flew, and it was already six in the evening. Mǐ Qiū really kept her word and took Ruǎn Bái Bái running around the mountains. At first, her speed was slower, then she gradually accelerated.
Mǐ Qiū had run three laps. She and Ruǎn Bái Bái both stopped, needing to pause for a breath.
Then she ran into Róng Liáng. Seeing her, Róng Liáng said, “Guide Mǐ, perfect timing. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you all day. Fortunately, we aren’t far apart, so it’s convenient to talk in the future.”
Mǐ Qiū asked how they ate in the morning. Their houses had actually been equipped with AI Xiao Meis later on, so she was just curious.
“Guide Mǐ also knows my skills are good. I like doing things myself—ample food and clothing. I don’t really like things made by machines.”
“Did you two chat okay?”
“Oh, I have nothing to say to him. I get along better with Guide Mǐ Qiū.”
While they were talking, a man suddenly chased up from behind. He was jogging, saw the two of them, and stopped. He said to Mǐ Qiū, “We meet again, Guide Mǐ.”
It was Luò Shǎng Qín, who lived in the same room (villa). He specifically pulled Mǐ Qiū aside: “Guide Mǐ, I suggest you pay attention to the people around you, especially those with ulterior motives toward you.”
Ulterior motives… Mǐ Qiū’s gaze followed his line of sight and settled on Róng Liáng.
Róng Liáng noticed. “Is there something you can’t say to my face?”
“I saw it by accident. Because your door wasn’t closed. There’s such a large painting in the bedroom, hanging right in the center of your headboard. If I’m not mistaken, the person in it is Guide Mǐ. You and I are both men; I don’t need to say more about what you’re thinking, right?”
“Captain Luò, that’s not what you imagine.”
Mǐ Qiū prepared to explain the matter to him…
Róng Liáng suddenly spoke, his tone disdainful: “Captain Luò, my business isn’t for you to manage.”
Seeing the two of them at daggers drawn, Mǐ Qiū intervened to mediate: “This is a misunderstanding.”
Although she didn’t know Róng Liáng had actually brought her portrait to the island, and she wasn’t clear on what he meant by hanging it at the head of his bed, one thing was certain: they completed the painting together. She was his model; there wasn’t that sneaky feeling he implied. She understood the implication in Luò Shǎng Qín’s words.
Before long, someone else arrived.
It seemed having too many people on the island wasn’t necessarily a good thing—on the contrary, Mǐ Qiū felt there would be more trouble in the future. After being interrupted by that person, she could only solve one thing first.
“Ruǎn Bái Bái!” She said to the rabbit, “Let’s go, let’s keep running. Persistence leads to victory.”
She knew Hè Chí was looking for her. Hè Chí only said, “Actually, my matter isn’t big. It’s not completely dinner time yet, but everyone has already started fighting to cook.”
Mǐ Qiū felt that although it sounded urgent, since she had come with him, she should deal with this first.
.
Luò Shǎng Qín: “Hey, you’re leaving without saying anything? Didn’t Guide Mǐ just say she had something to say? She said it was a misunderstanding, but I don’t think so.”
“But since she left, you have to explain it to me.”
Róng Liáng hated people who lingered like ghosts the most. His voice was extremely light as he said, “I don’t talk to people I’m not familiar with. But since you want to know the result so much, fine. Yes, indeed, I painted it for Guide Mǐ. Listen well, not secretly. I certainly acknowledge the painting I made, and Guide Mǐ approved it. Any more questions?”
Luò Shǎng Qín: “A painting? I thought it was some kind of photograph.”
“Realistic oil painting, you wouldn’t understand. Besides…” Róng Liáng leaned close to him and said, “This was painted bit by bit, following the texture of Guide Mǐ’s skin.”
…
Achoo! Achoo! Achoo—
Mǐ Qiū felt like someone was talking about her behind her back. She forgot to explain the misunderstanding between Róng Liáng and Captain Luò clearly just now. Otherwise, if everyone’s relationship turned sour, that would be an issue.
Thinking this, she walked with Hè Chí. They talked for a while on the road. Mǐ Qiū mostly asked Hè Chí if he had continued his experimental research recently.
“My days are almost a straight line between three points. Sleeping, eating, doing experiments. I don’t feel bored at all. But Guide Mǐ, I was really worried about you outside.”
Hè Chí usually didn’t seem to interact much with people; he mostly dealt with animals and the like. Hè Chí then added, “One of us will be leaving the island soon. But Guide Mǐ, you probably don’t know yet, right?”
“I just came back; I really don’t know anything.”
Why is someone leaving again? Mǐ Qiū asked Hè Chí directly, “Who will it be?”
“It’s Shāngchén.”
“He should be telling you soon. He should be leaving the island tomorrow.”
“So soon? Is he going on a mission too?”
“Guide Mǐ, you know it’s been a bit unstable recently, so it’s normal for people to be transferred. But I probably won’t leave for the time being. Perhaps to them, I’m not that important, right?”
Mǐ Qiū: “That’s not true! You are actually very important, and I’m very happy you can stay.”
Then Hè Chí made an analogy, saying, “I’m just speaking hypothetically. If I were the one leaving and Zhù Shāngchén stayed, would you say the same things to him?”
“I’m happy whoever stays.”
Hè Chí became visibly disappointed. After Mǐ Qiū returned, they truly couldn’t have everyone crowding into the kitchen.
Five people couldn’t cook together, right? Mǐ Qiū felt it wouldn’t be good to continue like this, so she came up with a good idea and explained it to everyone. Everyone sat down in the living room.
Mǐ Qiū: “I’ve made a schedule this time. First, breakfast is relatively simple, AI Xiao Měi can handle it. Otherwise, if it’s here, its presence will be lowered. Does anyone have any objections to this?”
The five men sat on the sofa, silent. Mǐ Qiū continued, “Mm, so what’s next? Let me think. Then for lunch, if anyone wants to cook, or has time, two people can be responsible. If I’m free, I’ll help you too.”
Qiū Chú Huán: “For small things like cooking, of course, we don’t need Guide Mǐ to work hard for it. You came back to rest well. Just leave everything, including cleaning and such, to us.”
This isn’t appropriate, right? They are guests. If every one of them is like this…
Fù Róngqīng agreed, saying, “I agree. Since Guide Mǐ has to do soothing work, she naturally needs to expend more physical energy. By the way, including Ruǎn Bái Bái, we can teach him to exercise.”
Wait!! Regarding Ruǎn Bái Bái, Mǐ Qiū thought it was better for her to accompany it running. Because Mǐ Qiū thought of a possibility: if they all took turns leading Ruǎn Bái Bái, would she see a muscular Ruǎn Bái Bái like a Sentinel after a while? Mǐ Qiū thought her worry wasn’t unreasonable.
“That won’t work. And if you do everything for me, what will I do? Ruǎn Bái Bái, I’ll take care of it myself.”
Moreover, Mǐ Qiū thought of the most critical point. Their spiritual bodies were mostly terrifying cold-blooded animals. If they accidentally revealed their spiritual body’s tail, wouldn’t that really scare Ruǎn Bái Bái to death?
After thinking about it, she shook those thoughts out of her head and said, “What about dinner? Dinner is the same, two or three people responsible is enough. Otherwise, look, there are only a few pots and stoves; we can’t all cook anyway.”
Sù Zé Chū: “Mǐ Qiū, what you said is indeed correct. I didn’t consider it well, didn’t think of these things.”
“You are Guide Mǐ’s…”
Facing Qiū Chú Huán’s question, Sù Zé Chū said, “Good friend, a very intimate good friend.”
Qiū Chú Huán: “Intimate? It should be ‘close,’ right? Sometimes you should pay attention to your wording. The use of a single word can be very misleading. ‘Intimate’ should be used to describe lovers.”
“You could understand it that way.”
Mǐ Qiū quickly interrupted, “He doesn’t mean that. He and I are very close childhood friends. We’ve known each other since we were young, so sometimes he calls me by my first name to appear closer.”
She smoothed things over. Only then did Qiū Chú Huán say, “So that’s how it is. I thought so—just a misunderstanding. After being locked in the confinement tower for so long, Guide Mǐ is a ray of light to me.”
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