Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Xue Chuchu removed her helmet, and her long hair cascaded down with the motion.

The coldness between her brows had softened considerably: "Mm-hmm."

She looked Tongtong up and down, then glanced around, curiously surprised that she didn't see that familiar figure.

Chuchu was puzzled inside; logically speaking, Jiang Ning should be watching the sunset with Tongtong.

"Tongtong, have you eaten?" Xue Chuchu asked.

Xue Yuantong: "Not yet."

"Come to my house for dinner tonight, I bought sweet potatoes and made sweet potato soup." Xue Chuchu said, "Ask Jiang Ning how many pancakes he wants to eat."

Xue Yuantong pouted, looking disheartened: "He won't be eating at home tonight."

Xue Chuchu understood why she hadn't seen him.

"Will he come back tonight?" Xue Chuchu asked.

"Hmph, he wouldn't dare not to come back!" Her tone was firm, showing no worry that Jiang Ning would run away.

"I'm off tomorrow, let's play games tonight." Xue Chuchu suggested.

"Okay."

Xue Yuantong followed Chuchu, going to her house to cook. Uncle Zhang, the neighbor, walked out with a trash bag, taking his big wolf dog for a walk. As soon as the dog saw the two ladies, it immediately put on a fawning expression.

Xue Yuantong ignored it; Uncle Zhang wasn't very courteous. Holding the trash bag, he walked to the distant green trash can and threw it from afar, with half going into the can and half outside.

Uncle Zhang paid no attention and walked off with the dog.

Before Xue Chuchu started cooking, she noticed the trash can at home was full, so she also took a bag to throw out the trash.

While Xue Yuantong was peeling sweet potatoes inside, after Chuchu went out, Yuantong heard a honking sound outside, and she was delighted, wondering if Jiang Ning had returned?

She put down the sweet potato and trotted outside. Halfway there, she realized it was the sound of a garbage truck.

Recently, the garbage truck came every evening around six or seven to collect the trash.

Since she was already on her way out, Xue Yuantong didn't turn back; she went outside and saw a middle-aged lady in a uniform collecting garbage, standing in front of Chuchu, speaking loudly.

Xue Yuantong quickly approached and heard clearly: "How many times have I said, the garbage must be thrown into the bin, not outside it, why do you never listen?"

The middle-aged lady spoke with a particularly loud voice and was sturdy, making Xue Chuchu appear especially slender and petite in front of her.

"Even if you throw it next to the bin, it's considered littering and polluting the environment. I assume you're still in school at your age, haven't your teachers taught you? Don't let me catch you throwing garbage outside again!"

The middle-aged lady berated endlessly.

As she finished, she earnestly advised: "Young girl, you might look nice, but you should be someone with decency."

Xue Chuchu pursed her lips and sincerely said: "Auntie, I won't do it again."

Xue Yuantong opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but met Chuchu's gaze.

Xue Chuchu pulled out a tissue, squatted down, and picked up the scattered trash on the ground, putting it into the bin one by one.

Seeing the young girl's genuine remorse, the middle-aged lady didn't pursue it further. After cleaning up the trash, she rode off on her tricycle.

After the garbage collector left, Xue Yuantong was puzzled: "Clearly, it was Uncle Zhang who threw the trash, not you. Why didn't you say so, Chuchu?"

She couldn't comprehend it.

Xue Chuchu looked at Tongtong, then gently shook her head: "It's okay."

She wiped her hands and headed home, while Xue Yuantong felt stifled and a little upset.

Xue Chuchu didn't want her to feel this way, so she lightly sighed and began to explain: "When I was throwing the trash earlier, the auntie saw me and assumed the trash on the ground was from me, she was convinced it was my fault."

"If I argued, she wouldn't believe otherwise. She probably only trusts what she thinks is the answer. If things escalated, she might disturb the neighbors, making it hard to resolve. It's just a small matter, I thought I'd just accept it."

Xue Chuchu spoke slowly, her cool face showing a trace of gentleness, as captivating as the last hint of dusk on the horizon.

After Yuantong listened, she still felt upset and silently pondered for a while.

Xue Chuchu walked into the house; she had experienced similar situations many times.

Due to family circumstances and her upbringing, she lacked a sense of security and preferred avoiding conflicts unless it involved her bottom line, always dealing with it like this.

Xue Yuantong picked up the half-peeled sweet potato and continued to peel, while Xue Chuchu washed her hands, crouched down in front of her, and joined in peeling the sweet potatoes.

The two girls were sitting close together, and Xue Yuantong suddenly recalled her childhood, squatting and playing with mud alongside Chuchu. Back then, they were both innocent and carefree, with Chuchu being especially cheerful. She couldn't remember exactly when, but Chuchu had changed.

Xue Yuantong thought about earlier, when Chuchu was scolded by the elderly lady, looking so small and pitiable. Suddenly, she raised her face, her big eyes directly meeting Chuchu's gaze.

Xue Chuchu was startled, her expression surprised, and heard Tongtong's voice slightly change:

"If you always act like this, doesn't it feel unfair to you?"

Xue Chuchu was stunned for a moment, her heart seemed to be scratched, bringing a slight sting to her eyes. She didn't dare to meet Tongtong's eyes, turned her head, suppressed her inner turmoil, and quietly said: "No, it's not unfair."

...

9 PM.

Jiang Ning was piloting the Spirit Boat, flying out of Hu Qi Mountain.

He was carrying a wooden lunch box in his hand, filled with desserts he had the kitchen prepare, intending to bring them home for Tongtong.

Jiang Ning didn't rush home immediately. He steered the Spirit Boat to trace an arc, flying towards Snowflake Lake.

He didn't push the speed to the limit, only maintaining the pace of a car, with the wind blowing his clothes as he advanced.

Yuzhou's night market was bustling, with many food stalls only setting up at 9 PM and closing around 3 AM.

His Divine Sense swept across, seeing friends gathered in small groups, company team-building activities, business partners heading to foot massage places or commercial KTVs, witnessing the rich tapestry of life.

Despite slowing the Spirit Boat considerably, it traveled in a straight line, not needing to stop for traffic lights, so it quickly reached the Snowflake Lake Scenic Area.

This was a city-center lake in Yuzhou, also a National AAAA-level scenic spot. Even at night, people strolled on the wooden bridges, leaning on the railings, appreciating the lake view, while Jiang Ning admired the scene from above.

The future lakeside residences near Snowflake Lake would be Yuzhou's most high-end properties. In fact, prior to Qingyu Lake, Jiang Ning had chosen Snowflake Lake, but unfortunately, there were no mountains nearby to activate a Spiritual Energy Array.

Now, with the Changqing Liquid Company, Jiang Ning could incorporate this area into the cultivation ecosystem.

He looked down at the lake's surface, determining the future position for the array center.

Then, Jiang Ning didn't linger, he accelerated the Spirit Boat, soaring into the sky.

At the river dam.

Xue Yuantong and Chuchu were playing games in Jiang Ning's house.

Jiang Ning descended the Flying Boat, carrying the lunch box, and entered the house.

Xue Yuantong, upon seeing Jiang Ning, was extremely excited, her mood euphoric, and she subconsciously called out: "You..."

One word slipped out, as Xue Yuantong forcefully suppressed her delight, she pouted and gave a little "humph" with her cute nose.

"You actually remembered to come home, do you even know what time it is?"

Xue Chuchu paused her game controller, watching as Tongtong interrogated Jiang Ning.

Initially, Tongtong had the upper hand, her small mouth chattering away, while Jiang Ning was defenseless.

After three minutes, Jiang Ning opened the lunch box, and the situation reversed.

Jiang Ning: "I bought you fresh taro milk with fruit and taro balls."

He took out a delicately-presented dessert, mesmerizing both girls with the sight.

Xue Yuantong closed her mouth.

Her little heart seemed soaked in honey, her happiness evident.

Every time Jiang Ning went out, he always brought back something delicious for her.

In retrospect, Tongtong realized she shouldn't blame him, as he worked so hard outside but still remembered her despite everything, and she felt ashamed for ever being annoyed with him, resolving not to do so in the future.

With these thoughts, Xue Yuantong felt guilty instead.

Even though the dessert tempted Xue Chuchu, she remained clear-headed, worried that Jiang Ning wouldn't have enough to share, she quickly excused herself:

"Tongtong, it's getting late, I need to go home and do homework. You two have fun."

She hurried to the door, her steps a bit unsteady.

Just as she was about to leave, Jiang Ning suddenly said: "Hold on."

Xue Chuchu stopped: "Huh?"

Jiang Ning: "I got one for you too."