I Am Your Natural Enemy

This signified that Chen Qimo had started a new life and was already working hard for it. Light shone in. Grandma glanced around and then gradually disappeared.

In her dream, Chen Qimo raised her head and seemed to see something, but she quickly lowered it again. She looked at the ingredients beside her, adding one after another. After simmering a pot of soup, she tasted it and felt disappointed.

Even though I used the same ingredients, why does my soup taste so medicinal and not fragrant at all?

After a moment of distraction, she was back at her desk, continuing her studies. She frowned, smelling the medicinal scent from the water cup on her desk.

Then she saw Wen Yan come in from outside, frowning at her.

”You’ve got too much internal heat. Drink the herbal tea quickly.”

”I don’t want to drink herbal tea. I don’t have internal heat...”

As dawn broke, Chen Qimo lay in her bed, covering her face and muttering, ”I don’t have internal heat... I don’t have internal heat...” After kicking off the thin blanket, she slowly woke up. Realizing it was a dream, she let out a sigh of relief.

She curled up under the blanket, wrapping herself snugly. After rolling around in bed twice, she somewhat reluctantly got out of bed. It was time to wash up, have breakfast, and go to school.

In the bathroom, Chen Qimo worried as she looked at a small pimple that had appeared on her cheek. Could it really be internal heat?

These past few days, her classmates had all told her that she probably had too much internal heat. She began to develop a strong dislike for the term ”internal heat” because it seemed like all unpleasant things were related to it.

You couldn’t walk far down the street without seeing a herbal tea shop.

Just as she got out of bed and was washing up, she saw Steward Su already busy in the kitchen. The steward took very good care of everyone and now prepared breakfast for her every day. He was diligently reading and studying, lately delving into nutrition.

After washing up, Chen Qimo tiptoed to Wen Yan’s room. She quietly opened the door a crack and peeked inside. Seeing Wen Yan at home and sleeping, she let out a sigh. A smile appeared on her face, and her mood immediately brightened.

Wen Yan had a habit of disappearing for a couple of days without notice. Even Sparrow Cat never knew where he went.

She always felt especially worried. Now, however, she had grown accustomed to it. Peeking every morning to ensure Wen Yan was still there brought her true contentment.

Quietly going downstairs, she stretched out her small arms and, with some effort, picked up Sparrow Cat, who was sleeping sprawled out. She kissed it on the head.

Sparrow Cat opened its eyes in confusion.

”Ah, time to eat?”

”Yes, wake up. It’s time for breakfast. The steward made it, so don’t waste it. You can go back to sleep after eating.”

”Ah, oh, okay...”

Sparrow Cat swayed a couple of times and, with a tilt of its head, fell asleep again on the sofa.

In the kitchen, Little Fire Seed was on the stove. It stretched out two small flame hands, seemingly holding up the pot of porridge cooking there. It constantly adjusted the flames to ensure even heating, all while sneaking a taste of the fire itself.

Little Zombie, still groggy, followed Chen Qimo to the bathroom. Upon seeing her, it tilted its head up, eyes closed. Chen Qimo gave Little Zombie a soft peck on its small face.

”Alright, time to eat.”

Little Zombie didn’t move, just pointed at the towel and whimpered.

Resigned, Chen Qimo wet the towel and handed it to Little Zombie.

”You can’t let others help you wash your hands and wipe your face.”

Little Zombie seemed a bit disappointed but took the towel to wipe its own face. When it opened its eyes again, it appeared to have perked up.

After wiping its face, Little Zombie didn’t hang the towel back up. Instead, mimicking Chen Qimo, it wet the towel again, wrung it half dry, and carried it to Wen Yan’s room.

Seeing Wen Yan sleeping soundly, Little Zombie whimpered softly beside him. When Wen Yan didn’t respond, it climbed onto the bed and began to shake his arm.

Once Wen Yan was awake, Little Zombie offered him the towel to wipe his face.

Wen Yan wiped his face, clearing the last cobwebs of sleep, and then scooped up Little Zombie.

”Hey, you learn fast! Good job, you even know how to bring a towel. Very good! Are you telling me to get up for breakfast?”

Little Zombie kept whimpering and nodded vigorously.

Wen Yan, wearing flip-flops and carrying Little Zombie, came downstairs. By then, Chen Qimo had already been to the basement, finished offering incense, and arranged the offerings.

Once everything was ready, they began to eat: lean meat porridge with pork-filled buns that even had some green peppers inside.

After breakfast, everyone except Gray Cloth (who never missed a meal but wasn’t present) was full and went back to sleep.

Seeing Sparrow Cat about to go back to sleep, Wen Yan grabbed it by the nape of its neck and lifted it up.

”Look how fat you’ve become! You need to get some exercise. If this continues, you’ll have to watch out for metabolic syndrome.

”I’ve read quite a few articles; that much weight puts a lot of pressure on your bones, and you’re at risk of sudden death.”

”I’m not afraid of that. I’ve just eaten a little too much,” Sparrow Cat grumbled, its face sour with displeasure.

”I’m not saying you can’t eat, but you need to exercise.”

Wen Yan sized up Sparrow Cat, then it suddenly struck him: Sparrow Cat’s recovery ability was remarkably strong.

”You’ve reminded me. I was worried that training you might cause some harm, but now I recall, with your healing ability, you have nothing to fear from that.”

Wen Yan went to the backyard. He grabbed Sparrow Cat with both hands, his arm muscles bulging. He spun around and then flung Sparrow Cat high into the sky with immense force.

With a SWOOSH, Sparrow Cat shot into the air, becoming an afterimage, WAILING as it soared away.