Chapter 46
Amid the chirping of summer cicadas, the world seemed even quieter.
“A chef I knew earlier gave me some snacks and drinks. I looked through them—none were things you like. And since a classmate is leaving today, consider it a farewell gift.” Jiang Jitang said.
He clearly hadn’t explained anything, yet somehow it felt like he had explained something.
The more Parsons listened, the stranger he felt. Was this said specifically for him? He didn’t have that kind of confidence. He only lowered his voice and asked, “You know what I like?”
Even he didn’t know what he liked.
“This.” As soon as Parsons finished speaking, a bottle appeared right in front of his eyes, making him take half a step back.
The one holding it was Jiang Jitang, eyes curved like crescent moons. “I ordered this earlier but didn’t drink it. I guessed you might like it. Want to try?”
“……” Parsons picked it up and realized it was still icy cold. The ice inside clinked softly. The scent drifting from it was bitter with a hint of sweetness, and a milky aroma different from cow’s or goat’s milk. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to taste it.
So Parsons inserted the straw and took a small sip—half anticipating something unknown, half hoping to prove Jiang Jitang wrong, to show him that he didn’t understand him at all and could never know what he liked.
But the moment that cold, roasted-bitter yet slightly sweet flavor entered his mouth… Parsons involuntarily took another sip.
…It seemed he actually did like this flavor quite a bit.
Jiang Jitang covered his chilled fingertips. The roasted bitterness mixed with coconut milk drifted into his nose. Even though it was cold, it gave a strangely warm feeling.
The truth was, Jiang Jitang loved many things—barley tea, coconut coffee, Yunnan red tea. But he felt Parsons would probably prefer a coconut latte: coconut-milk coffee with no sugar, creamy but never cloying.
Few people would know that the man called a “walking rulebook,” who looked like he had no preferences at all, was actually a lover of bitter flavors.
Caramel, roasted chestnuts, coffee, cocoa, aged whiskey—these were all likely things he enjoyed. Add a moderate milkiness, and it would be perfect.
Jiang Jitang suddenly remembered when they had first met—not long after—when he coaxed Parsons to leave the army corps’ protection and accompany him into the dangerous desert to see the “desert Milky Way.”
As the sky’s Milky Way mirrored the ground’s reflection, both fading into the horizon, Parsons had shown a childlike smile. He hid it quickly, of course.
But Jiang Jitang never forgot it—so different from his usual cold, stern exterior.
“Acceptable. But do you think assuming I’ve never tried C-Nation’s specialty foods counts as prejudice?”
Because of his honest and truthful nature, Parsons did not deny that he liked the drink. But he took the chance to question Jiang Jitang’s earlier text message.
Jiang Jitang’s meaning was clear—he believed Parsons hadn’t tried local foods, implying a stubborn refusal to blend in.
Parsons questioned exactly that—he wasn’t such a rigid person.
…At least, not that rigid.
“Oh? After we parted at the restaurant, did you try any other C-Nation foods?” Jiang Jitang genuinely asked.
Back then, when Parsons stayed three days in the desert inn, he ate only the food he brought himself. Only after meeting Jiang Jitang did he reluctantly try some desert specialties. Having him eat unfamiliar food in an unfamiliar city was like making him remove his cloak and gloves—uncomfortable.
The fact that he ate three fixed healthy meals a day was already impressive.
“Of course I try local food.” Parsons said seriously. Yesterday afternoon, he’d eaten those “winged dumplings.”
Winged dumplings…
“Wontons?” Jiang Jitang asked hesitantly.
Parsons nodded upon hearing the word. “It was a very popular restaurant. Many people were lining up. I believe it represents C-Nation food—one of them.”
He looked perfectly calm, but in truth, that was the only local food he had ever actively sought out.
That day he went to pick up new team members arriving in C-Nation. Normally, he should have prepared dinner. But the team wanted to try the legendary night market that foreigners supposedly couldn’t resist—so they went.
Parsons didn’t find any of the foods Jiang Jitang had once taken him to eat.
But they found this place instead. It also sold those “flowering meat buns” (xiao long bao), but Parsons was more intrigued by the “floating winged dumplings.”
Jiang Jitang instantly understood—it must be that famous old wonton shop. Originally, they roamed the streets selling wontons by knocking bowls together, later opening a small unimpressive shop that was still always packed.
He had ordered from them twice via delivery, but the wontons always arrived with broken skins and cloudy soup—nothing like their fresh-out-of-the-pot taste. Only the “swallow-skin wontons” held up, since their skins were made of meat.
“It is a very authentic local dish. It seems I was prejudiced after all.” Jiang Jitang said sincerely.
Parsons accepted his apology with a reserved nod.
The next second, Jiang Jitang straightforwardly invited him to dinner. “Since you’re curious about this city and its lifestyle, I know a few good restaurants. May I invite you sometime?”
By then, they had reached Jiang Jitang’s parked motorcycle.
Parsons looked at him and saw Jiang Jitang perfectly calm, as if ready to say: Since you want to know me, shouldn’t it be in all aspects? Look—I even know what food you’d like, but you don’t know what I like.
The tightly-controlled knight hesitated.
Reviewing their conversation, Parsons felt something strange—Jiang Jitang was being too proactive given their current relationship.
A scheme?
“Should I reply that it would be my honor?” After a pause, Parsons chose to confront it directly.
His appearance, combined with his deep, husky chest resonance inherent to Westerners, made his voice irresistibly alluring.
But Jiang seemed immune. He simply smiled and put on his helmet. “If you think so, then it is. Next time, then. The belly patch—thanks.”
Parsons watched him shake the little children’s belly-warming patch in his hand. The heat in his face surged uncontrollably.
He wanted to respond casually with something witty, but nothing came out. Even after the man and bike were long gone, he still stood there holding the half-finished coconut latte.
The knight took a quiet sip.
Hopelessly awkward as always.
That was the magic sword’s true thought—but it didn’t say it aloud. It only asked, “So, are we still having dinner, Master?” It hadn’t eaten yet!
“No. It is not meal time.” Parsons replied curtly, biting the straw. He wasn’t hungry, so he wouldn’t eat.
Magic sword: …Hah.
Jiang Jitang quickly returned home. To him, it had been a wonderful day—though sadly the wonderful day was now ending.
“Tomorrow is the first of the month? Back to work. Good. Life is getting back on track. Things will only get better.”
Naturally—today he had collected an excessive number of wishing stars, and soon he would open his magical restaurant.
More money, more free time—he couldn’t imagine how carefree he would be.
He fell asleep with sweet dreams.
But he was awakened even earlier than usual by an international call from Mrs. Jiang.
“Hi baby, did you miss me?”
Jiang Jitang woke instantly. He looked at the time—6:32. “Mom, where are you?”
The call came from a public place. He could hear loud, chaotic background noise—Gallic language, with heavily rolled R’s.
“At the airport. Boarding soon. I accepted an order—preparing a customized dinner for a federal couple’s golden anniversary, to entertain friends and business partners.”
After the cooking competition, Jiang Sujin had begun making a name for herself abroad. Occasionally she received such orders—requiring a month of preparation but paying very well.
They anticipated her creativity. She anticipated the experience, money, and prestige.
“I bought some gifts. They’ll arrive in a few days. As for me, I’m eating this dry, miserable sandwich. I miss glutinous rice, fried dough sticks, and soy milk at home.”
High carbs, unhealthy—but delicious nonetheless.
Jiang Jitang smiled brightly. He wanted to eat those too—and he could simply go downstairs to buy them.
“Do you have enough money?”
“More than enough. You forgot—I already found a job.”
The child was spreading his wings. Jiang Sujin felt momentarily sad—only to hear her son say softly, with reliance in his voice:
“I miss you every day, Mom.”
“Eat well. Don’t stay up late on your phone.”
Content, she ended the call. Being needed filled her with strength—time to conquer the workplace again!
Go, Jiang Sujin!
—
“I wonder what gifts she sent… food, maybe?”
Jiang Jitang hopped happily to the bathroom. He squeezed toothpaste and turned on the faucet—when his gaze accidentally swept across the mirror.
?
What was that?
There were several bright green leaves growing from his head.
He reached to touch them, but his fingers passed right through.
They looked overly plump and healthy—as green as imperial jade. One leaf was especially unusual.
Its center had dark veins, and between the veins, the leaf flesh glowed faintly gold. A tiny character flickered within—
“Page of Time?”
He understood immediately. The wishing stars from yesterday hadn’t been fully digested. The remaining energy manifested this way.
Because he and the Tree of Life were now each other’s vessels, in some sense, he was the Life Tree and the Life Tree was him.
“Even the Page of Time appeared.”
It was obvious—yesterday’s wishing stars contained special, higher-grade energy. Jiang Jitang suspected the advanced energy came from the young legion commander—a figure who had pushed history forward.
He hadn’t thought about it then, but now he felt the surging power flowing within him.
Jiang Jitang lightly snapped his fingers. The towel on the rack folded itself neatly into a strip and dropped into his hand. The remaining water in the sink gathered itself before flowing down the drain.
As he twisted his fingers, the faucet twisted—opening, closing, opening—the water repeating its flow and reversal.
Time itself had become a little toy for him. He could reverse time in small areas.
He traced a circle through the air—a small, stable space channel opened. He reached through and took a packet of cookies from the coffee table downstairs.
“It worked!”
He could finally use non-Lifetype magic!
He could finally call himself a magician!
He had been healing nonstop these days—it almost made him believe he was an unlucky cleric.
“I can wash dishes and clean the kitchen with magic now.”
He loved cooking, hated cleaning—unless the mess was unbearable. And he reached “unbearable” fast. The slightest stain became a mountain of filth in his eyes.
“And I won’t need to go downstairs to get packages anymore.”
He would simply make a private delivery point in the backyard.
Bliss!
“Parsons would never imagine I can use magic.” Jiang Jitang beamed. This was a world where humans without a core could not use magic. There were countless things Parsons couldn’t imagine—like Jiang Jitang nearly becoming a holy class, using mostly life magic nowadays.
Maybe I should scare him with it someday.
He thought briefly, then dismissed the idea, immersing himself in the joy of being able to “walk sideways through life.”
“I love magic!”
Then he added, “Guess I’ll love the system too.”
System: …
Ding!
[The exotic beast leather order has been settled. You received a five-star review and fifteen points. View details?]
The system reminded him that it was merely a task machine, devoid of emotion.
“View.” He was only loving it casually anyway.
Comment: The wisher received his exotic beast leather and crafted a three-piece segmented catfish armor with a craftsman’s help.
This high-quality armor saved him from at least seven life-or-death crises. He lived to one hundred and seven.
His great-grandchildren grew up far away from ravenous beasts and from the hunger and nakedness of the old wastelands. Their generation’s suffering felt as distant as a black-and-white silent film. By then, the Republic entered a period of rapid development.
Though an ordinary man, he created an extraordinary life through the years—from the wasteland era to the pioneer era, from the pioneer era to the founding of the nation, and thirty more years after. He was a living piece of history.
The armor witnessed all the important moments of his life. He may no longer remember the task giver, but he never parted with the old companion that protected him for half his life.
[Tasker data updated:
Tasker: Jiang Jitang (Debt: 1,030,000,000)
Points: 670
Shops owned: Mini Temple, Dream-Fulfilling Food House
Function cards: Cargo Pass ×2, Companion Pass ×1
Equipment: Lv2 Tasker Backpack, Lv3 Tasker Cart, Basic Liquid-Proof Suit, Basic Electric Gun
Points Shop: Unlocked.”
“As I said—only by living can one witness history, and become history.”
Jiang Jitang set down his cup and picked up his face towel.
Yesterday he had seen the future from the view of a founding hero. Today he saw it from the perspective of an ordinary man. That world was improving. Humanity would rise again.
Closing the interface, he grabbed a hat and headed out.
Jiang Jitang rounded the corner into a breakfast shop.
“Boss, one bowl of meat-soup glutinous rice—with scallions, no pickles. One bowl of savory soy milk—with fried dough sticks. And half a basket of pearl dumplings.”
First day of work—he needed a good breakfast.
“Coming right up.”
A photo of that beautiful breakfast soon appeared on someone else’s phone—accompanied by a big smiling emoji and [Good morning.]
A silver-haired man, just out of a replica instance, pinched the bridge of his nose and looked out the window. The sun reflected sharply on the skyscrapers. On his table sat only purified water and an unappetizing slice of whole-wheat bread.
Maybe today he should try C-Nation breakfast?
