Chapter 68 : Care from Seniors

When I returned to my bedroom, it was already very late.

I didn’t even have time to take a proper shower.

Still carrying the faint scent of incense, I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes again, it was almost noon.

“Ah Yawn”

I let out a long yawn, squeezing out a glistening tear from my closed eyes.

“It’s already this late?”

I picked up the phone from my bedside to check the time.

It was already past nine, almost ten.

At this hour, the bakery should already be in slacking mode, right?

Though I had slept until now, I was still a bit sleepy.

But after washing up, I felt much more awake.

I changed into a skirt and took a quick shower.

Today was another day full of energy!

Though last night I seemed to have agreed with Sister Bai to get a flying license, I was too sleepy to remember exactly what I said.

Since Sister Bai hadn’t urgently come to find me, it didn’t stop me from going to earn money now.

Yesterday, I truly experienced what it meant to spend money like water.

Just a single meditation session nearly wiped out all my savings.

And that was with me succeeding.

Most people wouldn’t succeed on their first try.

Thinking about the costs during that process made my heart ache.

So I needed to work harder to earn money!

When I had no concept of money, I thought working part-time at the bakery was pretty good.

But as soon as I touched the supernatural, I realized I didn’t have enough money.

This was really giving me a headache.

On the way, I looked at the message I sent to the seniors yesterday.

They should know I’d be late today.

I hadn’t paid attention yesterday, but now I saw I sent the message at midnight, and they replied right away.

Too bad I didn’t see it.

It seemed the seniors were true night owls.

Unfortunately, my biological clock hadn’t adjusted to this nightlife.

After experiencing it yesterday, I slept until now.

Even now, I am still a bit drowsy.

Also, I hadn’t told the seniors why I’d be late today.

I should explain properly, since it was about my first meditation.

They probably wouldn’t say much.

But thinking about it, my stomach started growling.

I wondered if they still had bread at this hour, even the plain kind.

But I’d pass on Senior’s dark cuisine.

When I arrived at the shop, as expected, there were no customers.

“Senior, I’m here”

I pushed open the glass door and said politely, more as a formality.

Since I wasn’t around, Senior Ying Shiqian was the one busy outside.

I didn’t see Senior Tang Yihan.

She was probably in the back trying to improve new desserts again, right?

Hopefully, she wouldn’t create more dark cuisine.

“Oh Xiao Han I was so miserable this morning without you.”

Seeing me, Senior Ying Shiqian rushed over, acting like we hadn’t seen each other in ages.

“Huh? It hasn’t been that long, has it? No need to be so dramatic, Senior.”

“Of course it’s a big deal! That Tang Yihan recreated that disgusting thing from yesterday, saying she tweaked some ingredients. But it tasted even worse than yesterday!”

Ying Shiqian poured out her complaints to me like I was her outlet.

It made me feel embarrassed, since I had no way to help her with her complaints.

“What disgusting thing? How did my masterpiece become like that in your mouth?”

At that moment, a figure emerged from the back Senior Tang Yihan, who had come out after hearing the commotion.

“Xiao Han’s here too. I saw your message last night. Did something happen?”

“Oh… it’s nothing. I was trying meditation yesterday, and it delayed me a bit. My biological clock hasn’t adjusted, so I was sleeping all morning,” I hurriedly explained.

“Meditation, huh? That does drain a lot of energy. How’d it feel? Did it seem impossible to get a handle on? It’s fine, all freshmen go through this. Just take it slow.”

Hearing my explanation, Tang Yihan nodded, then spoke in a comforting tone.

“Yeah, I told you to check out those books on meditation and rituals. Better to believe they might help than not, right? Being prepared is never wrong,” Senior Ying Shiqian chimed in.

“Thanks for the concern, Seniors. It did feel pretty overwhelming. Meditation really relies on comprehension,” I said, going along with it.

My shortcut method made it hard to say if it counted as meditation, and I didn’t know what others’ meditation was like.

But though the methods differed, I achieved the goal, so it wasn’t a problem.

Just like me now.

As I spoke, I went to the changing room to clock in and put on an apron.

Happy part-time time has arrived!

No… slacking time.

“Xiao Han, I'm here to chat with you again. You said yesterday you were going to try meditation, right? As a member of our bakery, as your senior, I naturally need to take care of you. This is an extra portion from my restock yesterday. Consider it a gift.”

At this moment, Ying Shiqian, unlike her usual slacking attitude, came straight to me.

Thinking about it, with nothing to do here, I was her only option for chatting.

She was holding a delicate box, with a “long-planned” expression, as if showing me a treasure.

Looking at the box, it was very familiar.

Wasn’t this the incense box from the aromatherapy shop yesterday?

But it was much bigger than the one I bought.

“A gift? Senior, you’re giving this to me?”

I watched as she placed the box on the counter and pushed it toward me.

“Mm These are top-quality incense. Not much, but it’s my heartfelt gesture. Don't think about refusing.”

Senior Ying Shiqian grabbed my hand, and under my surprised gaze, stuffed the box into my palm.

“But accepting a gift from a Senior for no reason feels…”

I said awkwardly.

I knew the price of incense.

This box was much bigger than the one I bought, probably costing several hundred at least, right?

“It’s fine. Think of it as my investment in you entering meditation early!”

“I appreciate the seniors' kindness…”

I listened to her, then opened the incense box.

The packaging was substantial, with far more incense than the portion I bought yesterday!

This incense was worth at least a thousand yuan!

I hadn’t earned that much at the bakery yet, had I?

“You have to take it.”

Senior Ying Shiqian insisted, not noticing my awkward expression.

“But I can already meditate.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I can already meditate. Why else would I stay up so late yesterday?”

I looked at Senior Ying Shiqian’s incredulous expression and said, word by word.

Honestly, watching her expression shift from warmth to confusion to shock, and finally to looking like a girl whose feelings had been toyed with, was just too fun!

Ahem… um! I said the wrong thing.

It was too awkward!

So I never planned to hide this.

If I had this talent and didn’t show it off, how would others know I was a genius?

In my shallow understanding, the supernatural world worked like this.

In an orderly system, only by proving your worth could you gain more resources and access greater privileges and unknowns.