Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 285 - 186: Awakening in Progress_2

Chapter 285: Chapter 186: Awakening in Progress_2

Three Meat Buns, Dried Tangerine Peel Tea.

It’s all right now.

When Qu Jing came in, Qin Huai was eating Gastrodia stewed pigeon.

The contrast between the ordinary Gastrodia stewed pigeon and the delicious Three Meat Buns was stark. Qin Huai took a bite of pigeon and then a bite of the bun, deeply feeling that Gong Liang truly did love him.

Being able to eat S-grade Three Meat Buns and still stomach D-grade Gastrodia stewed pigeon, and craving it every now and then.

No wonder he’s a top sales executive!

"Qin Huai, long time no see." Qu Jing said as she came in, smiling and taking off her mask, "You caused quite a stir as soon as you came back. This morning wherever I went, there was the fragrance of the buns. The head of neurosurgery came to our department looking for me, asking if I could help buy some Three Meat Buns for him."

Qin Huai could only ask, "Have you eaten them?"

Qu Jing shook her head, so Qin Huai pushed the buns in front of him towards Qu Jing, "Have some."

Qu Jing was not shy and sat down to eat the Three Meat Buns.

Qin Huai gave Qu Jing a quick glance; she looked great, her complexion was rosy, her lips normal, her energy strong.

She won’t perish anytime soon.

Noticing Qin Huai observing her, Qu Jing smiled, "I’ve been in great spirits lately."

"Though I still get complaints from patients sometimes, saying I wrap myself too much and don’t respect them, and most Alzheimer’s cases I encounter are beyond my help. My new paper isn’t progressing well, and sometimes late at night when facing the computer, I still feel a strong urge to cut my wrists a few times, but it’s much better now." Qu Jing spoke softly, her voice calm, you could tell she wasn’t forcing a smile, she really believed it.

"Sister Hong often worries about me, finding excuses at 9 or 10 at night to bring me a big bag of imported fruits or even a ready-made fruit platter to my house."

"She ensures there’s no fruit peeler on the table and that all kitchen knives are in place before she feels at ease."

"She also often complains to me about how you’ve been in Gusu for so long without coming back, and she has no Dried Tangerine Peel Tea or snacks. From Huang Ji’s interstate delivery orders, only the flaky pastry arrives properly. The Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns from Gusu doesn’t taste as soft and chewy as freshly steamed."

Qin Huai was surprised, "Sister Hong really ordered interstate delivery?!"

"Yes, but it seems she was piggybacking on Mr. Luo’s interstate delivery. Mr. Luo drinks Dried Tangerine Peel Tea every morning, delivered the day before from Gusu."

Qin Huai didn’t understand, he was quite shocked, he had just casually mentioned it, not expecting Luo Jun to have really done it.

Qin Huai thought for a moment and didn’t know what to say, so he redirected the topic back to Qu Jing, "I can see you’re looking pretty good now."

Qu Jing nodded, "Maybe it’s because I’ve been secretly sunbathing recently."

Seeing Qin Huai’s slight surprise, Qu Jing continued, "For years I’ve pretended to be severely allergic to UV rays, I started believing it myself. Not only did I wrap myself tightly in daily life, but I also avoided walking under the sun. Even the place I rented before wasn’t sun-facing, and every day before sleeping, I made sure to pull the blackout curtains tight, ensuring no sunlight could enter my room."

"But the bedroom in the place Sister Hong rented for me is sun-facing."

"One night Sister Hong came over to chat and opened my curtains for ventilation. I was working on my paper until two or three in the morning that night, and didn’t notice the curtains before sleeping. The next morning, I was woken by the sunlight."

"The sunlight was especially warm, it felt cozy. At that moment, I suddenly realized I hadn’t stayed in the sunlight like this for many years."

"Then I thought, sunlight can be such a comfortable thing."

"It turns out that I can live a normal life."

"Even if my body is covered with scars, twisted and hideous. Even if I self-harm impulsively, losing my mind, every time making Mrs. Qu sob while bandaging me."

"Even if I wear a mask daily pretending to be allergic to UV rays, constantly feeling like a dark creature lurking in the sewers. Fearing the light, afraid to show my true self, thinking others would shun me once they found out what I am."

"But I can still live a normal life."

"There’s still people like you, Sister Hong, Mr. Luo who accept and understand me."

"I can still sunbathe when it’s sunny, and take off my gloves in front of you."

"Doctors and nurses in the department, knowing my quirky personality, unsociable nature, and lack of talkativeness, still pull me into their chats and gossip, just to ask me to help buy Dried Tangerine Peel Tea and Three Meat Buns."

"And I really can control myself not to self-harm."

Qu Jing said proudly, "I’ve been 45 days without a new wound."

Hearing Qu Jing say this, Qin Huai felt deeply moved.

Qu Jing’s side quest was the hardest to complete for Qin Huai, lacking clues, direction, and context, the most critical point was that Qu Jing had only one dream segment.

Qin Huai had to complete this puzzling side quest to obtain Qu Jing’s single dream segment.

Simply put, Qu Jing’s quest couldn’t be accomplished through clever tricks, there was no shortcut.

Before going to Gusu, Qin Huai had tried his best, but it was useless.

It led to Gong Liang’s quest being completed first, while Qu Jing’s dream was never obtained, and Gong Liang’s memory got unlocked.

But in terms of crisis level, Qu Jing was definitely more severe than Gong Liang. Her obsession was deeper, and she was on the brink of failing in her final life.