Accompanied by his chaotic thoughts, Meng Yuqing drifted into a deep sleep.
When he woke up the next day, it was already close to noon. Quickly getting out of bed, he felt a little embarrassed—staying in someone else's home and sleeping until noon was far from polite.
Walking out of the room, he saw Autumn Leaf busy preparing lunch. Summer and Xuan were not at home. Upon seeing Meng Yuqing, Autumn Leaf smiled and greeted him warmly.
"You're awake? Did you sleep well last night?"
"I slept very well. The animal skins are so soft and comfortable, thank you!" Meng Yuqing replied with a smile, though in truth, his sleep had been restless. After Xuan's story last night, his mind had been in turmoil.
Xuan was the first person Meng Yuqing had encountered in this world, and Xuan had treated him kindly from the very beginning. Despite being a mature adult, Meng Yuqing couldn't help but feel an attachment to Xuan.
He could sense Xuan's sadness and pain, as well as his deep love for his tribe and people. This had strengthened Meng Yuqing's resolve—he wanted to do something for this tribe. Not just because the system required him to develop the tribe for upgrades, but because he genuinely wanted to contribute.
"That's good. Lunch will be ready soon," Autumn Leaf said cheerfully.
Meng Yuqing ruffled his hair and stepped outside to fetch some fresh water with the small water flask he'd made earlier. He used it to wash up quickly.
I need to make a toothbrush, he thought. Since arriving here, he hadn't brushed his teeth properly. He recalled that willow twigs could be used as makeshift toothbrushes. Maybe the system could help identify a similar tree in this world.
Thinking of the system, he realized that the first mission was already complete and other functionalities had been unlocked. However, with Xuan's visit last night, he hadn't had a chance to explore them. Today would be a good time to dive in.
Spitting out the last mouthful of water, Meng Yuqing wiped his face and returned inside. Autumn Leaf had already finished preparing lunch. Seeing the portions, Meng Yuqing asked, "Aren't the chief and Xuan coming back for lunch?"
Shaking his head, Autumn Leaf replied, "They're with the patrol team. They usually don't come back for lunch unless there's something urgent. Xuan's an adult now, so he has a lot to learn and can't afford to be as carefree as he was as a reserve warrior."
Taking the food Autumn Leaf handed him, Meng Yuqing sat down at the stone table. As he ate, he brought up the topic that had been on his mind.
"How can I get my own house in the tribe? Do I need to make a contribution?"
Autumn Leaf looked at him in surprise. "You want to live alone?"
Meng Yuqing nodded, puzzled. "Yes, is that not allowed?"
"No, it's allowed. Anyone in the tribe can build a house if they want," Autumn Leaf explained. "But you could stay here with us." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Xuan's moving out soon since he's of age. You wouldn't have to worry about space."
Realizing the misunderstanding, Meng Yuqing quickly clarified, "It's not that. I just feel bad about imposing on you for so long."
"But you're not an adult yet," Autumn Leaf said with genuine concern. "An underage sub-beast can't live alone. If they're alone, another family in the tribe will usually adopt them. You don't have to feel bad about it."
It dawned on Meng Yuqing that Autumn Leaf might have been considering adopting him. This thought made him a bit flustered.
"I'm already 22. I'm an adult," Meng Yuqing said, surprised by the misunderstanding.
Autumn Leaf looked even more shocked. "But Xuan told me you weren't."
"I never discussed my age with Xuan," Meng Yuqing replied, equally baffled. What had given Xuan the impression that he wasn't an adult?
"Ah! That must've been a misunderstanding. I'm sorry about that," Autumn Leaf apologized.
"It's fine. I must've done something to give him the wrong idea," Meng Yuqing said, relieved that the misunderstanding was resolved.
"Still, even if you're an adult, you're welcome to stay with us until you find a partner," Autumn Leaf insisted.
"Thank you so much, but I'd really prefer to have my own place," Meng Yuqing explained earnestly. He needed space for himself—to explore the system's potential and develop ideas to help the tribe.
Autumn Leaf studied him for a moment, sensing his sincerity, and finally relented with a slight sigh of disappointment. "Alright. Xuan's planning to build his own house soon, so you can build yours alongside his. That way, if you need help with anything, he'll be close by. You're also welcome to visit us anytime."
"Of course!" Meng Yuqing agreed, not wanting to reject Autumn Leaf's kind intentions. It was clear Autumn Leaf had taken a liking to him.
Hearing his agreement, Autumn Leaf beamed, his eyes crinkling with joy. His kind and approachable demeanor made it easy to feel at ease around him.
That evening, when Xuan and Summer returned, Autumn Leaf brought up Meng Yuqing's desire to live alone during dinner.
"Xuan, when you build your house, help Yuqing build one too," he said.
"Is he not staying here? He wants to live alone?" Xuan asked, echoing Autumn Leaf's initial surprise.
"Yes. He and I already discussed it. You can build the houses close together, so you can help him out if he needs it," Autumn Leaf explained, cutting off Xuan's further questions. "For the next couple of days, focus on building the houses. You can resume your patrol duties and hunting afterward," Summer added.
Seeing everyone agree, Xuan stopped questioning the matter and instead asked Meng Yuqing about his preferences for the house.
"What kind of house do you want? Any specific requirements?"
Meng Yuqing thought for a moment before replying, "I'd like a small plot of land nearby, ideally for planting things."
After dinner, once the dishes were cleaned, Meng Yuqing returned to his room and sat on the stone bed.
"System," he called out in his mind.
"I'm here, Host," the system replied immediately.