Saturday morning dawned bright and clear.

Curtains and windows were thrown open, letting a gentle breeze drift into the little dark room, bathing it in long-absent sunlight.

But in the living room, a long-haired girl seemed to be performing some eldritch ritual worthy of summoning an Old One 😨.

————————

"You know… (sigh)."

"Old Door, you’ve been with me longest. You’re my most loyal one. How many storms have you shielded me from? 🥺"

The girl took a deep breath, pressed her damp right hand against the door, and smeared the meat-rinsing water evenly across its paint. "You’ve suffered for me," she declared with profound satisfaction 😎.

Then she dropped to her knees with a thud. Tears welled in her eyes as she choked out to the floor: "Old Floor, you’re as loyal as Old Door. Every day you bear my footsteps… you’ve suffered too 😭."

A few drops of water from her left hand stained the floorboards.

She rose slowly and solemnly approached the only three advanced devices in the house besides her phone and computer.

…

The big-ass CRT TV! 😇

Dusty and long broken—its satellite dish antenna long gone—it was still the living room’s sole decoration besides the sofa.

"You…" Hua Xin faltered, struggling for words. She patted the TV’s bulky back instead. "You’ve worked hard being a vase."

A sharp hiss from the kitchen pressure cooker snapped her out of nostalgia. She charged toward the kitchen without hesitation.

Meat! Meat! Meat! Meat! Meat! 🤤

The rich aroma made Hua Xin swallow hard.

Carefully releasing the steam with a cloth, she heaved open the lid. Inside, perfectly cooked pork belly radiated a heavenly scent 😋…

She fished out the whole slab and dropped it into a small stew pot. A sly grin flashed across her face as she grabbed one of the neatly lined-up spice packets labeled "Thirteen Treasures" and dumped the entire contents in!!

Light soy sauce!! 😉

Dark soy sauce!! 😘

Salt! 😍

MSG!! 😆

Chicken bouillon!! 🥰

A handful of rock sugar!!

Star anise, Sichuan pepper, spices, bay leaves—everything went in!

Covering the pot, Hua Xin stared eagerly at the inky-black broth bubbling inside. Saliva pooled in her mouth.

"This’ll be amazing…"

"My secret Thirteen Treasures pork belly 🥩…"

Her stomach growled. She turned to the duck carcasses beside her, eyes shining with reverence.

A gift from heaven.

She’d traded a found ten-yuan note for these two duck frames. Barely any meat clung to them, but they were fragrant, premium protein—and reusable.

Two baozi sat quietly on a plate in the microwave.

She’d woken extra early today to give milk to Auntie and buy yesterday’s missed treats. Her birthday had passed, but rituals mattered.

What she missed yesterday, she’d devour today.

Even the free one-cent peanuts she’d scammed were torn open and dumped onto a plate. Today’s feast felt unusually lavish.

With time before the meal, Hua Xin skipped back to her room for a round of intense Teamfight Tactics.

*Buzz buzz.*

She picked up her phone, a faint smile touching her lips.

Xia Yan: "How’s the cake? Good?"

Hua Xin glanced at the untouched cake on the table. "Haven’t eaten it yet," she replied honestly.

"Eat it today, Old Hua. It’ll spoil."

"Also, I’ve finished most of the Reformation Plan. Wanna see? Tell me if anything’s unacceptable. No holding back between friends."

A goofy grin spread across her face. "Okay 🥰."

After Xia Yan’s bizarre confession yesterday, all Hua Xin’s doubts and misunderstandings had dissolved.

They’d talked for hours on the school rooftop last night.

Xia Yan had sought her out after hearing about her past from their counselor. He hadn’t always been this sunny, popular guy—he’d survived the 80s too (the girl sniffled) 🥺.

Pity played a part, but mostly he saw his old self in her.

That’s why he’d spouted that cringey "saving my past self" nonsense.

And Xia Yan and Lin Qingyu weren’t dating—Lin Qingyu was just harassing him. As for Hua Xin’s self-invented "Burden-Lifting 80s Melody Plan" 🤔…

*Ahem.*

She mentally deleted those imaginary scenes and clicked Xia Yan’s document.

She wanted to change her life too.

At least for these final four years.

That’s why she’d agreed.

Besides, it was just going outside…

*Clatter.* Hua Xin’s eyes widened. She nearly dropped her phone 😨.

**Hua Xin Sunshine Plan: Ultimate Edition**

1. Speak to ten strangers daily (must be unrecognized faces).

2. Make one new friend monthly.

3. Spend two+ hours outside daily on non-repeating routes.

4. Exercise one+ hour daily.

5. Befriend the opposite sex (quantity encouraged).

6. Learn conversational skills.

7. No masks or hoodies outdoors.

Sweat beaded on Hua Xin’s forehead as she reread the list. Why did these simple words blur together into incomprehensible horror? (Playing dumb.)

She typed back, fingers trembling: "Uh… maybe skip the reformation? 😭"

This was a death sentence 😭.

Xia Yan: "Old Hua. Think of the food."

"Think pork. Sweet-and-sour ribs. Soup dumplings…"

"Complete one task, I treat you to a feast 😈."

…………

"No objections."

Four calm words. Fear evaporated under the lure of food.

She strode to the kitchen.

Reformation Plan?

Crushed underfoot! 😡👊🏻

Hua Xin sniffed, lifting the pot lid. The bubbling black meat blocks made her forget all terrifying clauses.

A chopstick pierced the tender pork easily. She slid a chunk into her bowl.

After serving steaming rice and arranging dishes on the table, she happily uncovered the cake and settled onto a plastic stool.

*Click.*

Plans forgotten.

The *hiss* of a canned drink opening filled the air. Hua Xin chugged "Qiang Shuang," the icy fruity tang flooding her mouth. She raised the can triumphantly:

"WOW!!! 😆 Old Door! Old Floor! Old TV! We’re eating again today!!"