Though not particularly indecisive, clothes shopping still took Bai Xia quite some time. Bags of all sizes piled up until she could barely carry them alone. Thankfully, stores now offered home delivery for larger or pricier orders—otherwise, hauling everything back would’ve been a real headache.
After giving the delivery address, Bai Xia strolled out of the store at a leisurely pace. A brief rest, a quick location check, and she headed off elsewhere.
Living on takeout ever since her transformation, she decided it was time to treat herself. At the supermarket, she bought premium beef and lamb, fresh veggies and fruit—and, wincing slightly at the price, a lobster nearly half her size. The clerk mentioned some breed from some distant continent; Bai Xia didn’t catch a word, but it *looked* delicious. It had been ages since she’d had lobster. Braised or as sashimi, this one wouldn’t disappoint. Cravings won. She bought it.
She browsed the daily essentials aisle, restocking whatever was low at home in one go. On impulse, she grabbed a big bag of assorted snacks. Finally, mustering a little cheek, she picked up two large packs of a certain “thoughtful little angel” brand and tucked them discreetly among the rest at checkout.
With so many items, she opted for delivery again. After confirming the time and address with the staff—same as the clothing order—Bai Xia stepped out of the shopping complex. She’d covered quite a loop, yet glancing skyward, she saw it was still early. Not particularly hungry, she pondered a moment, then hopped onto the city’s sightseeing bus.
Su Hua, the ancient Huaxia capital of this world, had seamlessly woven cutting-edge tech with timeless culture—so successfully it became a global draw, ranking among the top ten tourist cities worldwide. Classical gardens and pavilions stood beside sci-fi skyscrapers; the shimmering Tianlan Jade Lake, glowing with natural serenity, coexisted with the Pearl Light Iron Tower piercing the heavens. The city was vast, its wonders endless. Seeing it all in half a day? Pure fantasy. But Bai Xia hadn’t planned to. With her short legs and limited stamina, sticking to nearby spots was already her limit.
For those few hours, she fully embraced being a tourist—casting aside every worry, soaking in the city’s delights. Food, scenery, culture… Though brief, she truly felt herself growing closer to this world. Even as a “local born and raised,” she bought local specialties—edibles and trinkets—though much of this world’s culture still left her utterly baffled.
Dinner was at a specialty restaurant. The waiter nearly dropped his jaw watching Bai Xia finish every dish on the table, not a crumb left. Truth was, she often wondered if her character stats were misallocated. How could such a tiny frame hold so much? Shouldn’t a girl’s “second stomach” be for desserts only…? She’d occasionally think, *Am I normal?* Then promptly brush it off.
A joyful day out, aided by convenient transport—but her current physique still left her pleasantly tired. Back home, all deliveries had arrived. She made several trips from the community pickup point, hung clothes neatly in the wardrobe, chilled the produce, meat, and lobster. Sorting took time, but full from dinner, she counted it post-meal exercise.
Resting on the sofa, she noticed her Tianxun device—mostly idle all day—now flooded with messages. These days, only Tianzheng messaged her. Unlike Bai Xia’s outdoor adventure, he’d been grinding in *Another World* and had already cleared the starter village. His messages mentioned the village chief’s quest—already completed. Bai Xia would get the final reward on login. Trivial, really; the main reward was claimed early. The follow-up only gave coins and XP, negligible now.
What mattered: his friends would exit the starter village by tomorrow. They could meet. He didn’t elaborate—just said they were interesting, reliable, great for adventures or teams. Seemingly to ease her mind, he added two of the three were girls.
Bai Xia had no objections. First, Tianzheng was team lead—his call. Second, *Another World* was never solo. The Lava Colossus fight proved that. Without Shura Deathbind’s lucky trigger, they’d have lost. One mage in the party back then? Things wouldn’t have been so nerve-wracking—or nearly failed. For tough dungeons, trustworthy teammates were essential. And she trusted Tianzheng’s picks.
Leaning on the sofa, they chatted for hours—texts to calls, game talk to real life, her day’s adventures, photos included. As her only friend here, Bai Xia shared freely. He mostly listened quietly. Few words, zero awkwardness. So engrossed, dusk fell unnoticed. Only when Tianzheng mentioned being busy did she reluctantly end the call.
Bai Xia wasn’t chatty—usually reserved. But so many new wonders lately… the urge to share was hard to suppress. And Tianzheng was practically the only person she knew well here. No wonder she’d talked more. Later, she mused it clashed slightly with her calm, wise, taciturn self-image. Too late now. After a shower, she grabbed a big bag of popcorn and settled into her bedroom with a movie.
One perk of transmigrating? Never lacking anime or films—zero worry about mental nourishment. Bingeing new series and movies had become her go-to pastimes beyond gaming. She’d even considered a holographic projector. Tianxun was versatile, but its screen felt limited. A projector would offer immersion—yes, just light you can’t touch, but far comfier. Big-budget sci-fi in hologram? Absolutely mind-blowing. Still, decent projectors weren’t cheap. The plan could wait.
“Take it slow. No rush,” she murmured.
As her understanding of this world deepened, Bai Xia’s vision for crafting her own “cozy nest” grew steadily clearer.
