AGN -Chapter 187 Awakening in Progress

After hearing that the fruit they wanted to eat could only be found in Suzhou, Ou Yang fell into prolonged silence. Qin Huai didn’t pay attention to his good brother’s silence, because the steamed buns in the steamer were ready.

[Three-Delicacy Bun (B Grade)]

Uniformly B-grade.

Stable performance.

Qin Huai personally lifted the lid. The moment he opened it, steam rushed toward them, carrying a warm wheat aroma unique to buns, silently declaring to everyone around that this batch was truly delicious.

Anyone who often eats buns knows that the quality of a bun can be judged by its aroma.

Although “smell” is somewhat abstract, every resident living near Qin’s breakfast shop—especially high school students who had to arrive at school by 7 a.m., waking early every day, hungry yet full of anticipation, coming to Qin’s breakfast shop just to eat the bun they wanted—had developed the basic skill of identifying buns by smell.

The aroma of a delicious bun is different from that of an ordinary one.

Especially meat buns—even though the filling is tightly wrapped inside the dough, the fragrance still spreads along with the wheat aroma.

That sweet, rich scent—filled with carbohydrates, fats, sugars, and all the most primal human cravings for energy—quickly invades the nostrils of anyone in urgent need of a satisfying breakfast.

At that moment, all floral scents, the smell of books, dust, gasoline—all disappear. Even if there is a braised food shop next door, its aroma can be temporarily ignored.

The entire world is filled only with the smell of buns.

And specifically, the smell of buns made by Qin Huai himself.

If someone insisted on asking what Qin Huai’s buns smell like, the regular customers who came every morning treating it like a blind box would surely answer loudly:

“It’s just the smell of buns!”

“The kind of smell where you just need to step slightly closer, take a deep breath, and you know today is a win—you’ll definitely get the dream bun!”

“The kind of smell that makes people dare to queue no matter the weather—cold, heat, wind, rain, even typhoons—as long as Qin’s breakfast shop is open!”

“The kind of smell that makes your mouth water automatically and your brain imagine the taste before you even hold the bun in your hand!”

Unfortunately, only the residents near Qin’s breakfast shop truly understand this feeling. The customers at Yunchong Cafeteria will never understand it.

Because the buns sold at Yunchong Cafeteria by Qin Huai and Qin Congwen are not the same price, and are sold separately.

People cannot experience the joy of a blind box when buying buns there.

Qin Huai skillfully picked out the buns one by one and plated them. He didn’t know each employee’s appetite, but he knew everyone would eat more today than usual. After all, after working so long, even those with small appetites would be hungry.

So when packing the final batch, Qin Huai prepared portions based on Qin Luo’s appetite, also accounting for Ou Yang, Chen Huihong, Chen Huihui, Luo Jun, Qu Jing, and even Chen Yingjun’s extra servings.

Qin Luo’s buns weren’t included in this batch; she would only return from school in the evening, and Qin Huai would make fresh ones for her then.

Qin Huai served everyone a full plate of buns, along with unlimited refills of tangerine peel tea and seemingly nourishing stewed pigeon soup with gastrodia. Everyone felt as if it were New Year’s.

A large plate of buns in front of them looked simple, but in reality, it was very generous.

Many employees at Yunchong Cafeteria had never eaten this many three-delicacy buns since joining.

Today’s buns were limited per purchase. Although the cafeteria couldn’t strictly enforce a limit of five per person per day, it could enforce five per purchase. Many nearby residents queued from morning until noon just to buy a few more buns.

But how many buns were on the plates in front of them now?

A full 12!

These weren’t ordinary buns—they symbolized special employee privileges of Yunchong Cafeteria!

Walking around Yunchong Residential Area carrying these 12 buns would make you the most eye-catching person around—even Granny Ding, who carried two large bags of fermented buns, couldn’t outshine you.

“Everyone has worked hard today. Eat something to replenish yourselves,” Qin Huai said with a smile.

No need for encouragement—someone had already started eating.

The first to begin was An Youyou. She stuffed a bun into her mouth even faster and more decisively than Ou Yang.

While others were still hesitating—wondering whether the plate was for one person or multiple, whether to eat one or two and pack the rest for family, or to simply eat their fill first—An Youyou had already taken a bite.

She had already eaten three-delicacy buns yesterday.

But she felt it wasn’t enough—far from enough.

Such delicious buns could never be eaten enough.

In the future, when she had money, she would eat one three-delicacy bun, one five-delicacy bun, one four-combination dumpling, one fermented bun every morning—whatever the cafeteria had, she would eat it all, just to enjoy a satisfying meal before work.

Soon, the exhausted cafeteria staff who had been slumped in their chairs were now all holding buns, happily devouring them, sipping tangerine peel tea between bites, their expressions blissful.

Qu Jing saw this scene when she walked in.

As a professional neurologist, her first instinct was to call the police.

Then she noticed what everyone was eating.

Three-delicacy buns and tangerine peel tea.

All was fine.

When Qu Jing entered, Qin Huai was eating stewed pigeon with gastrodia.

Compared to the delicious three-delicacy buns, the stewed pigeon seemed mediocre. Qin Huai alternated between bites of pigeon and buns, feeling that Gong Liang truly cared about him.

Being able to eat a D-grade stewed pigeon while still enjoying S-grade buns—truly impressive.

“Qin Huai, long time no see,” Qu Jing said with a smile, removing her mask. “You’ve caused quite a sensation since returning. This morning everywhere I went smelled like buns. Even the head of neurosurgery came to my department asking if I could help buy some three-delicacy buns.”

Qin Huai asked, “Have you eaten?”

Qu Jing shook her head. Qin Huai pushed the buns toward her: “Have some.”

She didn’t refuse, sat down, and began eating.

Qin Huai observed her briefly—good complexion, rosy lips, healthy energy.

She wouldn’t die anytime soon.

Noticing Qin Huai’s gaze, she smiled: “I’ve been in a good mental state lately.”

“Although I still get complaints from patients occasionally, saying I wrap myself too tightly and seem disrespectful. I still feel helpless with most Alzheimer’s cases. My research progress is slow. Sometimes late at night at my computer, I still have a strong urge to harm myself… but overall, it’s much better.”

“Sister Hong often worries about me. She visits me around 9 or 10 p.m. under the pretense of bringing fruit, sometimes even imported fruit platters, to check my home. She makes sure there are no knives on the table and that all kitchen utensils are properly stored.”

“She also complains that you’ve been away in Suzhou for so long, meaning she has no tangerine peel tea or snacks. The cross-province deliveries she orders from Huang Ji can only reliably deliver crispy pastries—fermented buns lose their texture in transit compared to freshly made ones.”

Qin Huai was shocked: “She really ordered cross-province delivery?!”

“Yes. Though she seems to be using Mr. Luo’s cross-province delivery. He drinks tangerine peel tea every morning, which is delivered from Suzhou the day before.”

Qin Huai was deeply shaken.

He didn’t know what to say.

Qu Jing continued, “I’ve also secretly been getting some sunlight lately.”

Seeing Qin Huai pause, she added, “For years, I pretended to have severe photosensitivity. Over time, I even believed it myself. I always covered myself tightly, avoided sunlight, and even lived in a place without sunlight, always drawing blackout curtains.”

“But the room Sister Hong rented for me faces the sun.”

“One night, she pulled open the curtains to ventilate. I stayed up until 2–3 a.m. working on my paper and didn’t notice the curtains. The next morning, I woke up bathed in sunlight.”

“It was warm. Gentle. At that moment, I realized I hadn’t been in sunlight for many years.”

“Then I thought—so this is what it feels like to bask in the sun.”

“So I really can live like a normal person.”

“Even with scars all over my body… even though I sometimes lose control and self-harm… even though I have to rely on my mother to bandage me while crying…”

“Even though I wear a mask and feel like a creature living in darkness…”

“I can still live normally.”

“There are people like you, Sister Hong, and Mr. Luo who accept and understand me.”

“I can still enjoy the sun and remove my gloves in front of you.”

“Even though others know my odd personality, they still chat with me, even gossip, just to ask me to help buy tangerine peel tea and buns.”

“And I can control myself from self-harming.”

“I haven’t had a new injury in 45 days.”

Hearing this, Qin Huai felt deeply moved.

Compared to others, Qu Jing’s side quest was the hardest—no clues, no direction. Her dream was also singular.

He had to complete this incomprehensible quest to unlock her only dream.

In short, there were no shortcuts.

Before going to Suzhou, Qin Huai had already tried—but failed.

As a result, Gong Liang’s quest overtook hers, unlocking his memory first.

But in terms of risk, Qu Jing far exceeded Gong Liang. Her obsession was deeper, and she was nearing the final stage of failure.

Now Qin Huai understood why Luo Jun and Chen Huihong had warned him in advance—not every spirit could successfully transcend tribulation.

Often, the tribulation was not external—it was internal. Many could not overcome their own inner demons.

Yet Chen Huihong, despite her words, acted differently—quietly helping Qu Jing by checking on her, talking to her, and ensuring her safety.

Grasswood spirits were naturally warm-hearted.

Qin Huai looked at Qu Jing and felt she had changed.

She still seemed calm, but now carried a trace of vitality.

Before, he wasn’t sure she could live long.

Now, he was certain she would likely live out a natural lifespan.

Qin Huai smiled: “Then Director Qu must be very happy.”

Qu Jing nodded and took out a scarf: “Mother Qu knitted scarves for you, Sister Hong, and Mr. Luo. Yours was finished first. She chose this design online—it looks nice, though a bit familiar.”

Qin Huai accepted it and took a closer look.

Hmm…

Indeed very familiar.

The logo was unmistakable.

LV.

Her aesthetic was quite something—she had picked a widely recognized luxury brand design from online images.

Qin Huai said nothing and accepted it.

The craftsmanship was excellent; the stitching was neat, and the scarf looked very refined—almost indistinguishable from the real thing at a glance.

Who could refuse a handmade LV-style wool scarf?

Qin Huai checked the time—barely past 3 p.m.—and realized something seemed off.

“Are you on day shift or night shift today?”

Qu Jing replied, “I took the day off. I’ve been assigned to study at the Suzhou branch hospital for two months. I leave the day after tomorrow, so I have today and tomorrow off to prepare.”

“I came specifically to ask about Suzhou—what to bring, the weather, commuting convenience.”

“I plan to rent my own place instead of staying in the hospital dorm, since my situation makes shared living inconvenient.”

“Do you have any recommendations for areas?”

Qin Huai thought for a moment: “I don’t know about areas, but I can recommend a full set of smart home equipment—and a good traditional bone-setting clinic.”

Qu Jing: ?

“Before you leave, I have a small request.”

“…What is it?”

“When you go there, I’ll prepare special meals for you—don’t say they’re from Huang Ji. And don’t ask delivery services to buy snacks from there either.”

Qu Jing nodded in confusion.

After packing her food, she left.

After she left, Qin Huai opened the game panel and checked the illustrated book.

Qu Jing was listed fourth.

Name: Qu Jing
Species: Unknown
Status: Awakening in Progress
Dreams: 0/1
Recipes: None
Gifts: None

Indeed, her status had changed.

Thanks to Sister Hong’s help, she had transitioned from complete amnesia to awakening in progress.

She was now only one final trigger away from awakening.

In this round, the plant spirits were making significant progress.