Famine 182: LOFT Apartment

Gu Ying gave a deep bow and handed over her resume.

Si Zhiyan took it, looked it over carefully, and noticed that Gu Ying had won numerous awards in both undergraduate and graduate school—none of which he recognized. He felt somewhat embarrassed, so he cleared his throat, put the resume away, and said, “No issues. Let’s begin the interview.”

“Ah…” Gu Ying looked a bit nervous, immediately straightening up and wiping her eyes vigorously, nodding firm and hard.

“I just want to chat and see your abilities. The topic for this interview…”
Si Zhiyan smiled and said,

“—Design a home for yourself.”

“Design a space that belongs to you alone. Your staff apartment.”

“…!” Gu Ying looked up in disbelief.

Her expression was… rather interesting. Si Zhiyan couldn’t help but smile.

A person who’d been unlucky for so long, who once believed she had been abandoned by the world, suddenly struck by an unexpected gift of fortune… would always show a look of bewildered confusion and anxious fear.

It was a look Si Zhiyan had long grown used to seeing.

“Come with me.” Si Zhiyan waved and led Gu Ying into the tower.

As a prototype test from the High Priest of the Imagination Realm, this tower, of course, had no elevator, nor even stairs, let alone any utility shafts. Si Zhiyan walked over to a corner and knocked on the wall. Immediately, a light appeared in the corner.

“This is the entrance for moving up and down. The location is fixed.”

“All right!” Gu Ying took note, nodding seriously.
Probably because of some inherent strangeness, the local oddities adapted to these magical things quickly—so quickly, in fact, that she didn’t seem at all surprised.

Buzz! A row of glowing numbers appeared horizontally before them.

The high-rise was made of a kind of light, hard, hollow magestone, resembling concrete. It was a specialty material of the imagination world. In appearance, it looked much like a modern apartment building, hardly anything like a divine tower from a fantasy realm. Rows and rows of gray, hollow rectangular stone blocks were staggered and stacked all the way up to the clouds.

Because the blocks were simple and all in the same shade, the overall effect actually had a somewhat postmodern style.

The building had forty-five stories, all accessible by the teleportation formation.

Si Zhiyan let Gu Ying choose her preferred floor. Gu Ying hesitated for a moment and then picked the top—the forty-fifth floor.

Years of cramped, crowded living post-graduation had made her long for a space of her own, quiet and removed from others.

Buzz. The teleportation formation glowed white.

They appeared on the rooftop.

The rooftop was a single, open floor with a tall ceiling.

On the north and west sides, the magestone walls were solid; the east and south sides formed a right angle, with enormous, elongated floor-to-ceiling windows.
The barrier formed by imagination magic was far clearer and sturdier than ordinary glass, utterly seamless.

In the real world, a single stretch of seamless ultra-white glass like this would cost an unimaginable amount, Si Zhiyan thought, arms folded, smiling as he looked outside.

In this world, there were only three thousand square meters available to build, not much at all. But Zisi was thoughtful and, afraid her older brother would feel stifled, installed an illusionary formation at the edge that would supplement the far-off view with a visual panorama.

Looking out, all was mist and cloud, far-off brightness of void and grassland, with undulating mountains faintly visible in the distance.

The view was stunning beyond words.

Si Zhiyan marked out a sixty-square-meter area for Gu Ying.

Gu Ying bowed to Si Zhiyan, then hurried away, only to soon return carrying a large roll of paper and a huge black tote bag. She opened the bag, revealing a complete set of marker pens, and got to work sketching.

She was using A1 paper, and in the absence of a table this size, she sprawled on the floor, carefully drafting her future, stroke by stroke.

In this paperless age, Gu Ying’s skill with hand-drawn renderings was outstanding. Under her touch, colorful lines danced across the page; her pen’s tip performed an artful kind of dance.

She would frequently rise, measure distances, calculate the space, constantly iterating and drawing. She was so focused that sweat dripped from the trembling tip of her pen, to be quickly wiped away before it could land on the paper.

She worked silently but with heartfelt devotion to both her life and her craft.

Si Zhiyan watched her quietly, arms folded, his calm gaze warm and gentle.

Even as a layman, he could see Gu Ying’s professionalism. With her skills, even in the sunset industry of architecture, she should surely have found work by now. If she had failed repeatedly, the trouble must have been her personality.

Truly, Si Zhiyan always believed that the world was full of different people; there was no need to demand strong social skills from every candidate. If someone could communicate just well enough for the job, that was sufficient.
Introversion was no fault—as long as one was diligent and conscientious, they were equal to anyone.

Si Zhiyan, of course, loved warm and exuberant “little suns”; Bian Xu was the best example.

As for these quieter kids, he was always happy to lend them a hand.

This world was full of all sorts.
Every one of them was a good kid.

Tick-tock.
The sound of a clock suddenly returned.

Gu Ying was still immersed in her drawing, utterly oblivious. She wore a watch, Si Zhiyan noted with a glance.

She encountered a problem and solved it, quickly and cleanly.

…Truly worthy of being the former Number One Chosen One, Si Zhiyan thought with a low chuckle. In ghost tales, Bian Xu was more professional than he was.

…

Click.

At last, she capped her pen, looked up, and let out a long breath.

She lifted her design plan with both hands, spread it out on the chalkboard Si Zhiyan had prepared, pinned it in place, and began her presentation.

When introducing her work, Gu Ying’s eyes shone. She didn’t say much, but every word was precise, gentle, and considerate. Even Si Zhiyan, no expert, could understand perfectly. When his gaze lingered on a spot, Gu Ying would naturally elaborate there.

That was the gift of a highly sensitive person.

Gu Ying’s design was a full set, including the construction of this floor and her own apartment’s interior.
For a completed set of plans, the speed at which she drew was extraordinarily fast—almost unnaturally so.
Though she herself was unaware, the ghostly part of her—the obsession to support herself through her beloved craft—must have aided her somewhat.

Her plan followed standard architectural norms, accounting for utility shafts, ventilation, and detailed lighting. The floor could house four apartments, an elevator shaft, and a spacious lounge adorned with a refined little landscape.

The lounge resembled a modern mountain resort. From a practical standpoint, most windows were saved for natural lighting in the living areas, but she left a hidden narrow window in the lounge. Light came in from one side and bathed a stylized mountain-and-water miniature, with rippling reflections both beautiful and poetic, never feeling cramped at all.

…In any case, Si Zhiyan was very satisfied.

He listened attentively, asked a few questions, then looked up with a smile. “That’s all? Are you sure?”

Gu Ying was startled by the doubt in his tone; her hands, already damp with sweat, trembled. But she turned her head, glanced at her plans, steadied herself, and nodded. “Mm.”

“It’s just… construction might be difficult, and may take longer, with tricky details.” Gu Ying added nervously, softly, “If problems come up, I can make timely revisions.”

Si Zhiyan smiled, stood up, and rolled his shoulders.

With one hand in his pocket, he stretched his other arm forward and gripped the Imagination Brush.

“Then I’ll begin,” he said, smiling.

“?”

Whoosh!

Before Gu Ying could react, as Si Zhiyan’s wrist gave the gentlest twist, an entire dividing wall surged up from the ground, standing before her.

Gu Ying was stunned: “???!”

Si Zhiyan strode forth, sweeping his arm with bold, graceful strokes all the way. His steps were brisk; along his path, floors, decorations, partitions, lights—all of it sprang up at the tip of his brush.

The materials were fine, the finishes perfect, every detail identical to her designs, even finer.

And there wasn’t a whiff of formaldehyde.

Gu Ying was stuck in place, rubbing her eyes fiercely—open, blink, squeeze, open again. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. She stood there stunned for a long while before she hurried after Si Zhiyan.

Stumbling along, eyes wide, breathless with amazement.

—This was the power of the High Priest… No, more than that, the power of the Imagination Realm’s seed.

Si Zhiyan built skillfully as he smiled.

With accurate blueprints and a well-defined plan, he could upload everything into the Imagination Brush.
You can change your world, if you have a dream.

The High Priest will stand behind you.

Of course, there were flaws to this method. Si Zhiyan only had the power to build; he had some experience with constructing complexes, but truly didn’t know anything about interior decoration or detail…

It was much like building houses in MC. Everyone had antigravity blocks—some people could make floating sky islands or magnificent Gothic cathedrals; others could only dig dirt holes and live in caves…

Si Zhiyan gave a discreet cough.

Well, that was why he had hired someone (or almost someone) to solve that problem.
Following a guide and plans was so much easier.

In the end, everything from Gu Ying’s blueprints for the forty-fifth floor of the imagination tower took shape in reality.

Si Zhiyan stood in the lounge, put away the brush, and looked around. Quiet, elegant, beautiful, the sound of running water in the air—he was very satisfied. “Well done. You’ve passed.”

“…” Gu Ying was lost in a daze, nodding on reflex.

Si Zhiyan gestured to her and pushed one of the doors open. “From now on, this will be your dormitory.”

Squeak.

The minimalist black security door swung open, revealing the space beyond.

It was a sixty- to seventy-square-meter LOFT, in a classic, elegant Nordic style. The space was open and bright, divided into two floors. Entering, the shoe cabinet was to the right, and straight ahead, an expansive floor-to-ceiling window.

With the extra-high ceiling of the top floor, even divided in two the space never felt cramped.

Downstairs were the dining room, kitchen, guest bath, and living room.
Upstairs were the study, a master bedroom with en-suite bath, and an additional guest bedroom.

The two floors were connected by a white, hollowed-out staircase.

The kitchen was semi-open; a wooden bar sat beside the living room, with a few tall stools arranged by it and matching wooden windows above. Usually, the windows could be left open, keeping the space bright. When needed, they could be closed to enjoy a drink, or to keep the room from filling with smoke while cooking.

The living area had a soaring, open ceiling. The pale, fluffy rug on the floor held a soft fabric sofa, a coffee table, an elegant arched lamp, and a few cushions.

Beside the floor-to-ceiling window stood a complex, beautiful cat tree ensemble.
It was exactly the one Gu Ying had spent nights flipping through Taobao to look at—coveting for so long, but never able to bring herself to buy.

“Meow!”
Milk Tea had, at some point, bounded in excitedly and dove at the cat tree.

She wasn’t great at stopping yet: her little furry body bumped gently into a scratching post with a soft bonk. No matter—the post was wrapped in plush cloth, perfectly safe. The tough little kitten shook her head, tail up high like an antenna, and happily began scratching away.

Ssshhh, ssshhh.

That familiar sound echoed out.

But this time, everything was different.

Gu Ying’s eyes shone with tears, reflecting the clean and spacious home that belonged to her; her lips trembled bit by bit.

She slowed her breathing and, very gently, ran her hand along the banister as she climbed to the second floor, as if afraid that with a single thoughtless move, this beautiful dream might shatter.

In the master bedroom on the second floor, the bed was a double enrobed in cloudlike white cushions—plump, soft, and inviting. It sat by the window, facing the living room. Lying in bed, stretching out lazily and turning one’s head, the entire world could be seen at a glance.

Slowly, slowly, Gu Ying knelt on the bed, pressing her hands and cheek to the window, gazing out.

Looking down, Milk Tea scampered on the living room rug below, pouncing and gnawing at a plush catnip ball she’d never played with before—a safe and blissful toy that carried the scent of cat grass.

She tore furiously at the little ball, putting her whole effort into it.

Raising her eyes, beyond the immense window, she saw undulating green hills stretching to the horizon, sea of clouds rolling, and endless greenery on the distant mountains.

Si Zhiyan straightened his cuffs at the doorway, looking at Gu Ying’s back, and smiled as he said, “Go back and pack your things. Move in.”
“From now on, this is your home.”

—This was her home now.

Gu Ying pressed her lips tight. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye, following her jaw to break on the soft bedding.

Si Zhiyan nodded with a smile.

How could there be any doubt now? Wasn’t this considered [recognition]?

Why was there still no movement from the black-hole crystal?

Just then, a muffled cat’s meow sounded behind him: “Meow!”

Si Zhiyan looked back.

It was Milk Tea.

The little tabby carried the plush ball, tail held high, bounding across the room, struggling to climb onto the bed to set the plush ball by Gu Ying’s side.

“Meow.” The kitten lay down next to her, licked Gu Ying’s hand, and purred contentedly.

She turned her furry little head to look at Si Zhiyan and licked the glowing edge of her mouth.

[?]

From the pocket of Si Zhiyan’s coat, the frost-horned rabbit, woken suddenly from its nap, poked its head out. The floppy-eared rabbit rested its chin on the edge of the pocket, shaking its little frost-tipped head.

Thunk.

A tiny black hole dropped from its horn into Si Zhiyan’s hand and began to glow.

At the same time, the system prompt sounded:

[Ding! This Black Hole Crystal has been recognized by [The Unfated Ghost Tale—The Girl and Cat in the Box Gap]!]

[Scanning…]

[Current number of recognitions for world shard: 1]
[Resonance not yet triggered. Please keep trying.]

[[Unfated Dense Apartment]—your resonance has increased!]

[Resonating…]

[Ding! Black Hole Crystal has gained the ability: [The Cat’s Gate Through the Gap]]

Ah.

Si Zhiyan understood.

He still needed the little cat’s recognition.

Si Zhiyan stroked the black hole, gratified, and put it back in his pocket.

Of course. The tabby cat, Milk Tea, was part of the ghost tale as well.

As it should be, really—Milk Tea and Gu Ying were one.

Thinking about it, it all made perfect sense.

That day, Gu Ying found an injured, three-legged kitten in a pool of blood.

From then on, she and Milk Tea were inseparable, never apart.
No matter how many people disliked her, no matter how much Gu Ying sometimes disliked herself… the little cat always, always loved her with her whole heart, adored her utterly, and never, ever held a grudge.

Just as Gu Ying, in turn, never minded that Milk Tea only had three legs.

Milk Tea and Gu Ying—together in life, together in death, never to be separated.

…

Good. The time was nearly up.
Si Zhiyan glanced at his watch, preparing to say something to Gu Ying, when suddenly, the frost-horned rabbit shook its head.

Thunk!

Without warning, a second Black Hole Crystal dropped out into Si Zhiyan’s hand and began to glow.

[Ding!]

[This Black Hole Crystal has been recognized by [The Unfated Ghost Tale—Eternal Night of Crowded Regret]!]
[Current number of recognitions for world shard: 2]