Shen Qinghuan snapped back to reality. Looking at the little panda’s cheeky, smug expression, the frustration from being pranked earlier flared up, and she began to grind her teeth. She stood up abruptly, grabbed the little panda by the scruff of its neck, and hoisted it into the air.
Caught off guard, the little panda dropped its biscuit. Its large eyes went round, looking up at her pitifully. Its short legs kicked wildly in the air as it sobbed and begged for mercy. “Owner, Owner! What are you doing? Let me down! I was wrong, I was wrong—I’ll never dare to scare you again!”
Shen Qinghuan shook it by the scruff, teeth gritted. “Hmph, you little wretch! How dare you try to scare me? Let’s see how I handle you!”
She made a show of threatening to toss it into the spiritual spring. “Today, I’m just going to boil you in a pot and see what panda soup tastes like! I hear panda meat is incredibly fragrant—stew a pot of it, and the aroma will travel for miles!”
The little panda was terrified out of its wits. Tears and snot streamed down its face, and it wailed so heart-wrenchingly that its legs kicked even harder. “I… I just thought you looked funny when you cried! If you throw me in, I won’t be able to help you tend the black soil or guard the warehouse anymore!”
Shen Qinghuan’s movements paused. Tend the black soil? Guard the warehouse?
This little thing actually has these functions?
She raised an eyebrow, let go, and dropped the little panda back onto the ground. She crossed her arms, looking down at it. “Oh? Tell me more. What else can you do? If I’m not satisfied, you’re still going into the soup pot.”
The little panda shuddered. It quickly patted its chubby chest and puffed out its stomach, trying to look serious. “I am the most powerful Space Spirit! I can help you accelerate crop growth in the black soil—turning a full-day maturity cycle into half a day! I can also manage the warehouse, organizing and categorizing everything so nothing ever gets lost. Plus, I can sense movement outside the space and provide early warnings. If a bad guy comes, I’ll be the first one to tell you!”
It rolled its eyes, then scuttled over to nuzzle against Shen Qinghuan’s leg in a fawning manner. “Oh! And! I know other uses for the spiritual spring water. Use it to irrigate the land, and the crop yield will double. Bathe in it, and it’ll brighten your skin and strengthen your body—it’s even better than those fancy creams from your past life. I guarantee your skin will be soft enough to pinch water out of!”
Shen Qinghuan’s eyes lit up. This was a total jackpot! The little creature was an essential helper for home life, travel, and revenge. She squatted down and poked its round head. “Fine. Considering how useful you are, I’ll spare you this once.”
The little panda let out a huge sigh of relief and immediately scrambled to pick up the half-eaten biscuit to stuff it back into its mouth. “Thank you, Owner! You’re the best!”
Shen Qinghuan couldn’t help but chuckle at its gluttony. She stood up and looked around the dilapidated wooden shack. Remembering the opulence of her past life, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Even with the space and a spirit, this shack is still too miserable. Compared to my old villa, this is heaven and earth—one in the sky, one in the dirt.”
The little panda finished its biscuit, patted its belly, and hopped onto her shoulder. It rubbed its head against her cheek, the furry texture making her ticklish. “Don’t be sad, Owner! As long as you make good use of this space, you’ll definitely live in a place even more luxurious than your old villa. I heard that when the space upgrades, it can turn into a literal palace! It’ll have gardens and hot springs—it’ll be even grander than your villa!”
“A palace? How do we upgrade? Tell me, quick!”
“As long as you plant rare medicinal herbs or store precious treasures in the space, the level will rise!” The little panda flicked its tail, looking incredibly proud. “By then, don’t talk to me about villas—private gardens, hot spring pools, and playgrounds will all be yours! I’ll make sure you live a life even more comfortable than your previous one!”
A fire ignited in Shen Qinghuan’s chest, her fighting spirit soaring. A palace, private gardens, hot springs—isn’t this the life a transmigrator is supposed to have? This is exactly what I want!
She looked down at her swollen abdomen and patted the little panda on her shoulder, her gaze turning firm. She clenched her fist. “Alright. From today on, we’re going to build our career. We’ll fill this black soil with rare herbs, make a fortune, and upgrade this space into a palace. Once I’m healthy and the baby is born, we’ll march back to the capital. We’ll slap Shen Cong’an, Lady Wang, and Shen Chuchu until their faces swell up and reclaim everything that belongs to the original owner with interest!”
The little panda rubbed against her shoulder, chirping happily. “Yeah! Go, Owner! You’re the best! I’ll help you—I’ll watch the fields and collect the herbs! Hehe!”
Shen Qinghuan let out a loud, confident laugh that echoed through the vast space. She could already see herself living in a golden palace with her child, her pet spirit by her side, strutting through the capital. As for Shen Cong’an and Shen Chuchu? She pictured them kneeling and begging for mercy while she held her head high.
And as for that mysterious man? We’ll see.
As the night grew deep, Shen Qinghuan decided to move into the space’s wooden shack. She pulled a soft blanket from the warehouse, spread it on the floor, and curled up with the little panda. Listening to the gentle, rhythmic sound of the spiritual spring, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.