Grace Brooks clicked on each of these videos one by one, grinning from ear to ear as he read the silly comments from netizens below.

Lord Jasper also personally joined in and posted a video:

【Fulfilling Carter's request】

The young lady twisted around in a skirt and pants for two minutes.

Grace Brooks watched it a few times and got a bit bored, commenting:

“Hmph, riding on my popularity.”

Just then, Sophie suddenly looked away, turned her head to glance at her sister and brother-in-law, and also saw what was on her brother-in-law’s screen.

The little girl blinked, quite puzzled, and couldn’t help but ask, “Brother-in-law, aren’t there pretty sisters at home who are tall, with long legs and big chests? Isn’t my sister even prettier than them?”

“Huh?”

Grace Brooks was taken aback for a moment, took off his headphones and explained, “I’m just playing along with them for fun. I’ll soon like someone else. But I’ll always love your sister.”

The little girl nodded thoughtfully.

Then she sneaked another glance at her sister.

Her sister was focused on listening to music, her face calm as water.

“Go back to looking at your scenery.”

“Oh.”

Once the little girl turned back, Grace Brooks continued to open the comment section, where a bunch of people were thanking Carter.

He gave likes to the top few silly netizens whose comments sounded the best.

Then he kept scrolling through other videos.

The most popular short video platform in this world is almost the same as Douyin from his previous life, as if everyone has found the optimal path through trial and error. But in Grace Brooks’s opinion, the push algorithm of this world’s short video app isn’t good enough—it never recommends him any cool, pretty girls.

Hopefully, that will be improved soon.

Chapter 9: Zhouhe Notes

It was still raining in Baishi.

The house was empty.

His father was a history professor at Yuanzhou Academy, somewhat impressive, not exactly busy but not idle either, with a wide range of hobbies, but specializing in losing money. His mother, named Wei Yan, was a lawyer, much busier than his father, often away from home, but quite good at making money, perfectly complementing his father.

Parents were rarely seen at home.

“Dinner…”

Grace Brooks opened the fridge and took a look. There was only cabbage, eggs, milk, and some bottles and jars.

Too lazy to cook, he simply took out his phone and ordered takeout.

Half an hour later, the food arrived.

A steaming bowl of soul-stirring rice noodles, fragrant pork lard broth, with lots of bright red chili peppers added—the deliciousness and spiciness blended perfectly. A few slices of tender, stewed pork on top made for a multi-layered treat for the taste buds.

The vendor also included a little toy—

A “squealing pig” slightly bigger than a thumb, with a small whistle at the bottom. Squeeze the pig and it goes “squeak squeak.”

“Squeak squeak…”

That was the start of today’s good mood.

After dinner, he cultivated and analyzed.

Busy and happy.

……

The eighth day of May.

The rain in Baishi had stopped.

Grace Brooks sat in the yard of Lily Carter’s house, gave her the “squealing pig” he got from ordering takeout, and told her it could make a sound when squeezed—super fun.

Lily Carter took it, squeezed it twice—squeak squeak—then, expressionless, put it in her pocket.

Grace Brooks went to look at her flowers.

After so many days of rain, roses are most prone to black spot in this season. Fortunately, Lily Carter had been spraying them preventively, so the flowers and plants were still quite healthy.

Grace Brooks’s favorite flower, called “Dawn and Dusk,” was already blooming.

It was a new variety bred a few years ago, with a rosette shape and gradient colors. When in full bloom, it looked like the sky at the edge of dawn or dusk—neither fully bright nor completely dark.

Unfortunately, it’s not a cut-flower variety.

While smelling the flowers, Grace Brooks turned to ask Lily Carter, “What are you doing for summer break?”

“Working. You?”

“I’m going to participate in the opening of the Sacred Ancestor Cube and the artifact inventory.” Grace Brooks smacked his lips. “Professor Brooks is finally being useful for once. Not easy.”

“Just what you wanted.”

“Hehe…”

“Why are you so interested in the Sacred Ancestor?” Lily Carter tilted her head, glancing at Grace Brooks.

“None of your business.”

“……”

Lily Carter turned away and said nothing.

At that moment, Grace Brooks got a call—it was Professor Brooks. As soon as he answered, Professor Brooks said, “We’re starting to excavate the cube this afternoon. Want to come join the fun? Clearing the surrounding dirt and rocks will probably have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“At Lily Carter’s house.”

“I’ll come pick you up.”

“Okay.”

Grace Brooks stood up and said to Lily Carter, “I’m leaving.”

Lily Carter nodded lightly.

……

Jinghai is the second largest freshwater lake in Yuanzhou, long and narrow, about 40 kilometers in length, with a maximum width of 10 kilometers east to west, a surface area of 260 square kilometers, and a circumference of 140 kilometers. The city of Baishi sits at the foot of the mountains on the west side of Jinghai. The opposite side belongs to Youlong District. To get from the city to the foot of Beauty Mountain, you have to take the road around the lake—there’s no highway, and it’s about an hour’s drive.

Professor Brooks drove very properly, never speeding.

An hour later, they arrived at their destination.

Standing at the foot of the mountain up close, you realize how terrifying the power of nature can be.

Half the mountain’s earth and rocks had collapsed, burying at least a kilometer of the lakeside road. The debris rushed into the lake, surely with tremendous force at the time.