Tall streetlights illuminated the bus stop.
Swarms of tiny mosquitoes circled the streetlights in wild flight. Zhen Bei generously gave a coin to the dragon and the monkey. Curious, the monkey pinched the coin into a lump, pulled it flat again, then twisted it into a spiral. Seeing Bai Yujun and Zhen Bei holding coins, he scratched his head and squeezed it back into shape.
But the coin could never return to its former roundness...
The bus pulled up at the stop.
After waiting briefly, it started off again, leaving the platform empty.
The monkey dropped the crumpled coin into the fare box. Fortunately, the darkness hid it from view; otherwise, Zhen Bei would have had to put in an extra coin for no reason. No matter how small the amount, money was money—extravagance and waste were not to be encouraged.
There were no seats left except for two empty ones in the middle, so the three unusual beings all stood.
Zhen Bei held the overhead handrail. Bai Yujun could not reach it, so she had no choice but to grasp a vertical pole and lean against it slightly. The monkey had wanted to climb up the pole and play on the roof, but Bai Yujun could not bear to lose face for dragons.
The bright lights outside streaked past the windows, while a faint breeze made their hair itch.
The lights of the shops stirred something in her heart.
"Actually, the mortal world's smoke and fire aren't so bad..."
"Yes, but it's too fragile. Someone has to bear the burden and protect it."
Zhen Bei stared out the window, his eyes unfocused. Perhaps he had remembered something; even the monkey could sense the sorrow clinging to him.
Someone needed to get off, so the monkey had to make way.