Under the dim glow of the streetlights, Huohuo wore a radiant smile. Bai Sheng felt that none of the scenery he had ever seen in his life could compare to this. His face reddening slightly, he turned away and said:
"It should be almost ready over there. Let's head back first."
Huohuo nodded and followed behind Bai Sheng. For some reason, Bai Sheng always walked far ahead of her. Even when Huohuo sped up, Bai Sheng would lengthen his stride and widen the distance again.
Attentive as ever, Huohuo noticed Bai Sheng's slightly reddened ears, and couldn't help feeling secretly delighted:
Hehe, looks like Asheng can still get shy after all.
Lost in thought, she accidentally bumped into Bai Sheng from behind, her little nose pressing against his lower back.
"Whoa! Asheng, what's wrong?"
Bai Sheng shook his head.
"Nothing. Let's go. Sorry for stopping so suddenly just now."
Huohuo felt that he was probably hiding something, but she didn't ask.
"It's fine. You don't need to apologize to me, Asheng. Let's hurry back."
Mustering her courage, Huohuo pushed Bai Sheng forward with both hands. The push made Bai Sheng laugh.
"Hey, hey, hey, stop pushing. I can walk on my own."
The two chatted about some inconsequential things along the way. When they returned to the snack stall, Guinevere was already waiting for them.
"Hi, you two! You're back! Hurry, hurry, hurry—Aunt Gao just brought out the food. Come and try it!"
Guinevere waved at them, motioning for them to come over.
"Let's go enjoy the food."
Bai Sheng and Huohuo took their seats. It had to be said that Aunt Gao's snacks looked incredibly appetizing even at a glance. Their aroma filled the air, and Bai Sheng picked up a Dream Eater Roll and handed it to Huohuo.
"Thanks, Asheng. Miss Guinevere, you should eat too."
Huohuo spoke up. She felt as if Guinevere had been watching them the whole time without eating much herself.
"Isn't this just being a good guest and following the host's lead? Since you two invited me to eat, of course you have to eat first before I can start."
Guinevere explained.
"But I remember that phrase isn't used like that, is it?"
"It's fine, it's fine, no big deal. Since you've already started eating, Miss Huohuo, I won't hold back either!"
After saying that, Guinevere devoted herself wholeheartedly to the food.
Huohuo also ate the Dream Eater Roll Bai Sheng had handed her. Its texture was excellent, and she felt that having Guinevere lead the way had truly been a wise choice.
Bai Sheng simply ate a single Lotus Root Cake before looking at his phone and no longer eating.
Huohuo ate a Qiongshi Bird Skewer and drank some hot Fu Yang Milk. When she turned around and saw Bai Sheng still looking at his phone, she said:
"Asheng, you really shouldn't play with your phone while eating. Is there something important?"
Bai Sheng came back to himself. Looking at the sugar glaze still clinging to the corner of Huohuo's mouth, he put away his phone and nodded.
"It's nothing. I was being rude. Let's eat first."
Before long, the three of them had finished all the snacks on the table. When they returned to the entrance of Aurum Alley, Guinevere said goodbye to them.
"Thank you both for today! If you ever need anything from me, just say the word. I'll repay you for today's meal."
Guinevere spoke, but she seemed somewhat unhappy.
"Is something troubling you? I feel like there's a faint sense of dejection about you."
Huohuo asked.
Even Huohuo had noticed it, so Bai Sheng had no reason not to. He nodded as well.
"Ah, I don't know who stole my performance props. Chang Le Tian is always so crowded, so I'm just a little upset, that's all."
After Guinevere finished speaking, she looked terribly dejected.
"You said you're a street performer. Aren't those performance props basically your source of income?"
Huohuo said.
"Exactly. But it's fine. I'll do some odd jobs, earn some money, and buy another set. It'll just take a while."
"Did you report it to the Earth-Balance Commission?"
"I did, but they said cases involving outsiders get pushed to the very back of the queue. Relying on them would mean waiting forever."
Bai Sheng shook his head. Xianzhou was, after all, a top-tier power. How could they have time to deal with such a minor matter?
"I can take care of this for you. By the way, would you consider working part-time for me?"
Bai Sheng thought, If you save someone, you should see it through to the end. If he gave her a hand, perhaps he would receive an extraordinary return in the future.
"Really? Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
At that moment, Guinevere instead looked rather bashful.
"No, it'll be no trouble at all."
"Then, about that part-time job..."
"The Veteran's BBQ shop at XX Street, No. XXX, Chang Le Tian, Xianzhou Luofu. Here's the key. When you're free, help me watch the shop. I'll leave a puppet there to work. I can pay you daily, though it won't be much. Would you like to consider it? Oh, right—it includes food and lodging."
"Boss!"
Stars sparkled in Guinevere's eyes as she looked at Bai Sheng as if he were her own reborn parent.
"Alright, alright, let go. Ten thousand credits a day. Is that acceptable? If you agree, take this key and go straight to the shop. Pick any room at the back, but don't enter the one with the little ghost sticker."
Bai Sheng had only just taken out the key when Guinevere snatched it from him.
"Of course! Thank you, Boss! Thank you, Boss Lady!"
Guinevere bowed deeply to the two of them, then happily walked away with the key Bai Sheng had given her.
"Wait, she isn't... Tsk, she runs fast."
Bai Sheng had wanted to explain, but Guinevere had run off too quickly to hear any of it.
"Um... Huohuo, you know, Guinevere was just talking nonsense... Don't take it to heart, okay?"
Bai Sheng was worried that this would cause his first friend on Xianzhou Luofu to fall out with him, so he explained hesitantly.
Huohuo had turned into a little strawberry cake again, her mind completely filled with that one phrase: "Boss Lady."
"Boss Lady... Hehe..."
Seeing Huohuo giggling foolishly with smoke rising from her head, Bai Sheng couldn't help grabbing her shoulders and gently shaking her.
"Huohuo, Huohuo, are you alright?"
"Ah! Sorry, Asheng. I... I'm fine. I didn't take it to heart."
"That's good. Phew."
Bai Sheng let out a breath, then said to Huohuo:
"There's some very bad news. Do you want to hear it?"
"What is it?"
Huohuo asked. The flush on her little face had not completely faded, and her entire foxlike appearance gave the impression that she could be knocked over with the slightest push.
"Looks like our vacation is about to end. Hanya just sent me a message. We've got work to do."
"Does this count as a sudden mission?"
Huohuo complained.
"Can't be helped. Let's go, my Judge. I'll explain the details on the way..."
After Bai Sheng finished speaking, he led Huohuo away from Aurum Alley...
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