Chapter 249

The afternoon trip only had one or two attractions left to visit and some local delicacies before it ended, so the backpacks weren't taken out, and all that was left was a phone and a room key. Hmm... so, someone carrying about twenty one-yuan coins in their pocket under these circumstances, what else could they be but a fool? Not to mention they probably wouldn't use those coins all day. "When did you exchange these coins?" The girl remembered that Xia Yan didn't have the clinking sound of these coins when they left Shanghai. "Last night when I went to buy drinks..." Xia Yan answered truthfully. Actually, it was because they would be going out together today, instead of sitting in the car. That's why he hadn't exchanged them yesterday. Hua Xin spread out the coins in her hand; they seemed to gleam in the sunlight, the delicate patterns on both sides showing her the first time she had examined a one-yuan coin so closely. The sound of the ocean waves had subsided considerably, and the occasional calls of birds could be heard, but she couldn't tell if they were seagulls or other birds heading to the pier for fries. There were also sounds of people talking on the road, and the rustling of leaves in the sea breeze had become much gentler. Even so, there was another voice the girl didn't want to admit, but had heard more than once. She liked figurines, and Xia Yan helped her get a Hatsune figurine from a souvenir shop. She had never tried claw machines, but she really liked the fun machines, so Xia Yan helped her win those little dinosaur plush toys at the movie theater. She had only casually mentioned that she liked claw machines. But in reality, that was only her first time trying. Before, she had only watched others play online. Only twice. She had just... said it casually. "Are you stupid?" Hua Xin said softly. "If... you're happy." "I might be." Xia Yan thought for a moment, then said seriously. "What if I'm not happy?" "Then I still am, until you're happy." He remembered it all this time, even months later. "So cheesy, I'm leaving." The girl muttered, then subconsciously turned away, returning half of the coins to Xia Yan and putting the other half in her pocket. It wasn't that she wanted to keep the huge sum of money. The journey ahead was long, and carrying some coins wouldn't be heavy or cumbersome, but she stubbornly didn't want Xia Yan to be alone like this. Even though she knew it wouldn't make up for anything or repay him. The girl pondered what that sound, which couldn't be masked by any other sound around her, was. It was like the slight grinding of bones, something only she could perceive and hear. Hua Xin walked slowly alongside Xia Yan, heading towards the park's exit. The soft clinking of coins echoed in their pockets. The girl's casual remark. Only he in the whole world would remember it. 189. You want to buy women's clothes? Actually, when it came to lunch, Hua Xin adhered to a completely undemanding principle. After all, compared to the same few dishes and flavors at home that never changed, even a simple bowl of beef noodles could become the ultimate, flawless delicacy in the girl's eyes. Not to mention, her recent diet had clearly reached a level of indulgence and luxury. Even though the girl had prepared herself for a major expense during her two-day trip and wasn't planning to be frugal, the spending still made her feel a little uneasy. Perhaps it was because she was used to saving money, but even a small large expenditure could make her feel uneasy. This time, Hua Xin didn't just let Xia Yan pay for everything; she also paid for the meals and shopping. Although Xia Yan arranged the accommodation, the expenses were roughly split 50/50. She didn't want to always rely on Xia Yan's help; as friends, they should try to maintain a normal equality when it comes to money. Even close brothers sometimes have to keep clear accounts. The girl could now earn her own money; she wasn't the penniless, starving shut-in anymore. But... Hua Xin stared blankly at the hundred-plus yuan she had just paid on her phone screen, a sharp pang of heartache feeling as if it were actually happening to her. Sure enough, the cost of living was the same everywhere. They only ordered a few dishes, but the final bill was almost her weekly expenses. Sigh... money... But even though it hurt, at least they enjoyed the meal. "Want to go shopping?" Xia Yan's voice sounded beside her, making Hua Xin, who was lost in thought, look up. There seemed to be a large shopping mall across the street, and the surrounding area was full of luxury stores. There were several Apple and watch shops, just like the ones the girl recognized. But this was clearly not a place for a poor girl like Hua Xin. If these were places selling electronics, bags, and clothes, the girl would probably prefer to browse around a Da Mi Internet Cafe. One day, she went into one out of curiosity, and the new phones and other products alone had already captivated Hua Xin. In comparison, the battle-damaged phone she had, the same model as the Magic Blade Thousand Blades, was already doing its best to last this long. If only she could get a new phone to watch videos... So that afternoon, Hua Xin spent an hour at the Da Mi Internet Cafe watching videos on the newly released phone before remembering to go home. "...Didn't you just say you were in a hurry to get to the next attraction?" Hua Xin looked at him with displeasure and continued quietly, "Why do you want to go to the supermarket now?" The girl now had every reason to suspect that Xia Yan wanted to do something else, like taking advantage of her dwindling savings. However, she had no evidence. Just now, Xia Yan had a surprisingly good appetite and ate a lot of food, even showing signs of surpassing her own. This left Hua Xin unsure whether to care about eating more or less. "We're going to the beach later..." "Buying two pairs of flip-flops isn't too much to ask, is it?" Xia Yan stroked his chin, then looked at her with a "what nonsense are you thinking?" expression. "That makes sense." Hua Xin nodded. The girl naturally understood the consequences of getting her shoes wet while playing at the beach. But going barefoot... even a tough guy like her felt a little ashamed. After all, she wasn't the only one on the beach. And... there should be claw machines in the mall, right? ———————————————— An hour later, Hua Xin listlessly ate an ice cream, while Xia Yan behind her, his face full of helplessness and barely suppressed laughter. The fact that there were claw machines in the mall was a sure thing. But whether they could actually win a prize was another matter. So, the culprit behind Hua Xin's current state was the girl's earlier attempt to win Hua Xin prize in a fierce battle, exhausting all the coins in their pockets, resulting in a crushing defeat. Xia Yan had originally intended to lend a helping hand to rescue Hua Xin.