The principle was that the stone used was extremely heavy, so it had great inertia. When the hammer came down quickly, the stone's acceleration remained very low due to inertia, meaning it would not exert tremendous pressure on a person.
The spectators naturally had no need to think about such complicated matters. They only wanted to see something exciting. But someone spotted the flaw and loudly demanded, "For this chest-crushing stone stunt, who's going to lie beneath the slab?"
"Yeah, yeah! You're all alone, little girl. Don't tell me you're going to smash yourself?" The surrounding crowd chimed in.
Guinevere had expected this. Brimming with confidence, she pointed at the tofu on the wooden table and declared, "Heh heh, having someone lie down takes no skill at all. In a moment, I'll place the Blue-and-white granite slab on the tofu. One hammer blow, and the slab will shatter while the tofu remains unchanged. If I mess up, I'll split all the tips I earned today among everyone here."
That was a lie. Guinevere simply had no partner, so she could only put on a one-woman show.
But the moment she said it, the crowd erupted. Their cheers and applause grew louder than ever.
"Everyone, keep your eyes peeled!"
Guinevere carefully placed the Blue-and-white granite slab atop the soft Water-milled tofu, keeping her gaze fixed firmly on the exact center of the slab. She blew into her palms, then swung the massive hammer up, just about to bring it down with all her strength, when a faint whistling sound cut through the air.
Her instinct for self-preservation kicked in. Guinevere's eyes shifted almost uncontrollably toward the flying can. By the time she realized it was headed for her, her body could no longer react in time. All she could do was watch, as though her life were flashing before her eyes, while the can smashed into her face.
"Uwah—!"
Guinevere's hand instantly went limp. The unsupported hammer suddenly crashed straight down onto the slab. With a squelch, the Water-milled tofu was reduced to a mound of mush.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh! Awesome!" The crowd immediately erupted into even more thunderous cheers. Some quick-handed people had already stepped forward, ready to take away the little bowl she used to collect tips.
"Hey, hey, hey! That doesn't count, doesn't count, doesn't count! Everyone, listen to my explanation!"
Guinevere's weak protests clearly did nothing. She could only watch helplessly as the tips she had worked so hard all day to earn were divided among the crowd.
And that was not even the worst part. That Water-milled tofu had been dinner for her and her dozen-plus brothers and sisters! Could they still eat it after it had been smashed like that?
Before she could even mourn the fact that dinner had become a pile of sludge, Guinevere sprang to her feet, clenched the can that had hit her head, and angrily looked around. "Who threw a can at me just now!?"
Behind the scenes, Sushang laughed so hard tears came to her eyes. She buried her face in Bai Jun's clothes and gleefully said, "Hahaha, Bai Jun, you're amazing! That'll make that bad girl mad!"
"Mm-hmm. I got revenge for you. Whether you can get Xuanyuan back now is up to you. Go out there and confront her."
"Huh?"
Before her brain could process those words, Sushang was tossed out by Bai Jun like a chick. And that was not all. Bai Jun even thoughtfully shouted for her, "My name is the same wherever I go—it was me!"
At once, Guinevere's furious gaze locked firmly onto the utterly bewildered Sushang.
"You again!" Guinevere angrily hurled the can in her hand at her. "It's all your fault! My entire family's dinner is gone!"
Unable to dodge in time, Sushang took the can squarely to the face. Instantly furious, she pointed at Xuanyuan, which had been used as a table support, and shouted, "What the heck! You thief who stole my Xuanyuan, how dare you accuse me first! Give my Xuanyuan back already!"
"What thief? You were the one who tried to smack me with that huge sword first! With your strength, if my tiny body took that hit, wouldn't I be lying on a slab for real?" Guinevere grew even more aggrieved as she spoke, her eyes reddening. "Do we have some kind of grudge? I was just performing here to earn money so my family could eat. It was bad enough that you annoying people chased me away every day, but you actually wanted to hit me too!"
"Who, who wanted to hit you...? I only wanted to knock down your bundle. Besides, traffic in the Starskiff Haven has always been terrible. How could this be a place for your street performances?" Seeing Guinevere's tears, Sushang's momentum visibly weakened, though she still felt she had some grounds to argue.
"You can't even hold your own sword steady. Who could guarantee you'd hit the bundle? And with such a huge sword, one bump would kill and one graze would wound. What was I supposed to gamble with?"
Guinevere wiped her tears, picked up Xuanyuan from the ground, and returned it to Sushang. Then she pulled out a performance permit stamped by the Luofu from her pocket. "I walk upright and stand tall. I'm a legitimate street performance artist! Besides, there are only around ten people watching me at most. How can you say I'm disrupting traffic?"
"Now look what happened. All the tips I worked so hard for today went down the drain, and my family's dinner was smashed into mush too. Boohoo... what am I supposed to do?"
If Bai Jun had been there, he definitely would have said, "What's that got to do with me?" and left with Xuanyuan without a second thought. But Sushang could not bear to watch. Clutching Xuanyuan, she lingered without leaving. Finally, she silently took all the money from her wallet. "Take this for now..."
Guinevere did not accept Sushang's kindness. She vigorously shook her head and pushed the money back. "Thank you, but I don't need anyone's charity. You're right too. I won't come to the Starcruiser Sea Hub and cause trouble for you again..."
With that, she sighed and began gathering up the scattered props by herself. Seeing her lonely figure, Sushang felt even more guilty. After a moment, as if she had made up her mind, she called out, "Wait for me a moment!"
Then, under Guinevere's puzzled gaze, she turned and ran toward Bai Jun. Finally, with Bai Jun wearing a completely confused expression, she tightly hugged his arm and loudly pleaded,
"Please, let's go help her!"
Bai Jun, sitting on the bench and watching the show: "..."
Sigh. He was under someone else's roof now. He should have run when he had the chance.
From Today On, Your Name Is Guinaifen
At a pastry shop in the Starcruiser Sea Hub that Bai Jun often visited, two women and one man sat at a window-side table in the corner. Before them were several desserts Bai Jun usually liked.
As the second eldest among more than a dozen siblings, Guinevere normally earned barely enough to get by. Forget having spare money for sweets—she had not even seen such delicious desserts in a long time. The enticing sweet aroma alone made saliva flood her mouth uncontrollably.
After swallowing hard once more, Guinevere furtively raised her gaze and nervously looked at Sushang and the handsome man sitting across from her. "These... were bought for me?"
"Of course! Don't be shy. Think of it as compensation!"
Watching Sushang act like a big spender with his money, Bai Jun considered staying far away from her next time they met. It was not that he disliked her, but he had a feeling that misfortune would come looking for him whenever he was with her.
"I thought about it, and this really was my fault. I shouldn't have taken your sword. In the end, I brought it upon myself..." Guinevere gave an embarrassed smile. The fork in her hand did not dare move, though the longing in her eyes revealed her sincerity.
"It's fine. I didn't know your situation back then either, so we're even. Our grudge is settled. These are Bai Jun's treat." Sushang took the initiative to serve her several pieces of cake and introduced Bai Jun beside her.
Guinevere glanced at Bai Jun, then nervously lowered her head again. "W-why is this gentleman treating me...?"
"Why? Because he was the one who threw the can at you."
After Sushang foolishly exposed Bai Jun, Guinevere's gaze toward him gradually became resentful and indignant.
"Y-yes, that's right. So don't worry. Eat as much as you like." Bai Jun replied in a professional tone, though inwardly he was cursing like mad and firmly decided never to get involved in her affairs again.
Once she learned that Bai Jun was responsible for ruining both her day's tips and her dinner, Guinevere's reserved attitude immediately changed. She wolfed down the desserts on the table, and only when her cheeks were stuffed as round as a squirrel's did she make a satisfied sound.
"So good..."
"If it tastes good, eat more. Order more if it isn't enough. When you leave, we can buy some for your younger brothers and sisters too!"
"R-really? You're way too nice~"
Bai Jun was speechless at the scene. It was not that he had nothing to say; there was simply too much to complain about, and he had no idea where to start. Never mind that the desserts were bought with his money—these two did not even know each other's names. How had they already ended up on the same side?
"Huh? Right, I still don't know your name. I'm Li Sushang. What about you?"
As if she could hear his thoughts, Sushang suddenly curiously asked Guinevere. The latter answered vaguely, "Guinevere! Just call me Guinevere."
The moment Bai Jun heard that name, his expression became strange. For no apparent reason, an image of a certain cowlick from his previous life surfaced in his mind. No, perhaps it was just a coincidence.
"Guinevere... that's a mouthful." Sushang tried saying the name, frowning.
"I can't help it. My name was converted into Xianzhou pronunciation, so it's bound to sound a little strange. Unlike my eldest brother Lancelot, who was clever enough to give himself the nice name Lang Shile."
"Pfft—! Cough, cough, cough..."
Hearing Lancelot's name, Bai Jun nearly sprayed out his tea. One coincidental name was one thing, but her brother's name was an even greater coincidence. It was hard not to laugh.
"Um, Bai Jun, what are you doing? Did you choke on tea..." Sushang patted his back with some concern. Once she confirmed he was fine, she turned back to Guinevere. "In that case, Guinevere, why don't you give yourself a Xianzhou name too?"
"W-well, isn't it said that Xianzhou names all have meaning and are connected to someone's fortune? I'm not very capable, so I didn't dare name myself... Oh, right, Sushang, are we friends now?" Guinevere asked.
"Of course we are!" Sushang replied without hesitation.
Perhaps because she had formed an impression beforehand, Guinevere placed exceptional importance on the Xianzhou's ancient customs and culture. There was one saying she remembered especially well—if a name was given by family, then it was sure to hold meaning.
Guinevere had also looked up the meaning of family in a Xianzhou dictionary. It could mean both relatives and close companions. By that logic, it meant friends—and now, she finally had her first friend on the Xianzhou.
"Then, if you don't mind, Shang Shang, could you give me a name?"
"Huh? Me?"
Sushang pointed at herself in disbelief. She never could have imagined that one day she would be asked to name someone else. It immediately made her nervous. "I-I probably can't..."
"No, you definitely can, Shang Shang!"
Hearing that, Sushang's first reaction was to look at Bai Jun beside her. Her fingers quietly tugged at the corner of his clothes as she gave him a look that said, What should I do? What she got in return was an exasperated expression that said, Are you kidding me?
Now she really had no choice. Looking at Guinevere's expectant eyes across the table, Sushang's thoughts became tangled and chaotic. But in a certain instant, as though she had struck the wrong string, inspiration flashed through her mind. Every book she had ever read and every bit of knowledge she had learned seemed to gather together at once.
"Gui means fine wood, nai means thus, and fen means fragrance. I've got it—Guinaifen!"
The moment she said it, Bai Jun and Guinevere, seated across from her, were both stunned. The little confidence Sushang had just gained immediately vanished again. "S-see? I really can't do it, can I...?"
"That's amazing! It sounds so good! Shang Shang, the name you gave me is way too beautiful!"
Guinevere—no, Guinaifen—excitedly stood up, clasping Sushang's hands as tears clouded her eyes.
Bai Jun shook his head in astonishment. He did not even notice tea spilling onto his sleeve as he reached out and gently patted Sushang's hair. For the first time, he praised her. "No, it's more like you're too good at this. Sushang, aren't you actually pretty smart?"
"Huh? Huh! It really sounds good...?"
Their praise immediately made Sushang shyly scratch her cheek. The strange feeling of being praised for being smart—something she seemed to be experiencing for the first time in her life—made her feel light-headed. She casually picked up a piece of cake and began eating it.
I'm actually pretty amazing too!
That thought flashed through her mind, only for the cake in her mouth to make her choke.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
"Shang Shang, are you okay!?"
"Sigh, I take it back. You're hopeless..."
Smashing Sushang on the Chest
Having made her first proper friend on the Xianzhou and gained a new name, Guinaifen's mood immediately brightened.
Perhaps it was the dopamine from the desserts, but even losing all her day's tips no longer seemed to matter to her at all.
"It's really, really delicious."
She swept every dessert off the table like a whirlwind. Not only that, even the black tea in the pot could not escape her clutches. After eating and drinking her fill, Guinaifen let out a satisfied burp and rubbed her still-flat stomach, feeling that life could not get any better than this.
Beside her, Bai Jun looked at the nearly half-full cup of black tea in front of him and, for the first time, felt that there really were differences between people.
He considered himself someone who liked sweets quite a bit, but he had to stop after two plates at most. Otherwise, his body simply could not handle so much high-calorie food at once.
Yet looking at Guinaifen across from him, whose slender figure had barely changed at all, Bai Jun seriously suspected that she had some kind of extra-dimensional stomach.
Could anyone in the world really eat that much high-calorie food in one sitting?
Yet Guinaifen herself seemed completely unaffected by the desserts. Instead, she looked at Bai Jun expectantly, blinking her bright, clear eyes as she softly asked, "Can I take some back for my younger brothers and sisters? Ah, but don't worry. I'll definitely pay you back when I have money!"
"No problem! Bai Jun is super rich! This little bit of money is nothing to him. Little Gui, just treat it as compensation for him throwing that can at you!"
Before Bai Jun could speak, Sushang leaned over and answered for him. Seeing how completely confident she looked, Bai Jun truly could not say anything else. He could only wipe away cold sweat and nod.
"Thank you! And did Shang Shang just call me Little Gui? That's so cute!"
The two played off each other, quickly ordering nearly every dessert on the menu.
Bai Jun inwardly lamented the mess he had created. Trembling, he pulled out his few remaining Credits from his wallet, walked to the counter, and handed them to the beaming shop owner. "Take it. Keep the change."
"But, customer, you're still short two thousand Credits."
"...Put it on my tab. I'll pay next month."
The shop owner counted the Credits he had been handed and awkwardly pointed it out. Bai Jun fell silent for a long time before finally letting out a faint sigh.
Fortunately, Bai Jun was a regular at the shop. On top of that, he had an eye-catching handsome face that brought the dessert shop plenty of female customers on ordinary days. So the owner simply waived the two thousand Credits, only asking him to visit more often next month and preferably sit by the window while eating dessert.
Bai Jun did not realize that he was actually the one being played. He only thought this was good karma from his usual good deeds, so he was rather pleased with himself.
After waiting by the pickup counter for a while, Bai Jun returned carrying a large bag filled to the brim with desserts. He found Sushang and Guinaifen apparently discussing some new idea. Under Sushang's half-understanding gaze, the two quickly reached an agreement.
"Let's go, Little Junzi! Let's finish what we started!"
Ignoring the teasing nickname Little Junzi, Bai Jun could sense a bad premonition from the mischievous smile on Guinaifen's face. He decisively shook his head. "No way. If you want to go, you two go by yourselves."
"Please, Bai Jun, come with me, okay?" Sushang tried to grab Bai Jun, but he greeted her with a chop to the head.
"Ah, fine..." Seeing this, Guinaifen could not say anything more. She grabbed Sushang, and the two happily ran off together.
"How did those two become so close so quickly? Is Sushang just too innocent...?"
Bai Jun watched their retreating backs and shook his head with a sigh. He had the vague feeling that he had forgotten something. Only after Sushang and Guinaifen disappeared from sight did he notice the giant bag of desserts still hanging from his hand.
Mystery solved. I forgot to give Guinaifen the desserts she ordered.
Bai Jun looked at the massive bag of sweets with a headache, then looked toward the street where the two had long since vanished. He regretted not remembering sooner. What was he supposed to do with all these leftover desserts now?
If there had only been a small amount, Bai Jun could finish them himself in a day or two. But Guinaifen had ordered so much that even two or three weeks would not be enough. It was probably impossible to get a refund now. After thinking it over, Bai Jun decided he should catch up to them and give the desserts to Guinaifen.
Just as he was about to leave the pastry shop, the Jade Omen in his pocket rang. Bai Jun took it out and saw Elena's name displayed in the messages.
Do not disturb unless necessary. For work matters, contact the office number: I'm home already. Don't worry.
Nan Liujing: Okay.
On the Xianzhou, it was an utterly ordinary courtesy. People usually sent a quick message to say they had arrived safely after going out with friends. Bai Jun had not expected Elena to have been on the Xianzhou for only a few days and already assimilate to this extent.
After Bai Jun gave a formal reply, he thought the conversation was over. But the other party sent several more messages in a row. Clearly, she had not learned the essence of being a Xianzhou native.
Do not disturb unless necessary. For work matters, contact the office number: By the way, Bai Jun, I'm heading back in the next few days...
Before you continue