Three's Company

Gu Yue gave a light cough, forcing down that inexplicable soft spot she felt.

Though her face remained stern, her tone had lost its earlier sharpness, giving way to a hint of helplessness and reluctant compromise.

"...Just once. Don't let it take too long."

As she spoke, she released the back of Xie Xie's collar and gave him a light, casual pat on the head.

"Got it!"

The moment he got permission, Xie Xie took off toward the stall.

He bought thirty Soul Guidance Flying Discs and hit every single one.

The stall owner stared at him, dumbfounded, while Xie Xie cheerfully carried off the biggest Mecha figurine in the prize pile.

Gu Yue stopped at an accessory shop, picked up a headband set with a purple gemstone, and held it up to a mirror.

Hugging the figurine, Xie Xie came over and teased her with a grin. "That headband's pretty nice. The purple gemstone on it is the same color as your eyes!"

Gu Yue's cheeks flushed slightly. She put the headband down and started to leave. "It's so-so."

"Boss, I'll take this one!"

Quick as a flash, Xie Xie pulled out some Federal Coins, paid, and shoved the headband into her hand. "Here, take it. It's to thank you for helping me pick out clothes today."

Gu Yue lowered her eyes to the headband in her palm, gently brushing her fingertips over the cool, smooth gemstone.

After a few seconds of silence, she finally let her long black hair down and carefully fastened the purple gemstone headband in place.

The gemstone, like a purple crystal, set off her waterfall of dark hair, making her look even more lovely and refined, with features as picturesque as a painting.

Watching from the side, Tang Wulin smiled and said, "It looks great."

Xie Xie immediately gave a thumbs-up. "Not just great—it looks amazing! What's that saying again..."

He scratched his cheek with his index finger and thought hard for a moment, then suddenly snapped his fingers.

"Right! I've got it!"

Xie Xie cleared his throat and fixed an especially earnest gaze on Gu Yue, speaking each word distinctly:

"The gemstone's a fake, but your eyes are the real treasure."

The tips of Gu Yue's ears turned faintly red at once. Her fingers tightened around the headband.

She abruptly turned her head away, avoiding Xie Xie's gaze. Her cool voice held a trace of barely perceptible fluster.

"You're all smooth talk."

She chided him under her breath, and her steps unconsciously quickened.

Her long black hair, held by the purple gemstone headband, swayed lightly as she moved.

Watching this from the side, Tang Wulin's smile faded a little. His fingers absently rubbed at his cuff.

Xie Xie didn't seem to notice anything. With the Mecha figurine tucked under his left arm and Tang Wulin in tow with his right hand, he stayed beside Gu Yue, chattering away about how he'd won the figurine.

"Right, Tang Wulin?" Xie Xie asked cheerfully, looking back at him.

Tang Wulin, however, turned his gaze slightly aside, toward a shop in the distance with a sign that read "Seafood BBQ."

"I'm a little hungry. Let's go eat something. I want grilled fish and two bowls of seafood noodles."

"No problem!"

Xie Xie put the figurine into his Soul Guidance Storage Device and waved a hand grandly. "Eat whatever you want. It's on me!"

The three soon took their seats at an outdoor table at the seafood barbecue restaurant.

Not long after they ordered, a large platter of sizzling grilled fish was brought out, followed by oil-braised prawns, garlic scallops, and a big bowl of seafood noodles for Tang Wulin.

"Mmm... These crayfish are incredible!"

Xie Xie peeled shrimp as he spoke, his cheeks bulging with food.

Gu Yue handed him a tissue with a look of disdain.

"Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you."

Despite what she said, she kept reaching into the crayfish platter with her own chopsticks.

Tang Wulin focused on devouring his seafood noodles. After finishing one bowl, he picked up a second and ate until his forehead was slick with sweat, yet he looked completely satisfied.

Night deepened, and all the lights in Eastsea City came on, as if a river of stars had fallen to earth.

The three of them had eaten their fill, thinking they could enjoy themselves to their hearts' content, but barely half an hour later, their stomachs were grumbling again. The aromas from the street stalls had stirred their appetites back to life.

Suddenly, a rich, savory scent of meat drifted over on the breeze.

Xie Xie's nose twitched. He followed the scent to its source and saw a sign he knew all too well.

--Braised Beef Pot Shop.

He froze.

He'd deliberately avoided this place when they'd gone out, choosing the Snack Street next door instead.

But after wandering around for most of the day, they'd ended up back here after all.

Was it a coincidence? Or...

A faint unease silently crept into his heart.

"Xie Xie? Xie Xie?"

"Huh?!"

He snapped out of it and looked up straight into Tang Wulin and Gu Yue's eyes.

Tang Wulin put a hand on his shoulder, concern in his voice. "What's wrong? Are you tired?"

Xie Xie hurriedly shook his head, trying to shake off the unease in his heart.

"It's nothing. I just zoned out!" He pointed his thumb toward the Braised Beef Pot Shop and grinned. "Come on, I'll take you to try their braised beef pot! It's really good, I'm telling you."

"Sounds good!" Tang Wulin said with a smile. He was already hungry.

There were only five small rectangular tables inside the shop, enough for no more than twenty-odd people, and more than half were already occupied.

Gu Yue looked surprised. "You eat at street stalls?"

"Of course." Xie Xie smiled unconcernedly. "The best food is always tucked away in the most unremarkable corners of little alleys. This shop was where... my mom brought me."

As he spoke, he took a seat on a bench and lightly patted the stool beside him.

"What are you waiting for? Sit down!"

Once Tang Wulin and Gu Yue had both sat down, Xie Xie immediately stood and called toward the kitchen, "Uncle Li, I brought friends to eat!"

"Oh, little Xie Xie's here!"

A hearty voice answered, and a middle-aged man came out, lifting the kitchen curtain.

His hands were smudged with grease. He wiped them casually on his apron, then opened his arms and caught Xie Xie as he rushed over.

Xie Xie hugged Uncle Li tightly before smiling. "Uncle Li, the usual."

"Sure, no problem!"

Uncle Li said with a genial smile, then ruffled Xie Xie's hair like he was family.

"Great. I'll just wait for the food, then!"

"Go on, go on." Uncle Li gave Xie Xie a thumbs-up, too. "Leave everything here to me."

"Got it!"

As he watched Uncle Li's busy figure, a familiar face kept appearing in his mind.

She was a woman whose gentle features seemed warm enough to melt winter snow.

She was slender but not frail, her soft pink hair loosely gathered into a low bun, with a few wisps falling around her temples and making her oval face look all the more gentle and graceful.

Her eyes were the same warm, inky green as Xie Xie's, and when she smiled, shallow dimples appeared at their corners.

That was his—no, that was Xie Xie's mother—

Lin Wanqing.