Shock! Long Aotian's Path of Begging and Counterattack!

Walking through the shopping mall, looking left and right, I have to admit that the entertainment facilities provided by this school are quite comprehensive.

Take that doll shop over there, or the various merchandise and figurine stores, and the cake shop—once Sakura Airi improves her academic performance, I'll reward her with a small cake, and if the opportunity arises, I'll bring her here to browse.

Hehe, let's head to the cake shop first to buy a strawberry cake. I'll taste it for Sakura Airi—it's definitely not because I want to eat it! I'm just checking to see how it tastes for her.

Walking into the cake shop, I said to the staff, "Could I please have two strawberry cakes? One to eat here, and the other to go."

After paying with points, I found a seat.

How should I describe the strawberry cake sitting in front of Long Aotian?

On the light, airy cake layers sat fresh, succulent strawberries, glistening like an enticing sun. The rich aroma of cream wafted up, and with a single bite, the soft cake and sweet jam blended together, leaving one completely intoxicated.

Not bad, not bad. The taste is acceptable, and it's not poisoned.

Should I just eat Sakura Airi's portion too?

I picked up my phone, opened Sakura Airi's contact, and sent a text.

[Long: Image.jpg]

[Long: How is it, the strawberry cake?]

[Sakura: Wow! I really want to eat that too.]

Oh ho, this little girl replied so quickly. Should I tease her?

[Long: Oh my, what a pity~ You can't have any.]

[Sakura: Pout.jpg]

???, something isn't right here.

Sakura Airi, you're making me feel a little like a stranger.

Oh, right. After all, there's a difference between the internet and reality. In my past life, people would be keyboard warriors online, only to become completely different people when meeting in person.

But Sakura Airi, haven't we met before? You still make me feel a tiny bit like a stranger (just kidding).

[Sakura: Want to eat.]

[Long: I'll bring you a piece after I finish mine later.]

[Sakura: Okay!]

[Sakura: Happy.jpg]

Oh ho, this anime sticker is so cute. Saving it, definitely saving it!

Just then, the cake shop door opened, and a few girls walked in. It was that familiar group of girls following the blonde-haired girl to order.

"Hm?" Long Aotian glanced over, fork in hand, thinking while he ate: "Is the world this small? No, that's not it—this place is just small. Can't blame the world for that."

Ichinose Honami was the first to finish ordering, and she turned around with her cake, looking for a place to sit.

I don't know if it was a coincidence, but our eyes met.

"?" Long Aotian blinked at the eye contact, then immediately turned his head away, thinking: "A coincidence? Forget it, I'll just finish up and go find my little cutie."

He stood up, ready to leave.

"Excuse me," Ichinose Honami walked over and blocked Long Aotian as he was about to depart. "Sorry to bother you, but have we met somewhere before?"

"?" Long Aotian was a bit confused. We shouldn't have met, right? Unless you count seeing you in the anime during my past life. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I don't think so? I believe this is our first time meeting."

"Is... is that so?" Ichinose Honami looked puzzled, staring at Long Aotian's face. It felt familiar, and she tried to search her memory.

"Uh," Long Aotian felt a bit unnatural under her gaze, but then he reconsidered her words.

A good person like Ichinose Honami wouldn't just approach someone for no reason.

Long Aotian also began to recall the first year after he transmigrated. How should I put it? Too many things happened.

When Long Aotian first soul-transmigrated here, he was already in rags, begging for food. He remembered the system had issued its first task: [Beg for food].

But fate was unkind; it was incredibly difficult to get food. His body was so starved he couldn't even move, sitting by the side of the road, motionless, as if he were ascending to the afterlife.

It rained that night...

As the rain pelted my tattered clothes and my body, I couldn't even feel the sensation of the water.

"Am... am I dying?" Long Aotian squinted, struggling to keep his eyes open as they fought to shut from exhaustion. "I really am a failed transmigrator."

Drip... drop... the sound of the rain around him began to fade.

"Mommy," a little girl tugged at a woman, looking at the beggar. "He's so pitiful. He must be very hungry. I want to give him my bread."

The woman held an umbrella in one hand and the little girl's hand in the other, smiling as she replied, "My Fengfeng is so kind. Since Fengfeng asked, of course you can."

The woman let go of the girl's hand and ruffled her hair. "But be careful."

"Mm," the little girl nodded and replied, "I know, Mommy."

The little girl walked over to Long Aotian and crouched down, the woman following behind to hold the umbrella over her.

"Mommy! It's a young brother." The little girl crouched down and finally saw Long Aotian's face clearly, then added, "Brother, do you want some bread?"

As his hearing began to fade into nothingness, a beautiful, youthful girl's voice reached Long Aotian's ears.

Long Aotian heard the sound and wanted to lift his head, but he no longer had the strength; he wanted to speak, but the words were hard to force out.

It seemed that since Long Aotian did not respond, the little girl felt a bit at a loss.

"Sigh," the woman said, as if she knew everything, turning to the little girl: "Fengfeng, big brother might be heading to another wonderful worl..."

"Wa... want," before the woman could finish, a hoarse voice came through. For the sake of survival, for the sake of staying alive, Long Aotian used every ounce of his will to live to force out that difficult sound: "Feed... me."

That "feed, me" was extremely faint, but the little girl still heard it.

"Oh, oh, okay." The little girl tore open the bread packaging, pinched off a small piece, and fed it to Long Aotian.

The little girl did not find Long Aotian repulsive and continued to pinch off small pieces to feed him.

Those pure, delicate little hands were like a beam of sunlight shining upon me, warm and intimate. Shining within my life, those subtle and pure moments of being moved all stemmed from a pair of clean hands.

He struggled to chew and swallow the bread, but Long Aotian didn't care about the food; he tried his best to lift his head to see the little girl clearly.

But he couldn't lift it. "Damn it!!!!!..." After the bread was finished.

[Ding! Mission complete]

[Reward: 20,000 Yen and physical recovery.]

The little girl and the woman left... but I didn't get to see the girl's face.

Drip... drip.

After recovering for a while, I could lift my head slightly. It was so cold.

"Mommy," a familiar voice rang out.

Long Aotian hurriedly looked over.

It was that woman and the little girl. The woman held a bag in her hand and said to Long Aotian: "There is some water and food here. Our family is poor, so this is all we can do to help you."

Placing the bag in front of Long Aotian, the woman and the little girl immediately left.

"Tha... thank you," Long Aotian looked at the retreating mother and daughter and said with difficulty.

It seemed the rain wasn't quite as cold anymore.

The cause of karma began from this moment...

Half a year later...

A young man with short black hair, dressed in a luxurious suit with a perfect cut that highlighted his elegant physique, possessed an air of nobility that went without saying.

"Hmm?" Long Aotian, preparing to open the car door to go for a drive, paused as he heard the sound of a little girl crying.

Long Aotian immediately walked toward the source of the crying and looked up carefully.

A little girl with short orange hair was sitting on the ground, hugging her legs and crying.

"Oh ho," walking up to the little girl, Long Aotian asked in a gentle tone: "Little sister, why are you crying here? What's wrong?"

Hearing the voice, the little girl looked up slightly at Long Aotian, her lips trembling as a sorrowful sound emerged: "Big... big sister, she..."

Only then did Long Aotian catch a glimpse of the little girl's face. Her eyes were like two pools of clear spring water, tears constantly welling up, and her nose was red from crying~

"Here," Long Aotian handed over a tissue and took a lollipop from his suit pocket. He shook the lollipop in his hand and smiled: "No rush, no rush. Wipe your eyes and nose; once you're clean, I'll give you the lollipop."

As for where the lollipop came from, Long Aotian didn't like smoking, so he sucked on lollipops instead. He usually kept one or two in his pocket, though this little girl looked somewhat familiar.

"Mm-hmm," the little girl nodded, took the tissue, wiped her eyes, and looked at Long Aotian with a wronged expression: "Lollipop."

"Here you go." Long Aotian kept his word and gave the lollipop to the little girl, though he asked with some confusion: "What is your name, little sister?"

The little girl took the lollipop, tore open the wrapper, and put it in her mouth. Only then did she see Long Aotian clearly—it was the handsome big brother—and she hurriedly replied: "My name is Ichinose Kaede."

"Fengfeng?" Could this be that same little girl from back then? Long Aotian asked again: "Fengfeng, why are you crying here?"

"Wuu... wuu," Ichinose Kaede felt sad again at the memory: "Big sister was scolded by Mommy."

"Ah?" Long Aotian was a bit stunned, but he didn't press further and said: "Fengfeng, where is your home? Big brother will take you back."

PS: Long Aotian is starting to look a bit like a kidnapper.

"Okay." Ichinose Kaede stood up, reached out her little hand toward Long Aotian, and pointed to the other side: "Over there."

"..." Long Aotian looked at the little hand Ichinose Kaede extended and was still stunned. How do I feel like you're playing me? And aren't you afraid I'm a kidnapper?

Long Aotian rubbed the little girl's head and thought for a moment: "Alright, but big brother needs to go to the car to get something. Wait a moment, okay?"

"Mm-hmm," Ichinose Kaede nodded obediently, but still reached out her little hand: "Hold hands."

Holding Ichinose Kaede's little hand, he walked to the parking space, opened the car door, and took out a beautifully decorated box.

"Here," he handed the box to Ichinose Kaede and added: "This is for you, but you have to wait until you get home to open it, okay~"

"Mm-hmm, thank you, big brother," Ichinose Kaede said happily.

Inside the box was a hair clip. Don't underestimate this clip; it was a limited edition endorsed by an idol, costing 32,200 Yen (nearly 1,600 RMB) each.

It was quite popular with girls, and it was only thanks to Long Aotian's luck that he managed to buy the very last one; he had originally intended to use it to go for a drive and pick up girls.

He closed and locked the car door, then ruffled the young girl's hair and said, "Let's go, let's head to your place."

"Okay~"

A while later...

Ding-dong. The doorbell rang.

"Who is it?" A woman's voice came through the intercom at the entrance.

"Hello, it's like this: your daughter was crying out on the street, so I'm bringing her back." He picked up Ichinose Kaede and held her in front of the intercom.

"Mommy... Space Gate," Ichinose Kaede said to the intercom.

"Alright... alright, wait a moment."

After the conversation ended, he set the girl back down.

As the door opened, a woman walked out.

One could clearly see that the woman's face was extremely gaunt, her eyes deep-set, revealing a haggard and sickly appearance.

"Fengfeng!" The woman walked over and hugged the little girl, but then she noticed the box in the girl's hands and asked in confusion, "What is this?"

"Ma'am, hello." Long Aotian greeted her first, then explained, "This is a gift I'm giving to Ichinose Kaede."

"This... you've already gone to such trouble for my daughter, I couldn't possibly accept your gift." The woman hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Long Aotian waved his hand. "It's no problem. Would you mind if I came in for a sit?"

"Of course, please come in."

After entering the room, he found a place to sit down.

The room was very simple, without much decoration, and if one observed carefully, one would find the atmosphere seemed a bit heavy.

Strange? I remember Ichinose Kaede saying she had an older sister, so why don't I see her?

"Pardon the mess." The woman brought over a glass of water and handed it to him.

"Not at all." He picked up the glass, took a sip, looked at the woman, and asked, "Do you still recognize me?"

"I'm sorry... I don't." The woman looked a bit puzzled, stared at Long Aotian's face for a while, then shook her head.

Long Aotian wasn't surprised; after all, nearly half a year had passed, and to them, it had only been a small favor at the time.

"Big brother, can I open this box now?" A little girl's voice rang out.

"You can, though I don't know if you'll like it."

The little girl couldn't wait to tear open the gift box, and as it opened, a beautiful hair clip was revealed inside.

Both mother and daughter widened their eyes as they looked at the hair clip in the box, for it was something they were all too familiar with.

"This... this, this..." The woman hurriedly tried to take the box from Ichinose Kaede's hands, her lips trembling as she spoke urgently, "This is too precious; we cannot accept it."

"It's fine, ma'am. You might not recognize me, but do you remember the beggar you helped half a year ago? This is what you deserve." Long Aotian waved his hand, assuming they were refusing because the gift was too expensive, and didn't think much of it.

The little girl examined the hair accessory closely and asked hurriedly, "Is this the hair accessory that big sister took?"

"?" Hearing this, Long Aotian felt that something was wrong—no, something was twelve times more wrong than that.

Long Aotian ruffled Ichinose Kaede's hair and asked with a gentle smile, "Fengfeng, what do you mean by that?"

The woman hesitated for a while before telling Long Aotian the whole story.

The gist of it was that it was Ichinose Kaede's birthday, and the woman learned that Ichinose Kaede liked a hair accessory endorsed by an idol. However, the accessory wasn't cheap, and to give Ichinose Kaede a surprise, the woman worked even harder, which led to overexertion and hospitalization, making the accessory unaffordable.

After Ichinose Kaede's sister found out, she went to apply for jobs at many stores to buy that accessory for her younger sister, but was rejected outright due to her age—something Long Aotian felt deeply. Later, when she learned there was only one left in stock, she fell into despair, and the growing desire compelled Ichinose Kaede's sister to commit theft. She was later discovered by the woman, who gave her a lecture, returned the accessory along with compensation, and apologized to the store manager.

Long Aotian fell silent. What a coincidence? It just so happened that I bought that very accessory? No wonder it felt so heavy when I first walked in.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"Not at all, I understand. Since I'm giving it to Ichinose Kaede, I won't be taking it back. It just so happens to be Fengfeng's favorite, so please, accept it." Long Aotian hurriedly replied.

"Thank you." The woman stood up, intending to bow to Long Aotian.

Long Aotian stepped forward to stop her, recounted the incident with the beggar, and hurriedly expressed that he was the one who should be thanking them.

Long Aotian thought for a moment, then found an excuse and asked the woman, "I quite like Ichinose Kaede; would it be possible for me to come and visit in the future?"

"Yes, you may."

After chatting for a while longer, Long Aotian took his leave.

From then on, whenever Long Aotian had time, he would visit every day, never arriving empty-handed. He would bring whatever good things he could find, and even when the woman tried to refuse, Long Aotian would shut her down by bringing up the beggar incident.

Unfortunately, Long Aotian never saw Ichinose Kaede's sister, as the young girl had locked herself in her room out of remorse for what she had done.

Long Aotian didn't pay it much mind; family matters should be resolved by the family. Later, because he had to leave that area for other business, he visited one last time and left 3 million yen, insisting that the woman take it—it took several hours of back-and-forth to finally convince her.

"I'm off, bye-bye." Long Aotian waved at Ichinose Kaede and then departed.

At that moment, a bedroom door opened quietly, and a girl with long golden hair stepped out, watching the silhouette of Long Aotian's profile as he turned and walked away.

The fruit of karma was still spinning from that very moment.