You owe me a caramel pudding

Yan Huan glanced at Tong Yingying, who had already sat down, with a look that said, "Are you sure?"

Although it was certainly a good thing that Tong Yingying, who spent all day lazing around the shop, could finally be of some use, judging by her track record as the "idea queen"...

Hopefully she wouldn't blow up Bai Yi's Modifier after just a few words.

"Ding, ding!"

Seeing Yan Huan still standing there, Tong Yingying pressed the bell in her hand and stared at him.

If she added a pointing gesture, she would have looked just like that husky meme from his previous life.

It meant, "Quit yapping and get going!"

"..."

Forget it. Sister Tong hasn't had anything to drink today, anyway. Her brain works pretty normally before she drinks. Probably.

"Okay, I'll get back to work."

Yan Huan raised an eyebrow and didn't insist any further.

After all, the shop really did need help right now, and Sister Tong didn't know any Domain Expansion. He could come back whenever he wanted.

He took one last look at Bai Yi, then turned and left.

Watching Yan Huan leave, Bai Yi felt the sadness that his cup of hot water and few words had temporarily soothed begin to well up again.

She instinctively wanted to sniffle, but under Tong Yingying's scrutiny, she had to give up.

Ever since Yan Huan left, Tong Yingying's gaze seemed to have unconsciously grown a little sharper.

She exhaled and opened her cigarette case, revealing several neatly lined-up slim cigarettes inside.

A flip-top lighter spun nimbly between the fingers of her left hand, striking a flame that lit the cigarette she had taken out.

Beneath her slightly slanted red bangs, her eyes seemed to have been lit by the cigarette between her lips as well.

Through the drifting smoke, her gaze could be seen gradually shifting from half-dead to languid and alluring.

But Tong Yingying really did strike Bai Yi as someone who was hard to get along with, with a very typical South District air about her.

Then Bai Yi watched her reach inside her jacket and rummage for something.

Smack!

A stun baton landed on the table.

Bai Yi's eyes widened. She cautiously glanced at Tong Yingying, only to find her still rummaging.

Smack!

A folded butterfly knife was slapped onto the table next.

"..."

Seeing Tong Yingying about to pull something else out of her jacket, Bai Yi hurriedly stood and said timidly,

"...I'll leave right away. Sorry for the trouble."

"What's the rush? Sit."

Bai Yi didn't dare sit, but in the end, Tong Yingying didn't produce an M1917 Smith & Wesson. Instead, she took a small iron hip flask from her jacket.

Tong Yingying glanced in the direction Yan Huan had left even more cautiously than Bai Yi had, then opened the flask and took a small sip.

So she was just taking out some alcohol to drink.

But why was she being so careful?

Bai Yi didn't understand, but after a moment's hesitation, she sat back down.

With a mouthful of warming liquor in her stomach, a look of contentment appeared on Tong Yingying's face, and even her tone toward Bai Yi grew considerably lighter.

"All covered up this late at night, with a mask and sunglasses. Seriously, anyone who didn't know better would think you were some pervert stalking someone. Besides, if you leave now, can you even see where you're going?"

"..."

Actually, that really did sum up Bai Yi's day.

Fully disguised, she had followed Yan Huan all the way here to the South District.

Feeling a little guilty, Bai Yi averted her gaze.

"Yes, I can..."

Hearing that, Tong Yingying immediately rolled her eyes.

"Didn't catch my drift? I meant take off your sunglasses and mask so we can talk."

"That's not really convenient for me."

"Oh, too ugly to show your face?"

"..."

Bai Yi lowered her head and pressed her lips together without answering.

Seeing her remain silent like that, Tong Yingying suddenly leaned a little closer.

Gotcha!

The next second, she reached out and snatched the sunglasses off Bai Yi's face.

With the glasses suddenly gone, Bai Yi's beautiful, tear-soaked eyes were exposed.

"W-what are you doing?"

Startled, Bai Yi tried to snatch her sunglasses back.

Tong Yingying leaned straight back in her chair, refusing to return them, a hint of surprise appearing on her face.

"You're pretty, aren't you? What's there to hide?"

"I..."

"And what are you doing coming to a tavern alone at night, all weepy? This isn't the kids' play area at a fried chicken place. Minors aren't welcome, got it?"

Bai Yi glanced away slightly and muttered,

"But you hired a minor to work here too, didn't you?"

"...Every one of you kids has such a smart mouth. You all planning on grad school or something?"

Tong Yingying put the tear-stained glasses on the table and reached behind her to fetch an ashtray.

"Linmen's part-time employment laws permit it, up to twenty-eight hours a week. My hiring practices are fully legal and compliant. What's the problem?"

"..."

Flicking off some ash, Tong Yingying lowered her eyes toward the sunglasses on the table, her expression growing more serious.

"Weber sunglasses, a model that costs over five thousand. If you can afford these, you don't live in the South District, do you? Where did you come from? A pretty girl like you, wandering around outside crying this late-don't you know what could happen? Take your mask off. Maybe I can help."

Bai Yi didn't answer. She merely reached out and took back her sunglasses.

As she stood, she said quietly,

"No need. I'll leave now."

"Suit yourself. I'll call the police after you leave anyway."

Tong Yingying waved goodbye and took out her phone listlessly, ready to watch videos.

"Call the police? Why?"

Bai Yi turned to look at Tong Yingying in disbelief, but Tong Yingying looked back as though she were an idiot.

"Are you nuts? Your phone's broken, you're wearing that wrecked dress, and you don't look like you usually carry cash. Where can you go? Can you stay safe? This is the South District! If I don't call the police now, am I supposed to wait for them to come investigating tomorrow and disrupt my business?"

Bai Yi glanced at the phone in her hand. Its shattered screen faced Tong Yingying, plainly visible.

She opened her mouth, but her eyes only stung more.

For her, with her pocket watch, Tong Yingying's concerns weren't much of a problem.

But she truly had no idea where to go now.

Mom had found out about Sister Yinuo's place, and because of her, Mom would probably give Sister Yinuo a vicious scolding.

She had argued with Mom and smashed her phone on impulse. Now she had no cash on her either. She couldn't pay for anything or do anything.

"..."

As she thought about it, Bai Yi couldn't stop her tears from falling again.

She didn't know what to do, yet she kept trying to leave, over and over.

Why?

Because she didn't want to go home at all. She didn't want to see her mother at all.

She even wanted nothing more than to hide somewhere her mother would never find her.

Two silent trails of tears slowly fell, and her grip on the pocket watch tightened further and further.

Tong Yingying had been looking at her phone when she suddenly felt a chill.

She frowned and put her phone down, only to catch sight of the girl standing there with eyes full of tears, as though her few words had made her cry.

*???*

Wait, girl, you...

You're crying already?

"Fuck-"

She was just about to swear when Yan Huan's voice came from the register.

"Thank you. That'll be 298. Plane or..."

Tong Yingying's burst of Cantonese eloquence instantly died. She sat up a little straighter and could only tap her cigarette against the ashtray in speechless resignation.

She beckoned to the tearful Bai Yi before her and said softly,

"At your age, if you've come running here crying, there's an eighty percent chance it's something at home and a twenty percent chance it's something at school."

Bai Yi looked up at Tong Yingying blankly, meeting her appraising gaze.

Tong Yingying smiled slightly and said,

"Got it right? Something at home?"

"...Yes."

"What's the big deal? I'm plenty grown-up, and I still argue with my family every day. They used to look down on me, and it's pretty much the same now. In their eyes, there's always something about me they're unhappy with. Look, I'm still doing just fine, eating and drinking well every day, with a handsome guy to look at too."

Bai Yi blinked, her expression seeming to change a little at Tong Yingying's words.

After a moment's silence, she sat back down across from Tong Yingying and gently removed her mask.

Tong Yingying glanced at her, then raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The girl in front of her really was beautiful.

"That's because you're already grown up and can support yourself. My situation isn't quite the same as yours."

Tong Yingying sipped her liquor and rolled her eyes.

"Right, I'll understand when I'm your age."

"That's not what I meant."

Bai Yi sniffled and said,

"I just don't understand how to get along with my mom. All I need is a simple word of approval from her, but to get that approval, I have to do so, so many things that go against what I want. Every time, she just compares me to other people. Sometimes I really don't know whether she wants me or someone else..."

"So you don't want to exhaust yourself living like this, but you also want her approval?"

"..."

Bai Yi didn't answer, but Tong Yingying propped her cheek on her hand and asked,

"What about your dad?"

Bai Yi shook her head and said,

"My mom remarried, but Uncle is very busy with work and rarely comes home."

"How does he treat you?"

"Actually... very well. He's not quite like Mom. At least he listens to me."

As she drank, Tong Yingying's eyes suddenly lit up like two little light bulbs.

She raised a finger and suddenly said with a smile,

"Hey, I have an idea!"

"Huh?"

Bai Yi opened her mouth and was just about to say something when she sensed someone approaching beside her.

She turned her head and found herself looking straight at an expressionless Yan Huan.

"Sister Tong."

Tong Yingying's sunny expression froze, her finger still raised.

Then she pursed her lips, withdrew her finger, and spread her hands toward Bai Yi.

"Not anymore."

She also pressed the remaining half of her cigarette into the ashtray and extinguished it.

Tong Yingying quietly dragged the flask off the table and tucked it back inside her jacket, while Yan Huan glanced at Bai Yi, now without her mask and sunglasses, with a look of surprise.

"Wait, why do you look kind of familiar? Are you Bai Yi from our school?"

Then his expression shifted little by little from surprise to excitement.

"H-huh?"

Bai Yi froze for a moment, looking a little nervous.

"No... I... um..."

Yan Huan actually recognized her?

Her eyes darted away, and she was just about to stammer out an explanation when Tong Yingying asked,

"A classmate of yours?"

"More than that. She's a celebrity. She's even been in movies. I'm a fan of her music too. Her singing is really good. It's just a shame she rarely comes to school."

A... a fan?

Bai Yi's face flushed bright red. She hurriedly raised her head to look at Yan Huan and asked in disbelief,

"Yan Huan... no... um, President Yan, have you really listened to the songs I wrote?"

Tong Yingying blinked, her gaze moving back and forth between Bai Yi's suddenly excited, slightly flushed face and the smiling Yan Huan before her.

Schoolmates, a handsome boy and a pretty girl, an idol and her fan, a good-looking pair of the same age.

Hiss.

Why did that comparison make her look like the bad woman luring an innocent young boy astray?!

"Of course."

Yan Huan smiled and nodded, took out his phone, and opened his music app to show her his playlists.

A playlist named "Bai Yi" contained just two songs-the two she had sung.

PS: he had only added them that afternoon in the car.

But now, he was as enthusiastic as a fan who had followed Bai Yi for ages.

"I started following you a long time ago. When I heard you'd enrolled at Totsuki, I was pretty glad. Too bad I haven't run into you even once all semester."

A ten-year veteran fan, showing up uninvited!

So the Yan Huan her mother kept talking about...

Was actually a fan of the songs she wrote herself, the very things her mother looked down on most?!

"But you haven't written any new songs in ages. I was wondering-"

"I-I will! I'll upload a new song soon!!"

Bai Yi opened her mouth and blurted that out before Yan Huan could even finish.

"Really?"

Bai Yi's heart pounded. Right then, she desperately wished she could record what Yan Huan was saying on her phone.

Then, whenever her mother went on about how wonderful Yan Huan was and what she ought to do, she could play the video for her!

No!

She needed to record it and play it on repeat beside her mother's ear every night!

Feeling Bai Yi's eager gaze, Yan Huan realized his guess had been right.

He had indeed heard Bai Yi arguing with her mother outside, but he hadn't heard what her mother said.

He could only guess what she wanted from her distaste for the other activities.

She had appeared in plenty of variety shows and movies in recent years, but since none of those had been "her own decisions," Yan Huan guessed that what she really wanted to do was sing, something she wasn't very popular for yet.

As for why she disliked him...

Yan Huan had picked up a clue from her conversation with Tong Yingying earlier.

It might have something to do with her mother.

"Really? That's grea-"

"Hey, hey, hold on, you two."

The fan meet-and-greet over there was going swimmingly, like the scene in a teen romantic comedy where the male and female leads first met.

Meanwhile, Tong Yingying was barely holding it together. She rubbed her brow and hurriedly interrupted.

"Shouldn't we be figuring out what to do about her coming to the South District alone? You're a celebrity, your family's rich, and you go to Totsuki... did you run away from home?"

"...Yes."

Bai Yi nodded sheepishly.

Tong Yingying's eyes lit up, and her "I have a great idea" expression appeared again.

"Well, there you go. Call your family now and have her come pick you up."

"N-no!"

Bai Yi hastily refused, tightening her grip on the pocket watch. Its previously motionless hands began to tremble.

"Tick... tock... tick... tock..."

An illusory ticking, like dripping water, slowly sounded. And perhaps it was just her imagination, but the customers' conversations outside seemed to slow for a moment.

No... I don't want to hear Mom dismiss me again...

If it's like before again...

Sensing her rising desire to use her Modifier, Yan Huan's pupils contracted slightly. He hurriedly interrupted Tong Yingying, whose face plainly said this was a nuisance.

"There's no rush. You can sit here a little longer and think it over."

With her brilliant idea rejected yet again by the handsome boy and pretty girl before her, a vein involuntarily bulged on Tong Yingying's forehead.

Her hand was itching a little-the kind of itch only gripping a stun baton could stop.

"She can't just never go home. Staying out will cause trouble, and I can't take responsibility for her staying in the shop..."

Bai Yi clenched the hem of her skirt. Of course she knew this stalemate couldn't last forever.

"Sister Tong! Something's come up over here. Come take a look!"

Just then, Tian Li called from behind the counter, making Tong Yingying look even more annoyed.

She scratched her red hair, then reluctantly stood.

"Fine, fine, you're the clever ones. Talk it over yourselves... I'm an old woman now. I can't keep up with your brain waves..."

Tong Yingying left, while Yan Huan looked quite optimistic as he asked Bai Yi,

"By the way, Bai Yi, are you going to the gaming convention this weekend too? Will you be singing there?"

"Huh..."

Bai Yi paused, then shook her head.

"Probably... not. I'll just be meeting everyone there."

"I see..."

"I've never sung in public. I haven't even been to a recording studio in ages."

"Really? That's a shame. I thought I'd get to hear you sing there... The Student Council's treasurer happened to have two tickets, so I specifically asked for one to go see you."

Yan Huan smiled, took the ticket Yatsuhashi Ki had given him from his pocket, and showed it to Bai Yi as he spoke with some regret.

Bai Yi's pupils contracted slightly. She turned to glance at Yan Huan, only to hurriedly avert her gaze.

The event was on Sunday, rehearsal was on Friday, and arrangements had to be coordinated on Thursday. It was already Wednesday night.

Besides, Mom definitely wouldn't agree to let her sing there.

After all, in her eyes, Bai Yi's songs were nothing but amateur work.

But Yan Huan had gone out of his way to get a ticket just to see her?

For some reason, despite her fierce resistance before, she actually began to feel a little like going home and attending the event that weekend.

"Xiao Huan, over here!"

"Coming. Just a moment."

"Hurry, it's urgent!"

Besides, staying here all this time would get in other people's way.

Bai Yi parted her lips. After a moment's silence, she finally said quietly to Yan Huan,

"Then, if I call my mother in a bit, could you talk to her for me?"

Yan Huan turned back and raised his eyebrows.

"...Of course."

"..."

"Shall we call your mom?"

"...Yes."

Yan Huan smiled and handed over his phone. Bai Yi extended her fair fingers and tapped a string of numbers into the dial pad.

A tap, and the call went through.

Yan Huan took the phone and held it to his ear. A few seconds later, someone answered.

"Hello, Auntie. Is this Bai Yi's mother? I'm Yan Huan, a schoolmate of hers. Here's what happened..."

Listening to Yan Huan's polite conversation, Bai Yi merely lowered her head, not even daring to listen for fear of hearing her mother's reproaches.

Unexpectedly, her stomach chose that moment to rumble uncontrollably with hunger.

"Grrrr..."

Her face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly clutched her stomach.

Bai Yi had eaten only once, that morning at her best friend's place, then spent the whole day running around outside. Naturally, by evening she was starving.

She hurriedly stole a glance at the boy beside her. Seeing that he was still talking to her mother and didn't seem to have noticed her embarrassment, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"...All right, I'll put her on."

As the conversation drew to a close, Yan Huan said that and handed the phone back.

Bai Yi shrank back fearfully, not wanting to take it at all.

But looking at Yan Huan before her, she hesitated a moment, then accepted the phone.

"Hello..."

"Stay there. I'll be right over. Get ready tomorrow. You still have an event this weekend..."

There was no reproach, nor even any other emotion. Zuo Jiangqin's voice came through coldly, as though issuing a notice.

The sound stabbed painfully into Bai Yi's heart. She parted her lips and answered.

"Okay..."

But inside, she deeply regretted it-regretted calling her.

"Beep, beep, beep..."

The call ended.

That single call seemed to drain the strength from Bai Yi's body. She set Yan Huan's phone down, and only after a while did she say, "Thank you."

"No problem. Sit here for a bit, then. I have something else to do."

"Okay..."

Bai Yi nodded.

Only once Yan Huan left did the emotions in her heart begin to spill out again.

What if I argue with Mom again after I get back?

Or maybe we won't even manage an argument. Maybe Mom's been disappointed in me for ages. I've never been able to be what she wants anyway.

What if I really am not suited to singing?

Maybe my lifelong dream really is just wishful thinking. Maybe I really have no talent, and there's no way anyone could ever like my songs.

I hate it.

Other people's judgments.

If only I didn't exist.

But isn't that already how things are?

I have Indifference, but I'm still in so much pain...

If that's how it is...

Why should I be the one who doesn't exist?

Wouldn't it be better if everyone else stopped existing?

"Click, click, click..."

As that thought surfaced, the watch in her hand began turning faster.

The previously motionless [hour hand] began to tremble, seemingly signaling the awakening of some power.

Around her, however, the clocks on the tavern's walls seemed to slow little by little, as though some power spilling out of her body were dragging at them, making them heavy.

"Ticktockticktock... ticktock... tick... tock..."

"Clink."

Just as Bai Yi was thinking that, a plate was suddenly set before her.

She abruptly came to her senses, and the cold air around her suddenly dissipated.

Bai Yi looked in front of her. A caramel pudding sat there.

Pudding?

She turned to look beside her. It was Yan Huan, smiling.

"I..."

Looking at the pudding on the table, Bai Yi hurriedly raised her broken phone.

"Thank you... but my phone's broken. I'll pay you when Mom gets here..."

"No need. Weren't you hungry just now? Go ahead and eat."

"Huh?"

He heard my stomach growling just now?

Bai Yi blushed with embarrassment, looking a little lost.

From over there, Tong Yingying's voice rang out again.

"Xiao Huan! Come take payment and print the bill..."

Bai Yi was just about to say something when Yan Huan raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence.

"Shh. I made it for you in secret. If Sister Tong finds out, it'll probably be a hassle."

"I couldn't possibly... I..."

Yan Huan smiled and simply said,

"I'm your fan. What's wrong with treating my idol to a little something?"

A... fan?!

I...

Bai Yi's breathing quickened, and she hurriedly thanked Yan Huan.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Yan Huan smiled and was about to leave, but turned back as though something had suddenly occurred to him.

"Oh, right, Bai Yi..."

"Huh?"

Bai Yi looked at him, not knowing what he wanted to say.

Yan Huan turned back and said with utter sincerity,

"Your songs really are beautiful. I'm really looking forward to you uploading a new one. And... good luck this weekend, too. I'll be there to see you."

"."

"Xiao Huan!"

"Coming!"

Bai Yi simply watched Yan Huan before her, watching as he answered the call after finishing his words and left to attend to his own work.

Yet his words seemed to linger, mingling with the Caramel Pudding still before her and suffusing the air with the scent of vanilla.

Seemingly a little hungry, she parted her lips slightly, gently scooped up a spoonful, and put it into her mouth.

Just the right amount of sweetness blossomed, much like the words she had just heard.

Sure enough, everything he had said was hidden here.

And this was the first time Bai Yi had heard someone say they liked her songs.

Her mother's disparaging words still rang in her ears, and the comparisons, day after day, had made her resentful.

Resentful of that boy who outshone her in every way.

Yet she had never expected that the acknowledgment she had waited so long for would come from the very boy she found so utterly tiresome.

"Wah... wah..."

She had taken only one bite, yet she had already lowered her head and begun to cry silently.

The Pocket Watch in her hand, too, seemed to have been melted by that mouthful of pudding, its hands reluctantly turning slower and slower.

"Tick-tock... tick-tock..."

Then it fell completely silent.

There will be another update before ten tonight.