The night hunt in the abandoned industrial district was like a depth charge dropped into Luo Li's heart, stirring waves that refused to settle.
The stark contrast between Castorice's elegant yet deadly fighting style and his own meager strength left him caught between excitement and anxiety for days.
He worked even harder to consolidate his power on the [Remembrance] Path, practicing [Remembrance Perception] on all sorts of objects every day. He even tried using [Remembrance Weaving] on the stray cat downstairs that always ignored him, only to take a swipe to his mental perception. The pain made him grimace, and all he earned was a contemptuous look from the cat and Xiao Hong's merciless laughter in his mental space.
"(〃´∀｀) Silly master! Did you think you could just weave a kitty's memories however you wanted? Serves you right!"
Clutching a forehead that wasn't actually there but still faintly ached, Luo Li gained a profound understanding of just how long and difficult the road ahead would be.
By contrast, Castorice's life was orderly and peaceful.
Now that she had a legal identity, she seemed to have settled completely into the little rented apartment.
She learned to use the washing machine's different settings and could even distinguish the subtle differences among Luo Li's pile of black, gray, and white T-shirts and sort them correctly;
she mastered more advanced uses of the microwave and rice cooker, occasionally warming a cup of milk in silence and leaving it beside his desk when Luo Li streamed late into the night;
she also grew increasingly familiar with Luo Li's old phone. Aside from watching remix videos of "Li Dog" and various documentaries, she had recently unlocked new skills-surfing the internet and... online shopping.
That afternoon, Luo Li had just finished a grueling battle and stepped out of his room, rubbing his sore fingers, when he saw Castorice holding his phone. Her brows were slightly furrowed as she carefully swiped across the screen, looking as focused as if she were deciphering ancient runes.
"What are you looking at?"
Luo Li leaned closer and asked casually.
The screen showed the interface of a common shopping app, and the product was... a pot of pothos?
"This..."
Castorice pointed at the picture of the lush green plant on the screen, then at the same kind of pothos on the windowsill, which Luo Li had previously left half-dead but which had actually revived under her occasional care.
"It seems a little different from ours.
"The one in the picture is more... full."
Luo Li chuckled. "That's the seller's photo. Of course they made it look good-the actual plant might be about the same."
Only half understanding, Castorice scrolled farther down and saw the "Add to cart" and "Buy now" buttons.
She looked up, curiosity and an eagerness to try in her purple eyes. "Luo Li, how do you... 'shop' with this 'online shopping'?"
The thirst for knowledge in her eyes softened Luo Li's heart. He sat down and began patiently explaining.
"Look, first you register an account... uh, my phone number will do.
"Then you link a payment method... right, link my card."
"Once you've picked what you want, tap 'Buy now' and confirm the address... yes, our home address."
"Then enter the password... wait! I can't tell you that!"
Luo Li hurriedly covered the password field. Facing Castorice's pure, innocent gaze, he felt a little embarrassed, as though he were guarding against a thief.
"Anyway, I'll handle the last step for you-do you want to buy this pothos?"
Castorice shook her head and clumsily tapped the search bar a few times, entering keywords such as "butterfly" and "hair accessories."
The screen immediately filled with a dazzling array of bow clips, headbands, and hair ornaments.
Her purple eyes lit up at once, as though stars had fallen into them.
She browsed carefully, occasionally opening a product's details and enlarging its pictures to inspect them. Now and then, a particularly exquisite butterfly clip set with rhinestones drew a soft gasp from her.
Watching her, Luo Li felt as though a feather had brushed his heart, leaving it soft and ticklish.
With a grand wave of his hand, he declared generously, "Which one do you like? Pick anything! It's my treat!"
He would consider it thanks for her help in solving Xiao Hong's food problem... and he simply wanted to see her wearing pretty hair accessories.
Castorice looked at him hesitantly, then at the accessories on the screen, priced anywhere from a few yuan to several dozen. In the end, she carefully chose the simplest and cheapest pale purple satin bow clip, along with the pothos she had first taken a liking to.
"Just... these two. Is that all right?"
She asked quietly, a little uncertain.
"Of course!"
Luo Li readily placed the order and paid for her.
"All done. Wait two or three days, and the courier will deliver them to our door."
He explained.
"Courier?"
Another new word.
"That's... someone responsible for delivering things you buy online to your home."
Understanding dawned on Castorice, and her eyes filled with anticipation for "receiving her order" in a few days.
Over the next two days, Castorice was noticeably distracted.
Every so often, she looked toward the door or picked up Luo Li's phone to check the tracking information. Watching the little dot representing her package inch closer to Jiangcheng on the map, her purple eyes shone with a child's innocent anticipation.
Luo Li saw her reactions and found them utterly adorable. At the same time, an idea occurred to him.
On the third afternoon, figuring the delivery would arrive soon, Luo Li found an excuse to end his stream early.
With an air of mystery, he told Castorice, "I'm going out to buy a few things. I'll be right back."
Then, before she could react, he dashed out.
He headed straight for the largest shopping mall near their residential complex.
At the women's accessories counter, he blushed under the salesgirl's knowing gaze and spent a long time choosing carefully. Finally, he bought a butterfly hair clip studded with tiny amethysts, its design far more exquisite and elaborate than the one Castorice had picked earlier.
At a florist's, he also chose a pothos in excellent condition, with glossy, plump leaves.
Looking at the carefully chosen "replacement" gifts in his hands, Luo Li imagined Castorice's delighted surprise when she received them, and the corners of his mouth lifted despite himself.
He timed it carefully and returned home before the couriers' usual delivery window.
"I'm back!"
He pushed open the door, deliberately hiding the hand holding the gifts behind his back.
Castorice was sitting on the sofa. At the sound, she immediately looked up, anticipation in her eyes. "Has the delivery... arrived?"
"Soon, soon!"
Smiling, Luo Li walked over to her. He was just about to surprise her when the doorbell rang with a ding-dong.
The actual courier had arrived.
Castorice immediately stood up and looked toward the door with a little burst of excitement.
Luo Li's heart lurched. This is bad.
He hurried to reach the door first, took the small package containing the cheap hair clip and ordinary pothos from the courier, and quickly signed for it and shut the door.
"Here, your delivery."
Bracing himself, Luo Li handed Castorice the original package while discreetly moving the bag containing the exquisite clip and superior pothos farther behind his back.
Wouldn't bringing it out now make this seem unnecessary? And a little... contrived?
Castorice didn't notice his little movements. She happily accepted the package and carefully slit the tape with her fingernail, as though opening some precious treasure.
Inside were indeed a simple pale purple satin hair clip and a small, rather wilted-looking pothos.
Although the actual items differed somewhat from the pictures, Castorice was still very happy.
She picked up the clip and held it against her hair, a faint, satisfied smile appearing on her face.
Then she lifted the little pothos, examined it carefully, and said softly, "It is... a little different from the picture. But it's still very cute."
Seeing that she didn't disdain them in the slightest and was genuinely delighted instead, Luo Li felt even more conflicted.
His "upgraded" gifts now felt like a hot potato.
Should I give them to her or not?
If I do, how do I explain?
Say I thought the originals were too cheap and weren't good enough for her?
Would that hurt her pride?
As Luo Li struggled fiercely with himself and the exquisite bag in his hand grew impossibly heavy, Castorice finally seemed to notice the hand he had kept behind his back, along with the pretty, slightly bulging paper bag bearing the mall's logo.
Her gaze moved between Luo Li's face and the bag, a trace of confusion flickering through her purple eyes.
"Luo Li, what are you holding...?"
"(⊙ˍ⊙)? Master, what goodies are you hiding behind your back? Did you buy something better for the pretty lady? Hurry up and take it out!"
Xiao Hong joined in from his mental space, eager to stir up trouble.
Luo Li: "..."
It's over. I can't hide it anymore.
He smiled awkwardly, like a thief caught red-handed, and slowly brought the exquisite paper bag out from behind his back.
"Well... I happened to pass by the mall and saw this clip... I thought it might suit you better... and this pothos looked... a little healthier..."
His voice grew quieter and quieter. His cheeks burned, and he didn't dare look into Castorice's eyes.
Castorice looked at his embarrassed face, then at the visibly much fancier bag in his hand, where the elaborate clip set with sparkling amethysts and the pothos with full, glossy leaves peeked out.
She froze.
A subtle silence hung in the air.
A few seconds later, Castorice suddenly let out a soft giggle.
She set down the cheap hair clip and wilted pothos, walked up to Luo Li, and reached out to take the exquisite bag.
Her fingertips gently brushed the cool amethyst butterfly wings. Their brilliance reflected in her purple eyes, and the smile at her lips deepened like ripples spreading across spring waters.
Her voice was very soft, but carried unmistakable pleasure and a hint of... indescribable tenderness.
"I love it."
She raised her head, looked at Luo Li's still somewhat nervous face, and added, "I love both."
[Ding! Target "Castorice" felt the joy and warmth of being cherished through the host's clumsy yet thoughtful preparations for a surprise. Her heart was moved. Affection +5. Current affection: 88%!]
Hearing the system notification and seeing the genuinely happy smile on Castorice's face, Luo Li finally relaxed, only to be overwhelmed by immense joy.
He scratched his head and grinned foolishly. "As long as you like them..."
Holding the elaborate amethyst hair clip, Castorice tilted her head slightly and tried to put it on herself.
But she didn't seem very practiced. After several clumsy attempts, the clip kept slipping free.
Seeing this, Luo Li mustered his courage, stepped forward, and said softly, "I... let me help you."
Castorice paused, gave a soft "Mm," and lowered her hands.
Holding his breath, Luo Li carefully picked up the clip, his fingers inevitably brushing her soft, silky silver-purple hair.
His fingertips trembled a little, his movements as gentle as though he were handling a priceless treasure.
At last, he secured the clip in her hair.
The amethyst butterfly wings glittered among her strands, complementing her purple eyes and making her already breathtaking beauty even more captivating.
"P-pretty," Luo Li murmured, a little dazed by the sight.
Castorice walked over to the mirror and looked at herself wearing the new clip. She reached up to touch its cool butterfly wings, a faint blush spreading across her face.
"Mm."
She answered softly, but her gaze traveled through the mirror to the young man behind her, who looked a little foolish yet filled her heart with warmth.
[Ding! Mission "Mark of the Bond" complete! Rewards issued: random Path skill experience pack ×1, Portable Space volume increased by 0.5 cubic meters!] [Ding! Random Path skill experience pack used! [Remembrance Weaving] skill effects slightly enhanced!] [Ding! Current Portable Space volume: 1.5 cubic meters!]
The successive system notifications played in Luo Li's mind like the sweetest music.
Looking at Castorice's shy profile in the mirror, then feeling the increase in his mental power and the expansion of his storage space, he felt that a fulfilled life could be no better than this.
"Castorice," he couldn't help saying, his voice carrying undisguised joy and a trace of anticipation as he pushed his luck, "next time... can I take you to experience some other 'firsts'?"
Castorice looked at his shining eyes in the mirror and pressed her lips together slightly. In the end, she gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"(★ω ★) Well done, master! One step closer to winning her over! Keep it up! I believe in you!" Xiao Hong offered some timely-and unnecessary-encouragement.
Luo Li automatically filtered out the Memory Spirit's noise, his entire attention immersed in the girl's silent yet moving response.