"Boss, this, that—I'll take it all. Pack it up."
Silver Wolf's eyes went wide as she stared at Firefly in disbelief.
"Seriously?! Firefly, you're ordering all of this?! Can Stelle really eat this many snacks?!"
"Even if Stelle loves trash cans, she's not actually a trash can."
Firefly smiled gently, her eyes filled with warmth and the anticipation of reunion.
"Last time in Penacony, Stelle was like this. I hope these snacks will make her happy again."
Silver Wolf looked exasperated. Sigh. Firefly's hopeless. Her whole month's allowance is gone, and she's still like this.
"You just keep spoiling Stelle, don't you? Honestly."
The familiar voices of Silver Wolf and Firefly suddenly rang out.
Ruan Mei turned her head and inadvertently spotted the two of them, walking openly down the street as if they had no fear of being discovered by Herta.
Herta also seemed to notice.
Just as she was about to look up and see who was there—why those voices were so familiar—Ruan Mei stood up and blocked her view.
"What are you doing?"
Ruan Mei's expression remained calm as she casually poured tea for Herta.
"Herta. Do you want osmanthus or jasmine?"
"Either."
Herta still tried to glance sideways, but Ruan Mei "accidentally" blocked her again.
"Ruan Mei?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you standing there so long just to pour tea?!"
"Brewing tea has its rhythm. The longer it brews, the more spiritual it becomes."
Herta had no interest in such things and knew little about them. But since Ruan Mei said so, she couldn't very well object.
By the time Herta could see the snack stall behind Ruan Mei, no one was there.
She muttered to herself.
"How strange. I thought I heard Silver Wolf. Was it my imagination?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly.
"Probably just your imagination. You defeated her just days ago. She wouldn't return so soon."
Herta picked up her magic hat and put it back on. Silver Wolf's presence or absence didn't really matter. Having Ruan Mei by her side was enough.
"Let's go for a walk. After Yukong's birthday the day after tomorrow, we'll head back to the space station."
"Yes."
"Oh, what does my sleeve pendant look like?"
Ruan Mei replied calmly.
"You'll know in due time."
Herta snorted coldly.
"So mysterious."
Inside, her mind raced. What does it look like? It can't be worse than Asta's starry sleeve pendant, right?
Just as they left Aurum Alley, they saw a crowd gathered in Changle.
Herta remarked casually.
"Watching some Xianzhou performance? Smashing rocks, dodging bullets? Sigh. Only Xianzhou natives could find this entertaining."
Ruan Mei didn't respond. Crowded, noisy places held no interest for her. Her instinct was to avoid them.
"Wisteria Cake!! Keep going!"
"Dream Mazulu, don't give up! Victory is at hand!"
Herta and Ruan Mei exchanged glances.
Ruan Mei instinctively used Neglect Serum, rendering them invisible to the crowd.
Then she discovered why they'd heard Wisteria Cake's name.
In the center of the crowd, Wisteria Cake and the Dream Mazulu were locked in confrontation. Ruan Mei Cake tried to intervene but found herself powerless.
"Meowmi! Ruan Mei Cake, stand back! I'm going to teach this one a lesson today!"
"貘!" (Who's afraid of you!!)
(T/N: I don't know what that noise would be in English, so I just left it in Chinese; you can think of it like it's the species' special tic, like meow.)
Looking around, Ruan Mei spotted Bailu in the crowd, along with Li Sushang and Guinaifen.
Herta muttered.
"Do Xianzhou natives all love watching spectacles? Should we stop them?"
Ruan Mei shook her head slightly. She sensed something off. This wasn't like their earlier fights—there was no real intent to harm.
"Let them settle it themselves. We won't interfere."
The Dream Mazulu dodged and struck. Wisteria Cake was sent flying.
The crowd gasped. The Dream Mazulu stood victorious.
But when Wisteria Cake saw Ruan Mei Cake, she leaped up and charged.
Bam.
The Dream Mazulu let out a cry and collapsed.
"Bravo!!"
Li Sushang led the applause.
The crowd tossed credits into the ring.
When the onlookers dispersed, Li Sushang and Guinaifen greeted them and left.
The Dream Mazulu and Wisteria Cake began counting their earnings.
Herta blinked. They weren't fighting over Ruan Mei Cake—they were putting on an act?!
Wisteria Cake inadvertently spotted Ruan Mei and Herta. She tried to flee, but Herta blocked her path.
Seeing trouble, the Dream Mazulu also tried to escape—but Ruan Mei blocked the other side.
Herta stared at Wisteria Cake.
"Explain! What were you two doing?! You don't lack credits."
"Meowmu. We wanted to earn more and buy a house in Changle."
Herta frowned and looked at the Dream Mazulu.
"And you? Aren't you with Lingsha?"
"貘. I want to help Wisteria Cake fulfill her wish."
Ruan Mei stepped forward.
She applied healing potion to both. Just as she'd suspected—neither was injured. It was all an act.
Herta pressed further.
"So you're on good terms now?"
"Meow. There's an ancient Xianzhou saying: 'Friends are made after a fight.' The Dream Mazulu has been with us for days. It hasn't returned to the Alchemy Commission."
Ruan Mei asked softly.
"Why do you want to buy a house in Changle?"
"To settle here. We don't want to go back to the space station."
"Reason?"
Wisteria Cake looked at Ruan Mei Cake. Ruan Mei Cake nodded.
"After we left the space station, we realized how wonderful the outside world is."
"Especially here on the Luofu. Good food. Fun things to do. Thousands of lights. It's a million times better than the boring space station."
Herta frowned and opened her mouth to argue—but a look from Ruan Mei silenced her.
Ruan Mei gazed gently at Wisteria Cake and the Dream Mazulu.
"How many credits do you need?"
With her characteristic Herta-like pride, Wisteria Cake replied confidently.
"We want to earn the house ourselves."
Herta crossed her arms casually.
"Living in Changle isn't easy. One house costs Asta's daily allowance."
"If you come back to the space station, I'll give every cat-cake a room like the researchers have."
Wisteria Cake shook her head.
"No."
Herta felt a strange sense of disappointment. Like a father rejected by his own child.
"You!! Think it over! My space station is what everyone in the universe dreams of! They'd give anything to get in!"
Wisteria Cake shook her head again.
Herta gritted her teeth. This little rebel. With proud aloofness, she declared,
"Fine! Suit yourself! I'm done with you!"
Ruan Mei gently reminded her.
"Herta. Look around."
Herta looked. The other cat-cakes were gathering, one by one.
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TL Note
I will do 5 extra chapters for every 25 cumulative power stones, so please throw some stones at my begging ass. (Currently at 21/25)