Shen Lu rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not going to answer you."
'Isn't he just trying to ask where I got these ingredients?'
She wouldn't tell anyone about something like that.
"I haven't even asked yet, don't be so quick to refuse," Zeng Xiaodao said, swallowing the radish in his mouth. "It seems like your first impression of me wasn't very good."
If it had been, she wouldn't have stuck her foot out to trip him.
Shen Lu flipped the egg waffle maker. "Why should I have a good impression of you?"
'You almost got me killed, you know that?'
"Why?"
"Because you bumped into me when you ran over to grab the nutrient solution. I was almost knocked into a sharp piece of metal. You think I'd have a good impression of you after that?"
Shen Lu wasn't the type to keep things bottled up. As long as it wasn't a vital secret, she usually said whatever was on her mind.
"That happened?" Zeng Xiaodao racked his brain but couldn't recall it at all.
Shen Lu snorted in annoyance.
Zeng Xiaodao's eyes darted around. "Well, anyway, you tripped me afterward, and I saved you once. So we're even, right?"
"Mhm," Shen Lu nodded reluctantly.
"In that case, how about we go into business together?" Zeng Xiaodao wiped his mouth. "Look, you're running a stall here. You're bound to run into some unreasonable customers. I can be your lookout. How about it?"
Shen Lu glanced at him sideways. "Do you think I have 'sucker' written on my forehead?"
'My business is doing just fine on its own. Why would I take on a partner for no reason?'
'Zeng Xiaodao is just a lanky teenager. What good would he be?'
"Don't look down on me. Who in this district doesn't know me, Zeng Xiaodao?"
Shen Lu really didn't know where he got the confidence to boast like this.
'All he could do against Wang Daguo was run. What's he going to use to watch my stall?'
"No, thanks. I'm good."
She shook her head repeatedly, ending the conversation. "Here are your egg waffles and mint water. You can leave after you finish."
'Stop buzzing around here like an annoying fly.'
Zeng Xiaodao took the egg waffles and mint water but didn't eat them right away. He stuffed the egg waffles inside his shirt and poured the mint water into his personal canteen.
"Fine, if you don't want my help, you don't want it. Just don't expect me to help when you run into trouble later."
Shen Lu couldn't even be bothered to look at him, just letting out a derisive little laugh.
Zeng Xiaodao turned and left.
There weren't many ingredients left. After selling the last cup of mint water, it was exactly four o'clock.
Shen Lu stretched her neck and pounded her arms. She had more ingredients today, so she was a bit tired.
[DING DONG. Detected sales of mint water 30/30, egg waffles 20/20, and spicy hot pot 20/20. Task complete. Reward: one Lottery Ticket.]
Before the system's voice had faded, she saw Wang Daguo walking over quickly.
"Boss Shen, I'm here."
Shen Lu stood up straight. "Perfect timing. I was just about to pack up."
The two of them packed things up together, with Wang Daguo doing most of the physical work while Shen Lu directed.
They were back at the rental apartment by 4:20, much faster than when Shen Lu did it alone.
Shen Lu settled today's pay with Wang Daguo. "Same time, same place tomorrow."
"Got it."
Wang Daguo seemed to have other things to do, so he didn't stay long before leaving.
Shen Lu closed the door and counted her earnings for the day.
Over 1,500 Star Coins!
Her popularity value had also risen to 301.
Shen Lu was thrilled. She loved this feeling of effort being directly proportional to reward.
After collapsing on the sofa to rest for a moment, Shen Lu went ahead and used the Lottery Ticket.
[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn the prize from blind box #103: Assorted condiments, 100 jin.]
One hundred jin of condiments?
'Are they the kind of condiments I'm thinking of?'
Shen Lu opened her temporary inventory to take a look. Wow, it really was common condiments like chopped green onions, cilantro, pickled mustard greens, and chili oil.
A full hundred jin—it was a huge pile, enough to last her for a long time.
'Looks like this blind box lottery machine has a wide variety of items. I wonder if I can even get things like king crab or lobster?'
[Host, another friendly reminder: the temporary inventory can only store items for 24 hours. Would you like to spend 20 popularity value to rent a warehouse?]
Shen Lu: ...
'Right, right. No wonder I drew 100 jin of condiments. So this was the trap it was setting for me.'
Shen Lu's cheeks puffed up. "It hasn't been 24 hours yet, has it? We'll talk when the time comes."
The system tactfully remained silent.
Shen Lu got up and went to buy gauze for Fu Cheng.
The Seventeenth District was relatively safe before dark. Shen Lu didn't linger on the streets, heading straight back after buying the gauze.
Changing his bandages was quite the hassle.
Even though she'd done it once before, Shen Lu was still clumsy.
It was a good thing she wasn't faint of heart. Most girls would have a hard time just looking at mangled limbs, let alone cleaning and bandaging them.
While bandaging Fu Cheng's head, she had to lift his upper body, half-cradling him, her arms almost completely encircling him.
Fu Cheng silently opened his eyes, his gaze falling directly upon the girl's full chest.
His pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly shut his eyes again.
His heart involuntarily began to beat faster.
He hadn't meant to be disrespectful.
Shen Lu clumsily tied a bow, gently laid him flat again, and let out a long sigh of relief.
It had taken an hour and a half, but she was finally done.
Her hands were stained with blood and medicinal powder. Shen Lu washed them, then started making dinner.
Shen Lu didn't have much of an appetite. She used the leftover hot pot base to boil some noodles and vegetables, then added some of the new condiments to make a bowl of mixed noodles for herself.
As for Fu Cheng, it was dough drop soup for him again, though this time she added extra finely chopped green onions and cilantro.
Watching the man's throat bob rhythmically as he swallowed, Shen Lu murmured, "If it wasn't me, who would be taking care of you?"
Shen Lu didn't believe Fu Cheng's injuries could have healed just by lying on the street. It was more likely that someone else had rescued him first.
Fu Cheng heard her words but didn't quite understand them. He felt, however, that besides Shen Lu, there probably wasn't anyone else who would take care of him.
His good friend was still at the front lines and probably didn't know what had happened to him after he returned to the Imperial City.
By the time his friend returned, it would likely be half a year later.
After feeding Fu Cheng, Shen Lu's work for the day was finally done.
She pounded her lower back, glanced at the badly sagging sofa, then looked at the 1.2-meter-wide bed, wondering if she could make Fu Cheng sleep on the sofa for a night so she could have a comfortable night's sleep in the bed.
'It seems possible.'
'It's just... a little inhumane.'
'But I really don't want to sleep on the sofa today. If I sleep on it again, my back is going to give out.'
Shen Lu pursed her lips, pushed Fu Cheng further into the bed, and then lay down on the outer edge, right next to him.
"I'm a still sleeper, I won't move around. Um... just for one night. My back is really sore." Shen Lu didn't care if Fu Cheng could hear her or not; she just wanted to mumble it out loud.
It was like talking to a stuffed doll. The goal wasn't for someone to listen or respond, but simply because she wanted to say it.
Fu Cheng's uninjured left arm was pressed against the girl, and he could clearly feel her softness. In an instant, his entire body tensed up.
'We're going to sleep together?'