'Boiling blood is a sign of the moderate stage of Enchanting Fragrance poisoning. But she was also exposed to Bone-penetrating Fragrance, so the Enchanting Fragrance should have completely permeated her system… Could it be that its effects have weakened over time?'
Ye Yunyun shook her head. The situation was too complicated, and it wasn't something she had ever studied.
Bai Jiao lowered her head in disappointment. She took out her phone to tell her brother about the idea a mother had suggested, as well as their third aunt's strange behavior.
Then, they browsed the other sections, and Bai Jiao excitedly picked out many self-heating hot pots and instant noodles.
After returning to the car, Bai Jiao carefully folded the receipt and put it in her pocket. She placed her hand on the groceries from the supermarket, and with a thought, the items vanished, reappearing in the Jade Pendant Space.
Ye Yunyun held out her hands, staring at her empty, chubby palms, the corners of her mouth twitching into a pout.
'Shouldn't a baby get a little snack to tide her over after a trip to the supermarket?'
Bai Jiao then remembered she had forgotten to take out a few snacks for Ye Yunyun to enjoy.
'Sigh, if only a cheese stick would mysteriously appear in my hand...'
The next second, a cheese stick appeared in Ye Yunyun's hand.
Bai Jiao: !!!
She checked with her mind and confirmed that one cheese stick was indeed missing from the Jade Pendant Space.
Why—
'Why can I take things from it? I'm not its master.'
Bai Jiao held her breath, ready to hear Ye Yunyun's analysis, but the little cub had already quickly torn open the wrapper and was munching away, taking a quarter of the cheese stick in one bite.
'So fragrant, such a rich milky flavor. After this, I'll have the grape-flavored lollipop, and after that, the chocolate beans.'
"Wait, little kids can't eat that many snacks at once!"
Upon hearing Bai Jiao, Ye Yunyun swallowed the rest of the cheese stick in one gulp, looking ready to wolf down more.
"Alright, alright, just this once. I'll let Xiao Yunduo eat her fill this time. But from now on, your uncle and I will be taking inventory of everything in the space, so we'll know if Xiao Yunduo sneaks any snacks, okay?" Bai Jiao said helplessly.
Bai Jiao had her own little scheme. After the apocalypse, there wouldn't be any roadside food stalls. She had to take this chance to hoard more and put it in the space. Conveniently, time was frozen inside it, and there was no smell.
So, next stop: the food street!
Snacks were healthier than street food, anyway. If the little cub was full, she probably wouldn't want to eat from the stalls.
Bai Jiao parked the car at an intersection and took Ye Yunyun with her.
The food street was bustling with people, mostly young adults and college students.
"Boss, ten orders of stir-fried cold noodles! With extra sausage, egg, and pork loin. No cilantro. I've sent the payment!" Bai Jiao shouted.
Ye Yunyun rested her chin on Bai Jiao's shoulder, turning the back of her head toward the stir-fried cold noodle stall.
'No way. A good baby would never eat something so unsanitary… But it smells so good.'
Even Bai Jiao could feel it. She fished a tissue out of her bag and handed it to Ye Yunyun.
The three-and-a-half-year-old cub couldn't control her drool very well, and it dripped onto her aunt's shoulder.
'Will Auntie share a bite with me?'
Unfortunately, Bai Jiao had already asked Bai Xi before they came. The little cub couldn't eat this stuff; wontons and dumplings were the most she could handle.
But Ye Yunyun's craving was so strong her thoughts kept racing.
'What do stir-fried cold noodles taste like? Are they cold? But it's steaming, so why is it called "cold noodles"?'
Bai Jiao felt a pang of regret. Even though it wasn't safe to leave the little one in the car alone, she shouldn't have brought her along just to let her watch and smell but not eat. It was just too cruel.
She suddenly thought of the wonton shop not far away.
The owner was a middle-aged auntie with whom Bai Jiao had a year-long "wonton friendship."
"Boss, I'll be back for my ten orders in a bit!" Bai Jiao shouted, then turned and left with Ye Yunyun in her arms. She planned to ask the auntie to watch Ye Yunyun for a little while.
Once she entered the wonton shop, Bai Jiao realized she had miscalculated. The shop was packed, with not a single empty seat, and the auntie was busy.
The auntie was happy to see Bai Jiao. "Bai Jiao, here for some wontons? Is this your little sister?"
"She's my niece. I'm not eating today, Auntie. I was hoping I could borrow a spot to leave her for a bit. She's very well-behaved and won't run around," Bai Jiao said.
"Of course," the auntie said. "Take her upstairs."
She shouted toward the back, "Ah Chen, take these two little beauties upstairs to the air-conditioned room. You can take a break from work and keep the kid company."
Bai Jiao waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, I couldn't possibly. That wouldn't be right."
The auntie winked at her, then leaned in and whispered, "He's not a relative of mine. He's a kid from the neighborhood. His parents are neglectful, and he nearly starved to death. So he helps me out around here to pay for his meals. I feel for the boy and want him to get some rest."
"Don't be fooled by how tall and skinny he is. He doesn't talk much, but he's patient."
The auntie gave her an encouraging nod.
Bai Jiao understood and followed him upstairs.
Upstairs, there was only a bed and a few stools. Bai Jiao placed Ye Yunyun on one of the stools.
"Be a good girl and listen to the big brother here, okay? Don't run or move around."
'Got it.'
Bai Jiao kissed Ye Yunyun's soft, squishy cheek, then turned and pulled some candy and chocolate from her pocket (though it was actually from the space). "Here, you two kids can have this. If you can't finish it all, consider it payment from a big sister for looking after the little one."
Ah Chen's voice was hoarse. "You don't have to. I don't have to work while I'm watching her, but the auntie will still pay me my usual wages. I'm already being compensated."
"That's different," Bai Jiao said, shaking her head. She leaned in closer and whispered, "Bao Bao is a little different from other kids. She's a bit... unresponsive. You'll need to put in more effort."
The moment she finished speaking, with a flick of her wrist, she stuffed the snacks into Ah Chen's pocket and scurried downstairs.
Ah Chen looked at the little baby opposite him. She was like a bouncy, chewy glutinous rice ball. Her two big eyes were like the brown sugar pearls in bubble tea, and her cherry-like mouth was set in a straight line as she stared at him motionlessly.
He felt a little awkward and shy. He took the initiative to step forward and ask, "Do you want a snack?"
After pausing for a few seconds, he added her name: "Bao Bao."
The little baby before him continued to watch him silently, like a pool of stagnant jade-green water.
Ah Chen vaguely sensed that something was off.
He thought for a moment, then proactively unwrapped a cheese stick and held it to Ye Yunyun's lips. "Does Bao Bao want to eat this?"
The second time he said "Bao Bao," it was much smoother.
But Ye Yunyun had already eaten several on the way here and was a little sick of them.
Faced with an unresponsive Ye Yunyun, his attitude remained pleasant. He put the cheese stick back in its wrapper and unwrapped a lollipop.
He tried a few more times in a row. It wasn't until he held a strawberry-flavored lollipop to her lips that Ye Yunyun finally opened her mouth and took it with one hand.
Meanwhile, Ah Chen started re-sealing the snacks he had opened.
'Isn't he going to eat any?' Ye Yunyun wondered.
Ah Chen was the kind of boy who always found work to do. He started mopping the floor, occasionally looking up at Ye Yunyun, who was sitting on the stool nibbling her lollipop.
Ye Yunyun soon grew restless. The small room had a window, and she walked toward it.
"What's wrong, Bao Bao? Do you want to see the view outside?" Ah Chen put down the mop and walked over to Ye Yunyun.
Ye Yunyun didn't answer, so he simply picked her up and carried her to the window.
This time, Ye Yunyun proactively reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.
On the back of his neck, she felt a familiar indentation.
Ye Yunyun's pupils contracted. That was the unique burn scar belonging to Wu Chen—the morally ambiguous Level 9 Superpower User from the apocalypse!