Chapter 124: Good brother Arigato Jinping Oni-chan.

Chaomu was so surprised because he looked at the calendar.

She didn't think her memory was wrong. After all, whether it was when she was planting or when she was banned from Sicily by Reborn, she clearly remembered checking the calendar. According to the calendar on her phone, yesterday should have been May 7th. The debuff and ban of the Truth Bullet should last until around the 10th.

But at this moment, she opened her phone and clicked on the calendar, and the time on it was indeed November 3rd.

Is this some weird bug? A time jump? While I've seen games with unclear time flow and automatically skipping to holiday events, a game like Trash Can King that automatically saves on a daily basis shouldn't have this kind of setting.

She immediately opened the complaint feedback interface and began bombarding customer service: "Shouldn't such an obvious and serious bug that disrupts players' farming plans be compensated? Shouldn't they give her a ten-pulling combo or a mirror... oh, no mirror? A cosmetic item would be fine too." Her demands weren't high; just the most expensive Dragon Girl skin in the store would be fine.

The customer service response is still very quick.

Dear player, the issue you reported about the "six-month time jump" is actually normal in this game. When a special event is triggered, the game time will jump. This is a setting of the game world itself.

Since the special event you triggered isn't part of the main storyline and isn't related to the player's gameplay route, it won't affect your planting. Therefore, the system didn't notify you of the event triggering. We apologize for the inconvenience. The development team has prepared a compensation of 1,000 Raccoon Coins for you. Please accept it via email. Thank you for your understanding.

Chaomu: “…………?”

Huh? Is this setting actually normal? And why is it thanking you for your understanding... Did she understand?

And she's quietly wandered off to some special side quest... She doesn't have all the items for that past dungeon she was talking about with Shen Er? That dungeon was supposed to go back in time, but now it's skipped ahead a bit... Strange. Let's take another look.

But after seeing the 1,000 Raccoon Coins in the mailbox, the player quietly canceled the complaint and decided to be a kind old mother and forgive the unfilial son.

But it's only temporary forgiveness. If you give her two thousand more Raccoon Coins, she will lose her memory on the spot - or you can give her some kind of appearance pendant, she doesn't care.

The short-haired girl stared at her phone for a long time. From Hagiwara and Matsuda's perspective, she was staring at the calendar in a daze, as if she had not realized the change of time at all.

"So you really don't have any concept of time or seasons..." Matsuda's eyes fell on her slightly thin gray hoodie, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. "Don't you feel the temperature drop?"

"No..." Chaomu came back to his senses and said hesitantly, "Maybe it's because... I have a better physique?"

Although the game's settings were quite realistic, she hadn't seen any overly cold or overheating debuffs so far, and the perceived temperature seemed fine... so it seemed like the seasons had been blurry for the past few months she'd been in the game...

"Maybe I'm just insensitive in that regard?" Hagiwara Kenji was also a little helpless, pinching his chin in thought. "A physique that's not afraid of cold or heat... in a sense, it's a bit enviable."

Although he had realized that Chaomu was not very interested in dressing up except for work purposes, and that she seemed to be wearing the same outfit every time he saw her, he was still a little surprised when he really confirmed that she didn't seem to have any other seasonal clothes.

If you think about it carefully, in the absence of parental guidance, children will actually go through a stage where they don't quite understand what kind of clothes to wear to keep warm at what temperature, nor do they know how to match their clothes... It's just that this situation is more common among Japanese men. It seems that there are also several colleagues in the virgin explosion team who still let their wives match their clothes after marriage, and they don't care at all.

Chaomu's situation is special, and it's completely understandable that he lacks common sense in some aspects...but it really makes me feel completely uneasy.

Kenji Hagiwara always feels that he has more and more problems to worry about.

"It's okay during the day... but at night the temperature difference is huge and it drops to a low point. I still need to buy a thicker coat." He thought for a moment and quickly made a decision. He pushed Chaomu's shoulders and prepared to take her to the shopping mall upstairs. "Let's go shopping for some clothes. Consider it my early Christmas present to little Chaomu. Little Zhenping just said a while ago that he didn't know what to get you for Christmas, so let's pick some out together this time."

Since Christmas was still over a month away, Matsuda Jinpei hadn't actually mentioned the matter. But since Kojinran had said that, he'd been pleased, so he added, "Hagi just got a raise two days ago. It's a rare opportunity to eat at such a high table, so remember to choose the more expensive option."

"Eh? Xiao Zhenping and I had our salaries increased at the same time, right? Xiao Chaomu, you must not let him go—"

The two of them agreed, and the deal was finalized. Chaomu, before he could react, was dragged along, packed up, and into the elevator. He instinctively struggled, saying, "There's no need to spend that much money... I don't really care about the appearance..."

Why spend money on everyday fashion? If it were something like a dinosaur headgear, she'd be more tempted... But her everyday look wouldn't be as good as her current default look. Wearing it every day makes her feel more excited to rummage through the trash.

"You can't save money on this, Xiao Chaomu. Treating a cold will only cost more, right?" Hagiwara Kenji clearly misunderstood her intention and disagreed. "Appearance doesn't matter, the main thing is to focus on keeping warm."

"Some people say they're not cold, but they still feel a little chilly." Matsuda rested his hand on her shoulder and touched her neck. Feeling the coolness of her body temperature, he frowned slightly, but said ruthlessly, "Don't think you're stupid and won't catch a cold."

His body temperature was slightly higher than hers, and the heat from his large palm against hers caught Chaomu off guard and shuddered. She frowned and glared at him, only to see the tall, curly-haired young man suddenly realize what he had done and turn his head away, taking a half step back. He also removed his hand from her shoulder. "...Idiot, why are you looking at me like that?"

[Matsuda Jinpei felt a little embarrassed. 】

Chaomu: “…………?”

She hadn't even scolded him yet, but he was frightened by her gaze and stepped back guiltily?

Not understanding why he suddenly looked away, she put on her hood and hid the back of her neck in her collar to prevent him from launching another sneak attack. "I'm thinking Matsuda-kun probably doesn't have a cold himself, otherwise he wouldn't know such a niche knowledge as idiots can't catch colds."

Matsuda, who had instinctively turned his head away just now, turned back instantly, cracked his knuckles and said expressionlessly, "It's better than being an idiot who can't even remember the seasons."

"Then Matsuda-kun is even more stupid."

"You're the fool."

This elementary school-level argument drew strange looks from the couples nearby who were shopping for clothes. Hagiwara Kenji had just been distracted by texting his sister about women's clothing brands suitable for young girls when he turned back to see the two of them arguing on the side of the road. For a moment, he felt like he was taking a child to the supermarket.

"...In terms of the vocabulary they use in arguments, little Chaomu and little Zhenping are pretty evenly matched rivals." He helplessly pulled the two bickering children apart with one hand each. "Alright, alright, stop arguing... Anyway, let's go check this place out first?"

Chaomu snorted, temporarily abandoning the confrontation with the curly-haired NPC who had the audacity to call the player an idiot, and quickened her pace towards Hagiwara. Hagiwara half-pushed, half-coaxed her into the nearby women's clothing store, casting a slightly accusing glance at his young son, "Why are you still throwing a tantrum with someone else's child?"

Matsuda Jinpei: “…………?”

He glared back with an even more accusing look: How old is she? Still calling her a child? Besides, he felt that he was just fighting back reasonably - Hagi was a little too indulgent with that brat.

But even though he glared, Matsuda had to admit that he felt a little guilty. He followed behind with one hand in his pocket, his eyes sweeping over the pile of pink furry coats hanging on the rack. He suddenly remembered the short-haired girl who had jumped back in surprise when he touched her neck.

…like a rabbit. A gray rabbit. A wild rabbit that hurts people when they bite.

He had only wanted to check her temperature, and hadn't really thought much about it when he reached out his hand. Seeing her reaction so violently, he belatedly realized that he was dealing with a girl, and that touching her like that was... inappropriate.

The girl had already run to Hagiwara without hesitation, leaving him behind. The curly-haired young man rubbed his nose uncomfortably, feeling that it was strange that he was still struggling.

He trailed behind, silent for a moment. Hagiwara Kenji didn't notice anything unusual about Koujunran either—he was concentrating on looking at the row of coats, lost in a brief moment of thought.

"This beige cashmere coat should be about the same thickness... but I don't think it's very stain-resistant." He held the hanger and gestured in front of Chaomu. "What do you think, little Chaomu? Do you like it?"

Chaomu had come to terms with it. Why should she save money for the NPC? Wasn't this essentially a free cosmetic? She'd have to give it away.

Especially the evil curly-haired guy, she would definitely drain his wallet and let him know the price of offending her.

She saw the coat in Hagiwara Kenji's hand, glanced at the tag, and felt that it would be a bit painful to overcharge him. In addition, she really didn't like this style very much, so she said frankly, "It's just okay. It doesn't seem to be very resistant to dirt."

Kenji Hagiwara thought so too.

The nature of Chaomu's job meant she had to crawl around cleaning, so a light-colored coat probably wouldn't suit her. Even if he half-heartedly wanted to pick her a casual outfit for everyday shopping, considering she probably wasn't interested, he'd rather buy something more practical.

He took Chaomu to another store, and after choosing for a long time, he finally decided on a black windbreaker and also picked out a set of inner wear for her to try.

Nearby, another couple was trying on clothes, and the young man sat outside, looking impatient, playing with his phone. Hagiwara casually put his arm around Yujinran's shoulder, his lips curled slightly as he lowered his voice, "I have a feeling that if Jinpei-chan gets into a relationship, it'll probably be something like this... But if it's Jinpei-chan, he's probably reporting back to the police force."

He knew that Matsuda didn't care much for fashion and was more practical, rarely going out shopping for leisure. In such an occasion, Matsuda would inevitably feel a little bored.

Matsuda put his hands in his pockets and looked at the edge of the door curtain: "If there is no need for an emergency police dispatch, it won't take a little time."

This answer surprised Hagiwara a little.

"That's right." He touched his chin. "I was just disappointed with Xiao Zhenping's emotional intelligence in this area... As for you, you can be considerate of girls sometimes."

Matsuda glanced at him in confusion: "I just thought that kid should change clothes quickly and won't make me wait too long."

Hagiwara: “…Puff.”

He was about to say that even if it was morning or evening, trying on clothes, changing clothes, and getting dressed took time, and it wasn't something that could be done in a flash. But before he could say anything, within a minute, the dressing room curtains were swiftly drawn aside, and a short-haired girl emerged in thick-soled Martin boots, her hair perfectly even.

Hagiwara Kenji was shocked: "How fast...!"

That would definitely be fast - after all, players can change their appearance by just clicking one button to wear it, and there is no need to take care of the corners of clothes or struggle with all those messy zippers, buckles and belts.

Most games don't even consider how people dress in three-dimensional space when designing their uniforms; they simply silently pile on the details. Some gamers even pay extra for commissioning artists to create their own school uniforms, and if they really want to dress themselves, it can take over an hour just to get dressed every morning.

This kind of everyday outfit is actually quite easy to handle. After looking in the mirror, I was quite satisfied with the look: "Hagiwara-kun really has a good aesthetic sense. He is worthy of being the face of the Metropolitan Police Department and the popular little prince."

The black jacket had clean, simple lines, and was paired with high-waisted overalls and a light gray turtleneck sweater underneath. She reached in and rummaged through her pockets, quite pleased with the size of both her jacket and overalls. Although she kept most of her things in her backpack, it was still quite convenient to stash some of the items she needed in her pockets.

"I'm just adding the icing on the cake," Hagiwara Kenji said with a slight frown as he helped her adjust her hood. "I think this style suits you, Asami... What do you think, Jinpei?"

Matsuda raised an eyebrow and was about to answer when Chaomu spun around and leaped in front of him, standing on tiptoe. The girl's golden pupils stared straight into his eyes, her face full of the expression "Just try to tell me it's not pretty."

She was already tall, and the thick-soled Martin boots that Hagiwara Kenji had chosen made her even taller. She tiptoed up to the tip of his nose. Matsuda looked down and saw her sparkling eyes. He coughed lightly and looked away: "...Is it okay?"

It was okay to say that, and he was very straightforward when paying the bill.

Congratulations to the player for obtaining the appearance: Night Charge | Agility +20.

Chaomu carried the bag contentedly and stole a glance at the curly-haired young man who was clutching his wallet with a slight pain in his throat: "Hmph."

...childish ghost.

Matsuda couldn't help but knock her on the head. "After receiving a gift, you should at least say thank you, right? Why not say it in a nice way?"

"What's so nice... What do you want?"

Chaomu covered his forehead with his hands and grimaced, then suddenly straightened his back and said in a loud voice, "Arigato, Jinping-chan? I forgot the first part and the second part, but anyway, I like you second most."

Passersby cast strange glances at him. Matsuda Jinpei was so shocked by the sound that he took a step back, his eyes almost rolling up to the sky. "...Who is your brother... And why is he second favorite? Who is first?"

"Of course it's Kenji-niang—a good brother will buy me new clothes, right?" Chaomu casually grasped Hagiwara's arm and said in a rather sweet tone, "Kenji-niang?"

Hagiwara Kenji's face suddenly turned red: "......"

"I feel like Xiao Chaomu has suddenly become a bad kid tonight..." He coughed lightly and pushed her cheek away. "Even if you call me brother, I only have that much money, okay? You still have to think about my wallet..."

"That's fine? I'm not picky anyway."

The three of them walked through the corridor laughing and heading towards their next destination.

When passing by the glass windows in the corridor, Chaomu always felt a cold light flash in the corner of his eyes.

She suddenly looked up and looked at the building to the side, but in the pitch-black night, she didn't find the sudden light.

On the rooftop in the distance, knowing that she should not be able to see him, the cat-eyed young man who met her eyes through the sniper scope put away his gun almost as quickly as possible, pursed his lips and hid behind the wall.

[“What’s going on, Scotland?”] On the other side of the headset, Gin’s low, suppressed, and dangerous voice said, [“Have you been discovered?”]

The sniper codenamed Scotland readjusted his sights and exhaled softly: "...No, it's just my illusion."

His boss on the other end of the line snorted coldly: "You'd better cheer up. If the mission fails—you know the consequences."

After just a moment of adjustment, Midorikawa Jing's breathing had returned to normal.

"I don't need you to teach me, Gin." He raised his sniper rifle again, watching the three familiar figures disappear briefly from his sight. He said coldly, "I know what I'm doing."

Although he had heard Zero mention this before and was somewhat mentally prepared, when he actually saw it, he was still a little... surprised.

...Hagiwara, Matsuda, and Asamure... How come they happened to appear here together?

Does she have a good relationship with both of them?

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The author has something to say: I almost missed it, so I added some more content before posting it.

I went to open the Shuiyue special offer and saw the video of Shuiyue’s permanent control. When I closed my eyes last night, my mind started to repeat: “Three hundred and sixty-five miles~yo~across spring, summer, autumn and winter~”