"Yes……"

The old magician smiled slightly, his gaze towards Xiao He filled with the same curiosity.

"Can you tell me why you're unwilling to exchange the doll you have?" he asked without any hesitation.

“Because the person who gave it to me is very important,” Xiao He explained.

“Yes, I’ve got it.” The old magician nodded. “If, I mean if, one day you don’t want it anymore, you can come back to me, and I’ll still take the doll.”

"..."

“Don’t be surprised. Things here are never traded on the first try. More often than not, it’s the second or third time… before their owners are willing to exchange with me,” the old magician said with a profound smile.

"If it's no longer needed, and we've already given it up anyway, then what's the point of the exchange?" Xiao He asked, puzzled.

"The significance lies in..." the old magician paused, "You can exchange it for a more painful story, and thus discover that your own pain is nothing. That is the meaning of this shop's existence."

"Will it definitely happen?" Xiao He asked.

Yes, there must be.

The room fell silent again, except for the girl in the music box spinning lightly.

Before the two could continue speaking, Xiao Ai pushed open the door and walked in.

"I want to change it."

"Welcome, what would you like to order?" The old magician was not surprised at all.

“Let’s replace it with this music box,” Xiao Ai said calmly.

"What should we use to exchange it?"

Use this.

After saying that, Xiao Ai tucked her hair behind her ear and took off her only earring without any hesitation.

A glint seemed to flash in the old magician's glasses.

He stared at the earring for a long time, then gave a somewhat stiff smile.

"It can be changed."

Upon hearing his promise, Xiao Ai did not reply.

She bypassed the stunned Xiao He, picked up the music box directly, and placed the earring back in its original position, without the old magician needing to do anything.

"Huh? Just like that, it was changed?" Xiao He didn't understand, as if questioning his casualness.

"Hahahaha... I like young people who dare to make choices..." The old magician stroked his beard and laughed loudly, even though his stiff face was not suited to excessive expressions.

Xiao He was completely bewildered: "No? How could you tell she was making a choice?"

"I can't tell you that," the old magician shook his head, refusing to answer Xiao He's question for the first time.

"Fine." Xiao He shrugged. It seemed she wouldn't be able to take anything from this store.

No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than Xiao Ai turned around and handed the music box to her.

"This?!" Xiao He looked up in surprise.

Seeing this, the old magician did not react at all.

Since the music box already belongs to Xiao Ai, she can do whatever she wants with it, and giving it away is perfectly fine.

"If you like it, I'll give it to you," Xiao Ai said indifferently.

"Why?" Xiao He was full of questions. Had she recognized him? But if she had recognized him, shouldn't he be even less likely to give her a gift?

"There's no reason why, let's just consider it making friends," Xiao Ai replied.

"Well……"

Hearing this reason, Xiao He was certain she hadn't recognized him: "Then... thank you... if there's anything you want on this street, I can buy it for you..."

“Okay, let’s go.” Xiao Ai said decisively, her elegant demeanor always carrying a hint of aloofness.

Holding a plush toy in one arm and a music box in the other, Xiao He turned to greet the old magician and followed her out of the shop...

-

"My name is Xiao Ai."

“Uh, I…you can call me Polis, or you can call me Xiao He…”

"Xiao He?!"

Xiao Ai's memories were suddenly unlocked, and she looked at Xiao He with shock in her eyes.

Xiao He walked awkwardly beside her, but unsure if there was any need to explain, he cleverly took out his student ID from Nuojin Academy.

Looking at the name on the student ID, Xiao Ai paused, "He... Xiao He..."

“Yes, Xiao He.” Xiao He nodded repeatedly, regardless of her interpretation.

The two walked side by side down the narrow street as if taking a stroll.

Perhaps because of Xiao He's academic record and her birthplace, "Saintess Polis," Xiao Ai temporarily dispelled her doubts about her.

"I never expected you to be a student at the Higher Academy..."

"Well, what about you?" Xiao He asked knowingly.

"I graduated from Cloud Academy." Xiao Ai's tone revealed neither joy nor sorrow.

"Oh." Xiao He nodded.

Then, the two fell into a new silence.

Xiao He didn't know why she would befriend him, nor could he see that she had any ulterior motives. He simply remained silent to avoid saying too much and making a mistake.

As the two were about to leave the alley, Xiao Ai broke the awkward silence.

"Xiao He, may I be so bold as to inquire about your elementalist level?"

"Yes, I am a god-level priest."

"...God-level?"

Xiao Ai stopped in her tracks, looking at the girl in front of her with a puzzled expression.

"Really?" she asked again, uncertainly.

Xiao He nodded heavily, his expression serious.

"..."

Xiao Ai could only keep her suspicions to herself, then changed the subject: "Are you just browsing around?"

"I suppose so," Xiao He replied honestly. "I came to buy some gifts for a friend and also to see if there are any good materials available."

She had already put the plush doll and music box into her backpack, and was casually swinging her hands around her sides.

"Buying a gift... Have you bought your gift yet?" Xiao Ai asked, glancing sideways.

"More or less," Xiao He said vaguely.

"Should it be a gift for a boy or a girl? Do you need my help in deciding?"

"I've already bought the gift for the girl, but I'm still missing the one for the boy."

Hearing her explanation, Xiao Ai couldn't help but recall the scene in the store: "Was that music box just now a gift for a girl?"

"Yes, I think she should like it." Xiao He spread her hands. This was the first time she had bought a gift for Dai Lele because she didn't have money before.

Xiao Ai nodded silently.

As for that music box, although it carries a lot of heavy meaning, if it is held by someone who is free from pain and full of sunshine, it will not affect their mental state.

After all, its function is merely to evoke emotional resonance.

"So, all that's left is a gift for the boy?"

"Yes."

"Just friends or boyfriend?" Xiao Ai asked casually.

“Uh…” Xiao He scratched his head: “Neither, it’s my husband.”

"What?!"

Xiao Ai's perception of Xiao He was completely overturned, and she even began to involuntarily doubt her age.

Although he looks only eighteen or nineteen, and getting married at eighteen is quite normal, considering the fact that he's a "god-level priest"...

It might be an ancient monster that has lived for hundreds of years!