Chapter 86 Hehe!

After soaking in the comfortable hot spring and enjoying a delicious dinner, Yue Yiyue watched the cars rushing past downstairs and inexplicably felt like going for a walk outside.

The moment he looked at Gu Nanqiu, the other person stood up and handed him his coat: "Let's go."

The unspoken understanding, the lack of any ambiguous actions—it seemed their relationship had taken another step back.

Yue Yiyue took the clothes from the other person's hand: "Do you want to go too?"

"It's good for digestion after a meal." Gu Nanqiu slung her bag over her shoulder and checked the contents. "Let's check the phone battery; we might be back very late."

Perhaps it's the repressed backlash from the ghost stories that's making the streets so crowded tonight.

Huge posters were hung in the streets and alleys, celebrating their freedom and the start of discounts.

"I wonder if they've made any money these past few years, despite all their worries and anxieties?" Yue Yiyue asked curiously, since with Mu Hongcai's methods, the money would only end up in her hands.

And since she was just an outsider who only briefly participated in this rule copy, she didn't know the specific economic chain inside.

"Well, that depends on how it's set up," Gu Nanqiu said abruptly.

Yue Yiyue's mind was a little foggy; perhaps it was some kind of code related to the dungeon.

After all, she didn't remember everything, so it's normal that she doesn't know.

Yue Yiyue didn't take those words to heart. He held Gu Nanqiu's hand and walked along the street, stopping and starting, watching the bustling crowd and listening to the tunes playing from the shops.

Smelling a cake shop with a faint aroma, Yue Yiyue went inside to buy local specialties.

One for Mom, one for Ye Qiu, one for Director Qiu, and one for the forensic doctor, even though Yue Yiyue didn't know if they would actually get to her. Although he felt the forensic doctor wouldn't accept them, he still bought one for her.

Gu Nanqiu ordered two portions. Judging from the way she peeked out from outside the door, it was clear she really wanted to eat them.

After receiving it, Yue Yiyue opened one portion and fed it to Gu Nanqiu.

"I told you they were close, the tall one's eyes were always glued to the shorter one." The conversation between the two people standing next to him reached Yue Yiyue's ears.

"Huh? But I really want her, she's so beautiful—"

"You probably can't get it, right?"

"Shall I give it a try?"

"Alright?"

Gu Nanqiu ate a cookie and, without looking up, said as the figure approached, "I forgot my phone, so I won't add you."

"I haven't said anything yet." The person who wanted it said, shamelessly, "You're so beautiful, how about I write mine down for you?"

"No need," Gu Nanqiu refused again.

The other person sighed: "Okay, sorry to bother you. Also, you really are very beautiful."

After saying that, he walked away with a grin.

Yue Yiyue stared blankly at the crystal-clear jade bracelet on the other person's hand.

"Yiyue, that cookie flavor is delicious, you should try it too." Gu Nanqiu held up a yellow cookie between her fingers and waved it in front of Yue Yiyue: "Try it?"

"Really? I'll try it." Yue Yiyue snapped out of his reverie, biting into the small cookie. It was crisp and tasted quite good. "If we come here again next time, let's eat here again. Where do we go now?"

"I don't know." Gu Nanqiu shrugged. "Let's just wander around and look at things. If you'd like, we can try what it's like to spend the night in a foreign place."

Yue Yiyue was genuinely tempted by the suggestion. She put her phone back in her pocket and said, "Let's skip staying up all night, but we can find a place anywhere to celebrate the New Year."

"Tomorrow is the new year." Yue Yiyue looked out the window at the vendors walking by with different New Year's balloons. "Eat and drink well outside!"

“But we can’t go to the dock.” City A is located by the sea, and the winter sea breeze is still unusually cold. Yue Yiyue is not particularly afraid of the cold, but he is still worried that Gu Nanqiu will get a headache from the cold.

"Will you lead the way? Or shall we go to a crossroads and play rock-paper-scissors, the winner deciding the direction?"

Yue Yiyue won five games in a row and led Gu Nanqiu into an alley, startling the cats inside who leaped across the walls and rooftops.

Looking at the shops that were still lit but closed, Yue Yiyue muttered to himself, "Damn it, I really shouldn't have just looked at the lights. I shouldn't have hesitated just now."

Gu Nanqiu looked up at the shop sign: "This is a pork chop rice restaurant. Let's come and eat here tomorrow?"

“Okay.” Yue Yiyue pulled Gu Nanqiu outside: “That doesn’t count. I’m withdrawing one option and going the other way!”

After another round of rock-paper-scissors, the two went into the record store. Among the dazzling array of CDs and records, Yue Yiyue was pleasantly surprised to see vinyl records of his favorite singer.

After much hesitation, Gu Nanqiu ordered a record player and also bought the colored vinyl, black vinyl, and transparent vinyl copies of the singer's new album.

He mentioned that there was a corner in his room that was perfect for storage and display, and then casually picked up this singer's old vinyl record.

They called it neat and tidy.

In the next round, Yue Yiyue won. To the left was a shop selling homemade dolls. Cute handmade dresses and chubby stuffed dolls hung on the wall, along with a display of birth certificates.

Yue Yiyue tugged at Gu Nanqiu's sleeve.

An hour and a half later, the two of them came back with a bag containing a cat and a dog. The world now has a cat plush toy named Gu Gu and a dog plush toy named Yue Yue.

After a few more rounds, the two arrived at an unnamed square.

I casually emptied the last three bouquets of flowers from the little girl who was selling flowers to supplement her family's income. I also slipped her a somewhat childlike book that I had just bought at the bookstore, along with some money, so she could buy herself a warm loaf of bread to warm her hands.

The little girl smiled and jumped towards Yue, waving.

Yue Yiyue waved the flowers in his hand and said earnestly, "Thank you for bringing such beautiful flowers in winter!"

Gu Nanqiu took the flowers from Yue Yiyue's hands and waved to the little girl, imitating Yue Yiyue's gesture.

The little girl skipped and hopped towards the subway entrance.

Yue Yiyue felt a little melancholy. She used to often encounter kind people who would help her clear out the leftovers from her sales, which gave her time to learn some knowledge from the grandmothers.

Now she is able to help other children, which is great.

Although it wasn't my own money that was being spent.

Once the scholarship money comes in, I can buy my mom a jade bracelet as a thank-you gift.

Yue Yiyue did exactly what he was thinking. After winning the next round, he grabbed Gu Nanqiu's hand and ran into the jade shop.

Twenty minutes later, Gu Nanqiu touched the bracelet on her wrist and followed behind Yue Yiyue.

Yue Yiyue was carrying a small, packaged box in his other hand.

The jade artifacts here are so beautiful that Yue Yiyue felt he would never encounter them again if he missed them.

Yue Yiyue thought guiltily that it wouldn't be a problem to deposit the money later.

Yes, no problem.

Even as it approached eleven o'clock, the streets were still packed with people. Yue Yiyue held Gu Nanqiu's hand tightly, afraid of getting separated from her.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Yue Yiyue overheard people nearby excitedly saying that a New Year's Eve celebration was taking place in the square ahead.

"Let's go back." Yue Yiyue looked up at Gu Nanqiu and said loudly.

The sound was drowned out by the exclamation, so Gu Nanqiu had to pull Yue Yiyue into her arms and ask in his ear, "What?"

"Let's go back." Yue Yiyue tiptoed slightly and whispered in Gu Nanqiu's ear again, "Let's go back to the hotel. It should be an hour's walk back, right?"

"Yes, you can."

————

The hotel lights came on, and Gu Nanqiu went into the room first, put her coat aside and hung it up, then went into the bathroom.

Yue Yiyue looked at the figure behind the frosted glass of the bathroom and tidied up the shopping bags scattered on the floor.

Gu Nanqiu was quite capable; he led her through a small alley, and they arrived in twenty minutes.

I also bought two bottles of low-alcohol cocktails at a convenience store.

The person next to her called her Little Sweet Water.

Yue Yiyue put the things down, took out his phone, and laid the kitten he had just brought back on the sofa. He first asked his mother what she was doing and whether she was resting.

He then replied to Liu Mingdian's advance blessing message.

Yu An sent me new photos; it's of her at the square she just visited, looking like she's about to join in the fun.

Thinking that it might be difficult to get a taxi after the New Year and that it would be inconvenient to go back, Yue Yiyue gave a reminder.

After learning that the other party was riding a small electric scooter, Yue Yiyue switched to his chat window with his mother.

"Baby, you spent money today, that's great!"

Looking at the latest pop-up window, Yue Yiyue's gaze fell on the jade bracelet next to him. The bracelet was said to be made of a good material.

Yue Yiyue didn't know much about these things, but the moment she saw it, she knew it was perfect for her mother.

Although she has not yet officially met her mother.

After sending a shy puppy emoji, Yue Yiyue got to the point she wanted to ask.

"Mom, will you spend Chinese New Year with me next time?"

"Yes, baby, do you miss me?"

"That's great," Yue Yiyue thought, looking at the message on her phone. She had a mother.

Although they are only separated by the internet, she now has a mother.

"Yes, I really want to," Yue Yiyue replied. "Then, Mom, would you be willing to spend the New Year in a different place?"

"Yiyue, it's your turn to take a shower—" Gu Nanqiu, wearing a white bath towel and lazily drying her hair, walked out of the bathroom amidst steaming mist.

The comfortable room temperature made her sink into the sofa beside her, saying, "You squashed my kitten."

A message from Mom popped up: "Okay, wherever you are, that's home, baby. Get some rest and go take a shower."

"Okay, okay." Yue Yiyue replied with a cute puppy emoji before disappearing into the bathroom.

Having already washed in the hot spring, Yue Yiyue simply took a shower and rinsed his mouth.

After spitting out the foam in his mouth, Yue Yiyue remembered that he was going to drink some sweet water later.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I never knew I could live like this.

No need to lie in a cramped room worrying about whether the 15-yuan birdcage will catch fire, nor to rack your brains to find discounts, and then go out to be exposed to the cold wind the next day.

From initially only buying discounted pasta, to now readily purchasing bracelets worth tens of thousands of yuan.

After you buy it, you'll be praised for spending your money well.

Thinking of this, Yue Yiyue's eyes gradually moistened, and the things in front of him began to blur.

The unattainable figure in the novel, the one who provided her with spiritual support, was right outside the room.

In reality, they had already crossed paths, and could even be said to be in love.

Although this world is full of dangers, there are always all kinds of people who will help you.

Along with another world, Aunt Zhang, whose soul was imprisoned in a certain ghost story instance because of protecting her, gradually regained her senses and is now able to leave.

The new year is almost here.

As the countdown began, Yue Yiyue paused for a moment before rushing into the bedroom.

A person dressed in a light silk nightgown leans lazily and elegantly against the window, overlooking the bustling city night view.

Hearing the voice behind her, Gu Nanqiu took a sip of the red wine beside her, turned around, and held the glass to Yue Yiyue's lips: "Yiyue, Happy New Year—"

Outside the window, dazzling fireworks burst open.