Chapter 333

One Hundred and Forty-Second Page – Gift Giving (Part 2)

“Calling her a witch? That’s unbelievable… If you explain it with magic tricks, I might even be able to listen.”

Even after witnessing Yuzu transform from a “rat” into a human, this elderly gentleman still couldn’t accept my explanation, circling around Yuzu twice as if to confirm that she truly existed and wasn’t just a figment of his imagination due to old age.

Indeed, as people grow older, they tend to rely more on experience, making them less adaptable to new things.

—“No, I think those who can accept it right away should go see a brain specialist.”—

Yuzu also cooperated with my story, setting up a temporary identity for herself.

“Old grandpa, I really am a witch! I turned into a small animal just to hide my identity. And that’s not a rat, it’s a marten!”

Actually, it was a weasel.

But Yuzu always insists she is a marten.

“Marten? Oh!”

Grandpa Tuohai seemed to understand something, exclaiming in realization, “Oh! So the famous Huang Daxian is actually a witch?”

Huang Daxian is another name for a weasel. The old man didn’t understand anything and made Yuzu furious.

“I’m not that stinky creature!”

To belittle her wild relative, Yuzu added, “Even if I’m a pet, I’m very precious!”

The old gentleman’s brows lifted again.

“So witches aren’t humans turning into animals, but animals turning into humans? Uh, fairies?”

“Humans, of course I’m a human!”

I pulled the increasingly suspicious Yuzu behind me and said, “Cough, cough, Grandpa Tuohai, Yuzu can’t reveal her identity as a ‘witch.’ It could be explosive for modern society. Please keep this secret and don’t mention what you saw.”

Despite my sincere request, he smiled and shook his head.

“Regardless of whether this is true or not, if I were to tell such strange things, people would just think I’m crazy or have early signs of dementia. No one would believe me.”

Modern people generally hold materialistic beliefs. Unless they see it with their own eyes, they instinctively deny the existence of witches and similar supernatural phenomena.

“You used to be a well-known public figure, so you must have some social influence, right?”

“I’m old now. Unlike stars who stand in front of cameras every day, few people outside the industry know me, an old man.”

Grandpa Tuohai was modest, but no one would really consider him old.

Sister Miāomiāo’s first mini-concert was held at his store, attracting many talent scouts from entertainment agencies and media. These people came for his reputation; otherwise, who would pay attention to a girl singing in a bar?

But Grandpa Tuohai had no airs, his demeanor like an old man playing chess by the village shop, and fortunately, he was easy to talk to, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble.

—”This is my responsibility; I failed to keep watch… I switched screens to AJ’s side.”—

Switching screens, are you playing a game?

—”Actually, I’m more like a security guard in the monitoring room.”—

So did AJ and Sister Zǐ part ways?

—”They bid farewell to Miss Zelda and left Tony Yang’s fashion store together, but AJ didn’t go straight home. She seems to be strolling around the commercial area with Sister Zǐ.”—

Although the modeling career was temporarily saved, the pressure of pregnancy was still significant. I hope Sister Zǐ can properly counsel her…

—”However, judging from their direction, they seem to be heading towards the Balance Night Market.”—

Eh? Really?

—”Xia Lu took us through that back door before. Whether returning to the low-rent apartment or the office building where AJ rents, it’s close. I think their destination is there.”—

The circular square is a necessary path to enter the Balance Night Market. If they come from the underground street, they will definitely pass here. Then, my absence from the research institute to loiter here would be exposed!

—”Hmph, Lin Zǐyè must be very angry now. It’s already half past two, and you haven’t gone to the research institute~”—

Why are you talking about it so nonchalantly? Bringing us to Kamahamaha was your idea too!

—”It’s not my fault! I didn’t know Lin Zǐyè would come and challenge us.”—

Do I have a 100% chance of getting involved in incidents?

—”It’s fine, I’ll keep an eye on AJ’s situation for you.”—

Cherry Sauce’s words relieved me. At least I’d get a warning before being discovered.

On the other side, Grandpa Tuohai was still observing the “witch.”

“…Oh? Are these furry ears real?”

“Of course! But you can only look, not touch!”

Yuzu’s ears and tail weren’t decorations. Confirmed by Grandpa Tuohai, he finally accepted the existence of witches.

“What an eye-opener! I’ve lived for many years and never seen anything like this… little witch?”

Tucking her tiny tail back in place, Yuzu continued, “Witches have been in seclusion for many years, but our numbers aren’t few. In your lifetime, you’ve met many people. I bet some of them were witches.”

Yuzu enjoyed performing and winked at me after fooling the old man.

I jokingly suggested, “Yuzu, perform another transformation into a marten for the old man?”

“No way! Transformations are troublesome! But hurry up and take out my perfume and pendant!”

Even after being caught by Grandpa Tuohai, Yuzu still remembered her payment.

While rummaging in her bag, I asked, “So, did you come to call us back, Grandpa?”

“Oh, yes, I’m old and forgetful…”

Grandpa Tuohai patted his forehead when discussing the matter.

“Your brother Shen Yang seems to be looking for you. I noticed you coming this way, so I came over to check.”

Checking, he happened to catch Yuzu transforming.

Xiao Lei and I exchanged glances and asked, “What does the manager want with me?”

“I don’t know what it’s about.”

Grandpa Tuohai shrugged, leaving me confused.

But Cherry Sauce had a guess:—”Lǐ Jiànlián’s holy marks are used up, right? Although not as long as Little Miss Jie, he hasn’t replenished his holy marks for a while, so he asked the manager to find you.”—

It has been weeks since the last replenishment. Why did he use up his holy marks if he didn’t work?

—”Lǐ Jiànlián is also a healthy high school student. Who says he must use holy marks in Kamahamaha?”—

Cherry Sauce’s statement was intriguing…

Cough! Whatever the holy marks are used for is the senior student’s freedom. Let’s not delve into private matters!

—”The current holy mark system is still inconvenient. We need a way to replenish remotely. Do you think poking them with a finger would work?”—

Hey! That sounds painful. How are you going to remove it?

“Here, the perfume.”

Finally, I found the gift box in the bottom of my backpack, but Yuzu snatched it away happily before I could hand it over.

“Hey, basic manners, right?”

“Thanks, Xiao Kai. I’m happy!”

She didn’t even look at me…

“It’s called ‘Bonfire,’ a wooden scent, similar to Sister A’s bottle… Of course, the price difference might be quite large.”

Yuzu opened the gift packaging in front of me. Besides the 799 yuan 200ml perfume, the salesperson included a 5ml sample, which was the miniature bottle she gave me to try. However, the color of the perfume in the bottle wasn’t that amber.

Finally receiving her payment, Yuzu happily put the perfume in her pocket, leaving only the sample.

I wonder where the perfume will go when she transforms back into a marten…

“The price doesn’t matter. Saying it’s a thousand yuan for a high-end perfume is just to prevent you from buying cheap stuff from the supermarket… (sniff) I really like this scent!”

“By the way, there’s this.”

I handed over the pendant too. Compared to the perfume, the pendant’s packaging was much simpler, but Yuzu was still happy, even blushing slightly.

She cupped her face and said, “Xiao Kai is so good at pleasing me. Does that mean you like me too?”

“It’s because it didn’t meet the agreed price, so I made up for it. Though it’s not valuable, I bought it with determination. Please accept it with gratitude!”

“Mmm! Xiao Kai, you’re so nice.”

Yuzu opened her arms to hug me, but Xiao Lei, being a jealous person, wouldn’t let her. She wore the bright red carnelian pendant, squeezing between me and Yuzu.

“Without my approval as your girlfriend, you can’t hug Chairman!”

In the end, Yuzu hugged her instead, whispering in Xiao Lei’s ear, “Don’t worry, Yuzu and Xiao Kai can never be together~”

Yuzu put on the pendant herself.

It was a water-drop shaped moon quartz, with a faint moon white hiding a grayish-blue hue.

“How beautiful! I’ll cherish it!”

Xiao Lei asked, “What colors are Lǐn Huā and Lù Zǐ’s pendants?”

“For Lǐn Huā, it’s obsidian, and for Zǐ, it’s tiger’s eye.”

Xiao Lei pinched her dyed hair tips and glanced at Yuzu’s grayish-white hair.

“Did you choose the pendants based on hair color?”

“Yes, it’s obvious!”

Although I wanted to give Orange one too, I couldn’t find an orange pendant. The legitimate citrine in jewelry stores was too expensive. I glanced at the price tag and quickly left the store.

“Cough.”

Grandpa Tuohai stood there for a long time and finally couldn’t help but speak.

“I don’t understand your young people’s relationships, but can we hurry up?”

“Oh! We’ll go right now! Let’s go!”

——————

Back at the circular square.

Xiao Lei and Yuzu both wore their pendants, showing them off proudly like two school kids, but soon felt disappointed when no one asked about them.

“Manager, heard you wanted to see me?”

Turtle Sage shook his head, “Not me. It’s Qiuluo who wants to see you. She and Calamus are waiting for you downstairs in the garage.”

I was stunned, “Hmm? Then why didn’t she just call me directly?”

“How should I know why she didn’t call you directly?”

Manager Shen Yang shrugged, “And she didn’t call me either. She first notified Xiao Qing, who then told me. I asked Brother Tuohai to find you, and then you came over. That’s all.”

I looked at Senior Student Longkui, who nodded to confirm the manager’s words.

Tsk, what a roundabout way.