Is shopping with a girl a very tiring thing?
That's not actually the case. Boys also have the idea of browsing stores on weekdays, such as various trendy toy stores, unique coffee shops... and some very exquisite bookstores.
But if no one accompanies you, going out alone always feels like something is missing.
What if a girl always asks you, 'Is this one good or that one good? Why aren't you saying anything? Do you not love me anymore?'
'Are you tired of me?'
Then shopping naturally becomes boring. Of course, this isn't anyone's fault; it's just a flawed example.
Yun Ming and Hong Dou's shopping trips aren't like that, because being together is already happy. They care more about each other than about shopping.
Even if they're just sitting there, spacing out bored... it still has a unique charm, doesn't it?
No need to say anything, as long as you are there, it's enough.
Hong Dou was even more so, but today she didn't plan to space out. She just wanted to hold Yun Ming's hand and walk through the entire Chenghui Flat.
But if nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will happen.
Just as Yun Ming was getting into the swing of things, a cute, white-haired loli pounced on him, and there was no stopping her.
It was as if she had found her long-lost father.
"Apprentice, we've been looking for you for a long time~"
"Hmm, who is this elder sister?"
Yi Xuan first threw herself into Yun Ming's arms, rubbing her face against him fiercely, she liked hugs, and then she noticed the dazed girl beside her.
Hong Dou: What the heck, did I just get brushed aside in a flash?!
Just as Yun Ming was thinking about how to introduce her, Second Senior Sister's voice rang out, "This elder sister is Hong Dou, the little proprietress of Yin Cha Xian~"
Following the direction of the voice, he saw the adorable Senior Sister Xiong Xiren, with a baby face and... big breasts. Ptooey, ptooey.
How could he think of our innocent and adorable Second Senior Sister like that?
In any case, she was indeed well-endowed, and Senior Sister Ke Ke even wore a figure-hugging outfit today. She must have snuck down the mountain without being seen by Senior Sister, otherwise Senior Sister definitely wouldn't have agreed.
She was worried that her silly girl would be targeted by others when she went down the mountain, and then be beaten to an eight-tenths discount.
"Apprentice~"
Yi Jiang also ran over innocently and adorably, greeting Hong Dou, but Yun Ming touched his ear.
No, he didn't mishear, did he?
What did this girl call him... Apprentice?
"What did you call me, Yi Jiang?"
"Apprentice, what's wrong? What else does Apprentice want me to call him?"
Yi Jiang looked puzzled, and even Hong Dou looked over in confusion. If not by this address between Apprentice and master, then what?
Yun Ming's face darkened, but he still pretended as if nothing had happened.
"It's nothing, I just think both Apprentices are unusually well-behaved today. They're usually quite rambunctious."
"Oh, right, you can call Hong Dou... elder sister."
"We'll each maintain our own relationship."
Hong Dou was noncommittal. Actually, she wouldn't mind if they didn't call her elder sister, for example, they could also call her Senior... erm, never mind, she's still young.
"Apprentice, why are you and Elder Sister Hong Dou holding hands?"
The sharp-eyed Yi Xuan spotted the key detail.
At this, everyone's gaze focused on them. Ke Ke blinked. Yes, why was Junior Brother holding Hong Dou's hand?
"She's cold..."
"I'm cold..."
Yun Ming and Hong Dou explained in unison, giving the same answer, yet Yun Ming was lightly stepped on.
"Apprentice, Elder Sister Hong Dou is stepping on you..."
The clever Yi Xuan, once again spotted the key detail!
If air had a color.
Then just now it was a somewhat ambiguous pink, now it must be the deep blue beneath the frozen North Sea, gradually plunging into darkness as the sun sets.
She blinked her eyes, looking up at everyone.
Apprentice had a dark expression, Hong Dou turned her head away without speaking, Senior Sister Ke Ke looked around for food, and Elder Sister covered her face.
Why isn't anyone speaking? Did she say something wrong?
She subconsciously shrank behind her elder sister, just like the first time they met, but this time she lowered her head as if she had done something wrong.
"I'm sorry..."
Yun Ming was startled, sensing the little girl's delicate feelings, he chuckled and shook his head, pulling the somewhat scared girl out and apologizing.
"Does Yi Xuan want to eat something delicious?"
"Can I?"
"Of course, Apprentice will take you all to eat something delicious~"
"And Yi Jiang, since you're so well-behaved today, if there's anything you want, feel free to tell Apprentice—"
The crowd was still bustling, but the two companions had become five, creating a lively atmosphere.
From east to west, from north to south.
From dusk till dawn.
The warm winter sun rose and set, and finally, the afterglow of the sunset fell on them, still retaining a hint of warmth.
The figures in the crowd gradually disappeared, leaving only a sparse single person, and that person was naturally Hong Dou, who insisted on coming along.
"Let's go back, Hong Dou."
"Okay, remember to come down the mountain after the New Year, I'll make red bean cakes for you all to eat~"
She held the scarf Yun Ming had given her, exhaling warm air, a smile gracing her lips... And so, the coach door closed with a hiss of steam.
It shut with a whoosh.
Departing from Lanhai Road, moving away from the girl who stood waving in place, for a long time, in the distance, there was still the unchanging blue sea.
Yun Ming still stood at the car door for a long time, then glanced at his phone screen. The wallpaper had been replaced with a group photo of several people.
He smiled helplessly, but his eyes were full of doting... The journey back was much quieter.
Ke Ke was drooling, holding a drooling girl in her arms. She leaned her head on Yun Ming's shoulder.
Like a carefree child, she didn't look like Yun Kui Mountain's Second Senior Sister at all.
Second Senior Sister is so cute, everyone says so.
Yun Ming thought so too.
He wiped the drool from her, and from that little girl Yi Xuan, then looked up to see that the entire car was filled with Yun Kui Mountain's Apprentices.
Most of them looked a bit tired, leaning on each other and falling asleep.
Tired birds returning home, it was time to go back to the mountain.
"Senior Brother..."
A faint whisper suddenly came to his ear. She murmured, seemingly out of fatigue or low spirits?
"What's wrong?"
"Can I hold your hand?"
"..."
Yun Ming turned his head, looking at the girl beside him.
The brilliant golden light spilled on her hair and the side of her face, giving a warm feeling. She slightly turned her body and also rested her head on Yun Ming's arm.
"Yi Xuan and Senior Sister Ke Ke both held it today..."
She said so.
It was like she was pouting, but her face showed only seriousness.
Yun Ming thought for a moment. This girl dared to kiss him directly; did she really need to ask to hold his hand? But perhaps... seeing so many reunited families on the street today, her heart was touched, but she just didn't show it.
Yi Jiang, was very strong-willed.
So, he felt that as her Apprentice.
He still needed to understand the true thoughts in his Apprentice's heart more, and actively show empathy.
Imparting knowledge, teaching skills, and resolving doubts is not just about cultivation.
It is also about cultivating the heart.
Therefore, Yun Ming clasped Yi Jiang's small hand.
Yi Jiang was very well-behaved, not moving around.
She closed her eyes deeply, and so Yun Ming also planned to rest for a while and sort out future matters.
The Orphanage's plea for help reminded him of an important character from a faction in the game, a pink-haired girl with big wavy hair.
Nicole Demara.
Her life story was nothing short of legendary.
A legendary figure who found a super-intelligent robot that passed the Forbidden Fruit test, the strongest experimental subject of artificial humans in the Defense Force, the adopted daughter of a certain gang boss, and who tricked the Hoshimi Family's demonic blade.
When she was young, she also lived in an Orphanage.
Coincidentally, she also had a friend suffering from Aether Erosion, who eventually died tragically because they couldn't gather enough money to buy a treatment suit... Thus, Nicole resolved to earn enough money, opened a jack-of-all-trades shop, and began a legendary life of finding hidden treasures.
When he saw that commission.
Yun Ming wondered, could it be such a coincidence?
Since he had already transmigrated, he didn't mind doing another good deed and accumulating some good karma.
As for Hui Jing Meike's commission, the workers were all on holiday, so that could wait until after the New Year. He indeed needed to enter the Void to test some ideas, and he had also received a message from Apprentice.
He said that people from the Hollow Investigation Association would come to connect with him soon, and they would probably arrange a task... to test his strength.
Then he certainly wouldn't disappoint these people. While it's wise to hide one's strength, sometimes it's also necessary to show one's full potential.
"Senior Brother, are you asleep?"
A small hand cupped Yun Ming's face, whispering.
"If you don't speak, I'll assume you're asleep."
As the delicate pink lips spoke, they pressed against him. Yun Ming happened to open his eyes, but it was too late.
Yi Jiang's face was also pink, perhaps it was warm in the car.
She met Yun Ming's gaze, showing no shyness at all, just giggling as she lay on Yun Ming's shoulder, getting closer and closer.
Until she whispered next to his ear.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother and Senior Sisters are all asleep..."
"This is today's bribe, Senior Brother, are you satisfied?"