Xiao Mei is an extremely diligent… tour guide.
When He Fang saw the exorbitant cost of the trip, he suddenly approached it with the mindset of getting his money’s worth. He never expected the price to be this high; even split among five people, it was still outrageously expensive.
He Fang had never truly been wealthy. Just thinking about how he scrimped and saved in the game to accumulate a little money, only to find that a visit to Angel City could be so costly, made his heart ache.
Xiao Mei meticulously explained the origins of the items, adjusting her level of detail based on He Fang’s expressions and reactions. Whenever He Fang drifted off, he would suddenly catch Xiao Mei watching him. Xiao Mei seemed to always be observing his eyes, as if trying to guess his preferences.
It was an uncomfortable feeling, especially when their gazes accidentally met. Xiao Mei would always respond with a subtle, fleeting smile. It wasn’t obvious, but it gave He Fang a strange sensation, like something was hidden within that smile.
At moments like these, Yuan Zhiran would laugh softly, lean down slightly, and whisper something into He Fang’s ear to divert his attention.
While Xiao Mei enthusiastically introduced the items, He Fang suddenly said, “Xiao Mei, we don’t need a guide. Can we just quietly look around on our own?”
Xiao Mei paused briefly, stopped walking, and looked at him pitifully. “Dear customer, have I said something that upset you?”
“No,” He Fang shook his head. He simply didn’t want to keep listening to what felt like constant commercials.
Although it’s understood that this is part of the game setting in “Ruins Without Restart”, Xiao Mei really comes across as an advertiser. Every introduction she gives feels like she’s putting all her effort into promoting their products, which actually makes He Fang feel repelled.
If it weren’t for the popularity of online shopping in the real world, he might have found it unbearable. Just imagining walking into a store and being greeted by an enthusiastic salesperson recommending clothes would immediately trigger a sense of physical discomfort.
After being rejected, Xiao Mei lowered her gaze, looking like she was about to cry. Her pure and aggrieved expression was quite pitiful, but unfortunately for her, she was facing five men who were utterly oblivious to such subtleties.
Seeing her reluctance to leave, He Fang asked with some confusion, “Is there some rule? Do you have to stay with us as a guide? Will your salary be docked if you don’t?”
Xiao Mei unconsciously twisted the hem of her white dress with her hands, her expression dazed. She lifted her head, trying hard to hold back her tears, and was just about to speak when Yuan Zhiran interrupted her.
“Apologies, but could you please leave us alone for a while?” Yuan Zhiran’s elegant, commanding voice cut through. His tall stature already gave him an imposing presence, and when facing the petite Xiao Mei, the pressure was even more pronounced. “You’ve been chattering non-stop, and it’s quite annoying. My partner and I came here for a date, not to listen to your unpleasant voice.”
Every word Yuan Zhiran spoke carried a strong sense of rejection, and Xiao Mei clearly felt it. The words she had been about to say—“Please let me try harder”—were mercilessly blocked.
Xiao Mei’s face turned slightly pale. She bowed deeply, her single braid falling straight down. “I’m very sorry for my poor service. I’ll quickly arrange for someone else to take over. May I ask if you have any specific requirements for a guide?”
“We don’t need any guide,” Yuan Zhiran said, casually linking arms with He Fang. Since He Fang was shorter, the gesture looked a bit awkward, but he clearly didn’t mind. “Miss Guide, since we’re here in Angel City for a tour, our safety is guaranteed here, right?”
Xiao Mei was momentarily stunned by Yuan Zhiran’s words, then nodded.
“Well then…” Yuan Zhiran turned to the three men trailing behind them and said, “You all should keep some distance from us, too. Just wander around freely. After all, my partner paid for your tickets, so give us some private space. What do you think, dear?”
He Fang was left speechless by Yuan Zhiran’s charming demeanor. Since Yuan Zhiran had said so, He Fang naturally agreed without hesitation.
“Please come with me,” Zhu Yan said, stepping in front of Xiao Mei. “I still need you to introduce all the plants here to me.”
Ye Sheng had no objections to this, but Chong Ying glared at Yuan Zhiran fiercely and resentfully, as if he wanted to devour him whole.
Yuan Zhiran, of course, didn’t bother to look back at Chong Ying. Instead, he leaned down and whispered something into He Fang’s ear, and the two of them exchanged knowing smiles. Xiao Mei, who was now walking away with Zhu Yan, couldn’t help but glance back. Her gaze accidentally met Yuan Zhiran’s, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if it was a coincidence or if he had been waiting for her to look.
“If it were Sai Gu, he’d probably have gathered plenty of information by now.” He Fang hadn’t actually said anything particularly significant to Yuan Zhiran, but he constantly maintained a smile to avoid arousing suspicion from those around them.
“No, Sai Gu would actually find it difficult to operate here,” Yuan Zhiran whispered to He Fang, his tone gentle and affectionate, like one would use with a lover, soft and tender enough to leave no room for doubt. Yet, the words themselves were entirely devoid of romance.
“Why?” He Fang asked, puzzled.
“Because everywhere around us, there are ‘eyes’.”
Yuan Zhiran’s words immediately clued He Fang in on the meaning: surveillance was everywhere. Yet, He Fang couldn’t spot any sign of cameras, not even in the straightforward passages where everything seemed visible at a glance.
No one could tell whether these surveillance systems monitored the flora and fauna or the visitors themselves.
Yuan Zhiran and He Fang appeared to be aimlessly wandering, but their path consistently led them toward the unmarked central area on the map. Surprisingly, no one stopped them.
Yuan Zhiran’s gaze drifted briefly to the side. They had arrived at what the map marked as the center—a transparent glasshouse. Unlike the other displays of exotic plants, this area housed ordinary, mixed vegetation arranged like a greenhouse. A clear “No Entry” sign was posted above it.
Yuan Zhiran’s eyes flickered with a sharp light as his hand gradually moved down He Fang’s arm, grasping his hand. Before He Fang had time to react, Yuan Zhiran suddenly pulled him toward the edge of the door.
He Fang froze, eyes wide, but quickly shut his mouth. No matter what, he trusted that Yuan Zhiran had his reasons.
He noticed Yuan Zhiran’s short golden hair forming a beautiful curve. At that moment, Yuan Zhiran deliberately raised his voice, smiling as he told He Fang, “This place truly looks stunning. Don’t you want to spend more time with me?”
He Fang’s eyes widened. Behind them was a locked glass door without a handle, likely automatic. As Yuan Zhiran leaned against the door, it suddenly opened.
Both He Fang and Yuan Zhiran fell backward, landing hard on the ground. He Fang felt Yuan Zhiran’s hand cushioning the back of his head. He suddenly realized that the door, which shouldn’t have opened, must have been tampered with by Yuan Zhiran.
“Are you okay, dear? I’m sorry, I didn’t know the door would suddenly open. Did you hurt yourself? Let me check.” Yuan Zhiran, looking genuinely panicked, got up and bent down to help He Fang up. He even tried to lift He Fang’s shirt to check for injuries.
“I’m fine, really. What about you? Are you okay?” He Fang, fully immersed in the act, reached for Yuan Zhiran’s hand, even attempting to remove the gloves Yuan Zhiran wore to conceal his masculine features.
“Could you stop flirting here? This area is off-limits to visitors.” Just as He Fang and Yuan Zhiran were getting “into character”, a male voice came from nearby.
Both He Fang and Yuan Zhiran looked up simultaneously and saw an elderly man standing in the distance. His back was hunched, though he seemed to be in good spirits. However, it was clear he belonged to the inspection team.
“Hello,” He Fang and Yuan Zhiran immediately stood up. Yuan Zhiran turned his head slightly, coughed awkwardly, and covered his face with his hand, displaying a shy, feminine demeanor. His golden hair and fair skin easily highlighted the blush on his cheeks from embarrassment.
“Get out. This is not a place where you should be,” said the old man with a voice full of vigor, despite his white beard almost completely hiding his mouth.
“We’re high-paying tourists. At least, I think this area looks pretty ordinary, so it should be accessible to visitors, right?” Yuan Zhiran tilted his head slightly, clearly displeased with the old man’s attitude, and deliberately said this to provoke him. “These plants don’t look as rare or valuable as the carefully nurtured ones elsewhere, so why keep them under such tight protection?”
He Fang’s eyes widened slightly, but he made an effort not to reveal his surprise. How was Yuan Zhiran portraying the pampered attitude of a spoiled lady so perfectly?
“This is my domain, not a tourist attraction. If you want to sightsee, go to the areas marked on the map!” The old man was visibly angered by Yuan Zhiran’s demeanor. “You people, get out of my place right now!”
He Fang felt that they had indeed been somewhat rude. Yuan Zhiran had always been a rule-abiding and honest person, but now he seemed like an unreasonable tourist. “We’re customers—customers pay for services. Is this how you treat us?”
However, this remark seemed to ignite the old man’s fury. In a fit of rage, the man raised the small shovel in his hand high into the air. “Get out, you money-grubbing lot!”
“What do you mean, money-grubbing? You’re the ones who are money-grubbing! From the moment we arrived, it’s been all about investing in this, paying for that, finding every possible way to empty our pockets. If anyone’s money-grubbing, it’s you!” Yuan Zhiran crossed his arms, glaring at the old man with a sharp, defiant expression, fully committing to his unreasonably argumentative stance.
He Fang stood off to the side, utterly dumbfounded.
“Don’t lump me together with those people!” As if set off by Yuan Zhiran’s words, the old man shouted angrily, his voice booming with indignation. “You clueless outsiders—shamelessly coming here to date, even breaking through the door into my place—and you think I don’t have the right to scold you?!”
“Apologies.” Seeing that Yuan Zhiran was on the verge of escalating the argument, He Fang quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. “Apologies. We came here unintentionally. It’s just that this area beneath the transparent door looked so exceptionally beautiful that we couldn’t resist. We’ll leave soon.”
The old man looked at them, his fiery demeanor seeming to cool slightly as he listened to He Fang. His cloudy eyes studied them intently, and after a moment, he slowly said, “Angel City has already stopped welcoming visitors. How did you manage to get in?”
He Fang was momentarily stunned.
However, the old man turned away without pressing the issue further, yelling as he walked off, “Hurry up and leave.”
He Fang watched the man’s retreating figure, seemingly lost in thought.
“Ugh, what bad luck. The atmosphere was completely ruined—so irritating,” Yuan Zhiran muttered, fanning his cheeks with his hand as if flustered by the heat of his irritation. “Seriously, my makeup doesn’t even look good anymore. Dear, wait for me at the rest area we passed earlier. I’ll go freshen up.”
As he spoke, Yuan Zhiran leaned down and affectionately kissed He Fang’s cheek. Despite the outward display of intimacy, He Fang heard Yuan Zhiran whisper in his ear, “Don’t worry—Chong Ying is nearby.”
Left alone, He Fang gazed in the direction the old man had gone, and on a whim, decided to follow.
The old man was busy turning the soil when He Fang appeared in his line of sight again. With a stern voice, the old man said, “Didn’t I tell you to leave already?”
He Fang crouched down beside the old man and suddenly asked, “Can we have a conversation?”
“I have nothing to say to you,” the old man replied, his tone as cold and hard as stone, devoid of any hint of kindness.
“Excuse me, may I take some seeds back with me? It seems like you have many plants here that I’ve never seen before. If possible, I’d like to take some back to plant,” He Fang inquired.
The old man coldly said, “Do you even know what it means to cultivate plants? Taking seeds back is just wasting them.”
“Plants can produce countless seeds after all, and the land in Angel City must be limited. Moreover, I don’t know how to cultivate, but there are people in my city who do. I can pay to purchase your seeds,” He Fang said, looking at the unfamiliar plants before him.
The old man paused in his soil-tending work, glancing suspiciously at He Fang before ultimately saying nothing and standing up to leave.
However, this was clearly not an attempt to drive him away. He Fang felt it was an invitation to follow.
He Fang thought that he might have encountered the NPC for this event mission.
The old man led him to a small room, which was filled with all sorts of jars and containers. The space was expansive but absolutely packed with bottles, leaving no room unoccupied. At a glance, there seemed to be hundreds of bottles, each labeled.
The old man asked, “What is the climate of your city?”
He Fang thought for a moment and said, “The climate is clearly defined with four seasons: early summer, autumn, winter, and spring. However, the land in our city is quite unique—it’s been extensively modified at great expense. So far, anything planted there has been able to thrive. I’d like to try bringing back some of these uncommon seeds and see if they can survive on our soil.”
“Are you using nutrient soil or specialized cultivation spaces?” the old man asked.
“Not exactly—it’s a different method.” A monetary method.
The old man paused, his expression thoughtful as he asked, “You mean anything can be grown? What kind of soil is it?”
“I didn’t bring any with me, but anything can be grown in it,” He Fang explained.
“You’re not a farmer?” the old man asked.
“No, I’m just a resident of the city, not involved in farming.” He Fang knew that the land was divided among farmers, who decided what to plant. Ever since the city obtained seeds from Hope City, the variety of crops cultivated has expanded greatly.
“You’re a resident? Can a resident afford to come here?” The old man scoffed but continued questioning persistently. “Do you have photos of the plants?”
Initially, He Fang only wanted to test if he could trigger a quest from this NPC. However, unexpectedly, the old man became deeply absorbed in the topic of soil, as if it were a subject he could endlessly discuss.
“Hmm…” He Fang pondered. He did have some photos on hand. He found pictures showing plants and soil, but none that included the sky or the city’s imagery. He displayed them for the old man to see.
However, he saw the old man widen his somewhat cloudy eyes and suddenly grab He Fang’s hand, startling him. It even felt as though the old man’s nearly opaque eyes, which seemed almost blind, had regained a spark of life.
“This is such a perfect state of a plant. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen plants like this,” the old man murmured. Despite his aged and frail appearance, his grip on He Fang’s hand was firm, as if he wanted to snatch the photo right out of He Fang’s grasp. He even muttered to himself, “The leaves are thick, lush, and evenly green—utterly flawless. To think that an annual plant could grow so robustly. It’s unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Even without picking the top fruit, the other fruits still grow so plump. Incredible.”
He Fang: “…” It was just a photo of a tomato plant he had taken for his plant encyclopedia.
“Although I’m not sure if anything can grow in your soil, just looking at the photo of this plant alone, I can tell how carefully the farmers in your area must tend to them,” the old man remarked as he finally let go of He Fang’s hand.
He Fang looked down at his wrist, which had turned red from the old man’s grip. Such attention to detail—surely this must be a quest NPC?
“What day of your trip is this?” the old man asked.
“The first day. I just arrived. The package mentioned it’s a three-day tour,” He Fang replied, recalling how he had carefully read the entire description of the package due to its shocking price.
“Come back tomorrow to pick up the seeds. I’ll prepare everything for you today so you can take them back to the farmers in your city.”
Hearing this, He Fang felt certain it must be a quest—whether a side quest or a main storyline mission, it had to be one.
“How much will it cost?” He Fang asked.
“No charge,” the old man replied, his hunched back turned as he began carefully taking down bottles one by one, then pulling out a piece of paper to jot something down.
He Fang waited behind the old man for a long time, but the elder didn’t say another word. By now, He Fang assumed the quest had likely been successfully triggered and that he would need to return the next day.
However, He Fang had noticed something peculiar.
“Ruins Without Restart” was a game that meticulously refined every detail to an almost obsessive degree, so most aspects of its design were intentional. Xiao Mei’s tireless efforts to secure investments for each plant were genuine. Her refusal to allow He Fang to take any seeds was also genuine. Yet, this unknown old man, after just glancing at a single photo, was willing to unconditionally transfer seeds to him.
These contrasting behaviors were striking, as if the old man and Xiao Mei were entirely disconnected entities. He Fang couldn’t decide if this was purely a quest mechanic or if there was something deeper going on.
Moreover, the old man’s earlier remark about “rejecting customers” had already heightened He Fang’s sense of caution.
Meanwhile, Yuan Zhiran glanced at the sign for the women’s restroom and entered without any change in expression. However, when he came out, his face betrayed some discomfort. Despite having previously heard Min Zhizhou mention that restrooms in mobile cities didn’t use traditional toilets or squat designs due to water efficiency, and that waste was immediately collected for reuse, actually experiencing such a facility had left Yuan Zhiran with a distinctly complicated expression.
“Ah, isn’t that the beautiful lady so famously advertised among the public?” Yuan Zhiran, having just exited the restroom, turned around and spotted a group of men dressed in white coats standing not far away. They looked young and unremarkable—or, more precisely, their appearances were quite plain compared to the standards of the main city.
Yuan Zhiran narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. “Do you need something?”
“We just wanted to see you in person. As the rumors say, you are truly a stunningly beautiful woman, with such lovely golden short hair and skin as fair as snow. Yet, you follow an ordinary, small-town official from an unknown city. Don’t you think that’s such a waste?” The group of men exchanged glances and smirked. Although their words were unpleasant, they carried a certain grace. “You are so beautiful, like the perfect angel from a mural. Your appearance would leave any man or woman who sees you unable to forget.”
Yuan Zhiran stood still, smiling as he listened to their praises. However, his eyes remained cold and detached. No matter how flattering their compliments were, none could compare to the stirring emotion he felt from a single glance from their creator.
“So?” Yuan Zhiran finally interrupted impatiently. “What exactly are you trying to say to us?”
“Perhaps you could become one of us,” one of the men suggested.
“Of course, even as angels, we abide by the rules of the mobile cities.”
Yuan Zhiran couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Did these men really think of themselves as angels?
“What rules?” Yuan Zhiran asked with a smile.
He noticed a subtle shift in their expressions upon hearing his question, a sign that his response might have made them wary.
To defuse the tension—or perhaps to distract them—Yuan Zhiran casually tousled his short hair and allowed the delicate, pale skin of his forearm to show between the cuff of his sleeve and his glove. He then offered a faint, charming smile. The effect was instantaneous: the men stared, transfixed.
Yuan Zhiran always strives for perfection, even in disguise. To truly embody a woman’s charm at its finest, he sought advice from many people, even proactively asking Lu Hu for pointers.
These small techniques are quite effective for captivating those who aren’t sincere.
As for sincerity… Yuan Zhiran knew that just a few more glances at their creator were enough to leave him utterly entranced.
“If you’re willing to marry someone from Angel City, that’s all it takes. Of course, I don’t mean to suggest that you should marry me—I know someone like me could never match someone as noble as you. What I mean is, if you’re interested, I can recommend you to the higher-ups.” One of the men smiled at Yuan Zhiran, his demeanor identical to the gatekeeper who had let them in earlier.
“Why would you do that? What benefit does it bring you?” Yuan Zhiran tilted his head slightly, his beautiful face sporting an unkind smile. “I feel like you’re scheming against me.”
Despite his unfriendly tone, paired with Yuan Zhiran’s features, it left the men unable to suppress their admiration.
“It’s because of your beauty. Just like these rare plants and animals, you are a treasure worthy of preservation.” One by one, the men could barely hide their longing expressions.
“I think I might need to consider it,” Yuan Zhiran said, half-closing his eyes and letting his long lashes veil his less-than-friendly gaze. He needed to buy time, even though their words were deeply irritating. How could he possibly pursue marriage with anyone else when he had the perfect creator by his side?
Suddenly, Yuan Zhiran realized something and frowned. Had he truly allowed himself to think through the perspective of a female role just now? Could wearing women’s clothing actually influence one’s state of mind?
“I hope you can decide quickly. After all, you only have three days here. If you haven’t made up your mind by the end of three days, it would be such a pity,” the man said, his words layered with meaning.
When they regrouped, it was at the restaurant they had agreed upon earlier, but there were only four of them. Chong Ying was absent.
He Fang asked Ye Sheng, “Where did you go?”
“Just found a random place to sit,” Ye Sheng replied calmly. His demeanor was so composed that it prompted He Fang to take a closer look at him. After observing for a while, He Fang noticed that Ye Sheng still hadn’t taken off his collar, not even once. Did he not feel humiliated wearing it?
“And you, Zhu Yan?” He Fang asked.
“I went to check out a lot of interesting things—animals, plants, insects. There are many fascinating species here that I think could be introduced to the city. As an eco-city, it truly has its unique appeal,” Zhu Yan said softly, leaning back in his chair with his eyes half-closed. “If we were to introduce everything into the city, it might be difficult to maintain balance. Building a dedicated base to preserve them would require significant space. But… if we were to directly take Angel City…”
He Fang quickly stepped forward and covered Zhu Yan’s mouth. What was this guy thinking, talking about such things out in public?
Zhu Yan blinked and looked at He Fang. In the end, he obediently closed his mouth and gestured with a blink that he wouldn’t say anything more.
He Fang withdrew his hand, but Zhu Yan lightly touched his lips, suddenly lost in thought.
The restaurant they were in was completely empty, with no one else in sight, yet there were plenty of seats. He Fang had a vague suspicion that these seats weren’t usually left empty.
He Fang had a theory.
Perhaps from the moment they entered Angel City, their presence had already been exposed.
The old man had mentioned there would be no customers. Reflecting on it, when Angel City tried to dispatch the Black Flag Mercenary Squad, they had likely already informed other cities but kept the mercenaries in the dark. It’s possible they were under surveillance the moment they began contacting Angel City.
Now, their information-gathering efforts might only scrape the surface. In normal circumstances, He Fang would err on the side of caution and leave immediately. Remaining here without knowing what might happen could prove dangerous.
However, He Fang couldn’t let go of the old man’s quest. As a player, he decided to take the risk and stay for one more day, determined to return to the old man tomorrow to collect the seeds.
If it was indeed a quest, the seeds he obtained would surely be beneficial.
“Excuse me, your reservation was for five people, yet there are only four of you here. Is the fifth person joining you later?” At that moment, a restaurant staff member wearing a lovely white dress approached their table. Her light brown hair and youthful, innocent features created an image that naturally elicited goodwill.
He Fang speculated whether Angel City deliberately employed seemingly “fragile and innocent” women to lower their guests’ defenses.
“He won’t be joining us for now. He mentioned wanting to look around more, as he seems quite interested in Angel City,” Zhu Yan replied proactively. His tone remained consistently cool, a demeanor that to strangers might come across as downright indifferent, leading to a brief silence from the young woman.
The girl then said, “I’m sorry, but if possible, could you ask your companion to return? When we prepare the meal, we aim to ensure there’s no difference in the ingredients or flavors, so we usually use the same ingredients for the entire meal. If your friend doesn’t join you immediately, he might not be able to enjoy the exact same flavors as everyone else, which would be a pity. Moreover, continuing to prepare separately might waste ingredients.”
He Fang blinked. What did that mean? Were they planning to cook a large pot and divide it into five portions for them?
“It’s fine,” Yuan Zhiran tilted his head slightly, his golden hair dazzling. He looked at her with a distinct smile and a hint of teasing. “Let him be. If he doesn’t want to eat, then he doesn’t eat. Let him understand what it means to miss out on an opportunity.”
“That might not be ideal. Angel City’s philosophy is to ensure every guest is fully satisfied. We can’t allow any of our guests to feel neglected or miss out on our care. If you’d like, I can go and find him,” the female staff member suggested.
“Why?” He Fang, noticing the staff member’s peculiar persistence, asked, “He doesn’t want to eat, so he won’t eat. He can eat tomorrow, and it’ll be the same.”
“But tomorrow, we’ll prepare a different menu.”
“He’s a grown man, not a child who needs someone trailing behind him to make sure he eats,” He Fang said, realizing the staff member seemed unreasonably eager to locate Chong Ying.
“But…” The young waitress still appeared worried, glancing anxiously toward the back.
“Are you saying that if someone doesn’t show up, we can’t have our meal either?” Sitting across from He Fang, Yuan Zhiran unexpectedly revealed a slightly displeased expression. “Or is it that you’re standing here, trying to catch someone’s attention instead?”
Yuan Zhiran’s performance perfectly embodied the role of a jealous companion, leaving the waitress visibly flustered. Bowing quickly, she hurried away.
He Fang could clearly see their urgency, which only confirmed his suspicions.
They had been under surveillance from the very beginning.
Chong Ying, being a powerful long-range soldier, naturally had the skills required for sniping. The inherent disadvantage of long-range combatants in close quarters had honed their ability to find hidden spots where they could remain undetected.
After the group had split up, Chong Ying had already gone into hiding, choosing a place no one had noticed.
As long as Chong Ying remained undiscovered, Angel City wouldn’t dare to act rashly. Moreover, Chong Ying staying out of sight for an extended period could create additional pressure for Angel City.
As for whether Chong Ying would miss out on the gourmet meals, He Fang thought that if Min Zhizhou could indulge to the point of gaining weight back in their city, then the food in this mobile city likely wouldn’t hold much sway over Chong Ying.
He Fang suddenly remembered the piece of chocolate he had eaten earlier that day, and a wave of unease washed over him. He leaned in to whisper to Zhu Yan, “That chocolate I ate—do you think there might be something wrong with it?”
“I wouldn’t let you eat problematic chocolate,” Zhu Yan replied in a low voice, leaning in as well. He added, “The chocolate’s ingredients were excellent, its craftsmanship impeccable, and it had a unique flavor. It was likely very expensive. I simply wanted you to savor the delightful taste of high-quality chocolate.”
“Really?” He Fang blinked. Since Zhu Yan had said so, he felt reassured.
“It’s just that the scent might linger on your body for quite a while,” Zhu Yan added, suddenly pausing for dramatic effect, which made He Fang’s heart tighten. Zhu Yan continued, “Considering Angel City’s rich biodiversity, the scent might attract insects or other creatures to you. But these aren’t really major issues—as long as you enjoyed the chocolate, that’s what matters.”
He Fang stammered nervously, “Insects? In-insects will be drawn to me, and that’s not a big issue?!”
What kind of insects? Winged or not? Fist-sized or as tiny as a fingernail? How many legs would they have? The mere thought made He Fang’s scalp tingle.
“Don’t worry, we won’t let harmful bugs approach you. You’re safe,” Zhu Yan said nonchalantly, seemingly indifferent to the sheer scale of precautions in this enormous mobile city. “And the rose-chocolate scent on you—it’s delightful and puts people in a good mood.”
He Fang froze for a moment, instinctively sniffing himself, but he couldn’t detect any change from his usual scent. He didn’t feel like there was anything different about him.
Wait…
He Fang suddenly frowned, realizing that ever since entering Angel City, Yuan Zhiran had been lingering close to him, speaking intimately into his ear. At first, he assumed this was to match their “customer and companion” roles. But in truth, could it be…
He Fang moved to sit beside Yuan Zhiran. He noticed Yuan Zhiran’s body tense for a moment before quickly relaxing. Yuan Zhiran tilted his head slightly, nuzzling into He Fang’s side, the closeness amplified by their contrasting heights—He Fang was noticeably smaller compared to Yuan Zhiran’s ‘female’ persona.
He Fang quietly asked, “Yuan Zhiran.”
“Hmm?” Yuan Zhiran lowered his gaze slightly, his long, beautiful eyelashes making his eyes appear even larger and more striking. Observing him up close was truly different from usual.
“Can you smell something unusual on me?” He Fang asked directly.
“Yes, it’s different from usual,” Yuan Zhiran replied honestly.
“?” Different from usual? Did that mean he normally had some strange scent on him?
“Today, you seem to have a rose-like scent, like flowers,” Yuan Zhiran said with a smile, leaning slightly against the top of He Fang’s head.
He Fang: “…And what do I usually smell like?”
“Sometimes, it’s the scent of sunlight,” Yuan Zhiran replied.
“?”
“Other times, it’s the scent of milk,” Yuan Zhiran continued.
“?”
“Sometimes, it’s the scent of grass,” Yuan Zhiran added yet again.
“…” He Fang concluded that it wasn’t him who had a peculiar scent—it was likely Yuan Zhiran’s nose that had issues.
