After adding Mingya as a contact, Cang’er hugged her goodbye.
Cang’er still couldn’t purchase a ticket online for herself because her account information hadn’t been linked to her light-brain, and she also hadn’t made any deposits. Even in the interstellar era, banks still existed. Beyond handling deposits and loans, they offered services such as acting as auction agents, escrow management, and trusteeship.
She packed her small suitcase. Inside were three sets of changeable clothes, all products she had styled recently; a box of mid-grade nutrition solutions that Monk had stuffed into her hands; and a group photo taken with the colleagues she had worked with over the past few days. Since she didn’t have a light-brain before, they had specially printed a paper copy for her.
She imported the photo into her light-brain and familiarized herself with the basic functions of the device. Mingya sent her Monk’s contact information and instructed her not to leave on her own— Monk had already gone to the garage to get the car and was preparing to take her there.
Cang’er added Monk as a contact and, as agreed, went to the end of the corridor on the twentieth floor. She scanned her light-brain to open the door. Outside was a floating platform, where Monk was already waiting with the vehicle.
This was Cang’er’s first time riding an aerial car. The feeling was quite wonderful. The flying altitude wasn’t as high as an airplane’s, but it was very stable and extremely fast.
They followed a fixed track to the passenger terminal. After saying goodbye to Monk, Cang’er spent one silver coin to buy a ticket to the Central Main City.
While waiting, she opened her light-brain and sent Mingya a set of clothing design drafts. These were designs she had once created on Earth, slightly modified to suit interstellar fashion habits, in hopes that they would be of help to Mingya.
“Attention passengers traveling to Central Tower City: Your K042 coach will dock at the Level Sixteen aerial track. Please proceed there as soon as possible and prepare to board. The coach will arrive in fifteen minutes.”
The announcement echoed through the waiting hall. Cang’er lifted her small leather suitcase and walked toward the elevator.
The coach consisted of two carriages, with a purple metallic exterior. Each carriage had about twenty seats. The four seats were arranged in pairs facing each other, with a 1.2-meter dining table in the middle. It looked more like a restaurant than a passenger car.
Cang’er took her seat. Before long, three more passengers arrived. One was an extremely cute girl. Her light-brown hair was styled into two bun-like puffs, secured with two tulip hair clips—new products from Jiugang, costing one gold coin per pair.
She had green eyes, round pupils, and a naturally smiling mouth. But at the moment, she seemed a bit annoyed.
“Steward Yas, I can go to the main city by myself. I don’t need you following me,” she said impatiently, casting a look at the two tall men behind her.
The men, about forty years old, were dressed in matching black suits and followed her closely, step for step.
“Miss Mia, your seat is here,” the man said, ignoring her attempt to drive them away. He raised his hand to guide her to the seat opposite Cang’er. After settling the luggage, the two men sat down beside Cang’er and Mia.
Cang’er leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes to rest. In truth, her mental energy had already spread out, quietly observing everything in the carriage.
The journey from Embracing the Moon City to Tower City would take four hours. Tower City was located slightly north of the center of the continent. Flying would have been faster, but Cang’er wanted to save money—plane tickets were too expensive for her.
At lunchtime, the man named Yas laid out a tablecloth on the table, set out fruit salad and biscuits, and even thoughtfully placed a portion in front of Cang’er.
Then he took a high-grade nutrition solution from the case and handed it to Mia.
Pink, strawberry flavor—it looked delicious.
Cang’er licked the corner of her mouth. She had never tasted a high-grade nutrition solution before.