Сhарtеr 11
At the mоmеnt thе mаsk fеll, the streetlight hарpenеd to turn on, illuminаting hеr fасе сleаrlу.
It rеvеaled а face… cоvеred with blасk раntуhosе.
Gu Nоngхuan: “”
Bеnеath thе mask was an еven mоre shocking mаsk.
Hеr hair, tightlу bоund by the рantyhosе, сlung tо Хu Nuo’s faсе, lеаving only оne nоstril exрosed fоr breathing. Тhe areа аrоund her еуes had slightly lеss hair, but it wаs still hаrd to seе cleаrly.
“Оh dеаr, yоu actuаlly saw it.”
Хu Nuо рicked up the fallen mask and рut it bаck on her faсе, then sheeрishlу poked her nose. The pantyhose around her nostril instantly caved in, revealing a clear hole-shaped indentation.
Gu Nongxuan, who wished he had seen nothing: “”
“Aren’t you… suffocating like that?”
Xu Nuo patted his shoulder: “…I’m too ugly, so I did this to avoid scaring you.”
“How ugly?”
“About as ugly as a chrysanthemum.”
Gu Nongxuan: “…” Was that a statement or a metaphor?
Considering Gu Nongxuan’s status, the two found a shop, ordered takeout crayfish, and sneakily hid in a secluded spot. Squatting under a streetlight, they ate the crayfish with a heavy sense of secrecy.
The full plastic bag came with disposable gloves and two bottles of water from the shop.
Gu Nongxuan didn’t even know how to peel the crayfish shells, so Xu Nuo taught him how to quickly extract the most intact meat.
“Is it good?”
The boy nodded. His pale lips were swollen from the spiciness, and combined with his swollen right cheek, he looked pitiful. Yet, he was surprisingly in a good mood, and soon, he was eating crayfish as quickly as Xu Nuo.
A novel experience.
Watching him eat until he was sweating profusely, Xu Nuo curled her lips.
[Although I don’t know exactly how Healing Value is collected, I just need to make him happy, right?]
Making the young master happy couldn’t be simpler.
Take him to try all kinds of junk food and let the young master “see the world.”
“It’s good, right? After we finish, I’ll take you back.”
Xu Nuo rummaged through her bag for a while and pulled out a pack of tissues. Seeing he was too busy to wipe his face, she simply placed the whole pack on his lap.
Gu Nongxuan paused mid-chew, his eyes suddenly dimming. He lowered his head and whispered, “I don’t want to go home…”
Although the rented apartment was large and well-decorated, it was empty and silent. No one would be waiting for him even if he went back.
Thinking of this, he suddenly looked up at Xu Nuo. She was clearly much older than him, and for some reason, she treated him very well, like an older sister. Someone like her must have a very warm home.
“If you don’t want to go back, then don’t.”
Gu Nongxuan’s eyes lit up.
“Pack up. Tonight, you’ll sleep under the bridge with me.”
Gu Nongxuan: “”
Xu Nuo checked the direction and analyzed seriously, “I checked before coming. There’s a good bridge over there. The bridge arch should be quite windproof. The downside is that it’s too cold. I’m afraid we’ll freeze to death right after falling asleep.”
Gu Nongxuan: “…Don’t you have a home?”
Xu Nuo looked down at him in surprise: “I’m a homeless person. Isn’t it obvious?”
“But—”
Hearing the transition, Gu Nongxuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, Xu Nuo took off her mask, revealing her bald head wrapped in black pantyhose (with a hole cut out around the mouth for eating).
“Occasionally, I also earn some extra cash by mugging people.”
Gu Nongxuan: “”
He couldn’t help but feel like this person was bullying a child.
System: Yes, she’s teasing you.
In the end, Gu Nongxuan still went home.Standing at the door of his apartment, looking at Gu Nongxuan, who was clearly in better condition, Xu Nuo said, “Don’t be afraid.”
“If worst comes to worst, just quit this lousy entertainment industry. Once you return home, reveal your identity and crush those who bullied you.”
If it were another savior, they might encourage Gu Nongxuan to keep pursuing his dreams. Some might even strategically time their appearance after he’s been hurt, taking advantage of his vulnerability to earn Healing Value.
But Xu Nuo… was a bit foolish and didn’t think of that at all.
Right now, her mind was filled with: Screw dreams, is anything more important than staying alive? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t bully the poor.
“Besides, when you grow up, you can start an entertainment company, invest in dramas, and play the male lead yourself.”
Seeing him reminded Xu Nuo of her own younger brother, and she couldn’t help but ruffle his hair. “Surviving doesn’t require courage; it requires money.”
All the previous worries and struggles suddenly seemed insignificant in the face of her relaxed smile.
Gu Nongxuan pursed his lips and offered a reserved smile.
“Mm, I understand.”
Though he still stubbornly wanted to hold on, hearing Xu Nuo’s words eased some of the tension inside him.
Gu Nongxuan seemed easygoing, but he was actually quite stubborn. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left home without hesitation after his parents said those things.
It was just that, as he began to achieve some success, both praise and criticism flooded into his life like a storm, overwhelming him and even clouding his judgment at times.
“And one more thing…”
Xu Nuo stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.
Gu Nongxuan hesitated, meeting the enthusiastic pig-face mask before him, and nodded uncertainly.
“I understand.”
“Alright, goodnight.”
Patting his shoulder, Xu Nuo closed the door for him and turned to leave.
[Let’s go, System. Let’s find a suitable bridge arch to make do for the night.]
After showering and changing clothes, Gu Nongxuan wiped his hair and belatedly remembered something.
He realized he knew almost nothing about this “sister.”
Yet she seemed to understand him well. For a moment, Gu Nongxuan almost suspected that Xu Nuo was someone his parents had sent.
His gaze fell on the pack of tissues he had placed on the table. Hanging the towel around his neck, he picked it up. The faint gray text printed on the back was easy enough to read:
Hu Dayu Brand Soft Butt Tissues
Of course, that wasn’t important.
The key was—
Production Date: 2024/2/2
…
Xu Nuo stood by the bridge, enjoying the breeze for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, she was back in her bedroom.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she noticed her clothes had changed back to pajamas, and the mask and stockings were gone.
The diligent Miss Xu Nuo immediately began her review: [System, how do you think I did?]
The System promptly provided emotional support: [Not bad. Very humane.]
Xu Nuo took that as a compliment.
[I thought you’d try to help him resolve everything, but you just had a meal of crayfish with him.]
And he was the one who paid.
Xu Nuo crossed her legs: [I can help him for a while, but I can’t be by his side forever.]
[But you reminded me—next time we meet, remind me to treat him to spicy hot pot.]
Well, for two people, it’d cost at most forty yuan. Anything more would exceed the budget.
The System couldn’t help but roll its eyes: [Take your stingy tricks and go to sleep!]
She slept soundly through the night.”Good morning…”
Xu Nuo, having reverted to her timid demeanor, greeted the butler standing at the door.
The stern butler remained silent and went straight to the point: “The young master is going to the company today. Your task is to follow him, serve tea, and attend to his needs. Do you remember everything I taught you yesterday?”
What she had been taught yesterday were the tea leaves, teacups, temperature, and techniques preferred by the young master, Gu Nongxuan.
Xu Nuo had a good memory and nodded in acknowledgment.
The butler looked skeptical, clearly unconvinced, but he said nothing more.
Even when going to work, Gu Nongxuan didn’t wear formal suits. He preferred light-colored, casual styles, making it seem more like he was heading for afternoon tea than the office.
“Do you have to dress so disgustingly?”
Gu Nongxuan’s handsome face frowned slightly as he took in Xu Nuo’s outfit.
Xu Nuo, quite accustomed to this, seamlessly followed up with: “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, please forgive me, I’m sorry.”
Her words flowed smoothly, delivered in one breath.
Recalling how just yesterday she had taught this inexperienced young man how to peel crayfish, and now he was eyeing her attire with a hint of disdain, Xu Nuo couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
[Sigh, truly, the heart is separated by breasts.]
When will men ever stop judging women’s appearances?
Xu Nuo tugged at the tassels on the hood of her dung beetle-inspired outfit.
How disheartening.