“Mercy, Your Majesty the Great Queen!”
“Uncle, give me a ‘Kill,’ and I can earn two hundred points.”
Yan Xingli glanced at the bright red interface and immediately felt alarmed. Who, who had shared this evil red software with her?
“Yuyu, this is just a platform’s tactic for acquiring new users. Don’t take it seriously. Put it down quickly.”
“No.” The child hugged the tablet and argued vehemently, “Look, I only need 0.1 more to withdraw the cash.”
Xiaohua chimed in: “Yes, Lady Yuyu is only one step away from success.”
Was that one step away? That was an eternity away.
Trusting Pinduoduo brings divine retribution.
As someone who had frantically begged people for “Kills” in college, only to be violently suppressed by his own sister, Yan Xingli held a deep-seated grudge against this damned software.
He knew well how stubborn the child could be.
Instead of spending a lot of time analyzing the problem, it was better to let her experience the sinister nature of Earth capitalists herself.
“Fine, I’ll help you with one ‘Kill’.” Yan Xingli sneered inwardly. After all, they didn’t know many people on Earth. Once she tried, she’d find out it was a scam.
Sure enough, after Yan Xingli helped with a “Kill,” the interface immediately popped up another reminder to get more people to do the same.
Qi Youyu was puzzled but still opened her light brain and started calling people.
“Yaya, give me a ‘Kill’!”
“Leilei, give me a ‘Kill’!”
Then she switched to the tablet.
“Sister Xiaofu, can you give me a ‘Kill’?”
Xiaofu, who had heard the complete sentence through the translator, was horrified.
What happened? Why did Yuyu want to give up her life?
Xiaofu quickly called her Chinese teacher, hoping she could teach her how to persuade her good friend not to do anything rash.
“Sister Yueyue, I need your help! Give me a ‘Kill’!”
Yan Xingli watched with a silent smile. Did she think this small network could squeeze wool out of the evil Xixi?
Ha, naive.
Zheng Yue, who received the message, immediately called her father, Zheng Xiaofeng. “Dad, help, help Yuyu! She, she, she needs help!”
“What’s wrong with her?” Zheng Xiaofeng, sitting in the director’s room, asked knowingly.
“Kill, a ‘Kill’.” Zheng Yue said anxiously, “That, the red, red one, a ‘Kill’.”
Zheng Xiaofeng, who happened to be the show’s director, said, “Yueyue, Dad is the director. It’s not really appropriate for me to do this.”
Zheng Yue, who had started watching the live stream after returning that day, puffed her cheeks angrily: “Dad, you, you’re bullying, Yuyu, my friend.”
Shen Lan stroked her daughter’s back soothingly and guided her gently: “Yueyue, don’t rush. Talk to Dad slowly. Try to be as detailed as possible.”
Zheng Yue’s excitement gradually calmed down under Shen Lan’s comfort. She stuttered but logically accused Zheng Xiaofeng of bullying the child and creating difficulties for Yuyu and her uncle.
Instead of getting angry, Zheng Xiaofeng listened and found his eyes gradually moistening.
Yueyue’s stuttering had significantly improved. She was speaking more and more fluently.
On the day of the birthday party, the live stream cameras had mostly focused on Yan Xingli. At the time, Zheng Xiaofeng didn’t know the two children had unexpectedly become friends.
He was surprised when Shen Lan told him later.
“Yueyue has been really happy since she came back that day, and her speech has been getting better every day. We really need to thank Yuyu.”
A moved expression appeared on Zheng Xiaofeng’s face. His daughter hadn’t even been willing to share the candy she brought back that day with him.
It showed how much she liked her new friend, Yuyu.
Zheng Xiaofeng softened his voice: “You’re right.”
Forget it. A ‘Kill’ was a small matter. He was helping his daughter, not someone else. It shouldn’t count as a violation.
Thus, amidst the serious work group chat, a ‘Kill’ link suddenly appeared from the director.
Staff members who saw the notification picked up their phones: ??
Oh my god! Was the director’s account hacked?!
Zheng Xiaofeng calmly looked up, maintaining a serious expression as he explained: “My daughter has recently taken a liking to shopping on Pinduoduo.”
Uh…
Well, Director… your daughter’s WeChat name is ‘My Name is Yuyu,’ right?
The staff exchanged knowing glances, then promptly lowered their heads to give the ‘Kill’, hiding their fleeting amusement.
Over a hundred people in the work group all contributed a ‘Kill’. Meanwhile, Xiaofu, having understood the situation with help from her Chinese teacher, mobilized her own network, contributing another twenty or thirty ‘Kills’.
The seemingly endless ‘Kill’ requests culminated in a pleasant ding.
“Congratulations! Your 200 yuan withdrawal has been successfully credited!”
Yan Xingli was dumbfounded, the melon in his mouth forgotten.
“How did you… How did you do that?”
Didn’t she only have four contacts?
He had over forty contacts back in the day and still failed. He ground his teeth sourly. Could this be the legendary new user protection period? Newbie benefits?
“Because I have lots of good friends.”
The proud little chubby girl ran up to Yan Xingli, placed her small hands on his knees, and advised him in a world-weary tone:
“Uncle, you should make more friends. See, apart from me, no one wants to hang out with you.”
Yan Xingli: “…”
“Who says I don’t have friends? I have way more than you do,” he retorted defiantly.
Qi Youyu spread her hands and gave a completely insincere nod: “Yeah, yeah, you have lots.”
“Shocking! First time I’ve seen someone successfully withdraw money from Pinduoduo!”
“I don’t accept it, I don’t accept it! Pinduoduo officials must have seen it and deliberately let it happen!”
“Hmph, no matter how much they promote it, I’m never downloading Pinduoduo again. I’ve had enough of the endless ‘Kill’ requests!”
The production team had only given the aunt and nephew two days to prepare.
Yuyu had already earned two hundred points. Yan Xingli planned to handle the remaining eighteen hundred points himself, absorbing them all.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the black-hearted Pinduoduo had already set a second withdrawal trap for Yuyu: another ‘Kill’ for a five-hundred-yuan withdrawal.
Yan Xingli thought about advising Yuyu to give up, but on second thought, why bother? His face was still smarting from the last time. Trying to talk her out of it might just lead to another slap in the face.
Yan Xingli silently averted his gaze.
“No.”
“I want to leave the opportunity to earn money for someone who needs it.”
The child, head lowered, muttered to herself. Her chubby face was solemn with righteousness as she shoved her phone into Yan Xingli’s hand:
“Uncle, you do it.”
Yan Xingli blinked blankly: “Do what?”
“You call your friends for a ‘Kill’, and we can earn five hundred points.”
Yan Xingli: “I don’t need to.”
“Yes, you do.” Yuyu hugged his leg tightly, looking at him with pitiful eyes. “You’re about to be unemployed, and you don’t even have a single planet of your own.”
“What the heck? Have you, rich people, already progressed to this level?”
“This is actually quite common. Some wealthy individuals donate money to research institutes to buy the naming rights for a newly discovered asteroid.”
Yan Xingli peeled the child off his leg.
“Don’t worry about things that aren’t your concern. Your uncle has his own ways to earn points.”
He said, “Aren’t you going to sell your bread? Shouldn’t you start getting ready now?”
Qi Youyu quickly straightened up: “Okay, I’m going to get busy. Bye!”
Since the child wanted to participate, Yan Xingli saw no reason to refuse. He packed a basket of his own designer clothes that had only been worn once or twice, called Xiaohua, and set up his stall together.
As for Yuyu’s bread, it didn’t matter if it didn’t sell. His surplus clothes were enough. Even selling them at rock-bottom prices, he could earn three or four thousand. With that safety net, he wasn’t worried.
There was flour and ingredients at home, so there was no need to go out and buy anything extra.
To prove to her uncle that she was a qualified pastry chef, the little one put on a chef’s hat and apron. She soaked the red beans in advance, cooked them until soft, and mashed them into a paste.
Standing on a small stool, she kneaded the dough and filled the buns, her chubby face serious and meticulous, showing the demeanor of a real pastry chef.
Qi Youyu went through each process like a pro, but the results looked less like bread and more like steamed buns, specifically, red bean paste buns.
Little cat Yuyu used a small brush to apply an egg wash and a layer of transparent oil to the dough, finally sprinkling sesame seeds on top.
Every step was completed under the watchful eyes of the netizens.
Hygiene-wise, there was nothing to criticize. But the appearance and taste were another matter. Everyone stared at the freshly baked, oddly-shaped creations, leaving a deafening six dots in the comments.
“These buns… uh, I mean bread… some are square, some are round, but what’s with the ones missing limbs?”
“Wow, haha, how come there are buns shaped like emojis?”
When Yuyu encountered shapes she couldn’t handle, she would ask for help. The production team only forbade asking people for help, not robots.
Xiaohua was a cheat code that left everyone speechless.
“The buns are steamed, but how do they keep them warm? The production team won’t let them ask for help or buy insulation tools with their own money.”
“…Storing them inside Xiaohua’s belly? That works?!”
“Wow, can Xiaohua stretch that tall? Its waist circumference has increased by two sizes!”
The dumbfounded production team: …
A small opening appeared in Xiaohua’s now plump belly, revealing a bottomless black interior. The freshly steamed buns dropped into it like dumplings, eliminating the need for a cart.
With the buns safely stored, Xiaohua gave up on its wheels and waddled along behind the aunt and nephew on its stubby, cartoonish legs.
They’d heard that this waddling walk was cute and would attract many children.
Yuyu, who had never set up a stall before, was rubbing her hands with anticipation. This was the most novel experience for her.
The trio arrived at the entrance of the Polytechnic University, a less bustling spot, to set up. Xiaohua wore a signboard reading “Yuyu’s Bread”. Yan Xingli opened his suitcase and placed a stack of bags for clothes next to it.
Yan Xingli sold his spare clothes, while Xiaohua helped Yuyu sell the bread.
It wasn’t time for classes to end yet, but the quiet stall was quickly swarmed by fans and passersby who had heard the news.
Most were there for Yan Xingli’s designer spare clothes. Clothes originally costing tens of thousands were selling for just 199. It was practically free.
Unsurprisingly, Yan Xingli’s entire suitcase of spares was sold out in under five minutes. Yuyu’s bread stall, however, wasn’t faring as well.
The child’s bread, which resembled buns, was priced at five yuan each. Compared to the standard one-yuan-five red bean paste buns at regular shops, it seemed like price-gouging.
Watching the neglected bread stall, some comments in the live stream were mocking.
“The pricing is ridiculous. They’re so small and don’t even look good. The kid is clueless, but Yan Xingli should have said something.”
“Five yuan isn’t that bad. If I weren’t busy right now, I’d drive over and buy one.”
“Typical, definitely someone from Shanghai. People from Shanghai are different, huh.”
A nearby resident came to see the commotion. Seeing Qi Youyu in the cold wind, a surge of affection was ignited within them.
“Memory bread? That’s a unique name.” A male student with a backpack walked slowly towards Xiaohua, his voice weak. “Give me one.”
Xiaohua’s belly slowly opened, revealing the bread still warm from the pot, already packaged.
The boy picked one up and stared at it blankly: “Hey, isn’t this a bun?”
“This is bread,” Yuyu explained, clutching a small bag, her eyes earnest. “It’s called Memory Bread.”
“Oh…”
“Big brother, you look very tired.”
The boy, looking like a drained corporate slave, nodded wearily. “I’m a senior in high school. All I do is practice tests or memorize words and key points. I’m exhausted from waking up early and staying up late, my brain is fried, so I don’t look too good.”
What he didn’t mention was that he had just taken leave due to a high fever.
Xiaohua: “Your body temperature is 39.5 degrees Celsius. Your mind and body are in a state of extreme fatigue. You need to rest immediately.”
The senior student, who usually didn’t have time to watch live streams, was startled when Xiaohua suddenly spoke, his mouth falling open.
Yuyu was surprised: “Big brother, why aren’t you resting at home if you’re sick?”
The boy smiled wryly. Senior students rarely had time for rest.
Not understanding the plight of senior students, Yuyu said without hesitation, “Big brother, don’t worry about paying. I’ll give you the bread for free. Go home and rest.”
“I have money, it’s fine.” The boy smiled.
Recalling what he had said earlier, the child thought for a moment, then earnestly instructed him: “Brother, you have to eat the Memory Bread *before* you use your brain. That way, you can remember a lot of knowledge, okay?”
Hearing this, the boy looked surprised: “Your bread has such a magical function?”
Qi Youyu nodded vigorously, speaking shyly and softly: “Yes, that’s why it’s a little expensive.”
The boy didn’t take advantage of the situation. He knew it wasn’t easy for a child selling bread in the cold. He scanned the payment for five yuan and left with the bread.
“Memory Bread? Yeah right. If it actually works, I’ll eat my keyboard standing on my head!”
“To be fair, this counts as false advertising, right?”
“Don’t be so serious. It’s just the name of the bread. Kids have vivid imaginations; they love giving things fantastical names.”
“Waiting for an unbiased review.”
After selling the first Memory Bread, it was as if a spell was broken. Customers started coming one after another.
A female postgraduate student rushed over: “Yuyu, give me five Memory Breads!”
“Ah, that many?” The child was taken aback. “Sister, can you eat them all?”
The desperate student said, “It’s fine, I’ll eat them for meals!”
Qi Youyu: “Then you need to eat them slowly, be careful not to choke.”
The stall was getting livelier. A young woman dressed as a Qing Dynasty official zombie quietly appeared beside them.
She casually asked, “Did you register or get permission to sell here?”
Both aunt and nephew were momentarily stunned.
Xiaohua began explaining matter-of-factly: “According to Earth regulations, all food vendors must obtain a health certificate from the local Center for Disease Control or designated medical institutions to prove they have no infectious diseases.①”
“Additionally, they should register their stall with the local street office.②”
Qi Youyu looked innocently at Yan Xingli: “Uncle, we have those, right?”
Yan Xingli looked confused. Probably, maybe the production team had taken care of it?
Seeing her uncle’s silence, Qi Youyu’s little heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced with thoughts, and her small face instantly turned pale.
The child dropped to her knees and prostrated before the woman who had asked the question: “Mercy, Your Majesty the Great Queen! Please don’t arrest us! We’re good people!!”
The young woman waved her hands repeatedly: “No, no, don’t do that!”
She had just come back from a comic convention and hadn’t had time to change or remove her makeup.
Yan Xingli: “Yuyu, the ground is cold. Get up.”
“Uncle, you kneel down too,” the child tugged at his pants leg, trying to pull him down. “We’ll beg Her Majesty the Queen for mercy together.”
Xiaohua: “According to modern law, even illegal street vending does not carry a life-threatening penalty. Penalties usually consist of fines or eviction. Yuyu, don’t be scared. Judges do not impose the death penalty for this. There’s no need to beg for mercy.”
Yan Xingli knew the child had been heavily influenced by period dramas.
“Alright, get up.” Suppressing a laugh, he lifted her up and brushed the dust off her pants.
Regardless of whether Yuyu’s Memory Bread was real or not, some people bought it for good luck.
Yuyu had only made thirty Memory Breads. They sold out quickly. Yan Xingli calculated the total revenue: 4,300 yuan.
That was enough for the concert tickets.
ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ
Inside the villa garden.
“Averieka, don’t you think the color of this cloak is ridiculous?”
“I don’t think so. It was a gift from my good friend, Yuyu.”
Grace shrugged helplessly. “I feel like your taste has gotten worse since you came here.”
Averieka frowned unhappily. “Grace, if you say another disrespectful word about my friend or me, I will never invite you over again.”
Grace, a little Black girl, smiled sheepishly. “Alright, Averieka. Don’t be angry. I’m sorry.”
A group of children played in the warm garden, their chatter and laughter creating a cozy atmosphere in the winter.
Suddenly, Grace frowned. “I think I hear a kitten meowing.”
The playing children stopped and looked around, but found nothing.
Just as they were teasing Grace about having auditory hallucinations, another child exclaimed: “Look! Up on that roof!”
Five or six pairs of eyes shot towards the red roof of the neighboring house.
Three tiny kittens huddled together in terror on the sloped roof, letting out trembling mews.
The roof was slanted, and the smooth tiles offered almost no grip. Even if they were lucky enough not to fall, they would surely freeze to death up there.
“Oh, who left them in such a dangerous place? Poor little things!”
Averieka was horrified. She stepped forward, her eyes filled with worry. “They need help.”
“That roof is too high. We can’t get up there.”
Averieka already had an idea.
A large tree stood by the garden wall. The neighbor had mentioned a couple of days ago that the branches were crossing over and needed trimming.
Fortunately, the staff had the weekend off, leaving the thick, gnarled branches intact. She could climb the tree, then use the branches to jump onto the roof.
“Averieka, don’t go up there! It’s too dangerous.”
Grace said, “We should find an adult. They can get a ladder.”
“That would take too long.” A flicker of hesitation crossed Averieka’s blue eyes, but she steeled herself. “I’ve taken rock climbing lessons. I’ll be fine.”
Clenching her fists, she quickly walked to the garden wall.
To the disbelief of her friends, the usually graceful girl climbed the tree with ease and carefully moved along the sturdy branches onto the roof.
The pure aura of the human child didn’t alarm the kittens. With a few soft words of comfort, Averieka gained their trust.
She gathered the three pitiful kittens into her arms and planned to return the way she came.
But as expected, trouble arose.
The roof was unusually slippery from a recent drizzle. Averieka had to mind her footing while calming the kittens.
Getting down was harder than getting up. Just as she was about to climb back onto the tree, her foot slipped on a small pebble. In an instant, she was engulfed by the feeling of falling.
Still clutching the kittens to her chest, she plummeted, her eyes wide with terror as the ground rushed towards her.
, No! Help!
Desperately, Averieka closed her eyes and chanted quickly in French: “Queen’s Cloak, please activate flight mode!”
Instantly, the wind rushing past her ears stopped.
Before the wide eyes of her friends, Averieka, who had been about to hit the ground, hovered in mid-air, then began to float upwards gracefully like a light, elegant swan.
!!
“Averieka!”
Averieka’s eyes were wide with disbelief. Oh my god, she was flying! How was this possible?
The… no, the Queen’s Cloak could actually fly!
Seeing her drifting further from the ground, Averieka quickly commanded: “Queen’s Cloak, please fly lower.”
The distance shortened.
“Lower.”
“Please bring me down.”
The Queen’s Cloak escorted Averieka safely to the ground. She first placed the frightened kittens inside the house.
The kittens were saved. The daring rescue had stunned her friends.
Averieka was immediately surrounded.
“That cloak is so cool!” The friend who had been mocking her earlier stared at the Queen’s Cloak with a mix of shock and envy.
Grace looked at Averieka sheepishly, hesitating before asking: “Averieka, could I borrow the cloak for a bit? I… I want to try flying too.”
To be honest, Averieka wasn’t very keen on the idea.
She had just unlocked the cloak’s function herself and hadn’t even had a chance to fully enjoy it.
But… good things should be shared with good friends.
Averieka took off the cloak and draped it over her friend, telling her the activation phrase.
The first friend to wear the Queen’s Cloak fixed her gaze on it eagerly and recited the phrase as Averieka had taught her. The cloak remained still, with no reaction.
They looked at each other, confused.
“Why isn’t it working?”
Worried the cloak was broken, Averieka quickly put it back on and said the phrase.
She flew up again.
After several experiments, the children understood: the cloak only worked for Averieka. The Queen’s Cloak belonged to her alone.
“Divine artifact recognizing its master!” exclaimed the only local child among them.
The little foreigners who were still learning Chinese looked confused: “???”
“Our country has tons of xianxia dramas. They’re similar to your Western fantasy dramas. The main character always has a special magical artifact.”
The local child tried hard to explain the concept of a divine artifact, recognizing its master from Eastern fantasy dramas.
After listening, the little foreigners displayed looks of understanding. Averieka felt a surge of joy at being favored by luck. She never expected that Yuyu, whom she had only met once, would give her such a precious gift.
Although the Queen’s Cloak could only be used by Averieka, the clever children still found ways to have fun.
They could hug Averieka while she flew. They found she could carry up to three friends at once.
Averieka’s father was an executive at a toy company. She clearly understood that the Queen’s Cloak was an incredibly advanced technological product.
She spoke seriously: “I want you all to keep this a secret.”
“Of course. I promise I won’t tell anyone, not even my parents.”
Her friends were full of regret.
They felt like fools. If only they had known that little girl named Yuyu was so amazing, they would have tried to befriend he,r too.
Ding dong.
All the children heard a voice message come through on Averieka’s smartwatch:
“Sister Xiaofu, can you give me a ‘Kill’?”
Xiaofu: “!!!”
Five minutes later, Xiaofu cleared her throat and began to address her friends like a general conscripting troops: “Grace, Lily, Mia, Ava, Ryder, your chance to prove yourselves has arrived.”