The next morning, Belle ran to Fu Hua’s room early.
The faint dark circles under her eyes looked like a pair of light little panda marks, clearly showing that she hadn’t slept well last night because of a certain fat chicken’s righteous act.
Seeing this, Fu Hua immediately and seriously concluded that Senti must have done this!
Afternoon
Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of Sixth Street faintly drifted in, accompanied by an occasional cat meow.
Fu Hua was standing among the shelves, holding a rag in her hand, carefully wiping the covers of a row of old-fashioned videotapes.
Her movements were very slow and earnest, like an elderly person enjoying retirement life while playing with tea sets.
“Fu Hua”
Wise’s voice came from behind the counter, “You don’t need to wipe that batch of tapes in the third row so carefully; they’re all old stuff that no one rents.”
Fu Hua raised her head, her eyes behind the red-rimmed glasses blinking.
“It’s fine, I’m free anyway.
The dust on these covers has accumulated for a long time, and it looks comfortable after being wiped clean.”
Her voice was soft, and her tone was gentle, like a cup of warm water that was just right to drink.
Wise looked at her, the curve of his mouth raising slightly again.
This girl had an earnest work ethic that gave people no room for complaint.
She never slacked off, nor would she run off to read manga while working like Belle did.
Everything entrusted to her, she would quietly and silently do well.
“If you’re tired, go take a rest first.
None of these things are urgent.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Wise, you’ve been reading books for a long time too.
Your eyes should rest.”
Wise blinked and gave an awkward smile.
“Haha, no choice, the plot of this Old Capital novel is too exciting, and I accidentally got absorbed in it.”
Belle poked her head out from the second floor and winked at Fu Hua, “My brother actually listens to people’s advice.
You’re amazing, A-Hua.”
Fu Hua lowered her head, looking a bit embarrassed.
The sunlight slanted in through the display window, falling on the edge of the shelves and dyeing her grayish-white hair with a layer of faint gold.
Everything was quiet and ordinary.
Until the bell on the door was chimed, breaking this peace.
Fu Hua was squatting at the very bottom of the shelves organizing a batch of dusty old tapes when her ears suddenly caught a sound of footsteps—hurried, powerful, stepping out a rhythm of ‘I’m in trouble again’ on the floor.
According to intuition, this must be…
“Phaethon!”
Nicole’s voice was even faster than the footsteps.
“Nicole?
You still haven’t settled last month’s commission fee.” Wise’s voice was as calm as water.
“N-No!
I…
I came to find you because…”
Fu Hua stood up from behind the shelves, walked to the counter, picked up the thermos, and poured a cup of warm water for Nicole.
Her movements were light and natural.
“Drink some water first.
Running so fast, your throat must be dry.”
She pushed the cup in front of Nicole, her voice calm and gentle.
Nicole froze for a moment, looked down at the cup of water, and then looked up at Fu Hua.
The girl with long grayish-white hair in front of her was wearing a blue-and-white-trimmed martial arts uniform and red-rimmed glasses, looking completely clean.
She stood beside the counter with her hands folded in front of her, posing obediently like a newly adopted little canary.
“…Thank you.” Nicole picked up the cup and gulped down half of it, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve, “Phaethon, when did you guys hire such a meticulous person?”
“Just a short while ago,” Belle walked down the stairs, crossing her arms, “Her name is Fu Hua, she’s our outstanding clerk, don’t you even think about having any ideas about her.”
“Am I that kind of person?!”
Belle and Wise exchanged glances, and that silence was more powerful than any answer.
“…Tch.”
Nicole tactfully changed the subject and began to ramble on about her commission—the Red Fang Gang, the safe, the astronomical reward.
When talking about the part where Anby and Billy were blasted into the Hollow, her voice gradually lowered, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the cup.
Just then, a pair of warm hands rested on Nicole’s shoulders.
Fu Hua walked up to Nicole and gently pushed the cup towards her hand at the same time.
Nicole glanced down at the cup of water, picked it up and took another sip, then took a deep breath: “At a time like this, you guys are the first ones I thought of, Phaethon!
I can only rely on you!
Please!
Please!”
“Fine.
We’ll take it.
Advance payment.”
After some back-and-forth bargaining, Nicole reluctantly pulled out a crumpled envelope and placed it on the counter.
Belle took the envelope, counted the money, and raised an eyebrow: “This isn’t even half of the credit.”
“The rest will be paid after the commission is completed!” Nicole pressed her hands together, “Please!
Please!”
Belle and Wise exchanged glances.
“Fine, deal.”
Nicole collapsed into the chair with relief.
At this moment, Fu Hua’s little head poked out from behind Nicole.
“Do you need my help?”
The gazes of all three fell on her at the same time.
Belle and Wise immediately shook their heads to refuse.
“Just stay in the shop!
The Hollow is too dangerous.”
“Alright then, you guys be safe.”
Seeing this, Fu Hua could only nod obediently.
Belle looked at her, feeling a warmth in her heart, and reached out to pinch Fu Hua’s cheeks.
“Don’t worry, I’m a professional.”
Fu Hua nodded and said nothing more.
[Bronie the Little Rabbit: The contrast with last night is huge, her acting is too natural.]
[Chiffon’s Little Cake: Feels like a white-to-black character.]
“Belle, prepare the HDD system.
Fu Hua, you help watch the store.” Wise turned and walked towards the HDD room.
“Okay.
Wise, Belle, don’t work too hard either.
Nicole, rest assured and leave it to them.”
The siblings’ steps paused.
Belle turned back and smiled at her, then bounded up the stairs.
Wise adjusted his coat, and the curve of his mouth raised just a little bit more.
Fu Hua stood behind the first-floor counter, listening to the hum of the equipment starting up in the room.
According to the original plot, next should be Nicole taking Eous to the entrance of the Hollow, and then calling Belle—Belle’s consciousness connects to Eous through the HDD system, remotely entering the Hollow to guide Anby and Billy.
Bangboos are Phaethon’s ‘bodies’ to enter the Hollow, not themselves.
Therefore, it was time for her to set off as well.
Fu Hua took off her red-rimmed glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with her cuff.
Her azure-blue eyes glowed slightly under the light.
Waiting for Anby and Billy in the Hollow were not only the predicament of being lost, but also Whitey, the Red Fang Gang boss who was slowly turning into a high-level Ethereals ‘Dulahan’ deep in the Hollow due to having no aether aptitude.
She put her red-rimmed glasses back on, picked up the rag, wiped the last few videotapes on the shelf clean, arranged them neatly, and then walked to the door of the room, calling inside: “A-Zhe, the shelves are all organized, I’m going to rest.”
“Mhm, thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s not hard work.
Rest early after you finish your work.”
A soft chuckle came from Wise in the room, as if he was amused by her serious tone.
Fu Hua turned and walked towards her own room, closed the door, took off her red-rimmed glasses, and removed Xunyu’s clothes.
Dragged the metal box out from under the bed.
The black armor of Shadow Knight Yuelun lay quietly inside, its purple core emitting a faint fluorescent glow.
Changing into the armor, the black tight combat suit fit her body curves, and the mask covered most of her face.
“Voice modification module activated.”
She pushed open the small window of the utility room and climbed out silently.
[Isekai Gift Pack Three Blocks: She’s here, she’s here!!
The mysterious black lady is online!]
[Emperor Wen is Here!: The Grand Fortune driver has gotten on board.]