'No way. Judging by how he's dressed, he's not short on cash.'
'Or is it one of those things where the richer you are, the stingier you get? Trying to mooch two glasses of mint water.'
Besides, how was Shen Lu supposed to explain where the mint water came from? Was she going to say she wasn't from this world, was bound to a system, and made it from ingredients she got by trading in trash?
Even if she were an idiot, she knew this was something she could never let another person find out. Otherwise, she'd surely be met with some inhumane treatment.
Xue Can was losing patience. He controlled the Fire Needle and pushed it a little deeper into Shen Lu's flesh. "Talk! My patience has its limits!"
Suddenly, a flash of black light shot out, striking Xue Can squarely on the arm.
Xue Can let out a muffled grunt and was forced to release Shen Lu. He clutched the bleeding wound and retreated a few steps, his brows knitted tightly together.
Xue Can discreetly scanned his surroundings but couldn't detect the presence of any powerful individual, which only stunned him more.
He was a Level 4 Superpower User. Unless his opponent was two levels higher than him, they wouldn't be able to conceal themselves so perfectly.
'A Level 6 Superpower User?!'
'Just how powerful must the family of a young lady who has a Level 6 Superpower User as a bodyguard be?'
Xue Can pursed his lips, starting to regret his recklessness.
Shen Lu's legs were trembling; all she wanted to do was run.
'This world is terrifying. I run into a thug just selling mint water. If I sell other food in the future, won't they just tear me to pieces? There's no way I can do this business.'
"My apologies." Xue Can's greatest strength was his pragmatism. He coveted the mint water Shen Lu had, but he was also wary of the hidden expert. The best course of action was to bury the hatchet. "I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that the mint water you're selling is too good."
Shen Lu pouted. 'So in the end, it's my fault?'
"Can you sell me all the remaining mint water?" Xue Can asked sincerely. "Will you be here again tomorrow? Can I place an advance order?"
Shen Lu rolled her eyes. 'Oh, so now he decides to be civilized and polite?'
'Do I look like a pushover?'
'No!'
"Ten thousand Star Coins. I can buy all your mint water every day for ten thousand Star Coins."
'Ten thousand Star Coins?!'
Shen Lu was tempted. This was far more than the income she had anticipated.
'If I could earn ten thousand Star Coins every day, it wouldn't be long before I become a rich tycoon and live a very comfortable life.'
[Friendly reminder, Host: Popularity value is not calculated based on the quantity of products sold, but on customer recognition of you and your stall. In other words, one customer can only provide 1 popularity point per day. Even if a customer buys all your products and is very satisfied, it will still only count as 1 popularity point.]
Just like that, her temptation vanished.
She hadn't been paying close attention earlier and had almost forgotten about the popularity value metric.
'Money is important, sure, but popularity value is just as crucial. In a month, the System Mall will only accept popularity value for transactions. For my business to have a healthy growth cycle, I need to get more people to buy my products and approve of them.'
"No," Shen Lu refused him. "Each person can only buy one cup of mint water per day. If you weren't my first customer, I wouldn't have even given you a second cup."
Xue Can's expression showed he had expected as much.
'If she were truly a lower-class citizen, there's no way she could refuse the temptation of ten thousand Star Coins.'
'After all, a lower-class citizen doesn't even make 1,000 Star Coins in a year. Ten thousand is a huge sum.'
'Only the daughter of a wealthy family would treat money like dirt and be so indifferent.'
Xue Can felt a strange sense of regret, but he wasn't the type to dwell on things. He immediately took out 100 Star Coins and placed them on the lid of the bucket. "Forty Star Coins for the mint water, and the other sixty are a small token of my apology. I hope you can forgive my recklessness."
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying his best to appear friendly. "Superpower Users all have moments where they lose control. My Spiritual Sea was a bit turbulent just now; otherwise, this wouldn't have happened."
Shen Lu didn't believe a single word he said. She wasn't an idiot. If not for that sudden flash of black light, he definitely would have dealt with her harshly.
Shen Lu only took 40 Star Coins, leaving the rest untouched.
She lifted her small chin. "My stall is honest with everyone, young and old. One cup of mint water costs 20 Star Coins. I won't take any more."
'He thinks 60 Star Coins is enough to make up for the fright he gave me?'
'I'm not that easily bought.'
Xue Can shrugged and took back the Star Coins Shen Lu had refused. "My name is Xue Can. I'll be back tomorrow to buy your mint water."
Hearing his name, Shen Lu couldn't help but glance at him.
'Xue Can. The very popular second male lead from the book. He has a Fire Ability and is the leader of the fearsome Gale Mercenary Corps. He's cold and pragmatic, always prioritizing his own interests, and only shows his gentle side to the female lead.'
'Even though he met the female lead first, he could only stay by her side as a brother figure, and in the end, he died at the hands of the main villain while saving her.'
'Oh, and the main villain who kills him is currently lying on the cart behind me.'
'Look at that. What an interesting twist of fate.'
Xue Can left with a casual air. Shen Lu pocketed the Star Coins, ladled a cup of mint water, and walked over to Fu Cheng.
"Here. I don't take things for free. Trading some mint water for your medical supplies seems fair, right?"
Shen Lu muttered to herself as she fed the mint water to Fu Cheng.
'System, was that you who saved me just now?' Shen Lu asked in her mind.
[No. This system does not possess any offensive capabilities.]
Shen Lu was surprised. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?"
[It was him. Fu Cheng.]
Perhaps Fu Cheng had heard the system's voice. As soon as his name was spoken, his stiff lips twitched violently, startling Shen Lu so much that she lost her grip on the cup, spilling mint water all over his chin.
"He's—he's—he's come back from the dead?!" Shen Lu leaped up, assuming a defensive stance.
But Fu Cheng made no further movements. After the twitch, his mouth fell silent again, as if what she had just seen was merely a figment of her imagination.
"Are you sure it was him?" Shen Lu didn't dare get any closer to Fu Cheng, only observing him from a distance. "He's practically no different from a dead man. If he could act, why didn't he fight back when he was being bitten by those rats earlier?"
[That is a question for him. This system never lies.]
Shen Lu pursed her lips. 'I'd love to ask, but can Fu Cheng even answer?'
Mustering her courage, she reached for the foldable medical kit. Turning her back to the pedestrians, she took out a healing patch and applied it to the wound on her neck.
Originally, Shen Lu hadn't decided what to do with Fu Cheng. She had only brought him along because she'd been provoked by those rats, thinking that as a proud human, she absolutely couldn't let some rats push her around.
'Great. Now Fu Cheng has saved me. If I just abandon him, wouldn't that be a bit... ungrateful?'
'Although, she knew that even if she didn't help him, he would survive.'
'After all, he's the destined main villain. He has to live until the final chapter, so he must have some extraordinary destiny.'
'Whatever. I'll just treat it like I'm keeping a pet.'
Shen Lu quickly came to terms with it. Once Fu Cheng recovered, he would naturally leave. She would just take care of him for a while as a way to repay him for saving her life.