"Hello, one mint water." Xue Can wasn't one for pleasantries and placed his order bluntly.
Only a fool would turn down a paying customer. Shen Lu didn't give Xue Can a smile, but she ladled out the mint water and handed it to him, taking the opportunity to promote her egg waffles as well.
"My new egg waffles are delicious. Would you like to try one?"
Xue Can downed the mint water in one go. His fiery pupils narrowed slightly, as if he were savoring it.
He didn't hesitate at Shen Lu's recommendation and nodded in agreement.
Shen Lu immediately started making the egg waffle, rattling off the price in a clear voice. "An egg waffle is 40 Star Coins, so with the mint water, that's 60 Star Coins total."
"Fine."
Xue Can looked down at the young woman crouching before the iron stool, making the egg waffle. She was still wearing that same dirty lace dress, and her hair was slightly disheveled, but her face and hands were clean.
So clean, in fact, they gave her away. There was no way she was truly some poor, lower-class citizen reduced to running a street stall.
'How long will she keep playing this game of "experiencing life"?'
Suddenly, Xue Can found himself concerned about it.
The mint water could soothe his Spiritual Sea, but the effect wasn't long-lasting. He'd had two cups yesterday, and in less than an hour, his Spiritual Sea had gradually returned to its usual state.
If his Spiritual Sea had never been calmed, Xue Can wouldn't have found its constant state of near-riot so irritating.
But he *had* experienced that peace. The method was so simple and the cost was next to nothing. How could he not be tempted?
Xue Can's fingers tightened around the cup. In the most sincere voice he had ever used, he asked, "Is there really no way you can sell me more mint water? You can name any condition. As long as it's not outrageous, I'll meet it."
Shen Lu glanced up at him and refused coolly, "No."
'Popularity value is much harder to earn than money. I sold over twenty cups of mint water yesterday and only got 15 points.'
Shen Lu didn't understand. Every customer who drank the mint water yesterday had a look of bliss on their face. 'How could anyone still be unsatisfied?'
'Is my service bad?'
'Or is the product not good?'
After thinking it over, Shen Lu decided her stall was just too crude.
Most customers on Gold Street had some financial means and certain standards for their quality of life.
'Maybe those who weren't satisfied were unhappy with the dining environment.'
But that wasn't something Shen Lu could solve overnight.
Renting a storefront wasn't the same price as renting an apartment. Besides, Shen Lu wanted to pick a good location. She couldn't very well open her shop in the Seventeenth District, could she?
Xue Can sighed in disappointment. He set his cup on the lid of a bucket, his nostrils flaring as he stared intently at the egg waffle maker.
On his way over, he had caught an overpowering, sweet aroma and had wondered when a new pastry shop had opened on Gold Street.
Only now did he realize it was the young woman's new product.
It smelled so good.
Incredibly good.
Xue Can had never been particular about food. As long as it was edible and provided energy, it was fine. He'd never felt a desire to actually *taste* something.
But right now, he was very curious to taste the egg waffle Shen Lu had recommended.
His gaze swept past her and landed on Fu Cheng.
He'd noticed the man yesterday. He had no dangerous aura about him and was so heavily injured he looked like he could breathe his last at any moment.
'This rich young miss really spares no effort for her persona. I wonder where she found such a half-dead guy to prop up in the back every time she sets up shop, just to prove how "poor" she is and how she "needs" to make money.'
The corner of Xue Can's mouth curled into a sneer. 'These upper-class folks really know how to have their fun.'
The wait for the egg waffle wasn't long; it would be ready in two or three minutes.
"It's a little hot right off the griddle, and I don't have any bags at the moment. Maybe you should wait for it to cool down a bit before you eat?" Shen Lu reminded him kindly.
"It doesn't matter. I'm not afraid of the heat."
'What a joke. I'm a Fire Ability User. How could I possibly be afraid of a little heat?'
Just as he was about to bring the egg waffle to his mouth, a grating voice cut in.
"Who gave you permission to set up a stall here?"
A steel pipe was pointed in their direction. "Don't you know the rules? You wanna run a stall on Gold Street without paying me respect? You must have a death wish!"
Shen Lu cursed inwardly. 'No wonder there were so few stalls on Gold Street. I thought it was because the customers here looked down on street food, so nobody bothered.'
'Turns out there's a local tyrant.'
Ma Laosan got a clear look at Shen Lu's face, then rubbed his chin and let out a lecherous chuckle. "Well now, it's a little lady. Alright, I won't make things hard for you. Just sleep with me every night, and you won't have to pay the management fee."
The two Ma Zai beside him snickered. "Our Brother Ma is the top dog of Gold Street. You'd better do what he says, or there'll be hell to pay!"
Shen Lu pressed her lips together, her eyes flicking toward Fu Cheng behind her.
'He secretly saved me yesterday. I wonder if he can do it again today?'
Ma Laosan took a couple of steps forward and reached out to pinch Shen Lu's cheek.
'It's been a long time since I've seen such a tender, pretty little thing,' he thought. 'And she just had to fall right into my lap. Looks like I'm in for some fun tonight.'
Suddenly, Ma Laosan's smile froze. A glowing Fire Needle had inexplicably appeared in the palm of his outstretched hand.
"AH! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!"
Ma Laosan clutched his hand, howling in agony. He wanted to pull the Fire Needle out but was afraid of its intense heat.
The air was instantly filled with the smell of roasting flesh. Shen Lu's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Xue Can in disbelief.
'I know that Fire Needle,' she thought. 'It's the same one that pricked me yesterday.'
With a flick of his finger, Xue Can recalled the Fire Needle to his side. He then kicked out with a long leg and barked, "Get lost!"
Ma Laosan was kicked squarely on the behind and fell to the ground, shrieking in rage. But when he got a clear look at Xue Can's face, all the foul curses died in his throat.
"Mr... Mr. Xue?!"
'Why is this demon here?'
'Doesn't he always stay out of other people's business?'
"She's with me. If I ever see you harassing her again, I'll cripple you."
Ma Laosan was both shocked and suspicious, his gaze darting back and forth between Shen Lu and Xue Can.
He immediately started concocting a story about their relationship in his head.
'Dammit, how was I so damn blind I didn't see Mr. Xue? If I'd known she was his girl, I wouldn't have dared say a word, not even if you gave me ten times the nerve.'
"I was out of line." Even though his hand was killing him, Ma Laosan forced a smile. "Mr. Xue and the missus, please don't be angry. I'll apologize right now!"
"Would you please not call me that?" Shen Lu said, clearly displeased. "I have nothing to do with him."
'Unbelievable. First, that customer mistook me and Fu Cheng for siblings, and now this guy thinks Xue Can and I are a couple. What's with that? Do I have to be defined by my relationship to some guy?'
Ma Laosan lightly slapped his own cheek and said in a tone that screamed, 'I get it, I get it.' "Yes, yes, you're right. I was talking nonsense. Don't be angry, miss."
'Looks like Mr. Xue hasn't won the girl over yet. I can't piss her off with a careless title, not when Mr. Xue's face is getting colder by the second.'
Ma Laosan's butt clenched. He had the suffocating feeling he might not survive the day.
Shen Lu: …
'This guy's face is a mess of wrinkles, and he has the nerve to call *me* "sis"?'