The next day.
Ling did not forget what she had promised Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi, and came early in the morning to help with the investigation questionnaire.
She was busy until the afternoon, and at the same time learned some things about Bringer, who was the protagonist of this tour's main performance.
The group was busy until noon.
At Jinli Ramen.
Hoshimi Aya and the others ate ramen. Unsurprisingly, they would be eating this for nearly the entire next month.
After finishing the ramen, Ling started talking about the tour performance.
However, regarding this matter, when they investigated, the other residents were not very enthusiastic about it.
But because Ling and the others had a good relationship with their neighbors, some still agreed to go take a look.
...
A few days later.
Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi personally came to Sixth Street to inquire about the tour.
However, it was not satisfactory; not a single person agreed to go.
Seeing this, Ling and Zhe suggested helping out by going to find the people who did not list their addresses on the form.
Hoshimi Aya was unaware of this because she was currently in the shop with Number 18, organizing videotapes.
"Are these for here?"
Hoshimi Aya pointed to the single shelf she had arranged and asked.
Number 18 looked over upon hearing this, then shook her head frantically.
"Nyah nyah nyah!" Wrong, wrong, wrong!
"Nyah nyah nyah nyah!" This one is misplaced; this is comedy, that one is horror, and this one is adventure type!"
Number 18 directed.
Hoshimi Aya nodded, obediently followed instructions, and returned them to the places where they should have been shelved.
Hoshimi Aya did not like watching things related to the tour performance, so she refused to go see it, choosing instead to stay behind and manage the shop's business.
Due to certain reasons from before, some of the video sections in the shop had not been organized, and Number 18's small stature could not reach those high shelves.
So, Hoshimi Aya needed to help this time, saving Number 18 the trouble of carrying ladders back and forth.
After being busy for a while, they finally finished.
Eous, 06, and 18 sat back-to-back nearby, resting.
Hoshimi Aya flipped the sign at the entrance from 'Closed' to 'Open for Business' and then sat on the sofa to rest.
It wasn't long before someone walked in.
It was an acquaintance, Coco.
"Hello there! Do you have any recommendations?"
Coco greeted Hoshimi Aya with a smile.
"Huh? Coco?!"
"Shouldn't you be working at the Zha Li milk tea shop right now?"
"What brings you over here to hang out?"
Hoshimi Aya asked, looking at the cute and somewhat dazed Coco in front of her.
She had a record of buying three cups of milk tea for a continuous week, sometimes even more than three, so she was quite clear about Coco's work schedule.
"I have the day off today."
"Coincidentally, there's a videotape I want to watch, but I don't know if you have it here."
Coco continued to ask with a smile.
She looked very relaxed.
"I'm not entirely sure either; this is my first time handling this."
"Let me help you look for it."
"Every genre is categorized."
Saying that, Hoshimi Aya took Coco's hand and began repeating the classification system that Number 18 had explained to her earlier.
She re-explained it to Coco. After finding the movie Coco wanted to watch, she invited her to watch it in the shop.
"Aya, is it really okay if I watch it in the shop?"
Coco asked dazedly, as she knew Aya was not the manager; if anything, she could only be considered an employee.
"It's fine, we're friends!"
Hoshimi Aya said nonchalantly, as Coco was the first friend she had made outside of fictional characters.
Usually, when she secretly drank milk tea, she would sit in the shop and chat with Coco.
Over time, the relationship between the two became close.
The only drawback was that they hadn't exchanged contact information.
Afterward, the two entered a private room and watched the little movie.
...
About an hour later, the two finished watching that videotape.
"Aya, do I really not need to pay?"
Coco asked, confused.
"No need. If you want to watch something next time, just come find me."
"It doesn't cost money anyway."
Hoshimi Aya didn't mind; it wasn't her money being spent, and it was just watching one or two tapes, which wouldn't cost much.
Coco nodded upon seeing this, but when she left, she signed up for a VIP membership.
Hoshimi Aya couldn't even stop her.
"Oh well. I'll just buy an extra cup next time."
Hoshimi Aya smiled as she watched the direction Coco left.
Just as Hoshimi Aya finished speaking, she sensed two people approaching from behind.
"Aya, wasn't that the server from the milk tea shop you frequent?"
Ling asked with a smile.
"It should be her; I remember her work uniform."
"Looks like Aya has made a new friend!"
Zhe also smiled.
They were both pleased that Hoshimi Aya had made a new friend.
"Yes, she's my friend."
"Her name is Coco."
"Oh no, I forgot to get Coco's contact information..."
Hoshimi Aya slapped her forehead as she remembered something.
Never mind, I'll go buy milk tea next time and see if she's free, then I'll ask to add her.
"It's fine, I go there often anyway."
"I'll find a chance to add her later."
"But Aya, you finally made a new friend!"
After saying that, Ling gave Hoshimi Aya a big hug.
After all, Hoshimi Aya rarely socialized outside, and on Sixth Street, apart from Uncle Qiao Pu, everyone else was essentially known but not truly acquainted.
Aya also wouldn't initiate greetings, seeming a bit socially anxious.
"Oh right, how is the matter with the tour performance going?"
Hoshimi Aya remembered the task they had gone out to handle.
Ling then recounted everything that had happened before.
For example, very few people were going to watch the tour performance, as many had other commitments that day and couldn't attend.
Furthermore, other incidents had occurred, such as vehicles losing control for no reason.
And electronic devices had also gone out of control.
She also shared Zhu Yuan and the others' speculation and the matter of pursuing the culprit.
And that they had chased them into The Hollow, and their return this time was to help out with that matter.
"Okay, let's hurry then."
"I'll bring Eous along."
"Don't keep the guys in The Hollow waiting for too long!"
Saying this, Hoshimi Aya proactively picked up Eous and walked toward the door.
She walked toward the location where Ling had come from earlier, and Ling activated her HDD, connecting with Eous.
Hoshimi Aya brought Eous to the entrance of The Hollow that had been mentioned earlier.
"Alright, Aya, this is where it ends."
"Oh right, Aya, you didn't bring a weapon."
"Do not follow me in, do you hear me?!"
"Now, come back immediately!"
After speaking, Ling controlled Eous and walked into The Hollow. As she was about to enter, she looked back at Hoshimi Aya.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya silently walked back. She did indeed want to follow them in.
But since she wasn't allowed, she might as well drop it.
After all, she truly hadn't brought a weapon, making it inconvenient to go in.
For now, she could only go back and watch. If she couldn't personally punish that detestable guy, at least watching from the sidelines would be nice.
After all, he had almost caused trouble for Ling. If it weren't for her, Qing Yi, and Zhu Yuan, they would have gotten into a car accident in that situation.
Ling's condition definitely wouldn't have been good.
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