The Price and the New Book

18:30 PM.

The Sealed Book Library, west of the city. Lantian Building, Room 1202, 12th floor.

It was a very old building, located in a rather remote area.

This was the place where Dujuan grew up. Hua Nian once lived in 1201, but now someone new had moved in.

After Yi Xian graduated and moved into the guild, Dujuan could no longer maintain the high expenses of the Yi family villa. She returned to this place with her children.

Tonight, Room 1202 was unusually lively.

Yi Zhu and Yi Xian had come here for the first time.

Overjoyed, Dujuan had prepared a large table of dishes.

Yi Zhu finally got to eat honey-glazed ribs again. Yi Xian handed over the small wooden stick, and the family had an open conversation about everything.

When Dujuan heard the term "mother" for the first time, her eyes reddened as she said:

"It’s wonderful that you’ve both regained your sight and your ability to taste sweetness. I can rest easy now. From now on, in the guild, you must take good care of yourselves."

"Don’t worry. Oh, your younger brother will start school next year, right? We can help with homework when the time comes. Contact us if you ever face any difficulties."

"Sure. And Yi Xian, take this small wooden stick. It’s not for hitting you at all. This was Hua Nian’s keepsake left for you. It was her most prized weapon."

18:31 PM.

The Yi siblings, still at the dinner table, both froze for a second or two.

Then, as if nothing had happened, they finished the last bite of their meal.

After dinner, they quickly said their goodbyes.

"Take it slow. Drop by whenever you have time."

Dujuan saw them to the door, but they wouldn’t let her come downstairs.

Walking down the hallway.

Silence hung between them.

Halfway down the stairs, Yi Zhu suddenly asked: "Yi Xian, you also placed a request with Brother Miemie, didn’t you? What was the cost?"

Yi Xian walked carefully, as if avoiding a stumble.

She stopped for a moment of hesitation, then answered, knowing that since they’d be together every day in the guild, she couldn’t hide it: "Back then, I thought, since I couldn’t see anyway, I might as well trade my eyes as payment."

Yi Zhu immediately grew agitated: "So that means you can’t see again now!"

"Yes," Yi Xian lifted her head. Her eyes no longer had black pupils—they were completely white. "I think it was worth it. I experienced one day of brightness, you could taste sweetness again, and I also opened a part of my ‘soul’s eye’ to see the world."

Yi Zhu let out a bitter laugh: "My naive little sister, sigh."

"So what about you, brother? To restore my vision, what price did you pay?"

"My sense of taste. All of it."

Another dozen seconds of silence.

"Haha. From now on in the guild, it’ll be my turn to take care of you, brother."

"Haha, then I shall be in your care."

Facing a situation that should have been heartbreaking, they both burst into loud laughter.

Yi Xian, who had been blind, remained blind.

Yi Zhu, who couldn’t taste sweetness, ended up forfeiting even more of his taste.

Nothing seemed to have changed.

Yet everything felt different.

The siblings’ steps were unusually light.

At 19 Fairytale Road.

The [Price Elf] Daidai sat dully on Chen Miemie’s shoulder: "The transaction is complete. The price has been collected."

Chen Miemie seemed lost in thought, not answering right away.

Qinghua gently massaged his shoulders: "What’s wrong? Feeling concerned after collecting the price as agreed?"

Chen Miemie snapped back to reality and shook his head.

"Daidai’s mystery level isn’t high. As long as those two siblings live actively and live up to this moment’s resolve, if they reach [Mystery] Level 3 within two years, they can break through Daidai’s power."

Daidai looked a bit dazed: "Huh? They only need [Mystery] Level 3? I’m stronger than that. How could it—"

Chen Miemie turned to stare straight at it: "Oh? I said they can break through when reaching [Mystery] Level 3. What do you think, Daidai?"

Faced with that not-so-friendly gaze, Daidai instantly caved: "Yes, yes! I’m very weak. It only requires [Mystery] Level 3 to break through."

Chen Miemie gently patted Daidai on its little head.

"As for this two-year period, consider it a hidden Easter egg, a little reward for them—a reward for making a choice that brought me joy."

The day before their goodbye, Chen Miemie had asked both Yi Zhu and Yi Xian the same question: Your request was also submitted by another client. Are you willing to bear the full cost alone, or split it with that other person?

Both Yi Zhu and Yi Xian gave the same answer: they would bear the full cost themselves.

Chen Miemie didn’t reveal who the other client was, but both siblings knew that in this world, if there was one other person willing to pay any price to worry about them, it was Dujuan.

Daidai had earned its name. Barely clever for two seconds, it asked again: "But what if they fall into despair again and can’t reach [Mystery] Level 3 within two years?"

A spider silk descended from the ceiling, hooked Daidai by the collar, and lifted it away. Red’s ominous voice rang out:

"Then the cost stays forever, of course. I’d like to see that. This world doesn’t need so many happy endings."

Chen Miemie nodded, confirming Red’s words.

"I wasn’t thinking about the Yi siblings’ price just now when I spaced out.

I was thinking: we’re basically a shop here, right? And a shop needs to turn a profit. But now that I’ve completed three deals, apart from some minor emotional touches, we haven’t gotten any real benefit.

If every deal goes like this—me as the shopkeeper, and all of you as the staff—aren’t we just doing good deeds for nothing every day, working for free? In the long run, we’ll be eating dust.

We’re not good people. That doesn’t fit our persona."

Qinghua covered her mouth and laughed: "I think you’ve been pretty energetic these past few days, Chen Miemie. You seem happy."

"Happy? Maybe a little. It’s certainly easier than chasing the assassin who tried to kill me—it’s other people’s problems after all. I’m just an assistant or guide. Lots of things I can’t truly feel."

The [Forbidden Fruit Illustrated Record] floated over from the study:

"It’s not like we got nothing, you know. Come look—a new book has appeared in the study."

Curious, everyone followed to take a look.

Without the pointing of the [Forbidden Fruit Illustrated Record], they would never have found the new book.

At the bottom of the bookshelf, in an inconspicuous spot, a brand-new book was tucked among the others.

Chen Miemie pulled it out.

Title: The Golden Stringed Zither

A brief introduction on the cover read: "This is not a love story, but the story of two mothers and two children. The same story might have a different ending if a miracle occurs."

Original author: Granny Qiu

Adapted by: The Mysterious Shopkeeper

"Granny Qiu? That old lady who runs the diner on Warm Jade Road and sells honey—I think her surname is also Qiu?"

At that moment, Chen Miemie’s watch received a message.

Time: 19:19 PM

Sender: [Bridge Ghost]

Content: "The matter you asked me to investigate is strange. I’ve mobilized the guild’s resources and verified repeatedly—the diner on Warm Jade Road has been open for decades. The owner is surnamed Zhang. There has never been a Granny Qiu there, and he never sold honey."