Tea

Things seemed to be getting interesting.

Chen Miemie lowered her arms from her chest. “Tell me, how exactly did this Bi Yi stir up trouble? Did she use schemes or her [Mysterious Prototype]?”

Chunhua scratched his head. “I can’t say for sure. She keeps her Mysterious Prototype extremely well-hidden. Even in class together, she rarely shows it. Once I asked her directly, and she said it was something like [Emotional Perception].”

“Then she told you, didn’t she?”

“She usually conceals it so tightly, yet she told me easily when asked. That felt off to me, so I don’t really believe it.”

“Give me an example then. How exactly did she stir things up?”

“Alright, for instance, once.

I was on the track field, taking the instructor’s guidance for physical training, running laps—10,000 meters.

Since we’re in the same class, our lessons are basically identical. Bi Yi was practicing short-range movement techniques not far away.

We were training separately, but then Luo Lang showed up.

The moment Bi Yi saw me run past her, she stopped her practice and handed me water and a towel to wipe my sweat.

Luo Lang saw that and immediately flew into a rage, coming straight over to pick a fight with me.”

Chen Miemie had a look of “that’s it?” on her face.

“If you weren’t interested, wouldn’t it be simple to just not take the water or towel? Could she have shoved them into your hands?”

“Right, I refused at first. But as Bi Yi handed me the water, she whispered some of my secrets—things no one else should have known, aside from myself.”

“Are you saying she was threatening you?”

“Not exactly a threat. Everyone has some unsavory past and occasional dark sides. Those things of mine—though I’d rather they not be exposed—aren’t really leverage-worthy.

Still, having someone point out little secrets like that makes you curious how they found out, so the conversation kept going.

I needed information from her, and before I knew it, I’d taken the water.

This happened more than once. Sometimes I even felt like someone was secretly watching me and reporting my matters to her.”

“What outcome are you looking for?”

“I want Bi Yi to stop all her actions against me.”

Chen Miemie leaned back, her crescent-shaped eyes fixed on the young man.

“Chunhua—whether that’s your real name, I’ll call you that for now.

Those who come to this shop are people with confusion and emptiness in their hearts.

As a guest, you’re welcome here, and I’m willing to help, but only if the guest is honest with me.

I put my energy into solving clients’ problems, not into mutual suspicion with the clients themselves.

You’re young, but full of schemes. I understand leaving some things unsaid when talking to strangers, but up until now, you’ve still been hiding your true intent. I’m afraid that makes it hard for me to help you.”

Chunhua quickly explained:

“Shopkeeper, I’m not hiding anything. I know about this shop and how hard it is to get here, so I truly cherish this chance.

What I want—I’ve said it from the start. I want to gain power.

With enough power, I can handle both those bullies and the trouble Bi Yi brings, all on my own.

Deep down, I feel that no one in the world is reliable—only oneself. Power grasped in one’s own hands is the most dependable.”

However, thanks to your reminder earlier, I realized that power isn’t achieved overnight, and I might not even be able to afford the cost. So I had to come up with some other superficial troubles instead.

Chen Miemie felt secretly pleased. Young people are so easy to provoke; a little prodding, and they spill everything like beans from a bamboo tube.

“Good, your thinking is very clear. I understand your wariness stems from your desire for power, yet you have nothing to offer and fear being hurt. So this time, let me help you solve one small problem.

If you feel like you’re being watched, and the source truly is that Bi Yi, then with merely a mysterious novice-level technique, I can help you find her.

Loop, get me a large bottle.”

“Sure.” In less than half a minute, Loop brought over a bucket-sized bottle.

Chen Miemie tilted the spout of the Heartless Teapot toward the large bottle.

Warm, jade-green tea flowed slowly into the bottle.

She kept pouring until the entire large bottle was full.

Chunhua stared wide-eyed. Such a small teapot, yet the water inside was endless. This shop was truly mysterious—even the teapot was no ordinary object.

“Alright, take this large bottle of tea with you. When you feel you need it, drink a little. It will clear your mind and sharpen your senses.”

“Thank you, shop owner. May I ask what I need to pay…”

Chen Miemie waved her hand. “It’s just a bit of tea for a guest, nothing worth mentioning as a favor. If you get the chance, treat me to a good cup of tea in return.”

With the matter settled, Chunhua carried the filled large bottle in both arms and left.

After Chunhua left.

The oddities appeared one by one.

Loop cleaned up the cups. “Just like that, you let a guest go?”

Chen Miemie snapped out of her Yellow Robe state.

“Let him go, then. That youngster has a mind far more mature than his age.

He wants power but refuses to pay the price, acting cautious, afraid of being harmed.

He’s still young, so naturally, he thinks there might be other chances to grow stronger without loss. But with this first visit, I have a feeling he’ll come back. And when he does, he won’t have a choice.”

Qinghua nodded in agreement. “No wonder you didn’t bother following him outside.”

“No need to watch. I’ve been busy from morning till night today. I’m not going anywhere.”

Bobo seized the opportunity and immediately chimed in, “True, you’ve worked hard. How about a roast chicken feast tonight? My treat!”

“Are you up to some new tricks again?”

Bobo put his wings on his hips and did a split right on the plate, overly proud. “Of course! You’ll know once you eat it.”

The flesh-formed Loop, Red, Mitu, and Daidai all crowded around.

Using a small knife, they gently cut open Bobo’s chest. The chicken breast meat parted to the sides.

The moment it opened, everyone was stunned.

“Bobo, how do you have two eggs in your belly?!”

Bobo lay on his back on the plate, his wings and legs kicking excitedly, clearly pleased with everyone’s shock.

“Making a fuss. A roast chicken is still a chicken. Having two eggs in its belly is only natural and reasonable.”

“Can we eat those eggs?” Daidai struggled to lift an egg bigger than his head.

Afraid everyone might reject his new creation, Bobo quickly explained, “Of course you can! These are roasted ‘Volcanic Sugar-Core Crispy Eggs’!”

Chen Miemie cut the egg open with a small knife. Sure enough, the outer shell was crispy, while the inside still contained liquid yolk.

As soon as the egg entered his mouth, there was a slight chewiness from the outer “tiger skin,” then the silky smoothness of the egg white, and finally the rich, savory flow of the yolk at the center—three layers in one, leaving a lingering fragrance.

“Good, Bobo, your egg is delicious. An egg of this caliber can absolutely join my breakfast lineup.” Chen Miemie gave it the highest praise.

Bobo was so excited that it did a carp flip, jumping upright on its plate.

But the joy lasted no more than two seconds. The pineapple leaves on its head drooped, and it almost started crying:

“Chen Miemie, I can’t make them normally.

Recently, my [Mystery] has been progressing, and today it just reached 5.7. The baked egg only came about through the blessing of the Eternal Moon Devotee, crossing into the 6.0 tier and unlocking a new ability. Once Eternal Moon Night is over, I won’t have any more eggs!”

Chen Miemie swallowed his egg and comforted it:

“You’ve been improving pretty fast, Bobo. At the very beginning, your [Mystery] was only 5.0. Don’t rush—it won’t be long before you truly reach the sixth tier.”

“Really? You’d better not lie to me.”

“Yeah, I won’t lie to you.”

“I don’t believe it. Unless… unless you eat ten eggs tonight.”