Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Cheng Miao disliked children. She neither liked nor hated Qi Jiajia, but she had never considered forming a team with the girl. A crazed yandere was too dangerous.

Ever since Bai Jiang mentioned Clubs during settlement, Cheng Miao had been thinking. She did want a team; it offered clear advantages over fighting alone.

But she did not want to join an existing Club.

Partly, that was because of her social anxiety. She had no interest in interacting with others or forcing her way into an organization whose members were already tightly bonded.

Moreover, a large Club could never enter every instance together. Some members would inevitably become peripheral. Cheng Miao disliked that arrangement.

Bai Jiang was decent. He knew when to advance or retreat and possessed an appropriate degree of morality and compassion.

But Cheng Miao knew nothing about his senior and did not want to live under someone else’s roof. She had never considered going to Turtle Dove Guesthouse to find him.

As for Qi Jiajia…

Cheng Miao looked down. The girl was playing with her curtain, making the small compartment alternate between light and darkness.

Well, at least one more instance remained before they reached a Guesthouse. She could consider teams then.

“You’re capable and kind. You didn’t want me following you, but you refused to secretly change my registration. You’re interesting.” Qi Jiajia dropped the curtain, propped up her chin, and studied Cheng Miao from head to toe.

“There are plenty of good people, little sister. Get used to it. Tong Qian nearly died because of you.”

Cheng Miao touched the damp ends of her hair, tossed the towel onto the bedside cabinet, and let her long black hair fall loose.

The sight made Qi Jiajia tempted to take a bath too, but she did not want to put the same bloodstained dress back on afterward. She sank into indecision. Hearing Cheng Miao, she replied carelessly, “I looked after her afterward.”

Cheng Miao silently shook her head. The girl understood right and wrong and knew how society worked. She simply did not care for either.

She repaid debts, then considered matters settled. Her emotions were nearly nonexistent.

“Then why are you clinging to me when I haven’t done anything for you?”

Qi Jiajia instantly resembled a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her eyes widened and her temper exploded.

“Who’s clinging to you? I think highly of you! Do you imagine just anyone gets to team with me?”

Cheng Miao regarded her without expression. Apparently, the girl suffered intermittent personality splits and continuous psychopathy.

Spotting the Grocery Store open, Cheng Miao twisted aside from Qi Jiajia’s sudden attack and headed toward it.

Qi Jiajia stared darkly as she left. She began to follow, then glanced with disgust at her own dress. Her expression worsened.

“Welco… Why is it you again?” The tone told Cheng Miao this was Ah Zhang. After so many encounters, they could almost be considered acquaintances.

She greeted it familiarly. “I came to confirm that your promise to provide premium meals whenever I’m staying in your territory still applies.”

“…It applies!” Ah Zhang forced out through clenched teeth.

What was wrong with this woman? Everyone else treated the Front Desk with extreme respect or kept a cautious distance. Why had she started exploiting it?

Cheng Miao nodded in satisfaction. She could not let the Game manipulate her into labor every day. Occasionally, she had to seize an opportunity and shear some wool from the capitalist sheep.

“Are you familiar with the Front Desk at Parrot Guesthouse? Given our relationship, would you introduce us?” Cheng Miao had become so accustomed to Ah Zhang’s appearance that she could speak with it at close range.

Ah Zhang desperately missed the young woman who had once frozen in fear whenever it approached.

What had the Game done? How had such a sweet girl become this shameless creature?
“Not familiar. Never heard of them. Don’t know them,” Ah Zhang said icily without expression.

Cheng Miao sighed regretfully. “All right. By the way, does your Grocery Store buy Items?”

Business? Ah Zhang immediately perked up. “Of course! We buy and sell, fairly and honestly. What do you want to sell?”

“Nothing.” Having obtained the answer she wanted, Cheng Miao glanced at it and waved. “I was only asking. I mainly came to hurry you up with dinner. I’ve been starving in the Game all day.”

“…I see. Have a pleasant evening.” *Go away. Right now!*

Having transferred her bad mood to the Front Desk, Cheng Miao felt much better and prepared to leave. Then she noticed Qi Jiajia standing beside the counter. She had no idea how long the girl had been there.

“Welcome!” Delighted to see another customer, Ah Zhang hurried over. “What would you like, young lady?”

Qi Jiajia had transformed from her earlier rage. Expressionless, she stood beside Cheng Miao and spoke with perfect politeness. “I’d like to order meals.”

Ah Zhang rubbed its antennae happily. “Certainly. Basic, standard, and premium cost the same as before. Which plan would you like?”

Qi Jiajia looked up at Cheng Miao. “Which plan does she have?”

“…Premium.”

“Premium for all three days? You’re rich.”

The words stabbed Ah Zhang directly in the heart.

Qi Jiajia’s expression turned complicated. It had been obvious inside the instance that Cheng Miao was capable. She had not realized just how capable.

Cheng Miao truly did not need her as a teammate. If Qi Jiajia failed to improve, Cheng Miao might reject her even after she followed all the way to Parrot Guesthouse.

She had finally met someone interesting. She could not let Cheng Miao slip away.

Cheng Miao glanced at the price list, then at Qi Jiajia’s ambiguous smile.

Fine. She should not argue with a child… No, forget that.

Remembering that Qi Jiajia had performed well in the instance, Cheng Miao relented slightly. “I’ll pay half. Eating bread for three days isn’t good for you.”

Qi Jiajia had never intended that and froze at Cheng Miao’s offer.

So she truly was kind and meddlesome. Someone like that still existed inside the Game. How interesting.

Qi Jiajia’s smile widened until Cheng Miao nearly thought of Liu Xue. “We’re not teammates yet, so you don’t need to take care of me. Standard meals.”

The last sentence was directed at Ah Zhang.

“Certainly. Thank you for your patronage.” Ah Zhang completed the transaction without expression. It no longer liked Qi Jiajia either.

Such a wonderful opportunity to make that miser Cheng Miao spend money in its Dormitory, and the little brat refused it!

Qi Jiajia’s smile vanished. She gave the suddenly hostile Front Desk an odd look.

But she had no interest in anyone except Cheng Miao. Without waiting for an answer, she sauntered away.

At dinner, Cheng Miao ate her chicken-leg meal with great enjoyment. Qi Jiajia went to wash her hands, then returned to find a hard-boiled egg beside the noodles on her bedside cabinet.

Her expression changed strangely. Pressing her lips together, she glanced at Cheng Miao, who was focused on her chicken leg. This time, she did not throw the egg back.

Qi Jiajia tapped it against the cabinet and clumsily peeled away the shell. Then she seriously ate the pockmarked egg.

At home, she would never touch such a bland egg. Her parents had always required the chef to spend great effort shaping eggs into flowers before she would take two bites.

But sitting in this small bed space, Qi Jiajia ate the first egg she had ever peeled herself, taking each bite with care.