My Exclusive Dream World Adventures

Chapter 100: 100 The Girl Feeding the Cat
 

“Are you sure you want fifty servings?”

Chen Xu had just settled back at his spot near the entrance and came over when he heard the man’s question to confirm.

“Yes.”

The man’s round face broke into an honest smile, “Our company is just nearby, and we’re all working overtime tonight. I was planning to bring back some late-night snacks for everyone, and your noodles aren’t bad.”

Chen Xu felt a bit embarrassed, “Sorry, I didn’t prepare much today, I probably only have about twenty servings.”

“Is that so.”

The man frowned slightly and said, “That’s fine then. I’ll pay you for twenty servings first, and you can start making them while I go get my car.”

As he spoke, he took out his phone, paid with a QR code, and left.

Once he was gone, Chen Ziqi jumped up excitedly, “Finally, a big order! Oh, Chen Xu, why didn’t you prepare more?”

Chen Xu glanced at the bowl of noodles that had only been eaten with one bite, thinking the man was a bit odd, but since the payment was made, he decided to go ahead with the order.

He had run out of soup stock, which he hadn’t made much of to avoid it going bad.

Preparing noodles didn’t take much time, and when the man arrived in a black Volkswagen, Chen Xu had already prepared twenty servings, all packed in disposable containers with the noodles and soup kept separate to prevent sogginess.

Chen Ziqi found some cardboard boxes to hold the containers. As soon as the car arrived, they loaded it up.

“A total of twenty-five servings.”

Chen Xu placed the last few servings in the trunk and said.

“Okay.” The man took out his phone, paid for the additional five servings, and drove off.

Chen Xu announced, “Alright, we’re done for the day.”

“Can’t believe we’re already profiting on the third day. Let’s go celebrate, how about karaoke?” Chen Ziqi suggested enthusiastically.

“Got work tomorrow.”

Chen Xu smashed her hopes with a single sentence.

“Oh.” She pouted, visibly disappointed, but didn’t insist on going.

Chen Xu couldn’t help but laugh when he saw her like this, adding, “Let’s wait for the weekend.”

“Hurrah!” Chen Ziqi instantly cheered up, her face brimming with joy.

Suddenly, Chen Xu felt having a sister wasn’t too bad, despite her being annoying at times with hurtful comments, she could also be quite thoughtful occasionally.

Chen Ziqi clapped her hands and suggested, “Let’s go to my place this weekend and also call my best friend.”

Chen Xu found her persistence amusing yet comforting and patted her head, saying, “Let’s not bother your classmate with this, okay? I’m not incapable of finding a girlfriend; I just don’t have the energy right now. Stop worrying about me and focus on your studies.”

“I’ve told you, stop touching my head.”

Chen Ziqi grabbed his hand, complaining, “How do you not get it? While she’s still young and gullible. Once she gets to high school next year and becomes more experienced, she won’t give you a second glance.”

Chen Xu was both irritated and amused, “So I have such a bad image in your heart that I have to trick someone into dating?”

Chen Ziqi patted his shoulder and sighed, “My silly brother, you need to have some self-awareness.”

“Respect your elders.”

Chen Xu flicked her head, feeling the need to take back his previous comment. A sister like this, aside from being a nuisance, wasn’t good for much else.

…

It was yet another ordinary workday, and perhaps inspired by overtime pay, Chen Xu found his colleagues’ enthusiasm for work had increased significantly, and so had their efficiency. It was just past six-thirty, and everyone had finished work.

Chen Xu took a trip to the restroom and changed into sportswear. Today, he wanted to challenge himself by running home.

In reality, the straight-line distance from the company to his rental wasn’t very far, but the bus took a detour. Running a shortcut might even be quicker than taking the bus.

He stuffed the clothes he had changed out of, along with some documents, into a backpack, shouldered it, and tightened the straps before starting to run.

He ran nonstop for twenty minutes, covering about half the distance. He paused to rest for a while, then continued running.

After about another half-hour, he arrived near the square where he did his morning exercises. Once again exhausted, he stopped.

By this point, he was very close to his rental, so he decided to walk the rest of the way.

All in all, running the entire distance took about an hour. It saved him from the crowded bus and gave him some physical exercise. He decided that in the future, weather permitting, he would always run home.

Going to work sweaty wasn’t ideal, so he would still take the bus.

He walked along a narrow path; it was dinnertime and there weren’t many people. From the houses on both sides, he could smell cooking and hear voices and sounds from televisions.

Turning at an intersection, he entered a small supermarket and bought a bottle of water, drinking as he walked.

Suddenly, he saw a girl in a school uniform with a backpack squatting under a utility pole ahead, her back turned to him.

“It’s so late, why hasn’t she gone home?”

He felt a sense of curiosity, yet he didn’t feel like intruding. As he drew closer, he noticed that not far in front of her were three multicolored kittens, licking food from a box marked with an ‘M’.

The girl was holding a small bag of buns and a bottle of mineral water.

An old lamp hung on the wall next to the utility pole; its rusty lampshade on top, the lightbulb underneath emitted a golden glow, illuminating the girl’s profile as she fed the cats.

This scene in the quiet alley was like something from a painting.

Chen Xu instinctively slowed his pace.

Seeming to notice someone was near, the girl turned her head to look at him once, then stood up, waved at the kittens, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction from him.

Ding ding.

As they passed by each other, he heard a few clear tinkling sounds. Looking back, he saw a small white Hello Kitty figure and a little bell hanging from the zipper of her backpack.

In just a moment, the girl had disappeared at the corner of the alley.

When she turned around, he distinctly saw white earphones in her ears.

Chen Xu took his eyes off her, intending to keep moving, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something where the girl had been squatting. Out of curiosity, he went over and picked it up—it was a student card.

Cao Ningning, XX High School, Year 2, Class 3.

He had heard of the school; it was a prestigious high school that was quite strict. Losing a student card could be somewhat troublesome.

Thinking this, he chased after her, but he could no longer see the girl.

He shook his head; there was nothing more he could do.

…

The girl in the school uniform walked through the alley, turned several corners, exited onto a main road, and entered a residential complex.

Soon, she rode the elevator up to her front door, took out her key to unlock it, but upon hearing the argument inside, she hesitated.

She put her key back in her pocket, walked to the window by the staircase, took out her phone, turned up the volume, and the music seemed to isolate her from the outside world.

She looked out the window, her dark eyes fixed on the night sky, unmoving.