“My dear friends, today we’ve successfully acquired the latest, ah, Magical Girl Grey Moon figurine!”
Outside the merchandise store, a burly internet personality boomed with a loud voice.
The cacophony of his voice abruptly pulled Liu Li and Zhou Huanan back to reality. Liu Li, noticing the selfie stick in the streamer’s hand, realized it would be best if they weren’t caught on camera.
Subtly, she withdrew her hand from Zhou Huanan’s, prompting him to cast a rather resentful glance at the burly internet personality.
“I, Uncle Passerby-san, am here to fulfill my promise to all of you! I fully support the notion that Magical Girl Grey Moon is nothing but a little hussy, and I’ve specifically shelled out a hefty sum for this Magical Girl Grey Moon figurine—two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight!”
“And today! We’re going to burn it to ashes!!”
After declaring this, the burly man displayed the receipt and the Grey Moon figurine from its box for everyone to see. Then, with a flourish, he tossed it onto the ground, set down his camera, and crouched, feigning to ignite it with a lighter.
In truth, in a spot hidden from the audience’s camera, Liu Li and Zhou Huanan observed a shrewd glint in the burly man’s eyes, incongruous with his massive build. His movements were remarkably swift.
His thick fingers deftly tore open the pink packaging of the Magical Girl Grey Moon figurine, folding it into a makeshift lotus pedestal to secure the exquisite figure. Then, he covertly slipped a piece of solid alcohol beneath its feet.
Mission accomplished, the burly man picked up his selfie stick once more, his grin transforming him back into the boisterous lout he portrayed. He then loudly announced he was igniting the figurine’s packaging.
Flames began to spread, and as they reached Magical Girl Grey Moon’s feet, a fierce blue inferno suddenly erupted. The burly man shrieked like a monkey, dramatically conveying emotion as the Grey Moon figurine was gradually consumed by red and blue flames, melting into a chaotic mix of colored plastic.
Finally, only its delicate face remained, comically concluding its demise by blowing a plastic bubble.
Zhou Huanan, along with many others queuing to buy figurines, wore expressions of pained reluctance. Yet, since the man had purchased the item with his own money, and was merely destroying his own property, the police had no grounds to intervene.
Zhou Huanan, however, was somewhat concerned about Liu Li’s reaction to the spectacle. After all, Liu Li adored Magical Girl Grey Moon, having watched her almost daily before. He worried she might be upset after witnessing this.
In reality, Liu Li was indeed stunned. But not in the way Zhou Huanan had imagined. She wasn’t particularly bothered by the destruction of the figurine. Actions taken by people who meant nothing to her held little consequence.
Liu Li’s astonishment stemmed from hearing that her figurine cost two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight? If she wasn’t mistaken, it seemed, perhaps, Manager Tian had later explained to her, regarding the contract, that she would receive half of the figurine’s price in royalties.
Liu Li’s eyes widened. She quickly turned to gaze at the impossibly long queue, its end nowhere in sight—everyone there was lining up for a Grey Moon figurine. With a slightly agitated expression, she looked at Zhou Huanan.
‘This, this way, wouldn’t it be possible to…’
Having received a relatively conservative upbringing, Liu Li held deeply ingrained beliefs: boys should be kind and gentle to girls, work hard in the future, and provide a home for the girl they loved. Considering this, Liu Li found herself daring to dream dreams she had never before allowed herself to entertain.
‘She could buy him (Zhou Huanan) a big house in the city, and live there with the person she loved…’
Stars practically sparkled in Liu Li’s eyes from sheer excitement.
“Thanks for the rockets, my old pals! Hey, whoa, a boss just sent ten rockets, telling me to burn another one! But the merchandise store only allows one purchase per person, what do I do?”
“Ah~ don’t worry, I have a brilliant idea!!”
The burly internet personality howled again, then turned and snagged a passerby who had just emerged from the merchandise store, clutching a gift box. The streamer immediately approached them.
“Brother, how about you give me your Grey Moon figurine? I’ll give you five thousand, alright?”
The passerby showed a hesitant, pained expression, clearly aware of the terrible fate that awaited their beloved figurine if surrendered.
“Oh, for crying out loud, stop dilly-dallying! How about ten thousand, huh!?”
“Alright, alright, alright!!!” The passerby readily agreed, exchanging the figurine for the cash. Gazing at the crisp banknotes, which they hadn’t held in their hand for so long, a joyous smile spread across their face.
“My apologies, little Grey Moon, but I’ll go queue up again and buy a few more to support you!”
‘Oh, absolutely, yes, yes, yes.’ Witnessing this scene, Liu Li became even more delighted, her mouth curving into a smile so wide it almost couldn’t close. Though her mask concealed it, she still instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.
‘If this burly man burning his figurines could actually encourage more people to buy several, then… It would certainly accelerate the construction of her love nest. Liu Li thought it would be quite alright if he burned a few more. No, wait. Please, *please* burn many more!!’
Thus, the internet personality burning figurines gained traffic and wealth, the citizens and Banjao who despised Magical Girl Grey Moon received emotional catharsis, and Magical Girl Grey Moon herself profited handsomely. A world where no one was harmed was achieved!!
Finally, it was Liu Li and Zhou Huanan’s turn to enter the store. Without overly troubling the harried staff, they each paid for their purchases and exited. Naturally, the burly man rushed over to ask if Liu Li and Zhou Huanan would sell their figurines. Zhou Huanan was certainly unwilling. While Liu Li might not voice her displeasure, if *he* were to sell Grey Moon’s figurine, it would undoubtedly create a subtle rift between them. Liu Li was the woman who could become his wife. Even the most minute risk was unacceptable. Moreover, Zhou Huanan’s younger sister, Mu Xi, had been clamoring for a Magical Girl Grey Moon figurine. As an older brother, he had to look out for her.
As for Liu Li, upon hearing Zhou Huanan shake his head and refuse to sell, she beamed with immense happiness. Following his lead, she too shook her head, rejecting the burly streamer’s offer to buy.
“Ah, I see. Even if you won’t sell, I still wish you two lovebirds a long and happy life together! Get married soon, and you can invite me, Uncle Passerby-san, to celebrate~”
‘Ugh… What is this guy even saying!!’
Liu Li, facing the camera and the streamer’s overly enthusiastic gaze, lowered her head, her toes curling tightly inside her shoes. She shot a slightly resentful look at Zhou Huanan.
‘You shrimp-head man, hurry up and jump in to explain, like you usually do!’
“Heh-heh~”
And then Liu Li watched as Zhou Huanan, sporting a smile uncannily similar to the burly streamer’s, transformed into a veritable Shrimp-Head Prince.
Zhou Huanan: “Thank you kindly~”
“You’re very welcome, brother!”
‘Traitor!!’
Liu Li, in a fit of pique, lightly punched Zhou Huanan’s back. Without a word, she turned her face away, sulking. Both the internet streamer and Zhou Huanan exchanged knowing glances.
The burly streamer subtly gave Zhou Huanan a thumbs-up, then whispered to him that there was an excellent bubble tea shop nearby. Zhou Huanan nodded repeatedly, displaying an expression of grateful enlightenment.
Liu Li watched as Zhou Huanan took her right hand, then gently but firmly told her it was time to go. She softly assented, but as a small act of defiance, she shot a glare at the burly streamer before following Zhou Huanan away.
At this very moment, in the internet streamer’s live broadcast, unbeknownst to Liu Li herself, every viewer was stirred with excitement. Netizens felt as though they had been struck by Cupid’s arrow, and comments flooded the stream, page after page.
“Mom! Her gaze is lethal, I’m in love!!”
“Damn it, I want a girlfriend like that too! Even a glare is so captivating; she must be incredibly beautiful in person!”
“I don’t believe it!! Under that mask, she must be Qiao Biluo! The grapes are sour!!”
“Am I the only one who likes that girl’s demeanor? That delicate, refined feeling?”
After Liu Li departed, the burly streamer chuckled, observing the ceaseless torrent of comments in his live chat. When he saw a “boss” send a hundred rockets, requesting him to burn another Grey Moon figurine, he practically blossomed with joy.
What these viewers didn’t know, what even the burly internet personality himself was unaware of, was this: The goddess they could only glimpse through their screens was, in reality, diligently planning to work hard, buy a house for the person she loved, and build a home.
‘Namu-san.’ This was a truth so profound that even the Buddha, upon learning it, would be twisted by jealousy. Fortunately, the kind-hearted, fragile citizens of C-City remained oblivious to such knowledge, which would undoubtedly shatter their delicate sensibilities. Truly, a cause for celebration, and as refreshing as Coca-Cola.