Aya Tone was oblivious to the fact that her simple fishing trip had nearly devolved into a monumental mess. Even if she had known, she likely wouldn’t have cared. At this very moment, she was being dragged by Li Jia through Yan’an City’s largest shopping mall, aimlessly wandering.
“Ah…”
‘Who am I, and why am I here?’
Before her, the display counters were laden with a dazzling array of merchandise. Li Jia leaned over, meticulously selecting items, occasionally asking the sales assistant to retrieve them for her to carefully examine in the mirror.
‘How had it come to this?’
Just half an hour ago, she had been comfortably playing games at home. She had been inexplicably summoned by a call from Li Jia, which in itself wasn’t a major issue. However, the crucial point was Li Jia’s intention to purchase spatial defense items.
Magic items were classified as nationally controlled weaponry; non-licensed adventurers were strictly prohibited from entering purchasing establishments. And then, here she was…
‘Damn it! Why did I agree to come out for nothing?’ Aya Tone, the quintessential homebody, wished she could slap her past self from half an hour ago. ‘So foolish!’
“Li Jia, are you done yet?” ‘Shopping was incredibly boring; she just wanted to go home.’
They had been browsing for half an hour, yet hadn’t bought a single item. To Aya Tone, it truly was aimless wandering. If they were only going to look and not buy, she might as well be lying down playing games.
Li Jia, happily holding a piece of jewelry against her chest, heard the complaining voice from behind her. She stood up and pulled the idle Aya Tone onto the seat beside her.
“Aya, quickly, tell me if this looks good?”
“Ah, yes, it’s pretty.”
“At least *look* at it!” Li Jia fumed, pushing a hand against Aya Tone’s head.
Suddenly pressed down by force, Aya Tone’s eyes widened.
“So white…”
Due to her height, sitting on the chair, she barely reached Li Jia’s chest. With that wide-eyed gaze, the expanse of snowy white inevitably fell into her view.
“Ah, no, a very *big* chain! Pfft, a very *white* chain! Yes, good… very good…”
Witnessing Aya Tone’s embarrassed expression, so flustered she desperately tried to change the subject, Li Jia let out a chuckle, her feigned irritation instantly replaced by a bright smile.
‘Aya, was she shy? Such an adorable little expression.’
“Alright, just swipe the card then.” Li Jia didn’t remove the necklace from her swan-like neck; she simply took a card from her bag and handed it to the sales assistant.
“Certainly, please wait a moment.”
Freed from Li Jia’s grasp, Aya Tone stiffly turned her head to the side.
‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a deep scar. Could this be the legendary secret of the Spatial Mage – the Endless Abyss? It was terrifying; she had only glanced at it and nearly had her soul ensnared. If she accidentally got buried in there, hiss…’
While Aya Tone was lost in her wild musings, the sales assistant had already completed the transaction.
“Hey, wait a minute!”
Aya Tone suddenly remembered something, pulling her ID card from her pocket and placing it before the sales assistant.
“The President seemed to mention that this card offers a discount.”
While the discount might not be substantial, for Aya Tone, every penny saved was a penny earned! The sales assistant looked at the unremarkable ID card on the counter, her smile widening further.
Just moments before, she had subtly glanced at Aya Tone, but had been constrained by her status. ‘Heh heh, she could finally speak with this esteemed individual.’
“Please put it away, I’ve already applied the discount for this lady.” She gently pushed the card back towards Aya Tone.
Her movements were polite and gentle, exuding a very comfortable aura.
‘Already discounted?’
Aya Tone blinked, then put her ID card back. “Oh, thank you.”
‘It seemed this sales assistant had recognized her. Hey, she actually had a day where her face alone could get her benefits. How great!’
“Miss, could you tell me what discount my card gets?”
“With your status, you are entitled to a twenty percent discount at all legitimate sales establishments nationwide.”
‘Twenty percent off?! I just found out!’ Aya Tone instantly perked up, excitedly patting Li Jia and waving a small hand. With an air of grand generosity, she declared, “Xiao Jia’er, whatever you want to buy, Young Master Aya will pay!”
Hearing this, Li Jia said nothing, merely covering her mouth with a shallow hand.
‘Hold it in, don’t laugh!’
Yet, suppressing her laughter proved incredibly difficult, so Li Jia gently handed the invoice in her hand to Aya Tone.
Aya Tone nonchalantly unfolded it.
“What?! How much?!”
Her 5.2 vision instantly became severely nearsighted.
“One, two… seven?” ‘Seven zeros? Or before the decimal point?’
“Sister Li, I’m so sorry, I spoke too loudly just now.” Aya Tone meekly returned the bill, her small neck retracting.
‘To know when to yield and when to assert oneself, that is the mark of a true hero!’ It wasn’t that she genuinely lacked money. Her comical antics instantly made both individuals present burst into laughter. The sales assistant managed to maintain her politeness, suppressing her laughter, only a slight curve to her lips betraying her amusement.
Li Jia, however, was a different story. Already struggling to hold back her laughter, she now erupted, the curve of her mouth nearly reaching ninety degrees. Her body shook with laughter, and it took quite some time for her to compose herself.
“It’s fine, just a bit of pocket money.”
“Sister! My dearest sister!” ‘Aya Tone wished she could throw herself into the rich woman’s embrace right then. Millions called pocket money? She was a pauper. I don’t want to work anymore, rich woman, please adopt me! Heh heh, just kidding.’
However, she finally understood why, during ranked matches, people would cry so miserably after she accidentally broke their defensive gear. It seemed these items were truly expensive.
‘Phew~ Thankfully, thankfully.’ Aya Tone patted her tablet. ‘Fortunately, her entire ensemble came with built-in weapons, costing nothing; her formal attire also boasted impressive defensive capabilities, also free. Otherwise, the cost of equipment alone would drain her dry.’
Next, Li Jia resumed her aimless browsing. As she continued to look, her beautiful brows furrowed more and more deeply.
“What’s wrong?” Aya Tone also noticed the dissatisfaction on Li Jia’s face.
“It’s nothing…”
Seeing that Li Jia was unwilling to elaborate, Aya Tone didn’t press further.
Little did she know, Li Jia was currently fretting over what to buy for her. After finally getting Aya out to shop, she couldn’t possibly let her return empty-handed. Yet, having looked through everything, no matter which magic accessory she considered, none seemed to suit Aya, and some might even detract from her inherent cuteness. ‘What should she do?’
Suddenly!
Li Jia’s gaze was drawn to a shop with a wild, decorative style, and she pulled the looking-around Aya Tone directly towards it.
“Boss! How much for these beast ears?”
“Eight thousand.”
“Alright! I’ll take them!”
Without waiting for the boss to explain further, Li Jia immediately handed over her card. Releasing her grip on Aya Tone, she used one hand to take the fox ears from the display rack. Her eyes sparkled as she carefully stroked the fur.
Such magic items typically weren’t high-grade because, as external organs, their abilities were naturally limited. Like these ears, their only ability was enhanced hearing. However, most people who chose to buy them weren’t after the abilities. It was more for… ahem, ahem. Those who knew, knew.
“Oh, Li Jia, so you have this kind of hobby, too.” Aya Tone crossed her arms, observing with interest. ‘So, mature women also enjoy such little trinkets?’ ‘Hmph, hmph, she was certainly learning new things.’