On the way, Liu Ming took out his phone and handed it to Chisa.
"What for?" Chisa asked, puzzled.
"Didn't you just say you wanted to exchange phone numbers? Put your phone number in here, then dial your number," Liu Ming explained.
"Hmph, no sincerity at all," Chisa said, though a slight smile appeared on her lips. She took Liu Ming's phone and quickly operated it.
About three minutes later.
"Hmph, take your phone back," Chisa snorted delicately, returning the phone to Liu Ming.
Chisa was clearly in a much better mood now. She took Xiao Hina's small hand and began to take over Liu Ming's job.
Compared to Liu Ming, Chisa, as a local, was clearly much more professional, explaining every scenic spot eloquently.
However, the two little cuties were completely bewildered.
Precisely because the terminology was too professional, the children couldn't understand it.
This made Chisa very annoyed.
"Hahahaha," Liu Ming burst into laughter.
This earned him a fierce glare from Chisa.
Unbeknownst to them, their relationship had somewhat recovered.
"Are you really not going to write anymore? Wasn't that your dream? You once lived by the sea for over two months just to write a good book. Don't you think it's a shame to give up like this?" Chisa suddenly asked.
Liu Ming fell silent. After a while, he asked an unrelated question.
"I remember your dream was to become a diving instructor, right?"
"Mm," Chisa softly responded.
"So, if your dream comes true, how long do you plan to do it? Don't tell me you'll do it forever; that's simply unrealistic.
Once a dream is realized, it's no longer a dream; there's no longer anticipation or longing. Perhaps there's still passion, still expectation.
But as time passes, that feeling will slowly settle, and then another dream will emerge. How will you choose then?
As for me, I started writing at fifteen, and it's been seven or eight years now. It's time to step down and give new people a chance."
As Liu Ming spoke, his words seemed to change their tone, an expression of loneliness at the top.
"Aren't you still very young? Don't you think it's a shame to do this?" Chisa's tone was full of regret.
"You seem to have misunderstood. Writing isn't my dream, you know. It's just a job. Once I've earned enough money, of course, I'm not interested in continuing to write."
Chisa couldn't help but roll her eyes. She wouldn't believe such nonsense.
She asked unhappily, "If that's the case, then why did you work so hard? Back then, to write a good book, you even came to live here for over two months. With your status at the time, there was no need to do that."
Liu Ming was stunned. He certainly couldn't tell the truth, otherwise Chisa would get upset with him again.
He made up a story, saying, "I'm a celebrity, after all, so of course I want to write a timeless masterpiece as my final work."
Chisa couldn't refute him. After a while, she asked curiously, "Then what is your dream?"
"It's the life I have now. Owning my own small shop, cooking a few delicious meals when the mood strikes,
playing with children in my free time, and enjoying their innocence.
And also playing games online, bullying noobs, and enjoying the fun of spending money on games.
This kind of free and carefree, dream-like life, that is my dream."
"Don't you think this is too much like a salted fish, contributing nothing to society?" Chisa was speechless.
"What's wrong with being a salted fish? Many people want to be a salted fish but can't," Liu Ming said seriously.
Chisa was at a loss for words; he actually took pride in being a salted fish.
"As for my contribution to society, haven't I done enough? How much joy have the children's books I wrote brought to kids? How much emotion have the literary novels I wrote brought to people? How much inspiration has the 'otherworld' genre I pioneered brought to others?"
"Uncle, Xiao Hina is hungry."
"Xiao Ming, I'm hungry too."
Xiao Hina and Kanna walked over at the same time, interrupting Liu Ming who was showing off.
Liu Ming's expression immediately froze, but he didn't get angry with the children.
He checked the time; it was already past 11 and almost 12 o'clock. If they rushed back to the store now, it would probably be very late when they arrived.
Liu Ming and Chisa didn't mind, but Xiao Hina and Kanna were still children, and he wouldn't let them go hungry.
They had no choice but to find a nearby restaurant to make do.
Anyway, Tadokoro Megumi was there, so he wasn't worried they wouldn't have good food.
"Chisa, do you know where there's a restaurant nearby?" Liu Ming asked Chisa, who was a local.
"I rarely come here, so I'm not very clear. But if we walk a bit further, there's a food street; we can go there to eat."
Chisa looked around and gave a helpless answer.
"How long will it take to get there?" Liu Ming continued to ask.
"About 20 minutes," Chisa thought for a moment and said.
"That's a bit long. Let's try to find something nearby first. If we really can't find anything, then we'll go to that food street," Liu Ming thought for a moment and made a decision.
"Alright," Chisa nodded.
Each pulling a loli, they began asking nearby pedestrians.