The quiet and secluded moonlight poured down like mercury through the gaps in the window, spilling onto the screen Fang Qiu used to block the morning sunlight.
Behind the screen, Fang Qiu was curled up into a ball, sleeping comfortably nestled in her bedding.
"Mmm..."
After a long while, she knitted her brows slightly, nuzzled against the pillow, and opened her sleepy, bleary eyes.
"Mm, what time is it..."
Fang Qiu propped herself up with effort and looked dazedly at the environment inside the room.
The room was pitch black.
Fang Qiu groggily felt her way to the table, lit a candle, and stretched her back.
She put away the screen and opened the window.
Outside the window, it was extraordinarily lively; on the distant horizon, the moon had only just risen not long ago.
Speaking of which.
It wasn't until high school that she learned that the moon, like the sun, rises in the east and sets in the west every day.
Therefore, relying on the moon's position, one could calculate the approximate time.
It was currently just past mealtime.
In other words, she had slept for nearly a whole day.
This sleep had been too comfortable.
Buying this screen was truly the right choice; it blocked the light seeping in from the window gaps. Coupled with Sister Ying'er's balm, it allowed her to have a good sleep.
However, this kind of soothing balm couldn't be used all the time, or else she might not be able to sleep without it.
After putting away the balm, Fang Qiu covered her flat stomach and decided to go out to eat something.
After washing up and changing her clothes, Fang Qiu locked the door and set off.
After eating a bowl of noodles with an extra portion of beef at the noodle shop opposite, Fang Qiu decided to go to that dessert shop opened by Mondstadters.
However, on the way to the shop opened by Mondstadters, Fang Qiu passed by Wanwen Bookhouse.
She discovered that the business of the taverns near Wanwen Bookhouse was explosively popular. Especially the tavern downstairs from Wanwen Bookhouse run by that gentle married woman—not only was the interior full, but even the tables set up outside the tavern were packed with people.
Then, Fang Qiu noticed that the tables of those sitting at the entrance all had her books on them.
"I originally thought my Dao heart was firm and unbreakable by anyone, that even Fang Qiu's books could absolutely not shake me. I didn't expect that a single phrase 'I don't want to go' would make me cry out loud. It seems I am still far from the level needed to go to Jueyun Karst to seek immortals and ask about the Dao."
A bald man fiercely downed a cup of wine, his eyes rimmed red—a tough guy shedding tears.
"Speaking of which, I heard... I once saw a white-haired immortal from afar in Jueyun Karst. Relying on her own strength, she easily defeated a monster as tall as a two-story building. Some old readers say Old Thief Fang Qiu is also a white-haired beauty. Do you guys think that white-haired immortal might be Old Thief Fang Qiu?"
Beside him, a thin youth also drank a cup with him.
"Gradually forgetting, unable to catch up to tomorrow... Tomorrow will never again... have your smiling face..."
"Stop reciting, bro. You're making me want to cry again. Come, have a drink."
"I will never read this Old Thief Fang Qiu's books again! If I read them again, I'm a dog!"
The crowd drank continuously and ordered wine continuously.
That gentle married woman, the tavern proprietress dressed in a cheongsam, was currently wearing a faint smile, constantly serving wine to the guests' tables.
Just as she placed wine before a person who was dead drunk, she suddenly saw Fang Qiu standing in the middle of the street.
The two looked at each other.
"What a beautiful person."
The tavern proprietress looked at Fang Qiu and couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
If she could come to work at her tavern, just standing there collecting money would probably attract a large crowd of drinking guests.
Fang Qiu was also stunned.
Why was this proprietress staring at her?
This eye contact had lasted over five seconds, right?
Hiss!
Could it be she had recognized her?
Thinking of this, Fang Qiu couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
Her delicate body trembled; in short, she was a bit panicked.
Just as Fang Qiu was hesitating whether to hurry up and run away, that proprietress walked towards her.
Seeing this scene, Fang Qiu panicked even more.
Just as she took a step back and planned to turn around and leave, the proprietress spoke.
"Hello, young lady."
"Uh, hello, is there something the matter?"
Fang Qiu asked, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile that was nervous yet did not lose its elegance.
"I see that you are so beautiful, young lady, so I wanted to ask if you have any interest in coming to work at our tavern," the proprietress said.
"Eh?"
Hearing the proprietress's words, Fang Qiu couldn't help but freeze.
What was the situation?
Was this proprietress a pimp?
"Young lady, don't misunderstand. Ours is a proper tavern, only providing food and drink services; there are absolutely no other services. Our tavern has Liyue's famous legal expert Yanfei as a legal consultant. Once there's a lecher who tries to get handsy with you, I guarantee Yanfei can make him lose his entire family fortune in compensation."
Seeing Fang Qiu not speaking, the proprietress hurriedly explained.
After speaking, seeing Fang Qiu still hadn't answered, the proprietress continued, "How about this? You just need to come to our tavern to collect Mora, and I'll give you a salary of ten thousand Mora a month, how about it? If that doesn't work, twelve thousand is also okay!"
"Uh, that... sorry, I don't have plans in that regard for the time being."
Seeing the tavern proprietress's expression looking like she was about to continue raising the price, Fang Qiu hurriedly refused.
"Is that so... Well alright. Anyway, you are welcome here anytime. If you feel tempted, just come to the tavern to find me."
Seeing Fang Qiu refuse, the proprietress couldn't help but sigh, speaking with a face full of disappointment.
However, she hadn't held out much hope in the beginning anyway.
After all, a beauty of this level didn't look like an ordinary person at a glance, not to mention she even had a Vision hanging at her waist.
But, one always had to try!
What if it worked?
Seeing the proprietress return to the tavern to continue working with a face full of regret, Fang Qiu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
That gave her a scare; she thought she had been recognized.
Seeing that she wasn't discovered, Fang Qiu hurried to slip away, walking quickly all the way to that dessert shop.
The dessert shop's business was extraordinarily hot today.
It was full of people inside and out. After ordering, Fang Qiu waited for a long time. Only after a couple left did Fang Qiu take their spot and sit down.
She had just sat down when she heard several girls at the table behind her discussing Sword and Fairy.
"Did you guys read it? That plotline with Zixuan and Xu Changqing was really too touching; I cried reading it."
"Yeah, I cried reading it too."
"'Dry wood and blazing fire'... so that's what it meant."
"That little poem fits the mood too well. Love spreading like a blazing fire... I really look forward to having a romance like that."
"After finishing it, I didn't think about having a romance, but I also want to pick up a pen and write a book like this, a book that moves people deeply and brings them to tears."
"No problem, write it. I support you. Show it to us first after you finish?"
"No way."
Hearing their conversation, Fang Qiu smiled gently. She scooped out a piece of cake and put it in her mouth. Feeling the delicate and smooth cake melt in her mouth, Fang Qiu couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile happily.
The happiest thing in life was nothing more than this.
On the way home, she would buy some Lotus Cake from the dessert shop.
________________________________________
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