"This 2800 yuan one is an electric bicycle. The new regulations limit its speed to 25 mph, and it can't have a basket or carry passengers on the back."
"Can't carry passengers? Directly pass." Chu Ge pointed to something that looked like a motorcycle on the other side: "What about this one?"
"This is an electric moped. You need a driver's license, a helmet, and a motorcycle license plate."
"I do have a motorcycle license, but aren't motorcycles banned in Nanjiang now?"
"Banned on some roads in the city. Electric mopeds are okay in most areas, but those that can reach over 100 mph are not."
"Electric scooters can reach over 100 mph?" Chu Ge deeply felt his lack of knowledge: "How much does it cost?"
"Not expensive, a little over 10,000 yuan."
"…What about this moped?"
"This one is 5800 yuan. But this one has a lead-acid battery. It's better to get this lithium battery one, which is only a few hundred yuan more, 6300 yuan… Since you're already going for this one, why not get this one with better range and a smart lock, it's only 6800 yuan…" A 5000 yuan budget went into the credit card section, and it quickly increased to 98,000 yuan.
Chu Ge, who only planned to spend two or three thousand yuan on a small electric scooter, unknowingly spent six thousand eight hundred.
His heart was bleeding. The new round of royalties was quite substantial, but unfortunately, it hadn't arrived yet, and he'd be eating dirt again for the next few days.
It just goes to show, chasing girls really does cost money… The six months he'd been riding with Zhang Qiren probably didn't add up to as much as he'd spent in just this one or two months.
Eating dirt as it was, as the electric scooter leisurely cruised along the riverside road, the gentle evening breeze blowing, and the sweet fragrance of Qiu Wuji on the back seat, Chu Ge's mood improved considerably. He felt the sixty-eight thousand yuan was well worth it. Zhang Qiren? Who's that? He didn't know him.
The only regret was that Qiu Wuji was too strong. She didn't need to cling to his waist like other girls; she just sat there sideways, her balance better than anyone else's.
Should I think of a way to trick her a little, to make her less arrogant, and to prioritize safety...? Hmm... Qiu Wuji was examining the two masks Chu Ge had just bought from a roadside stall, finding them quite cute, but unfortunately, they didn't resemble a man and a woman: "This chubby doll is quite adorable, does it have a name?"
Chu Ge said sadly, "Actually, I once fantasized that you would recognize them."
Qiu Wuji asked curiously, "Why would I recognize them?"
"When those idiots in the group sent you some 'cartoons,' I dreamed that you would download an hour of 'Calabash Brothers,' watch it, and then seriously criticize me, saying that someone your age shouldn't watch such childish things... I would accept the criticism with a mixture of surprise and delight."
Qiu Wuji: "..."
"It turns out they were too honest; they actually sent you real 'cartoons'—can you tell me which one?"
Qiu Wuji gritted her teeth: "Chu Ge, are you...?" "Want to die?" Chu Ge quickly steered the conversation back to the main point: "So these are the Calabash Brothers. The one with the yellow gourd on his head is the third brother, I'll wear it later. The one with the blue gourd is the sixth brother, you'll wear it later." Qiu Wuji teased: "Because you're a bit yellow?" Chu Ge: "...Can you leave the group chat later? You've been infected by them!" Qiu Wuji said: "Then tell me what your intention is?"
"The third brother is invulnerable, I'll say that's my ability. The sixth brother is invisible, that's your ability. It's just making up lies, do you think it'll stump us writers?"
"Is there a slap-on-the-head brother? Invisibility is just for watching, it's boring."
"If it's not necessary, you should intervene less..."
"Oh." Actually, neither of them knew why she had to intervene less, but both of them subconsciously thought so. Perhaps deep down they were still a little insecure? After all, they weren't from this world, and being too conspicuous was never a good thing.
Qiu Wuji hesitated for a moment before asking, "You really want me to come along?"
"Even Lin Wuyang knows I have a woman by my side, and Zhong Yi even asked him to help me with my identity. There's no point in hiding it; it's better to openly admit I'm an ability user, which will reduce suspicion."
"The hearts of those who write books are all dirty."
"Hey, the female sect leader of the Conquest Sect told me this? Don't say I wrote it, or that you thought about it yourself back then."
"Hmph. I just think you're not completely stupid." Qiu Wuji lowered his head, his hand gently stroking the two masks.
The masks emitted a soft light, which then faded.
Chu Ge seemed to sense something: "You're casting a spell again? Won't that shorten our stay?" Qiu Wuji retorted irritably, "Is this little spell really necessary?"
"What spell is it this time?"
"To prevent them from seeing through the masks... What if someone can see through them?"
"Then I think you should cast the spell on the clothes first."
"Go on your bike!" Qiu Wuji said resentfully, "My spell can also change your voice, making it impossible for people to recognize your original voice—that restaurant owner has heard our voices, did you even think of that, you idiot!"
Chu Ge muttered, "Do you really think they're cultivators? With people coming and going in the restaurant, who would remember your voice..." At 8:30 PM, the small restaurant, which already had few customers, was now even more deserted. The owners, a husband and wife, were idly playing on their phones behind the counter when someone suddenly opened the door and entered.
Looking up, they saw a pair of Calabash Brothers.
"Zhong Buli introduced me," the Calabash Brothers said.
A full three seconds of silence followed. The owner, expressionless, said, "Zhong Buli said he wanted everyone to vote, and I'm stating my opinion now: I agree."
The owner's wife added, "A goofball who uses this kind of mask is a perfect match for this group."
Chu Ge asked curiously, "You didn't even ask my name."
"What name do you need?" the owner's wife said. "Shouldn't you just be called Sanwa?"
Chu Ge: "..." That makes perfect sense.
He patted Qiu Wuji's shoulder heavily, "Let's go in, Liuwa."
Qiu Wuji really wanted to say, "I really didn't mean to be so rude over there. If I continue interacting with you guys, I'll have to think carefully before I speak over there..." After a couple of sentences, the owner's game ended in a kill, so he simply went AFK: "I'll take you in."
He pushed open the back door, entered the small courtyard where food was prepared, and led Chu Ge and Qiu Wuji around the backyard to another two-story dilapidated building.
"This building was bought with everyone's money. We've made a few orders over the years, but most of it's gone," the owner said. "My surname is Jin, but people rarely call me by my name. They call me Chef, even though my cooking is just so-so."
"Ahem," Chu Ge said, "Actually, it's not bad."
"Everyone usually gathers here when they have something to do. If 'the dark room' counts as a location, then this little building is the dark room." Chef Jin opened the small, dilapidated building's door. Inside, it was brightly lit, not dark at all.
Unlike the residential building Chu Ge had imagined, this wasn't a living room. Stepping inside, it felt like a gym. There were things everywhere that resembled exercise equipment, and a computer in the corner. Chu Ge immediately spotted a fat man playing a game on the computer.
The young man with writing on his face was practicing writing on his face in front of a mirror.
And Zhong Yi was playing chess with a masked man.
Those things that looked like exercise equipment were empty; there wasn't a single person there.
—This is your practice?
Seeing Chef Jin bring Chu Ge and his companion in, Zhong Yi wasn't surprised. Chu Ge had messaged him beforehand, instructing him to speak directly to the boss. He continued playing chess without looking up, chuckling, "You brought them in, does that mean you agree?"
Chef Jin replied, "Anyway, you're the guarantor. If there are any problems, come to me."
The masked man playing chess said, "I'm a masked man myself, of course I have to agree."
Zhong Yi called out, "Ah Jun, what about you?"
The young man writing turned and called out, "Fatty, what do you say?"
Fatty said, "Ask him if he reads novels. If he's a nymphomaniac, he's dead."
Chu Ge earnestly said, "I'm a loyal reader of 'Boundless Chu Heaven,' my favorite is Qiu Wuji, Qiu Wuji is my wife. Ouch..."
Qiu Wuji pinched his waist, clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Her pretty face beneath the mask was furious. *You're just waiting here, aren't you?*
*The hearts of those who write books are all dirty!* The young man and the fat man were overjoyed and exclaimed in unison, "We passed!" Zhong Yi was saying to the masked man, "Aren't these people strange? Others fight tooth and nail over who gets to steal their wives, but these idiots act like they've found a kindred spirit as soon as they hear someone else is stealing their wife."