Chapter 127: The Human World |
Shi Rang's impression of The Capital remained entirely stuck on the time his Grandfather and Grandmother had brought him to watch the flag-raising ceremony.
All that remained of that experience was the essay he had written after returning home.
Regarding The Capital and the Second District, all his fond memories revolved around his time in that small house in the countryside. After his Grandfather and Grandmother passed away one after another, Shi Rang had bounced between numerous boarding schools. The only things left from that period were intense pressure and pain.
Jing Zi was fairly familiar with The Capital. After all, Deacon Huo was a native of the Second District, and since Jing Zi often followed him around, he could be considered half a local. He knew the streets and landmarks far better than Shi Rang, who had not returned home for many years. Upon learning that Shi Rang wanted to go shopping, Jing Zi floored the gas pedal and drove him straight to a Shopping Mall.
Shi Rang deliberately walked up from the underground parking lot to the street level, wanting to see what was so special about this land that was both familiar and foreign to him, a place that Ying Shang deeply yearned for.
However, standing by the side of the road, he found himself unable to describe it.
Although the Tenth District was bustling, it was a chaotic energy that made it difficult to find peace of mind. The streets were not a place where one could relax. A Park might barely serve that purpose, but even then, one had to leave before dark and hurry back home to avoid trouble.
In comparison, the Second District was incredibly... noisy.
At the foot of the jungle-like Skyscrapers, there were people everywhere. Everyone was in a rush, either walking with their heads buried in their phones or hurrying toward their destinations. The streets were like the corridors of a Subway, and everyone was a vehicle traveling along the tracks, never stopping for a single moment. Still, there was no denying that this place was vastly larger than Yunling City.
"So many people..." Leader Jack, hiding in his collar, surveyed everything with a gaze full of wonder. "How can there be this many people? Is today a holiday?"
"It is a weekend, so I suppose that counts as a holiday?" Shi Rang popped his collar to prevent anyone from accidentally spotting Leader Jack.
The miniature boy had been quite depressed lately. Leader Jack's authority had already taken a hit when the townsfolk finally ended their escape. Now that new Mini-Humans had arrived, he had completely reverted to being just a slightly oversized child.
Internal changes were occurring among the Mini-Humans, to the point that even Leader Jack's parents had no energy to look after him. To be honest, it was difficult to care for him anyway. How were two tiny individuals supposed to discipline a child hundreds of times larger than themselves?
Thus, Shi Rang had promised to take him out for a stroll, allowing him to experience The Scent of Human Life.
It was just that this Scent of Human Life was quite different from the endlessly expanding Yunling City he had imagined. It was practically a Smog.
Perhaps he really should do as The Sheriff said and find a less crowded street to experience the world.
Shi Rang also wanted to clear his mind and avoid thinking about the Philosophy of memory and personality.
In his heart, as long as he had not seen her in person, Ying Shang was still in a state of having been taken away by the Management Authority.
It felt strange to go shopping right after gaining a backer and securing his freedom. After all, he now had to deal with three different factions simultaneously while figuring out how to carve out time to improve himself. But after enduring so much turmoil and pressure over the past few days, he really would break down if he did not find a way to relax.
To keep his mind from snapping like an overstretched Spring, Shi Rang needed to come out and waste some time.
Unable to find his sense of existence amidst this chaotic bustle, Shi Rang waved at Jing Zi and entered the Shopping Mall, striving to recover the sense of normal life he had before all this began.
Bright lights and smooth stone floors kept the time inside permanently fixed in the daytime. Shi Rang walked past Designer Clothing Stores he would not have even dared to glance at in the past. He browsed through the stylish and well-tailored outfits displayed on the mannequins before finally making up his mind and stepping through the doors of one of the shops.
"Welcome!" A sales associate immediately approached to greet him.
Faced with this unfamiliar enthusiasm, Shi Rang's Social Anxiety flared up again. Fortunately, Jing Zi was highly competent. He stepped forward, took over the social interaction, and soon followed behind Shi Rang carrying several outfits.
If Jing Zi had not been there, Shi Rang probably would have zoned out entirely...
It was truly strange. He could navigate between several terrifying organizations, wearing different Masks to deal with various schemers, yet he could not handle basic everyday small talk.
Shi Rang changed clothes one outfit after another. His fashion sense was mediocre, whereas Ying Shang was excellent at coordinating outfits. Now that she could not sit on a stool, tilting her head back and forth to observe and make decisions for him, Shi Rang had to rely on his own intuition. After trying on five or six outfits, he finally found a set in a casual, everyday style.
The mirror reflected him wearing a light-colored Hoodie. His entire frame still looked gaunt, with the Cuffs and Trouser Legs hanging loosely. He looked more like a Clothes Hanger than the mannequins did.
It would take a long time to regain the weight he had lost. If Ying Shang saw him looking like this, her heart would probably ache for him, wouldn't it?
It would be fine once he gained the weight back; he would look very stylish then.
Shi Rang was fairly satisfied with this outfit. He lifted the attached price tag to take a look, and froze in place.
"This set really suits you. It looks incredibly handsome on you. We are currently running a promotion, so this entire outfit is ten percent off." The sales associate stood nearby, still wearing an enthusiastic smile. As a salesperson, she would never give up on such an opportunity.
Compared to acting snobby, excessive flattery was far more likely to close the deal. "This is the latest arrival for the season. People will recognize it the moment you step outside. You have excellent taste."
"...How much is it after the discount?"
"Three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Yuan.
"
Shi Rang quickly did the math in his head.
Ah, that was five months of his Living Expenses.
From beneath Shi Rang's collar, Leader Jack voiced exactly what he was thinking, "That is ridiculously expensive!"
Shi Rang stiffly rubbed the fabric of the clothes, recalling a Hoodie with a similar cut in his own wardrobe. That piece of clothing had cost him a hundred Yuan, and he had felt the pinch for quite a while.
'It does not even feel any different. Why on earth does it cost four figures?'
Jing Zi stepped forward calmly, nudging the sales associate aside. "I brought the card."
'Oh, right. I am spending Shi Shixin's money right now.'
Even if he was using that man's money, buying something this expensive still filled Shi Rang with a strong sense of guilt.
Four thousand Yuan. Even if he used it to buy flowers, he could fill Ying Shang's entire room with roses.
The habits ingrained from living a frugal life would likely stay with him for a very long time...
Shi Rang continued trying on clothes in a slight daze, his mind constantly running the price through an Exchange Rate, converting it into food, Utilities, and Snacks.
By the time he and Jing Zi left the store amidst the sales associate's practically ecstatic farewell, Jing Zi had his hands full of shopping bags.
...At least he had bought enough clothes.
Following that luxurious shopping spree, Shi Rang, suffering from severe pangs of conscience, chose a small roadside eatery for lunch.
Sitting down with Jing Zi and Leader Jack at a table coated with a layer of Oil Film, he found this environment much more comfortable.
He was surrounded by Elderly Folks and students out for a meal. Absolutely no one cared whether he was wearing a designer brand or not.
Jing Zi ordered the Pork Rib Noodles. Shi Rang stared at the Menu for a long time before spotting "Cat's Ear Noodles" in the corner.
This was also the name of a dish, and one that was extremely familiar to him.
The person weaving through the customers to deliver food and take orders was the Boss himself. Hearing Shi Rang's order, he let out a confused grunt.
"Are you out of it?" Shi Rang asked.
The Boss glanced at the Menu before realization dawned on him. "Oh, it is still written on there—yes, we have it. I can make it."
Shi Rang's confusion lasted until the dish was served. He scooped up a Dough Nug and popped it into his mouth. His expression tightened for a moment, and then he smiled.
"No wonder the Boss forgot about this dish.
"
"Is it not good?" Jing Zi asked.
Shi Rang felt quite nostalgic. "I once told Ying Shang I would cook some hometown dishes for her. Since ingredients were limited, I followed a video tutorial and whipped up a bowl of Cat's Ear Noodles, which I had never even eaten before—I only chose it because the name was cute. In the end, it tasted exactly like this. It is not terrible, but it is not something you want to eat a lot of. One bite, and my homesickness came bubbling up."
Leader Jack quietly slid down the drawstring of the Hoodie's hood. Shi Rang scooped up another piece of dough so he could get closer and taste it.
The boy stretched his neck, took a bite, made a grimace, and climbed right back up the way he came.
Shi Rang smiled down at the Noodle Soup with floating Seaweed, continuing to eat bite after bite without complaining about the taste again.
"You look very happy," Jing Zi suddenly remarked.
"A little, I guess."
Jing Zi initially wanted to tell him not to feel too pressured, but considering Shi Rang's current identity, how could he possibly be without pressure? So, he changed his words. "This is quite nice."
"Yeah.
"
The two Ascension Society members finished their meal in the bustling little shop. They got into the car, leaving this corner of the ordinary world to return to the Villa, going back to their arduous mission.
The peaceful downtime had temporarily ended. Shi Rang needed to begin executing his plan.