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Looking at the local specialties listed on the menu—Clockwork Pizza, Oak Cake Roll, Flying Saucer Burger…
Su Qing thought for a moment, then made his choice: AAAAAAA!
He pointed to a row on the menu: "From here to here. One of each. All the specialties of Penacony."
[Firefly: !!!]
"Ah, th-this…"
Firefly instinctively opened her wallet and took a peek: "Haha, you… you sure can eat."
Su Qing looked at the menu again, as if analyzing how each dish was made: "We're already here. Gotta try it all."
Firefly: "Makes sense… I'll pay for this then…"
Su Qing: "Mhm."
Firefly trembled a bit as she paid the bill.
Now it was her wallet's turn to go hungry.
[Sparkle: LOL]
[Seele: Brutal.]
[Sparkle: Sweating yet? You *did* tell him to order as he liked.]
[Firefly: Uuu?]
They sat down at a table next to the restaurant.
With the hypnotic jingle from the ad board playing: "Suelada Suelada~ Happy dreams come faster~"
Su Qing devoured the food like a storm.
He even had time to look up and ask: "You're not hungry?"
Firefly's expression was stiff: "I'm dieting."
"Oh, I see."
Su Qing looked a little disappointed: "I was going to save this cake for you, but I guess I shouldn't mess up your diet."
With that, he took a bite of the Oak Cake Roll, pausing for a moment at the taste.
But paired with Suelada, he quickly finished it.
Firefly watched him with puppy-dog eyes, her pale neck bobbing slightly as she swallowed her saliva.
[Seele: No way!! You actually ate all that?!]
[Bronya: Unbelievable.]
[Stelle: That pitiful look on Firefly's face… I can't take it.]
Since Firefly still had work in the afternoon as a performer, after eating they only took a short stroll together.
Then they parted ways.
Firefly looked at her now-empty wallet, eyes a little teary.
That was her long-saved stash of private funds.
Her favorite food, the Oak Cake Roll she always had every day, was probably out of reach today.
She took out the photo and stared at it, pouting: "…Such a good shot."
She sighed softly.
Just like she said—treat it as payment for the photo.
·
·
That afternoon, as work ended.
"Firefly, someone's here for you."
Firefly had just finished her shift and was about to leave when a coworker called out.
She turned toward the door and saw a familiar figure. "Su Qing?"
[That afternoon, you wandered around on your own again, only to realize that in Penacony… a guide was kind of essential.]
[After asking around, you found your way to the Iris Family's estate.]
[You waited outside, and upon hearing Firefly call your name, you explained your purpose.]
[For the next two months, you wanted to hire her as your personal guide.]
[You'd pay her standard guide rates, based on time…]
[As you discussed, the two of you walked and talked, soon passing another restaurant.]
Firefly instinctively glanced at it, then touched her wallet and quickly turned her head, picking up her pace.
To resist the temptations of delicious smells, she planned to walk past as fast as possible.
But Su Qing stopped. "Right, the photo sessions might take extra time and energy compared to regular touring."
"So, as an extra payment, how about I treat you to two desserts every day?"
Firefly froze. "Eh?"
[Firefly: Huh?]
[Simulated and real-world Firefly reacted at the same time with an adorable little gasp.]
[Firefly: (No simulated memory) (So she's only now realizing…)]
[Firefly: So… that's how things are progressing?]
[Bronya: 6]
[March 7th: 6]
[Sparkle: 9]
[Seele: Ohh, pulling this move, huh?]
[Stelle: Trying to win over our Firefly with sweets, huh?]
[Black Swan: No, based on this morning's memory, Su Qing was actually just starving…]
[Himeko: And probably just didn't want to miss out on tasting everything too.]
Firefly stopped in her tracks, her heart swaying.
Then she quickly waved her hands: "That wouldn't be right! Standard pay is enough. Adding sweets is too much…"
Su Qing: "Didn't you treat me earlier?"
Firefly shook her head: "That was payment for the photo."
Su Qing: "Then this can be payment for the extra physical effort you'll make as my guide."
[March 7th: He's smooth with words.]
Firefly couldn't find a reason to argue: "Is that so…?"
Under Su Qing's convincing logic—or maybe the temptation of desserts—Firefly agreed.
"Alright."
Firefly made a tiny fist and declared: "As long as I'm free, no matter how long you want to explore Penacony, I'll go with you!"
"Been waiting for you to say that." Su Qing smiled. "Then, what do you want to eat? Let's start with today's dessert."
Firefly didn't hesitate: "Two Oak Cake Rolls!"
Oak…
Su Qing remembered the taste and smacked his tongue: "Just so you know, they're not good. Very bitter."
Firefly looked surprised: "But that's my favorite cake."
"Really now." Su Qing rubbed his chin.
Maybe she just has a unique palate?
In any case, Su Qing bought her two Oak Cake Rolls and handed them over.
"Thanks!" Firefly took them happily.
"No worries about calories?"
"It's fine! We're in a dream world anyway~"
[Stelle: What a flexible standard.]
Firefly didn't mention dieting anymore. Holding her two Oak Rolls, she smiled so brightly it was as if flowers bloomed beside her. Su Qing bought himself another cone.
Firefly: "Let's walk and eat~"
Is there anything better than eating your favorite cake?
Of course!
It's finishing one, and still having *another*!
After work, having dessert made Firefly's mood skyrocket.
She took a happy bite: "Where do you wanna go next? I'll take you~"
[March 7th: So wholesome… I'm smiling too!]
[Firefly: Hehe~]
·
[With Firefly as your guide, your efficiency improved.]
[The Hour of Sun, the Hour of Hot Sands, the Hour of the Oasis… there were endless places to explore in Penacony.]
[You lost yourself in the dreamlike cityscape—an entire month passed in the blink of an eye.]
[Firefly poured her heart into guiding you, and in that time, you captured countless photos, recording your version of Penacony.]
[Meeting up became routine.]
[And every time she saw you, Firefly had this expectant look.]
[You knew what she looked forward to wasn't the job—]
[But the two little cakes. That made you feel she was adorable.]
[You also realized that Firefly wasn't well-off.]
[That meal she treated you to—she must've saved for a long time.]
[You felt guilty. But that guilt melted each time you saw her smiling with dessert in hand.]
[More surprisingly, you started to notice… Firefly didn't seem like just an ordinary girl.]
[She'd vanish for a day or two sometimes, like she had other duties.]
[She dodged common questions—Where are you from? Why are you in Penacony? What's your dream? Got any friends…?]
[You wondered… are those sensitive topics for her?]
[Then one day, you witnessed a conflict.]
While enjoying her cake, Firefly calmly analyzed: "The one on the left has weak footwork, the one on the right lacks power. Terrible efficiency."
Su Qing looked at her: "?"
Firefly snapped back: "Ah! A fight?! So scary—(flat tone) W-we should go!"
[Seele: LOL that fake scared voice is so fake.]
After walking a bit, Firefly rushed to explain: "That… was from a martial arts movie I watched!"
Su Qing nodded: "Say no more. I believe you."
[And that's when you felt certain—Firefly was far from ordinary.]
[But you didn't press her.]
[Everyone has their secrets. It's normal.]
[Still… you were curious. Such a pretty girl—how does she fight? Is she a One-Punch-Woman?!]
[You even felt a bit lucky that she didn't deck you that time you pigged out in front of her.]
[Stelle: (Just imagined that scene)]
[Stelle: Dang it?]
[Firefly: I'd never do that!!]
·
[One month passed in no time.]
[You two became closer. Aside from that one fight you witnessed, everything else was peaceful.]
[Maybe the second month would pass just as quietly.]
[Eventually.]
[Even with a touch of reluctance… just like all dreamlike meetings in this city, you'd say goodbye.]
[But fate's gears often turn in silence.]
That day—
Su Qing, like usual, arrived at the Iris Family's place.
Just as he spotted Firefly and began walking over—
A piercing voice rang out: "Yo~ if it isn't our little stowaway and her cameraman boyfriend?"
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