While thanking her, March 7th's gaze was drawn to a conspicuous object on the clinic counter—a unique black curtain puppet wearing a witchs hat.
"Huh? Doctor, this puppet..."
March 7th pointed at it in surprise, "We saw one just like it in a hotel in the Upper Zone! Where did this come from? Is it some popular souvenir?"
Natasha followed her gaze and shook her head, a hint of confusion on her face. "Oh, you mean that... I don't know its exact origins. It just seemed to appear in the clinic suddenly one day. It looked unique, so I just left it there for now."
(Appeared suddenly again?)
March 7th muttered internally, finding the puppet increasingly mysterious.
She shook her head, temporarily putting the puppet aside, and asked instead, "Where is Teacher Danheng? Is he awake?"
Jack nodded, speaking concisely: "Awake. Outside. Investigating."
"Oh," March 7th sighed in relief, then pouted slightly in minor frustration. "I can't believe I was the last one to wake up, honestly..."
Jack silently pointed toward Bronya, who was still peacefully asleep on another nearby sickbed.
March 7th looked in the direction she pointed, immediately gasped, and her voice rose eight octaves: "W-why is she here too?!"
Jack merely shrugged nonchalantly, indicating she didn't know either.
March 7th looked at Jack's overly calm reaction and the unconscious Bronya next to her, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information, her mind a mess.
She decided to first find the reliable Teacher Danheng.
"Um... Doctor Natasha, we'd like to go out and meet up with our companions first, is that alright? Could we entrust Miss Bronya here to your care for the time being?" March 7th requested.
Natasha nodded, "Don't worry, it's safe here. Go ahead, and be careful."
Leaving the clinic and walking down the dim and rugged streets of the Underworld, March 7th looked at Jack, who was silently following her without saying a word, and felt increasingly that something was wrong.
The usual Xing, though often expressionless, always had subtle, lively emotions in her eyes, or would occasionally come up with some nonsensical ideas and actions.
But this "Xing" beside her was too calm, as still as deep water.
"Xing," March 7th couldn't help but lean closer, concern on her face, "Are you... feeling unwell somewhere? Why do I feel like you've been acting strangely ever since you woke up?"
Jack's heart skipped a beat.
(Was I noticed? Where did I slip up? Is this the so-called 'partner's intuition'? Sure enough, bonds are the biggest variable.)
She believed her imitation was flawless; even the difficult Sampo hadn't suspected anything. Could March 7th be this perceptive?
Jack remained outwardly calm, merely tilting her head slightly and looking at March 7th with a questioning gaze.
March 7th, frowning, seriously scrutinized her from head to toe, then said in a very certain tone, "Since you woke up, I haven't seen you rummage through a single trash can! That's completely abnormal!"
Jack: "..."
She felt as if her thought process had encountered an unknown virus attack, resulting in a momentary scramble.
(Rummage... trash can? W-what for?)
She completely failed to understand the act of "rummaging through the trash can."
(Could it be... that this is a unique habit of the individual 'Xing,' used for camouflage or information gathering?)
However, facing March 7th's concerned and probing gaze, Jack knew she had to do something to maintain the persona. She couldn't let her cover be blown.
Thus, under March 7th's concerned gaze, Jack struggled to keep her expression calm and replied in a flat tone, "Currently... haven't seen one... that catches my eye."
March 7th was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded in sudden understanding. "Oh, I see! Your standards have gotten higher!"
But she immediately shook her head vigorously, her pink hair swaying. "No, no! This isn't about standards! Rummaging through trash cans is wrong to begin with! It's so dirty! And full of germs!"
Jack looked at March 7th's anxious attempt to "guide her back to the right path," feeling even more confused internally, but externally could only mimic a certain "stubbornness" from her memory of Xing, uttering three words expressionlessly:
"You don't understand."
Just then, her gaze "firmly" fixed on a rusty, sheet-metal trash can not far down the street.
That look was like a swordsman seeing their destined opponent, or a gourmet discovering a hidden delicacy.
(To avoid suspicion... I must go for it!)
Then, under March 7th's dumbfounded stare, Jack took resolute (and internally questioning) steps directly toward the trash can and began executing what she understood to be the "identity verification protocol"—rummaging through the trash can.
(So... why exactly do I have to rummage through the trash can?! How should I do it? Just stick my hand in?)
March 7th stood rooted to the spot, her mouth forming an 'O', watching Jack rummage through the filthy trash can with an attitude of utmost "piety," despite her slightly clumsy movements (it being her first time). A deep sense of helplessness washed over her.
(...So she didn't change her ways earlier, she just hadn't met her 'true love' yet?)
She held her forehead and let out a helpless sigh.
"Sigh... she's hopeless, truly hopeless..."
Meanwhile, Jack, who was currently wrestling with rusty sheet metal and unknown odors, had only one thought circling in her mind:
(...So, rummaging through this... what exactly is it meant to find? Logic... cannot parse...)
[System Space · Lower Platform]
Soft light bathed the Lower Platform, which had been renovated to be cozy and warm.
Cyrene was sitting on a soft blanket.
Just then, accompanied by light footsteps, Baiheng rushed in like a white whirlwind.
"Cyrene! I'm back! Look, I bought everything you asked for!"
Baiheng placed several paper bags marked with Xianzhou specialty shop logos next to Cyrene, then pulled items out one by one as if presenting treasures.
"This is the latest edition of the 'starship Sea Navigation Safety Guide,' and 'Diheng Jade Tile: Beginner to Master'... Oh, and this book, 'Xianzhou Compendium of Noteworthy Objects: Snacks Edition,' it has so many pictures, it makes me hungry just looking at them! And the lotus root cakes you wanted, I bought them from three different shops; you can try which one is the best! And the tapir bun rolls, I traveled far to find that shop that supposedly has dozens of fillings..."
Cyrene looked at the small mountain that had instantly piled up before her and Baiheng's sparkling eyes, feeling a warmth flow through her heart.
She put down the book, gently picked up a box of exquisitely packaged lotus root cake, and whispered, "Thank you, Miss Baiheng... I'm sorry to have put you to such expense."
"Oh, don't be so polite with me!"
Baiheng waved her hand dismissively, uncaring, then mysteriously pulled out a bottle wrapped in special oil paper with a straw inserted, "And this! The soda douzhier you wrote on your list! I specifically went to the old established brand to buy it. I heard... uh, the taste is very unique. Want to try it?"
Cyrene looked at the liquid, whose color was somewhat subtle, her eyes full of curiosity.
She had never seen a drink like this on Amphoreus.
"Soda... douzhi'er?"
She took the bottle, carefully leaned toward the straw, and taking a light sip, mimicking how Baiheng usually drank juice.
The next second—
"Mph...!"
Cyrene's delicate little face instantly crumpled, her azure eyes widening suddenly, filled with an expression of disbelief.
It was a stimulating flavor, sour and subtly fermented, that shot straight to the crown of her head!
She forced herself not to spit it out, quickly pulled the bottle away, her small nose wrinkled up, looking both pitiful and amusing.
"Pfft..."
Baiheng couldn't help but laugh out loud seeing Cyrene's reaction, and quickly explained, "I told you the taste was 'unique'! Not every native of Luofu can handle this. Quick, eat a piece of lotus root cake to calm down!"
Cyrene quickly picked up a piece of sweet and soft lotus root cake and put it in her mouth. The familiar sweet flavor finally dispelled the strange sensation in her mouth. Only then did she let out a long breath, looking at the bottle of soda douzhier with lingering apprehension, whispering, "...Indeed, it is very unique."
The two exchanged smiles, the atmosphere light and pleasant.
As they chatted, Baiheng's tone gradually became hesitant and serious.
She put down the snacks in her hand, looked at Cyrene, and her fox ears drooped slightly, showing her seriousness.
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