The next day, Aier smoothly picked up the potions she had ordered.
After paying the remaining balance, and adding the previous deposit, she had spent enough money to buy bread for a whole month in one go.
Although it hurt a little, when she thought about how it would help Xiqi gradually recover her health, Aier felt the money was well spent.
Humming a favorite song from her previous life, Aier walked with a spring in her step toward her cozy little home.
Today, Aier was especially happy.
First, because tomorrow was the one day each week when she could eat meat, and second, because the materials for making the Inferior Strongbody Potion had just run out, so the Workshop couldn’t deliver on time and ended up giving her an unclaimed bottle of Mid Grade Body Strengthening Potion from the shop as compensation.
Even more unexpectedly, the Pharmacy’s Boss told her she was their 1,000th customer, and handed her a Permanent Ten Percent Discount Coupon. As long as she ordered potions from their Workshop, she could enjoy a permanent ten percent discount!
To Aier, this was like a pie falling from the sky. From now on, she could save quite a bit on medicine.
Ever since she met that gentle big sister last night, three good things had happened in a row today. Was her luck finally turning around?
The moment she thought of that big sister, Aier’s mind immediately conjured up that sexy figure.
“Ah, I really want to bury my face in there. Best if I could get a tornado inhalation…”
“And what would it feel like to have my head on that big sister’s lap…”
“With my current body, would this or that be like a pony pulling a heavy cart…”
No, what am I thinking! No matter how great the big sister is, she can’t compare to the little sister I grew up with!
There is but one sun in the sky; in my heart, my little sister is my only sun!
Lost in her wild thoughts, Aier didn’t notice that, just across the street in a small alley, a group of fierce-looking delinquents holding wooden sticks had already set their sights on her.
“Dajietou, is that the legendary Noble Fallen Heiress?”
One of the delinquents pointed at Aier and asked.
The leader, a short-haired girl named Daila, followed her underling’s finger and saw the cheerful figure walking by.
She quickly compared Aier’s golden hair, blue eyes, and delicate, petite profile to the information she had. Daila was sure this was the target her group was looking for.
Last night, the person doing the accounts found a Debt Note for 1 gold coin from two years ago tucked inside the ledger.
According to the information, the debtor was the now-titleless Weirley Lady, who had disappeared two years ago.
They’d thought it was a dead debt, but when they sent an underling to check, they discovered a surviving child of the Weirley Family still living on Heishi Street in the Central District, though the exact address was unknown. So the group decided to wait around today to see if they could catch someone.
And as luck would have it, they did.
Daila gave a signal, then waved her hand. Instantly, the group of delinquents charged out of the alley and surrounded Aier, blocking off any escape.
Aier was startled by the sudden encirclement of fierce strangers. Before she could react, several of the most intimidating delinquents forced her into a deserted alley.
“Y-you… Who are you? What do you want?”
Cornered against the wall, Aier didn’t dare shout, shrinking back, head lowered, trembling in fear.
“Don’t be nervous, cutie. We’re just here to collect a debt. Your mother owed us 1 gold coin two years ago and never paid it back. Now she’s gone, so with interest, you owe us 2 gold coins.”
As she finished, Daila pulled out the Debt Note and held it in front of Aier: “Here~ This is the Debt Note, black and white on paper! As long as you pay up, we promise we won’t make things hard for you.”
“I-I don’t have that much money right now. But don’t worry, I won’t run from your debt. I’ll pay you back little by little…”
Aier timidly avoided their gaze, pleading in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
One of the underlings bared her teeth at Aier: “What nonsense is that? We’ve waited two years and haven’t seen a single copper! Now that we’ve got you, you want to stall again? I think you’re just itching for trouble!”
The underling made as if to hit Aier, but Daila grabbed her wrist and said, “We’re professional debt collectors. How can you threaten people with violence? We have to reason with her, lay out the facts.”
After reprimanding her underling, Daila grinned and pinched Aier’s cheeks, examining her closely.
She had to admit, the moment she saw Aier’s smooth, tender face, she’d wanted to touch it. Now that she was, it felt so soft and springy, like cotton candy.
If it weren’t working hours, she’d love to pin Aier down and give her a good squeeze.
She cupped Aier’s face, making her look up.
“Tsk tsk tsk, Dajietou, look how tender her little face is. No wonder she’s of noble birth—she’s a real beauty. With that pure look, she’s sure to be in high demand.”
“Dajietou, why don’t we take her back with us? All those noble lords at the hotel would fight over her, and our debt would be paid off in no time!”
Aier’s cuteness was obvious to all. Not just noble lords—even the noble ladies wouldn’t be able to resist!
“That makes sense… tsk tsk.” Daila swept Aier’s bangs up, revealing a face full of innocence, even her little forehead was adorable, making people want to smooch it. Those rich ladies would love her type the most!
Don’t forget, in the Empire of Dawn, the androgynous look was all the rage. Even married socialites often kept a few beloved ‘pets’ in private.
Aier’s type was exactly their cup of tea!
“No, I don’t want to go. I’ll find another job and pay you back.”
Aier wanted to run, but she was outnumbered and her weak body wouldn’t get her far. She could only resist helplessly.
Besides, in any era, taverns and hotels were not reputable places. Her upbringing in both lives had never supported her doing that kind of work.
Those places, full of temptation and drunken debauchery, would only make people fall deeper and deeper.
Daila smiled and pinned Aier’s wrist against the wall: “Don’t be so stubborn. We’re not throwing you into the fire. Besides, the place we’re recommending is a proper tavern. All you’d have to do is serve tea, pour drinks, run errands, and flatter a few rich lords and ladies. No matter how proud you are, there’s no need to fight with money, right? Why put on airs?”
Daila: “Besides… don’t you have a sickly little sister who needs money for medicine? You work all kinds of odd jobs and barely make anything a month. At this rate, your sister will be sick her whole life. Compared to that, what’s so bad about being a hotel waitress? With those bigwigs, if you sweet-talk them, serve drinks, and encourage them to drink more, one night’s tips could be more than two months’ wages. If one of them is happy and tosses you a gold coin or two, your debt would be cleared in no time!”