In the half month that passed, Yin Lin had already been debuted for about two months.
The owner of the milk tea shop had invited her several times, hoping she would attend Yin Lin’s two-month debut ceremony. Someone wanted to hold a debut anniversary for Yin Lin in the shop.
Huh? There’s a debut anniversary even for two months?
Isn’t this just another way to come up with an excuse to make money?
Huang Yijun had also invited Song Wuli these days, hoping he’d go to the milk tea shop with him, since there would be an event for Yin Lin.
Huang Yijun was very excited, but Song Wuli remained as cold as ever, refusing again and again—probably a dozen times—before Huang Yijun finally gave up.
Faced with the invitation from the milk tea shop owner.
Song Wuli originally intended to refuse as well; both in spirit and body, he wanted nothing more than to say no.
His fingers had already typed out the words “I’m busy” and were about to send it.
But the owner played the emotional card, sending a photo over.
It was a shot of a child sitting alone in the corner, holding a phone but not looking at it, instead gazing at the shop’s entrance.
Damn, an emotional card!
Song Wuli began battling his inner demon, but after five seconds, he surrendered.
He went.
Given that this city had the ever-watchful magical girl Lǜye patrolling and searching for Yin Lin every day.
Old Song cautiously considered where to transform.
Checking the time, it was already 8:00 PM. Xiao Liu and Chang Kaihuai had left a while ago, and Greta had just left too.
There was no one from Copywriting Team 2 left. Old Song worked a bit more, then finally got off work, slinging his heavy backpack onto the bus.
He got off at the cemetery and approached the pitch-black graveyard.
He even flew a drone once, confirming that there was no one around, then snuck under a tree to transform.
He already had to hide from the Human Alliance, and now he had to hide from Lǜye as well. What kind of life was this? Why was it so suffocating to be a Giant Meat?
The first thing he did after transforming was take off his clothes and hide anything magical-girl related on him.
Then, just like usual, he put on makeup to make himself look ugly, changed into regular clothes and a wig, grabbed his bag with its self-defense props, and left.
By the time he arrived near the milk tea shop, it was already 9:30 PM.
Tonight, the milk tea shop was practically reserved; even the entrance was full, with men and women alike all wearing Yin Lin T-shirts.
As expected, Huang Yijun was here, mingling with the young Yin Lin fans, singing loudly just outside the shop.
This was just too enthusiastic.
When Yao Ruoning arrived, Huang Yijun even led the crowd in cheering, causing a wave of applause and shouts from everyone.
It felt like some kind of underground idol scene.
Suddenly, Song Wuli paused, recalling something.
Underground idol?!
No way, right? The idol Greta mentioned couldn’t possibly refer to a magical girl, could it?
It must just be a coincidence. Knowing Greta, she must mean some boy group idol.
Yao Ruoning walked up to the door, and someone kindly helped open it for her.
She nodded slightly and entered the shop, drawing another round of cheers from the customers inside.
It was so lively, every seat filled.
Everyone was either wearing a Yin Lin T-shirt or a hat, some even wore Yin Lin’s signature wig, or waved white glow sticks or Wand Props.
It was as bustling as a concert.
Yao Ruoning went to change, swapping out her regular clothes for a cosplay outfit, without carrying a trace of magic on her.
No sooner had she entered the main hall than people started frantically placing orders, so she had no choice but to grab her notebook and start jotting them down as she went.
Maybe this was the charm of Yao Ruoning or Yin Lin—within five minutes, over a hundred cups of various milk tea and juices had been ordered; she’d have to work until dawn.
Half of the crowd even chanted the special catchphrase, requesting specifically that Yao Ruoning make their drinks, making it even busier.
The owner, swept up by the atmosphere, loudly announced that they’d be extending business hours tonight.
They really planned to stay open until dawn.
Just as she was about to start making milk tea, the shop suddenly quieted down, so suddenly it was startling.
She looked up, just in time to see a child rush over.
He grabbed her leg and burst into tears.
It was that little friend from the chubby kids’ circle. One day, he’d come into the shop alone, and Yao Ruoning had given him a free glass of lemonade.
The next time she saw him was during the battle with Biscuit Boy. He and his family of three were traveling on the road when they were attacked by Biscuit Boy, who killed his mother right there.
Then, Biscuit Boy took his father as a hostage.
They were almost all killed together by the Eastern Alliance, both demon and hostage alike, but that time, it was Yin Lin who saved his father.
She didn’t know what happened to them after that; she hadn’t seen the little guy in the shop for a long time. But today, on Yin Lin’s anniversary, he turned up.
Maybe he came especially for this.
For some reason, instead of crying to Yin Lin, he came and hugged Yao Ruoning’s leg, sobbing.
Yao Ruoning didn’t push him away, just let him cry, one hand gently stroking his little head.
This small interlude delayed her about three minutes. The little one slowly calmed down, then walked back toward his seat, looking back at her every two steps, reluctant to leave, his eyes red and swollen, nose red as well.
He’d come alone today, his father absent.
The chubby kid was there too, hugging and comforting him.
After a while, Huang Yijun came over and gave the little guy a Yin Lin Wand Prop.
Only then did the little guy cheer up a bit.
The shop’s atmosphere was slowly easing; Huang Yijun knew how to liven things up, bringing a portable speaker and grabbing the mic to start singing.
The owner didn’t mind, just kept smiling and focused on takeout orders.
Huang Yijun started off with “Spring Day Shadow”; no one knew why he chose to perform that.
The audience waved their white glow sticks, and those who knew the song sang along.
The little milk tea shop had become an underground idol concert.
Such a lively scene drew attention from the other nearby shops.
The staff and customers of the weapon shop, Sichuan restaurant, hotpot restaurant, and barbecue place all looked over.
No matter how their shops tried to imitate, they could never match the milk tea shop’s atmosphere. It was the difference between heaven and earth, like a poor imitation.
Still, there wasn’t much resentment. Whenever the milk tea shop held an event, they’d also make a bit of money from the spillover effect.
The more savvy street vendors had already pushed their carts over to set up next to the milk tea shop, selling rice noodles and barbecue, making some profit too.
When Huang Yijun sang “The Wind Rises,” the atmosphere soared to a new height. Dozens inside and out, along with passersby and onlookers, all joined in singing.
Halfway through, he forcibly handed the microphone to Yao Ruoning, insisting that she sing.
Huh? She couldn’t sing at all, totally tone-deaf.
But Huang Yijun didn’t care, he still wanted her to sing, and everyone else cheered her on.
She had no choice but to sing “The Wind Rises” in her terribly off-key but somehow extremely pleasant voice. Her timbre was pure enjoyment, lovelier than a lark, more melodious than any instrument.
It’s just that the pitch wasn’t quite right and she kept going off key.
Meanwhile, Huang Yijun was handing out little flyers, introducing their Lord and Heavenly Father to the crowd outside.
The celebration lasted until midnight before wrapping up, with Yao Ruoning’s hands aching from making milk tea all this time.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Huang Yijun left, the chubby kid left, and the other customers also filed out.
While cleaning up, she noticed one person remained.
It was that little friend; he stood at the door, glanced at Yao Ruoning, placed something on the table, then suddenly bowed to her: “Thank you, Big Sister.”
Then he left the milk tea shop.
Yao Ruoning felt a bit puzzled. She had a faint feeling that the little friend… seemed to know her true identity.
Good boy, I hope he stay OK