“How about this—let me give you my number.” Lin Hai thought for a moment and decided to leave his phone number with Wang Meng. If there ever really came a time when Wang Meng needed his help, he’d lend him a hand just that once.
Wang Meng immediately whipped out his phone, looking flattered, his heart racing with excitement.
“Brother Lin, go ahead.”
“186…” Lin Hai recited his number.
Wang Meng hurriedly typed it into his phone, saved it with utmost care, and his thrilled little heart was practically thumping out of his chest.
“Alright. If anything comes up in the future, you can give me a call.” Lin Hai waved his hand at Wang Meng.
“Then, Brother Lin, take care,” Wang Meng said, bending slightly at the waist as he politely opened the door and got out of the car.
Watching Lin Hai’s car disappear in a cloud of dust, Wang Meng pulled out his phone again and stared at Lin Hai’s number in his contacts over and over, his excitement written all over his face.
“Hahaha, damn it! I’ve finally got myself a backer! I’m about to hit the big time!”
As Lin Hai drove, he suddenly noticed that Liu Xinqing kept sneaking glances at him.
“Hey, little sister-in-law, why do you keep peeking at me? Is it because your big brother here is just too handsome and oozing with charm, and you can’t help yourself?” Lin Hai said with a mischievous grin.
“Pfft! Don’t flatter yourself!” Liu Xinqing rolled her eyes. “I just want to drive. Can I take the wheel for a bit? I’ve only driven once since I learned.”
“Oh, so you want to drive, huh? Sure, but first, say something nice to me.” Lin Hai smirked smugly.
“Hmph, you dirty pervert! Dream on!” Liu Xinqing pouted.
“Hey, can you stop calling me a dirty pervert? Your big brother here is pure as snow, you know?” Lin Hai looked annoyed. Wasn’t it just that the first time they met, he accidentally caught a glimpse of her “big white bunnies”? Did she really have to hold such a grudge?
“Yeah, sure—pure as snow, just like Pigsy,” Liu Xinqing said, then covered her little mouth and giggled.
Pfft!
Lin Hai was thoroughly exasperated.
Seriously, were you complimenting me or dissing me?
Pigsy and “pure” don’t belong in the same sentence, not even in a hundred lifetimes!
If he counted as pure, then was there anything impure left in this world?
“Hey, pull over quick! Let me drive for a while—just let me have some fun!” Liu Xinqing stopped laughing, grabbed Lin Hai’s arm, and gave it a shake.
“Whoa, little sister-in-law, can you have some sense of safety? Your big brother is driving here!” Lin Hai quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Pfft, you and your foul mouth!” Liu Xinqing’s cheeks flushed—Lin Hai’s words, when strung together, sounded way too ambiguous.
“Get out.” Liu Xinqing shoved Lin Hai into the passenger seat and eagerly took the wheel herself.
At first, Lin Hai was a bit nervous, but once he saw that Liu Xinqing was driving pretty well, he relaxed.
He pulled out his phone and was about to check WeChat.
The moment he opened it—
Ding!
Someone had sent him a message.
Lin Hai opened it and saw—oh? Golden Flower Boy!
It had been so long since they’d last talked that he’d almost forgotten about him.
He opened the message.
Golden Flower Boy: Great Immortal, remember to give the patient the last pill tomorrow.
Little Confused Immortal: Mm, got it.
Lin Hai had never forgotten about Liu Shan’s situation. Even if Golden Flower Boy hadn’t reminded him, he wouldn’t have let it slip.
Golden Flower Boy: Great Immortal, after the patient wakes up tomorrow, about that carrot business…
Pfft!
Seriously, this guy was still hung up on that carrot? Lin Hai himself had completely forgotten about it.
But no matter what, Golden Flower Boy had helped him out big time. A single carrot wasn’t something Lin Hai was going to weasel out of.
“Pull over by the roadside.” As it happened, there was a street vendor selling vegetables, so Lin Hai had Liu Xinqing stop the car.
“What for? I haven’t had enough driving yet!” Liu Xinqing thought Lin Hai was taking the wheel away, and her little mouth immediately puckered up.
Lin Hai ignored her, hopped out of the car, and walked straight to the stall.
“Give me a carrot—no, make it two.”
“Alright, let’s go.” After buying the carrots, Lin Hai got into the back seat this time.
When Liu Xinqing saw that Lin Hai was still letting her drive, the girl was over the moon. She stepped on the gas, and the car pulled off smoothly.
Little Confused Immortal: Sending you the carrot right now. Thank you so much.
You sent a carrot to Golden Flower Boy.
Golden Flower Boy: Great Immortal, a thousand thanks! If there’s ever anything this little boy can do for you, just say the word. Followed by a long row of kneeling-and-bowing emojis.
Lin Hai chuckled and found Jade Rabbit’s WeChat as well.
Jade Rabbit was, after all, his very first friend. And the reason he and Liu Xinyue had gotten together—ultimately—all started with that handwritten copy of Moon Palace Celestial Music that Jade Rabbit had sold him.
In a way, Jade Rabbit could even be considered the matchmaker between him and Liu Xinyue.
So, since he’d run into a carrot seller, he figured he’d send one to Jade Rabbit too, as a little token of gratitude.
Ding!
You sent a carrot to Jade Rabbit.
Soon, Jade Rabbit’s reply came through.
Jade Rabbit: Great Immortal, you’ve sent me such a precious gift again. I’m so touched! Followed by a row of crying emojis.
Lin Hai snickered to himself. Precious, my foot. All it took was one carrot to make her cry like that—this rabbit sure was an emotional one.
Little Confused Immortal: Go ahead and eat it. Wash it first, though—washing makes it healthier.
Jade Rabbit: Great Immortal, hang on a sec.
Huh? Wait for her? What for?
After a moment—
Ding!
Jade Rabbit: Great Immortal, are you there?
Little Confused Immortal: I’m here.
Ding!
Jade Rabbit sent you a portion of Howling Celestial Dog’s dog food.
Jade Rabbit: Great Immortal, Howling Celestial Dog came by to hang out yesterday and gave me some dog food. He said it was super tasty, but I tried it and it wasn’t really my thing, so I’m sending it to you instead.
Pfft!
Lin Hai was furious.
Damn it, you stupid rabbit! You’re sending me dog food? Do I look like a dog to you?
You get your fluffy butt out here right now, and I promise I won’t beat you to death!
He opened his Cosmic Pouch and sure enough, there was a portion of dog food inside.
Ugh! Forget it. Considering Jade Rabbit meant well, Lin Hai couldn’t really say much.
“Hm?” Lin Hai suddenly noticed that there was a thin red string in the Cosmic Pouch.
“What’s this?” He tapped it with his finger.
Fate Thread: Can be tied around the ankles of two people to bind their fates together.
Lin Hai then remembered that he’d snatched a red envelope from the Old Matchmaker earlier and had completely forgotten about it.
Ding!
Suddenly, someone was adding him as a friend?
Lin Hai opened it and his eyes went wide.
“What the—Chang’e the Moon Goddess!” Lin Hai felt a surge of excitement.
Chang’e was known as the number one beauty in the Heavenly Court, and she was adding him on her own? What was that about?
Was this little lady setting her sights on your big brother here and making the first move?
Lin Hai mused to himself, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Accept!
Ding!
Your friend limit has been reached. Unable to add.
Crap! Lin Hai had forgotten about that.
Damn it, so what if there’s a limit? If there’s a limit, I’ll just expand it.
Wasn’t it just 100,000 merit points? Your big brother here has plenty of merit points now—100,000 was nothing!
This was Chang’e we were talking about! Even if it cost a million, he’d spend it all just to add her!
Ding!
You have expanded Little Confused Immortal’s friend capacity by one slot, costing 100,000 merit points.
Accept!
As soon as the expansion was done, Lin Hai hit accept again.
The moment he did, Chang’e’s message came through.
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: You’re in the mortal world? Followed by a long row of shocked emojis.
Whoa—Lin Hai was startled. How did she know? Had he been exposed?
Before Lin Hai could reply, another message from Chang’e popped up.
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: I saw that carrot you just sent to Jade Rabbit. That’s a mortal-world item. I’ve seen it before when I was down there.
Crap, so it was the carrot that gave him away.
Lin Hai cursed under his breath. He should’ve known better than to send one to Jade Rabbit—what a self-inflicted mess.
But Lin Hai couldn’t admit it. Those goofy immortals had said that the realms of gods and mortals were forever separated. If they found out he was in the mortal world, who knew what kind of trouble that would cause?
With that in mind, Lin Hai typed out a reply and sent it to Chang’e.
Little Confused Immortal: You jest, Goddess. The celestial and mortal realms have been forever separated. How could I possibly be in the mortal world?
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: Then how do you have a carrot?
Little Confused Immortal: I’m currently in a secret realm, and this place is covered with carrots everywhere.
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: Where is this secret realm? I’d like to see it too.
Pfft! Lin Hai thought. I’d love for you to come, but the real question is—can you even get here?
Little Confused Immortal: Goddess, I’m lost in this secret realm. I have no idea where I am myself.
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: I see. So besides carrots, what else is there?
Little Confused Immortal: Nothing. Absolutely nothing else.
Lin Hai didn’t dare say anything more—what if she caught some clue?
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: Oh, that’s disappointing. I was hoping there might be all sorts of mortal-world things. Could you send me a carrot too? I really miss the taste of mortal food.
Little Confused Immortal: Goddess Chang’e, carrots here are incredibly precious—comparable to peaches of immortality, completely different from the ones in the mortal world. And there aren’t many in this secret realm either.
Lin Hai deliberately blurred the concept of what a carrot was, so Chang’e wouldn’t suspect he was in the mortal world.
Chang’e the Moon Goddess: I don’t need many. How about you just send me one? I’m easy to please—one carrot is all it takes to satisfy me. Followed by a shy emoji.
Pfft!
Lin Hai nearly spat out his drink when he read Chang’e’s message.
Seriously, Sister Chang’e, that line of yours seems a little… ambiguous.
