“The two girls are amazing. They actually got the First prize. This prize suits you two very well,” a couple in the crowd praised.
“You’re so amazing, Sister. Your cooperation was great. I was watching just now; you two look like a match made in heaven,” a demon race girl approached, eyes wide as she looked up at Flora and Xueli with envy.
Flora looked at Xueli, who was still examining the ring, and pulled her hand.
“Xiao Xue, that little girl just said we look like a match made in heaven. What do you think?”
“Eh, um, maybe.”
“Haha, Xiao Xue, you’re not sure? To be honest, I can’t say for sure either.”
“Hmm…” Xueli seemed to think of something and lowered her head slightly.
“Well, we’ve only known each other for a short time. Saying that really is a bit early,” Flora said, appearing quite composed.
Flora tugged on Xueli’s arm a few more times.
“Let’s go, let’s keep walking. we shouldn’t stay here any longer.”
“Okay, let’s go then.”
Flora pulled Xueli along.
To be honest, Flora didn’t know where this road led or what was on it. But it didn’t matter; they could just keep walking.
As they walked, they reached a busy area with many roadside stalls.
“There’s a place selling candy over there. Do you want to go take a look? Let’s buy some; I’m kind of in the mood for it.”
“Sure, we can go look,” Xueli said in her eternal, unchanging tone.
‘I really don’t know if Xueli is some 10,000-year-old ice element spirit or something. Which glacier did she pop out of?’ Flora muttered to herself, her voice nearly inaudible.
‘Wait, why does this complaint feel a bit strange?’
They approached the stall and looked at the various candies inside—red, pink, and white—a dazzling array.
“Xiao Xue, do you usually like eating candy?”
“It’s okay. Sometimes I eat some, sometimes I don’t.”
“Then what kind of candy do you like?”
“Maybe… the softer ones. I don’t eat hard candy much. What about you? What kind do you like?”
“Me? I haven’t eaten much before. If I had to say, I think I like ones with a strong milky flavor.”
“Oh, and one more thing—I don’t eat chocolate candy. I hate chocolate!” Flora struck a disgusted pose, placing both hands on her hips.
‘But why does that sentence feel so cute?’
“Why?” Xueli had never heard such a statement. For someone to say they hated chocolate, something must have happened.
“A while ago, I bravely bought a piece of pure dark chocolate and ate it with great enthusiasm. Guess what happened? It was bitter as death!”
Xueli didn’t interrupt and continued listening.
“It was seriously super, super bitter. And not just bitter; there was a strange taste within the bitterness. It was disgusting.”
“The result is that whenever I eat any chocolate now, I get this ‘dark chocolate aftereffect’ — no matter how sweet it is, it will definitely turn disgustingly bitter after a while. It even makes me feel a bit like throwing up,” Flora said with a look of extreme distaste.
“Uh, you weren’t like that before?”
“No! I was fine eating chocolate before. Ever since I finished that piece of pure dark chocolate, my whole body just can’t handle it anymore.”
“Ah…” Xueli had never heard of such a situation. Whose fault was it exactly? Fufu’s, or the pure dark chocolate’s?
“Forget it, forget it. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s see what candy to buy,” Flora ended the topic, shifting the conversation back to buying candy.
“Don’t you like softer candies? Then let’s buy some soft candies. I like them too.”
“Store Owner, which ones are the soft candies?” Flora looked at the stall owner. The owner had noticed them long ago but hadn’t interrupted.
“These are all of them,” the Store Owner pointed some out.
“How about this one?” Xueli looked at a red soft candy that sparkled under the light.
“It looks okay. Do you want it?” Flora asked Xueli.
“…No need. Let’s look at others.”
As they looked, Flora saw a special candy. It was shaped like a kitten and came in various colors, some even having two colors mixed together.
“Xiao Xue, come look at this. This candy looks delicious, and it’s shaped like a kitten.”
The Store Owner noticed as well and said, “This is our special variety: kitten soft candy.”
“Kitten soft candy! What a cute name! And it sounds delicious.” Flora’s eyes lit up, and her right hand unconsciously started clawing at the air beside her leg.
Some of the kittens on the candy were curled up, some had their front legs stretched out as if they were yawning, and some weren’t a whole body but just a pattern of a kitten’s head.
“Store Owner, can I try one?” Flora looked at the various types of kitten soft candy, really wanting to taste one.
“Sure, go ahead.”
Flora took one out and handed one to Xueli beside her.
This candy was green, probably green apple or mint flavored.
It felt soft when squeezed and was very elastic. It was quite fun to play with.
Flora put the candy into her mouth. The candy was pressed by her teeth, bounced back, and was then crushed.
The sweet green apple flavor flowed out from her teeth and saliva, soaking into her taste buds and stimulating her nerves.
“Mmph, sho good!” Flora couldn’t help but speak while still chewing, making her voice sound soft and muffled.
“Mine is grape-flavored. It has a bit of a sour and tart feeling.”
“Mine is green apple. It’s sweeter.” Flora finished eating as well.
“I think it’s quite tasty. It’s very chewy and soft. Should we buy some? Besides, we have a bond with cats, so buying some will be a nice souvenir,” Flora looked at Xueli.
“Yes, we can. It really is quite a coincidence.”
Flora put some soft candies into a bag.
“This should be enough.” She looked at Xueli.
Xueli was dazed for a moment.
“Yes, it’s enough.”
Flora handed the bag to the Store Owner to pay.
“I’ll do it,” Xueli stopped her.
“Eh?”
“It’s fine, let me pay.” When she said this, she didn’t have that calm and flat feeling from before. Instead, her tone was lighter, as if she had thought of something and was a bit concerned.
“Okay…” Flora seemed to understand something and let out a soft sigh.
After they settled the bill, Xueli led the way with the bag.
Flora didn’t say much, and neither did Xueli.
Suddenly, Xueli stopped.
She turned her head to look at Flora. At first, she didn’t say anything, as if she were organizing her words.
“That… Fufu, I’m sorry. I have to go. I can’t walk with you anymore. I’m sorry…” Xueli’s tone was faint.
“Oh, is that so?” Flora had actually expected it, but she still pretended not to know.
“Yes. I need to go on my own. As for the candy, take half with you.”
‘Well, at least she didn’t say for me to take all the candy. It seems…’