In the kitchen, Qin Nuo began his busy work.
The owner of the meat bun shop seemed to always be in a hurry, wielding his knife with large movements, causing minced meat to splatter everywhere.
The character he was playing was small and thin, making it difficult to move things. Qin Nuo staggered and struggled as he carried a metal bucket.
The Boss watched him, seemingly used to it, and said, "Once you've moved all the materials, go to the storage room and bring up that bag of flour. The materials just arrived today, so there's plenty to do!"
Qin Nuo nodded without complaint, as if being able to earn a meal was a great blessing for him.
Wiping his sweat with a towel, he went to the storage room on the second floor and found the bag of flour.
The environment on the second floor was dim, with various sundries piled up, and a damp, moldy smell permeated the air. Qin Nuo observed the surroundings as he carried the flour downstairs.
At this moment, the shop's business began to pick up, with schoolchildren carrying backpacks gathering at the door, unable to resist the aroma of the meat buns.
They grabbed the buns and stuffed them into their mouths without fear of choking. The yellow sauce that oozed out seemed delicious, but it wasn't pork fat at all.
The peak time after school always brought good business, and it was only after two hours that the crowd at the door gradually thinned out.
The Boss, with an old smoking pipe, sat at the door with his legs crossed, pinching the tobacco and taking a drag. He said to Qin Nuo, "There's freshly boiled water on the table."
Watching Qin Nuo gulp down the water, the Boss flicked his cigarette ash and said nonchalantly, "How do you feel inside?"
Qin Nuo wiped the water from his mouth, a bit puzzled, "Feel?"
"Watching other kids your age going to and from school together, while you've already finished your studies early and can only do odd jobs here to earn a meal. Don't tell me you don't feel anything?"
Qin Nuo's face showed confusion, his eyes distant, without answering.
"Irresponsible parents, in the end, it's the little ones who pay for their recklessness. Should I say you're unlucky, or did you do something wrong in a past life?"
Qin Nuo was silent for a moment and said, "Life is like this. Instead of worrying about things beyond my control, it's better to think about what to eat tonight and how to live tomorrow."
"I don't feel particularly unfortunate. At least I'm alive, able to see this world with my own eyes and breathe this fresh air."
"Don't you think so, Boss?"
The Boss looked at Qin Nuo's clear eyes, his expression slightly indifferent, and chuckled, "You little rascal, you see things quite clearly, don't you?"
Qin Nuo smiled, "If I didn't think this way, I'd have starved to death by now."
The Boss exhaled a puff of smoke and said calmly, "If my brat could think like you, I wouldn't have to worry myself sick!"
Qin Nuo instinctively asked, "How old is your son, Boss?"
The Boss's expression turned strange, with patches of corpse spots appearing on his face, and he retorted, "That's a strange question. Why do you ask?"
"Ding, Player failed the role-play, deducting 5% from the role-play score!"
Qin Nuo was slightly stunned. Was there a problem with that question?
It was just a simple inquiry. If the role-play failed, it could only mean that Qin Feng knew his son.
With his eyes darting around, Qin Nuo suddenly laughed, "I'm just joking, Boss. Why didn't the little boss come back for lunch today?"
Hearing this, the Boss's ghost aura gradually dissipated, and the corpse spots on his face faded away. He said lightly, "That brat had a fight with me last night and is sulking. He's probably staying at school, busy with his little skit!"
"Good-for-nothing, wasting all his studies for a skit!"
Qin Nuo raised an eyebrow.
A skit?
The Boss's son is also in the performing arts?
Since they're in the same guild, it's normal to know each other. I just don't know which member he is.
"I'm going to take a nap. There's still work to do later. You can rest if you want, but don't slack off in the afternoon." Clearly annoyed by the matter, the Boss set aside his old smoking pipe, leaned back in his chair, and rocked the wicker chair without speaking further.
Qin Nuo didn't say anything else either. This was the time he wanted, so he started moving around the shop.
In a dim room, Qin Nuo found a photo frame, a family portrait of the bun shop owner and his family.
A classic family of three, the parents holding the child, smiling, while the child pouted, looking a bit annoyed and unwilling.
Qin Nuo wasn't unfamiliar with this child; it was the kid named Dafu from the performance stage that night.
In the photo frame, he looked exactly the same, even wearing the same clothes as that night—a pair of jeans and a green T-shirt.
"These cursed kids probably died a long time ago, their souls trapped in the school, with restricted activity range and time."
"Just like Mr. Liang, who doesn't even know his granddaughter is dead, holding a skeleton and talking to himself all day."
"If that's the case, the bun shop owner should be the same. So how did he argue with his son last night? Or was he just talking to a corpse, amusing himself?"
Qin Nuo picked up the photo frame, examined it for a moment, and put it back.
Time passed quickly, and the sky gradually turned yellow, though obscured by layers of mist, making it appear faint.
The Boss at the door woke up and, like a machine, went straight to the kitchen to start working.
Qin Nuo didn't slack off either, helping out in the kitchen.
The kitchen environment was terrible, with blood-stained walls and blood clogging the funnel, overflowing onto the floor.
The Boss Lady seemed to be gone, as the Boss never mentioned her. The large bun shop was just the two of them busy.
In the afternoon, during the after-school rush, business at the door peaked again. Qin Nuo was busy running up and down, sweating profusely, his short sleeves soaked, yet he remained energetic without any irritation or resentment.
Some students, due to being the same age, made some mocking remarks at Qin Nuo, but he pretended not to hear, focusing on his work.
As business gradually quieted down, Qin Nuo sat in a chair, drinking water in large gulps.
The Boss placed a bag of buns and a few pieces of Ghost Currency on the table, expressionless, and said, "Go wash your hands in the kitchen and take these things with you. Don't say I hired child labor and took advantage."
"Hide the money well, don't let your deadbeat old man see it."
Qin Nuo pocketed the Ghost Currency, nodded, and went to the washroom to wash his hands.
While washing, he suddenly heard the Boss's voice outside, "Brat, you finally came back?"
"Where did you go at noon? Messing with your skit again, huh? I told you, as long as you don't quit that damn guild, don't come back to me. A bunch of kids playing house!"
Hearing the Boss's scolding, Qin Nuo was stunned, quickly shook the water off his hands, and left the washroom.
In the shop, the Boss was scolding a school-aged child carrying a backpack.
Despite his father's red-faced scolding, the child's expression remained calm, even slightly wooden.
When he saw Qin Nuo, Dafu smiled, a peculiar smile, ignoring the harsh words of reprimand. He said to his father, "Dad, I got praised by the teacher today for my good performance in class. If there's nothing else, I'll go do my homework first."
His father ignored these words, scolding even more fiercely.
Dafu didn't mind at all, his smile turning to Qin Nuo, "Qin Feng, you're here too? Our guild's skit has a part for you. When are you coming back?"
Qin Nuo was speechless.
Perhaps treating him as air, or perhaps hearing the topic linger on the guild, the Boss became even angrier, grabbing a rolling pin and smashing it on Dafu's head.
The rolling pin shattered, wood chips flying.
Blood flowed from his head, yet Dafu maintained that indifferent expression, turning to smile at his father, "Dad, you must be tired today. Rest early. I'll go upstairs to do my homework."
"I need to sleep early tonight, get enough rest. There's an important skit at the guild tomorrow."
With that, Dafu headed upstairs.
The Boss, holding the broken rolling pin with a bit of blood on it, looked ferocious, "This damned brat is going to be the death of me!"
The bizarre scene before him made Qin Nuo frown.
Dafu was one of the cursed kids. How could he come back? Was the curse not binding him?
The smile Dafu gave him afterward made Qin Nuo feel uneasy, as if it wasn't just a simple smile directed at a person.
Qin Nuo stared upstairs, feeling that he could uncover many useful clues from the character of Qin Feng.
The Boss was still angry, so Qin Nuo approached and tried to persuade him, "Boss, Dafu is in his rebellious phase. These rebellious behaviors are common for kids his age."
"Using extreme educational methods usually backfires. Why not try a different approach, like being more understanding?"
The Boss stared at Qin Nuo expressionlessly, "You're talking too much. If you're not going home at this time, are you volunteering for overtime?"
"Goodbye, Boss. See you tomorrow."
Qin Nuo picked up the bag of buns and left.
As soon as he stepped out the door, a game notification sounded in his mind.
"Congratulations, Player, on completing the role-play task, gaining 9% role-play score!"
"Obtained main storyline clue—a crescent pendant made of mysterious material!" (This seems to be a twisted form of love, her way of expressing affection is always horrifying and distorted.)
As the words fell, a crescent appeared in Qin Nuo's hand.
Pure white, its material unknown.
"The second main storyline clue item..."
Qin Nuo held the crescent pendant, his expression somewhat pensive.
He hadn't yet figured out the connection between the previous main storyline clue item, the music box, and the mysterious principal. Now there was a second puzzling item.
What does a crescent pendant represent?
Her?
Twisted love?
Does it imply that the mysterious principal is a woman?
Qin Nuo pondered, feeling that the principal's identity was gradually becoming clearer, yet every time he thought carefully, it still seemed so vague.
In the main storyline, he felt like he was still treading in place.
The Blood-Eyed Ghost sniffed, as if discovering something, "This crescent..."
"What about it?" Qin Nuo asked.
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"Nothing."
"..."
Qin Nuo put away the crescent pendant and his thoughts, looking at the gradually darkening path, "Qin Feng knows Tang Rou and those kids, which is good news for me."
"Tonight, I'll return to Black Crow Ghost School and continue interacting with those kids. If all goes well, I should make new progress on the main storyline."
With that, Qin Nuo, carrying the buns, disappeared into the hazy mist...