Chapter 4: Mall Adventures and New Gadgets
The bus hissed to a stop in front of the massive glass-and-steel structure that dominated the heart of Nyser. Leon stepped down first, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face, and glanced at Lenora. "All right," he said with a faint smile, "what's first on your list? Food or shopping?"
Lenora's eyes sparkled as she grabbed his arm, practically bouncing on her heels. "Food, of course! I'm starving!"
Leon chuckled softly. "Lead the way then."
They hurried through the entrance, Lenora practically skipping ahead as she wove through the crowds of shoppers. The mall was alive with activity: the chatter of families, the hum of escalators, and the faint scent of perfume mixed with fried snacks. Leon followed, letting her enthusiasm guide them, and soon they reached a small restaurant tucked along the side of the main atrium.
"Let's get a seat and order," Lenora said, tugging open the glass door.
Leon scanned the tables, finally spotting two empty seats by the window. "Here," he said, gesturing. "Let's sit here."
Once seated, Leon leaned back, studying the menu. "So… what do you want to eat?"
Lenora tilted her head thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her lip. "Something spicy. And tasty! Something I've never had before."
Leon's eyes flicked over the menu. "Ramen… spicy ramen. Looks good. I've never tried it either. Let's go with that."
Lenora raised her hand and called to the waiter. "Excuse me, can we get two spicy ramen, please?"
"On the way, ma'am," the waiter replied with a polite nod, disappearing into the kitchen.
They waited a few minutes, chatting quietly, until the steaming bowls arrived. The aroma made Leon's stomach growl, though he hid it behind a small chuckle.
"Leon, let's eat!" Lenora said eagerly, already digging in with her chopsticks.
Leon grinned, picking up his own bowl. "Slow down. It's not going anywhere. But… you should eat while it's hot too."
The two of them ate side by side, slurping the noodles and savoring the rich, spicy broth. It was a simple pleasure, but the sense of normalcy and fun made Leon feel lighter than he had in years.
Once they finished, Lenora leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "That was amazing! But… how much was it?"
The waiter returned almost instantly. "Sir, the total is 3,000 credits."
Leon pulled out his phone and scanned the QR code. The familiar chime echoed softly in his mind.
System: 3,000 credits spent. 6,000 credits transferred to the host's account.
"Done," he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Lenora straightened, her eyes shining with anticipation. "All right! Now shopping!"
Leon nodded. "Clothes, lenses, and a new phone, right?"
"Yes!" she said, grabbing her bag. "Let's start with clothes."
They navigated through the mall to a high-end clothing store. Leon followed Lenora's lead as she examined the racks, fingers brushing over fabrics.
"Which style do you want?" he asked cautiously.
"You choose," Lenora said, smirking. "If I choose, you'll definitely scold me like last time."
Leon laughed softly. "Fair enough."
Lenora picked out several outfits—neat, stylish designs that looked effortless but elegant. She held them up, making Leon chuckle. "Those will look good on me."
Leon nodded approvingly. "All right, is that all?"
"Yes," she said with a confident smile. "Let's pay and move on."
At the counter, Lenora asked, "How much is it?"
The clerk replied, "23,000 credits."
Leon scanned the QR code, confirming the payment.
System: 23,000 credits spent. 46,000 credits transferred to the host's account.
"Done," Leon said. "Next, lenses."
They moved to a large eyewear store. Lenora turned to the shopkeeper, tugging gently on Leon's sleeve. "Can we get lenses for him?"
"Of course, sir," the shopkeeper replied warmly, leading them to a display. "We have a variety here. What type would you like?"
"Normal ones, please," Leon said. The shopkeeper handed him a pair, and Leon tried them on.
Lenora clapped her hands softly. "Wow… you look absolutely stunning now!"
Leon smirked inwardly, thinking, Is this the +2 charm attribute effect kicking in?
He picked up another package from the counter. "I'll take these too. How much?"
"5,000 credits per package," the shopkeeper answered.
Leon scanned the QR code.
System: 5,000 credits spent. 10,000 credits transferred to the host's account.
Lenora grinned. "Last stop… the phone?"
Leon nodded. "Yeah. Let's go. It's already four, we should head home soon too."
They entered the tech store, and Leon's eyes landed on the latest Mirror Mobile model displayed prominently. The sleek design gleamed under the store lights.
"This… is the Mirror, huh? It looks amazing," Leon murmured, recalling all the times he had only seen it in ads and movies. And now I can get one…
Lenora reached over to inspect the device. "Hm… this really is good.
Leon, do you want me to get one too for you?"
"No, you should be careful with your money," she said with a gentle shake of her head.
Leon glanced at the clerk. "Can I get another of the same model?"
The clerk nodded and handed him a brand-new package. Leon scanned the QR code immediately.
System: 200,000 credits spent. 400,000 credits transferred to the host's account.
Lenora tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Why two?"
"If one breaks, I can use the other," Leon said simply, slipping the second phone into his bag.
Lenora rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Fine… I'll take this one then."
Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "All right, let's go."
They left the mall, Lenora's bag swinging lightly from her shoulder. "Home?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'll head to my room," Leon said. "Bye, see you, idiot."
"You're the idiot," she called back, laughing as she walked toward the bus stop.
Leon shook his head, smiling faintly. "Will you get the bus or a taxi?"
"The bus," she replied.
Leon waited a moment, then finally made his way home as the sun dipped lower in the sky, the day fading to a warm orange glow. The small victories, the laughter, and even the mundane errands made him realize how much these moments meant.
This… this is how I'm going to do things differently, he thought, looking at the horizon from the bus window. And I'm going to enjoy every single moment.