For the next two days, Lovia lived in a state of nervous anticipation.
She didn't dare approach Sanyu Bookstore again, fearing the shopkeeper would recognize her or notice something was amiss. She could only glance at the bookstore's movements from a distance, pretending to be a passerby.
The first day passed without incident.
On the afternoon of the second day, she noticed the bookstore entrance seemed a bit busier than usual. Several people were talking to Shopkeeper Sun at the counter, and they seemed to be holding something resembling booklets in their hands.
Her heart instantly leaped into her throat.
Has it been printed?
She suppressed the urge to rush over and take a look, patiently waiting until evening when the crowd thinned. Only then did she pull down her hood, pretend to browse the goods at a roadside stall, and slowly edge closer to the bookstore to eavesdrop.
"...Shopkeeper, will there be a next issue of 'The Travels of Shi Po Chen'?" a young man's voice asked with a smile. "It's written so interestingly!"
"Yes, yes," a woman's voice chimed in. "Even though I know it's fictional, the way this 'Lord Shi Po' carries himself... the more I think about it, the more... vivid it feels, doesn't it?"
The woman chuckled softly, her tone carrying a lingering aftertaste of enjoyment.
"Shh! Keep it down!" This was Shopkeeper Sun's voice, intentionally lowered with a hint of nervousness that couldn't hide his pride. "There's only this one piece for this issue. As for the next... it depends on whether that 'Mr. Lovia' is willing to write more, and when."
"You can't shortchange them on the manuscript fee, Shopkeeper!" the young man teased. "We're still waiting to see what other brilliant insights Lord Shi Po has next!"
"Of course, of course..." Shopkeeper Sun responded vaguely.
Hearing this, Lovia's heart pounded so wildly it felt like it would leap out of her chest!
It worked! It was actually printed! And it seemed... the response was great?!
She didn't dare listen further, quickly leaving while forcing herself to stay calm. As soon as she turned into a deserted alley, she almost couldn't resist jumping for joy.
She stomped her feet silently in place several times. The tail beneath her cloak was already wagging uncontrollably, kicking up a bit of dust from the ground.
But after the cheering, practical problems followed one after another.
Remuneration!
Shopkeeper Sun said the payment was being held at the bookstore; she had to go collect it.
How should she get it? Could she let the 'mysterious child' strike again? Would that be too obvious?
She thought about it and decided to wait until tomorrow. Moreover, she needed a new disguise.
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On the morning of the third day, Lovia specifically found a puddle and carefully dipped her hand in some mud and dust, smearing it on the hem and cuffs of her cloak in inconspicuous places to create a travel-worn appearance. She pulled her hood even lower, ensuring that even her chin was barely visible.
Once prepared, she headed toward Sanyu Bookstore again.
This time, she noticed a small wooden sign hanging at the bookstore entrance that read: "New Arrival: 'The Travels of Shi Po Chen · Part One', limited quantities available."
Lovia took a deep breath and stepped into the bookstore.
Shopkeeper Sun was attending to customers. He looked up and saw this tiny figure, barely taller than the counter, wearing a mud-stained hooded cloak. He froze for a moment, then seemed to realize something as his expression shifted slightly.
"Little one, you..." Shopkeeper Sun asked tentatively.
Lovia lowered her voice, trying to make her childish tone sound calm: "Uncle, I'm here to collect the Mora... that Mr. Lovia left here."
Shopkeeper Sun had a sudden realization, and a warm smile immediately spread across his face as he looked at the Messenger for this 'mysterious contributor'. He even subconsciously glanced behind the child, as if expecting to see the figure of Mr. Lovia.
But, clearly, his expectations were met with disappointment.
Seeing the 'little one' still waiting for him, Shopkeeper Sun nodded hurriedly: "Right, right! Please wait a moment!"
He quickly pulled out a small coin purse from under the counter; it was significantly larger than Lovia had expected.
He handed it toward Lovia: "This is Mr. Lovia's remuneration. Please count it. The writing is truly... truly wonderful! I wonder if Mr. Lovia has any plans for the next piece? Regarding the payment, we can negotiate, we can negotiate!"
Lovia took the coin purse and felt its weight. The heavy heft made her palm sink, and her heart filled with wild joy.
Hehe, I finally have money!!
She struggled to maintain her composure and shook her head: "The gentleman only said for me to come and get it. Anything else... I don't know."
"I understand, I understand!" Shopkeeper Sun nodded repeatedly with an expression of understanding toward the 'mysterious expert's' ways. "Then please tell Mr. Lovia that our bookstore is eagerly awaiting his next great work! The price will definitely be favorable!"
"Mm," Lovia responded vaguely, gripped the coin purse tightly, and turned to walk away quickly.
She could feel Shopkeeper Sun's eager gaze following her back until she turned the corner outside the door.
This is... a bit too much enthusiasm, isn't it? It's just writing a bit about the Geo Archon, Lovia grumbled to herself.
Only after walking far away and finding a deserted corner did her hands tremble as she opened the coin purse. Inside was a pouch full of Mora—golden Mora stacked together, making a faint and pleasant clinking sound.
A substantial amount! It should be enough for her to eat her fill for many days, and perhaps even rent a small place to stay!
"I did it! I really did it!" Lovia hugged the coin purse, her tail wagging vigorously under her cloak in excitement.
She couldn't even resist taking out a few Mora and holding them up to the light to look at the clear patterns on them.
She earned this through her own ability!
Knowledge is power! The ancients truly did not deceive me!
After the excitement passed, Lovia quickly calmed down.
This money was her startup capital; she couldn't just sit around and use it all up.
"The next piece..." She gripped her quill pen, a light of confidence even brighter than before shining in her eyes. "I must write it as soon as possible! And it must be written better, more captivating!"
With Mora, she wouldn't have to sleep in the wild; she could find a quiet place to focus on her creation.
Perhaps... to save some money, she could rent that abandoned little shack that was said to be very cheap but supposedly a bit haunted?
She was a Melusine anyway; maybe ghosts would be afraid of her?
Of course, first, she was going to have a feast! This time, she could sit in a shop with her head held high and order a bowl of steaming hot noodles!
Lovia tucked the coin purse away carefully, tightened her hood, and walked with light steps toward the street where the aroma of food wafted.
Her quill pen was already itching to go!
What should she write for 'The Travels of Shi Po Chen · Part Two'?
Carrying her first manuscript fee, Lovia felt like her back was a bit straighter. Following the information she had gathered, she found the legendary abandoned shack in a secluded corner at the very edge of Liyue Harbor, near the foot of the mountain.
It was indeed very dilapidated, with a crooked door, drafty windows, and only a rickety wooden bed and a dusty, broken table inside.
But the rent was so cheap it was practically non-existent, and most importantly, it was hidden enough that almost no one would come by.
"Haunted?" Lovia looked at the cobweb-covered beams and curled her lip. "Compared to starving to death or exposing my identity, what's a ghost? Maybe it'll even give me some writing inspiration."
"Besides, it's so close to the sea here. How comfortable!"
Lovia was a Melusine, after all; living by the sea made her feel more at home.
She spent some time doing a simple cleaning, using found stones to steady the bed legs and seawater to wash the table. She then spread that magical white hooded cloak on the bed to use as a mattress.
It seemed to always stay clean and maintain a certain temperature, making it very practical.
Having a makeshift place to stay—though dilapidated, it finally provided four walls and a roof—made Lovia's heart settle a lot. Especially listening to the sound of waves gently lapping the shore nearby, as a Melusine, she felt an instinctive sense of comfort and relaxation.
This place might be terrible for others, but for her, it was just right!
She carefully placed her precious quill pen and the remaining manuscript paper on the wiped-clean broken table, and hid the Mora purse in the most secure corner under her cloak.
Only after doing all this did a massive wave of exhaustion and hunger come surging in.
She had been running on pure excitement before, but now that she had relaxed, she felt her stomach growling loudly.
"Food! Right now!" Lovia could no longer hold back. She readjusted her hood, disguised herself well, and charged with a clear goal toward the market where the aroma of food drifted.
This time, she didn't have to hide in a corner and stare longingly at the smells, nor did she have to run into the wild to gnaw on random things. She went straight to a noodle stall she had noticed before and sat on a small stool in the furthest corner.
"Boss, a bowl of... a bowl of Dragon Beard Noodles!" She tried to make her voice sound less timid. After speaking, she subconsciously pulled at her hood.
"Coming right up! Just a moment!" the stall owner responded warmly.
She had noticed this noodle stall before; a bowl of Dragon Beard Noodles cost twenty Mora! (Note: In this story, Mora is equivalent to RMB in value.)
The wait felt exceptionally long amidst the fragrance.
The white steam rising from the stall's boiler carried a rich noodle aroma and the mellow scent of bone broth. It wafted over in waves, entering Lovia's nostrils and making her take a deep breath involuntarily.
It was the scent of Wheat, the Warmth of hot soup, and a hint of sweet Mushroom and fragrant ham!
This mixed aroma was an ultimate temptation to her hungry stomach.
Lovia's thoughts drifted back to when she could only watch from afar.
Back then, she would huddle in a cold corner, watching steaming bowls of noodles being served to other customers' tables, watching them slurping noodles with satisfaction and drinking the warm soup. Her tail would wag slightly, and then she would wrap herself tighter around her empty stomach.
A bowl of Dragon Beard Noodles cost twenty Mora! To her at that time, it was an expensive delicacy she could never hope for. She could only go to the beach to find some shellfish to eat raw, or pick some wild fruit; the taste couldn't compare at all.
(Because the author doesn't want to deal with currency calculations, I've simply used the purchasing power of real-world RMB. Hehe, I'll mention this in later chapters too.)
But it's different now! The coin purse she carried was heavy, enough for her to buy many, many bowls of Dragon Beard Noodles! She earned this with the stories she wrote herself!
Soon, a large, steaming bowl of Dragon Beard Noodles was placed in front of Lovia.
"Customer, your noodles. Enjoy!" The stall owner's booming voice interrupted Lovia's thoughts.
In the bowl, the clear, slightly yellow broth was steaming hot. The Dragon Beard Noodles, as thin as hair and as white as silver, were neatly arranged in the soup, garnished with a few sprigs of bright green scallions and two thin, pinkish slices of meat.
The aroma hit her even more directly.
"Th-thank you..." Lovia thanked him in a small voice.
She picked up the bamboo chopsticks provided by the stall owner and clumsily picked up a bunch of noodles. The Dragon Beard Noodles were too thin and slippery, but she didn't care about that anymore!
She carefully blew on them and then impatiently put them into her mouth.
"Slurp—"
The noodles were extremely soft and smooth, sliding down her throat almost instantly, carrying the warm broth and rich Wheat aroma. Immediately after, the savory flavor of the broth completely filled her mouth. The warm feeling spread from her esophagus all the way to her stomach, dispelling the hunger, cold, and unease of the past few days.
Delicious!
So delicious!!
This was simply the most delicious food in the world!
This was the most formal and satisfying meal she had eaten since coming to Liyue Harbor!
The hot soup made her body warm up bit by bit, even causing a comfortable blush to rise on her cheeks hidden under the hood.
Lovia ate with great focus, completely unaware that the tip of her tail was happily sweeping the ground in small movements under her cloak. she even drank every last drop of the soup.
When she finally put down the bowl, she felt like her whole self had come back to life, warm and full of strength.
When paying, she carefully counted out twenty Mora and placed them on the table with a crisp clinking sound.
"Boss, the money is here." Lovia stood up, her voice having a bit more confidence than when she arrived.
"Alright! Thanks for your patronage! Come again!" the stall owner greeted warmly.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Lovia didn't linger. She immediately returned to her seaside lodging.
The next task was of vital importance.
Continue writing the manuscript!