Chapter 8: The Starstone Market
Xia Yi thought for a moment, then shook his head, whispering, “I don’t know.”
Something flashed through Koda’s mind, and he suddenly understood; he seemed to know why Big Brother was angry.
The little merman was rescued by Big Brother, but because of some unspeakable physiological problems, he could only look; his body wouldn’t allow more. While verbally saying he didn’t like him, he was secretly self-conscious. Then, hearing him introduce the leader of West City, his heart felt heavy, and he rarely lost his temper…
Koda’s eyes gradually reddened.
Wuwuwu, Big Brother is so pitiful.
Xia Yi: ???
Ouyang Xiaoli left and didn’t return. Koda introduced some games to Xia Yi, first choosing the simplest ones for the little merman.
Afterward, Tang Si and Xiao Mo left, leaving only Koda and the little merman in the living room. The little merman lowered his gaze, silently fiddling with the game, gradually becoming familiar with it after half an hour. Time passed quickly.
Several hours passed.
Koda looked at the time, his gaze turning towards the door.
Why hadn’t Big Brother returned yet?
He stood up, starting to help clean up Big Brother’s things, putting the stone-cutting tools into a black backpack; he had done this often before.
Before going out, he looked back at Xia Yi, looking conflicted: “Xia Yi, I have to go to the Starstone Market; you…”
Xia Yi suddenly stood up, his eyes shining brightly like stars in the night sky, looking at Koda with longing and expectation.
It made it hard to speak harshly.
“Brother Koda.”
Xia Yi’s voice was soft and sweet; he reached out a small hand and gently pulled Koda’s sleeve.
Koda’s heart instantly melted; he gritted his teeth, sending a message to Big Brother through his brain-computer. After a few seconds, it was cut off.
He sent another one.
This time, it was even faster.
It was cut off in a second.
Koda: “…”
He touched his nose, understanding. He had indeed angered Big Brother; it had been several hours, and his anger still hadn’t subsided.
Koda sighed silently.
“Big Brother just isn’t answering,” Koda muttered to himself, turning to Xia Yi: “Let’s go; you’re coming with me to the Starstone Market.”
Xia Yi nodded obediently.
This was the first time Xia Yi had observed the Underground City so closely. A few days ago, when Ouyang carried him back, he had only seen dim streetlights.
There wasn’t a single person on the road.
The streets of the Underground City were still dilapidated and messy, exuding a gloomy atmosphere, with random piles of wood scraps and metal pieces on the roadside.
Xia Yi noticed several gazes falling on him, some probing, some malicious, and some curious.
He glanced timidly.
Koda leaned close to Xia Yi’s ear and whispered, “…Don’t let them know you’re a merman.”
Xia Yi nodded seriously.
Koda added, “There are many bad people in the Underground City. I told you before that some people become bad because of the harsh environment, but there are also those who are inherently bad, who feel excited doing bad things.”
“Do you understand?”
Koda acted like an old father.
Xia Yi nodded obediently.
Fortunately, the journey was smooth; Koda and Xia Yi arrived at the Starstone Market. It was crowded, much livelier than the empty streets.
Xia Yi turned his head to look around; everyone around him was taller; even if he stood on tiptoe, he could hardly see people in the distance, let alone find someone.
Koda muttered, “So many people, where is Big Brother? He’s not even answering…” He sent Big Brother several more messages; the other side first hung up, then directly blocked him.
“…”
Koda was stunned for three seconds before reacting, somewhat speechless at his childish Big Brother.
He had just talked a little more than necessary about Xiu Di; was this necessary? He hadn’t even successfully matched the little merman with Xiu Di yet.
He couldn’t take it?
Koda was almost driven crazy; Big Brother held grudges too much: “Forget it.”
He closed his brain-computer, looked up at the crowded Starstone Market, and was about to say something to the little merman when he saw the little merman staring blankly in one direction. Curiously, he followed his gaze.
In a distant corner, a tall and handsome man had a slight smile on his lips, a somewhat cynical smile. A woman in tight leather pants and a sexy figure stood in front of him. The woman had a radiant smile; when she looked at the man beside her, there was additional admiration and shyness.
Koda was unusually angry.
“Xia Yi, let’s go!” He took the little merman’s hand, pushing through the crowd, walking towards the outside, vowing to make that “flirtatious” man pay the price. You don’t want the soft and sweet Xia Yi? Plenty of people do. Even if you’re the boss, it’s not a big deal; our Xia Yi is suitable for someone better and more handsome!
Ouyang Xiaoli looked down at his brain-computer; it showed the messages from Koda.
Zuo Yinwan smiled and asked, “Where did Koda offend you?”
From the moment she stood in front of Ouyang, Ouyang had cut off nine of Koda’s brain-computer signals. She was a little curious about what Koda had done.
Ouyang Xiaoli: “He’s talkative.”
He casually looked around, lightly withdrawing his gaze, then suddenly looked up, staring in a certain direction to his left.
Xia Yi’s eyes were red.
Their gazes collided across the crowd, at that moment. Xia Yi wiped his eyes and turned to walk outside.
Don’t cry, must hold back.
Otherwise, tears would turn into pearls.
They would be discovered.
“Xia Yi!” Koda saw Xia Yi suddenly squeezing towards the outside, immediately becoming anxious: “Stay there and don’t move; I’ll be right there…”
The crowd had just separated them; Koda was originally squeezing towards Xia Yi, but in a flash, he saw Xia Yi turn and squeeze towards the outside.
Getting further and further away.
Koda’s heart skipped a beat.
Xia Yi stopped; as soon as he stopped, he was pushed back by the surrounding people. He looked helplessly at Koda in the distance.
But the distance between them was getting wider.
“Xia Yi!”
Koda was sweating anxiously.
Xia Yi could no longer see Koda; he was squeezed to the outer edge of the Starstone Market, where there were fewer people, just a few scattered individuals.
He stood there blankly.
But only for a moment; Xia Yi quickly regained his composure, suddenly remembering that Xiu Di had also come to the Starstone Market; Xiu Di’s blond hair and blue eyes were of interest.
Maybe he knew his brother.
But where to find him?
Just as Xia Yi was thinking, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by a force. He was startled, hearing a surprised male voice behind him.
“Xia Ni, is that really you?!”
Xia Yi was hurt by the force, couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.
The man quickly released his hand: “I’m sorry, I was too excited to see you.” He felt self-reproach seeing the bruises on Xia Yi’s wrist.
Xia Yi recovered.
Immediately retracted his hand.
Disappointment flashed in the man’s eyes.
Xia Yi cautiously retreated two steps, hesitated for a few seconds, and asked, “Do you know my brother?”
The man had blond hair and blue eyes, handsome and extraordinary, but Xia Yi was still a little doubtful. His brother said his lover was very gentle and loved him very much. Just now, this person had grabbed his hand so hard; his hand still hurt.
If this person was really his brother’s lover, how could he mistake him for his brother? Although he and his brother looked exactly alike, their personalities and habits were different, and their demeanor was different as well.
This person was very suspicious.
Xiu Di was stunned by Xia Yi’s words, taking a long time to speak: “You’re not Xia Ni?”
Xia Yi stared at him without speaking.
Ouyang Xiaoli finally managed to squeeze out of the Starstone Market with great difficulty. His position was too far from Xia Yi, taking quite a bit of effort.
However, as soon as he came out, he saw two people holding hands in the distance. He hid behind a wall.
He pursed his lips, recalling the scene he had glimpsed just now: Xiu Di looked at Xia Yi gently, Xia Yi looked up at the man.
Ouyang Xiaoli clenched his fists.
Didn’t he say he didn’t know him?
Little liar.
He recalled the day he rescued Xia Yi; Koda had secretly asked Xia Yi if he had a partner; Xia Yi had been silent and hadn’t answered.
So…
He lowered his gaze, staring at a few pebbles under his feet, kicking them irritably.
Damn it, he clearly had a partner, yet he came to seduce me, saying he wanted to be the sister-in-law, sleep with me, and bear me children…
If I had known, I should have slept with you, making you bear me ten or eight! See if you still have the energy to seduce other men!
Ouyang Xiaoli thought viciously.
“Ouyang?” A soft and sweet voice suddenly sounded, and Ouyang Xiaoli immediately looked up.
Damn it! He had been lost in thought! His vigilance was so low; the person had already walked in front of him, and he hadn’t even noticed!
Ouyang Xiaoli was quite annoyed.
Xia Yi looked at the man, recalling Ouyang’s smile at that beautiful woman earlier; he felt a little uncomfortable and sniffled.
“Do you want to find someone else to be the sister-in-law?”
He softly asked.
Ouyang Xiaoli sneered, “Who I choose to be my sister-in-law has nothing to do with you.”
Tears welled up in Xia Yi’s eyes.
He stared blankly at the man in front of him.
Ouyang Xiaoli took a step forward, feeling increasingly stifled. He had rescued a merman, providing him with food and lodging, only to find out he belonged to someone else.
Thinking this, he unceremoniously pinched the little merman’s chin, his eyes narrowed slightly, his imposing manner making him look down at the little merman.
“You clearly have a partner, yet you repeatedly seduce me. Does Xiu Di know about this?” Ouyang Xiaoli said with a hint of sarcasm.
He tightened his grip, pressing a red mark on the little merman’s chin, his gaze lingering on it for a few seconds. It has to be said, the little merman had beautiful skin; it felt like the tofu of old Earth. Though he’d never eaten it, he had heard the Grand Elder mention it.
“…Don’t come to seduce me.”
Ouyang Xiaoli’s voice was icy.
Xia Yi didn’t care about his tears turning into pearls and his identity being discovered; his tears flowed freely.
Pearls pattered to the ground.
Xia Yi’s eyes were red; he was aggrieved and angry, shouting loudly, “Xia Yi doesn’t have a partner! Xia Yi just talked to Xiu Di for a while; Ouyang is a big bad guy; Xia Yi hates Ouyang the most!”
Then he turned and ran.
Never wanting to see Ouyang again!
Ouyang Xiaoli was stunned.