"My apologies, sir, but we aren't that close yet, so there is no need for that."
Firefly looked directly at him with a cold gaze, refusing him without hesitation.
The person before her was one of the many who had frequently tried to flirt with her while she was working recently. Initially, she wasn't sure whether he simply wanted to get close to her or if he had ulterior motives.
Ever since Firefly had sold him an oak cake roll out of kindness, this man named Ye Chen seemed to have found an excuse. He began appearing in her life frequently at regular intervals, attempting to disrupt her peaceful daily routine.
Hearing this, Ye Chen's movements stiffened. Although this wasn't the first time he had been rejected, he hadn't expected her to remain so impervious to his advances.
His gaze wandered and happened to notice the packaging on the table.
Thus, he changed the subject.
"Oh, what is this one selling..."
But just as he reached out halfway, he suddenly realized the packaging box in his line of sight had vanished into thin air.
Firefly's cold words followed.
"Pardon me, but this is a gift I prepared personally; it is not a product from the shop."
Hearing Firefly's words, Ye Chen seemed to wake from a dream, realizing that the packaging box had somehow moved into her hands. Moreover, he hadn't noticed the process at all.
While secretly shocked, he hastily admitted his mistake and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Firefly, I didn't know that."
"It's fine, but Ye Chen, if you don't plan on buying anything, please don't interfere with my work."
Hearing the other party's blatant dismissal, Ye Chen's face darkened.
Before he could react, a petite figure brushed past him.
"If you're not buying anything, don't block the way."
Silver Wolf casually pushed him aside and approached Firefly.
"Xiyue just asked me to get a dessert for her; please prepare two more for me."
"Alright, but Silver Wolf, you still shouldn't eat too much."
"Fine, fine, I'm not a child. Go back to your work."
Seeing that Silver Wolf's mind was still immersed in the handheld game console in her hands, Firefly stopped trying to persuade her.
Ye Chen, who had been pushed aside, only now noticed the petite and cute figure nearby. Upon seeing Silver Wolf's exquisite and lovely features, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes.
He thought to himself: Though she doesn't have Firefly's figure, the unique temperament exuded by her petite and delicate appearance is not inferior at all to those top-tier beauties.
Ye Chen quickly suppressed the amazement in his eyes, put on a gentle smile, and asked politely,
"I just heard her call you Silver Wolf. Are you also a friend of Firefly's?"
Silver Wolf replied without even looking up.
"Isn't it obvious? Besides, Firefly doesn't seem to have acknowledged you as a 'good friend,' has she?"
"...Uh, my name is Ye Chen. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, then you're pleased far too early."
Silver Wolf: (ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)
Ye Chen: (°ー°〃)
The words Ye Chen had just prepared were immediately choked back into his throat. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and cursed silently.
He really hadn't expected that this seemingly petite girl could have such a sharp tongue that it left him speechless.
He looked down at her; the girl's fingertips were moving rapidly across the buttons of the game console, and she didn't even spare him a glance. That feeling of being slighted turned into sparks of frustration.
Silver Wolf, who was playing the game, clearly sensed his gaze even without looking up. However, she didn't care. Although she had been playing the whole time, she had also spared a portion of her attention to what was happening here.
Therefore, she had no need for reservations and didn't need to give him any courtesy.
"Little sister, this seems to be our first time meeting. May I ask if I've offended you in some way?"
Ye Chen didn't want to give up easily and tried to salvage the situation.
Silver Wolf didn't even lift her eyelids as she coldly spat out a sentence.
"Who are you? Don't act like you're so familiar with us. Besides, if we're counting by actual age, you're just a little brat in my eyes. So you'd better talk less, otherwise people will think you're some perverted lolicon."
As soon as Silver Wolf's contemptuous words fell, several nearby customers watching the scene had their funny bones tickled and burst into laughter.
Ye Chen's temples throbbed, and veins bulged on his forehead like writhing earthworms. He clenched his fists tightly, forcing the burning anger back down.
Then, he spoke with a face full of "sincerity."
"I was being presumptuous. Since there is nothing I want to buy today, I will come back another day."
After speaking, he bid Firefly goodbye on his own and left in a hurry. Those who didn't know the situation might have thought it was just a minor quarrel between acquaintances.
Silver Wolf, still absorbed in her game, glanced at the departing Ye Chen from the corner of her eye, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.
At this moment, Firefly also finished packing the items Silver Wolf had bought. As for the small episode just now, she didn't take it to heart. If others wanted to gossip, they could do as they pleased.
After Silver Wolf paid, she wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, she turned and found an empty seat to sit down.
At the same time, Firefly informed the others and followed Silver Wolf to the corner. After all, since Firefly had been approached by many people recently, the considerate boss lady allowed her some independent break time.
Firefly walked lightly to the table and slowly sat down opposite Silver Wolf.
Silver Wolf's gaze remained glued to the game console, her fingertips occasionally picking up a piece of dessert to taste absentmindedly.
Firefly, on the other hand, sat quietly like an elegant lady, leaning back in her chair. Her gaze drifted over the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. With her eyelashes lowered, she seemed to savor the tranquility of life.
This scene also fell into the eyes of others.
As for the earlier incident, only a few shop assistants were still discussing it. After all, they rarely saw Firefly act so coldly.
Logically speaking, few people would reject a man as handsome and seemingly well-mannered as Ye Chen. Any other young girl might have agreed long ago.
These quiet murmurs naturally did not escape the ears of the people involved.
"Do you know that guy whose name sounds like a novel protagonist?"
It seemed Silver Wolf had just finished a round of her game as she suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Firefly snapped back to her senses and then explained the situation to Silver Wolf.
After listening, Silver Wolf nodded slightly and gave a casual reminder.
"Although he doesn't pose much of a problem, you should still pay a bit more attention."
"I understand."
As Silver Wolf started her second game, she casually asked another question.
"You should have noticed it too, right?"
Firefly nodded and spoke slowly.
"Yes. At first, I only thought he wanted to flirt, but later I realized he doesn't seem simple. He appears to be an Ability User, yet he's a bit different. At times, there seemed to be a hidden gaze on him."
Firefly voiced her suspicion.
Silver Wolf nodded in affirmation, confirming that Firefly's perception was correct. However, regarding that hidden gaze, Firefly couldn't determine its source.
Thus, Firefly asked Silver Wolf for guidance.
Hearing this, Silver Wolf turned off her game and spoke with some surprise.
"It's normal that you couldn't fully detect it. After all, that gaze doesn't originate from Ye Chen himself, but from a... person similar to those from the Garden of Recollection."
Hearing this, Firefly reacted immediately.
"You mean... the other party's true identity is some kind of spiritual entity?"
"Exactly."