"Uncle, I really do have money!"
In front of a sidewalk food stall, a 17-year-old girl sat with puffed cheeks and glossy eyes, glaring at the man making bingbing.
"You've got money? Then pay," the boss replied flatly, folding a thin sheet of dough on the grill.
"My bag got stolen."
"Then you must have copper or silver coins. Just use that."
"I… I got scammed."
The girl's lip trembled. Her wide eyes began to shimmer.
The boss sighed. This again.
"All right, all right. For a few coins? Don't cry. Just take it as a treat from your uncle here."
The moment he said it, the girl broke down.
"Woooooo~~~"
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she chomped into the half-eaten bingbing in her hands.
The boss immediately panicked, especially as passersby began staring and whispering.
"H-hey, girl, please don't cry! I didn't mean anything by it!"
"Thank you, Uncle… I'll pay you back, I swear…" the girl sobbed, voice thick with guilt.
The stall owner waved her off, already flipping another piece of dough.
"Forget it, kid. It's not easy being out here alone, especially these days. The world's gone mad. Eat up. I'll make another one for the road. Just sit here and rest a bit."
He handed her a little folding stool.
"Thank you…"
They chatted quietly as the stall filled with the smell of crispy dough and eggs.
"Where you from, little one? You don't sound local," the boss asked.
"From Tsu," she mumbled.
"That's not close. No ID, no phone, and now no money… What'll you do? Call the cops?"
"I dunno."
As they continued talking, a curious voice cut in:
"…Little Jin?"
The girl blinked and turned.
A familiar figure stood nearby, stunned into silence.
Wang Xian.
He hadn't expected to see her here, of all people. But one look and memories surged back—Su Jin, Su Mu's younger sister.
In his last life, she'd stayed in the Imperial Capital for school. A mythical talent, but reckless with her mouth. Too proud. Too trusting. She was assassinated before long.
Su Mu had never recovered. Wang Xian, trying to protect her, had never spoken of Su Jin again. Over time, the memories faded.
Until now.
"Brother-in-law?" Su Jin gasped, blinking up at him, mouth still full of pie.
"It's really you, you little brat. Why are you here?" Wang Xian stepped closer, confused.
Su Jin brightened at first… then scowled.
"Hmph!"
She turned away with a dramatic flick of her shoulder, her joy quickly buried beneath cold indignation.
Wang Xian winced. Right. The breakup. Of course.
The vendor, utterly lost, asked, "You two know each other?"
Wang Xian gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, this is my ex-girlfriend's sister."
"Then you'd better take her with you. She's your problem now," the boss said with a dry chuckle.
"She's not my brother-in-law!" Su Jin snapped, chomping vindictively into her pie.
The boss handed her another one. "Here, take it before you cry again."
Wang Xian crouched next to her. "Xiao Jin… we'll talk about your sister in a bit. But first—what the hell are you doing here?"
Su Jin didn't answer immediately. She stared at the pie, chewing slower.
"Taking money," she muttered finally, extending a hand toward him.
"…What?"
"Take it," she said, glaring sideways.
Wang Xian sighed. Still fiery as ever. "Gold coins or Dragon coins?"
"Dragon coins."
"Phone?"
"Stolen."
Wang Xian pulled out his own phone and placed it in her hand. "The PIN is your sister's birthday."
Su Jin froze.
Her fingers curled around the phone, slowly.
She didn't say anything, but her lip quivered again—this time not from anger.
"…I'll pay you back," she whispered.
"You better," Wang Xian said with a smile. "Interest starts now."