I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: The Moon is Beautiful, Isn’t It?

 

Amidst the flickering lights by the riverside, I received two cups of milk tea from the front counter service.

 

“Which one do you want?” After assessing the two types of milk tea in my hands, I voluntarily let Yin Xiamo choose, saying, “Here, this cup is milk green tea, and this one is milk red tea.”

 

In reality, when people order milk tea, they generally don’t explicitly say “milk red” because it’s usually understood that milk tea is milk with black tea. Only when it’s milk with green tea or another type do people specify, like saying “milk green.”

 

“Huh?” Looking at the two cups of milk tea in my hands, Yin Xiamo seemed puzzled. “Aren’t these two the same?”

 

“The contents are different.”

 

Considering she had been working and learning about the local culture in this world for a few years, I didn’t make it difficult for her and explained, “One is milk with green tea, and the other is milk with black tea. The ingredients are different.”

 

I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about milk tea. I had occasionally tried it when readers gifted it to me while writing novels, and explaining what “milk red” and “milk green” meant was already pushing my limits. If you asked me to go into details about what different items a milk tea shop sells, what ingredients are in a “yáng zh? g?n lù (????)^[1],” or what goes into a “sh?o xi?n c?o (???)^[2],” I would have no idea.

 

“Which one tastes better?”

 

After hearing my explanation, Yin Xiamo seemed even more confused. “Tea… Is that a drink made by soaking tree leaves, like soy milk?”

 

Has your knowledge really reached such a point of deprivation?

 

“Don’t they have tea in your world?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then… okay.” I handed the cup of milk tea with black tea to Yin Xiamo.

 

“You can have this one.”

 

“Um…”

 

“Where do you plan to go next?”

 

Using the unique bendable straw that came with it, I popped the cup’s cover with a “pop” sound. I took out my phone and looked at the time.

 

“It’s almost nine o’clock, huh?”

 

Since becoming a girl, I rarely stayed out at this time. I’m not sure if it’s the instinct of a loli influencing me, but I just feel… it’s safer at home when it gets dark, at least I shouldn’t be running around everywhere.

 

“I want to go there!” Yin Xiamo pointed to the mouth of the Shenzhen River not far from the commercial street. “I haven’t been there yet.”

 

I looked at the sparkling sea in the distance. “The entertainment projects there are quite expensive.”

 

Shenzhen City’s Shenzhen River has three branches. One is located near the western edge of Shenzhen City, around the Honor District, passing through the New West District and finally reaching the Beiyang District. The surroundings have all been developed into entertainment projects for the “upper class.”

 

For example, near the estuary, there are villa areas and various luxury entertainment complexes. The wealthy residents in Honor District can enjoy natural beaches and resorts right outside their villas. Moreover, the river itself has become a paradise for the yachts of the rich. Most of the videos I’ve seen online showcasing the extravagance of Shenzhen City’s wealthy elite are related to the first branch of the Shenzhen River.

 

People here go yachting with beautiful women, fly helicopters with friends through the New West District, admire the scenery of the Shenzhen River along the way, and finally arrive at the paradise resort in the Beiyang District, ending a day of luxurious living.

 

The rough outline of Shenzhen City seems quite simple at first glance – the western region is the retirement area for the wealthy, the central region is for the common citizens, and the eastern region houses the technology and tourism sectors. The main population in these three areas usually keeps to themselves, and it’s rare to see any behavior that crosses into other districts.

 

It’s as if the people here, from the moment of birth, have predetermined destinies. There’s a movie in League of Legends called “Battle of the Twin Cities,” which tells the story of the war between the two twin city states of Piltoff and Zu’an. I feel like if Shenzhen were to have a similar background, it might be called the “Battle of the Three Cities” – a conflict between the tycoons, the lower-class citizens, and the guardians of technology.

 

As for the second branch of the Shenzhen River, it extends north from Nanqi Port in Nanqi District. At its end is the Shuiming District. Since Nanqi Port in Nanqi District is directly governed by the state and is an economic lifeline, with few businesses around, this river is the shortest among the three branches. It has always been low-key, undeveloped by businesses, and not favored by tourists.

 

The third branch of the river is the one near the Shangjing Cat Café. Often referred to as “Shenzhen River” by the citizens of Shenzhen City, its estuary is also in Nanqi Port. However, due to the absence of sea routes and shipyards in the vicinity, commercial ships do not pass through here. With many businesses nearby, this branch has been developed with various entertainment projects.

 

Starting from the South China Sea in Shenzhen, this river splits into a “Y” shape in the Craftsman District. It extends eastward directly into the Greater East District, forming the iconic tourist destination “Shenzhen Lake” near the Greater East District. To the west, it passes through the Central District and Canjing District. The famous “Shenzhen Bridge” is built over this river, becoming the local “Golden Gate Bridge” of Shenzhen City.

 

At least, usually when I watch videos… foreign movies featuring apocalyptic scenarios or monsters often highlight the Golden Gate Bridge, while local films blow up the Shenzhen Bridge. Besides that, the area near the estuary of the Shenzhen River is also the liveliest among the three branches.

 

“It’s okay, let’s just take a look, as long as we don’t spend money, it’s fine.”

 

In my daze, the girl beside me came close, took a bite of the straw in my hand, and sucked a mouthful. “So sweet!”

 

“Hey!”

 

I instinctively pulled the milk tea back. “Don’t you have one?”

 

“I want to try both flavors!”

 

Turning around, Yin Xiamo rushed towards the Shenzhen River. “Come on!”

 

This girl… I haven’t even had a sip yet! I hesitated for a moment, then ultimately put the straw back into my own mouth.

 

Whatever, this old guy won’t argue with such a silly girl. A milk tea that costs an average of nine yuan per cup can’t be wasted.

 

Sucking up the pearls and milk tea from the bottom with one gulp, I chewed on this somewhat unfamiliar food for myself while following the girl. Eighteen yuan for two cups of milk tea is indeed very cheap for a super city like Shenzhen. Or rather… the prices in the central area of Shenzhen City are almost similar to this. If you go to places like the Honor District or the North Care District, where housing is expensive and land is valuable, you can sell milk tea for up to 30 yuan per cup.

 

But because Nanqi District is very remote, with few people around, it’s in places like the newly opened commercial street where new stores hold promotions that prices can be lowered to 18 yuan for two cups.

 

Although this price is considered quite expensive in my perception. Back when I was still an uncle, the beverages I drank were almost always coffee or cola/sprite. I had coffee because I needed to write urgently or when I was feeling tired, and I had to buy it to stay awake. It had nothing to do with it being delicious. As for cola, I would purely buy a bottle when I was happy. Standard bottles cost 3 yuan, and the larger ones cost 4 yuan. The joy it brought was similar to that of milk tea.

 

However, here, Yin Xiamo hasn’t drunk milk tea before. Even if it’s a bit more expensive, occasionally drinking it is no big deal. The most important thing is for her to be happy.

 

Miss Grim Reaper works at a convenience store. She definitely knows about cola and sprite, and perhaps she’s even had some almost-expired cola. But she hasn’t tried milk tea, so the significance of these two beverages is different for her.

 

“Slow down!”

 

Seeing the girl in front running faster and faster, I didn’t even have time to drink the milk tea in my hand. I quickened my pace to catch up. “Where are we going?”

 

The commercial street in the Pumpkin District to the flatland near the Shenzhen River is a very long slope. The commercial street and the cafe are at a higher elevation, while the Shenzhen River is at a lower elevation. When you reach the lowest point, you can see many yachts and small boats nearby, as well as some vendors along the way selling stinky tofu, fried noodles, barbecue, and the like.

 

If there’s a school nearby, perhaps male high school students coming back from school can sit on this large slope and casually say something like, “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” to the girl they like.

 

“The sea…”

 

Continuing until we reached the slightly flatter lawn in the center of the slope, Yin Xiamo in front finally stopped, gazing ahead at the deep blue sea bathed in the faint glow of the Milky Way.

 

By now, the seaside was lit up with the lanterns of many fishermen. Several small boats were drifting on the sea, and a few children were playing and chasing each other on the grassy beach by the shore.

 

Near the huts along the shore, the locals who had been living here for decades set up stalls on the spot, starting barbecue stands. Wisps of smoke gently wafted through the night sky.

 

In the distance, you could vaguely see several cruise ships anchored, including the Shenzhen-class cruiser, also known as the “Sea History Museum.” This ship has two 150mm naval guns and four 100mm naval guns, with a displacement of 2300 tons. Since its retirement, it has been moored by the seaside, and tourists in the vicinity can visit it for free.

 

At night, the lights of the surrounding fishermen, the indigenous people around the Shenzhen River, and the small vendors merge with the lights of this warship, creating a beautiful scenery.

 

“……”

 

Seeing the girl stop in her tracks, I silently stood behind her.

 

“In that world, there aren’t ships this big, and there aren’t so many happy people by the seaside.”

 

After a moment of silence, Yin Xiamo picked up her milk tea and pierced the film with the straw. “Because… it’s dangerous.”

 

I took a step forward. “Are there sea monsters or giant squids?”

 

Like in “Red Alert”? A giant squid takes down a cruiser?

 

“There are sea monsters.”

 

Having taken a sip of the milk tea, Yin Xiamo seemed to notice that there was more than just milk tea in the cup. “What are these round and sticky things?”

 

I joked, “Oh, those are giant squid eggs.”

 

Yin Xiamo glared at me, revealing two fangs, “Believe it or not, I’ll bite you.”

 

“It’s pearls, or rather, a type of round starch known as pearls. The main ingredient is usually cassava starch.” I explained, “They shape it into balls with cassava starch and quickly boil it in boiling water. After it’s cooked, it looks like this. You can think of it as a slightly sticky powder made from the stems of plants like sweet potatoes or potatoes.”

 

The girl was puzzled, “Why do people eat this starch with milk tea?”

 

I shrugged, “I’m not sure, probably some kind of tradition.”

 

It seems that from the era I remember, milk tea has generally been paired with “pearls.” As competition among milk tea shops grew, more types of “pearls” emerged, including “chewy pearls,” “panda pearls,” “bursting pearls,” and other peculiar varieties.

 

“Strange habits.”

 

Saying that, Yin Xiamo casually took my hand and pointed to a small chair not far away. “Let’s go over there.”

 

From the commercial street to the slope leading to the Shenzhen River, there were stairs and chairs specifically for tourists to rest. However, at this hour, perhaps because it was getting late, there weren’t many people around the stairs and chairs, which were winding like a mountain road.

 

“That ship over there… is a warship, right? A weapon used to fight enemies on the sea.”

 

After sitting down on the small chairs together, the girl beside me effortlessly took a big sip of my milk tea and said, “I remember this type of weapon.”

 

“The Shenzhen-class cruiser, one of the few surviving ships after the end of the World War.” Having become numb to this girl’s habit of “snatching my things to eat,” I explained casually, “It’s been around for seventy or eighty years.”

 

Back when I was still an uncle, after finishing work and returning home, out of curiosity, I once specifically searched for information about this warship. There are also many bloggers and video creators who have conducted tours and inspections of this ship. Although there are people dedicated to maintaining and preserving the ship every day, after so many years, the Shenzhen-class cruiser still shows noticeable damage. Especially the two main guns, exposed to the sun and rain for nearly a century, are covered in rust. Only a few scars on the hull still recount the fierce battle of that year, reminding every visitor on the ship: Don’t forget history, cherish the peaceful times we have now.

 

“I still remember the sea at that time. Just one wave could claim many lives.”

 

The girl beside me grabbed one of my hands and placed it on her thigh. “And then there was a fool risking being swept away by the waves to rush into the sea to save people.”

 

“……”

 

I remained silent. Sentimentality and recollections—those were things I, as I am now, didn’t need to express. Just quietly listening was enough.

 

“What do you plan to do in the future?”

 

Surprisingly, the girl beside me didn’t continue with the topic of “sea battles in another world” but turned her head and asked about me.

 

“Hmm?” I didn’t immediately understand what she was specifically asking: “What do you mean?”

 

“It’s just… we’re renting the same place now, right? You’ve also found a new job. What are your plans after this?”

 

The girl spoke softly, “Are you planning to continue renting there, or do you intend to go somewhere else?”

 

“Right now, my job and life aren’t exactly stable.” I thought for a moment and said, “The future of the café is actually not very clear. Its income is entirely dependent on the success of the commercial street construction. If the promotion in the future is not adequate, or if there are issues with the direction, and the commercial street becomes a stalled project, the café will likely suffer as well.”

 

Despite the café currently having a large customer flow, if you calculate it, its current revenue status is still in the red. Even if the café doesn’t have to pay rent, with so many people in the shop—maids, chefs, cleaning staff, delivery drivers—and such a large space with so much equipment, daily maintenance, utilities, and more, it incurs substantial expenses. Not to mention the maintenance of over eighty cats—cat food, cat litter, routine check-ups, deworming, and health examinations—all require money.

 

If I’m not mistaken, for the café to be profitable and maintain basic expenses and workers’ salaries while still making money for advertising on TV stations, it needs to have a customer flow during regular periods that is similar to the peak flow today. During actual mealtime peaks, the restaurant must be full, with the number of people in the shop staying around seventy to eighty.

 

Adding delivery and such, if the café’s reputation doesn’t spread, the commercial street isn’t built, and there’s a strategic error by the developers, the only path waiting for the café is a slow death.

 

“Born in distress, died in comfort.” At least, I dare not guarantee a bright future by working at the café for just one or two days—I’ve tasted enough bitterness. No one reads my novels, subscriptions have plummeted, I worked diligently, and then the boss announced the bankruptcy and closure of the company. I was counting on the novel fees to cover daily expenses, but the website closed down…

 

You never know what will happen in the future. This is why I actively choose to take on additional work to save some money. I’ve experienced it, feared it, and understand it.

 

“Well, what if life gets better?” The girl beside me seemed not to intend to dwell on this topic but continued to ask, “For example, if the café takes off, more customers come, the boss gives you a raise, what are your plans for the future?”

 

“Um… maybe buy a house? And then decorate it nicely?” I was a bit puzzled by this question. “If not, maybe just buy a smaller one?”

 

During this period of living in a cramped apartment, I occasionally thought about the issue of “buying a house.” However, the harsh reality made me only… think about it. Renting has many inconveniences, and the quality of neighbors varies. Just like the incidents I encountered in the past few days, such as a drunk knocking on my door or someone stealing shoes in front of the camera. Initially, you might think the environment is good and the neighbors are friendly, but maybe the next day, the friendly neighbor moves out, and a grumpy old man with a noisy dog moves in, or a chicken farm owner arrives, raising a dozen roosters on the rooftop, crowing incessantly at two or four in the morning. Or perhaps a stinky tofu vendor moves in, and the whole building is filled with the smell of stinky tofu every day…

 

“When we were kids, everyone had dreams—being a scientist, an astronaut, a writer. But no one’s childhood dream was to buy a house.”

 

“Bought a house, and then what?” My answer seemed to make the Miss Grim Reaper, Yin Xiamo, even more expectant. “Do you have any other ideas?”

 

“Me… other ideas?” I sensed that something was amiss.

 

“What specific ideas? Can you give me a hint?”

 

“Just…,” the girl avoided my gaze.

 

“Just… in terms of relationships.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I then noticed our fingers delicately intertwined, their warmth radiating through my skin. After a moment of hushed contemplation, I deliberately said, “In terms of relationships… I don’t know, really?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I’ve never been in a relationship from childhood to now, and I’m totally clueless about love and taking care of others.”

 

I chuckled, “Maybe it’s because of my lack of emotional intelligence that I often end up making people angry, you know?”

 

“I can see that.” Yin Xiamo puffed up her cheeks, then, when I wasn’t paying attention, she bit the straw of my milk tea and took a big sip. With pearls in her mouth, she mumbled unclearly, “Indeed, you often make people angry.”

 

I sighed, “You’re almost finishing all of mine.”

 

“I never said you couldn’t drink mine.”

 

The girl put on a defiant look, “Isn’t that how couple with milk teas work?”

 

“Are we a couple?”

 

“Your culture here mentions it, even girls in a romantic relationship are considered a couple.”

 

The girl raised her own milk tea to my face, saying, “Do you want to drink it or not?”

 

“……”

 

After hesitating for a moment, I leaned over and bit onto the straw.

 

Seizing the opportunity, the girl approached and planted a kiss on my forehead.

 

**Mwah**

 

Instantly, a tingling sensation, like an electric current, spread throughout my body.

 

“Why did you…?”

 

“Seeing your silly look and your fair and tender face made me want to kiss you.”

 

Yin Xiamo made a teasing expression, “I should have skipped the elf’s skin, it’s too tempting.”

 

“You really used that elf’s skin…”

 

“Come on, let’s go back.”

 

Without waiting for me to finish talking, the girl stood up directly from her chair, “Aren’t you still going to update your novel?”

 

“Well, that’s true…”

 

I also stood up, glancing at the sea in the distance, “Well then, it’s about time to go back.”

 

During this trip, I discovered another “peculiarity” in my body that differs from normal people — I have a built-in insect repellent effect. I don’t know if Miss Grim Reaper specially added this type of gene when setting me up, or if there’s some blood in my body from an otherworldly succubus or demon race. Anyway, even when I’m out in this midsummer environment wearing short sleeves and shorts, with more than half of my skin exposed, I haven’t been bitten by a single mosquito along the way.

 

This is, so far, what I consider to be the most useful and strongest positive buff on my body.

 

“Are you tired?”

 

As we walked from the banks of the Shenzhen River towards the Ai Luodi’s rented house, the girl in front, Yin Xiamo, suddenly turned around, saying, “I remember that working in a restaurant is not an easy job. When there are many people, you have to run up and down. Can your small hands handle it?”

 

“Why wouldn’t it handle it?”

 

I put on an expression of ‘who do you think you’re underestimating’.

 

“I’ve done even more tiring jobs before, you know?”

 

“That was in the past. Don’t you know about your current body?”

 

She walked up to me, turned around, and bent slightly at the waist, hands swinging behind her: “Hop on.”

 

“I’m really not tired…”

 

“Hop on!”

 

In the end, under her strong tone, I cautiously climbed on.

 

“Five minutes, or so, should be enough… Oops!”

 

I hadn’t finished speaking when, with a sudden jolt, I felt my buttocks firmly supported by a pair of hands.

 

“Consider it payback for last time.”

 

Under the hazy moonlight, Yin Xiamo spoke in an irresistible tone, “Although I’m just a clone, I still possess most of the abilities of the original. Bringing you back is not a problem at all. If you’re tired, just go to sleep. It’s okay.”

 

“About the clone you mentioned…”

 

Being carried like this with my legs off the ground, feeling extremely exhausted in my lower legs, I tentatively spoke: “You’re probably just deceiving me, right?”

 

“Why would you think I’m deceiving you?”

 

“Earlier in the park, you deceived me once, saying you had no magic left, couldn’t go back.”

 

I whispered, “Turns out it was still a lie… You just love deceiving people in areas I have no way of checking and then showing off your abilities!”

 

Midway through my words, I felt a sharp pinch on my buttocks.

 

“Are you questioning the dignity of a god?”

 

“But…”

 

I playfully thumped her shoulder, “Even if you’re a god, you shouldn’t deceive people!”

 

“Just sleep well. I said it’s a clone.”

 

“……”

 

The hazy moon slowly climbed into the night sky. Beneath the bright moonlight, the girl beneath me calmly walked towards the direction of the Ai Luodi’s rented house while carrying me on her back.

 

“Plop, plop.”

 

I could feel the steady and powerful heartbeat under me and the rhythmic sound of her breathing. Could she really carry me like this?

 

Quietly observing the state of Yin Xiamo beneath me, I confirmed that she was indeed different from ordinary people. For some reason, bathed in moonlight, I felt a strong drowsiness.

 

“You… put me down, I might fall asleep if you continue like this.”

 

“Sleep peacefully.”

 

“No… what I mean is… it’s more than twenty minutes back home. It’s not really good for you to carry me like this.”

 

“With your small body weighing less than 30 or 35 kilogram, even a cat is heavier than you.”

 

“It’s impossible… our café… the biggest cat we have… is only 16 kg.”

 

“In the other world, there are cats that weigh 35 kg.”

 

“Otherworldly cats… that big…”

 

“Saber-toothed droopy-eared cat.”

 

“Why… does it… sound like a tiger…”

 

“Even if it were a real tiger, I could pick it up with one hand.”

 

“……”

 

……

 

“Have some good rest, Sweetheart.”

 

……

 

And then I really fell asleep.

 

“……”

 

Perhaps because there were too many visitors at the café in the afternoon, and I was too busy and tired. After finishing work, I walked with Miss Grim Reaper to the commercial street, and we took a big circle by the seaside. Exhausted and surrounded by few people on the way back from the café, with the warm moonlight shining down, the girl’s swaying walk seemed like a lullaby. I couldn’t hold on for long. After a few minutes of “pecking like a chick” on Miss Grim Reaper’s back, I closed my eyes in a daze.

 

……

 

“…”

 

“What’s wrong with her?”

 

“The silly loli worked too hard at work and fell asleep on the way.”

 

“Hehe, it seems like you two have a good relationship.”

 

“Yeah… No, it’s… I mean, do me and her have a good relationship? Impossible, she’s just an airhead.”

 

“……”

 

“Do you have a larger tub that two people can fit in?”

 

“Yes, just wait a moment.”

 

“These are body lotion and skincare products I just bought from a nearby brand store today, suitable for children to use.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“……”

 

—

 

Hmm…

 

I was awakened by the warm bathwater.

 

Huh, where is this?

 

Not knowing how long I had slept, my entire brain was foggy. As soon as I woke up, I realized that I was lying in a large bathtub surrounded by mist, and my clothes were nowhere to be seen. Even my hair had returned to its loose state, dancing like flower petals in the water.

 

The bathtub was quite large, accommodating my entire body comfortably. I could even stretch my legs straight inside, and there was a sloping edge with a towel placed on it, serving as a cushion for my head.

 

“Move over a bit.”

 

In confusion, I saw Yin Xiamo, who was also without clothes, walking over. Without any hesitation, she lifted her snowy-white, slender feet and sat down beside me.

 

Suddenly, a considerable amount of warm water spilled out with a “splash.”

 

“W-why…”

 

Seeing the girl’s body, I instantly became fully awake and hastily sat up, my brain in chaos. Unsure whether to cover my eyes or my chest or the lower part, I stammered, “Why did you… I… Why are we…”

 

“Taking a bath together. Is there a problem?”

 

The Grim Reaper beside me looked perfectly casual. “In your past life, you talked about men and women not being able to get too close. Now, we’re both girls. Do you have any reason to object?”

 

“No… I…,” I was a bit flustered. “I, um, don’t remember things from my past life.”

 

“Then, there’s no problem.” The girl promptly pushed me back into the water.

 

“Move a bit, I’ll wash you first.”

 

“……”

 

……

 

---

TL Notes:

[1] ???? (yáng zh? g?n lù) is a Cantonese dessert made with fresh mangoes, sago pearls, and coconut milk.?

[2] ??? (sh?o xi?n c?o) is a traditional Chinese dessert made with grass jelly, milk, and sugar.?