Hao began his usual yappathon.
Smooth, casual, and just a little smug in a way that wasn't obvious. It was Hao's signature routine whenever he had to walk someone through the fact that yes, this magical convenience store did exist, no, he wasn't a scammer, and yes, they were actually safe here.
And all of what he said was true.
He'd done it with Mo Xixi, Kurome, and Tian Lu before.
Now it was Yan Zhi's turn.
Just like the others, Zhi was eventually presented with the store's contract - glowing scroll, elegant formatting, and totally non-suspicious clauses.
Yan Zhi didn't sign.
Not yet. His reason?
"I want to talk to my sister about it first."
He wasn't suspicious of Hao. If anything, after everything they'd been through, Zhi believed all of it now.
He trusted Hao's offer was genuine. That the contract was solid. That this place could bring them peace.
But Shu'er mattered more.
She always had.
Hao nodded with understanding on the outside.
But inside?
