Xu Xiaofeng left.
As she walked, she smacked her lips.
There was no denying—those treats were really something.
To be honest, the taste was just average. What Xu Xiaofeng really cared about were the buffs she got after eating them.
For example, that limited-edition pastry from Aroma Pavillion gave a +3% EXP gain buff for two hours!
The others provided various buffs for attack, defense, accuracy, and critical hit rate, with differing durations.
So, understand now? It wasn’t that she was greedy—it was just that the buffs were too tempting! No player could resist something like that, right?
As for why she ate one and then went for a second? Well, it wasn’t like the buff description said ‘unstackable’, was it?
And the third one? What if two weren’t enough but three did the trick? The same logic applied to the fourth, fifth, and sixth.
The rest of the pastries came from different places, so of course she had to test each one thoroughly.
Mhm, it’s not that I wanted to eat them. It’s just that, as an adventurer, I must have a spirit of inquiry—every single type must be investigated to the fullest.
“Hehe, I get to eat—ahem—get buffs again tomorrow. So happy!”
She retraced her steps and soon returned to the Outer District via the teleportation array.
Normally, commoners from the Outer District didn’t have permission to use the teleportation array to the Inner District, but the maid had granted her temporary access this time.
Once permissions were unlocked, she could use the Inner District’s teleportation array freely in the future—though she’d still have to pay the teleportation fee.
She smiled at the city guard stationed by the array and stepped inside, waiting for it to activate.
As she savored the aftertaste of the buffs—ahem—the pastries, something suddenly occurred to her.
“Guard brother, the name ‘Aria’ sounds familiar. Do you know who that is?”
“Aria?” The guard frowned. “You mean Her Highness Princess Aria?”
“Huh? I—”
With a flash of white light—she disappeared, leaving the guard utterly bewildered.
Isn’t it normal to have heard of Her Highness’s name?
On the other side of the teleportation array, Xu Xiaofeng appeared, immediately crouching down, hugging her knees, and curling into a ball.
WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST DO?!
I’m so stupid, really. I knew it was a noble district, but I never imagined the actual princess would be there!
So I just freeloaded off the princess? And not just freeloaded—I cleaned her out completely!
Stupid mouth! All you care about is eating!
You ignored her questions, took her politeness at face value!
She was eating with you, but you hogged everything while she just watched!
That first impression must’ve been absolutely explosive!
And worst of all—I have to go back tomorrow… Will she settle the score tomorrow?!
Xu Xiaofeng grew more panicked the more she thought about it. Offending a princess in the imperial capital? That never ended well!
Wait…
She suddenly remembered her own mostly irrelevant background.
Golden Princess?
What kind of princess is that?
But whatever kind, she was still a princess, so maybe she didn’t need to panic?
Nonsense! This is the Jade Empire! Jade City! What does that have to do with gold?!
Sigh… take it one step at a time. Worst case, I’ll just—
No, no, I can’t blow this one up.
Just then, a system notification chimed in her mind:
Ding! NPC Aria Jade Aufrey’s favorability toward you has increased. Your relationship has upgraded to ‘Close’.
“Huh?”
Xu Xiaofeng blankly replayed the system message in her head, then double-checked the notification.
It really is a favorability increase! What’s going on? Is she a chef who’s happy her food got eaten?
That can’t be it!
Xu Xiaofeng couldn’t figure it out, and ‘Sis System’ wasn’t answering her either.
She had no idea about Aria’s wild assumptions. If she knew, she’d probably pat Aria’s forehead and ask, “Girl, are you okay? Why are you daydreaming in broad daylight?”
Xu Xiaofeng’s erratic behavior—crouching one moment, standing the next, alternating between distress and glee—left the on-duty guard utterly baffled.
“Little sister, are you okay? It’s not even night yet—why are you spacing out?”
“Uh… I’m fine. Goodbye, big brother guard.”
She stood up and bolted home, then immediately sought out Steven and recounted the situation—omitting the part about the favorability increase.
As a noble, Steven would surely have some insight.
After listening, Steven first looked puzzled, then shocked.
“Miss… you ate that much?”
Xu Xiaofeng’s face flushed, but she forced herself to stay composed. “Hey! Steven, you’re focusing on the wrong thing! The real question is—will Her Highness the Princess kill me or not?!”
“Oh, so that’s what you’re worried about.” Steven casually shook his head. “Don’t worry. Her Highness Aria is very indulgent toward children like you.”
“Besides, if we’re being honest, Miss, your own background isn’t simple either.”
Steven deliberately dropped this line to gauge her reaction.
Unfortunately, Xu Xiaofeng didn’t react—but no reaction was the best reaction.
He knew this young lady had been sent by Lord Edward. And looking at her dazzling golden hair and exquisite, adorable features…
Da ga, kotowaru! 1
The miss is also a princess! And one Lord Edward holds in high regard!
Admittedly, both statements were correct individually—but combining them led to some misinterpretation.
Hearing Steven’s words, Xu Xiaofeng could only sigh helplessly. “Ah, Steven, you’re really useless.”
This stabbed right at Steven’s sore spot, leaving him with an awkward smile.
Getting caught while tailing someone really is useless…
“Help me find a book.”
“What do you need it for?”
“I’m going to sit on it tomorrow when I go to the meeting.”
Being fully prepared can’t hurt.
As for the favorability increase? What if this princess had some… special preferences?
If the favorability increase was an advance payment, does that mean tomorrow’s the main event?
Indulgent? Like, “My little cutie, scream and struggle all you want” kind of indulgent?
Ahem—getting a bit too strange there.
Steven couldn’t take it anymore and finally asked, “How about… I accompany you tomorrow?”
Xu Xiaofeng’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Yes!”
More people means more security. Even if this Steven isn’t very useful, he’ll at least make a decent meat shield.
“Remember to bring the book for me tomorrow.”
“You still want the book even if I go with you…?”
“Of course. The security you give me isn’t one ten-thousandth of what it provides.”
“…”