After a while, he asked absentmindedly and persistently, “You’re really not one of those mechanical puppets that came to Golden City over a dozen years ago?”
One merely smiled at him.
The old man was greatly disappointed.
“Alright…” he muttered, as if yearning to reunite with an old acquaintance.
After a thorough inspection, the shop owner set down the modified screwdriver, scratched his scalp with a headache, and faced Xie Jianxun’s expectant gaze. He could only reply, “I can only handle some basic repairs. A mechanical puppet with this level of precision is beyond my capabilities.”
Xie Jianxun was greatly disappointed and dragged out his response, “Ohhh—”
One, however, had expected this and comforted them, “Fix the basic structure first. As long as it doesn’t affect daily use, that’s fine. We can worry about the rest later.”
Xie Jianxun asked, “Then, old sir, do you know anyone who can repair mechanical puppets?”
The shop owner said, “Anyone at the mechanic level should be able to give it a try—I’m talking about those officially certified with the mechanic title and certificate. Ordinary folks don’t have that skill; at best, they’re just called ‘repairmen,’ not true mechanics.”
Xie Jianxun quickly followed up, “Are there mechanics in Golden City?”
The shop owner snapped irritably, “I already said, official certification! Golden City’s been half-independent from the Federation for years. They can’t even build a proper Star Net base station, let alone handle certifications… If you want repairs, head to MA-198. Plenty of repairmen there—might even find a few decent mechanics.”
Xie Jianxun pondered this and committed the name to memory.
The shop owner added, “And call me Desmond. Skip the damn honorifics; they make my skin crawl like ants are marching on it.”
With that, he stood up, exaggeratedly shivered while hugging his shoulders, and went to the back room to fetch a parts box.
Halfway through the clanging noises from the back room, Desmond poked his head out again and fixed his gaze on Xie Jianxun. “Repairs will take a while. I suggest you head back first—I’ve got no tea or cups for guests here.”
One looked up too. “You should go rest first. I’ll be done soon.”
However, besides the repairs, Xie Jianxun had clearly come to the shop for another purpose. He bit his lip, a bit embarrassed, and said, “Actually, I have one more request…”
Desmond barked, “What? Speak up! Don’t mumble like a mosquito.”
Xie Jianxun squeezed his eyes shut and declared loudly, “Desmond! Please take me as your apprentice!!!”
The inn’s lights swayed slightly, but they didn’t hinder the first-floor lobby from being exceptionally bright. After all, the inn had several floor-to-ceiling windows on its east and south sides.
The design ensured excellent natural lighting, with most corners bathed in ample sunlight.
Xie Jianxun: “…”
Alex: “…And then he kicked you out?”
The pretty young server covered his face. He wasn’t the shy type, but in that moment when he shouted it out, he felt his soul tremble.
He weakly dropped his hand and sighed.
“Nah. I stunned him.”
Then the shop owner mumbled that apprenticeships required a skills test, and he didn’t have time to prepare one right then—come back tomorrow.
So, while waiting for One’s repairs, Xie Jianxun wandered back to the inn on his own.
Alex tucked the ledger into a drawer and pinched the bridge of his nose wearily.
He looked exhausted, as if he stayed up half the night every day. Yet the inn ran like clockwork, with every employee handling their duties perfectly. Logically, the boss had no reason to be this tired.
Alex said casually, “Night shift’s starting soon. If One isn’t back, cover its shift?”
Xie Jianxun had no objections. “Sure.”
Since it was a lobby runner position rather than front desk eye candy, he naturally wore the plainer uniform and bustled around the first floor.
Most of the diners downstairs were regulars. Golden City’s population didn’t fluctuate much, so meals were mostly familiar faces from the street or merchant caravans and adventure groups using the place as a base.
A few rounds of serving, and he got faces and impressions down pat.
In his downtime, he could sit at a guest’s table, listening curiously to the caravan folks recount their journeys.
Basero had the loudest voice among them.
“That sandstorm was brutal. You know it’s open ground ahead, but you can’t see a damn thing—eyes won’t even stay open. Someone gets blown away next to you, and you don’t dare yell ’cause one open mouth means your throat’s full of sand. Coughing fits, and next thing you know, you’re spitting blood…”
The others shuddered. “Yeah, yeah. Lucky I was smart—buried my head in the dirt, and the wind couldn’t get in.”
“Should call you the Kuangfeng Ostrich.”
Just then, a kitchen staffer yelled, “Little Xie, Table 19’s lava mint water is ready!”
“Oh, oh!”
Xie Jianxun jumped up. He’d been so engrossed in the story that he’d forgotten to check on the kitchen.
Once he got the hang of things, even the grumpiest guests warmed up. He fit right in among the crowd, and everyone welcomed him joining their fun.
—Who wouldn’t love a pretty boy propping his chin while listening to your tales, even the same old stories, cheering you on?
His rare-colored eyes sparkled like gems under the lights—impossible not to enjoy.
Xie Jianxun didn’t realize his “shallow knowledge” came off as “enthralled fandom” to others. He grabbed the tray from the kitchen, carefully carried the mixed drinks over, and served Table 19.
“Your two glasses of lava mint water!”
“I ordered rock-hard liquor.”
The Table 19 guest wore a cloak and hood, voice laced with clear displeasure—unclear if Xie Jianxun misheard the order or kept him waiting too long.
Xie Jianxun froze, his first thought: “How could that be? I clearly heard lava mint water…”
Damn—messing up an order was a cardinal sin in this line of work!
If the guest complained to Alex, he’d get an earful from the young boss, head hung low.
“Sorry!”
He spun to fetch the order pad, but heard a light chuckle behind him.
Puzzled, Xie Jianxun pulled out the order device from under the table. Glancing back, the Table 19 guest’s face had flipped—no trace of the earlier scowl.
Through the hood, half his face showed an obvious grin.
Xie Jianxun realized: no rock-hard liquor—it was lava mint water all along!
Someone was pranking him!
The pretty young server’s face tightened as he said dryly, “Sir, that’s not funny.”
The Table 19 guest said delightedly, “Gotta find fun where you can.”
The pranked Xie Jianxun: “…”
Basero’s big table let out a chorus of boos, making Xie Jianxun itch to ditch his shift and join them.
The guest behind him called out, “You’re not a local, are you?”
Fresh off the prank, Xie Jianxun wasn’t keen to engage.
But since it was a guest with no real harm done, he turned back with a pout.
Xie Jianxun replied perfunctorily, “Yeah, yeah, great eyes, sir. I just arrived in Golden City recently. Nowhere to go, so I’m working for boss Alex to earn some cash. I’m new, so if service falls short, please leave feedback… Front desk has a comment board.”
The other seemed to chuckle, drawing out his tone: “Ohhh—so curious-looking. Planning to travel with them?”
He meant Basero’s group.
Xie Jianxun tucked the tray under his arm and thought. “Travel’s not the right word—they’re a caravan, out hauling goods for business. Not like leisure trips. But if they invited me to join? I’d think it over… for one second, then sign up!”
Imagining the scene, the displeasure faded from his face.
Vitality burst from his eyes, like igniting a crackling campfire on a wilderness campout.
“Of course, right now, the top priority is what Alex thinks.”
He squinted contentedly. “He’s my boss, after all.”
“So you won’t stick around forever?”
“No way. Once I save enough, I’m off. If you don’t see me around, don’t miss me—I’m just heading out on a long trip.”
He winked playfully at the other.
Someone called from behind, “Little Xie! Dying of thirst here—mercy with some water!”
Xie Jianxun laughed helplessly. Another lobby staffer was right there, but they always hollered for him: “Blame your endless stories… Coming!”
Table 19’s guest wouldn’t let up, trying to keep him for chat.
Xie Jianxun pleaded, “Someone’s calling me over there, sir. Enjoy slowly—call if you need anything? I’m on night shift all evening.”
“Now you wanna travel? Ditching that online boyfriend?”
Xie Jianxun startled. “How did you…”
The Table 19 guest removed his hood, eyebrow arched at him. Xie Jianxun froze—this was an acquaintance!
He raised his voice. “Huo Jing?!”
Huo Jing drawled lazily, “Young master’s great at everything except spotting people. How’d you miss someone as obvious as me?”
He leaned back, twirling the long-stemmed glass of mixed drink between his fingers, leg crossed, sipping leisurely.
Xie Jianxun’s first reaction: “…Weren’t you in jail?”
Second: “They let you out just like that?”
Huo Jing pondered, deciding to shield the young master’s innocence.
He hummed from his nose. “Yup, yup. No fine money, so I signed an unfair contract—sold my latter years to Golden City. That’s how they let me out for air.”
“What to do, little young master? Broke and homeless. Ask your boss if the inn’s hiring? I’ll tag along with you?”
Mischief glinted in his eyes, his words full of holes like a sieve.
But Xie Jianxun, new to society’s depths, had never seen such cunning.
With Huo Jing tilting his head up at him, somehow looking vulnerable.
Plus the furrowed brow and cheapest booze on the menu—it was believable enough.
Xie Jianxun bought it hook, line, and sinker. “You… I…”
Flustered, he stammered, “I can ask Alex, but One—you know, it’s with me. If you work here too, you’d bump into it daily…”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
The young man’s features ignited like wildfire—wild and flamboyant—yet cloaked in the desert night’s depths, endlessly profound.
He laughed uproariously, stood, and shoved the other glass into Xie Jianxun’s hand.
He reached out, clinking his glass lightly against Xie Jianxun’s.
A crisp clink: “Cheers.”
“Go on, young master. Tastes good—low alcohol, picked it special for you. I don’t do kiddie drinks.”
Seeing this reaction, Xie Jianxun realized he’d been pranked again!
What kind of guy was this!
Bastard!
Before he could storm off, Huo Jing suddenly said, “I’m leaving this planet soon. Got empty cabins on the ship—room for one more.”
“Last chance: coming with me or not?”
