Chapter 60 Part 1

“Here, take these. These are Wedding Candies, so don’t be shy.”

In the Small Town, Zhong Nian was stopped by a young woman he had exchanged a few words with the day before. She forcefully stuffed his arms full of candies and nuts.

He had just suggested exchanging labor for them, but she refused.

“These are for sharing the wedding joy with everyone. No need to exchange them for anything else,” the young woman said with a smile.

The Children circled them joyfully, handing freshly picked flowers to Zhong Nian and the young woman.

“We all have some, Pretty Brother. Just take them!”

“Katherine’s big sister is about to become Mrs. Watson!”

“Katherine’s big sister and her Fiancé are so loving. They haven’t even gotten married yet and they’re already handing out Wedding Candies to the entire town…”

The young woman blushed at the Children’s teasing and chided them playfully, “You naughty rascals, no more making fun of me.”

Zhong Nian watched them and couldn’t help but laugh along.

The scene before him was joyful and vivid. The Children’s laughter pierced through the clear blue sky, and the bright, warm sunlight added a beautiful filter to the picture.

What he saw and felt was so real that it was hard to imagine this was a horror Game Dungeon.

Whether in the previous world or this one, Zhong Nian couldn’t treat everything in the dungeon with extreme rationality every moment, as the System had reminded him—viewing the characters before him merely as strings of data NPC with all programs arranged, without investing any personal emotions.

Life was life, even if it was written by others.

“Happy wedding. I wish you both the best,” Zhong Nian said sincerely to the young woman as he cradled the Wedding Candies.

“Thank you.”

Perhaps in her excitement, the young woman also gave a share to the Masked Man following Zhong Nian, with a warmer expression.

“My grandmother is a bit unwell today and needs help cleaning her room and finding her missing little black cat. Would you be willing to go? It’s that way,” the young woman pointed in a direction. “She lives there. I’ll bring some food over later to thank you.”

Zhong Nian thanked her.

As they prepared to leave, the young woman’s Fiancé arrived, saying he wanted to take her on a date.

“I have to go with my love now. Good luck to you both. See you later.” The young woman waved to them, turned, and linked arms with her Fiancé, her eyes full of tenderness and sweetness. “Let’s go, dear.”

The surrounding Children started cheering again, scattering flowers and singing the wedding march all the way, making the enamored couple blush.

Zhong Nian watched them go with curved eyes until they were far away, then said to the Masked Man, “Let’s go too.”

On the road, he popped a candy into his mouth. It was sweet as it melted, and he couldn’t help but squint his eyes.

He suddenly remembered something and asked indistinctly, “Have you thought about how I should call you?”

The Masked Man looked at Zhong Nian, as if he wanted to say something but held back. After a long moment, he shook his head.

“Alright then, take your time,” Zhong Nian said understandingly.

After all, a name was very important.

Little did he know, the Masked Man’s mind was not seriously considering any name at that moment. It was filled entirely with the scene of the newlyweds interacting just now.

In the scene, the two protagonists were replaced by him and Zhong Nian. The beautiful youth smiled softly and sweetly called him, “Dear.”

If it was such a form of address…

“…If tonight’s plan goes smoothly, we won’t have to worry about meals tomorrow. So today we can do a little less work, head back early. I wonder if Little Yu is feeling better…” Zhong Nian chattered on, but after a while, he received no response from the Masked Man.

Though the Masked Man was naturally taciturn, he had become more talkative after getting familiar with Zhong Nian and always responded to things.

So even though the man’s face was masked and his dark pupils were as deep and calm as ever, Zhong Nian still noticed he was lost in thought.

Zhong Nian wasn’t angry; he just found it curious. He bent down to meet the man’s gaze, waved a slender white hand in front of his eyes, and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about you…” The Masked Man almost blurted out the improper thoughts in his heart. He uncomfortably avoided Zhong Nian’s gaze, coughed lightly, and said, “Nothing.”

【I bet this kid wasn’t thinking anything proper in his head.】

【How bold! Nian Nian Master is speaking and the servant dares not listen! Drag him out and replace him with me. Can’t even do the job of a dog right, what’s the use?】

【I get it. I often zone out watching my wife’s live stream. By the time I snap out of it, I’ve drooled all over the screen without realizing, just knowing my wife is so pretty.】

【Anyone who can stay clear-headed and calm in front of the Celestial Fairy Baby deserves this (thumbs up)】

【I’m the lowly one (thumbs down) (smile)】

【Human nature.】

It was just a small interlude. When they arrived, Zhong Nian was warmly welcomed into the house by the elderly grandmother and invited to have tea and fruit pie.

He seized the opportunity to wipe down tables and bookshelves, but the old woman chided him, “He can do the work alone, can’t he? Or do you not want to chat with a boring old lady like me?”

In the end, Zhong Nian didn’t help much.

Cleaning the house wasn’t troublesome. The Masked Man finished quickly. The harder part was finding the cat.