What do you want to do after getting money?
This is probably something everyone has fantasized about.
It’s like those posts that inexplicably appear on forums, saying “How much money would it take for you to choose from the following options?” It makes it seem like if you seriously choose, your bank account would actually magically have more cash.
That kind of thing is impossible!
Money is tied to memory. How you spend every penny in your bank account might fade from your smooth brain, but how you earned it, you definitely remember clearly.
Lin Yi thought so, so when she saw the hard-earned little money in her account, she immediately chose to spend it.
As long as she spent this money, that shameful memory might disappear along with it, right?
So, where would Lin Yi spend her money?
“Of course, buying the latest Kamen Rider Kuuga CSM Collector’s Grade Belt 25th Anniversary Version!”
As everyone knows, every otaku has watched Tokusatsu shows more or less when they were young, and Lin Yi was no exception.
No one can resist a glowing light stick or a belt. If someone can, it’s just not bright enough, not loud enough!
Transforming into a righteous knight, delivering a flying kick to the bad guys, saving the world… it’s just too thrilling.
“The latest version costs over 2500, but if I buy second-hand, it can drop to around 1700, hmm…”
If only my finances were sufficient!
Next time, if there is a next time, she will definitely buy a brand new one, sob sob.
After returning to the dorm last night, she frantically searched on forums and second-hand platforms, finally settling on a local otaku. If she picks it up in person, the price could drop below 1600.
She could still have quite a bit left for next month’s living expenses, completely affordable!
Yesterday’s clothes were already sent out for washing, so Lin Yi still planned to go out in her school uniform.
Yan Jianxing sighed, helping Lin Yi straighten her collar: “I say, is it really okay for you to go out in your school uniform every day?”
“There’s no other way, after all, I only have that one set of casual clothes.”
And that set of casual clothes was inexplicably dissed by Jian Shuye yesterday. Just thinking about it makes her angry.
What right does this lofty young lady have to look down on her and Yan Jianxing’s taste?
“You can borrow my casual clothes,” Yan Jianxing happily opened her wardrobe. “There are lots of clothes to wear inside. Come on, hurry up and pick something.”
“No, no, wearing your clothes or something, how inconvenient,” Lin Yi quickly stepped back. “Besides, if I get them dirty or tear them, I’d feel really bad.”
Yan Jianxing took out a strappy floral print dress on her own: “What’s the big deal? If it gets worn out, just change it. Oh right, how about I go with you today!”
“Huh?”
“First, go get that toy of yours, then go to the clothing mall to pick out clothes. Isn’t there a clothing wholesale market near Shahe!”
Too enthusiastic, passionate as fire!
Seeing that she couldn’t refuse Yan Jianxing’s suggestion, Lin Yi was about to succumb…
Suddenly, Yan Jianxing’s phone rang. She held it between her neck and shoulder, then held the floral dress up against Lin Yi with both hands.
“Hello, Mom?”
“Mm, mm, ah? I totally forgot about that, oops, my bad, my bad.”
“Right now? But… okay, alright, I know, right away.”
Lin Yi blinked: “What’s wrong?”
Yan Jianxing puffed out her cheeks, putting the clothes back in the wardrobe with a hint of regret.
“I totally forgot today is Grandpa’s birthday. I have to go home for dinner.”
“That’s a big deal.” Lin Yi slung her backpack over her shoulder and opened the dorm door. “You should hurry. I’m also in a rush here, otherwise the other person won’t wait around for long!”
“Aww—I don’t want to leave you.” Yan Jianxing plopped down on the chair. “I want to go out with you.”
“Next time, I’ll definitely have time next time, bye~”
Lin Yi closed the dorm door and let out a sigh of relief.
She wasn’t mentally prepared to go out wearing a floral dress like that yet.
No matter how cute it was, it wouldn’t do.
……
……
Lin Yi took Metro Line 11 directly to Shahe. After getting off, she scanned a shared bike by the roadside and wobbled her way into the clothing district.
“丢雷楼某，踩车唔睇路㗎!”
“Su… sumimasen!”
After nearly colliding with a cargo tricycle on the narrow road, Lin Yi was scolded by a bald old man and apologized instinctively.
In Suzhou, basically, whether people or bicycles want to cross the street depends not on the color of the traffic light, but on the old-timers’ expressions.
For the sake of the belt, Lin Yi endured the hardship, circling around the clothing district for a long time. She finally stopped in front of a shop resembling an e-commerce wholesale store.
Looking at the young man in his twenties, with dark circles like a panda’s, smoking, Lin Yi asked softly, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Xiao Tianqie Burang?”
“Hmm, that’s me…” The young man was moving cargo boxes and glanced at Lin Yi, who was wearing a mask. “You are… Dianzan Kuangmo Gege?”
Lin Yi rubbed the back of her head: “Hehe, that’s me, that’s me.”
“You’re a girl?”
“What about being a girl? Can’t girls play with belts?” Lin Yi protested. “So angry, so shaking, so cold, when will we women stand up?”
“Sorry about that.”
Then, the young man went into the shop’s storage room and brought out a box carefully wrapped in PE bubble wrap, placing it in front of Lin Yi.
“Here, I had a friend buy it for me a while ago. It even got inspected properly at customs.” The young man lit a cigarette, squinting. “When I got back, my girlfriend asked how much it cost, and then I got scolded for no reason.”
Lin Yi squatted down, looking at the large black box visible through the bubble wrap. The BANDAI logo in the bottom right corner was all too familiar.
The box cover featured Kuuga’s black and gold Ultimate Form. It was just too cool!
“That’s rough, man.”
“Tell me about it.”
The young man patted the box: “Consider it fate. I was forced to put it up for sale last night to recoup some cash. Several scalpers contacted me, but I refused. I saw you were more of a private collector, so I’m selling it to you.”
“Don’t worry, man.” Lin Yi patted her non-existent chest. “I will definitely take good care of it!”
The guy took a deep drag, filling his lungs: “Sss—Haa, I can tell just by looking at your expression.”
Lin Yi had specifically borrowed Yan Jianxing’s oversized sports backpack for today, which was just big enough to fit the entire box.
The young man looked at Lin Yi’s backpack with reluctance, like a wise man who had seen through everything in the world: “When I was little, my biggest dream was to have a belt and save the world.”
“Haa…”
“But the gravity of reality is just too heavy.” The young man crushed his cigarette butt, then waved. “Goodbye, kid. Don’t forget your Knight Dream.”
“Goodbye, big brother who likes Riders!”
Lin Yi waved goodbye, then rode her bike to near Shahe Station. It was almost lunchtime, so she found a nearby restaurant, sat down, ordered beef balls and fresh shrimp brisket noodles, ready to reward herself.
Just thinking about being able to put on the belt back in the dorm and shout “Henshin!” made her so excited she wanted to jump up and shout “Yay!”
“Hum hum hum, hum hum hum~”
“Boss, one order of secret recipe chicken leg porridge, add some shiitake mushrooms, and two single serving grilled skewer sets, not spicy.”
“Coming right up!”
Lin Yi felt this voice sounded so familiar?
Looking up, she saw a girl wearing a white knitted cardigan over a brown long skirt, carrying a large bag, with her back to Lin Yi.
She had the bearing of an old acquaintance!
The girl turned around, fanning her face with her hand. Her slightly brownish long hair swept past Lin Yi’s face, revealing a sweet countenance.
“Su… Su Kui?”
Su Kui was stunned for a moment, then her red lips parted slightly: “Lin Yi?”