When she heard the sudden voice behind, Amalia almost reflexively retreated into the elevator, but luckily, she recognized the voice—it was that elusive man with an unforgettable face.
Just like their previous encounters, the man was dressed entirely in black, blending into the darkness with an aura that gave no hint of his presence, which explained why she hadn’t noticed him beforehand.
"How did you know I live here?" Amalia’s gaze lingered on his face for a couple of seconds, though her tone remained calm and casual rather than questioning.
"I’m called Kenny Lin," the man replied, evading her question, since his first appearance his eyes from the darkness fixed on Amalia’s face.
Amalia made sure there was nothing on her face and took a step aside, prompting the man’s eyes to follow.
"I didn’t ask for your na," she said, a hint of aloofness in her voice.
"I followed you that night," Kenny Lin quickly replied.
Amalia couldn’t muster any surprise—since their first eting, she knew Kenny Lin’ strength was surpassed hers.
However, following her ho had crossed a line. "What’s your purpose?"
Suddenly, she recalled sothing. Could it be that he thought she still had milk candy in his hands, so he was figuring out where she lived, so he could co back to ask more?
However, she couldn’t help but rember she did indeed have one unopened pack left.
Rembering the open pack of milk candy in her place, she fished out the last piece and tossed it to him from her pocket, while a few others having been accidentally consud.
"I have the last pack of milk candy in my place. Wait here," Amalia said, heading indoors. Before she could close the door, Kenny Lin swiftly entered, his movents too fast for her to prevent.
Locating the bag of milk candy location, she used a playful flick to toss it to him. "Here, you can leave now."
Kenny Lin effortlessly caught the candy. Instead of leaving, he sat on the only chair in the living room. "We must have a great connection. I’ve searched for a long ti and couldn’t find a single milk candy, yet you managed to get two big packs. You must be sent by the heavens to save . How about we live together?"
Heaven sent her to save him with milk candy?
Amalia’s lips twitched, trying to find a hint of jest on his serious face. "Is this how you usually behave?" This was the second ti she had asked this question, even without realizing it herself.
"No, only with you," Kenny Lin said very seriously.
Amalia redirected her gaze from his face, took a deep breath, and said, "Just because I gave you two packs of milk candy?"
Kenny Lin replied, "That’s just one of the reasons."
"What other reason?" Amalia couldn’t think of any; there was nothing particularly significant during their first or second encounter.
Kenny Lin’s gaze road on his face, seemingly assessing or describing sothing, making her physically and psychologically uncomfortable, yet he said nothing.
"The door is right there," Amalia gestured, indicating a way out.
Kenny Lin looked at the door, then back at her, with legs crossed, he said: "You really won’t consider living together?"
"Would you casually live with a stranger you’ve only t a few tis?" Amalia countered.
Kenny Lin pondered for a mont. "If it’s you, I might make an exception."
Amalia asked, "Where are your family mbers?"
Kenny Lin’s eyes lit up, "You want to go ho with ?"
"No, I’ll call them to co pick you up," Amalia clarified.
Kenny Lin paused, then burst into laughter. Finally, he said, "You’re the most interesting person I’ve ever t. Well, if you change your mind about living together, feel free to co find anyti. I live right across from you."
That statent left Amalia speechless. She watched him brazenly walk out, open the door across the hallway, a place she distinctly rembered being occupied by a middle-aged couple.
"I bought it at double the price," Kenny Lin spoke as if he knew what she was thinking.
Amalia closed the door impassively, completely shutting out his handso face from the outside.
...
Amalia stepped out, finding the door across the hallway wide open. Kenny Lin, unchanged in his black attire with the black pants and a black duckbill cap, peculiar yet undeniably with an extraordinarily beautiful face that stood out even more against the backdrop of black, appeared flawless, compelling one’s gaze at first sight.
"Good morning," Kenny Lin greeted her.
Amalia paused for a mont, responded with a "Good morning," and headed downstairs.
Ten minutes later...
Amalia turned around, "Why are you following ?"
"Sa direction?" Kenny Lin replied.
Amalia stayed silent, continuing her journey. If she couldn’t drive him away, at least she could treat him as if he were air. Upon reaching her destination, she set up her stall as usual.
The three stall owners, unaware of the situation, observed Amalia that co with the newcor. Assuming they were acquaintances, they were struck by the man’s height and exceptional looks.
Amalia alone was already captivating, but now with the addition of another attractive person, it seed like a model from television, or rather, even more striking than a model.
"Little Boss, I don’t have any artifact. Can I just buy so materials?" A woman who had been loitering nearby couldn’t resist running over.
Not needing her artifact to be repaired, she sought an alternative, her inquiries directed towards Amalia and yet she keep casting glances at Kenny Lin standing beside her.
"Sorry, I don’t sell materials here, miss. And you don’t seem to be an Artificer. If you don’t need an artifact to be repaired, please don’t block others," Amalia bluntly stated.
The woman appeared embarrassed and left.
Afterward, a few more individuals approached with the sa request, but it proved unsuccessful against Amalia. So, they resorted to a new tactic, and seeking out the three stall owners.
Business improved again, but the thin stall owner couldn’t seem to be happy. He was specializing in repairing artifact, not selling materials, But if he dont sell the materials, it will impacted his business negatively, which leaving him with a perpetual sour expression.
"Little Sister, is he your friend?" The chubby stall owner approached Amalia’s stall, glancing at Kenny Lin and asked with a friendly smile.
"No," Amalia replied succinctly.
The chubby stall owner revealed a surprised expression. This person had followed Amalia earlier in the morning and stood in the sa place for hours without moving. Ordinary people couldn’t stand still for six or seven hours straight. It was probably their private matter, so the chubby stall owner refrained from further inquiries.
In the afternoon, an unexpected visitor approached Amalia’s stall, displaying an arrogant and self-assured deanor.
"Hey, I’ve heard you’re quiet exceptional at repairing artifact. No matter how severe the damage, you can restore them to their original state. But looking at this shabby stall of yours, are you running a scam?"
"If you don’t believe, there’s no need to ask ," Amalia glanced at him. He was fairly good looking, in his twenties, and had clearly been squatting nearby, covertly observing for two hours, yet tried to act like a newcor.
"I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. But if your repair work isn’t satisfactory, I won’t let you off easily. However, if you do a good job, money won’t be an issue," the young man said, placing an interdiate level artifact in front of her.
"Interdiate level artifact," Amalia imdiately recognized the grade. During her ti running the stall, she had mostly repaired basic level artifacts.
After all, those who could afford new artifacts wouldn’t care much about repair costs.
"That’s right," the young man arrogantly raised his chin.
"I’ve noticed you’ve only fixed basic level artifacts. Never laid hands on an interdiate level one, have you? If you fail, it just proves you’re all talk and no skill, an artificer that only capable of repairing basic level artifacts, just like them, destined to run a stall for life."
These three stall owners, who visibly becoming the targets of the young man’s contempt, nearly exploded with anger. If it hadn’t been for the chubby stall owner holding the thin stall owner back, there might have been a scuffle.
Having seen all sorts of people in their line of work, these three were seasoned and had encountered a variety of characters. What kind of people had they never seen? The chubby stall owner shook his head. He considered the young man’s behavior was tolerable at this level, so there’s no reason to get angry with his provocation.
"Here out of admiration?" Amalia noticed the four characters, "all talk and no skill."
The young man reacted as if soone had struck a nerve. "Who’s here out of admiration? I’m here to expose your true colors. You better have real skills, or else, hmpf."
Amalia remained nonchalant, gathering materials for repairing basic level artifacts. However, from a hidden pouch, she retrieved the necessary interdiate level materials.
The young man’s artifact was a defensive shield that had endured powerful forces, causing both the amulet and the surface of the artifact to crack like spiderwebs.
The young man seed not to lack money, making the artifact dispensable, yet he had brought it for repair, suggesting a genuine intention to test her abilities.
"I can’t say your artifact is unrepairable, but the issue is quite substantial. The price will be doubled, and it might take a bit longer," Amalia said, placing the artifact down.
"I told you, money isn’t a problem. If you can fix it, I’m willing to pay four tis the amount, and a couple of days for the repair are fine," the young man waved dismissively.
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