After returning to the shop, Tang Ye wandered around inside for a while, morizing so objects’ placent and appearance. Quickly, sleepiness overca him, but he didn’t nod off imdiately. He was just wandering around when, at so unknown point, he opened his eyes, as if observing sothing closely. Suddenly, an absent-minded mont resulted in a drastic change in his surroundings.
His hand fumbled around the bedside, touching the book he had picked up yesterday. Turning his head, Tang Ye saw the bright sunlight streaming in through the window. Sitting by the bed, he gazed at the cabinet in front of him, daydreaming. The street outside was busier than ever, full of people whose noisy conversations were enough to wake a dormant zombie. Tang Ye wondered why the bird hadn’t woken him today.
After a while, he finally stood up and went to the cabinet to open the small door on top. He glanced at the clock inside and saw it was already eight o’clock. He had slept for a full ten hours.
"Alright, it’s ti to open for business."
Heading downstairs, Tang Ye was about to open the shop door, but as he approached, he noticed, through the door glass, a slim, small figure sitting outside.
Click~
The door opened. Outside, it was Dairya. Tang Ye was slightly stunned, and she quickly turned to look at him. Eye to eye, neither spoke at first, until Tang Ye broke the silence.
"You’re... not at school?"
"Today is Saturday..."
"Oh... right." Tang Ye nodded in realization and continued, "Have you been waiting here long?"
"I ca early to see Mr. Pillay."
"Oh, oh, I must’ve fallen asleep today, sorry." Tang Ye apologized, but she bowed first.
"Alright, co in then."
"Thank you."
With the door fully opened, Tang Ye stepped aside, watching Dairya walk in. After a few steps past the counter, she suddenly stopped, turned, and called to Tang Ye, "Mr. Pillay?"
"Hmm?"
"I..." Dairya opened her mouth, trying to say sothing, but could only utter one word. She hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Just say whatever’s on your mind..." Tang Ye’s tone beca somber; he knew his words yesterday had already impacted Dairya. But here’s a piece of good news: he could now firmly assert that a Dream Forest exists in this world.
Perhaps fearing the truth would be overwhelming, Dairya ultimately held back her words.
"Sorry... Mr. Pillay..."
"Hmm... it’s alright, you can always tell anything in the future. I’ll listen and respond seriously."
"Thank you." She bowed to Tang Ye once more before heading to the back of the shop, taking out "Hepney’s Dream Forest," and continuing to read.
Shaking his head, Tang Ye couldn’t figure out why he felt relieved, maybe because he wasn’t ready to discuss the Dream Forest with her.
Glancing outside again, the street was bustling. The working folk had finally embraced their day off, smiles beaming as they walked and chatted household matters with friends. Nearby shops were unusually busy, and Tang Ye knew he’d get visitors today. He just hopes not too many amusing incidents occur, given he doesn’t know the prices of many goods in the general store.
Looking again at Dairya inside the shop, she was lost in her reading, seemingly shutting herself off in another world, indifferent to external matters. Of course, nothing from outside could disturb her. Her mind seed to wander into her imagined Dream Forest: in another world, she shared adventures with Hepney and befriended many animal companions. The Dream Forest transford her dire reality, helping her make friends, and eventually saved the world...
Reading on, she began to smile, though tears shimred in her eyes, perhaps moved by the story yet aware such things couldn’t happen to her.
Tang Ye felt a degree of understanding; in reality, no one is the protagonist, hence no inherent advantages, no rise against the odds. All there is are futile wishes faced with challenges.
Shaking his head, he was about to close the shop door when he overheard passersby discussing breakfast options. Just then, he rembered that perhaps Dairya hadn’t eaten yet.
After licking his lips, Tang Ye rummaged under the counter, eventually finding a wad of bills before heading to the shop entrance. He called out to Dairya: "Dairya."
The sudden sound startled Dairya from her reverie, taking her a few seconds to realize Tang Ye was addressing her. She quickly turned away from her book and looked at him.
"Mr. Pillay, do you need sothing?"
With a smile and a gentle tone, Tang Ye said, "Could you watch the shop entrance for ? I’m going to buy breakfast."
"Ah? Oh... okay."
"Thanks a lot."
Nodding to her, Tang Ye was about to leave, but Dairya, as if realizing sothing left undone, stopped him.
"Wait, Mr. Pillay."
"What’s up?"
"Could you turn on so music?" Dairya wiped away the tears in her eyes.
"Uh... sure."
With a smile, he opened the music box. Tang Ye thought maybe the music would enhance her reading experience.
Exiting the shop, Tang Ye began wandering the city. Walking for nearly ten minutes, he regrettably found the foreign city lacked vendors selling typical buns or fried breadsticks, so he reluctantly followed the crowd into a fast food shop, queued for a long ti before it was his turn.
"Sir, what would you like?"
The attending shop assistant smilingly asked Tang Ye, who didn’t imdiately answer but surveyed inside before replying, "Um... what do you usually have for breakfast?"
"Huh?" The assistant was thrown off a bit but answered obligingly, "Sir, my breakfasts vary. We have buttered pancakes, sausage sandwiches, smoked frog fillets, so..."
"No need to say more, I’ll take these three, two servings each... uh... make it four." Tang Ye swiftly placed his order and, halfway through, observed others receiving portions he deed small for himself, so he added more.
The assistant listened in a daze before making a few strokes on the order form. Smiling, bowing, they said, "Sir, please wait a mont."
"Okay."
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