Annie pouted, seemingly still a bit moody, but then a smile bloomed on her face, revealing two shallow dimples: "Hmph, good thing you're sensible! Let's go, let's go, quickly buy everything, I'm waiting to go back and 'conquer'!"
The 'conquering' she referred to was, of course, the eternal world. This lovely girl has been addicted to games for more than just a day or two.
I smiled and said nothing. I knew Annie's personality: lively, active, enthusiastic, and cheerful. It was already difficult to make her wait patiently for ten minutes.
We walked side-by-side towards the nearby parking lot. Annie had an electric motorcycle; normally, when I went to competitions, I would borrow hers or Gwen's bike.
Annie's motorcycle... was a bit big. Every time I saw her start it, I held my breath for her.
So, usually I rode, and she sat behind. She didn't mind; I used to complain a few times, but ever since my fantasy was certified by the system, these small matters were not worth mentioning.
Annie took out a panda keychain, suddenly remembered something, and turned to me, saying, "Allen, it's just the two of us for dinner tonight. My parents knew you rented our small room and wanted to welcome you, but they're busy with work and will be back late. If you don't mind... we can make dinner together. Oh, and our fridge and snack cabinet are empty."
"Alright," I nodded, "Then let's go straight to the Central Supermarket. It's after work now, so there should be specials. With me as your strong labor, you can stock up more."
We got on the motorcycle, and with my riding skills, the fifteen-minute journey was shortened to ten minutes. We just made it before the rush of the after-work shopping crowd, and I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Pushing the shopping cart, I headed straight for the special offer section, skillfully picking out enough ingredients for us to eat for three days.
I used to frequently freeload meals at Annie's house; her parents were busy with work and often not home. Annie wasn't particular about food, opting for whatever was convenient. I often 'helped her out' before, and incidentally developed a decent cooking skill.
Every time I went to her house, I would use the ingredients she had prepared to make several different dishes. After eight years, I knew what Annie's house had better than she did. Every time I went, I would cook a variety of dishes, enough for her to eat for several days. The system rated my cooking as a D, which wasn't high, but it was more than enough to feed Annie, that little glutton.
The two of us met at least two or three times a week; our chemistry was already ingrained.
Sure enough, at the supermarket, Annie only picked out meat steaks; she liked the fatty kind, saying it was fragrant. As for me, I was responsible for throwing fresh, juicy vegetables and fruits into the shopping cart. Finally, we picked out two desserts and cakes together, and we were done!
Pushing the full shopping cart, my thoughts drifted back to the darkest seven days of my previous life.
At that time, Annie was having a blast with her parents at Tokyo Disneyland, a rare long holiday they had saved up for as a family of three, enjoying themselves immensely.
But who would have thought that I would give up everything... delete everyone's contact information, and return to China alone...
Even now, I feel like I'm trapped in a maze, unable to understand why my uncle forced me to cut off all ties with everyone back then, not even leaving me a single thought. He also had my cousins take turns watching me, afraid that I would 'sever ties but remain connected.'
Especially the moment I deleted Annie, I felt completely hollowed out. Just a second before, we were still discussing what delicious things she would bring me when she returned from Japan; the next second, I personally cut off that connection, cutting off our eight years of friendship.
That taste was bitterer than swallowing a bitter gourd whole.
Perhaps there were other reasons behind it, but ultimately, I was defeated by hunger.
People, sometimes, really do lose to very small, simple things.
Therefore, I must be careful of my uncle's family. Although I am now free from their control, I don't know what they will do in the future.
To this day, I still don't know how much inheritance my father left him, nor do I know what my father was thinking when he entrusted me to Wang Dali's family.
But if my uncle hadn't taken me away from Clayton City, I wouldn't have met Annie and Chen Chang... Thinking of this, I felt a pang of sadness.
If I hadn't met them, what would my life have become? I couldn't imagine.
It was when Wang Dali's family had a dispute with a shop owner and left me alone outside, lost in thought, that I met these two good friends. They re-added color and vitality to my lonely world.
"You're doing your bad habit again, turning into a dazed Allen, I've called you so many times..." Annie's voice interrupted my thoughts, and she was pressing my face, looking annoyed.
"Sorry," I snapped back to reality, "I was thinking, if it weren't for my uncle's family, would I still have met you and Chang in this life..."
"Yes... absolutely... The moment I saw you..." Annie suddenly stopped, her face flushed, and she said with a smile, "Anyway, absolutely! I just saw Chang's mother's stall, let's go patronize it." After speaking, she pushed the cart ahead towards Chen Chang's mother's stall.
Although Annie quickly stopped herself from saying what she almost blurted out, I decided not to continue the topic for now.
I followed and saw Annie being patted on the head by Chen Chang's mother, who also greeted me. She rented a stall in this Central Supermarket, specializing in Chinese characteristic ingredients and sauces.
"Ha, Chang, that rascal, told me Allen you finally moved out and are even living at little Annie's house. Congratulations, congratulations... Just pick whatever you want... everything's 50% off."
The main customers for Chinese standard ingredients are overseas Chinese. But if she really gave a 50% discount, Auntie wouldn't have much profit.
I was about to politely decline this huge discount when Annie's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Auntie! Allen! I want to eat your rice noodles, fried noodles, and fried vermicelli! They're much tastier than the pasta we usually make at home. Mom and Dad will be back tonight, if you can leave some for them, they'll be super happy. They've been longing for the dishes you left before."
"Haha, no problem. I'll make more of everything for little Annie. I'm taking that rascal to Hong Kong next week to visit relatives, so I won't be in Nottingham for a week."
"Oh, oh... what a coincidence, my parents are also planning to take me to Tokyo Disneyland next week. Oh, I forgot to tell you about this, Allen."
"How lucky! Enjoy your trip. Your parents are usually very busy, it's rare to have the opportunity to enjoy a family trip with such a lovely daughter." Chen Chang's mother's hands were not idle at all; she directly picked out several main dishes and sauces, and even personally placed several bottles of famous brand chili sauce and her own brand of sauce into our shopping cart. The service was truly impeccable!
Annie was about to pay, but Chen Chang's mother stopped her: "This is nothing, it's on me. Don't be polite with me. You two usually take care of me and the rascal... Oh, I forgot to thank Allen, for arranging that exchange student program for Chang. It ultimately saved nearly 100,000 in tuition fees, which greatly reduced my stress."
Annie and I looked at the shopping cart piled high with ingredients and felt a little embarrassed.
Chen Chang's mother smiled brightly and said, "Don't be polite with family. Oh, by the way, we got some special local products today, specialties from northern China. Allen, do you know how to prepare them? Annie will definitely love this stuff; it's excellent mixed with fried noodles, fried vermicelli, or rice noodles."
I looked in the direction she pointed; it was a special product I only learned about when I returned to live in China. The taste and texture were very unique, and Annie, who shared my taste, would definitely like it.
"Auntie, I know how to prepare it. How much is this..."
Before I could finish, she directly put a kilogram of the specialty into the shopping cart: "That's enough, it's only a few dollars, it's on me. Remember to stir-fry it until dry first, then store it extra, either in the fridge or in a sealed cabinet."
Annie and I exchanged glances and together heartily thanked Chen Chang's mother for her kindness.
"Annie, is there anything else you want to buy?" I looked at the shopping cart full of items, almost forgetting my real purpose for coming to the Central Supermarket.
At this, Annie immediately raised her hand: "You forgot about moving to a new place, you need personal items, like shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors... and, and..." After saying that, she went to get a shopping basket and started picking things out.
Watching her diligently pick things out for me, I quietly put her favorite snacks and drinks into her basket. Soon, everything was picked out.
Annie's eyes lit up, and she hooked her arm through mine, looking as if to say, "You understand me best": "Allen, you're amazing! You really know me... These are all the treasures I wanted to buy. But aren't we buying too much...?" She looked excited yet a little shy, clearly craving them but afraid of ruining her girlish image.
"No," I said, "When you go on your trip, you can take some as dry rations."
"Okay! Mom will definitely love them. I love my mom the most." Annie implied that she bought so much to make her mother happier, and it had nothing to do with herself.
We picked things out and chatted along the way, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant. The shopping cart was already piled high with various daily necessities, snacks, and drinks.
After paying, we carried our large and small bags out of the Central Supermarket.
"Phew... I'm exhausted!" Annie exaggeratedly wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Seeing this, I smiled and said, "It's still some distance to the motorcycle, how about I help you carry them?"
Annie waved her hand: "No need, no need! I'm a tough girl, what's this little bit of stuff!" She said, deliberately puffing out her chest, looking like "I'm very strong."
But I didn't want Annie to get tired, so I paid directly and rented a pushcart to transport the items.
Back at the motorcycle, I once again marveled at how good Annie was at picking motorcycles.
This motorcycle had an extendable storage box that could be folded when not in use and expanded when needed, making it very suitable for travel or long-distance rides.
After putting everything away, I first helped Annie sit comfortably, then started the engine and drove towards Annie's house.
As night fell, the streetlights came on, casting our elongated shadows on the darkening streets.