Chapter 811: On the Train
The player beside the old man was seriously injured. His left arm was missing below the elbow, and blood seeped through the cloth wrapped around the wound.
Further ahead, a middle-aged woman was enthusiastically promoting special skincare products to two young female players, the three of them chatting animatedly.
"...Guess what this lipstick is called? I'll tell you—it's called Soul-Stirring! Just the scent alone is incredibly fragrant. No man can resist it. One kiss and it's even more amazing, guaranteed to land you any kind of dream guy!" The middle-aged woman said smugly, "Before I entered the game, I liked a small-time celebrity. I spent a lot of money, but how could a celebrity like that bother with someone ordinary like me? Even if I wanted to keep him, there were plenty of young female players."
"After using this lipstick, that little thing immediately changed his tune, calling me 'big sister' nonstop. Within a few days, we were sleeping together. But I found him too clingy, so I switched to someone else a couple of days ago."
The two female players were tempted. One with curly hair pressed further, "Is it really that amazing? We've bought some special products before, but the effects were just average."
"Would big sister lie to you?" The middle-aged woman added, "This is merchandise brought in from other wormhole points. Small quantity, hard to get. How many districts have you been to? You wouldn't even come across it!"
The two female players hesitated for a moment before paying. The middle-aged woman continued, "You can also apply this before bed to beautify your lips. It'll definitely make your lips look like jelly, something anyone would want to bite."
This comment hit the female players' sweet spot. Another woman with short hair said, "Even if it's not necessarily for men, who can resist looking more attractive?"
"Exactly!" After a successful sale, the middle-aged woman turned her target to a woman knitting yarn further back. She sat down beside her and said, "Sister, your crochet stitches are pretty good."
"I'm not buying lipstick." The woman didn't even look up, her fingers moving rapidly.
"Even if you're not buying, we can still chat, right?" The middle-aged woman said with a smile, "Are you married, sister? Is that for your child?"
"We women aren't as carefree as men. Instead of fighting in and out of the game, it's better to stay home with the kids and watch them grow."
"Daily expenses should also prioritize the children."
"But once you're in the game, there's no choice. It's just a pity the kids have no one to accompany them."
"Have you heard of Mother's Fragrance?" She suddenly changed the subject.
The woman knitting didn't respond. The middle-aged woman, completely unembarrassed, continued on her own, "Mother's Fragrance is actually a body scent extracted from a mother's bodily fluids."
"I heard it was invented by a famous perfumer. She had a terminal illness and was about to die, but her child was still young and couldn't be without their mother. Worried that the child wouldn't adapt after she passed, she used her own bodily fluids to refine a bottle of perfume. Sprinkling it on the bedsheet would make the child feel like they were sleeping in their mother's arms."
As she spoke, she pulled out a prop shaped like a syringe. "This is the prop for making Mother's Fragrance. Want to give it a try? But the scent extracted by this prop might not be detectable by adults, since it's just a person's natural body odor."
Only then did the knitting woman look up at her. Her eyes were swollen and red, with dark bruises underneath. Her lips moved slightly, "All three of my children are dead."
Even the middle-aged woman couldn't handle that. After a few seconds, she said, "In this world, being alive isn't necessarily a good thing."
The woman went back to her own business.
The middle-aged woman had already approached all the female players in this carriage. Just as she was about to move to the next carriage, Yan Jiayu returned.
She warmly greeted her, "Little sister, your skin is really good. You must be meticulous about skincare."
Yan Jiayu nodded in agreement.
The middle-aged woman pulled her to sit opposite Xu Huo and brought out the same sales pitch she had used on the two female players earlier to promote her skincare products. However, Yan Jiayu asked, "Have you used them?"
"Oh, little sister, how could I sell something I don't use myself?"
Yan Jiayu tilted her head and looked her over. "I think the effect is pretty average. Why don't you try mine?"
She pulled out a bottle of baby cream and placed it on the table. "Pure plant ingredients. I've been using this since I was little. The effect is remarkable."
The middle-aged woman's smile froze for a moment. She quickly swapped the item in her hand for the lipstick. "Women dress up for those who appreciate them. Young girls should dress up beautifully, so your boyfriend will definitely not want to leave you."
She pointed at Xu Huo. Yan Jiayu also glanced at him. "He's not my boyfriend."
"As long as you're not relatives, a handsome man and a beautiful woman—how hard can it be?" The middle-aged woman put on an experienced air. "Use this lipstick, and your wish will surely come true!"
Yan Jiayu stuffed a piece of dried meat into her mouth. "Can it make me rich too?"
The middle-aged woman choked again, then quickly changed her tune. "I also have props to boost luck, but they're expensive..."
Yan Jiayu let out a small sigh. "Guess why I want to get rich?"
The middle-aged woman gave a hollow laugh, decisively gave up on this customer, and turned her attention to Xu Huo. "This gentleman has an impressive bearing. Your romantic luck must be good. If you pair it with one or two small props to enhance charm, everything you do will surely go smoothly!"
Xu Huo pointed at his ear, then waved his hand.
The middle-aged woman's smile vanished for a split second. Yan Jiayu translated from the side, "He's telling you he's deaf."
The middle-aged woman turned and left immediately.
The carriage door opened and closed again. Yan Jiayu brought her snacks to the table and called over the flight attendant.
After getting the menu, she quickly ordered a few dishes and asked Xu Huo, "What do you want to eat? I've had the big-headed white frog on the train before. It tastes great."
Xu Huo ordered the day's special. When he handed back the menu, he tucked a little tip inside.
The flight attendant asked with a smile, "Would you two like to dine in the restaurant car?"
"We'll go to the restaurant later," Xu Huo said.
"Very well. I'll come notify you both in advance." The flight attendant said before leaving.
The food on the train was exorbitantly expensive. After the flight attendant left, the card players invited Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu to join the fun. Xu Huo wasn't interested, but Yan Jiayu went over and asked curiously, "How do you play this game?"
"Simple," a player quickly explained the rules. "You're a newbie. We won't charge you for the first three rounds you lose."
The game resumed. Yan Jiayu lost the first three rounds, and the others kept their promise not to ask for money. But starting from the fourth round, she only won and never lost, wiping the floor with the men until their faces couldn't hide their embarrassment.
Yan Jiayu knew when to stop. She walked back cheerfully and said to Xu Huo, "I've won back today's meal money."
"If I knew I was going to lose, I'd rather have bought myself something good to eat." A player with a perpetually unlucky look next door said dejectedly.
Yan Jiayu laughed heartily. She took a bag of her stored food and dumped it on their table. "Let me treat you all to some local specialties from various places!"
The card players stopped playing and clamored that everyone should share. They then distributed some to the other players in the same carriage.
(Chapter End)