123: Chapter 123 Visiting the Arcade

Gu Xiaonan was defeated by her train of thought. Just as she was about to snap back, she remembered she was about to go accompany Li Luo, so she put on a fawning expression instead.

"Xiao Ying, I know you're the best! Just..."

"Stop, stop, stop..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Ying hurriedly interrupted her.

"It's no use trying that Shanghai accent on me. No means no."

"Oh my, Xiao Ying, you look so beautiful today!"

"Fine, fine, I know you're just saying sweet things to coax me. But one thing—come back later and tell me all the gossip between you two."

Gossip? What gossip could we have? Gu Xiaonan was a bit dazed, then pretended to be embarrassed.

"Alright, I'll tell you when I get back."

Only then did Xiao Ying nod in satisfaction.

"Then go ahead!"

"I'm off then. You know what to say if the Manager asks later, right?"

"I know, I know. I'll say a customer specifically requested you as a game companion. You refused at first, but agreed once you saw they were paying in cash. If the customer uses up their coins quickly, they'll have to buy more, right?"

"You're so smart. I'll split the money from the accompaniment with you. Just record two hundred in the books. As for the extra sixty yuan, if the Manager asks, say it's a tip the customer gave me."

"I know, I know. I'll get thirty yuan out of it, I'm not that stupid."

"I'm going now!"

"Go, go!"

Gu Xiaonan finally headed into the hall carrying the game coins, searching until she found her target in front of the Western Cowboy Lasso machine.

"Li Luo, you won't catch anything like that."

"This lasso machine of yours is such a scam. It says if you catch four you get a consolation prize, but every time I go for the fourth one, I either miss or the rope breaks right after I catch it," Li Luo complained as soon as he saw her.

"Duh! If it were that easy, the shop would go bankrupt! Besides, there's a trick to this, okay?"

"A trick? What trick?" Li Luo asked curiously.

"The trick is..."

"If you try enough times, it'll eventually let you win once."

Li Luo couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"That's complete nonsense. I didn't need you to tell me that kind of 'trick'."

Gu Xiaonan chuckled.

"How many times have you tried?"

"Probably over a dozen times, I don't remember exactly."

"I see."

Gu Xiaonan thought for a moment.

"Then try a few more times! You should be close to winning. Once you win, I'll take you to play something else."

"Okay."

Sure enough, on Li Luo's sixth coin, he caught one. Gu Xiaonan immediately called over a staff member.

Li Luo then chose a small kitty cat plushie and gave it to Gu Xiaonan, joking,

"Take good care of this kitty cat. This is different from one bought in a store; I had to work really hard to catch it."

Gu Xiaonan quickly reached out to take it and toyed with it in her hands.

"Thanks, Li Luo. I'll put it on my nightstand when I get back to ward off evil spirits."

"Ward off evil? If you don't want it, give it back."

Seeing him reach for it, Gu Xiaonan hurriedly dodged.

"I'm joking! I'll find a box for it and keep it as a collection when I get home."

"That's more like it."

Seeing Li Luo still putting coins into the machine, Gu Xiaonan asked in confusion,

"Didn't you say you were done? Why are you still putting coins in?"

"I suddenly remembered I need to get one for Xu Wei too."

Gu Xiaonan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

"With your Xu Wei's net worth, she can have as many of these dolls as she wants. These things are only good for tricking poor girls like us."

"Didn't I just tell you? The meaning is different."

"Fine, fine, 'the meaning is different.' You rich people love your fancy talk."

Li Luo found it a bit funny. He wasn't some rich guy. If it weren't for the System's favor, he might not even be as wealthy as Gu Xiaonan!

His luck was better this time; Li Luo won on his eighth coin.

Li Luo then chose something different—Dorami, Doraemon's younger sister.

Seeing that Li Luo had finished his exchange, Gu Xiaonan took him to play racing games, bowling, shooting, basketball, and of course, the bumper cars she played every time.

After a round of games, they had very few coins left. Li Luo went to exchange another hundred yuan. As for why the coins were used up so quickly, the two plushies in his hands were the main reason.

After playing for a while longer, Gu Xiaonan took him to the billiards area and asked,

"Want to play some pool?"

Li Luo looked at the pool table in front of him and said sheepishly,

"I don't know how to play this!"

Gu Xiaonan was a bit stunned. Shouldn't I be the one saying that? After all, in her eyes, it was quite rare for a grown man not to know how to play pool.

"You don't know how at all?"

"Not quite 'at all,' I know the basics."

"Just the basics? That's fine then, I only know the basics too."

After playing for a bit, Gu Xiaonan was speechless.

"This wasn't 'knowing the basics'—he couldn't even hit the ball!"

She, who only knew the basics, had to teach someone who didn't even know that much.

"I'm done, I'm done. It's been forty minutes and we haven't even finished one game. Let's go play something else."

Li Luo checked the time. It was already 5 PM. He hadn't expected two hours to pass just like that.

"Up to you. Anyway, with so many coins left, I'll be leaving soon after we use them up."

Gu Xiaonan hesitated for a moment before asking,

"Li Luo, are you and Weiwei going back to Jiangning tomorrow?"

"Yes, we plan to leave tomorrow at noon."

As he spoke, Li Luo couldn't help but tease,

"What's wrong? From that look on your face, it seems like you're a bit reluctant to see me go!"

"What are you talking about? Who's reluctant? Only your Weiwei would be reluctant to let you leave."

"Look at you getting all defensive. If that's not being reluctant, then what is it?"

Gu Xiaonan clearly felt her heart skip a beat, but she remained calm on the surface.

"Let's just finish playing! It's past five. You'll probably have to buy food for Xu Wei later; hospital food isn't very good."

"Oh, I forgot. When I was at the class reunion yesterday, someone called Weiwei and said they'd treat you guys to dinner tonight."

"Right, it's her childhood friend. Besides, dinner isn't until past eight. Let's buy something to tide us over first."

Gu Xiaonan nodded in realization.

Looking at the game coins in their hands, the two didn't know what else to play. Li Luo then returned to his old spot, because so far, he felt this was the fastest way to use up the coins.

"Here's your doll. I'll be heading off now," Li Luo said, handing over the kitty cat.

"Mm, mm... Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye."