Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Hotel – 1

As soon as the door closed, the little puppet’s head, which Night Jiujui was holding in her arms, gently blinked.

“Wait a moment. Let me find some needles and thread.”

After casually sitting down on the sofa, Night Jiujui opened the System Shop.

Just as she was preparing to pick out some inexpensive needles and thread to buy…

The little puppet wasn’t having it.

【The most expensive ones!】

She emphasized.

【Especially the thread. Use the absolute best!】

This was a workplace injury! Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

How could she be so stingy when it came to treating her?

Was that any way to behave?!

Besides…

Were they really short on those few Points right now?

Night Jiujui, who had almost forgotten that the little puppet was also her own doppelgänger: …

Ahem, ahem!

She swiftly navigated to the most expensive section.

After quite a bit of browsing… Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

In keeping with the most cost-effective approach, Night Jiujui purchased top-grade Puppet Repair Thread, which cost a whopping 1,000 Points per meter. As for everything else, she simply bought a complete set of premium crafting tools: needles that could change to any size or type, scissors that could likewise transform into any required model, pins, needle rings, and all the other necessary equipment.

The total cost in Points came to—of course, Night Jiujui’s original body couldn’t possibly afford this amount. It was all thanks to the little puppet’s generosity. And here, a word of thanks was also in order to the kindhearted person who had contributed his entire fortune to the little puppet.

【Make the stitches pretty.】

Once the tools were ready, Night Jiujui had already threaded her needle and was carefully aligning the wound around the little puppet’s neck. The little puppet solemnly stated her requirements.

【Preferably, sew in some patterns that look like a lace necklace while you’re at it. I think little forest-style flowers would look nice too!】

Night Jiujui: …?

【I think you have a bit of a misunderstanding about my abilities.】

Her hands paused as she brought the little puppet’s wound together. She offered her doppelgänger, who seemed to have a few too many demands, some very sincere advice. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

【If I can manage to stitch your neck back together, you should already be thanking your lucky stars and celebrating how fortunate you are.】

The little puppet: …?

Her horrified expression froze.

【N-No way—】

She gave a couple of awkward laughs. Looking at Night Jiujui, who didn’t seem to be joking in the slightest…

【P-Please be careful… Make sure everything lines up properly. This is a workplace injury!】

The little puppet’s voice gradually faded. She obediently shut her mouth and watched Night Jiujui in fear.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm— Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Night Jiujui nodded with absolutely no sincerity. Looking at the little puppet, who was now genuinely nervous and wanted to cry but didn’t dare, afraid that crying might somehow affect the stitching, a trace of mischief flashed through her eyes.

However, her face remained serious as she once again began the great undertaking of reattaching the little puppet’s neck.

Ah—

As expected, bullying one’s own doppelgänger was actually rather fun.

The completely unsuspecting little puppet: QAQ

…

If everything inside the room was peaceful and harmonious, then outside the door…

Tu Jin was staring so intensely at the entrance that he looked as though he wanted to bore a hole straight through it. His posture was practically identical to that of a husband waiting outside an operating room while his wife underwent surgery. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The Puppet Master, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as nervous as Tu Jin.

At that moment, he was leaning against the wall beside the door with a solemn expression, as though he were contemplating some profound question about the universe.

All in all, the two of them had somehow managed to maintain a rather delicate balance.

When Qing Guizhu appeared, this was precisely the scene he encountered.

That was…

Tu Jin?

And who was the person standing beside him?

Was that the Puppet Master Night Jiujui from Room 3-03? Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

But the name Night Jiujui…

Wasn’t that supposed to belong to a woman?

Moreover—

Looking at Tu Jin’s battered and disheveled appearance, Qing Guizhu narrowed his eyes. He opened and closed the folding fan in his hand before finally approaching Tu Jin with a warm, gentle smile.

“What happened to you—”

“Get lost.”

Tu Jin replied calmly, without even sparing Qing Guizhu half a glance.

Qing Guizhu, who hadn’t expected such a “polite” greeting from Tu Jin: …? Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Had someone poured gunpowder into his food today?

Or was it…

Thinking of a certain possibility, Qing Guizhu looked Tu Jin up and down.

Oh? Had that adorable little puppet abandoned him?

His fox-like eyes curved with amusement. The delight in his gaze was utterly undisguised. He was so happy that he didn’t even mind Tu Jin’s irritable response.

“You were always so fierce toward the little puppet. It’s only natural that she’d abandon you…”

Insincere words of comfort poured from Qing Guizhu’s mouth as though they cost him nothing. His true intentions were practically written all over his face.

“It’s all right. If you can’t manage it, I can give it a try. Think about it: if the little puppet chooses me instead, at least you’ll still get to look at her from time to time. Isn’t that right?” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Tu Jin: …?

“Pfft!”

The Puppet Master couldn’t help it. A snicker escaped his lips, and the already ill-tempered Tu Jin immediately flew into a rage.

“It’s you who’s incapable! The little puppet already belongs to me!”

Furiously, he pulled up his item panel, practically wishing he could grab Qing Guizhu by the eyeballs and press them against the screen so he would have no choice but to read the little puppet’s ownership information.

Oh—

Qing Guizhu’s smile briefly faltered.

But why didn’t Tu Jin look the least bit happy about having the little puppet acknowledge him as her master? Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

And besides…

Where was the little puppet?

Knowing Tu Jin, even if the little puppet had acknowledged him as her master, he wouldn’t have willingly let her out of his arms.

Which raised the obvious question…

If something suspicious hadn’t happened here, Qing Guizhu would gladly write his own name backward.

So…

He raised his eyes, his voice full of curiosity.

“Then where is your little puppet?” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Tu Jin, whose wounds had just been reopened by that question: …

His expression stiffened. His face was filled with an indescribable bitterness, and he couldn’t even figure out which part of the story he should begin with.

After thinking it over…

Tu Jin’s hate-filled gaze turned toward the Puppet Master, who was clearly enjoying the show from the sidelines.

Damn it! This was all that damned simp’s fault!

Seeing that the flames of trouble seemed about to reach him, the smile at the corners of the Puppet Master’s lips only grew gentler.

“Hmm?”

“…It’s nothing.” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

He still had a little puppet to take care of. His happy days with the little puppet were still ahead of him. He absolutely couldn’t let himself fall into the hands of this lunatic!

The fear of being controlled by the Puppet Master surged through him once again. Tu Jin forcibly swallowed his anger.

Unfortunately, Qing Guizhu had no idea what was going on!

His gaze wandered between Tu Jin and the Puppet Master. He then glanced at the closed door of Room 3-03, and—

“Don’t tell me the little puppet acknowledged you as her master, and then… plop! She immediately ended up having to come here and ask the Puppet Master for repairs?”

Tu Jin, whose situation had been described with perfect accuracy: …

He clenched his fists, his murderous gaze turning viciously toward Qing Guizhu.

“Hahahahaha!” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Even the Puppet Master was impressed.

Qing Guizhu really had a knack for hitting the nail on the head!

Without the slightest concern, he gave Qing Guizhu a thumbs-up.

“If you’ve got more to say, then say it! I’m rooting for you~”

So he’d guessed correctly?

Qing Guizhu raised an eyebrow. Just as he was about to seize the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the Puppet Master—

Night Jiujui, having finished stitching up the little puppet, opened the door.

The beautiful Puppet Master merely raised her eyes slightly. It was barely even a glance, not quite enough to count as eye contact. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Yet Qing Guizhu’s words caught in his throat, and his cheeks instantly flushed red.

The Puppet Master’s smile slowly froze.

…?