114,514 credits.
The moment he heard Qingque read out that number, Levi instinctively covered his nose.
Unfortunately, even then, he still felt a nasty stench rushing toward him.
Seeing the look of disgust on Levi's face, Qingque suspiciously breathed into her palm.
Sniff! Sniff!
"I don't have bad breath."
Levi waved his hand in front of his face and looked at Qingque.
"Putting aside whether you have bad breath or not, I've already given you so many credits. I asked you to pay the medical bill, and you still say I owe you?"
"Hey, the money you gave me is money you gave me. Money you owe is money you owe. Those are two different things."
Facing Qingque's argument, Levi sneered, then raised his hand like Fu Xuan had done before.
Seeing the outstretched palm, Qingque immediately clutched the bulging money pouch at her waist.
She shouted loudly, "No money, one life!"
"Damn it, I was just checking how many credits you paid the Alchemy Commission! If those guys took advantage of you, I'd ask Bailu to help get it back!"
When they were leaving the Alchemy Commission earlier, Levi had seen Bailu treating patients in one of the rooms.
He wanted to go say hello, but there were too many people waiting, so he gave up.
Qingque, who had been screaming with her eyes tightly shut, froze when she heard Levi's words.
She opened her eyes and saw Levi's blank expression, instantly feeling a bit awkward.
"Seems I misunderstood you, my friend. I apologize… How about this, forget the credits you owe me. I already checked the Alchemy Commission's bill. There was no problem, so no need for you to look at it again."
Just by looking at Qingque's face, Levi could tell that the number she'd quoted earlier was something she completely made up on the spot.
She wanted to squeeze gambling money for next month, and the month after that, out of him.
These little tricks were already outdated in front of Levi.
But being able to casually make up such a foul-smelling number… Qingque really was talented.
———
Leaving the Alchemy Commission's area, Levi took Qingque to Aurum Alley for dinner.
"Ah, seriously, after being busy all day, nothing feels better than enjoying a big, filling meal."
Collapsed in her chair, Qingque held her stomach with a blissful expression.
"I totally agree!"
Sitting nearby, Bailu, who had followed Levi's shared location, also clutched her round stomach and echoed happily.
Even though the two hadn't known each other before, since they were both Levi's friends, they quickly hit it off.
"But eating too much isn't good for your health. Gotta get up and move around a bit."
As she spoke, Bailu stood up and paced around to help digestion.
But when she saw that Levi and Qingque didn't move at all and kept lounging lazily in their chairs, after thinking about it for a moment, Bailu decisively returned to her seat and sprawled out to enjoy a laid-back after-dinner rest.
It might not be healthy, but it really did feel good.
"What do you mean not healthy? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Lie down after a meal and you'll live eighteen thousand years'?"
"Look at the turtles in the pond. They eat, sleep, then eat again. They barely move, but they still live forever."
"You speak the truth!"
Qingque strongly agreed with Levi.
From now on, "Lie down after a meal and live eighteen thousand years" would be her life motto.
Bailu looked surprised. "I've read in some books, 'Walk after a meal and you'll live ninety-nine.' This is my first time hearing 'Lie down after a meal and live eighteen thousand years.'"
When advising patients with stomach problems, she usually used the saying "walk after a meal."
Now she felt Levi's version might be better.
After all, eighteen thousand sounded way better than ninety-nine.
Seeing how serious Bailu looked, Levi hurriedly stopped her.
"Hey, hey, hey! I was joking, I was joking!"
He really didn't want people to take Bailu's words seriously and start lying down like turtles after eating.
And then not only get sick, but actually shorten their lifespan.
If people later asked who said it and pointed at him, he'd probably be hunted down by a mob.
"Alright."
Bailu nodded, thinking Levi had shared some kind of real health secret.
Turns out it was fake.
Now it seemed that asking him about growing taller, uh, asking for a friend about growing taller, was probably hopeless too.
Disappointed.
Misunderstanding resolved.
The three of them continued lying in their chairs, enjoying the final moments before nightfall.
Suddenly, Levi remembered something and asked Qingque, "You rushed to find me as soon as you got off work, was something going on?"
Qingque slapped her forehead. "Oh right! I forgot to tell you."
"It's good news. Lady Fu Xuan demoted me to guarding the book repository!"
'Demoted, and that's good news?'
"You don't get it!" Qingque wiggled her eyebrows.
"The archive is far from where Lady Fu Xuan usually works. Makes sneaking out way more convenient!"
"I've already reserved prime seats at the game hall for ten days. You'd better show up!"
"You really aren't afraid of Fu Xuan coming after you."
"Oh come on. Lady Fu Xuan is kind-hearted. Even if she does come after me, what can she really do?"
Seeing the smug look on Qingque's face, Levi quietly pulled out his jade communicator from his pocket.
"Qingque…"
"?!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Qingque hurriedly looked around, but didn't see Fu Xuan anywhere.
"Strange… am I hallucinating?"
She scratched her head in confusion. When she turned back, she saw Levi holding the jade communicator up in midair.
On the screen was Fu Xuan's very large face.
Meeting Fu Xuan's cold gaze through the screen, Qingque's body stiffened.
She forced a grin at Levi. "Where'd you get this video of Lady Fu Xuan? Aren't you afraid she'll hold you accountable?"
Fu Xuan said coldly, "This is a video call."
"…Heh, that's… pretty high-tech. Where did you get such a realistic edited video made?"
Looking at Qingque's expression, somewhere between laughing and crying, Levi knew she understood everything.
She just didn't want to face it.
But human emotions aren't shared.
Because right now, Levi was very happy.
"Lady Fu Xuan, remember to transfer the credits to my account."
"Rest assured, your payment will not be lacking."
"Friend! You sold me out just for a few credits?!"
Before Levi could reply, Fu Xuan snorted coldly, "You have no idea, your 'friend' here has already traded you for who knows how many credits from me."
As a public figure, Fu Xuan's account was naturally open for public inspection.
Whenever Qingque secretly skipped work, an account named "Yang Sit-Ups" would message her and report Qingque's slacking, and even include the location.
Every time, Qingque would be caught red-handed.
Eventually, Fu Xuan added the account as a friend.
Each successful catch earned the tipster a reward.
That's how their cooperation continued.
"What I didn't expect was that this account was actually yours."
She never imagined that the friend Qingque played cards with, and the person reporting her, would be the same individual.
'Didn't the General say something like this?'
'Guard against fire, guard against theft, and guard against your teammates.'
'The words may be crude, but they're not wrong.'
After hearing Fu Xuan's explanation, something clearly clicked for Qingque.
Her eyes filled with disbelief.
"How could you do this?!"
"..."