Chapter 333: Pinokangni Chapter 22

So clichéd!

Another female writer with a high ponytail slammed the table and said, "It should be written like this: the moment Star clenches a fist and swings at Ta Ta Luofu—Ta Ta Luofu suddenly bursts into tears and confesses!"

The oil tofu the Divine Son was holding fell to the ground with a 'pop'.

So all this was just to attract Star's attention! Those oppressed trash‑can people were all actors! And when Star's fist pierced his chest, Ta Ta Luofu gradually regressed into a golden trash can and tried to grab Star's hand. Startled, Star withdrew the hand that had been lodged in his chest, only to find his palm filled with warm ketchup…

If the chief editor is satisfied, we could add a subplot where Star chases the trash‑can crematorium—

Stop, stop, stop!

Before the writer could finish, the Divine Son impatiently cut her off, "You may be closer to Pinokangni, but you're already far from humanity. All right, that's enough for today; you all go back and rest."

After the two left, the Divine Son suddenly looked at the screen beside him and smiled faintly, "Ying, which one do you like?"

A sweet, milky scent of dumpling milk drifted from behind the screen.

"…the second one." Lei Dianying's voice was muffled, "Mainly because I can't picture Sang Bo's face shedding tears in a confession; I really… want to see it."

——

When Star opened his eyes, he saw Sang Bo's regretful face and heard, "Ah, what a pity—I still wanted to see how Star would deal with the King of Trash."

"What a shame! This profoundly meaningful dream was abruptly cut off by Miss Liuying's intervention…" Sang Bo glanced at Liuying with a lingering look, "…I was actually looking forward to the moment you uncovered the truth, to see what expression you'd make."

Liuying unconsciously lowered her head.

Star asked curiously, "What are you trying to convey?"

"Express? No, it's more like expose…" Sang Bo waved his finger, "The truth about the Beautiful Dream—you're looking for it, aren't you? Don't be fooled by pretty scenery, dear; a comfortable environment breeds blind people."

"Don't you think this dream bubble resembles today's Pinokangni? Huh? A bunch of scheming people cramped on a tiny stage, none wanting to be under the spotlight, so they push the poor little gray fur to the front—"

"A dream isn't your own bathtub; it's an ever‑changing deep sea. To put it plainly—don't be deceived by alluring glow; if you end up in that guy's grasp… I'll be extremely, extremely disappointed."

"Glow…" Star mused.

"—Do you see that little girl still there?"

Star spun around sharply, and indeed Liuying, who had just been beside him, was gone.

"She keeps saying she's a native of Pinokangni, yet knows nothing of the insider's ways—though she's quite skilled at petty theft. What kind of person is she? Dear, you never once doubted her?"

"Listen to my advice: whatever you want to ask, go confront that girl right away. Don't let her slip away with her tail between her legs, haha."

——

Fu Li Lian, the burial.

In the tavern, Zan Yin slammed his mug onto the table with force, and the malt beer splashed everywhere.

"Hey, hey, hey… Star is willing; do you, a shrewd merchant, have to keep yapping here?" He squinted, staring at the blue‑haired man in the sky who was blowing a breeze at Star's ear, "Star has followed the train, saved countless worlds, rescued innumerable people, endured a heap of hardships, and now Pinokangni is a tangled mess… After finally meeting a cute pretty girl in a dream, can't we just enjoy a beautiful romance?"

After speaking, Zan Yin gave the table another hard 'thud', looking even angrier.

Xiu Taerke chewed a steak and said vaguely, "But Sang Bo did it for Star's sake; it was a well‑meaning reminder."

"A guy who worships Joy can't be trusted even for a single punctuation mark!" Zan Yin frowned, his cheeks flushed crimson from the alcohol, "That guy stalks them in secret, and now shows up again to stir trouble between Star and Liuying…"

"Do you remember this guy back in Beiloberg? He spoke to us; even the Destroyer and the Hunt Marshal never talked to us, yet this guy could sense our presence."

Zan Yin took a deep breath; his drunken face looked even more serious than usual, "That shows… this guy isn't just a bad person, he's exceptionally… formidable."

"I've said so much, yet Liuying did indeed flee out of guilt?" Xiu Taerke shrugged.

"…Perhaps there truly is something unspeakable? After all, she's so young and came to Pinokangni alone." Zan Yin tipped his head for another drink, "In any case! That kind of girl can't be a bad person! Think about it… the way she looks at Star—shy yet sincere, sometimes even stumbling over words… She's absolutely, absolutely a one‑in‑ten‑thousand pure‑hearted girl!"

Xiu Taerke scratched his head, "Since when have you become so good at understanding women?"

Zan Yin suddenly coughed hard, his ears flushing slightly, "This—this is common sense! Just like knowing whether there's water in the wine!"

——

(What does Sang Bo actually mean? Is Liuying hiding something? … I need her to give an explanation.)

Star arrived at a corner of a park and found Liuying gazing at the night alone.

"……"

She turned her body sideways, looking into the distance as if avoiding Star's gaze. After a while she finally turned back, and spoke softly.

"…compared to that." the girl said earnestly.

"I need the truth. Tell me, okay?"

The girl nodded, "Um… I… I've been hiding some things from you… for instance, I really am not a local, the hound lineage's pursuit of me isn't without reason… there are other motives for traveling with you… but I truly appreciate you stepping in to help."

"Longing for the nameless traveler is also true; you've been to countless worlds, witnessed all sorts of people and events, and every day is a brand‑new beginning…"

Liuying inhaled deeply, her fingers unconsciously tracing the hem of her skirt. Her chest rose and fell slightly, as if she were loading all her courage into this single breath.

"I want to take you somewhere, okay? It's not a tourist spot at all—in fact, it's more like my 'secret base.'"

"There, I'll tell you everything I know… as fully as possible."