“That doesn't really matter…” Tan Xiao scratched his head. “Pretty, good figure is fine. Age doesn't really matter.”
Bai Youwei's face darkened.
Teacher Cheng hurriedly soothed, “Beauty fades. Outward appearances are temporary. What's most important for a girl is her inner self. A beautiful heart is true beauty…”
“…” Bai Youwei's face darkened even more.
Shen Mo smiled silently at the side. The topic had veered so far off course he couldn't even pull it back.
As they were chatting, a little boy cautiously approached. He seemed to think their conversation was amicable, and timely interjected, “Excuse me… do you need to buy a map?”
Everyone looked over.
The child was truly small, probably only around ten years old. Being stared at by everyone, his face showed nervousness.
It had been a long time since Bai Youwei had seen a child.
Not just children, but elderly people like Cheng Weicai were also rare. Of course, disabled people like her were even rarer.
“Little friend, are you selling maps?” Teacher Cheng asked kindly.
The little boy held a map in his hand. It was hand-drawn in pencil, very detailed, showing traces of repeated erasing and modification.
“You want to enter the maze, right?” the little boy said. “This is a map of the maze. I'll sell it to you for just one game prop.”
A maze map?
Sell it for a game prop?
Everyone was stunned.
If it were anyone else, it wouldn't be so surprising, but for a child this young to be doing business…
Teacher Cheng couldn't help but ask, “Little friend, how old are you? What's your name?”
The little boy didn't answer. His eyes scanned their faces, finally settling on Shen Mo, seemingly deciding he was the "leader." He then asked Shen Mo, “Do you want the map? I also have a city map. All the game zones are marked. Having the map will be very safe when you leave the city. The price is also one prop. Do you want it?”
Shen Mo glanced at the map in his hand and asked in a flat tone, “How can you prove your map is accurate and reliable?”
The little boy pursed his lips, seemingly struggling with how to answer.
Bai Youwei propped her chin in her hand, studying the child. He was a chubby little boy with a backpack, thick eyebrows, and small eyes. He was quite cute, though a bit sunburned, with some of his skin red and peeling.
She thought it was quite pitiful. He must have been pampered by his family before, but now his family was probably gone, and he had to learn to support himself at such a young age.
Half teasing, half testing, she asked him, “Once you enter the maze, you may not be able to get out. No one can guarantee your map is useful. Why should I trade a prop for it? And the city map is even more unnecessary. Don't you know that the game zones change?”
The child froze. “The game zones change?”
“You didn't know?” Tan Xiao interjected. “If no players enter a game zone for seven days, it will randomly move. The direction and distance are unpredictable, but it will automatically relocate to where people are concentrated!”
After hearing this, the little boy looked bewildered. After a moment, he nodded and murmured, “Oh… in that case, you really don't need my map…”
His voice was dejected, making it hard not to feel sorry for him.
Teacher Cheng almost couldn't resist taking out his game prop, but Shen Mo stopped him.
Shen Mo asked the little boy, “What do you want the prop for? You're so young. Even if you get a prop, it will be quickly snatched away, and your life might be in danger. A prop will only bring you trouble.”
Hearing this, Teacher Cheng suddenly came to his senses. Although he hadn't done anything yet, he broke out in a cold sweat, feeling afraid.
He almost harmed this child.
“I want to leave here.” The little boy glanced towards a group of young men not far away. “But, without a prop, I'm not qualified to join Brother Fei's team.”