98: Chapter 98 Baihui Street

"Wow..."

With one hand steadying his satchel and the other holding A6's hand, Li Ming looked around the place with curiosity.

It had been a long time since he'd seen such a bustling antique-style street—though this street might actually be genuinely ancient.

"It's not that the Federation's cuisine is bad, but xia people's various dishes are definitely more suitable for treating guests!" Kano said loudly, mainly because the noise from the passing crowd was a bit loud. "Li Ming, your habits feel like those of a modern version of the xia people. You must feel the same way, right?"

Li Ming raised his eyebrows. Indeed, he didn't really like Western or Japanese food, especially those small side dishes served one plate per person, including vegetable salads.

He didn't like raw food.

So he nodded to her. "So, where do you plan to take us?"

"To the biggest restaurant here, of course!" Kano led them further ahead.

A6's eyes, still lifeless, scanned the surroundings.

Most of these young women with various hair colors were likely Ship Girls.

The crowd mainly consisted of people with black hair and black eyes, their physical features similar to the Commander's.

According to public information, this demographic belonged to the Remnants (or "third-class citizens") within the Federation, officially defined as an unassimilable group.

Due to their unique cultural heritage and large population, they could not be effectively integrated by the Federation. Furthermore, there was a possibility of them being incited by the Empire to cause chaos, which was why they were heavily suppressed.

The Commander's physical features were essentially identical to theirs.

Eastern Radiance people. A6 recalled such a term.

Their histories were almost identical, but the difference was that Eastern Radiance had weathered the storms, while the Xia Empire of this world had been isolated and helpless, eventually being completely crushed.

From the corner of his eye, Li Ming observed the passing crowd. The xia people kept their heads down, tending to their own business, though a few vendors and roadside shops were calling out to customers.

Or a few children would run past holding pinwheels; at least their childhoods were carefree...

Perhaps?

Childhood...

How long had it been since he had run around like that?

Three years? Or six?

He had forgotten. It probably started when running became a burden for his physical education grades; to save energy, he had "saved" himself into becoming a fat man.

Nothing else to it; he just didn't want to move anymore, hopelessly addicted to extracurricular books and web novels.

Shifting his gaze from the children, Li Ming looked at other groups.

Was the whole area out of touch with the city's main society? Li Ming narrowed his eyes.

There were plenty of surveillance cameras and internet access here, but from what he could see, most people didn't seem to enjoy the benefits of the information age, still living lives centered around televisions and electric fans.

In terms of clothing, they seemed generally a generation behind, like a period costume cosplay street, though not quite that old.

But compared to the Ship Girl ladies in hot pants or short skirts, they did indeed appear far too conservative.

As for himself, well...

Looking at his long pants and short-sleeved shirt despite the heat, he looked exactly like a retired veteran cadre, even though he looked forty at most...?

I look a bit old, but I really am eighteen.

He glanced at the surveillance camera directly opposite him again. Had it just flashed?

Fair enough.

"This is the place!"

Kano's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Li Ming arrived at a T-junction. Directly ahead at the top of the 'T' was a massive signboard in front of the entrance of a multi-story Oriental-style building.

Wanhuilou.

A waiter was greeting guests and naturally noticed them. Kano, walking at the front, called out, "Waiter, a room for four!"

"Right away, guest!..."

The waiter glanced at Li Ming, meeting his eyes. His expression froze for a moment before he turned to call someone to lead the way.

Is it because I don't look like one of them? Li Ming thought to himself, but he didn't dwell on it.

However, the name Baihui Street was exactly the same as the name in the diary of his other self in this world. How interesting.

They reached a private room on the top floor. The four of them sat at a square table by the window, and Li Ming looked outside.

The sky has gone completely dark.

The nearby street, bustling with people and flickering lights, glowed with a warm radiance, while the brightly lit city in the distance shimmered with a cold light under the moon.

Such a stark contrast was something Li Ming didn't seem to have seen in the city... of the world he lived in.

The provincial capital by the West Lake integrated ancient culture, modern technology, and natural colors, looking like a city growing amidst vegetation.

This city, however, seemed to have slightly less vegetation.

"Li Ming, what do you want to eat?" Kano slid the menu across the table to him, leaning her chin on her hands as she watched him.

"Let me see..." Li Ming glanced through a few pages of the menu and then handed it to Z23.

"Z23, why don't you see what you'd like to order?"

"What does the Commander want to eat?" Z23 picked up the menu, still looking at him.

"Nothing too exotic and not too spicy. You know I prefer normal, common dishes, and A6 and I don't eat spicy food."

"Alright." Z23 began to select dishes.

A6 couldn't understand those dish names adapted from idioms; she was better suited to plain language.

Finally, the menu was returned to Kano, who frowned. "Just this much? You're really looking down on me, aren't you?"

Li Ming and Z23 looked at each other, then watched as she frantically added more dishes to the menu.

Can she really eat this much? Li Ming broke out in a cold sweat.

Calling the waiter back, she handed him the menu and told him to bring the food quickly.

Then she slumped back onto the table and continued chatting with the three of them.

"So, Li Ming, you look like you have a big appetite, but you didn't pick many dishes."

Li Ming shrugged. "After my growth spurt, my appetite wasn't that big... or should I say, it's Schrödinger's big?"

"What's a Schrödinger?"

"Uh, a famous person from my world. I mean my appetite varies from time to time," Li Ming replied.

"So what does 'Schrödinger's big' mean?"

Li Ming scratched his head, trying to recall. "Schrödinger proposed an argument—it's something like, until a situation is observed and becomes a known conclusion, both 'yes' and 'no' are possible."

"I see..."

A6's fox-ear hairclip swayed gently with her head, while Z23 listened quietly to their small talk.

"Anyway, there's a Construction coming up. Is there a specific type of Ship Girl you want to build?"

"Me?" Li Ming thought for a moment. "Is there a chance of failure?"

Z23 and A6 looked at him.

"Uh, there is a chance."

"I think... if she takes a liking to me, then it doesn't matter what type she is..." Li Ming rubbed his nose.

"Uh..." Kano went into 'not responding' mode. "Well... alright then. You really are strange..."

"Am I really that strange?" Li Ming scratched his head, a bit puzzled.

"Not just a little, but very strange."

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