70: Chapter 70 Another Farewell

[New character unlocked: Max Black, Caroline Channing]

[Source: "2 Broke Girls"]

On the page, two portraits slowly emerged. The one on the left, dark hair, sharp features, cold expression, with a hint of an "I don't give a damn" curve at the corner of her mouth.

The one on the right, long blonde hair, sweet smile, eyes filled with a certain light.

The two paintings leaned against each other, like people who had known each other for a long time.

[Character Profile · Max Black]

Name: Max Black

Source: "2 Broke Girls"

Status: Alive

Current Location: New Orleans, French Quarter, owner and sole baker of "Max's Homemade Cupcakes".

Danger Level: Low (except for wallets, and except for bitches)

Favorability: 10/100 (You helped her out of a tight spot, and she treated you to a cupcake. For her, that's already a great deal of goodwill.)

[Character Introduction]

Max Black, a poor girl who grew up in Brooklyn, sharp-tongued, indifferent, looks at everyone like they're idiots.

She's done every shitty job you can imagine, like waitress, cashier, nanny, Santa's helper, and even walked a dog that bit people.

She doesn't believe in love, doesn't believe in good luck, and doesn't believe tomorrow will be better than today. But she makes delicious cupcakes.

Her Ability: Mouth.

Not the kind of mouth Frank uses for Bullshit, but the kind that can pin you to the wall with a single sentence. And the ability to survive in desperate situations... She's been poor her whole life, but she's alive, and she's doing okay.

Her Weakness: Her heart is too soft. She talks tougher than anyone, but when she sees others being bullied, she's the first one to rush in. She won't admit it, but she's the type to secretly give people cakes on Christmas.

Special Note

Detected that the host has made contact with [Max Black].

Max Black's "Sharp Tongue" has been converted into a learnable skill.

[Congratulations to the host for learning the skill: Sharp Tongue]

Sharp Tongue (Novice)

Source: Max Black's Philosophy of Survival (Abridged)

Type: Active Skill

Effect: When you verbally attack a target, there is a certain probability that the opponent will be briefly rendered speechless, become flustered, or start reflecting on their own life. It's not magic, it's pure linguistic art.

Note: Max has used this mouth to survive in Brooklyn for over twenty years. Those stronger than her were scolded to tears by her. Those more ruthless than her were scolded away by her. Those more shameless than her... were scolded into being even more shameless.

Shaun stared at the Sharp Tongue skill and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He wanted to say this skill was useless, but on second thought, maybe there would be a time when he could talk someone to death, so it might not be truly useless.

The page turned again.

Character Profile · Caroline Channing

Name: Caroline Channing

Source: "2 Broke Girls"

Status: Alive

Current Location: New Orleans, French Quarter, partner/front desk/accountant/waitress of "Max's Homemade Cupcakes".

Danger Level: Harmless (except to cockroaches)

Favorability: 15/100 (You helped her out of a tight spot, and she smiled at you. Her smile is very valuable; back in Manhattan's Upper East Side, one smile could be traded for a used car.)

Character Introduction

Caroline Channing, a former billionaire heiress, now one of the Broke Girls.

Her father was a Wall Street swindler who swindled over a billion, went to prison himself, and threw his daughter into a world she had never heard of.

She had never been poor, and then, overnight, she was. She didn't know how to bake cakes, didn't know how to serve tables, didn't know how to argue with people.

But she knew how to do accounts, how to smile, and how to believe tomorrow would be better than today, even if yesterday was already terrible.

Her Ability: Optimism. Not the airheaded kind of optimism, but the kind that falls into a mud pit, climbs out, brushes off her skirt, and says "at least there's no water in the pit."

Management. She can split a dollar into eight pieces, keep a failing cake shop afloat, and make people like Max listen to her.

Her Weakness: She trusts people too much. She always thinks the world is well-intentioned, always thinks bad people will get their retribution, always thinks tomorrow will be better. Whether in Brooklyn or New Orleans, this kind of thinking is very dangerous.

Special Note

Detected that the host has made contact with [Caroline Channing].

Caroline Channing's "Optimism" has been converted into a learnable skill.

[Congratulations to the host for learning the skill: Optimism]

Optimism (Novice)

Source: Caroline Channing's Philosophy of Survival (Abridged)

Type: Passive Skill

Effect: When you are in adversity, there is a certain probability of automatically blocking negative emotions and focusing on "what to do next." It's not avoidance; it's putting limited energy into things that can be changed.

Note: Caroline went from a billionaire to a pauper, moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and from a mansion to an apartment without heating.

She didn't go crazy, didn't cry, didn't go to the rooftop. She opened a cake shop. That is optimism.

Shaun stared at that "Optimism Skill," not knowing what to say.

Bullshit, Sharp Tongue, Optimism... His current skill list was starting to look more and more like a collection of chicken soup for the soul.

Shaun hadn't expected that after staking out all day, he wouldn't get much from the Colombians, but instead would gain two more skills.

They were numerous, but he felt they weren't very useful.

...

When Shaun returned home, it was almost eleven at night.

The manor was very quiet.

No... it should be said it was too quiet!

Usually at this hour, Fiona would be heating something up in the kitchen waiting for him, or curled up on the sofa watching TV. After Frank left, she moved the sofa directly opposite the TV, saying "at least no one is fighting for the remote anymore."

But today, the kitchen light wasn't on, the living room light wasn't on, only the wall lamp in the hallway was still on, dim and yellow, making the whole house look empty.

Shaun stood in the foyer and called out.

"Fiona?"

No one answered.

He changed his shoes and walked upstairs.

The door to Fiona's room was open, and the light was off.

He walked in; the bed was made neatly, and a letter was placed next to the pillow.

A white envelope, no signature, but Shaun recognized the handwriting... Fiona's handwriting, a bit messy, but every word was written with force.

He opened the envelope.

"Shaun, I've gone back to Chicago. Don't look for me, I'm fine. Just something came up at home, I have to go back."

"You busy yourself with your things, don't worry about me. There's food in the fridge, just heat it up. Clothes are washed and hanging on the balcony, remember to bring them in."

"Fiona..."

Shaun read the letter three times.

Not many words, but a lot of information.

Why go back to Chicago suddenly?

Don't look for me, I'm fine... This sentence was the most worrying.

People who are fine don't say "I'm fine."

Shaun took out his phone, found Fiona's number, and dialed.

The phone rang three times and was answered.

"Hello?" Fiona's voice came through the receiver, a bit distant, as if she were in a car.

"Where are you?"

"On the way back to Chicago. On the bus, just passed Baton Rouge."

"Why?"

Fiona was silent for a second: "Something came up at home."

"What happened?"

"Just... family stuff."

Shaun could tell. Her voice wasn't right...

It wasn't fear, it wasn't sadness, but that kind of stammering "I don't know how to tell you" tone.

Fiona Gallagher, the woman who never hesitated when she spoke, was now stammering, not knowing how to start...

PS: The first round of PK has started, let's get to it.