OFR – Chapter 88 Who wants to gain sympathy by poking at scars?

Ten minutes later…

Mu Bai drove out of the Xuzhou service area and back onto the highway.

In the passenger seat, Qian Yiwen looked at him and asked curiously, “Xiao Mu, why was that streamer holding onto your sleeve and crying? She kept calling you ‘A little cold’ and begging you to forgive her. She looked so sad!”

Qian Yiwen was sharp, so Mu Bai didn’t go into too much detail. He simply replied, “Maybe she mistook me for someone else.”

“Hmm, sure, you’re always so vague. But she just took a few sneaky pictures of us. It wasn’t a big deal. You, a great godlike spender, shouldn’t take such things to heart, especially from us little girls.”

Thinking about the heartbroken, tearful Zhang Yuyan from earlier, Qian Yiwen couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her.

As she watched Xiao Mu drive with calm concentration, she suddenly realized she knew very little about this young man. She didn’t even know his real identity. Xiao Mu, Mu Hao, A little cold—she only knew him by these nicknames. But from them, she could tell that he was a man with a mysterious past.

“I know what I’m doing,” Mu Bai replied, nodding slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, his tone concise and firm.

After that, they chatted about their plans to explore Xuzhou, which lightened the atmosphere.

“Of course we should go to Peng Garden! I read about it; it’s beautiful, with three or four thousand years of our country’s culture. Oh, and the Han Terracotta Warriors Museum, too! These places are even in our textbooks, you know…”

Xuzhou wasn’t far from the service area, and in no time, they arrived in the city. Since they’d already mapped out the day’s itinerary, Mu Bai drove directly to Peng Garden.

It was late in the year, and the park was packed with visitors. After parking, they bought tickets and entered. Because it was peak season, ticket prices had risen to 88 yuan per person. If it were before, Mu Bai would have hesitated, as a ticket cost half a day’s wages. But now, he didn’t mind the price.

Inside Peng Garden, they found stunning scenery: Bird Song Garden with its cheerful chirping, the Sun and Moon Stones, the Viewing Cauldron Bridge, Lock Cloud Pavilion, and the water world—all the beautiful sights were truly refreshing.

As they wandered, Qian Yiwen took countless photos, like an excited child, capturing every picturesque moment. After that, they spent some money on rides like bumper cars, the Crazy Mouse, and the Sky Grasp. Thanks to Mu Bai’s enhanced strength, he excelled at the Sky Grasp, drawing cheers from a crowd of kids and adults.

Two hours flew by, and having seen most of Peng Garden, they decided to move on to the Han Terracotta Warriors site.

For Mu Bai, there was no need to stay any longer just to get his money’s worth. Now, he felt the freedom of having money—to enjoy things at his pace and move on when he wanted.

Leaving Peng Garden, they soon arrived at the Han Terracotta Warriors Museum. Given its significance and research value, the ticket prices here were higher than those at Peng Garden. They parked the car and got in line.

While waiting, Mu Bai noticed a commotion ahead. Listening for a moment, he understood that a mother wanted to bring her child in for free, arguing because he exceeded the height limit but wanting him to see the cultural heritage.

After a minute of pleading, the mother started to beg, “Please, sir, my child is only eleven. I just want to give him a chance to see these historical artifacts. Here’s his student ID.”

The ticket seller glanced at the hopeful child, visibly moved but still reluctant. “Ma’am, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but we have rules. Anyone over the height limit needs a ticket. There’s a camera, so if I let you in, I could get in trouble.”

The mother looked devastated and turned to her child. “Let’s go, sweetheart. Maybe we’ll come back after I get paid…”

Suddenly, a calm yet magnetic voice came from behind her.

“Your kid’s adorable. Take him in and let him enjoy it. I’ll cover the tickets.”

The mother turned around in surprise and saw a tall, slender young man standing in the sunlight. It was Mu Bai.

He approached, gently patted the child’s cheek, and said to the mother, “Go on, ma’am. Kids should get out and see the world.”

These words moved the mother deeply. Ever since her divorce, she’d struggled as a single parent and felt the harshness of life. To receive such kindness from a stranger was unexpected and comforting. She thanked him, her voice faltering. “Th-thank you… I’m a single mother, so things are tough. Could I get your contact information? I want to pay you back someday. I wasn’t trying to make you feel obligated…”

Listening, Mu Bai was suddenly reminded of the time when his grandfather had asked the village chief for aid to help him finish high school. His grandfather had come home with a single line that had stayed with him.

Recalling that line, Mu Bai reassured her, “You don’t have to pay me back. I understand. If not for necessity, who would go through such hardship or expose their vulnerabilities to strangers?”

The mother teared up, visibly touched, and quickly turned her face away so her son wouldn’t see. She thanked him, and the boy happily expressed his gratitude, too.