Want to Try Something Different

"Amazing! Simply amazing! You're way better than the keyboardist I had in my previous band!"

"Little sister, this piano is yours!"

The young man finally stopped playing, seemingly still immersed in their impromptu duet.

True musicians never need words to communicate; they can engage in a musical dialogue with their instruments anytime, anywhere.

What just happened was exactly that.

"It's been so long since I performed. Makes me nostalgic!"

The man couldn't hide the emotions on his face - a mixture of joy and melancholy.

That's what led to his impulsive decision to give the piano to Ning Yu.

Ning Yu had just stopped playing as well.

In her previous life, she didn't have many hobbies, but music was one of them.

After learning privately from a teacher, she often disguised herself and played jazz in bars.

When night fell, she wasn't always the cold-blooded assassin taking lives.

Sometimes, she was just an anonymous performer, quietly playing piano in the shadows of some underground bar.

Ning Yu truly enjoyed this process - it was one of the few pleasures from her previous life.

This moment felt like a long-awaited reunion with her former self.

"No need, I'll pay you properly. How much is it?"

However, she declined the young man's casual offer, thinking that simply accepting it might not fulfill the "transaction" task requirement.

Besides, she hadn't enjoyed this hobby for a long time either. For her, this was also a rare encounter, so she didn't want to take the piano for free.

"Uh..."

The young man hesitated.

He had indeed fallen on hard times and was forced to sell these instruments to survive.

He had originally thought that even in the apocalypse, he might still find time for his hobby.

But such luxuries meant nothing in the face of survival, and he quickly came to his senses.

His friends had realized this even sooner than he had.

"Then 10 exchange tickets!"

He named a price casually, no longer being overly polite with Ning Yu.

In this post-apocalyptic world, it was hard to put a price on musical instruments - one could even say they were worthless.

After all, who would care about entertainment when they couldn't even feed themselves?

So now that he was alone, there was no point in holding on, right?

"Deal."

Ning Yu didn't haggle, simply taking out 10 Ark Base exchange tickets and handing them to the man.

"The piano is yours!"

The man cheerfully brought out a case and packed up the electric piano complete with pedals and power supply.

He handed it over to Ning Yu with professional courtesy.

"Do you need help carrying it?"

He was worried the large case might be too heavy for her to take home.

But then, Ning Yu effortlessly lifted it with one hand. If only she were taller, she could have slung it over her shoulder.

Seeing how easily she handled it, the man stopped worrying about that.

He pointed to the other instruments:

"Are you interested in any others?"

Rather than letting his precious instruments gather dust, he'd prefer to give them to someone who understood their value.

"You can have any you want, free of charge!"

Ning Yu smiled wryly but understood his feelings. She gently waved her hand:

"No need, I don't really know how to play the others."

"Ah... alright, if you change your mind, come find me anytime!"

The man looked disappointed, wondering when someone else might want these instruments.

Still, 10 exchange tickets would sustain him for three days, enough time to find work at the base.

In Ark Base, no one would starve if they were willing to work.

Ning Yu said nothing more and waved goodbye.

The man sat in his room, watching her beautiful figure disappear, feeling empty inside.

If the apocalypse hadn't happened, he would have loved to invite her to join his band, or even join hers.

But from now on, he'd have to bid farewell to such unrealistic dreams.

At least this farewell was perfect.

So, he began packing up his belongings.

......

[Ding! Task: Complete a transaction with the man - Accomplished!]

[Reward issued: Charm +1, Points +2000]

Damn! Even this counts!

Ning Yu held the newly acquired electric piano in one hand, feeling speechless.

It would be inconvenient to buy groceries while carrying it, so she decided to return to her apartment to drop it off first.

Then she headed back out to the Ark Base's grocery section.

Following her list, Ning Yu queued up in the food section to buy ingredients for tonight's dinner.

Unfortunately, not all the ingredients she wanted were available at Ark Base, though she had anticipated this.

She had already discussed this with the Shen sisters, agreeing to substitute ingredients if necessary.

The total cost was about 10 exchange tickets, making it quite a luxurious meal.

For five people, this amount could normally cover three days of basic meals, but they were using it all for one dinner.

Besides cooking ingredients, she also exchanged for some seasonings and kitchen supplies.

Some were traded directly with the base, others through the free trade zone.

From Ning Yu's experience:

If you wanted to live exactly as you did before the apocalypse at Ark Base, it would take extra effort.

But if you just wanted basic sustenance without many demands, that was easily achievable.

By the time Ning Yu returned to the apartment, it was almost 4 PM.

So as soon as she entered, she headed straight for the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

Shen Yiyue was already waiting, wearing a kitchen apron.

"Sister, I'll help too!"

Shen Qianqian had been drafted to help, though Shen Yiyue hadn't really intended to let a child assist, and patted her head saying:

"Just kidding, silly sister, go play."

Ning Yu also handed Shen Qianqian a shoujo manga she'd found in the free trade zone.

"Wow!! It's 'Reborn as the Fifth Wife, Spoiled by the Domineering Prince!'"

Shen Qianqian happily accepted it, her eyes sparkling.

"Ning Yu sister is the best!!"

She cheered and jumped onto the sofa to start reading.

After sitting down, she secretly glanced at the two who were about to get busy:

"Actually, I've been wanting to try something different lately..."

If Shen Yiyue were closer, she would definitely poke her sister's head: such a precocious child!

"What kind of mess are you cutting?"

Ning Yu looked at the carrot pieces Shen Yiyue was supposed to be helping with - some chunks were big, some small, and some had even flown onto the floor.

She stopped Shen Yiyue's disruptive behavior with an exasperated expression.

"You'd better just wash the vegetables..."

"Wuu wuu, Little Yu, you're so mean..."

Shen Yiyue put down the knife dejectedly and walked to the sink to silently wash vegetables.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and familiar voices came from outside:

"We're here!"

Recommend Series

My System Seems Different from Theirs

My System Seems Different from Theirs

ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"

Villain’s Diary: Why Does It Feel Like You’re All Acting Against Me?

Villain’s Diary: Why Does It Feel Like You’re All Acting Against Me?

and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!

Starting with 50 Spirit Stones and 2 Hours with My Senior Sister as Daoist Consort

Starting with 50 Spirit Stones and 2 Hours with My Senior Sister as Daoist Consort

ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?

The Creepy Love Game with Everyone Being Yandere

The Creepy Love Game with Everyone Being Yandere

] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.