Are you sure she just doesn’t like talking to you?

Bai Kou’s annoyance with her mother was already evident, even in front of outsiders she showed no restraint.

Mrs. Bai wasn’t really asking, she didn’t care if Xu Huo answered, she continued, "Because she likes her father more."

"Mrs. Bai, we’ve only met for the second time, there’s no need to discuss such deep topics." Xu Huo interrupted with a smile, "I’m not interested in meddling in a friend’s family affairs."

Mrs. Bai seemed surprised by his words, her expression gentle yet fragile, "I rarely see Kou Kou bring friends home to play, you’re the first, she must like you a lot."

"In a way, she and I are competitors." after all, most of He Pu’s inheritance went to him.

"You don’t understand a girl’s heart, only someone who truly cares can make them see differently." Mrs. Bai’s hand gently rested on his wrist, she gazed into his eyes and slowly said, "Your presence makes her happy, which makes me happy too, so I hope you can stay, stay at the Eye of Platinum."

Xu Huo looked at the hand pressing on his wrist, frowned, and then moved a little to the side, "Mrs. Bai, if you really understood your daughter, you wouldn’t think that way."

Mrs. Bai’s smile deepened, picking up another flower, she said leisurely, "How could I not understand my own daughter, because of her father’s death, we’ve had this rift for many years, I can only spend double the energy on her, I know every move she makes, even the color of a single hair, to the point I’ve neglected my younger daughter."

"But what can I do, she is my beloved daughter, and whatever she desires, I try my best to find for her."

"I’ve already applied for a Grey Player status for you, you’re a good kid, and you should be safe and happy."

At this moment, Xu Huo truly witnessed the peculiarity of this mayor’s wife, she wore no props, used no instruments, not even a hint of spiritual power fluctuations, yet her words, even those with ambiguous positions, infiltrated the brain like hypnosis.

And to think, she appeared just like an ordinary person.

Xu Huo’s index finger twitched, but at the same time, a player stood behind him, warning him to stay still.

Mrs. Bai’s gaze remained on the flower, as if unaware that the person she wished to retain a moment ago was being threatened the next.

Xu Huo had a subtle feeling, suddenly speaking, "Mrs. Bai, do you really want to invite me to stay at the Eye of Platinum?"

Mrs. Bai turned to look at him, "You don’t want to? Not even for Kou Kou?"

Before Xu Huo could respond, another member of the law enforcement team came over with a communication terminal, Mrs. Bai took it and exchanged a few words, it was screened from others so he couldn’t hear what was said, but the next moment, this elegant lady raised her hand to the person beside her.

Xu Huo was "invited" out again.

"You can go now."

The flower shop’s door closed from inside. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

It seemed that the matter was settled.

Xu Huo saw there was another flower shop not far on the opposite street, so he went over to buy a ready bundle of red roses, asking the shop to send it directly to the Mechanical Castle.

However, just after paying, Bai Kou’s call came through.

"No problems, right?"

"Everything’s fine," Xu Huo twirled a full bloom, "but if it had been a bit later, I’m not sure."

Bai Kou actually laughed, "I don’t believe you’d really lay a hand on her."

"That lady is indeed... unusual." Xu Huo spoke rather ambiguously, "How can someone like her still be alive now?"

For instance, upon realizing that this person had issues, he’d have murderous intent, there have been many players dealing with Mrs. Bai, surely he was not the first, she maneuvers between different forces, remaining unscathed and even beloved, this in itself is abnormal.

Bai Kou agreed with his view but was regretful, "No one can kill her, not even I can."

"Does she have a special life-saving prop?" Xu Huo casually asked, seeing no response from the other side, he continued, "Your mom wants to get you a bouquet of flowers, I saw she picked all black ones, her skills weren’t great, so I selected a prettier one from the shop, show it off a bit more when she comes to see you."

"Do you think it will rile her up?" Bai Kou’s tone lifted slightly.

"Didn’t you notice? She doesn’t want anyone appearing beside you, not even an ordinary friend." Xu Huo said, "Do as I say, guarantee it will keep her up all night."

"Then I’ll try." Bai Kou ended the call pleasantly.

"Sir, your flowers are ready, our store has added petal carving service, would you like to engrave blessings on the petals?" the clerk approached, "The engraving guarantees no harm to the flower itself, and the words you want will remain vibrant with the bouquet."

Xu Huo thought for a moment, "Write ’May our friendship last forever.’

The clerk completed it quickly, he looked over, so-called petal carving was actually done by machines writing on petals, but with such precision it didn’t damage the flower, and from different angles, the words would appear in different colors, as if they naturally grew within the flower.

"Write on each, I’ll pay extra."

What effect the delivery to the Mechanical Castle would have, Xu Huo didn’t know, after finishing he checked in at the Eternal Star Hotel and incidentally informed Xin Rong.

Xin Rong was pleased to know the task was done, immediately informing the Eternal Star Hotel that Xu Huo’s expenses at the Eye of Platinum should be billed to the Xin Family’s account.

Xu Huo didn’t refuse, resting thoroughly at the hotel for a day before starting to prepare for the next instance needed supplies.

Food and water needed replenishing, and some damaged props and equipment required replacing, it happened that the money from props taken by Xin Rong had arrived, so he replenished a few more items, also purchasing two high-priced passive defense special items, similar in effect to "Undaunted Martyr Substitute" and "Kitty Grants You Three Lives", all to help the holder evade high-risk attacks.

Having used a Perfect Potion once, it’s best not to use a second one in short order, so evolution rate increase could be postponed for now.

After reaching Player Level B, he’s only completed four instances, one instance failed, another rated as A, which already lowered his overall score, he thought that to upgrade again, the number of instances would likely need to increase, so this time didn’t opt for a specific instance, instead choosing one from the pass tickets the game sent to prepare for.

A zone has multiple instances, the ticket only shows the destination name, in most cases, the station won’t be named after an instance, so selecting a ticket more often allows for exploration of the zone’s macro environment, specific instance information is difficult to pinpoint.