Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 841 - 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance
Chapter 841: 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance
Chapter 841: 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance
Thalia completely ignored Li Wei’s destination, not even giving him a chance to speak. She walked backward all the way, arms wide open in the night, bravely and freely embracing the wild wind.
Li Wei sighed lightly in helplessness and eventually took steps toward Thalia.
However, Thalia had no intention of interacting with Li Wei and turned around to proceed on her own.
The young girl stood on tiptoes at the edge of the curb, the spot where the sidewalk met the driveway, with a small step elevation. She balanced wobbly near the edge, walking in the posture of tightrope dancing, muttering endlessly to herself.
“To the left, it’s a sea of flames; to the right, it’s a cliff. Be extremely careful.”
“Number twenty-three, watch out! You’re walking through purgatory right now. Can’t you see your health bar is constantly dropping? Hurry, hurry, climb back up!”
Turning back, Thalia saw Li Wei’s calm face.
Heh heh.
Thalia grinned, “What’s up? Do you think this is really childish?”
“I don’t understand why everyone wants to grow up. After growing up, life becomes dull, devoid of imagination or vitality. People always care about this and that; face becomes more important than joy, money more important than happiness. Everyone chases something but never stops to think if it’s what they truly desire.”
“If people think being childish is silly, then let them think so. I don’t mind at all.”
So pure, so simple, like a little sun, making the night feel gentle.
Li Wei quietly watched the utterly serious Thalia, as if genuinely worried that one wrong move in this imaginary scenario might send her plummeting into the abyss.
That serious profile was filled with focus and happiness.
Li Wei took off his trench coat and handed it to her, “Haven’t you noticed the cold wave attack in the air? Your health bar is dropping faster than mine.”
It was only now that Thalia realized she had rushed out without wearing a coat. In January’s New York, the biting cold wind made her shiver.
No wonder her knees had been trembling—but she had been so focused on Li Wei that she hadn’t noticed.
Thalia’s cheeks flushed slightly. Without being overly reserved, she quickly took Li Wei’s coat, fumbling to put it on, then looked down to examine it, touching here and there, studying it closely.
“So long? What size do you wear, anyway? Are you a giant?”
Looking up, Thalia met Li Wei’s deep eyes, which seemed as though they were peering into her soul, making her mutter awkwardly, “I was just checking if it’s a designer brand or not.”
Then, without warning, she looked up and pointed behind Li Wei, “Ah, a shooting star!”
Unfortunately, Li Wei remained unmoving, simply gazing at her quietly, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Thalia scratched her nose in annoyance. “Everyone else would have fallen for it; only you remain indifferent. You’re definitely weird.”
Suddenly, Li Wei’s eyes widened, and he looked over Thalia’s shoulder with an expression of surprise.
Thalia noticed and asked, “What?”
She followed Li Wei’s gaze, turning her head to look behind her—but there was nothing in the night sky. Muttering to herself, she said, “What did you see, exactly?”
Turning back, Thalia found Li Wei as composed as ever. “A UFO.”
In that instant, Thalia realized she had been played.
Li Wei said, “This is how pranks should really work.”
Thalia huffed and puffed for a moment, looking as though she was about to shed golden beans.
Li Wei was suddenly flustered. “Uh, Thalia, I… I’m sorry… I was just—”
Thalia stuck out her tongue and made a playful face at him. “Haha, caught you!”
As Li Wei stared at her stunned expression, Thalia laughed wholeheartedly and spun around, breaking into a little jog. Her cheerful laughter filled the air, spilling everywhere, but more remarkably, even then, she still tiptoed, wobbly balancing on the curb’s edge, embodying a pure joy and happiness.
Li Wei was momentarily dazed before a smile crept across his lips.
…
“I never knew the Lower City could look like this. Is this even legal?”
“No, I’m guessing not. So if the police raid, they’d have to pack up quickly and leave. It’s kind of part of the charm.”
Compared to the structured, grid-like layout of Manhattan’s Upper City and Midtown, the Lower City—the area initially settled by Europeans upon arriving in New York—is erratically unorganized. A chaotic web of streets and alleys sprawls out unpredictably, and you could easily get lost if you weren’t paying attention.
Such was the scene before them. A perfectly straight main road suddenly branched out into a winding, nonsensical side path that twisted and turned unexpectedly, leading to another street. Out of nowhere appeared a small park with two unidentified trees whose dense canopies sheltered a little haven.
During the day, Li Wei was certain this was a resting area.
People skateboarded here, others played chess—unsurprisingly, given this spot’s proximity to Chinatown, where many Chinese gathered. Not far away, another small park served as a mahjong space shared not just by the Chinese but also Italians, Mexicans, and Spaniards alike.
However, Li Wei had never ventured here at night.
The night became a perfect veil, transforming this space into one even noisier than it was during the day. Mobile vendors clustered together, selling a dizzying array of goods.
The din of voices mingled with the bustling crowd, packing the tiny space to the brim. Rolling waves of heat energy pushed the icy chill of winter back just a little.
It was like stepping into the Rabbit Hole.
A quick glance revealed stalls selling counterfeit designer bags, including LV and Gucci luxury items, as well as Nike and Adidas sports brands—likely “Made-in-China.” There were also stalls selling various antiques and even furniture.
Setting aside whether those antiques were authentic, the only thought running through Li Wei’s mind was: if the police raid, how could they possibly move the furniture?
In his previous life, back in his homeland, Li Wei was no stranger to night markets like this. Yet he hadn’t expected to find such a familiar and endearing sight on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean.
Thalia stopped in front of one stall, crouching down to carefully examine the wares.
Li Wei squatted down alongside her. It was a vinyl record stall, displaying hundreds of records waiting to be discovered.
Li Wei casually flipped through the collection. Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, One Direction, Drake—they were all there, including the latest releases.
“Ah, you actually have this one?” Thalia exclaimed in delight.
The vendor glanced at her. “Of course. It’s a must-have. Ten dollars.”
Thalia held it reverently with affection.
Li Wei looked over. “Glory to Death: Nearing Fame.” He raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You like it? If you do, buy it.”
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Thalia gently shook her head. “I’ll keep looking for now.”
Li Wei was puzzled. Ten dollars seemed like a steal. If it was a rare vinyl, missing this chance would likely mean missing out entirely.
Could Thalia have run out of pocket money? Or did she forget her wallet? If necessary, he could help her out.
Thalia appeared to sense Li Wei’s gaze. She sneaked closer, leaning in to whisper secretly into Li Wei’s ear, “They’re all knockoffs.”
What did she mean? Bootleg copies?
