Xiao Tian simply nodded calmly after listening, and walked towards the person lacking basic service etiquette.

As he took a few steps, Xiao Tian turned to the female tour guide: "Aren’t you coming along?"

The female tour guide gave a bitter smile, and then her face involuntarily turned red as she lowered her head and whispered: "It’ll cost more to add another person; I think I’ll skip it."

Despite her words, a trace of regret flashed in her eyes involuntarily. She had never experienced such a project despite traveling back and forth to Confucian Spring for such a long time every day.

Though she understood clearly that spending money here would certainly feel like a loss, she couldn’t help but want to try it. Unfortunately, her income simply couldn’t support her desires, and she could only console herself with the notion that only a fool would go back.

Xiao Tian, being perceptive, immediately noticed the tour guide’s thoughts and smilingly invited her: "Let me treat you, come along."

"No need, I’ll just wait here for you," the tour guide politely declined.

"It’s not much fun on my own. It’d be great if you could join and introduce some historical anecdotes," Xiao Tian invited her again. "But with that, you won’t earn your explanation fee."

This invitation made the tour guide’s heart stir. It was essentially an equal exchange, and she didn’t feel like she was taking advantage.

Of course, she also understood that her explanation fee was far less than the price of a ticket.

After a moment of hesitation, the female tour guide suddenly clenched her fist and said: "Then, thank you very much!"

With that, she took off her red baseball cap and removed the vest with the tour group’s logo, tucked the flag under her arm, and jogged over to Xiao Tian with a shy smile on her face.

Xiao Tian was momentarily stunned, astonished by the dramatic change in the tour guide.

To be truthful, the tour guide’s appearance wasn’t top-tier, but rather exquisite. Yet, under the constraint of her previous attire, she seemed unremarkable, as if her entire being was bound.

But now, free from the constraint of the uniform, the youthful aura was suddenly released, transforming her into someone vibrant and full of Essence Qi.

"Sorry for forgetting to introduce myself, I’m Xiang Yiting, a student studying abroad in Japan."

Seeing the woman who introduced herself as Xiang Yiting reaching out with a bright smile, Xiao Tian naturally extended his hand as well and said: "Xiao Erren."

Internally, he mused, youth is indeed wonderful!

This sentiment struck him, startling Xiao Tian himself. Wasn’t he young too? How did this kind of feeling arise?

But then he remembered he was currently playing the role of a middle-aged man, making him wonder if he had gotten too deep into character.

However, upon reflection, Xiao Tian felt that his heart had always been too heavy, causing him to lack the vitality and youthful aura fitting his age.

Yet, this was the inevitable result of experiencing too much, leading to an overly mature mindset. Upon deeper analysis, without such a mindset, he wouldn’t have achieved what he did.

Perhaps, this is the concept of gaining something at the cost of losing something!

The next moment, as their hands lightly clasped together, Xiao Tian was enveloped in extreme shock!

Whether by chance or coincidence,

Just as Xiao Tian touched Xiang Yiting’s hand, he instinctively used introspection, which caused a tidal wave of shock within him.

Xiang Yiting’s meridians were chaotic and blocked in multiple areas; simply put, such meridian conditions are indicative of congenital early demise. Even if she overcame childhood, she’d experience frequent illnesses and her health wouldn’t be good.

As a normal person, Xiang Yiting was naturally oblivious to all of this.

But upon discovering this, Xiao Tian couldn’t help feeling a sense of admiration when he next saw her bright and radiant smile.

Maintaining an optimistic and upward attitude in such circumstances, this young female student truly wasn’t ordinary!

Before he could think further, the impatient voice of the dock staff rang out.

"Are you going to board or not? Hurry up!"

This shout interrupted Xiao Tian’s thoughts, and Xiang Yiting quickly put away her smile, released his hand, and said: "The staff over there is urging us on; let’s go."

Though she said this, a hint of displeasure was visible between her brows, clearly unhappy with the service attitude.

However, being in a foreign land, Xiang Yiting had naturally encountered many similar situations. Though dissatisfied, she didn’t plan to make a fuss, simply following Xiao Tian towards the beckoning staff.

Led by the surly staff, the two were quickly taken to a place resembling a bank service counter, where above it three large characters each in Japanese and English read: Payment Counter.

Seeing these characters, Xiao Tian couldn’t help but feel amused, no wonder business here was so poor. If not for his urgent reason to board, he likely wouldn’t have come here either.

But since he was here, without unnecessary fuss, Xiao Tian decided to handle his business quickly and return as that’s the sensible approach!

Seeing the staff inside the counter, drooling as they slept on the desk, both Xiao Tian and Xiang Yiting furrowed their brows; such service attitude was indeed rare.

Knocking on the glass beside the counter, the staff opposite furrowed his brows and muttered: "Damn, is it mealtime already?"

As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at his watch, strangely muttering to himself: "Why is it still so early? Maybe a little more sleep..."

Upon suddenly seeing two figures, a man and a woman, at the counter, this staff, with drool glistening on his lips, couldn’t help but scream in shock, then abruptly pushed his feet back, retreating.

The roller chair beneath him swiftly carried him backward, slamming against the wall behind, knocking over trash bins and other clutter along the way, creating quite a commotion.

Composing himself, the staff ran angrily back to the window, yelling at Xiao Tian outside: "People can die from fright, you know?!"

Xiao Tian furrowed his brows, about to respond, when Xiang Yiting beat him to it and said: "Sorry to disturb you, we’d like to buy two tickets."

Upon hearing Xiang Yiting speak, the staff inside the window finally calmed a bit, though still with displeasure, mechanically pressed a few buttons on the nearby printer.

"Click, click..."

After a series of grating noises, the staff forcefully pounded the printer twice, swearing: "Damn, it hasn’t been in use for just a few months and it’s already broken!"