The Darling of Heaven Owns a Rip-off Shop

Chapter 626 - 11: Let Me Take You Home

Everyone was in high spirits, grateful for Tianmiao’s generous sharing, as not only did she bring a grill, but also a variety of drinks and beers, which delighted everyone. To enjoy grilled meat in the desert!

The delicious meats sizzled on the grill, bringing endless joy to this otherwise dull and monotonous journey.

Cheng Luo felt embarrassed to take out her treasured self-heating hot pot. In comparison, it seemed a bit inadequate. But this self-heating hot pot used to be a luxury for her. She had been secretly keeping it without eating it.

"We’ll have your hot pot next meal. I brought canned luncheon meat, we’ll add it to the hot pot for more variety," Tianmiao whispered.

"Okay." Cheng Luo smiled.

Normally, going for a picnic or having a barbeque might not be a big deal, but entering the desert is inherently a demanding task. Everyone had been eating dry food and instant meals for two days, and the smell of meat made them ravenous.

Tonight’s bonfire was especially lively. Cheng Luo laughed as she ate chicken wings and said, "This time it’s right, there are ten shadows! Tianmiao, you don’t know—last night we clearly had only nine people, but saw ten shadows. The guide said we were having an illusion, it was terrifying."

"Really? Maybe you were too tired," Tianmiao said with a smile. "That’s the way it is in the desert. Sometimes, you can even see mirages, but the cities you see are not part of any city in the world. Some desert phenomena are truly unexplainable."

"Yes, that’s what’s charming about the desert. It’s mysterious, full of unknown things, and simply irresistible," a male assistant remarked with admiration.

"But that day really scared me," Cheng Luo said with lingering fear. "I really don’t think I saw it wrong."

"It was an illusion, definitely an illusion. Count again today to see," another assistant joked.

Cheng Luo actually counted one by one: "One, two, three, four... eight, nine, ten... eleven..."

Cheng Luo’s smile froze instantly, and she almost couldn’t hold onto her chicken wing as her body began to tremble, her teeth chattering, "How...how...is it eleven?"

Time seemed to rewind to the night before, and the previously lively camp was instantly frozen once again.

After a moment, Professor Wu said, "How is that possible? Let me count."

He stood up and counted each one, saying, "There are ten, no mistake. Cheng Luo, are you too tired?"

The others also started counting, several times over, confirming that there were indeed ten.

"Cheng Luo, don’t be afraid, there are only ten shadows," Tianmiao gently held Cheng Luo’s wrist at this point, "Hold onto the chicken wing properly, don’t drop it, that’s such a waste."

"Re-really?" Feeling Tianmiao’s grip on her wrist, Cheng Luo’s emotions gradually calmed, and she nervously looked at the shadows under everyone’s feet.

"Really." Tianmiao reassured her again, "Look again to be sure."

Cheng Luo carefully counted once more, and indeed, there were ten shadows.

What was going on? Could she really have seen it wrong, or was it an illusion?

Cheng Luo, holding onto her chicken wing, was still puzzled.

At this moment, with a slightly trembling voice, Zhou Qiang spoke up, "But last time, I also seemed to see ten shadows. And Cheng Luo, getting it wrong twice, how could that be a coincidence?"