Why bother with dating when you already have a cat?

"We'll be there soon." Ai Qing let go of her hand, letting Xiao Yu continue to tug at her sleeve as they walked towards the subway entrance.

The subway entrance at Yunting Road is right next to Wanbao City and is the third to last station on Hangzhou Metro Line 9.

Although the area has gradually developed in recent years and the population has increased, the foot traffic is still relatively low.

The advantage is that no one fights for seats when you take the subway, so you can usually sit down.

Upon arriving at the subway entrance, Ai Qing led Xiao Yu in the elevator and entered the underground area.

Looking at the enormous space below ground, the bright lights, and the spacious entrance, Xiaoyu slightly opened her mouth.

But she remembered Ai Qing's earlier advice, so she quickly covered her mouth with her small hands and put them over her mask, looking like she was "not surprised at all".

“Come here, I’ll teach you how to buy tickets.” Ai Qing brought some coins and bills with her and pulled Xiao Yu to the self-service ticket machine. “Watch carefully, I’ll demonstrate with cash first, and then with my phone.”

"Mmm." Little Fish obediently followed Ai Qing, watching him operate attentively, a warm feeling flowing into her mind, and she entered a learning state.

Chapter 76 Don't Shout So Loud

Even though it's Sunday, there are very few people on the subway near Yunting Road.

Moreover, most people who come to take the subway definitely have smartphones with them, so they can just go through security at the entrance.

It's highly unlikely they'll come to the self-service ticket machine.

Nowadays, unless it's grandparents who don't know how to use smartphones, most people simply use their phone's QR code or NFC to swipe their card to ride the subway.

Buying a subway pass was something Ai Qing did when she was in junior high or high school.

These kinds of things have long been common sense in life, ingrained in our instincts.

Nobody will think there's anything wrong with it.

But whenever Ai Qing saw Xiao Yu looking blank and then half-understanding, and finally showing a surprised expression on her face, she realized even more deeply how technology subtly and gradually changes lives.

Humans are indeed highly adaptable creatures.

Anyone who recalls their childhood will know just how convenient life is today.

"Click here to buy tickets, you can understand it, right?" Ai Qing asked.

"Hmm, like this?" Xiaoyu tried to operate it, following Ai Qing's instructions to tap the words on the screen.

Then the screen redirected to a map page.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Little Fish exclaimed in a very soft voice. "Why does it change when I press it?"

“You can think of it as the phone I usually use.” Ai Qing took out her phone and showed it to her. It also changes when you tap the screen. “It’s like a large phone, except you can only use it to buy tickets.”

The little fish is being bombarded with knowledge, and a warm current is constantly being consumed in her brain, providing her with more efficient thinking and learning abilities.

“Next, look at this map. This enlarged sign, Yunting Road, is the subway station we are at now.” Ai Qing pointed to the sign on the subway line and said, “And our destination is Linping Station next to Yintai City. Can you find it?”

"Linping Station..." Xiaoyu frowned as she searched the screen. Soon, she found her target and pointed to a station above. "Here?"

“Yes, that’s good.” Ai Qing smiled encouragingly, then said, “Try clicking it.”

"Hmm." Little Fish stretched out her finger and tapped the screen, and a prompt quickly popped up next to her.

[To purchase or not?]

Then there are payment options such as Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cash.

Ai Qing first took out the cash she had prepared and handed it to Xiao Yu, asking her to try paying with cash and buy a subway ticket.

Then he came again, took out his phone, and bought one using the Alipay QR code.

“That’s the power of money.” Ai Qing took the card, waved it in front of Xiao Yu, and then said, “You need money to do many things in society.”

"Money is a medium of exchange. For example, this subway card, or the clothes and shoes we wear, or the food we eat every day, all require money to buy from others."

"So if you want to live a normal life, everyone needs to have their own way of making money, using their own things to exchange for money from others."

"As for the money you earn, you can deposit the cash in a bank and then use the software on your phone to link your bank card so you can pay directly with your phone without having to carry cash with you."

Ai Qing explained a long series of things to her, and Xiao Yu carefully wrote them down.

Although she can only understand the literal meaning of the words and has difficulty truly understanding how money circulates in society, she has at least learned one thing.

Money matters.

Without money, one cannot survive in society.

Well... it's not that we can't survive.

The little fish imitated Ai Qing's movements, touching its own chin and entering a state of thought.

Doesn't she have no money herself? But as long as she becomes Ai Qing's pet, Ai Qing can support her.

"So, people who can't make money can become someone else's pet!" Xiaoyu clapped her right fist against her left palm, looking at Ai Qing with a sudden realization, and drew her own conclusion. "Isn't that right?"

Ai Qing: "...?"

You've said such a long and rambling thing, and this is all you've come up with for me?

Rubbing her forehead, Ai Qing didn't know what to say.

If you have no money, you can become someone else's pet...

Well, it's a bit rough around the edges, but the point is valid.

But that's not what he meant at all!

“Normally, only cats and dogs become people’s pets. There is no relationship between pets and owners between people.” Ai Qing tried her best to instill a correct, positive and uplifting value system in Xiaoyu.

"But aren't there pet shops?" Little Fish asked, puzzled. "Aren't there any people inside?"

“There are people there, but they are all staff members, and they only sell cats and dogs,” Ai Qing explained.

"Is that so?" Xiaoyu opened her mouth, then realized what she meant. She looked at Ai Qing and asked curiously, "Then, if Xiaoyu had a lot of money, could she buy you?"

"Buy me what?"

"I'll buy you."

"You want to buy me?"

"Mmm!" Little Fish said expectantly, "Little Fish wants to give Ai Qing money too, just like, just like raising a pet."

Then I really thank you...

Although I know that Xiaoyu's wishes are very simple and beautiful, and her ideas are good, it's just that the result is not quite normal, and it feels like things have gone astray.

“Humans can’t be pets, so Little Fish, you’re not my pet either,” Ai Qing said seriously, her face stern. “Also, human trafficking is illegal. You can’t even think about it. Buying people will get you arrested and locked up in a dark cell.”

"Huh?" Little Fish was startled by his expression, blinked her eyes and looked aggrieved, "Is that so... Little Fish understands."

"But what is a prison?" Xiaoyu asked curiously as Ai Qing's expression softened.

“Prisons are places to detain bad people,” Ai Qing said. “For example, if someone steals, robs, or, as you just mentioned, buys and sells people, they are all bad people and should be arrested and punished in prison.”

"How scary..." Little Fish shrank back, quickly grabbed Ai Qing's sleeve, and shook her head vigorously. "Then Little Fish doesn't want to go to prison. Little Fish won't buy you anymore. Let Little Fish be your pet instead."

"You're not a pet anymore."

"What is it then?" Little Fish tilted her head curiously. "It's clearly not a girlfriend, nor a wife."

“Uh… it’s just a simple friendship…” Ai Qing looked at Xiao Yu, then at her expectant eyes, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. Finally, she helplessly patted Xiao Yu’s head and said, “Then call me brother. It’s only natural for a brother to take care of his sister.”

"elder brother?"

"Ah."

"elder brother!"

"Don't shout so loudly, keep your voice down." Ai Qing put her index finger to her lips, quickly telling her to stop talking.

But my body felt light and airy.

Being called "brother" twice made my ears feel so soft and sweet.

Chapter 77 My First Subway Ride

Neither of them brought bags, so they simply walked through the security gate.

However, upon arriving at the card reader at the station entrance, Ai Qing didn't forget to point to the baggage scanner and conveyor belt at the security checkpoint, and whispered in Xiao Yu's ear:

"Hey, you over there, did you see that?"

"The uncle behind you with the bag has to put the bag on that conveyor belt. After scanning, the staff next to him can see what's inside the bag through the machine."

"If you are carrying dangerous items, you are not allowed to take the subway."

"If there's anything extremely dangerous, you might even be arrested on the spot."

"If we take the subway next time and have something in our hands, we will have to go through this check as well."

The little fish watched and listened intently, then nodded and asked curiously, "What are dangerous things?"

"For example, some controlled knives, like the kitchen knives we use at home, are not allowed on the subway because they pose a risk of injury," Ai Qing explained patiently.

“There are even more dangerous things, like bombs. If they are powerful, they can explode and endanger the lives of everyone in the subway. Then you will be arrested and sent to prison.”

"The outside world is so scary." Little Fish was a little frightened by what he said, so she shrank back and whispered.

"It's not that exaggerated. It's unlikely to happen in China." Ai Qing patted her head. "I was just saying. You don't need to worry about it too much."

After saying that, Ai Qing took out her subway card and looked at Xiao Yu, gesturing for her to take it out as well: "You see, when the person in front swipes their card, the gate in the middle will open, and then you can go inside."

"Hmm..." Xiaoyu glanced at the actions of the others, roughly understood the principle, and then scanned the card in her hand in a serious manner in the scanning area.

The moment the gate opened, the little fish's heart raced, and it sprinted forward, quickly passing through the checkpoint.

Ai Qing followed behind her, leisurely swiped her card, and slowly walked in.

"How interesting!" Little Fish said to Ai Qing with shining eyes.

"Huh?" Ai Qing was taken aback, not understanding what was so interesting about it.

"Isn't that the Forest Fireman?" Little Fish exclaimed excitedly. "Just now, going through the middle felt like passing through a level! It was so much fun!"

"Cough... It's fun, but not really." Ai Qing quickly pulled Xiao Yu toward the elevator, repeatedly reminding her, "But don't talk so loudly, and be mindful of the people around you. You can't do that on the subway later."

"Oh, oh." Little Fish realized she was too excited, so she quickly covered her mouth with her mask and nodded vigorously to show that she knew she was wrong.