"Stop!! Stop!!!!"
Chen Xiao's sharp shout finally silenced Xiangbin. He glanced at the empty ice cream cone in Xiangbin's hand…
"Um, I'll buy you another ice cream..."
Chen Xiao strongly suspected that this beautiful girl's small head was probably already filled with all the world's famous brands...
Finally, Chen Xiao, a normal person, was led by Champagne, a hermit, to their destination: Pitt Avenue Shopping Center.
Unfortunately, this shopping experience was not pleasant.
Here's what happened: In the PRADA store, Champagne went on a near-frenzied buying spree, grabbing several exquisite little handbags in one go, screaming and cheering. The sales staff around her were stunned by this generous spender…
But after Xiangbin swept away almost all the targets he valued in one go, he turned to look at Chen Xiao.
"What?" Chen Xiao feigned ignorance.
"Pay up?" Champagne asked, puzzled.
Chen Xiao sighed, then rubbed his hands in his pockets and pulled both pockets out – clearly, they were empty.
"I have no money left, just one hundred Australian dollars, which is enough for us to take a car back to the hotel," Chen Xiao answered honestly.
"..." Champagne stared at Chen Xiao.
A few seconds later, she began to scold Chen Xiao: "What's wrong with you? As a gentleman, you accompanied a beautiful woman shopping, and you say you have no money? How can you do that! So uncouth, so ill-mannered!!"
“I didn’t want to come. You dragged me here,” Chen Xiao replied.
Watching the sales assistant awkwardly put all her spoils back on the shelf, Champagne wore a pained expression, as if she were experiencing a heart-wrenching separation between lovers...
After a few seconds, Champagne took a deep breath, her expression solemn, as if she had made a huge decision.
He walked to Chen Xiao's side, grabbed his hand, and quickly walked out of the shop to a secluded corner.
“You have a hundred Australian dollars, don’t you? Give it to me.” She held out her hand.
"But... this is our transportation fee. You don't want to walk back to the hotel, do you?"
"Give it to me!" Champagne insisted. "I only need it for a moment. I'll return it to you right away!"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Xiao took out the last remaining 100 Australian dollar bill and handed it to her.
Champagne sighed and muttered, "Mom said I wasn't allowed to do this, but I had no choice."
She held a hundred-dollar Australian dollar bill in one hand, her eyes fixed on the banknote, as if something strange flashed in her eyes...
Chen Xiao, who had been looking curious, immediately widened his eyes!
Because he clearly saw that, in an instant, a banknote in Champagne's hand...
One bill becomes two! Two bills become four! Four bills become eight! Eight bills become sixteen… Finally, Champagne held a thick stack of banknotes in her hands, her once bright eyes dimming, her gaze seemingly weary…
"This...this is your superpower?" Chen Xiao opened his mouth.
“Copy!” Champagne gave a weary laugh. Her voice was much softer as she glanced at the banknotes in her arms. “That should be quite a lot, right? Enough to buy that white bag I just saw.”
Chen Xiao looked shocked, took a few banknotes, squeezed them in his hand, and felt them...
real?
No, or rather, just like the real thing?
Watermark, anti-counterfeiting mark... are they all exactly the same as the real thing?
"Okay. Can I buy something now?" Champagne smiled happily.
But when Chen Xiao looked at the banknotes in his hand, the smile on his face suddenly froze.
"Still... no good." Chen Xiao swallowed hard, looking at Xiangbin's excited expression, and couldn't bear to discourage her.
"Why! I guarantee that what I copy will be exactly the same as the real thing! There won't be the slightest difference! Not even a little bit!" Champagne exclaimed in dissatisfaction.
"It's because they're exactly the same..." Chen Xiao took out two banknotes and unfolded them: "Can you spot the problem?"
"……What?"
"Code!" Chen Xiao exclaimed, both amused and exasperated. "The things you copied, the serial numbers on all the banknotes are exactly the same! A pile of banknotes with identical serial numbers—anyone could tell something's fishy!"
Champagne: "...Finally, Champagne angrily shoved the entire pile of banknotes into the nearby trash can. Chen Xiao was startled: 'No way! If you litter like that, it'll be a hassle if someone finds it...'"
“Don’t worry.” Champagne gave a wry smile. “I forgot to tell you, my copying ability has a time limit. For example, this pile of banknotes will all disappear in about two hours…”
"...What else can you copy?"
“Anything.” Champagne shook his head. “Except for living things, that is, animals, plants, insects and the like are not allowed, but other inanimate objects are fine. Based on my current capabilities, there are upper limits to the volume and density of the copy. The more complex the object, the shorter the time it takes to copy it.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Chen Xiao and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't create another version of you. I don't have that ability."
All the counterfeit money was thrown into the trash can, and Champagne walked out dejectedly.
"Wait a moment."
Chen Xiao suddenly turned and ran into the shop. A moment later, he ran out and stood in front of Champagne, opening his palm to reveal a delicate little keychain.
“Although it’s not your favorite handbag, this keychain is also from PRADA.” Chen Xiao scratched the back of his head. “This isn’t a product; I just noticed it. It’s a free gift from them. I went in and talked to them, and I bought one for a little money.”
Champagne stared at the PRADA brand keychain in Chen Xiao's hand. She was stunned for a long while. Then she suddenly screamed, jumped more than three feet high, and wrapped her arms tightly around Chen Xiao's neck. Before Chen Xiao could react, she had already kissed him hard on the cheek.