Life's a Stage, and We're All Actors!

Xie Haiyang gave Wang Baole what seemed like a smile before coughing softly and speaking with a mild tone.

"Since we're old pals, you should get the best deals. How about… a 20% discount?"

Wang Baole's eyes brightened when he heard what Xie Haiyang had said. He abandoned the idea of leaving and, instead, burst out laughing and approached Xie Haiyang. He stopped ten feet away from the latter, then spoke loudly, his eyes shining with the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

"Xie Haiyang, Fellow Daoist Xie, haha, it's been a long while since we last saw each other. I didn't expect to see you here. I was afraid of speaking to you earlier, but after looking closely for a long while, I could finally confirm… that you're indeed Xie Haiyang, my old friend."

Wang Baole sighed, a distant look entering his eyes as he reminisced about the past. Happiness shone visibly on his face. So obvious was his pleasure that it almost seemed like an act…