Since they had come all this way, and the fireworks festival was underway, Ye Zhibai and the others were determined to stick around until the very end.
Evening, 7:30 p.m.
The amusement park was ringed with colorful lights.
Devoid of the roaring clamor from most of the rides, the park didn’t feel deserted at all. On the contrary, the visitors’ laughter and chatter made it feel even more vibrant.
Everyone who had stayed behind was waiting for the fireworks show that would light up the sky just after eight.
You think those tickets were priced at over a thousand bucks for nothing? A ton of people had come specifically for the fireworks.
Scattered Kongming lanterns dotted the sky, standing in for the stars that were hard to spot, adding a touch of poetic romance to the neon glow of the night.
Ye Zhibai and her companions were lined up, sitting beneath the bridge pier she had spotted earlier.
It was sparsely populated and cool here, with a wide-open view.
It was the perfect spot for watching fireworks in a bit.
Guang Yu stood on some nearby steps, up on her tiptoes as she peered at the moon.
This goofy fox apparently thought that stretching a little higher would bring her closer to the moon and let her see it more clearly.
Yun’er shook the seventy-five-degree disinfectant spray bottle she had just fetched from the car.
With gentle care, she cradled Ye Zhibai’s palm and gave it two light spritzes before rubbing it in softly with her fingertips.
The center of the palm wasn’t exactly a ticklish spot.
But Yun’er’s deliberate technique and increasingly deft finger work still made Ye Zhibai’s silver hair twitch.
Those dancing fingertips were dredging up some bad memories, guys!
“To be fair, Sister, if you feel off at all, you have to tell me right away. Miss Su went home early because she wasn’t feeling well, and you’re not exactly in peak condition either. No one understands your body like I do. Aunt Tang was spot on—fireworks can be seen anytime, but taking care of your health comes first.”
“You don’t know jack… Fine, even if you do know, you’re misjudging things right now, Yun’er. I’m perfectly fine. The fireworks will be great. And… what exactly are you doing?”
“Covering up those unwanted sensations, of course!”
The once-so-serious and cool Yun’er.
Whenever she talked about this and focused on her sister’s silky palm, her eyes sparkled like they were filled with little hearts.
She was at it again.
Her “condition” showed up as flushed cheeks, a racing heart, and breaths coming so fast it was alarming—a full-on pervert statue.
“Covering up those useless ones… hee hee… hee hee hee… Sister’s hand is so soft and fragrant! I… I’m just touching it! Nothing else!”
And what else would you do? What are you planning?!
“I absolutely won’t lick it!”
You actually said it right out loud!!
Can you even lick it? There’s still alcohol on there!
Ugh, Ye Zhibai would never mind her own sister.
But that hungry-wolf look still had her instinctively scooting toward Zihan on her other side.
Of course, scooting that way bumped right into Zihan’s shoulder.
With retreat cut off, Ye Zhibai remembered the wisdom of turning to a true friend for help.
That’s what friends were for—mutual support!
“Do you know what’s up with Yun’er…? Something’s off.”
“What’s up? Oh, you mean Zhiyun. Totally normal, Little Bai’er. You have no idea.” Lin Zihan tapped her finger to her cheek and flashed a playful grin. “Weren’t you holding hands the whole time on the roller coaster with that little one? Zhiyun’s been grumbling about it nonstop. This alcohol trick is just her fooling herself. A jealous girl is like… uh, never mind, Little Bai’er. Figure it out yourself.”
Halfway through, Zihan had to zip her lips.
Normally, talking didn’t kill you.
But the bone-chilling glare Ye Zhiyun suddenly shot her way—like icy blades glinting in the snow—taught Lin Zihan that the odds of dying from loose lips were definitely not zero.
No enlightenment needed.
Zihan’s slip-up had already spilled plenty.
Thanks, Zihan. True friend—always ready to stick her neck out and spill everything.
Our friendship was dancing on a knife’s edge. Hilarious.
Still… it felt kinda weird…?
Was Zihan really this childish?
Not childish, exactly… Simply put, ever since a moment ago, Zihan had been poking the back of Ye Zhibai’s other hand with lightning speed from tricky angles.
Then yanking it back fast.
Whistling innocently, pretending to admire the distant view.
After a bit, poke again.
Retract!
Like playing piano.
Except it was Zihan’s fingers on Ye Zhibai’s hand as the “keys.”
It was exactly like that pesky grade-school classmate who itched to smack your hand and act like nothing happened!
Such a childish jerk!
Zihan: Don’t ask. It’s just high-level shenanigans.
Some people danced on knife’s edges without a shred of fear.
Anyway, Ye Zhibai felt like neither of her hands was safe.
Time ticked by, one minute at a time. Of the three of them, two were thrilled, and one was exasperated.
Ye Zhibai had sacrificed her hands, and things had mostly settled.
Just as she was stifling a yawn to perk herself up.
The Head Maid approached.
She had a suggestion for the young misses who were enduring this pointless wait.
Uh… judging by the Second Miss’s expression, the time wasn’t entirely meaningless for her?
Whatever. They were here, so she had to make her pitch.
“Would any of you ladies care to try? The amusement park at night has one last highly anticipated ride. If the eldest misses are interested, I can arrange it.”
“What ride? Skip anything thrilling. My sister’s worn out today.”
And wasn’t that the truth? Half my exhaustion came from the mental drain you caused, Yun’er.
Yun’er reluctantly released Ye Zhibai’s palm, set the spray bottle down on the ground beside them, and resumed her usual poise as the Ye Family’s Second Miss.
The Head Maid dipped her head slightly to report. She was confident her answer wouldn’t disappoint the eldest misses.
“I just learned about this one. It ties perfectly into the fireworks festival theme. It’s one of Qihai City’s landmark structures: the Heart Bond Ferris Wheel. It stands 131.4 meters tall, shaped like a heart overall. There’s a popular saying that couples who ride it together will enjoy everlasting love and perfect harmony, which makes it hugely popular. Um… though the eldest misses probably aren’t after that meaning? So that’s not my point. What I mean is, at that height, viewing the fireworks from the Ferris wheel would be spectacular—way better than down here. Any thoughts, ladies? Though… it seems each cabin only seats two?”
“!””?!”
Her words hit like thunder from a clear sky.
Every gaze followed the Head Maid’s toward the amusement park’s brightest landmark in the night.
Several hundred meters away, towering over a hundred meters high, aglow with ethereal blue lights that traced a perfect heart shape against the dark sky, the massive Ferris wheel turned slowly in a dreamlike rotation.
The Head Maid’s words echoed rapidly in Yun’er’s mind.
Everlasting love… couples’ paradise!
Sister, this is tailor-made for us!
So much more meaningful than those rotating teacups!
Ahem. That said, she always had to maintain composure. Can’t let Sister think Yun’er was some flighty kid.
Yun’er casually brushed her hair from her shoulder to behind her back, her black locks like flowing ink—every motion poised and elegant.
“Well…! That legend’s just a gimmick from the park to draw crowds. Slapping a so-called romantic spin on something ordinary keeps the tourists coming. Classic marketing ploy. But for fireworks, yeah, the view would be clearer. Sister, I think we should—”
“Little Bai’er! Wanna ride the Ferris wheel with me? No—I mean, please ride it with me!!”
“!”
Lin! Zihan!
If you have zero chill, don’t keep jumping in to mess things up!
What the heck! Just ask nicely—why grab my sister’s hand in the chaos?!
How many times today?!
Clamped in the middle, Ye Zhibai suddenly sensed it.
On both sides, two massive waves of weird pressure had erupted?!
Looking up, she saw Yun’er on her left and Zihan on her right locked in a death stare.
Oh, Zihan wasn’t staring back. She was playing soft against hard—dodging the gaze but oozing smugness.
Jerk!
Before the battle reignited, veteran Ye Zhibai decided to pour some water on it first.
“Uh… let’s be clear—no fighting, okay? Yun’er, you don’t have to buy into that silly legend… Zihan too. Fireworks are great, but don’t let it ruin our vibe. That’d be stupid… er, I mean, not worth it.”
“No worries, Sister… I know my limits. Even if I beat her down, I won’t let you see it— it’d be too brutal.” “Little Bai’er, you have to stay by my side. The purity in your eyes is my lifeline. Zhiyun… in this situation, we settle the order with that method, right?”
“Heh, anytime you’re ready.”
That method?!
Ye Zhibai’s mind flashed instantly to quick-draw showdowns from old Western cowboy flicks!
Were they about to duke it out to the death?!
No way!
“Rock-paper-scissors! Three out of five?”
“Seven out of ten. Can’t have you crying foul when you lose.”
“Fine, your call. Little Bai’er, you witness it—this rock-paper-scissors will be fair and square!”
“Oh… okay?”
First off, I noticed that their bet included me as one of the stakes.
But what about my opinion?!
Whatever… Ye Zhibai wasn’t dumb.
From Yun’er’s furrowed brow and Zihan’s flickering expressions, she could tell they had no intention of actually settling things with rock-paper-scissors.
Who knew what tricks they might pull later?
Their rock-paper-scissors battle had officially begun.
There were plenty of ties, with the Head Maid acting as referee. The match heated up, everyone’s blood pumping.
But Ye Zhibai was the unflappable type.
Taking advantage of the moment, she stood up to stretch her limbs and let out a lazy yawn.
By the way, she wandered over to the steps where Guang Yu sat.
She positioned herself right beside her.
Tilted her head for a peek.
Hm?
The little fox was pouting, looking far from pleased.
This girl was out here admiring the moon, but she wasn’t munching on a lollipop or chugging wasabi?
“Running out of provisions?”
“Nope.”
“Tired of playing?”
“Nah.”
“It’s been a whole day without pulling onions—feeling off, huh?”
“Pretty much.”
Could you at least deny it all the way?!
Just as Ye Zhibai was about to raise her fist and thump Guang Yu on the forehead in frustration, she noticed the pout hadn’t faded.
Under the moonlight, the fox maiden loli’s face was stunningly beautiful, her starry blue eyes brimming with epic tales.
Ahem… This girl, when she wasn’t being utterly ridiculous, always left people feeling strangely deflated.
Perhaps Ye Zhibai might talk a big game, but deep down, she was a bit worried.
She kept pressing, rare determination in her questions.
She asked and asked.
No answer? She asked again.
Finally, she badgered Guang Yu—whose mouth couldn’t hold a secret to save her life—until her head throbbed!
“Aaah, stop asking already! Fine, we’ll tell you! Ugh… You mere human, why do you care what a deity’s thinking about? Our thoughts operate on a whole different level. You wouldn’t get it anyway.”
“But how do you know if you don’t say it?”
“We just know.”
“Then tell me.”
“Urgh… Hmph!”
Hmph my foot!
I told you to spill it quick—our blood pressures shoot up every time we go back and forth like this!
Guang Yu plopped down cross-legged in an utterly shameless pose, hugging her knees and twisting her head away from Ye Zhibai.
But voices don’t care about direction.
Ye Zhibai heard her mumbling clear as day.
“That taffy cat earlier… You like that kind more?”
“Taffy cat…?”
“You know, the one you hugged forever! Isn’t it called Taffy Cat? The name doesn’t matter—point is, we think it’s totally average! Just your run-of-the-mill cat!”
“…”
Are you talking about the Persian cat?
Guang Yu bared her little tiger teeth and shot Ye Zhibai a fierce-yet-adorable glare.
Then, with another hmph, she whipped her head back around to sulk by herself!
She didn’t even know what she was mad about.
But she was furious!!
Sure enough… Humans really couldn’t comprehend a deity’s words.
Yet Ye Zhibai felt like she was onto something.
This vibe… It reminded her of her own stubborn moments.
Pfft, as if I’d ever been stubborn!
Take that time when her strength gave out, and she couldn’t yank a weed from the yard. She tumbled right on her butt, but instead of owning up to her weakness, she calmly ripped into the weed—too sturdy, too tough—and laid out her case point by point.
So maybe Guang Yu was thinking the same: she figured Ye Zhibai preferred the Persian cat over her own cat-form self.
Hence the bad mood?
Hang on, Guang Yu.
You’re a deity!
Not a cat!
You’re really losing all sense of yourself, huh? Fitting right in, are we?
Ahem, but anyway.
There were a few things Ye Zhibai wanted to tell her.
No need to hold back on those.
Guang Yu had her head turned, so Ye Zhibai just had to lift her hand a little to reach the back of her head.
—After all, with how Guang Yu kept swaying her head lightly, it was like she was begging to be petted.
Just going with the flow.
“Guang Yu.”
“Not listening.”
“Oh, then I’ll just say it.”
“Won’t listen to that either.”
“You wanna get punched…? Ahem, look, Guang Yu, there’s some stuff… I might not have explained clearly before. No need to go into details. Simply put, I’m not actually that into the taffy—er, Persian cat from earlier. The texture’s nice, sure… but holding it didn’t feel right?”
She kept insisting she wasn’t listening, but Guang Yu’s fox ears twitched sharply at those words.
“You didn’t like it… but held it so long?”
“Had to think of Little Qiu’s feelings—basic courtesy.” Ye Zhibai was getting better at this emotional intelligence stuff. “Little Qiu went out of her way to bring her beloved cat for me to see. How could I turn that down? Objectively, Persian cats are great. But subjectively? I think I prefer a good old homegrown Chinese alley cat… Ha… Makes sense, since I’m a Qihai local through and through.”
“Urgh… Oh… That’s… fine, then… If it’s just politeness, no helping it… So we…”
“Hm?”
“Hmph! We’re not a cat—how are we supposed to get all this?! Ow!!”
“You little… That’s it, huh?”
Ye Zhibai threw an uppercut right then.
Guang Yu’s eyes welled up as she clutched her head and spun back around.
Pitiful as she looked, the gloom in her eyes had vanished.
Yeah, that vast starry sky suits you much better, you unreliable deity.
Ye Zhibai was in high spirits today. After smacking her, she figured she’d do a good deed to make up for it.
At least wipe away those tears.
You ran around all day, chewed on a balloon, sacrificed a lollipop—rough day.
But then—
The instant Ye Zhibai’s finger brushed Guang Yu’s eye socket.
Guang Yu leaped to her feet!
Clutching her eyes, she bolted back and forth in panic!
“Waaah meow!! My eyes!! Our eyes!! What the heck—such a sting! Are you trying to slay a god?! Slay a god?! A deity cast down to the mortal world, bullied like this—it’s a sin!! My eyes!!”
“…”
Oh.
I’d forgotten.
Earlier, when Zihan suddenly grabbed my hand, Yun’er had gone wild spraying alcohol on it again, right?
S-sorry, Guang Yu.
Go pull some onions when you get home tonight—up to five, and I swear, I won’t hit you.
Probably.
