episode_0025

“Don’t miss out as you pass by! Free lottery draw with your ticket—plush toys, electronics, you name it! If you’re lucky, you might even win back the cost of your ticket!”

Another staff member in a red uniform shouted through a megaphone, surrounded by a crowd of visitors.

“I won! I won!”

“Chusheng! What did you win?”

“A giant 1.8-meter teddy bear plushie!”

“What?! That’s a top prize!”

“Pfft, that’s nothing. I won a HUAYOU Mete 60—just tap and claim, completely free!”

The clamor continued, drawing occasional glances from passersby.

Most only spared a brief look before hurrying off, leaving only a small group genuinely interested in the lottery.

But even that small group packed the stall tightly.

“Don’t rush, everyone! Just hand us your tickets, and we’ll give you a receipt. You can claim your prizes later after you’re done enjoying the park—no need to carry them around now!”

The red-clad staff member bellowed through the megaphone again.

Those nearby cheered at the news.

They had been worried about lugging prizes around, making their visit more cumbersome.

“Niannian, let’s try the lottery too. Give me your ticket—I’ll squeeze in for you.”

“No, I don’t want to bother with such a small perk.”

Xu Nian tugged at Su Qingya’s sleeve. The crowd was too dense, and she didn’t want Su Qingya jostling through it. Someone as pretty as her might get harassed.

“Don’t you think that little fox plush looks just like you? I… I want to win it for you.”

Xu Nian’s heart warmed.

Maybe she was worrying too much.

Having fun was what mattered most today.

She was about to pull the ticket from her hidden pouch when—

For some reason, the rules she’d just read on the ticket flashed through her mind.

[Do not lose your ticket under any circumstances.]

A sudden chill ran down Xu Nian’s spine.

An inexplicable sense of unease settled over her.

A faint laugh seemed to echo in her ears.

“What’s wrong, Niannian?”

Su Qingya noticed Xu Nian’s fear level had risen.

And it wasn’t because of her.

[Fear Level: 47%]

“Oh, n-nothing. Let’s just forget about it.”

Xu Nian wasn’t sure if the rules on the ticket were real, but she decided to stay cautious.

Better safe than sorry.

Red-uniformed staff…

…She’d try to find a blue-uniformed one to ask instead.

“Come on, Niannian, give it to me~”

Without a word, Xu Nian swatted Su Qingya’s butt, startling her mid-whine.

“Eek! What was that for?!”

“Drop it, loser Qingya. Getting all worked up over a tiny plushie? The line’s probably long—we’d waste time better spent actually enjoying the park. Not worth it.”

“O-okay…”

Unable to sway Xu Nian, Su Qingya finally gave up.

“Which way should we go, then?”

“Do you have a lucky number?” Xu Nian asked curiously.

“I don’t believe in that kind of flashy stuff,” Su Qingya admitted.

“Then let’s just pick one at random.”

“Let’s go with… the second path.”

“Why the second?”

Su Qingya slowly raised two fingers.

Xu Nian immediately pushed her hand down.

Then, gripping Su Qingya’s hand, she led her to the third path instead.

“Why the third? Is three your lucky number?” Su Qingya tilted her head.

“Sort of. I usually pick Route Three. It’s… stable? Not really, just a habit.”

Su Qingya scratched her head, baffled.

But it didn’t matter.

The path wasn’t important—what mattered was being with the person she loved.

Strolling along the smooth stone pavement, breathing in the floral scents around them, the crowd thinned out after the split, leaving no trace of the earlier congestion.

For their date today, Xu Nian and Su Qingya had deliberately worn matching outfits.

Su Qingya’s shirt featured a pink fox facing left.

Xu Nian’s had a blue fox facing right.

When their tails aligned, they formed a tiny heart.

Xu Nian’s tail swayed lightly as Su Qingya held a small parasol to shield them from the harsh sunlight, walking side by side.

Why a small parasol?

Because only a small one could bring them close enough.

Their hands, initially just linked, gradually pulled them nearer until they tried to fit entirely under the parasol’s shade.

Unfortunately, Xu Nian’s large, unrestrained fox tail had no such luck, left pitifully exposed to the sun.

Suddenly, Su Qingya let go of Xu Nian’s hand, sliding her arm around Xu Nian’s left shoulder and pulling her snugly against her.

Blushing, Xu Nian let herself lean into Su Qingya’s slender yet warm embrace.

…Wait. Something felt off.

Xu Nian coughed and pushed Su Qingya’s arm away.

Then, to Su Qingya’s surprise, she mirrored the gesture, looping her own arm around Su Qingya’s right shoulder from behind.

There. That’s better.

Their heights were nearly identical, their builds almost the same, so Xu Nian managed the move effortlessly.

“Such a child,” Su Qingya muttered.

“I-I am not!”

Xu Nian hurriedly defended herself.

She just thought—well, since Su Qingya was her girlfriend, she should be the one with an arm around her shoulder. It looked right, visually pleasing, intimate.

It wasn’t about Xu Nian being possessive or anything!

If both wanted to hold the other’s shoulder, could they just do it simultaneously?

Absolutely not!

That’d make them look like bros.

Before long, past a stretch of landscaped greenery, they arrived at their first stop.

The attractions near the entrance were all gentle ones—a carousel, slow-spinning teacups, even coin-operated rocking rides like the Super Wings.

“Niannian, wanna try this?” Su Qingya tugged her toward a rocking ride, mostly empty except for a few kids.

“No.”

It was too childish. Maybe it was growing up, but Xu Nian felt an instinctive resistance and embarrassment toward such things, as if they were strictly for little kids.

“I do. I’ve… always wanted to try one.”

Unlike Xu Nian, Su Qingya had no such reservations. Her eyes sparkled, utterly sincere.

With that, she plopped onto the rocking seat—a small train with a cartoonish smiling face on the front—and looked perfectly at home.

Spotting the coin slot, she fished a coin from her pocket.

“Had some spare change from grocery shopping yesterday. Perfect timing.”

Just as she was about to insert it, Xu Nian’s finger blocked the slot.

“Wait.”

Something felt off.

This ride’s slot was labeled for tokens, and everyone else was using them.

In this digital age, hardly anyone carried coins. Seeing others use tokens—likely obtained from other free attractions—they’d naturally follow suit.

More importantly…

The rules…