The group stepped out of the Moon Tree House and gazed toward Jinzhou City in the distance.
From here, they could see the entire cityscape of Jinzhou, accompanied by the shops bustling with preparations below. Everyone's faces were lit with joyous smiles.
Jinhsi sighed softly. "It's been so long since I've felt this relaxed."
"Speaking of which, if it weren't for Lucian and Rover, the Threnodian issue wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."
Abby didn't care much about the Threnodians. Instead, he stared excitedly at the shops below. "I heard Youhu mention something about a 'Plumpcake' earlier—will we get to try it at the Moon-Chasing Festival?"
Lucian sighed. "No matter how delicious the food is, it can't compare to Abby."
Abby: "?"
"What's that supposed to mean? You talk like you've eaten me before… Wait, no! Abby is not food!"
Changli, standing on Lucian's other side, quietly slipped her hand into his, interlacing their fingers. Yet her words remained solemn and proper: "May the winds and rains come in their season, may the harvests be bountiful, may the people live in peace and prosperity, free from hunger, cold, and the ravages of war."
Lucian glanced at her, only to find Changli already gazing at him.
It was only after meeting Changli that Lucian truly understood what it meant for someone's eyes to be "as alluring as silk."
Seizing the moment while Rover wasn't looking, Lucian turned his head and pressed a quick kiss to Changli's soft, moist lips.
Meanwhile, Rover was still busy recording the scenery with her terminal.
[Option 1: Since you're chasing thrills, go all the way! Kiss everyone present! Reward: A deleted secret.]
[Option 2: Report Changli's sneak attack to Rover. Reward: Eternal Blaze cremation service.]
[Option 3: Send the others away and engage in a 'deep exchange' with just one person. Reward: 10,000 points.]
[Option 4: Reject intimacy! Shake everyone off and return to Jinzhou alone. Reward: Sigma male grindset.]
Lucian: "...System, if you want me dead, just say it. No need to beat around the bush."
[...]
Lucian scanned his surroundings. Aside from himself, the people atop the mountain peak were Rover, Changli, Jinhsi, and Sanhua.
Abby definitely didn't count as a person. As for Jué… though she was in human form now, she probably didn't qualify either.
Rover and Changli were manageable, but how was he supposed to kiss Jinhsi and Sanhua…?
A deleted secret… Lucian was a little curious.
Jinhsi was standing on the other side of Changli, so she hadn't noticed their little exchange.
Sanhua, however, was positioned further back, her expression hidden behind sunglasses. Still, Lucian was certain she hadn't missed what had just happened between him and Changli.
Lucian gave Rover's hand a gentle squeeze. Rover smiled, swaying their interlaced fingers playfully.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucian planted a kiss on her cheek.
Rover suddenly spoke up. "Come to think of it, we've never taken a group photo. Why don't we take one here?"
Lucian blinked. "A group photo?"
Rover nodded. "Mhm. First, just the two of us, then one with everyone. When we leave Jinzhou someday, it'll be a nice keepsake."
Jinhsi agreed. "That sounds lovely."
Changli released Lucian's hand and stepped aside.
Lucian and Rover then turned their backs to Jinzhou City, posing for the camera on the terminal.
Rover looked at the photo of the two of them pressed close together and smiled in satisfaction. Hmm… they really did look like a perfect couple!
"Alright, now let's take one with everyone?"
The group gathered as Rover walked forward to set up the terminal, adjusting the timer for the shot.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lucian quietly slipped behind Sanhua and whispered, "Hey, Sanhua, those sunglasses comfortable?"
Sanhua ignored the question and spat out one word: "Scumbag."
Lucian: "???"
Clearly, Sanhua didn't know about the relationship between Lucian and Changli—nor about Lucian's promise to settle down in Jinzhou.
Lucian straightened his collar, adopting a serious expression. "Miss Sanhua, tell me—what is your duty?"
Sanhua raised an eyebrow. "My duty? To protect Magistrate Jinhsi."
Lucian: "And?"
Sanhua paused. "To protect you and Rover."
Lucian nodded slightly. "And?"
Sanhua frowned. "And… assist Magistrate Jinhsi with official business?"
Lucian smiled approvingly. "Helping Magistrate Jinhsi with her duties is about solving her problems. Now, I have a problem. Miss Sanhua, what should you do?"
Sanhua looked puzzled. "Obviously, help you solve it… Wait, are you saying you have a problem right now?"
Lucian grinned. "Exactly. Just now, you used inappropriate language and insulted an innocent, pure-hearted young man like me, causing severe psychological damage. My fragile heart is now deeply wounded. How do you plan to make it up to me?"
Sanhua tilted her head. "But I was just stating facts."
Lucian sighed with an air of wisdom. "Hearing is not always believing, and seeing isn't always the full truth. Jumping to conclusions without understanding the whole picture is a grave disrespect to me!"
Sanhua froze for a second. "Ah… fine, my bad. Then how do you want me to make it up to you?"
Lucian chuckled and cleared his throat. "How about this—let me kiss you, and we'll call it even."
After all that buildup, he finally revealed his true intentions.
Sanhua took a deep breath, then emotionlessly repeated: "Scumbag."
Lucian: "..."
Sanhua crossed her arms and looked ahead. Abby was chattering away about something, and Jinhsi and the others were listening with amused smiles. Rover, meanwhile, had her back turned as she adjusted the terminal's camera settings.
Seizing the moment, Lucian reached over and plucked Sanhua's sunglasses off.
Her vision instantly blurred into chaos. She turned her head in alarm, only to see Lucian holding her shades just out of reach.
Sanhua lifted her face, visibly annoyed—she had grown used to seeing the world clearly. Still, Lucian remained perfectly visible to her.
Lucian gazed at her slightly pouted lips and couldn't resist. He leaned down, capturing them with his own…
"Mmph—!"
Sanhua's pupils shrank. Instinctively, she pushed against Lucian's chest, but her body had gone weak, and she couldn't muster the strength.
After a dozen seconds, Lucian gently nipped her lower lip before pulling away and placing the sunglasses back on her nose.
Sanhua's ears were burning red. She glanced around, relieved to see that no one had noticed.
She shot Lucian a sidelong glare. "Scumbag!"
Then she refused to look at him again.
Lucian smirked and pinched her flushed cheek—a sight he doubted anyone else had ever seen.
"So cute."
He wrapped an arm around Sanhua's slender waist, holding her cold hand in his and kneading it gently.
Sanhua's breathing was slightly uneven. "Do you… do this with every girl?"
Lucian grinned mischievously. "Of course not. Only girls like Sanhua make me go to such lengths for a taste."
Sanhua stiffened. "I—"
"Then… what kind of person am I to you?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow. Was this a universal question all girls asked?
Now that he thought about it, Changli had never asked…
And neither had Rover.
Lucian smirked.
He leaned close to Sanhua's reddened ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin. She instinctively tightened her grip on his hand.