Chapter 71: An Evening Stroll and Hidden Treasures

A day passed in a flash.

As evening descended, the warm, bright sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the clouds and the city below in a romantic, fiery orange.

Its gentle glow pierced through glass windows, illuminating the offices of most buildings.

It was dinnertime, and most employees had already departed their offices for the cafeteria.

Yet, a few dedicated souls remained glued to their screens, battling deadlines and code. They occasionally took a sip from a coffee can, lost in their work.

Others leaned against the windowpanes, gazing out at the bustling city in the twilight. They chatted idly with colleagues beside them, sharing trivial anecdotes.

Lu Chen glanced at the wall clock, hastily shut down his computer, gathered his belongings, and silently departed his workstation.

A solitary figure by nature, he had spent the past year idling and keeping to himself at the company, rarely engaging in conversation with colleagues.

Fortunately, he harbored no desire for small talk.

****

Adjusting his bracelet, he took the elevator down to the ground floor. He strode through the air-conditioned lobby, exited the building, and stepped into the soft, warm afterglow of the sunset, where his eyes immediately landed on Xia Shi.

The young woman wore an off-white blouse and a light blue skirt, with a transparent glass display window behind her.

Standing beside the mannequins in the display, her gentle, bright gaze swept over the bustling street. The setting sun’s warm light painted her fair, delicate face with a beautiful glow.

As the young man spotted the girl, she, too, noticed him.

A smile graced her lips as she jogged towards him, her fluffy white sleeves swaying with her steps.

Yet, upon seeing Lu Chen’s face, she subtly furrowed her delicate brows.

“Good evening. Your dark circles are quite prominent. Did you stay up late last night?”

Lu Chen took her hand and replied,

“Indeed, I was writing manuscripts all night. I only remembered to order takeout past eight, and then the delivery was delayed by half an hour. I didn’t actually eat until nine.”

Xia Shi, still holding Lu Chen’s hand, playfully tapped his palm.

“Stop ordering takeout. Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to try my cooking?”

“I can’t always trouble you. Besides, takeout is actually quite delicious.”

“Then just tell me which restaurant you want to eat from! I’ll buy it and deliver it to you. I’m super fast, and I can fly, so I definitely won’t be late.”

“If Sister Lin ever found out you were delivering takeout to me while transformed in public, my bonus for next month would vanish right along with your disguise.”

“You’re… you’re right. But, I could always find a tall building first, climb to the rooftop—”

****

The two strolled leisurely along the street, chatting about trivial matters.

As one topic faded, another instantly arose, and Lu Chen felt as though they had an endless supply of things to discuss that day.

He suddenly imagined the sunset would never truly descend, and the asphalt road beneath their feet would stretch endlessly toward the horizon.

And the young woman beside him would forever hold his hand, chatting as they walked together along the long street.

Yet, the sun did eventually set, and their path reached its end.

The moon and stars gradually emerged in the sky, and neon lights flickered to life in the street’s storefronts.

The romantic, intoxicating orange hues faded, and the vast, profound canvas of the sky was painted with the clear colors of night.

****

Lu Chen had not informed Xia Shi of their evening’s agenda beforehand, nor had he revealed where they were going or what they would do; he simply led her forward.

Now, the young woman came to her senses, curiously surveying the familiar streetscape.

This was the very place where Xia Shi had vanished a year ago, and where she had reappeared just a few weeks prior.

The comic convention had long concluded, and any damage caused by the ‘monsters’ had been repaired. Before them lay only an empty plaza and a building, silent and submerged in the night.

The young woman jogged up the steps, approaching a poster, her light blue skirt swaying gently.

She peered at the poster with keen interest, then turned to Lu Chen, who had followed her.

“We’ve walked all the way here without even realizing it… It’s surprising the convention poster hasn’t been taken down yet. Oh, look, this drawing of Morning Star is quite amusing.”

Lu Chen examined the chibi-style image on the poster, breaking into a silent chuckle.

“Can you even call this amusing? That person truly has no regard for their own image.”

“It’s precisely because of that that she has so many fans! Come closer.”

The young woman wrapped her arm around the young man’s, gently pulling him closer to the poster.

She pulled out her phone, opened the camera, and held it up, offering a soft smile to the lens. Lu Chen, cooperating, flashed a peace sign.

The flash illuminated, casting long shadows of their two figures on the steps. Another memory was thus added to their photo album.

****

Xia Shi put away her phone, her slender fingers nimbly flipping through the album, bright amusement dancing in her eyes.

Lu Chen watched the girl’s joyful profile, feeling the cool evening breeze brush across his cheek.

He spoke,

“Besides Morning Star, you’re quite fond of Red Serpent and Aurora, aren’t you?”

“Yes, they’re also very popular at conventions. I’ve often seen people cosplaying them on Douyin recently.”

“That’s right. In fact, they also participated in the anime carnival here this year, leaving behind their promotional posters.”

The young woman’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly scanned the empty plaza around them.

“So, does that mean their posters might not have been taken down either?” However, the posters for Red Serpent and Aurora had actually been removed long ago, just like Morning Star’s. All the ones currently in the plaza were specifically arranged by Lu Chen yesterday.

The young man nodded with a faint smile.

“I think there’s a good chance. Let’s go look.”

****

The night was like water, the plaza hushed, save for the distant sounds of human voices and vehicles from the street.

Xia Shi worried about passersby discovering her use of magic.

So, they both switched on their phones, casting circles of glowing light from the screens before them.

They wandered through the plaza, searching, then stealthily slipped into the building known as the International Exhibition Center.

Rendered by the darkness, the grand hall transformed into what appeared to be a dragon’s lair, overflowing with treasures.

Dust-sheeted tables and chairs were piled like small mountains in the corners of the room.

Several massive washing machines stood silently beside charging stations, resembling resting guard-servants.

Xia Shi, embodying the spirit of a brave adventurer, led the young man through this ‘lair’ in search.

They unearthed posters hidden in various nooks and crannies. At each discovery, she would break into an excited, joyful smile, pulling the young man into a triumphant photo.

****

The moon slowly climbed into the sky, hanging askew above the rooftop.

The evening rush hour had passed, the streets gradually grew quiet, and the lights within the storefronts appeared all the more warm and inviting.

After unearthing all their ‘treasures,’ the two emerged from the exhibition center, thoroughly content, only then realizing their stomachs were rumbling.

They returned to the street, perused the many shops, and finally settled on a beef noodle restaurant, where they enjoyed a hearty meal.

“Thank you for your patronage~ Please come again soon~”

Lu Chen settled the bill with the owner, then took Xia Shi’s hand and led her out of the small eatery.

A fine layer of dew had condensed on the streetlights, and the evening breeze carried a sharper chill.

The young man held the girl’s hand, strolling leisurely with her until they reached the subway station.

Xia Shi paused before the platform, turning to him with a soft smile.

“Thank you. This is far enough.”

The young woman’s long skirt swayed slightly, her fair cheeks appearing exceptionally soft in the night.

Lu Chen, having made up his mind, spoke softly,

“Xia Xia, do you have any plans for later?”

“Nothing much. Are we going to your place for the night?”

“No, I want to take you somewhere.”