Damn it! What “princess in distress” and “sword-bearing guard”! Did I really look that pathetic!?
And on top of that, Meng Wange—how dare she strike that pose in front of everyone!? It’s just ridiculous!! She made me…
She made my heart keep pounding, even now.
Seriously, this is completely different from the script I had in mind!
I was supposed to see Meng Wange dressed up in that gentle, fresh look, but I ended up taking that role, and she became the guard by the princess’s side…
Huh?
Actually, that kind of fits her, doesn’t it?
—”If possible, I’d still like you to change into a set of clothes that matches me better.”
No wonder Meng Wange dared to run off to another shop alone after saying that.
So she wasn’t talking about matching colors or styles at all—she meant matching roles!?
Su Wanli bit angrily into the candied apple in her hand. The sickly sweet flavor dissolved in her mouth, but it couldn’t suppress the complicated feelings of embarrassment and irritation in her heart.
“Miss Su, eat slowly. Careful not to choke.”
The culprit walking beside Su Wanli was holding a skewer of grilled squid in one hand and several bags of prizes won from the goldfish scooping stall in the other, with her usual calm smile on her face.
Meng Wange seemed to be in a really good mood today—so good that she forcefully dragged Su Wanli into playing some childish little games, like ring toss, shooting balloons, or tossing coins into a pool…
Seriously, she talks a big game, saying things like “sword-bearing guard, I’ll go through fire and water to protect you,” but in the end, she just wanted me to keep her company, didn’t she?
Su Wanli crunched the candied apple loudly, then turned her face away, deciding she wouldn’t pay any attention to this smooth-talking creature for at least ten minutes.
Though… she was actually having a pretty good time.
“Oh, there’s a beanbag toss game over there. Miss Su, let’s go check it out!”
“I can walk by myself!”
“…Hey!? I didn’t agree to that!? Don’t tug on my sleeve—”
Time passed slowly during their journey.
The sun had shifted to the western sky, with about a third of it already below the horizon.
The red lanterns along the street began to light up one by one, dyeing the entire street a warm orange.
Meng Wange finally stopped.
She glanced down at her phone, then turned to Su Wanli and smiled gently.
“Miss Su, it’s time to head to the fireworks show.”
“Huh?”
Su Wanli, who had a piece of colorful cotton candy in her mouth, lifted her head slightly and blinked at Meng Wange in confusion.
“Now? But it’s not even fully dark yet.”
“If we wait until it’s completely dark to set out, we won’t get a good spot.”
Meng Wange smiled lightly at Su Wanli, then naturally took her hand and walked toward the inn.
Su Wanli had no idea how Meng Wange had arranged it, but after strolling through the festival street, they ended up right near that familiar building.
With just a slight lift of her head, she could see the sign for the “Yun Sheng Ocean Hotel” not far away.
Just as Meng Wange had said, passing through the back door of the Ocean Hotel led to the venue for the fireworks show.
It was a wide, flat beach.
In the center of the beach, a large area was fenced off with wooden barriers, filled with firework tubes of various sizes and colors.
Around that area, rows of wooden benches had already been set up.
About a dozen people were already sitting on the benches.
Most were local residents, gathered in small groups, drinking hot tea and chatting casually, with relaxed, content expressions on their faces.
“Wow, people really get here this early? The fireworks won’t start for another hour or two, right?”
“Maybe to them, the moment the fireworks go off isn’t what matters. They’re just enjoying this time with familiar people.”
Meng Wange thoughtfully responded to Su Wanli’s question, then continued holding her hand and walked past the wooden fence to a huge, lush tree hung with colorful wish cards.
Under the tree, a familiar figure was leaning quietly, alone, watching the sunset clouds.
It was Li Yunsheng.
She had changed out of her outdated store manager uniform and was casually wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, a thin woman’s cigarette with faint sparks between her lips.
She stood there silently, her gaze vacant, staring at the distant sea gleaming under the daylight.
She seemed to blend into the scenery, carrying an indescribable sense of lonely beauty.
“Miss Li, good evening. How was business today?”
It wasn’t until Su Wanli and Meng Wange’s footsteps sounded beside her that Li Yunsheng snapped out of her daze.
She nodded casually at Meng Wange as a greeting.
“Thanks to you two, not a single customer. Everyone who came looking for me just wanted to nab a seat for the fireworks show.”
As she spoke, she casually pressed out the cigarette in the sand, grinding it with her toe until the faint ember was completely extinguished.
The whole motion was fluid and effortless, with no hesitation—it was hard to connect her with the internationally renowned painter who had once made a name for herself in the art world.
“But, Meng Wange, why are you here so early again? The fireworks show doesn’t start that soon.”
“Oh, I get it. Unless you’re not here to watch the fireworks at all.”
Li Yunsheng raised an eyebrow with a half-smile, her gaze briefly sweeping over their still-clasped hands.
“Actually, you want to make a wish under the tree with your little sweetheart before the fireworks start? Have me hang a plaque for you?”
With that, she pulled out a stack of brand-new, palm-sized wooden plaques from behind her, faintly fragrant with incense.
“It’s settled, then. Twenty bucks each, fair and square, no returns or exchanges. Whether you want business prosperity, academic success, or to grow old together with your lover till the end of time, Yunsheng’s wish-plaque service has you covered.”
“Hah!? Of-of course not! I don’t want to grow old together with anyone!”
Su Wanli noticed Li Yunsheng’s gaze, flushed slightly, and instinctively tried to pull her hand away from Meng Wange’s.
But Meng Wange held on surprisingly tight this time—she couldn’t shake her off.
“Is that so? Yeah, you’re right. You’d better not make any wishes here about growing old together.”
Li Yunsheng wasn’t at all intimidated by Su Wanli’s fierce expression.
She shrugged indifferently, then turned around and lightly patted the thick tree trunk.
“After all, making a wish here isn’t really auspicious.”
“…Huh? It won’t last much longer? What do you mean?”
Su Wanli froze for a moment, then asked Li Yunsheng in confusion.
“Are you saying you’re going to cut this tree down?”
“Not me—it’s the demolition crew. They told me a long time ago they plan to tear down this whole area.”
Li Yunsheng shook her head, blew out a nonexistent smoke ring, then tilted her chin toward the old street that was still brightly lit but no longer bustling.
“Look, the Su family has already dismissed the few old shops around the alley and opened new ones near the festival. I doubt my bathing beach will last much longer either.”
“Maybe this tree won’t be around long either. It’s a bit late to start hanging wish cards now.”
She paused, looking toward the sky that was gradually darkening in the distance.
“Maybe this time will be the last fireworks show.”