Shen Ye froze, a flicker of confusion passing through her golden eyes.
In the image reflected at the bottom of her pupils, faint golden arcs could be seen shattering within.
The pendant on her chest, once filled with spiritual power, dimmed as if it were about to lose its effect.
Why do I feel… a trace of longing?
She wanted to stand openly and freely in front of all humans just like that little fox on stage, not caring at all how her identity as a spirit being might be perceived.
She clenched the hem of her clothes, another emotion budding in her heart.
But why can she interact with humans like that? This is a result I’ve struggled for over ten years to achieve.
To interact with humans like that…
How can this “You Xin” pull it off so easily?
Just because of this child’s play of a “cosplay”?
Are you kidding me!
Shen Ye bit her lip tightly, the gaze hidden behind her sunglasses obscured and unreadable.
No, it’s those spirits’ fault. No matter how many times I tried to persuade them, they wouldn’t listen!
It’s all their fault!
No, that’s not it.
No!
Shen Ye suddenly pressed her hand against her forehead, suppressing the wayward thoughts spreading through her mind.
The inexplicable emotions filling her chest receded like the tide. She clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
On her chest, the pendant nestled between her soft, fair skin faded slightly, regaining its luster after the girl came back to her senses.
What’s wrong with me?
Why have I become so… strange?
No, no, no. Ever since that incident at the shopping mall, I’ve been getting more and more off lately.
Staying in this body for too long is having a bad influence on me instead.
I need to find a chance to change back quickly. Otherwise, I feel like I’m not even myself anymore.
Suddenly, her view was blocked by a wall of people. The elf-like dancing figure on stage was hidden behind the crowd, impossible for the short girl to see past.
Ah, I can’t see anymore.
A sense of loss at not being able to see “You Xin” arose in Shen Ye’s heart, and she didn’t even notice anything wrong with herself.
I want to watch more.
“Mmm—!”
Shen Ye stood on her tiptoes, putting all her strength into her toes, the soles of her shoes almost at a vertical angle to the ground.
But soon, this stance lasted less than two seconds before she gave up.
Shen Ye drooped her little face, looking at the wall of people before her, feeling helpless like a fish gazing at the vast ocean.
Lin Xiangyi saw this scene and noticed the cat ears drooping helplessly on the girl.
“Still want to watch?”
Lin Xiangyi’s question came from beside her, but before Shen Ye could react, she felt her body being lifted by a pair of steady, powerful arms.
Huh?
Lin Xiangyi naturally lifted Shen Ye up, supporting her thigh with one hand, and placed her on his shoulder.
The girl’s petite frame didn’t seem crowded sitting on his single shoulder.
Shen Ye only felt her view rise considerably, her field of vision suddenly widening.
She stared at the scene before her for two seconds before snapping back to reality.
This is way too eye-catching!
“Hey! Xiangyi, what are you doing?! Put me down now!”
She pounded on Lin Xiangyi’s shoulder, blushing and complaining, completely unaware of how intimate their actions looked to outsiders.
Lin Xiangyi also didn’t notice how bold his actions were. He vaguely felt something was off, but since he’d already done it, he just went along with it.
“It’s fine. I do this often with my little sister.”
He also had the idea of helping Shen Ye build up her courage. Seeing that she wasn’t resisting too much, he felt at ease.
“See, now you can watch.”
“Yeah, I can watch…”
Shen Ye’s lips moved as she murmured softly by Lin Xiangyi’s ear, making the two of them look even more like a pair of lovey-dovey young couples to others.
She looked around, only to find everyone staring at You Xin on stage.
Only a few people passing by the stage’s perimeter looked at their intimate interaction, showing knowing smiles.
She quickly turned her head away, feeling even more embarrassed. Her tail wrapped around Lin Xiangyi’s neck, rubbing against his skin and bringing a slight ticklish sensation.
Lin Xiangyi said nothing, just like the surrounding audience, focusing on the performance on stage.
Seeing Lin Xiangyi completely unfazed, Shen Ye had no choice but to hold onto his shoulder, asking shyly yet with a hint of caution:
“Am… am I not heavy?”
Hearing this, Lin Xiangyi was briefly stunned.
A faint pink glow spread from the edges of his pupils.
“Not heavy. Since you want to watch, just stay like this.”
He replied calmly, unconsciously saying words that would put Shen Ye at ease.
“…”
Shen Ye looked back at the stage, the shame in her heart washed away completely by the joy of seeing You Xin again.
On stage, You Xin was dancing her final piece.
Her movements were light yet full of tension. With every raise and retract, the beauty of the girl’s slender figure was displayed to its fullest through her dance.
Shen Ye watched her eyes. Those eyes, as if wearing heart-shaped contact lenses, were filled with confidence and enjoyment, as if the entire stage were her world.
I pride myself on fighting for a place for spirits, yet now that I’ve become a spirit myself, I don’t dare stand before everyone like she does.
She watched You Xin shine under the spotlight, her brilliant golden eyes filled with boundless loneliness.
Having had a human identity, why can’t I possess the same confidence as her?
Doesn’t that make it seem like I don’t even believe in the future of spirits myself?
You Xin’s performance was reaching its end.
The stage lights focused on her.
This was the curtain call of the stage, and the finale of the girl’s performance.
Everyone anticipated the ending, yet didn’t want it to come.
You Xin closed her beautiful eyes, took a deep breath, and prepared to deliver the final act of the day.
She opened her eyes, and happened to lock gazes with Shen Ye, who stood out like a crane among chickens in the crowd.
[Eh? This kid? Even though she’s wearing sunglasses, my intuition tells me she’s very, very cute!]
You Xin’s lips paused for two seconds, then curved into a smile.
She blinked and shot Shen Ye a wink.
Then came the final verse of the song.
With that wink, the audience erupted in cheers like a surging wave.
“Ahhhh! You Xinxin, I love you!!!! You Xin loyal!”
“You Xinxin! You Xinxin! Oath of loyalty to You Xinxin!”
Shen Ye was surrounded by the tidal wave of shouts, feeling even more conspicuous sitting on Lin Xiangyi’s shoulder.
Ugh.
She scratched her cheek, feeling a bit awkward.
That wasn’t directed at me, right?
“Thank you all for your support! Next performance, You Xin will be waiting for you all~!”
The stage concluded, the singing and dancing came to a stop.
At the same time, the faint pink ring around Lin Xiangyi’s pupils disappeared.
His gaze sharpened.
Is this… Heart Control Art?
I was affected without even realizing it. This person is quite skilled.
His gaze swept imperceptibly across the crowd before him, trying to find the one who had fired that hidden shot.
“Everyone, thank you for your support!”
On stage, You Xin took her exit bow and walked off.
Only then did Lin Xiangyi notice the weight on his shoulder. He felt his left hand overflowing with a full, plump softness. His fingers, through the fabric of his clothes, sank deep into it like grabbing a piece of soft, wet cotton.
“Xiangyi, the performance is over. Put me down now.”
A slightly hurried urging came from beside his ear, a barely suppressible shame hidden in the voice.
“Oh, right away.”
Lin Xiangyi remembered what he had done. He realized he’d been acting like a completely different person just now, doing things beyond his expectations.
It’s all that spirit master’s fault.
Hiding his embarrassment, he pretended to be nonchalant as he bent down and helped Shen Ye down.
As Shen Ye’s body slowly left him, the girl’s tail also slid off Lin Xiangyi’s body. The silky sensation made him nearly reach out several times to hold onto that mischievous little thing.
Shen Ye’s feet touched the ground again.
She pressed her pink lips together. On her cool, fair face, a layer of hazy rosy blush spread like light rouge.
How embarrassing. How could I have agreed to let my junior brother do something so childish…
“Cough, cough.”
Lin Xiangyi let out a light cough, about to tell Shen Ye about his discovery to change the subject, when the corner of his eye caught a familiar figure in the crowd.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
Lin Xiaomeng?
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