A shop assistant trailed behind Zhu Que, on the verge of tears.
Who was this distinguished guest who had won nearly eighty percent of their bracelets?
A crowd had gathered, showering Zhu Que with praise.
"This girl is so clever, she answered so many lantern riddles!"
"Indeed, judging by the shopkeeper's expression, he's about to ask her to leave."
"Is that her husband? Why couldn't he solve a single riddle?"
Jiang Ye, overhearing this, nearly choked.
"A mute signaling?" Zhu Que took the lantern from Jiang Ye, a glance sufficing to reveal the answer.
"It's self-evident."
The shopkeeper berated the assistant, then turned to Zhu Que with a fawning smile. "The customer is correct!"
"We'll also gift you a pair of jade bracelets. Uh, perhaps you might consider looking elsewhere?"
If she kept answering correctly, his shop would be ruined.
Jiang Ye watched as Zhu Que nodded, tossed a sack of jade bracelets onto their cart, and then pulled it away.
"Aren't we going to the next place?" she asked, turning back to Jiang Ye with a frown.
Jiang Ye's throat felt constricted, as if a breath was caught mid-passage.
"Go..."
However, upon arriving at the next stall, he quickly regained his composure. He refused to believe he could lose at this.
It was time to showcase his manliness; this stall was for archery.
"Customer, shoot the bullseye five times and you'll receive a free jade hairpin or an agate pendant."
Jiang Ye slammed five gold coins onto the table with his large palm. "Give me fifty tries!"
"Little pig, let me show you my skills!"
Zhu Que noticed the tampered bow and arrows, then glanced at Jiang Ye's confident demeanor. She humored him.
"Alright, I believe you."
Jiang Ye drew the bow, closed one eye, aimed at the bullseye, and released.
*Clack—*
The arrow wobbled and fell to the ground, missing the target entirely.
Jiang Ye's lips twitched. It didn't make sense... he had definitely aimed correctly...
"One more time!"
He drew the bow again, this time with even more force.
This time, the muscles in his arm tensed.
Jiang Ye narrowed his eyes. The arrow flew from his fingers with the force of a charging army.
*Thump—!*
"It hit, it hit!"
"It touched the target!" the onlookers cheered.
Jiang Ye frowned, looking at the arrow that had grazed the edge of the target. "This shouldn't be right?"
Then, stubbornly, he shot dozens more, and without exception, they all landed on the periphery of the target.
The stall owner, however, was overjoyed. "Customer, you can't rush! You can't rely on brute force alone!"
Zhu Que pursed her lips, looking at the shopkeeper's smug face with a hint of helplessness.
She stepped forward and took the bow and arrow from Jiang Ye. Jiang Ye looked dejected, assuming it was Little Pig who was about to try.
Unnoticed, she felt the grip of the bow and turned a hidden mechanism.
Then, she handed the bow back to Jiang Ye. "Try again, I believe in you."
Jiang Ye blinked, his lips pouting slightly, touched. "Little Pig..."
Seeing Zhu Que's action, the stall owner hurried to stop Jiang Ye. However, Zhu Que moved her hand behind her back.
The stall owner's robe began to catch fire, and the flames were impossible to extinguish.
"Fire! It's on fire! Quick, help!"
The stall owner yelped and rolled on the ground. The flames hadn't even touched his skin, but he was so terrified he was beside himself.
Jiang Ye looked. Was this... Zhu Que's fire?
"You shoot, don't mind him."
He looked at Zhu Que. In the flickering firelight, her face seemed exceptionally beautiful, making Jiang Ye momentarily lost in thought.
"Okay, okay."
Jiang Ye drew the bow, his sharp eyes fixed on the bullseye. With a release, the arrow cut through the air, heading straight for the center.
*Thump—!*
"It hit the bullseye!" he exclaimed joyfully, a smile spreading across his face.
The arrowhead sank deep into the bullseye. If Jiang Ye still didn't understand now, he was truly foolish.
Zhu Que had noticed Jiang Ye's frustration earlier; her feigned helplessness was intentional.
An ineffable sense of gratitude and an ever-growing affection bloomed in Jiang Ye's heart.
...
"Why are we out on Qiqiao Festival?"
Two figures on the street were particularly striking. Their tall frames and handsome faces drew frequent glances from the women along the roadside.
"Excuse me, sir, which noble family do you belong to? Are you married?"
A finely dressed woman approached Dong Ling, her head bowed, her cheeks flushed with shyness.
Dong Ling looked down at her, a smile curving his lips. He reached out and gently placed his arm around Zhong Zi's waist.
"My apologies, I already have someone I cherish. Marriage is merely a matter of time."
Zhong Zi flustered, his face turning as red as a beet. He tried to pull away from Dong Ling's arm, but Dong Ling's grip was strong, and Zhong Zi's panic only made him hold on tighter.
The woman paused, her gaze shifting between the blushing Zhong Zi and the smiling Dong Ling. She seemed to understand.
With a bright smile, devoid of any disappointment from rejection, she said, "Then, young ladies, I wish you both happiness and peace!"
"Thank you."
The woman departed, and only then did Dong Ling release Zhong Zi.
"What are you doing? We're two men, why are you acting like a couple?"
Zhong Zi bit his lip, a mixture of anger and embarrassment flooding him.
Dong Ling looked up at the dark night sky, a handsome curve gracing his lips.
"Lord Zhong, do you have someone you like?"
As the night deepened, Zhong Zi looked into the man's eyes and felt a sudden flutter in his heart.
"Not yet... Why, what's wrong?"
He averted his gaze, his earlobes reddening beneath the cover of his long hair.
Dong Ling turned his head, his gaze fixed on Zhong Zi's eyes. It was as if those dark pools held an abyss, and once caught, escape was impossible.
"If that's the case, would you be willing to give me a chance?"
Zhong Zi stood frozen. The surrounding crowds bustled, but he could only hear his own heartbeat, which seemed to be thrumming out of his chest.
Under Dong Ling's gaze, he had nowhere to hide, nowhere to flee.
"However, even if you refuse, Lord Zhong, I won't give up."
Dong Ling's deep chuckle echoed, Zhong Zi's face flushed a deep crimson, as if perfectly ripe.
He covered his mouth. "Then why did you ask..."
Dong Ling lowered his gaze, chuckling softly. "Perhaps it's your reaction that makes me unable to stop."
...
Chen Shi, the time for releasing Kongming lanterns.
Jiang Ye and Zhu Que dipped their brushes and began to write their wishes on a cart full of Kongming lanterns.
Dong Ling, with a smile, held Zhong Zi's hand and slowly wrote character by character on a lantern.
Meanwhile, Bai Ran and Long Jin Han sat atop the highest rooftop, crafting what they believed to be the most beautiful Kongming lanterns in the world.
The sky filled with countless lanterns, like scattered stars, illuminating the entire expanse.
Tiny Kongming lanterns, imbued with the most sincere emotions, infused with the truest love.
Lovers are destined to be together. Among the thousands of lights, there is also one meant just for you.