"Fool, something big is about to happen!"
"What?"
Three question marks seemed to pop up over Huai Shi's head; he looked utterly bewildered, having no idea what had just happened.
Wasn't everything fine just now?
"It was fine, but that doesn't stop something from happening next," Raven stared at him with wide eyes. "Don't tell me you were still dreaming of a smooth trip home?"
"...Who the hell told me this was a tour bus!" Huai Shi glared at her furiously. "Where's the door? I want to get off!"
"Want to get off? No problem. There's a special express leaving the island in three hours; you still have time to buy a ticket. If you act fast, you can definitely make it."
"Huh?" Huai Shi stared, not understanding why this time she wasn't pushing him into a deathtrap.
Raven paused for a moment, a curious expression on her face. "But...are you really going to ignore the reaction from the Book of Fate?"
"I... I..."
Huai Shi stammered for a long time but couldn't bring himself to say the words, "I really don't care."
Besides, he had already smelled the aroma of something truly tempting.
"Could it be... there really is a fragment of the Heavenly Kingdom here?"
Raven nodded. "Very likely."
"...To be honest, I still don't understand what's going on," Huai Shi pressed his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Could a beautiful lady explain it to me?"
Raven smiled. "Now you're asking the right person!"
"..." Huai Shi's mouth twitched. "Seriously, I thought you'd be modest for once."
"Don't I look pretty?" Raven tilted her head and glanced at him, her tone breezy but her words stirring Huai Shi's Death Perception.
"Pretty, very pretty!" Huai Shi nodded so vigorously he almost gave himself whiplash. He was simply being true to his gut feeling.
"That's more like it. Pick up the pace, let's go," Raven landed on his shoulder. "While there's still time, hurry and buy some stuff."
"This urgent?"
"I wouldn't mind if you're a bit late... but delays lead to complications, you get that, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I get it, I get it."
Huai Shi quickened his steps.
The sense of urgency befitting a 'tool' finally kicked in.
Before leaving, Huai Shi had to visit the Giant Goose Firm's lounge to find Yuan Zhao, who had been waiting there for two hours. After much internal debate, he still pressed his hands together and apologized, "I'm terribly sorry, something urgent came up, and I have to dash."
"Ah?"
Yuan Zhao, who was scrolling through his phone planning where to go next, froze for a moment before becoming suspicious. "I heard there are a bunch of young ladies standing under pink lights on the second basement floor... You're not thinking of ditching me to do some dirty grown-up stuff, are you?"
"What kind of messed-up thought process do you have!" Huai Shi felt like he was about to choke and glared at him. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
"..."
Yuan Zhao scrutinized him for a long moment, then said, half-convinced, "Right, after all, you don't seem like the type to pay for it."
So what am I then? The one getting paid?! Kid, is your misunderstanding of me really that deep?
"Anyway, I'm very sorry for having to bail on you this afternoon," Huai Shi apologized sincerely. "How about the day after tomorrow? If that's not good, I'll treat you when you come to Xinhai..."
After discerning the seriousness and sincerity in Huai Shi's apology, realizing there was no deception, Yuan Zhao wasn't upset. He waved his hand considerately. "If you're busy, then go. But just a heads up, my schedule as your Older Cousin isn't free every day."
"Thank you."
Huai Shi patted his shoulder gratefully and turned to leave. However, as he reached the door, his hand on the doorknob hesitated.
A question suddenly occurred to him.
Was his and Yuan Zhao's sudden reunion really a coincidence? Or... did someone else arrange this?
Feeling the atmosphere indicating a storm was brewing, Huai Shi had also become overly sensitive.
"By the way, why did you guys come here?" he turned back to ask.
"Huh?" Yuan Zhao said. "Didn't I tell you? My cousin is about to enter a higher school, so we came to celebrate..."
"Not that. I mean, who suggested and decided that you should come here?" Huai Shi said seriously. "This is very important. Please think carefully."
"Ummmm..."
After scratching his head for a while, Yuan Zhao seemed a bit unsure. "I think it was Feng Chu, that sycophant, who proposed it."
"Hmm?"
Huai Shi recalled the young man who had stood quietly beside Yuan Yuan during the day, always with a gentle smile, who had been quite enthusiastic by Yuan Yuan's side all day, yet maintained a perfect, unobtrusive distance. He hadn't shown any aversion or exclusion toward Huai Shi either.
A true gentleman.
Him? Huai Shi frowned.
"But at that time, my cousin didn't seem too interested," Yuan Zhao remarked. "But come to think of it, it's not surprising she agreed the next day... Hey, don't be fooled by her cold appearance; she's actually a total homebody. If it weren't for something special, she would definitely not go out. I was shocked that she took the initiative to come on this trip."
"..."