Taoyuan Vale.
The crisscrossing streets and alleys were hung full of lit lanterns. Vendors hawked everywhere, the fragrant aroma of food wafted in curls, and from time to time, fireworks bloomed like silver flowers and fiery trees in the sky.
Several children ran and played in the crowded market. One little girl, not paying attention for a moment, bumped headfirst into a soft embrace.
"Sorry, sorry—I didn't mean to bump into you."
The little girl quickly apologized, only to hear a gentle admonition from above:
"Be careful."
Looking up, an exquisite face came into the little girl's view, making her eyes widen involuntarily:
"It's the Magistrate. The Magistrate looks so pretty today—in a pink dress."
"Such a good little sister—you're very pretty too."
Jinhsi smiled warmly, reaching out to beckon beside her. Soon, a candied hawthorn fell into her palm and was handed to the little girl:
"Go play."
"Thank you, Magistrate."
After sending the little girl off, Jinhsi felt in an extremely good mood, her smile hard to suppress.
Different from her usual dignified and steady demeanor, today she wore gorgeous attire, revealing more of the charming and lively nature of a young woman her age.
The floral hairpin in her cloud-like bun, the necklace around her jade neck, the embroidered flowing skirt—all proclaimed the young woman's careful dressing up.
"Sanhua, on such a fine festival, you should smile more too."
Sanhua, carrying a pole of candied hawthorns nearby, used her index and middle finger knuckles to pull her mouth into an arc, speaking unclearly:
"Magistrate, is this how to smile?"
"...Never mind."
Jinhsi supported her forehead, somewhat helpless, then said:
"Are you sure Noah is in Taoyuan Vale?"
"Yes, he's playing with his friends right now. If you want to find him, I can lead the way."
During this time, Jinhsi asked about Noah's whereabouts at least five times a day—Sanhua was already used to it.
Terminals record everyone's real-time location, so Noah's position wasn't hard to check.
The only thing Sanhua didn't understand was that lately, the Magistrate would space out from time to time, then inexplicably grin foolishly on her face.
It had been a long time since she'd seen the Magistrate smile so frequently.
Hearing Sanhua's suggestion, Jinhsi was tempted, but after thinking it over, she shook her head:
"Let's wait a bit. If I go over now, it might make his friends feel constrained."
"Besides, there's still a while before the time to release the floating lanterns."
Auntie Xin was right—a good man needs to be seized, especially someone she already had strong feelings for. If Noah was snatched by another woman, where would she go to cry?
Jinhsi twisted her fingers, secretly rehearsing every subsequent action in her mind.
When the time was about right, she'd invite Noah alone to release floating lanterns, then subtly express her feelings for him.
With such beautiful timing and scenery, plus her careful dressing up—even if Noah was a block of stone, he should be moved by her, right?
Thinking and thinking, Jinhsi unconsciously let out a sneaky laugh.
"Magistrate, what are you laughing at?"
"Nothing—I just thought of something happy."
Jinhsi lightly coughed, suppressing the secret joy in her heart, waved her hand, regained her seriousness, and continued strolling through the bustling market.
===✧✦✧===
On the other side, Noah held up his camera, the lens sweeping over rows of neat and beautiful lanterns, suddenly stopping on a quiet woman in a blue beret.
The woman stood gracefully before a small stall, holding a riddle card in her hands, lost in thought.
The soft light intelligently focused, capturing the thoughtful expression on Yangyang's face in the camera.
"The sunset sinks in the west, the jade rabbit rises in the east... the answer is a 'ming' character, ming..."
Yangyang suddenly turned her head, her gaze colliding with Noah's. She smiled slightly, her autumn-water-like eyes curving into crescents as she gently waved at Noah.
Suddenly, an arm pulled her into an embrace, and Chixia's familiar voice sounded by her ear:
"Found you guys, hehe!"
Yangyang tilted her head, meeting Baizhi's gaze in the other half of Chixia's embrace, both smiling helplessly.
"Done shooting? Let me see."
Chixia let go, trotted to Noah's side, took the camera, her face beaming with joy:
"If only Baizhi could smile more like in the photo in daily life."
"I'll try." Baizhi shook her head, then nodded.
Nearby, boiling clamor arose, drawing everyone's attention. Led by Chixia, the group crowded over to watch the excitement.
At a folding fan stall, Zhezhi held a brush drawing on the fan surface—a pair of red and yellow koi came to life on the fan, vivid and lifelike.
As the final stroke fell, the pair of koi actually leaped from the fan surface, splashing stunning water before falling back onto the fan. Rubbing one's eyes, the koi were clearly still motionless.
"Did I see wrong? The fish in the painting jumped out."
"Not bad, not bad—painted really well!"
"I want this folding fan!"
The surrounding crowd burst into cheers. Zhezhi secretly rejoiced, her little face flushing from the praise.
Not far away, a graceful figure in crimson leaned alone against a wall edge, watching this lively scene and unconsciously curving her lips in a light smile.
Turning back, Counselor Changli looked up at the fireworks blooming in the sky, her smile appearing somewhat lonely.
Celebrating such a reunion festival alone was always a bit solitary.
"Look at the lens—smile."
A sudden voice rang out, making her beautiful eyes widen slightly. Turning her head, a moment of daze appeared on her charming yet refined cheeks.
"Beautiful person—looks good no matter how shot."
Noah held the photo, unable to help praising out loud. He slowly walked to Changli's front and sent a team invitation:
"Want to celebrate the Moon-Chasing Festival together?"
"Since it's the Hero's request, it would be disrespectful to decline."
Changli smiled slightly, her body leaning forward a bit, tilting her head to lightly breathe orchid fragrance by Noah's ear:
"However, Hero—don't develop a habit of flirting around. My disciple..."
"What's with Jinhsi?" Noah only felt his ear a bit itchy.
"Won't tell you, hehe."
Changli lightly laughed and stepped back. No matter how Noah pursued the question, she changed the subject, refusing to answer directly.
A dragon roar suddenly sounded, and everyone in Taoyuan Vale subconsciously looked up—a huge Sentinel holographic projection appeared in the sky over Taoyuan Vale.
"It's the Sentinel!"
"A dragon!"
"Is the dragon dance starting?"
On the ground, Xiangli Yao skillfully manipulated the virtual panel. Light shone in the projected Sentinel's eyes, instantly bringing the entire projection to life.
Though pulled down the mountain by Noah, it didn't stop him from using holographic projection technology to perform the dragon dance.
Yes, he hadn't agreed to let Noah release a Sentinel illusion—the reason being Noah's illusion was too realistic and would ruin the festival atmosphere.
The Sentinel projection let out a long dragon roar, beginning to soar and surge within Taoyuan Vale's range—lifelike, drawing waves of exclamations wherever it passed.
After the Sentinel projection stylishly circled Taoyuan Vale a few times, it suddenly shot upward into the sky, bursting into brilliant fireworks.
Then, countless fireworks shot from the ground, blooming competitively in the night sky, together with the full moon forming a magnificent and beautiful scene.
"Hey, still shooting what? You've taken so many—no photo of yourself."
Chixia trotted over, snatched Noah's camera, set timer mode, and pulled him to stand in the center of the crowd.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Brilliant fireworks reflected with Taoyuan Vale's lights, moonlight clear and cool, refreshing autumn wind brushing by—a group photo of everyone laughing was thus frozen.
After the group photo, Yangyang, Chixia, and Baizhi's trio brought out the long-prepared hotpot and dishes, starting to arrange dinner.
Changli went to the nearby folding fan stall to inquire about prices. As for Noah and Xiangli Yao, they sat waiting for food.
"Has the Moontree Lodge ever received any really outrageous wishes?"
"Of course—sitting in the Moontree Lodge is like a school confession wall from student days. Some things I've held in for so long—lean in, I'll whisper to you."
Xiangli Yao looked left and right thief-like, confirming no one was paying attention before whispering:
"There was an anonymous wish saying she's extremely socially anxious, afraid of contact with others, doesn't want to know anyone, but hopes for a gentle, considerate, reliable, and handsome man to have a home-invasion-style romance with her."
"Wow! So good at wishing!"
The two men hit their funny bone, not daring to draw attention, only madly slapping their thighs holding in laughter, faces turning completely red.
Not far away, Zhezhi let out a heavy sneeze.