The festival street gradually grew quieter as Xu Jin and Chen reached the foot of the shrine stairs.
The lively sounds from the market had faded into the background. Lanterns swayed overhead, their warm golden light spilling across the stone pathway and making every step appear bright and almost magical. In the distance, music and laughter still drifted through the evening air.
Beside the entrance to the stairs stood a wooden sign pointing toward the public bathrooms.
Chen noticed it and stopped.
"I'm going to the bathroom. I need to wash my hands. Wait here."
Xu Jin nodded.
"go ahead, I'll wait here!"
Chen handed him the lantern. Just as he was about to leave, Xu Jin noticed Yun Hu still in his arms.
"Brother Chen, why are you taking him?"
Chen lifted Yun Hu's paw.
"He needs to wash his paw too. There's still paint on it."
Yun Hu immediately looked at his paw as though he had only just discovered the evidence.
Xu Jin nodded.
"Fair enough."
