"A man and a woman going to the Coconut Palace? Holy crap they're not even pretending anymore, are they? The heart of Sima Zhao is plain for all to see!" Christina slapped the table, seemingly furious.
"Captain, isn't it possible that they don't even know we exist, so they're not pretending at all?" Someone couldn't help but interrupt.
"Snow Leopard, shut up!" Christina pointed at the person who had just spoken.
Everyone present except Angelina was a veteran. They were all very familiar with the more normal tourist spots in the Philippines.
Over the years, every place worth visiting had been covered during their monthly mandatory team-building trips. And naturally, they knew about the Coconut Palace too but it was one of the very few famous attractions the Snow Lotus Squad had never visited.
Not because they didn't want to, but because it wasn't suitable.
The Coconut Palace (also known as Bahay na Tisa or Tahanang Filipino) is a unique tourism site combining nature and culture, located on Palawan Island in the Philippines. It is the world's largest structure built entirely from coconut materials, construction began in 1981, and after decades of careful development, it became a shining gem in tourists' hearts.
What makes the Coconut Palace special is its construction and facilities. Towering coconut trees inside the palace rise like massive natural pillars, supporting the ceiling in an awe-inspiring display. Between these pillars hang vines and green leaves, forming natural curtains and doorways, creating a cool, refreshing world for visitors. In addition, there are stone steps, benches, stages, and other facilities for various activities.
Sounds wonderful, right? But this beautiful place is world-famous as a wedding destination. Many couples choose to hold their weddings here.
Amid swaying coconut shadows and sea breezes, they pledge lifelong vows. Not only is the scenery intoxicating, but the place also carries the symbolism of "eternal love."
And every member of the Snow Lotus Squad had been single for over twenty years. This was also one of the reasons no one had tailed Shun and Ana today.
After all, in a place where almost everyone was there as couples, two women or even one woman would stand out far too much. Even if Ana was currently distracted by her crush and her vigilance had dropped, she was still an excellent A-rank Valkyrie.
At this moment, inside the Coconut Palace in the Philippines, Shun and Ana were attending a wedding. Because the Coconut Palace was world-renowned as a wedding venue, multiple ceremonies were held here every day.
As tourists, Shun and Ana could naturally offer their blessings to the newlyweds. In fact, quite a few tourists came specifically to watch the ceremonies just for the spectacle.
It wasn't just Chinese people who loved watching drama foreigners did too. Schadenfreude is a universal human trait.
Right now the wedding had reached the moment where the groom and bride exchanged rings, followed by the much-anticipated vow kiss.
"So nice…" Shun couldn't help but clap when he saw this scene. Even without memories, yearning for happiness was a shared human instinct.
"Feeling moved?" Ana tilted her head toward him, asking with great interest.
"How could I? I'm just sighing. If all I did was envy other people's happiness, that would be too pathetic." Shun retorted.
"You don't know much, but you sure talk like you do." Shun's constant tai chi deflections these days always made her feel like she was punching cotton.
Dummkopf, kannst du nicht ehrlich sein? (Idiot, can't you just be honest for once?) Ana said in frustration, hating that iron couldn't become steel.
"Can you say something I can understand?" Shun had long since figured out that Ana liked to bully him by saying things in languages he didn't understand.
He decided: from now on, he had to learn several more languages. Otherwise, when dealing with someone like Ana who spoke eight languages fluently, people could curse him behind his back and he wouldn't even know.
But he had a hunch Ana's behavior was probably just tsundere. "Tsundere" was a word he had only recently recalled.
Just as the thought "Maybe Ana likes me" crossed his mind, he immediately remembered the three great delusions of life.
"Let's go." The wedding was pretty much over. If they didn't leave now, it would get crowded every tourist spot in the world was like this.
"Mm, okay. Heading home now?" Shun had no objections.
"No, let's walk around outside a bit more." Ana gazed at the sea, seeming to have something on her mind.
Ana seems like she wants to tell me something. Shun's intuition had always been sharp. He had a feeling this might not be good news.
Ana walked ahead, Shun followed behind. They left the attraction on foot and arrived at an empty beach.
"Let's stop here. Ana, if you have something to say, just say it." Shun decided to break the heavy atmosphere first.
"You noticed after all. As expected your intuition really is sharp, Shun. I couldn't hide it from you." Ana gave a light laugh.
"It's not that my intuition is sharp you basically had 'I have something on my mind' written all over your face."
"I see… I didn't realize it was that obvious. Then I'll just say it straight." Ana took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to finally speak.
"Tonight, go to Manila Port. I've arranged a ship to Shenzhou for you. From now on, live in Shenzhou." Ana said it all in one breath, visibly relieved.
"Can I ask… why?" Shun didn't react too strongly. He trusted that Ana wouldn't do this without reason.
"I'm sorry it's still my fault. These past few days, we've actually been followed the whole time. Most likely by other members of the Snow Lotus Squad."
This was probably where Angelina and Christina were a bit naive. Although most of Ana's attention had been on Shun, the constant obvious sense of being watched at every attraction was far too blatant.
That was why she had chosen the Coconut Palace as their final destination a place almost guaranteed to have no tail. In a location full of couples, following them would be outright stupid.
"I told you your existence cannot be exposed. But now that it's happened, the only option left is to get you out of Schicksal's sight again."
It was still because of the innate Stigmata. Ana had thought more than once that it would have been better if Shun didn't have one. Then she wouldn't have to worry so much about being with him. But on second thought if he didn't have the innate Stigmata, she probably wouldn't have cared about him this much in the first place.
It really matched an old Shenzhou saying: you can't have both the fish and the bear's paw.
For Shun's safety, she had to send him away. The reason for sending him to Shenzhou was twofold: first, Shun was originally from Shenzhou his identity might still be traceable there. Second, Schicksal only had a cooperative relationship with Shenzhou and very little influence inside its borders making it relatively safer for him.
"I understand… Thank you, Ana. These past two weeks have been really happy for me." Knowing he had no choice but to leave, Shun didn't throw a tantrum. He had only lost his memories not regressed mentally.
Of course he could see that Ana didn't want him to go either. But he couldn't cause her any more trouble. She had already taken considerable risk by sheltering him this long.
As for why he himself was a risk… it was probably that red mark on the back of his neck. He had seen it while showering these past few days.
Although Shun didn't know what it was, he could sense from the mark that he was no ordinary person. Plus, with the bits of internet surfing experience he had accumulated recently, he had a rough understanding of his own situation.
"I should be the one thanking you. These past two weeks, I've made so many wonderful memories too. It's just… I won't be able to go to Tokyo Skytree with you after all. Sorry for breaking our first promise…"
She hadn't done anything wrong, yet Ana acted full of guilt, which made Shun feel uncomfortable watching her.
"I'm going now! Remember go to Manila Port tonight. If you're late, they won't wait. You should have some cash on you, right? You've learned how to take transportation these days. I still need to hold off the captain and the others, so I won't see you off."
"Then… live well."
Ana waved, turned around, and resolutely refused to look back. Shun watched her retreating figure, feeling an emptiness in his chest deeper than when he first lost his memories.
Really… I can't do anything at all…
Yeah. A guy with amnesia who had only survived this long thanks to Ana what could he possibly do?
The best way to repay Ana was to listen to her properly and live well. From the day he lost his memories until now, he had never disobeyed her once.
At that moment, Ana suddenly turned around. It seemed she still couldn't steel herself completely.
With a complicated expression, Ana looked back at Shun. Fortunately, she hadn't walked far she could still see him clearly.
Looking at Shun, Ana slowly spoke the words she most wanted to say right now.
"Ich liebe dich."
After saying it, as if afraid Shun would chase after her, Ana quickly ran away and disappeared in an instant.
Shun stood frozen in place. He really didn't understand German but this sentence, somehow, he unexpectedly understood.
Along with Ana's words and feelings, a flood of both familiar and unfamiliar images poured into Shun's mind.
Shun could only clutch his throbbing head and helplessly watch Ana flee.
"Ana… Schariac… Herrscher of Ice?"
Shun unconsciously murmured softly.