Shifan fell silent.

Xiang-LEE said, "We saw the wish you made at Moontree Lodge, but that wasn't your true desire."

"Continuing your research on Echoes with the only companion who truly understands you—that is your real wish, isn't it?"

After a moment of silence, Shifan sighed. "Heh… I never expected my wish to actually be heard."

With his identity as "Xiaosheng" exposed, Shifan no longer hid the truth. He spoke of his past experiments and his recognition of his friend Jiuli's talents.

Shifan believed it was his own negligence that barred Jiuli from ever stepping through the door of "becoming a top-tier researcher."

After that, Shifan was filled with regret. Everything he had poured into his work, even at the cost of his friend's future, had ultimately amounted to nothing.

He had hurt his friend, abandoned his career, and spent his days listlessly working at a job he had no interest in.

Yet, deep down, he couldn't let go of his research on Echoes—though he felt he no longer deserved to study such things…

Just as Xiang-LEE was about to speak—"This obsession of yours—"

He was immediately cut off.

"Enough of this nonsense!"

Jiuli's voice rang out. Before anyone could react, he punched Shifan square in the face.

Lucian, who had somehow produced a bag of sunflower seeds and a recliner out of nowhere, lounged calmly to the side, munching away. "Jiuli uses 'Friendship-Shattering Fist' on Shifan! It's super effective!"

Rover: "?"

Rover said flatly, "Did you see this coming?"

Lucian chuckled. "It's just a classic case of miscommunication between good friends leading to misunderstandings."

He watched the two of them interact. "Alright, let's get going."

Xiang-LEE added, "This also confirms that Xiaosheng's wish wasn't the source of the anomalous data."

The group returned to Taoyuan Vale, only to find that Xiangli Yao still hadn't come back—it seemed he was still helping fulfill other wishes.

Abby, meanwhile, began throwing a tantrum. "I want to eat Plumpcake! I want to eat Plumpcake!"

Lucian sighed. "Such a child…"

"Fine, I'll take Abby to Plumpcake Bakery to check it out."

Rover gave a slight nod. "We'll contact you once Xiangli Yao returns."

Abby threw his hands up excitedly. "Yay!"

Perched atop Lucian's head, Abby made his way down the mountain.

By now, the Moon-Chasing Festival was in full swing. Most of the small vendors had opened for business, and the faces of visitors were alight with joy.

Lucian brought Abby to Plumpcake Bakery, where he learned that everyone had come here to buy Plumpcake.

As they approached, he noticed Sanhua was also there.

Lucian grinned, hooking a finger under Sanhua's chin. "Here for the Moonlit Fair too?"

Sanhua, recalling the kiss they had shared on Taoyuan Vale's mountaintop away from prying eyes, flushed slightly. She cleared her throat. "I'm here on official business today, Lucian. Magistrate Jinhsi asked me to deliver a letter to you."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "A letter?"

He found it odd—why go through the trouble of a physical letter when they could just use their terminals?

Taking the letter from Sanhua, he opened it and found nothing particularly urgent inside.

It simply explained that City Hall had been swamped with work lately, and Sanhua had been handling most of it. Magistrate Jinhsi, worried she was overworking herself, had written to suggest that Lucian take Sanhua out to enjoy the Moonlit Fair.

Lucian smirked in understanding. Sanhua quickly asked, "Finished reading? Any reply for me to take back to City Hall?"

Lucian chuckled. "Just tell them Lucian agrees to marry Sanhua."

Sanhua: "?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "M-marry me? What… what do you mean…?"

Lucian straightened up and recited the letter's contents with mock solemnity: "By the decree of the Magistrate: The personal guard Sanhua is hereby betrothed to the intelligence officer Lucian. So it is decreed—"

Sanhua snatched the letter back in a fluster and scanned its contents. "Liar…"

Lucian pinched her soft, snow-white cheek affectionately. "How cute."

The tender moment was abruptly cut short by Abby. "I want to eat Plumpcake! I want to eat Plumpcake!"

Lucian laughed. "I noticed you were eyeing the Plumpcake earlier. Want some?"

Sanhua pressed her lips together. "I wanted to learn how to make them…"

Lucian nodded. "Sure, why not? Let's give it a try."

Sanhua gave a small "Mmn." "I've already watched for a while and have a rough idea of the process."

"Plus, I have some new ideas. Would you accompany me to gather the ingredients?"

Lucian grinned. "Anywhere you want to go, I'll go with you."

Sanhua's cheeks tinged pink. "There's a special type of lotus seed called 'Twin Lotus Seeds.' They usually grow deep in Whining Aix's Mire, in the dangerous lakes where Tacet Discords are active."

"I read about them in the Grand Library. They have a unique, delicate fragrance."

"Using them instead of ordinary lotus seeds could elevate the flavor of the Plumpcake."

Lucian nodded. "Then let's set off."

He tossed Abby into the Tacet Mark. "Wait for this master chef to personally make you a Plumpcake."

Abby grumbled, "I hope it's not some abomination…"

Using a Data Bank beacon, Lucian and Sanhua arrived near Whining Aix's Mire, though they still had some distance to cover to reach the recorded location of the Twin Lotus Pods.

Lucian wrapped his arms around Sanhua's slender waist from behind. She tensed immediately, squirming uneasily in his embrace. "Wh-what are you doing?"

Lucian laughed. "Just getting us there faster."

He placed a yellow bamboo-copter on his head. With a thought, the propeller began to spin, lifting them into the sky.

Watching the ground shrink beneath them, Sanhua gulped. "It's so high…"

Lucian smirked, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "The Magistrate's personal guard is afraid of heights?"

Sanhua shook her head slightly, her cool fingers tightening around Lucian's hands where they rested on her waist.

"Lucian… you'd better hold me tight…"

Lucian's voice softened. "Don't worry. I'd never let go of you."

With that, he gently took her slightly reddened earlobe between his lips.

Sanhua gazed at the breathtaking scenery of Jinzhou's lands below, slowly spreading her arms to embrace a freedom she rarely experienced.

Strands of her silvery-white hair blew into Lucian's mouth, and her delicate scent filled his nose.

Lucian watched her beautiful face, the faint smile tugging at her lips, and grinned in satisfaction.

"So beautiful."

His words were nearly lost to the wind, but Sanhua's sharp ears caught them.

Her breathing hitched slightly, as if the breeze brushing her cheeks had become Lucian's warm, intimate whispers…