CHAPTER 217: 196: ALL THE RABBITS HERE BELONG TO ZHIZHI.

On the second floor of Galaxy Mall, there was a large arcade with dreamy decor, as if stepping into a futuristic realm.

It was a day off, and logically there should have been plenty of visitors, but a certain man, annoyed by the constant stares, had already cleared the venue early.

Aside from a few baskets of game tokens at the counter, not even the shadow of staff could be seen.

"Brother Fan, a little to the left!"

"No, no, to the right."

Beside a row of claw machines, Jin Yunzhi was holding a whole basket of tokens, intently eyeing the cute little plushies behind the clear glass.

He pointed at one particular teddy bear, continuously directing Xu Fan to maneuver the joystick left and right, operating the metal claw to grab the bear.

Yu Zhi was holding onto a man’s hand, walking quickly toward them. When she saw Xu Fan effortlessly grab the teddy bear on his first try, she looked eager to give it a shot herself.

She scooped a handful of tokens from the basket, inserted one into a claw machine next to them, and attempted to hook a long-eared rabbit from the display case.

The young woman’s expression was focused, her long lashes fluttering against her lower eyelids like butterfly wings. Her softly pressed lips bore a hint of a delicate sheen.

As she leaned forward, her swan-like neck showcased smooth and elegant lines, and faintly visible through her neckline was a glimpse of jade-like clavicle.

The man couldn’t help but extend a finger, tenderly brushing it against her neck. With each pause, it was as if the tip of a feather was teasing her skin, leaving a tingling sensation.

"Shi Wei, stop it." Yu Zhi patted his hand lightly.

She was at a critical moment. Watching the claw successfully grasp the rabbit and slowly move toward the side, she held her breath unconsciously.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The rabbit slipped out from the wobbling claw.

Yu Zhi frowned slightly, dissatisfied, and turned her head to look at Shi Wei: "This machine is rigged."

It had inexplicably slipped right out of the claw. There had to be some tampering by the staff, otherwise, she would have had it for sure.

Shi Wei quickly suppressed the upwards curl of his lips, nodding solemly in agreement. He ruffled her hair lightly: "Shall we try another machine?"

"Okay." Yu Zhi held onto his hand, walking a few more steps ahead.

This time, she went for another long-eared rabbit, readying herself for the challenge. Brimming with confidence, she inserted a token and moved the joystick.

But again, disappointment awaited her.

Unwilling to give up, she fed the machine token after token. By the time she had used up the handful of tokens, she still hadn’t managed to win a single plush toy.

Watching her beloved girl sulk with a downcast face, Shi Wei bent down to kiss her lips gently, coaxing her softly: "Let me do it for you, okay?"

"Mm, I want the rabbit." Yu Zhi clung to the edge of his shirt and leaned against his chest, fixating her gaze on the grinning little rabbit in the machine.

"Alright, all the rabbits here are Zhizhi’s." The man let out a soft chuckle, and when he smiled, it was as if every bit of light had gathered on his face.

That radiant face, more dazzling than snow, bore the brilliance of spring melting into autumn, as if every corner of a ten-mile radius brimmed with flourishing blossoms.

He wrapped his arm around the young lady’s waist, his other hand gripping the joystick. His slender, well-defined fingers intertwined with the machine’s dark elements, creating an inexplicably captivating sight.

Shi Wei had played this game with Shi Yin in their childhood. He had already mastered the so-called "technique," and even after all these years, he had not lost his touch.

In just a blink, Yu Zhi found a fuzzy rabbit in her arms. She stood in stunned awe, feeling the soft plush in her grasp as her almond-shaped eyes shimmered.

"Shi Wei, you’re amazing."

The man had snagged it on his first try. Indeed... it must just be her lack of talent.

The girl’s gaze filled with admiration, which deeply satisfied Shi Wei. He tapped his left cheek, his thin, light pink lips parting slightly: "Zhizhi, shouldn’t I get a reward?"

Yu Zhi’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a feather-light kiss where he indicated, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water.

Warmth surged from the gentle touch, accompanied by the scent of peach, which wafted to him and lingered in his heart.

Satisfied, Shi Wei curled his lips into a smile and pulled her along to seek out more rabbits in other glass cabinets, determined to collect a set of every color for her.

After successfully grabbing three more rabbits, Jin Yunzhi ran over to them, arms full of his own stuffed animal prizes.

"Sister, I’ve got lots of bears here. Do you want one?" The boy tilted his head slightly, gesturing with his gaze at the plushies in his arms for her to choose from.

Yu Zhi shook her head. "No, thanks. I’ve got plenty already."

"Huh? But you guys only grabbed rabbits, right?" Jin Yunzhi raised an eyebrow in surprise, scanning their hands carefully with curious eyes.

Aside from the rabbits, there wasn’t even a shadow of any bears.

"I’ve caught them before." Yu Zhi skimmed her gaze over his collection, a smile playing at her lips, "More than you could ever gather."

Catching on to something, Shi Wei casually toyed with the tiny hand in his palm, tracing her fingertips: "Zhizhi, you caught them yourself?"

Yu Zhi hesitated: "..."

Probably, maybe, somewhat...

She replied with a straight face, "Most of them were caught by me."

"What about the rest?"

"The rest... were caught by Ah-Che."

The motion of Shi Wei’s fingers paused, a shadow fleeting across the depths of his dark eyes, holding a hint of obscurity.

Suppressing the jealousy churning inside, his deep voice carried an undercurrent of irritation: "You call him Ah-Che?"

"Yeah, why?" Yu Zhi tilted her head up, gazing into the peach blossom eyes of his, only to feel an odd pang of panic upon catching that flash of fleeting emotion.

Though she had no idea why she was panicking in the first place.

"Nothing." Shi Wei pulled his lips into a forced smile, repeatedly reminding himself that they were just friends and there was no need to be upset.

But the more he reminded himself, the more dissatisfied he felt.

"Ah-Che?" Jin Yunzhi found the name far too familiar. He thought for a moment, then suddenly understood: "Isn’t that the kid from last time?"

"Kid?"

Two voices spoke in unison, as Shi Wei and Xu Fan simultaneously turned their attention to the boy.

The former frowned, displeased with the term. A sister paired with a "kid brother"—anyone unaware might think they were a couple.

The latter, on the other hand, worried if the boy had stumbled upon someone he had feelings for... Otherwise, why such intimacy?

"Yeah." Jin Yunzhi adjusted the stuffed animals slipping from his arms, his grape-like eyes rippling with mischief: "That kid’s really nice. He even got me a gift last time."

"What did he get you?" Xu Fan’s brow furrowed, and an unfamiliar sense of crisis suddenly surfaced. His face tensed as if preparing for a dire confrontation.

"He got me that Bearbrick I’d been eyeing."

As soon as Jin Yunzhi mentioned it, Xu Fan’s mind instantly recalled the appearance of that bear. Originally... he had planned to gift it himself in a few days.

But unexpectedly, someone else had beaten him to it.

Noticing Xu Fan’s face turn increasingly grim, Shi Wei discreetly shook his head, leaning lazily against the glass window. "What’s a Bearbrick?"