Chapter 189: The Lantern Festival
"Woah... it is so beautiful..."
Wang Gege’s eyes brightened as she looked at the countless lanterns illuminating the streets. Their warm light stretched as far as her eyes could see, hanging above the busy crowd and swaying gently whenever the evening breeze passed through.
She slowly turned around, her gaze wandering everywhere with undisguised fascination.
"I never had a chance to experience something like this before..." she said with a smile as she turned to look at Xie Rong.
However, the smile on her face and the happiness in her voice made something tighten inside Xie Rong’s chest.
He knew what she meant.
Before coming to this world, Wang Gege had spent most of her life working.
She had chosen to drown herself in work, using it to ignore and forget everything else in her life.
Even after he transferred to her company, all he ever saw was her sitting at her desk, either typing, reading documents, or discussing work with someone.
It was as though work had become her entire world.
Back then, he had thought she simply loved being busy.
But now, he understood that perhaps she had merely needed something to keep herself from thinking too much.
And looking at the way her eyes now sparkled beneath the lantern light, Xie Rong suddenly realised just how little she had allowed herself to enjoy.
His gaze remained on her for a moment before his hand slowly reached for hers.
Wang Gege looked down when their fingers intertwined. "What?"
Xie Rong gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Then this husband will bring Furen to every festival from now on."
Wang Gege blinked.
Xie Rong turned his gaze toward the lantern-filled streets around them before looking back at her.
"The lantern festival, the flower festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival..." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Whichever festival Furen wishes to see, this husband will bring you there."
Wang Gege stared at him quietly. "Even if I want to go to all of them?"
"Then we will go to all of them." Xie Rong bobbed his head.
Her lips slowly curved upward. "What if I get bored halfway through?"
"Then this husband will take Furen somewhere else."
Wang Gege narrowed her eyes slightly. "You are making a lot of promises tonight."
Xie Rong’s expression softened. "Then this husband will spend the rest of my life keeping them."
For a moment, Wang Gege did not say anything.
Then she tightened her fingers around his hand and began walking again, pulling him along with her. "Good."
Xie Rong blinked. "Good?"
Wang Gege glanced back at him, the smile in her eyes impossible to hide.
"Because I am the petty type, and I fully intend to collect on every single promise."
Xie Rong smile widened and nodded, "Do it..."
Hand in hand, they continued walking through the festival.
Wang Gege’s attention kept shifting from one stall to another, while Xie Rong quietly followed beside her, allowing her to pull him wherever she wished to go.
"Husband, look—"
"Furen, this husband can’t see."
Wang Gege slowly turned her head and pressed her lips tightly together, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Right... Husband can’t see..."
Xie Rong could hear the obvious amusement in her voice.
"Adorable..."
"Oh..." Wang Gege rose slightly on her tiptoes. "Husband suddenly can see now?"
"This husband can see through my heart."
Wang Gege stared at him.
"Ahhh... I seriously didn’t know you were capable of being this cheesy..."
Xie Rong’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Furen is only discovering this now?"
"Ah... stop it..." Wang Gege rushed forward as she tried to hide her smile.
Xie Rong followed behind her, but as a sudden crowd approached from the opposite direction, he quickened his steps and pulled her back to his side.
"Stay by this husband’s side, Furen..."
But the moment he finished whispering into Wang Gege’s ear, something sharp suddenly flew toward them.
His expression changed instantly.
Xie Rong swiftly pulled Wang Gege behind his back while raising his hand.
Ting!
A thin needle was knocked away, embedding itself into one of the wooden pillars beside them.
Wang Gege’s eyes widened.
"What was—"
"Stay behind me."
The warmth in Xie Rong’s voice had completely disappeared.
Before Wang Gege could react, another figure suddenly rushed out from within the approaching crowd.
The man moved quickly, his hand already reaching beneath his sleeve.
Xie Rong did not wait for him to draw another weapon.
He stepped forward and caught the man’s wrist, twisting it sharply before the attacker could react.
The man grunted and immediately swung his other hand toward Xie Rong.
Xie Rong tilted his head to avoid the attack before driving his elbow into the man’s chest.
Yet the attacker was faster than expected.
He twisted free and staggered backward, only to immediately lunge forward again.
Wang Gege’s heart jumped into her throat as the two exchanged several blows in the middle of the crowd, while the surrounding people finally began noticing that something was wrong.
This time, however, Xie Rong no longer allowed him the opportunity to escape.
The moment the attacker raised his hand again, Xie Rong caught his wrist and twisted it behind his back before driving his knee into the man’s leg.
The attacker lost his balance.
Xie Rong immediately forced him down onto the ground. "Who sent you?"
The man remained silent.
Xie Rong tightened his grip around his arm. "This one is asking you a question."
Still, the man said nothing.
Wang Gege watched nervously from behind him, but before Xie Rong could question him again, the man’s expression suddenly changed.
His lips curved upward.
Xie Rong immediately noticed it. "Stop him—"
But it was already too late. The attacker bit down hard on something hidden inside his mouth.
A strange, bitter scent filled the air.
The man’s body immediately stiffened.
Xie Rong released him and stepped back, but within moments, dark blood began flowing from the corner of the man’s lips.
Wang Gege’s eyes widened.
"He... he poisoned himself..."