Chapter 68 Interlaced Fingers, Gazing Into Each Other’s Eyes

The group arrived at the most famous spot in the scenic area. The ancient city wall, steeped in history, loomed above them in deep, muted shades of crimson and brown, with countless lanterns suspended overhead, bathing everything in an air of timelessness.

Little Ning Zhang eagerly raised her hand, volunteering to take a picture for Qiao Zhen and Qin Yichi, insisting that since they were both dressed in matching colors, they absolutely had to take one together today.

Qiao Zhen, who was desperately wishing for a crack in the ground to disappear into, found her attention quickly diverted and hurried to stand beneath the city wall.

Qin Yichi followed at a leisurely pace, trailing behind her like an obedient little shadow.

Suddenly, Ning Zhang planted her hands on her hips, issuing a childish but assertive command: "You have to hold hands! Hurry up!"

After all, couples are supposed to hold hands!

And since Sister Zhenzhen had given her so many snacks and little toys, she was determined to play matchmaker and do her part!

Qiao Zhen, about to strike a peace sign for the photo: "?"

Hold hands?

Ning Zhang even winked at her, as if to say, "You know what I mean, I’m helping you out here."

Qiao Zhen: No, I don’t know, and I really don’t want to understand...

Just then, she felt a gentle warmth at her side, like an electric current shooting through her limbs.

It was Qin Yichi’s hand, lightly brushing against hers.

!!!

Qiao Zhen froze, tense and awkward, but didn’t pull her hand away. She stood there, nerves taut, caught between hesitation and a strange, fluttering anticipation.

Sensing that she didn’t avoid or resist, Qin Yichi threaded his fingers through hers, gently holding her hand, a subtle smile tugging at his lips.

There they stood, fingers intertwined.

Thump-thump, thump-thump—

Tentative, cautious, expectant, and nervous...

Qiao Zhen’s breath caught, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest as she shyly squeezed his hand in return.

Feeling her response, Qin Yichi’s grip tightened, his fingertips pressed firmly against hers.

It was as if they were sharing secret words, speaking only through their joined hands.

Though surrounded by people, only the two of them knew this silent conversation.

Ning Zhang, clutching her phone, snapped photos of them from every angle.

Suddenly, Qin Yichi turned his head slightly, his breath warm as he murmured, “Qiao Zhen.”

“Hmm?” At the sound of her name, Qiao Zhen instinctively turned and looked up at him.

At the exact moment the camera shutter clicked, their eyes met.

Qin Yichi gave a lazy, lopsided smile. "Nothing," he replied.

Just then, Ning Zhang waved them over. "All done!"

She lifted her chin with pride, showing off to the group of boys behind her, “Well, what do you think, aren’t I amazing?”

The boys all nodded and gave her enthusiastic thumbs-up.

What a perfect assist!

On the phone screen, the lanterns cast a soft golden glow, and a young man and woman stood before the ancient wall dressed in matching red hanfu, gazes locked, fingers entwined—a scene that could have been plucked from an old romantic painting.

It was as if everything was filtered through a dreamy shade of pink.

One of the boys teased, “Well, no wonder I feel so stuffed—it’s all this lovey-dovey sweetness in the air...”

They weren’t even officially together yet, and already it was this sweet. If they did get together, wouldn’t they be inseparable?

Another boy chimed in, “I bet Qiao and Brother Chi will definitely be a couple by the end of the year! If not, I’ll make a scene at the school gate!”

Everyone roared with laughter, and soon after, they found a friendly passerby to take a big group photo for them.

As the birthday boy, Niu Yifeng naturally took center stage, and with his golden dragon robe, his presence was impossible to ignore.

No sooner had they finished than one of the boys posted the pictures to his social feed, even adding a dramatic location tag with the caption:

“Airdropped into Luocheng! [grin]”

“A beautiful journey begins~ [yay]”

At the market, the group split up to explore, agreeing to meet again later.

Qiao Zhen and Qin Yichi wandered together, and when they came across a ring-toss booth, Qiao Zhen was instantly captivated, unable to take another step.

Especially since the man currently playing was winning prize after prize with impressive skill.

The booth owner looked as if he might grind his teeth to dust.

Watching others succeed only made Qiao Zhen more eager. But what truly caught her eye was a folding fan displayed at the very back.

“Qin Yichi, I want to play this!” she declared.

“Okay.” Qin Yichi, ever the faithful shadow, followed at her heels.

Without hesitation, Qiao Zhen paid for ten rings.

But standing at the starting line, she realized with a sinking heart just how far away that folding fan was.

She wanted nothing else, only that fan.

At that moment, Niu Yifeng and two other boys happened to pass by, stopping to cheer her on.

Qiao Zhen took a deep breath and tossed the rings toward the fan, but as expected, the first few attempts ended in dismal failure.

By the seventh ring, she missed by the tiniest margin—

Her heart nearly broke.

The booth owner, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear, eyes twinkling with delight. He loved customers like her: not very skilled, but full of enthusiasm, and unlikely to actually win.

With a sigh of resignation, Qiao Zhen tossed another ring without much thought.

To everyone’s shock, the silver ring landed squarely around the booth owner’s neck!

Qiao Zhen stared in disbelief, eyes wide.

The owner’s smile froze in place.

Niu Yifeng shouted with excitement, grabbing a friend’s shirt. "Whoa! Qiao is incredible—she got the hidden prize!"

The owner’s face soured as he pulled the ring off his neck.

Qiao Zhen: ...There’s really no need for that much praise.

As she prepared to try again, Qin Yichi stepped to her side, bending slightly, “You want the fan? Let me help you.”

Qiao Zhen’s fingers curled instinctively as she shook her head gently, her voice sweet and clear, “I want to do it myself.”

If she couldn’t win it, then maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. At worst, she could buy one with a little extra money.

Determined, she tossed another ring—but missed once more.

Niu Yifeng rubbed his forehead with a sigh, urging her to aim for an easier prize—a ceramic cup, a sachet, anything—so she wouldn’t leave empty-handed.

But Qiao Zhen pressed her lips together and kept aiming for the distant folding fan.

Before she even realized what had happened, someone shouted, “Amazing!”

A golden ring flew perfectly onto the fan!

The owner’s mood flipped again, and with a beaming smile, he handed the fan to her. “Congratulations, young lady! That’s the hardest prize to win!”

Qiao Zhen could hardly believe it, a shooting star flashing in her eyes as she cradled the fan, her smile radiant and dazzling.

Maybe... she really was carrying a bit of luck with her.

Qin Yichi walked by her side, his gaze drifting to her red lips, brow raised, voice low, “Do you really like it that much?”

A folding fan, treated like a treasure.

Qiao Zhen nodded, “Yes, it caught my eye at first glance. It’s kind of magical.”

Today, she wore light makeup, a flower-shaped adornment gracing her forehead that made her look even more lively and beautiful, like a pearl newly freed of dust, shining with its original brilliance.

She looked nothing like her usual sweet and gentle self. Now she was dazzling, like the most breathtaking crimson cloud on the horizon.

Qin Yichi found himself staring, lost in thought, when suddenly the fan was pressed into his arms.

He was caught off guard, and then saw Qiao Zhen’s ears flush red. In the faint breeze, her sweet, melodious voice drifted to him:

“It’s for you!”

With that, Qiao Zhen pretended to look around nonchalantly, deliberately putting distance between them to hide her flustered expression.

The fan was painted with an ancient city and a golden poem in elegant calligraphy. Deep ink, pale outlines—pure classic beauty.

On the back, four bold characters: “Unrestrained and Free.”

Qin Yichi stood there in a daze, gazing at Qiao Zhen’s silhouette glowing like a sunset, his heart pounding wildly...