When Van came back carrying five cups of milk tea, the scene had already turned strange.
The four girls were gathered in front of the boxing machine, and the air was filled with an invisible gunpowder-like tension.
Seeing this, Van instinctively took a sip of milk tea, wondering, "Since when did they get so serious about winning or losing in a game?"
"656 points!" Ivana blinked as she removed the gloves from her hands. "Next is your turn, who wants to go first?"
"I'll go, I'll go!"
Kiana snatched the gloves from Ivana's hands and eagerly put them on.
Then, a moment of charging power.
Bang!
The score on the screen spun wildly before finally stopping at 913 points.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Accompanied by the harsh sound of the music, Kiana unsurprisingly ranked number one on the high score board.
The girl's cheers instantly attracted many passersby to come watch. With Kiana's youthful and beautiful appearance, it made even more people feel like striking up a conversation.
However, when they saw the terrifying score on the boxing machine, that little 'wicked thought' in their hearts was instantly crushed.
913 points... that kind of powerhouse is seriously terrifying. Not someone you want to mess with.
Meanwhile, Van pushed through the crowd, handed milk tea to Ivana, then brought another cup to Kiana's side.
Then, under the envious and jealous gazes of the passersby, Kiana first gave Van a hug as thanks.
Then she smiled and took the milk tea, sipping happily.
Watching the two of them chatting and laughing, the nearby crowd started eating lemons metaphorically, filled with envy.
On the other side, after Kiana finished, Raiden Mei took the gloves from her.
Before she began, Raiden Mei instinctively glanced at the two chatting and laughing people beside her.
After that, Raiden Mei's eyes sharpened, and she silently put on the gloves.
Charging power. Swing. Strike.
Bang!
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The familiar record-breaking sound played, and Raiden Mei's final score stayed at 957 points.
After finishing the game, Raiden Mei calmly removed the gloves and slowly walked in the direction where Van was standing.
This scene instantly excited the surrounding onlookers.
After all, compared to harmony, drama is what they preferred to watch.
Who told that brat to be surrounded by so many beautiful girls? Now he's finally in trouble! Serves him right!!!
However, just when the passersby were expecting a thrilling love triangle showdown, what happened next was completely out of their expectations.
The purple-haired girl they pinned their hopes on not only didn't quarrel with the previous two, but instead joined them and happily drank milk tea.
Seeing this, the crowd felt like a suffocating breath was stuck in their chests, faces flushed red.
'Damn it, can't even breathe!'
'If I committed a crime, let the law punish me. But don't make me sit here in this stupid arcade eating this damned dog food!'
'Damn it all! And it's double dog food!!!'
Just as the passersby were discussing going to wait at the hotel entrance tonight to ambush that lucky guy, another loud bang came from the boxing machine.
Bang!
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The ear-piercing record-breaking sound played again, but it failed to stir any emotion in the crowd.
Because compared to breaking game records, what they cared about more was the trio laughing not far away...
However, in the next second, when the trio of laughter expanded to a group of four, the passersby finally mentally broke down.
And just as they were about to rush over, a loud alarm suddenly rang out from nearby.
They turned their heads to look, on the boxing machine that had been repeatedly struck, a red Error message had appeared on the screen, and the machine body began to emit black smoke.
Upon seeing this, those who were burning with anger and ready to cause trouble instantly calmed down.
'Damn... the boxing machine was destroyed with one punch? Then crushing my frail little body would be effortless?'
Thinking of this, the passersby shuddered instinctively.
Immediately after, their emotions became as peaceful and void of desires as if they had entered the time-stop world of Zeno.
'Forget it, forget it, we're just out to have fun during the holidays. No need to wear swimsuits for this.'
'So... let's just let them off this time.'
Thinking this, the crowd held back their envious tears and walked out of the arcade without looking back.
As the distance from the arcade grew farther, a few of the just-departed onlookers couldn't help but burst into tears with a loud "Waaa!"
Thinking back on the scene just now, and reflecting on their own thirty-plus years of 'great magician' life, pain instantly surged in their hearts.
Just then, a concerned voice came from above their heads.
"Hello, did something happen to you? Is there anything I can help with?"
The onlookers raised their heads at the sound, and what came into view was a blond man wearing sunglasses, looking at them with a face full of concern.
Seeing this, they quickly wiped away their tears and waved their hands.
"N-no… I'm fine…"
"Are you really okay?" The blond man handed over a few tissues and asked curiously.
One of the onlookers took the tissue, slowly opened his mouth and said, "It's nothing really, just feeling a bit emotional… emotional that there are things in life other than love worth chasing after."
The blond man was momentarily stunned, then nodded and turned to leave.
The passerby looked down at the tissue in his hand and sighed to his companion beside him, "There are still good people in this world..."
But before he could finish speaking, he was tugged on by the person next to him.
Looking up again, the blond man from before had already strode over to two girls.
The white-haired one was pointing toward a distant ice cream shop while on tiptoe, and the pink-haired one was smiling while holding her arm.
The blond man naturally took the white-haired girl's bag, then casually stood between the two girls.
Seeing this, the passerby once again looked down at the tissue in his hand and suddenly felt even worse.
On the other side, when they walked out of the arcade, the sun was already beginning to set.
The sunset slowly sank into the sea horizon, dyeing the water a warm orange-red.
On the beach, Van and the others were slowly walking back along the shoreline.
At the front, Kiana was holding a golden Homu plushie and would occasionally look back and smile.
Raiden Mei was walking on the other side, brushing her hair that had been tousled by the sea breeze.
Fu Hua trailed half a step behind. Her glasses reflected the evening glow, and her expression was unreadable.
"Old hag, look!"
Ivana suddenly popped out from behind and shoved her phone in Fu Hua's face. "I just looked this up, online guide says the best time for couples' hot spring is between 8 and 9 PM. And since you won the game, tonight it's your turn to..."
Fu Hua quickly covered her mouth, ears flushed red, and glanced at Van.
Seeing that Van was the same as always, Fu Hua subconsciously let out a breath of relief.
But what Fu Hua didn't know was that, at the moment Ivana said those words, Van's footsteps clearly faltered for a beat.
Everyone walked back to the hotel under the afterglow of the sunset.
Just as they stepped into the lobby, a familiar voice floated into Van's ear.
"That's right, we booked two adjacent sea-view rooms..."
Van turned his head toward the sound and saw a blond man wearing sunglasses standing at the hotel front desk.
Behind him, a white-haired girl was curiously looking at the price list, turning to speak to the pink-haired girl beside her.
At that moment, the blond man seemed to sense something and turned his head.
Reflected in his sunglasses was the image of Van. Their gazes met briefly in the air before both looked away, pretending nothing happened.
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