Back at the beach, as his gaze swept across the crowd playing happily, Van quickly noticed Sirin sitting alone in the distance.
She hugged her knees, staring blankly at the waves, but from time to time she would secretly glance at the group of people laughing together.
Seeing this, Van could easily guess what was going on inside the little girl's head.
Without making a fuss, he went to the shop to buy two bottles of Soda, then slowly walked up behind Sirin.
"Sitting here alone watching the sea, doesn't it feel boring?" he said with a smile, handing her the Soda.
Sirin was startled by the sudden voice. When she looked up and saw it was Van, her eyes flickered slightly.
Taking the drink, Sirin said in a small voice, "It's... it's okay."
Van smiled as he sat down beside her, gazing at the distant sea. "How about we go somewhere else? Too many people here, a bit noisy."
Sirin squeezed the bottle, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
As the two of them got up to leave, they happened to be seen by Kiana and Raiden Mei, who had just come back from the water.
"Why is Sirin going with Van? What are they going to do?" Kiana blinked curiously.
Raiden Mei held back the inquisitive Kiana, gently shaking her head. "Give them some space. Sirin's been tense these past two days because of that matter."
Elysia chimed in with a bright smile, "My, my~ looks like our Miss Sirin needs a bit of 'special' comfort~"
Ivana, meanwhile, grinned wickedly as he watched their retreating backs. "Didn't expect the old man to be this smooth, knowing to take someone out alone."
Everyone exchanged knowing smiles and decided to leave the time to the two of them.
Van led Sirin along the shoreline for a while, then turned into a path that led toward the back mountain of the resort.
There were far fewer tourists here, only a few elderly people strolling around. The environment was much quieter.
"I heard there's an observation deck here, with a really nice view. Once we're up there, we can see scenery you normally can't. Will you go have a look with me?"
As he spoke, Van pointed into the distance, then looked back at Sirin.
"Mm..." Sirin nodded lightly, her steps quickening as she followed along.
The observation deck was built halfway up the mountain, a wooden railing enclosing a platform facing the distant horizon.
Sirin leaned against the railing, gazing at the vast coastline, her mood visibly easing.
"Hungry?" Van fished two chocolates out of his pocket. "I grabbed these earlier."
Sirin accepted one, whispering a soft "thank you."
Unwrapping it and taking a bite, the thick sweetness melted in her mouth, and the tension in her shoulders finally loosened a little.
"The scenery here's much better than the beach," Van said casually, leaning against the railing. "Fewer people, quieter, good for spacing out."
Sirin sneaked a glance at him, noticing he hadn't deliberately brought up the past, and she quietly let out a breath of relief.
They chatted idly, from the food at the resort to the seaside weather, then to memories of a small Siberian town.
Sirin gradually spoke more, and every now and then she would let out a soft laugh at one of Van's jokes.
Seeing Sirin slowly relax, Van suddenly stood up and stretched out a hand toward her. "Want to try something else? I heard the resort opened a new escape room."
"Escape room?"
Sirin froze, her mind instinctively recalling the haunted house from before.
Just as she was about to say something, Van continued, "Yeah, want to give it a try? Of course, if you're scared, we can go do something else."
"I'm not scared at all!" Sirin retorted stubbornly. "Who knows, maybe it'll be me who solves the puzzles!"
Van raised an eyebrow. "That confident?"
"Hmph, just wait and see." Sirin proudly raised her delicate neck, puffing up like a little pufferfish.
———
Half an hour later, in the dim escape room, Sirin was fully focused on solving a puzzle.
Suddenly, a mechanism triggered. A humanoid doll dropped from the ceiling, landing right in front of her.
"Uwah!"
Sirin jumped back in fright, reflexively about to use her power, Van quickly grabbed her hand.
Good grief, if Sirin really unleashed her authority here, it would turn into a huge accident.
"Calm down, calm down, it's just a prop." He explained while stifling his laughter.
Sirin snapped back to her senses, her face instantly flushing red. "I... I knew that! It was just... just too sudden..."
"Right, right..." Van chuckled, unable to hold it in. "So, do we keep going?"
"Hmph!" Sirin turned away, puffing her cheeks, retorting, "Of course! This isn't scary at all!"
After leaving the escape room, Sirin was still sulking about her earlier outburst. Van handed her an ice cream at just the right time. "Here, have one to cool off."
Sirin took the ice cream, blushing as she muttered, "Let me repeat, I wasn't scared back there..."
Van laughed and agreed. "Of course, our Sirin has the biggest courage~"
Hearing that, Sirin's face instantly softened.
But the next second...
"So, should we go for something scarier next? How about the haunted house?"
Sirin's eyes widened at once. "You... you did that on purpose!"
Van finally burst out laughing. "Just kidding. How about the Ferris wheel instead?"
Hearing that, Sirin's body stiffened slightly.
The Ferris wheel reminded her of that star-filled night in the illusion, and also of the mistakes she had made.
Guilt and longing intertwined in her heart, making her voice tremble slightly. "I..."
"What is it?" Van noticed her change and softened his voice. "If you don't want to..."
"No, it's not that..." Sirin quickly shook her head, her eyes showing a hint of struggle, but also faint anticipation. "I... I want to, together..."
Van quietly watched her for a moment, as if seeing through the complicated feelings in her heart.
He didn't say anything, just smiled and reached out his hand. "Then let's go."
Sirin hesitated for a moment, but still placed her hand in his.
The instant their fingertips touched, that familiar warmth from the illusion returned, making her instinctively squeeze tighter.
The Ferris wheel slowly rose, and Sirin quietly gazed at the shrinking scenery outside the window.
Although the view before her was not much different from the illusion, at this moment she felt a kind of steadiness that came from within.
Seeing this, Van teased, "This is better than the escape room, right?"
Hearing that, Sirin turned her head and glared at him, but her eyes were full of laughter. "You're not allowed to bring that up again!"
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