After seeing Sanhua back to her place, Zane returned to his long-unvisited room.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure it out. The whole time he was talking things through with Sanhua today, nothing had gone wrong, so why, when they parted, had she looked at him with that kind of aggrieved, almost tearful gaze?
He hadn't even done anything.
Zane flopped onto the bed in a spread-eagle shape. The Pangu Terminal he'd casually tossed aside hit the floor, and his tightly wound muscles relaxed along with the gentle bounce of the soft mattress.
Countless facts had proven one thing, beds really do eat people.
Rover wasn't in Jinzhou right now, and with the Moon Chasing Festival approaching, Sister Jinhsi and the others would definitely be swamped, too busy to bother with him.
What awaited him next would be an unmatched stretch of leisure…
Beep! Beep!!!!
All of a sudden, a harsh ringing shattered the silence of the night like flint striking hard, scattering sparks.
Zane opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on the Pangu Terminal he had just thrown aside.
The flickering blue light at its base and the constant vibration were both telling him the same thing, you're in trouble.
Just like how, the second before a holiday starts, the boss always sends an overtime notice, Zane only lifted his head slightly to glance at the gourd lying not far away, then, without hesitation, he dropped right back onto the soft bed.
'If I don't receive it, it doesn't count as skipping work.'
Right then, a knock sounded from outside the door.
"Who is it?"
"Hello, may I ask if Mr. Zane is home?"
"Not home. No money. Not dating."
There was a brief pause outside, as if the person had been caught off guard. Then the voice steadied and said calmly, "Lady Changli instructed that you must take this call."
At that, Zane was instantly wide awake. All his life, he'd been the one threatening others, no one had ever threatened him.
"And if I don't..."
"Lady Changli is already driving a jeep on her way here."
Zane didn't hesitate for even a second. He scooped up the Pangu Terminal from the floor and hit the answer button.
"Hello~ my dearest, most beloved Master, what instructions do you have for your disciple?"
He tried to appeal to what little master-disciple affection Changli had, but on the other end, she let out a cold laugh. Then her tone shifted, carrying a hint of seductive playfulness.
"Oh? I thought now that you've got Sanhua, you've forgotten your master. I heard you were hugging and holding that little girl all over today."
"What is it? Reached that age? Do you need me to let Jinhsi and the Rover help you vet things?"
"!"
Zane sprang up from the bed, spun a full 360 degrees in midair, and landed gracefully with both feet, leaving a long skid mark across the mattress.
"Master, just say the word... I'll do anything!"
Seeing how "sensible" he was, Changli gave a couple of cold chuckles. "Nothing much. Since you've finally come home for once, it doesn't sit right with me if I don't give you something to do."
"The Moon Chasing Festival is coming up, right? Tomorrow morning, head to Township and start preparing for the Night Moon Fair."
Alright, alright. College students at least get three good days at home before they're disliked. He'd only just arrived and was already being disliked.
Was he even her real disciple…
Well, actually, he really wasn't.
"But..."
"No 'buts.'" There was a brief pause on the other end, and her tone softened slightly. "Go."
In the study, piled high with documents, Changli set the Pangu Terminal aside and rubbed her brow.
She lowered her head to look at the scroll beneath her brush. A line of writing leapt off the page, striking her heart, "A golden-scaled dragon is no creature of a mere pond."
"Yes… not one to stay in a pond," Changli murmured softly. The lamplight cast a thin veil of shadow across her face, making her expression impossible to read.
Meanwhile, after parting with Zane, Rover and the Doctor also arrived at Township.
The festive atmosphere had already spread throughout the area. In this warm setting, every household had hung up lanterns.
Firelight stretched across the mountains, burning bright and long, turning the vast night into something like dazzling daylight.
The lights had only just come on... though the festival hadn't officially begun, the liveliness was already starting to take shape.
"On the night of the Moon Chasing Festival, the people of Jinzhou also hold a Night Moon Fair. It's basically a local garden festival... there are lots of things to eat and play with at the market."
Listening to the Doctor's explanation, Rover couldn't help but look at the petite girl with fresh admiration.
She wasn't even from Jinzhou, yet she knew its history like the back of her hand. It was honestly a bit terrifying.
And then there was Stelle. Rover still remembered the incredible strength Stelle had shown in the hot spring, strength no less than her own. Just how had Zane managed to meet so many… interesting friends?
"Then what about the wishing you mentioned earlier?"
Before, she had only heard a rough outline from the Doctor.
"Look over there." Following the Doctor's pointing finger, Rover saw a towering ancient tree standing proudly atop the mountain.
Pink peach blossoms filled its branches, and the scattered glow of lantern light shone through the gaps, illuminating the entire mountain.
"In Jinzhou's history, this tree is called the 'Wishing Tree.' According to folklorists' records, if you make a wish beneath it before the Moon Chasing Festival, all kinds of wishes can come true in one way or another."
"Oh?"
Rover raised an eyebrow slightly. So this was the source of Jue's confidence in provoking her?
As the saying goes, speak of Jue and she appears. By the faint starlight, Rover immediately spotted that small figure crouched under the Wishing Tree, hugging her knees.
But at this moment, Jue's face carried a trace of... resolve? And she seemed to be furiously writing something.
Rover gestured for the Doctor to stay quiet, then tiptoed toward Jue.
Meanwhile, Jue was completely absorbed in the paper before her, utterly unaware that death was steadily approaching.
"Hmm… what should I write next? 'My brief life as the Sentinel was glorious and brilliant'? Or…"
Suddenly, a pair of soft hands covered her eyes. Jue's body stiffened instantly, and she nearly threw away the will in her hands.
But she was, after all, a dignified Sentinel... she'd seen plenty. She quickly calmed down, though she had no idea how to begin explaining.
When Jue didn't speak, Rover let out a cold laugh. "Praying?"
"Arbiter, let go of my eyes. It feels like they're about to be gouged out."
"Oh?" Rover drew out the sound, then leaned down close to Jue's ear, gently blowing against the small ear.
"Let me think what you wished for… oh, I remember. 'Have a little Arbiter with Zane'? Do you need to tell me your wish as well?"
Watching this, the Doctor instantly understood why Rover had come here the moment she returned to Jinzhou. At the same time, a deep sense of regret welled up...
'Why didn't I drag Stelle along? She definitely carries popcorn with her.'
But the next second, amid Jue's startled cry, Rover let go.
"Arbiter?"
Looking at Jue's disbelieving expression, Rover almost laughed from irritation at this silly dragon. "What, did you really want me to gouge out your eyes and throw them off Mt. Firmament?"
Jue hurriedly shook her head, then pounced onto Rover, her short legs kicking frantically as she tried to cling to her.
She was trying, in her own way, to win back Rover's affection.
Seeing how frightened she was, Rover could no longer keep a straight face and burst out laughing.
"If you wanted me to come back, you could've just said so. Why go through all this?"
Hearing her words, Jue burst into tears, overwhelmed with gratitude.
'As expected, the Arbiter still loved... '
"Good girl~ go get your wish back. Don't make wishes like that next time."
'…me, right?'