A Bet and a Lucky Draw

Shen Xian crouched before the claw machine, her eyes still brimming with fake tears, a pile of plushies clutched in her arms.

The most striking among them was a raven doll adorned with a snowflake.

Zhuang Xun, with two overflowing baskets of plushies at her feet, had no choice but to crouch down beside her. Her voice softened perceptibly. “It’s all thanks to you, Senior, that I managed to catch these.”

Zhuang Xun offered a tissue to Shen Xian, who took it and dabbed at the few tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. “It was clearly your own good luck. What did it have to do with me?”

“Because you bought so many clothes for me, Senior. You must have transferred your good fortune to me. That’s why my luck has been so incredible.”

As Zhuang Xun spoke, she casually picked a sloth plushie from one of the baskets. “And all these plushies are so adorable, so perfect for you, Senior. Don’t you like them?”

“I do like them…” Shen Xian started to say, then quickly corrected herself. “Little Zhuang Xun, you’re clearly changing the subject!”

Zhuang Xun didn’t deny it. Instead, she pressed on, “Then don’t you want these lovely plushies, Senior?”

Shen Xian blinked, her gaze falling upon the two baskets overflowing around them. “Even if I did, isn’t this a bit too many?”

“I just saw that they allow you to exchange several small plushies for one large one here. Would you like to, Senior?”

She imagined how adorable her senior would look holding one particular giant plushie.

“Most of them were caught by you. Why are you asking me?”

“Because I want to give them to you, Senior.” Zhuang Xun’s hand inadvertently brushed against the sloth plushie again. “It’s not because you took me shopping for clothes; it’s simply because I want to give them to you.”

“Hmm… Even if you put it that way…” Shen Xian’s eyes lit up. “Alright then! A bet is a bet, and I’ll honor it. I’ll grant you one request. No matter when, I’ll agree to it.”

Zhuang Xun immediately replied, “It’s fine, Senior.”

“No, I said a bet is a bet! Besides that… let’s go see how many plushies we need to exchange.” Shen Xian placed all the plushies she was holding into her own basket, then stood up and extended a hand to her junior.

Cradling the sloth plushie in her arms, Zhuang Xun slowly reached out. Shen Xian pulled Zhuang Xun up with a swift motion. Due to the sudden momentum, Zhuang Xun was about to crash into her when Shen Xian caught her in a tight embrace, holding her close with the sloth plushie sandwiched between them.

“I thought you were going to fall, Little Zhuang Xun,” Shen Xian’s teasing voice entered Zhuang Xun’s ears.

Zhuang Xun abruptly took a step back. “I…” Her words of protest circled in her mind, ultimately transforming into, “Thank you, Senior. Let’s go quickly.”

Without looking at Shen Xian’s expression, she picked up both baskets of plushies and headed toward the exchange counter.

“Thirty-five plushies. We even have five extra. Do you have any favorites, Senior?” Zhuang Xun helped the staff transfer the plushies from their baskets into a larger one for counting.

Shen Xian’s gaze fell on a plushie in the basket closest to her. Zhuang Xun looked over and saw that it was… the raven plushie Shen Xian had held at the very beginning.

She remembered that the pattern on the first hoodie Shen Xian had picked out for her earlier today was also a raven.

Does Senior really like ravens?

As Zhuang Xun thought this, she reached into the basket, took out the raven plushie, and held it out to Shen Xian. “Senior, do you want this one?”

Shen Xian didn’t hesitate. She nodded and took the plushie from Zhuang Xun’s hand, cradling it in her arms. “Yes.” Then she asked, “Aren’t you going to pick one you like?”

Zhuang Xun blinked. One I like?

Zhuang Xun’s gaze swept over the pile, finally settling on the sloth doll. Senior’s personality is quite similar to a sloth’s…

Just as she was thinking this, a pair of slender hands appeared before her and swiftly picked up the sloth plushie.

Shen Xian held the raven plushie in one hand and the sloth plushie in the other. She dangled the sloth plushie, making a gesture as if to hand it to Zhuang Xun. “This one, Little Zhuang Xun, do you like it?”

It really is similar.

Zhuang Xun nodded and took the plushie. “Mm.”

“In that case, we still have three extra. Do you want anything else?” Shen Xian crouched back down beside Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun shook her head; she wasn’t particularly interested in plushies. She only wanted to keep this one because it reminded her so much of Shen Xian.

“Hmm…”

Just as Shen Xian was pondering, the store attendant smiled and spoke to them. “If the two of you aren’t sure which to choose, would you like to participate in our lucky draw?”

Lucky draw?

“Lucky draw?”

Zhuang Xun and Shen Xian exchanged a glance.

Shen Xian politely inquired, “May I ask what kind of lucky draw it is?”

“Three plushies can be exchanged for one draw. The third prize is a double game package, the second prize is a double hot spring spa experience, and the first prize is a three-day, two-night trip to any global destination of your choice.”

“……” Something feels off.

Shen Xian continued to ask, “What about the participation prize?”

Still smiling, the attendant replied, “It’s a one-day free experience at the newly built hotel next door, with all expenses covered.”

“……” Something is definitely off!

“Wow, even the participation prize is so good?”

“Indeed. Would the two of you like to try your luck?”

“Little Zhuang Xun, should we give it a try?”

Zhuang Xun saw the starry-eyed look in Shen Xian’s eyes, clearly indicating her immense interest. In the next second, the attendant produced a draw box from seemingly nowhere and placed it before them.

“Hmm?” Shen Xian blinked, her expression full of anticipation.

“……” Something feels extremely off… but seeing Senior’s curiosity, I have no way to refuse.

Zhuang Xun closed her eyes briefly and acceded to Shen Xian’s request. “Okay. Would you like to draw, Senior?”

“I don’t feel like my luck is very good today.”

“After you draw, Senior, your luck will improve.”

“In that case…” Shen Xian instinctively placed her hands over Zhuang Xun’s. “I’ll borrow some of your luck.”

The touching of their hands lasted no more than five seconds before Shen Xian reached into the box to make her selection. Then, a folded slip of paper was presented to Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun’s gaze slowly shifted from the paper upward to Shen Xian.

Shen Xian nervously said, “I don’t dare to look at the result, Little Zhuang Xun, you look!”

Zhuang Xun took the paper—which in her eyes now seemed to be emitting a dark, ominous aura—and slowly unfolded it.

The moment she saw the result, she instantly let out a sigh of relief.

“What did you get?” Shen Xian asked, her eyes half-open.

Zhuang Xun unfolded the slip of paper so she could see. Written on it in large characters were the words: Third Prize.

Upon seeing the result, Shen Xian exclaimed excitedly, “Oh, good! I thought it would be a consolation prize. I can’t believe we won third prize!”

The attendant’s professional smile faltered for a fraction of a second. “Congratulations to both of you! We will have the third prize and your exchanged plushies delivered to your home. Which of you will leave your address with me?”

Zhuang Xun and Shen Xian exchanged glances. The next second, Shen Xian took out her phone and handed it to the attendant. “Please use this address, thank you.”

The address she left this time was the exact same one as earlier. It was Zhuang Xun’s home.

The attendant took the phone, pulled out their own to take a photo of the address, and nodded. “Okay. I’ll contact you by phone later.”

“Okay, thank you for your trouble.”

Once Shen Xian finished replying, the attendant walked away to arrange the delivery at the front desk.

Zhuang Xun looked at the very happy Shen Xian, unconsciously squeezing the sloth plushie in her hand.

“…Senior?”

“Hm?”

“Did you leave my home address again?”