Agreement

“Look, look! Let’s go play on that!”

After their hearty meal, Jiang Yunshu and Samuel threw themselves into the festivities. From museums to amusement parks, Yunshu had led Samuel through countless sights before they even realized how much time had passed.

During their time at the museum, Samuel’s bizarre attire had drawn the attention of security more than once. However, thanks to Yunshu’s charismatic explanations, they managed to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant afternoon.

Now, standing in the heart of the amusement park, Yunshu pointed at the towering roller coaster. “I think that looks like fun! Wait for me a second, I’m going to go buy tickets.”

No sooner had she spoken than she vanished into the crowd.

“Where did she go? To buy tickets? Where is that?”

Before Samuel could even begin his search, Yunshu reappeared at his side. In addition to two tickets, she held two cups of iced drinks. She handed one with a straw to Samuel while taking a sip of her own.

“Have a drink. We’ve been walking for so long, you must be thirsty. I know it’s a pain to take off your mask, so I specifically found a straw for you. That way, you can drink without removing it. Though, honestly, shops these days are getting stingier—they actually charged me extra for the straw.”

Samuel stared at the drink in his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed her lead, sliding the straw under his mask and taking a slow sip.

Cold, sweet, and syrupy. It’s delicious. Truly delicious.

“Don’t just stand there, get in line!” Without giving him more time to savor the flavor, Yunshu grabbed his hand and tugged him into the queue.

While the boy and girl enjoyed their youth, Meng Shan and Ran Jiu sat on a nearby bench, sipping drinks from the same shop and watching their every move. Ever since the two had left the hotpot restaurant, the “parents” had shadowed them at a distance of ten to several dozen meters. Thanks to their expert stealth skills, neither Yunshu nor Samuel had noticed a single trace of them.

“They really are having a blast, aren’t they?” Ran Jiu remarked. “Ah, the energy of youth. Not like us two ‘old folks’ who come to an amusement park and don’t even know what to ride.”

“You’re twenty-four, and I’m twenty-eight,” Meng Shan corrected. “Chronologically, neither of us is old.”

“It’s about the mindset! The mindset, get it? A battle-hardened veteran like you and an elite magical girl like me… we just can’t enjoy the simple beauties of life like normal people.”

“True,” Meng Shan agreed. “Those years on the battlefield left me with habits I can’t shake. I don’t feel right without a sidearm, and even when I’m just window shopping, I’m subconsciously scouting for ambush points.”

Looking at the vibrant crowd, Meng Shan continued, “Sometimes I wonder… if I hadn’t joined the military, would my life have been better?”

At this, Ran Jiu sighed. “So, you think about that too?”

“Yeah. But it’s just a thought. Having come this far, I know I can never truly go back to a peaceful, ordinary life. Even if I crave a comfortable retirement, the blood on my hands and the combat instincts etched into my brain and body will always pull me back into trouble.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic.” Ran Jiu patted his shoulder. “The world is big. There’s bound to be a place that can hold the peaceful life you want. All you have to do is find it.”

Meng Shan looked at her with a hint of surprise. “I didn’t expect to hear something like that from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? What kind of weird image do you have of me in your head?”

Meng Shan thought for a moment. “A bit sharp-tongued, but someone who’s actually quite comfortable to be around.”

“…I can’t even argue with that. Fine, I’ll take it as a compliment,” Ran Jiu said. “Now, back to Samuel. Do you have any intel?”

Checking his phone, Meng Shan replied, “None. At least, nothing I can find. You?”

“Nothing either. If I had it, I wouldn’t be asking you. I haven’t asked ‘that side’ yet, but everyone else says they’ve never heard the name ‘Samuel Aldrich.'”

“According to Samuel himself, he’s traveled to many places for treatment. He should have left a paper trail, yet we find nothing,” Meng Shan analyzed. “This implies he has a significant power behind him that has scrubbed his data.”

“And that power likely includes a mental-type Awakened who wiped the memories of relevant personnel,” Ran Jiu added. “Otherwise, the doctors who treated him would have left some clue.”

“Exactly. For a mental Awakened to handle that many people, they must be a highly trusted member of Samuel’s organization. The problem is, there are several large organizations with both vast resources and powerful mental Awakened. It’s impossible to pin down which one he belongs to.”

Ran Jiu nodded. “Right. Even if Samuel himself bears no ill will—and honestly, he looks like he’s already smitten with Yunshu—we can’t be sure what his organization is up to. We need to be careful lately.”

Then, Meng Shan asked, “What’s your take on those scars of his?”

“My take…?” Ran Jiu pondered for a moment. “You know the concepts of Total Mana Capacity versus Mana Output, right?”

Meng Shan knew them well. Total Capacity was the maximum pool an Awakened could hold; Output was the maximum force they could exert at any given moment—like a water tank versus the faucet.

“So you’re saying… Samuel’s output is exceeding his limit?”

“Exactly. I suspect his current state is tied to his ability. Perhaps because he can’t control the output power, his mana is constantly in a state of ‘overload,’ which progressively damages his body.”

“I see. That would explain why his scars look relatively fresh. Every time he uses his ability, he harms himself.” Meng Shan continued, “It’s just a guess, but if it’s true, I can’t imagine what kind of overwhelming power would do that to its user.”

Recalling the ballpoint pen that guided them, Ran Jiu agreed. “The mana requirement for that was astronomical. It’s an incredibly powerful ability.”

“So, if his ability is truly that strong, would you let Little Yun date him?”

Meng Shan glared at Ran Jiu’s teasing before answering seriously, “If it were possible—and I mean if they were to date—I would object. Samuel’s appearance is a massive hurdle. In the short term, love can bridge the gap. But over time, when the initial passion fades and the reality of daily life sets in, his appearance will become a point of friction. For that reason, I wouldn’t agree.”

“That sounds exactly like the rigid, cold-hearted father trope in a novel,” Ran Jiu teased. “But I agree. His looks are an issue; being with him means enduring a lifetime of cold stares from others. If they’re just friends, fine. But if it gets serious, I’ll be the first to object. I can’t watch Little Yun spend the rest of her life under the judgmental eyes of others.”

Meng Shan laughed. “And you have the nerve to call me out? You ‘wicked mother-in-law’!”

Ran Jiu laughed too. “And you, the ‘shallow father-in-law,’ aren’t much better.”

“But honestly,” Meng Shan sighed after their laughter died down, “if they truly loved each other, I wouldn’t stop them. Despite everything I’ve been through, I still want to believe there are pure feelings in this world that aren’t eroded by time or reality.”

Ran Jiu pursed her lips. “Is that so? If you don’t want to play the villain, I guess I’ll have to.”

“You couldn’t even if you tried.” Meng Shan called her bluff. “If they truly loved each other, you wouldn’t try to break them up. You’d be looking for a way to fix Samuel’s face. Because you’re just that kind of ‘good person.'”

Happy times always fly by. Before they knew it, night had fallen.

High up on the Ferris wheel, looking at the city lights and the girl beside him, Samuel felt his heart in turmoil. He had to leave. He had been away from home for over ten days; if he didn’t return, his parents would worry. But he didn’t know how to tell her. He found himself… reluctant to go.

What a strange feeling, Samuel thought. He had traveled to many places, but none had ever made him feel attached—except for his home. And yet, he felt it here, in this unremarkable city.

Is it because of her?

He glanced at the girl beside him. Perhaps. But he had to return.

Steeling his resolve, he spoke. “After today… I have to go back.”

Yunshu turned to him. “You’re going home tomorrow?”

“Yes. I must.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I’m going to be busy starting tomorrow too, so I might not have much time to hang out for a while.”

Samuel felt a wave of disappointment.

“So,” she continued, “let’s add each other on WeChat and BB. We can chat and find a time when we’re both free to hang out again. By the way, I’m free every Sunday!”

Samuel suddenly felt his previous sentimentality was a bit foolish. “…I thought you said you were going to be busy?”

“Yeah! Busy six days a week, then Sunday is for resting!”

Listening to her matter-of-fact tone, Samuel didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Come on, hurry up! Let’s swap contact info so we can play together again.”

Looking at the cheerful girl, Samuel found himself smiling for reasons he couldn’t quite name. But it didn’t matter; the feeling of smiling was quite nice.

“Alright. Let’s play together again when the chance comes.”

And so, a promise was made between the boy and the girl.

It was a beautiful moment—but for Ran Jiu and Meng Shan, who were secretly watching from the Ferris wheel gondola behind them, it wasn’t quite as sweet. They could already sense the trouble that was coming.