I Told You This Isn't a Life Simulation Game! Section 15

"He's here, Ling."

At this point, Sakura became somewhat timid again, her movements growing flustered and shrinking back. She looked completely different from the gentle, poised older-sister figure she had been just moments ago.

"Big sis... you're so lame."

Seeing her sister acting like such a foolish young girl, Ling was speechless... Was she really going to have to take care of her sister together with Brother Wang later? Please, anything but that...

"I... I'm just a little worried..."

A faint blush crossed Sakura's face. She hurriedly applied the lipstick she had just received, then straightened both her and Ling's clothes a little before taking her shoulder bag and sun hat outside—Xi Wang's car was already waiting out front.

"Good morning, Brother Wang~"

"Though, strictly speaking, it's already late morning... still, good morning, Ling."

Xi Wang looked at Ling in the back seat through the rearview mirror and softly responded to her lively greeting. Then he turned toward Sakura in the passenger seat.

"Good morning, Sakura."

"Good morning, Wang."

Sakura nodded, responding as if everything were perfectly normal.

"Oh, right. This... is for you two."

Before starting the car, Xi Wang took out a wrapped gift. Inside were two cherry blossom-shaped pendants. They seemed like ordinary accessories sold on the market, but upon closer inspection, they appeared more exquisite than similar items usually found.

"I thought they suited you two, so I got them for you..."

Xi Wang explained.

"They also have some extra little functions. You can try them when you get home... Ah, right, and this is for Ling."

As though he had just remembered something, Xi Wang carefully took out a small Candy Bag and placed it in Ling's hands.

"Uh... thank you, Brother Wang!"

Ling froze for a moment. Though the bag of candy in her hands felt a bit like a "freebie," she still replied happily.

"Thank you."

As Sakura thanked him and accepted the gifts Xi Wang had brought them, she took a Candy box from her shoulder bag. It was filled with pale pink cherry blossom candies, and she held it out before Xi Wang.

"This is in return."

Sakura said so.

"..."

So the thing you prepared was meant to be a gift, big sis?

Ling stared at her sister in the back seat, utterly stunned.

"Thank you. I love it."

What Ling had not expected was that Xi Wang accepted it with obvious delight, seemingly truly fond of the gift.

"..."

Ling looked at the Candy Bag in her hand, then at the Candy box in Xi Wang's hand, feeling a little confused.

In the end, she could only take it as some unique form of flirtation between her sister and Brother Wang.

Naturally, the most important part of the day came next—going to the amusement park.

Well... the whole process was naturally smooth and cheerful. Aside from a few rides Ling was too young to go on, they had practically tried out the entire amusement park.

Of course, there were a few little twists along the way... Ling ran into a classmate who had come to the park with her family, just as they were about to ride their final attraction: the Ferris wheel.

All that could be said was that it was such an incredible coincidence~ (deadpan)

Then Ling happily went off with her classmate. She even slipped out of the line and ran straight over to where her classmate was resting, chatting with her so enthusiastically that no one could call her back, leaving only Sakura and Xi Wang standing awkwardly in the middle of the queue.

Although the whole thing felt strangely coincidental, although Ling's ears seemed to have gone deaf at that moment, although Ling's classmate looked confused and bewildered, although her classmate's parents could have stopped her, and although Sakura and Xi Wang could still have turned back—even though they were next in line, they could have left with Ling and waited for another round.

But... none of that happened.

Ling was pretending not to hear. She had known long ago that her classmate would be coming with her family today, which was why she had asked her sister to book tickets for this day. Their "chance" encounter was also because she had asked her classmate for her location through the terminal beforehand.

Her classmate's parents had clearly noticed something as well, so they let Ling pull their daughter aside to chat. They even thoughtfully bought Ling a drink.

My dear sister, I've gone this far for you. Don't you dare mess this up again...

Ling thought as she watched Sakura and Xi Wang from the corner of her eye.

Perhaps Sakura had heard her little sister's inner plea. Still hesitating just moments ago, Sakura gritted her teeth, grabbed Xi Wang as he was about to turn back, and said the words.

"It's fine if it's just the two of us. We've already lined up this far—why shouldn't we ride it?"

"But Ling..."

"Ling wants to talk to her classmate. At worst, we can take her on it once more after we get off."

That was what Sakura said.

"..."

Xi Wang glanced at the sign beside them stating that each round lasted thirty minutes, then looked at the long line behind them. He really wanted her to reconsider.

But in the end, Sakura forcefully dragged him into the cabin, seemingly unwilling to give Xi Wang any time to back out... or herself, either.

And so, the two of them were "forced" to share the same confined space.

But after that, they ran into a new problem... how were they supposed to start a conversation?

Sitting upright on one side of the cabin, Sakura lowered her head and fidgeted with the handles of her shoulder bag, her eyes practically beginning to spin.

It wasn't as though they had never been alone together during missions before. They had even stayed in much tighter spaces, and it wasn't like they had never been pressed close together—but why was she so nervous today...?

Besides, starting conversations had never been her strong suit. She might have impressively dragged Xi Wang in just now, but she had also cut off her own escape route.

Then again, it wasn't like doing nothing was unacceptable. But now that things had come this far, wouldn't it be a little hard to justify not making any move at all?

Ah... my adorable little sister... it seemed your big sister wasn't just an idiot, but completely useless too...

"If you're nervous, you can listen to some music."

A calm voice came from the seat opposite her. Xi Wang was sitting by the edge, resting his cheek in one hand as he leaned against the railing and admired the scenery beyond the cabin's glass.

"You brought them with you, right? Your headphones. If you're nervous, listen to some music. I remember you have that habit."

He glanced at Sakura across from him before turning his gaze back outside. Every so often, his eyes lingered on the sunset gradually turning golden, then swept over the roller coaster at the edge of the park, though they spent more time on the resting area below.

"If you're worried about Ling, you can see her from here too."

Sakura turned to look down and indeed spotted Ling happily chatting with her classmates' parents. Every now and then, Ling would look up, as though searching for the cabin the two of them were in.

"Sorry..."

"It's fine."

Sakura took the headphones from her bag with a hint of apology. Wearing headphones and listening to music in a situation like this... honestly, it felt a little rude, as if she didn't value the other person.

As soon as she took out the headphones, her bag visibly deflated, as though that had been the only thing inside it.

She took out her terminal, connected it to the over-ear headphones, and played the music she liked. Slowly, Sakura calmed down and was no longer as nervous as before.

When she looked up at him, she found that Xi Wang was still gazing outside, as though he liked the view so much that he couldn't bear to look away.

"Um... Wang, would you like to listen too?"

Perhaps having adjusted her mindset, Sakura took off the headphones and asked softly.

"Hm? Sure."

Xi Wang shifted his gaze back to her, seeming a little surprised. Then he nodded in understanding and held out his hand, waiting for her to hand him the headphones.

But Sakura stood up and moved closer, personally placing the headphones over Xi Wang's ears before naturally sitting down beside him.

She was very nervous—Xi Wang realized that clearly, because Sakura had forgotten to change the song.

He had heard before that Sakura's taste in music was extremely "unique," to the point that most people in Poison Chrysalis turned pale at the mere mention of it. Over time, Sakura herself had come to realize this, which was why she had gotten into the habit of carrying headphones during breaks, so her music wouldn't disturb others too much. Eventually, whenever a newcomer became curious about what Sakura was listening to, she would always change the song before letting them hear it, lest they misunderstand something again.

And the song she changed it to... was naturally one of Eden's. After all, Eden was currently the most famous and beloved Superstar.

But now, Sakura clearly hadn't realized that—or rather, she was so nervous that the headphones were still playing the kind of music she actually liked.

By the time Sakura noticed, an entire song had already passed.

"Quite a unique taste."

Hearing the Superstar's Singing Voice through the headphones, Xi Wang took them off at just the right moment and said so.

"Please, don't say another word..."

Sakura wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl into it... this world was no longer fit for living in. She might as well take Ling and run away!

The light had practically died from Sakura's eyes.

"I mean it."

Xi Wang placed the headphones back around Sakura's neck and spoke with genuine sincerity.

"...Thank you."

At least, there was someone willing to acknowledge her taste... no, even if it wasn't acknowledgement and was merely tolerance, she was already happy enough.

And the last person who had been able to tolerate her playing music out loud had been her little sister. As for now...

"...Wang."

Sakura seemed to have made some sort of decision.

"Yeah."

"Thank you very much for helping Ling and me so much. Whether it was this relatively safe job, the protection you applied for Ling, or those high-paying missions... thank you for all your help over this time."

"...Yeah."

"So..."

Sakura took a deep breath.

"Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"

That was what she said.

"I also made some Cherry Blossom Brew. It may sound like I'm bragging, but I consider myself quite good at cooking."