Fireworks (Continued)

Her brain had completely short-circuited—Chen Tian's palm was so warm, and his smile was... so handsome...

Before she could react, Chen Tian had already bent down. With a burst of strength, he hoisted her over his shoulder!

"Ah!" Kaguya let out a short shriek. Ice Kaguya's personality completely shattered at that moment. Her little face instantly flushed bright red, and she had no idea where to put her hands and feet.

Too... too intimate... I'll... I'll get pregnant...

The absurd thought popped into her head uncontrollably. Then, even more chaotic thoughts exploded in her blank mind like fireworks—

What should they name their son? What about a daughter? Would the child look like him or me...

Chen Tian completely ignored the chaos in the person over his shoulder and carried her outside. When he passed Huang Guang, he paused slightly and tossed out a sentence without looking back:

"I'm taking her with me. Any objections?"

Huang Guang's face turned green, then white, but he did not dare make a sound.

Only after Chen Tian's back vanished at the end of the corridor did the frozen air in the Tea Room begin to move again. Yun Ying let out a long breath, only then realizing that his back was already soaked through.

Meanwhile, Kaguya, still slung over his shoulder, covered her burning face tightly with both hands. Her mind held only one thought:

I'm doomed... Am I... already pregnant...

Chen Tian carried Kaguya briskly through the courtyard. Her legs were pressed against his chest, while the hem of her long dress swayed gently with each step.

"Y-Young Miss?!" A passing maid dropped the tray in her hands with a clatter.

The security personnel collectively turned to stone. Their hands were on their holsters, yet none of them dared move. This was the honored guest even Lord Seiryu had personally come out to welcome!

At the corner of the corridor, Siongo Seiryu was still frowning as he looked around. "Strange. She was clearly just..."

"L-Lord Seiryu!" A servant pointed tremblingly behind him.

Seiryu spun around. His pupils contracted sharply—the flushed little thing on Chen Tian's shoulder, desperately covering her face, was none other than his sister!

"Hey! You..." Seiryu had just started forward when Chen Tian carried Kaguya past him, not even sparing him a glance.

Outside the main gate, Chen Tian suddenly stopped. He turned around and raised his head, looking toward a third-floor window.

Siongo Gaan's aged figure stood before the window, his face so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it.

"Family Head Siongo." Chen Tian nodded. "I'm taking your girl with me. I'll bring her back later."

The window was suddenly thrown open. The usually dignified family head was trembling so hard that even his beard shook. "You brat! Is my daughter cargo?! You're just carrying her away like that?!"

Kaguya peeked through her fingers and was stunned. Father was actually... actually roaring?

"Put her down! Right now! Immediately!" Gaan leaned halfway out of the window, gripping the frame. "And what kind of posture is that?! My daughter's about to be exposed!"

Chen Tian tilted his head and glanced at the human bundle over his shoulder. "This is more convenient."

"Convenient my ass!" Gaan completely lost his composure. "Do you think you're carrying a sack of rice?!"

The servants in the courtyard collectively lowered their heads to stifle their laughter, their shoulders shaking violently. Seiryu was dumbfounded. He had never seen his father lose his dignity so completely.

Kaguya curled her toes in embarrassment, her mind filled with scrolling comments: It's over, it's over. Father saw everything...

Chen Tian smiled at the furious Siongo Gaan leaning over the window frame. "I'm off."

Before the words had even faded, he turned around with Kaguya over his shoulder, casually waved toward the third floor with his back to it, and strode away.

"You...!" Siongo Gaan watched that brat swagger off with his daughter and nearly choked on his own breath.

His chest heaved violently several times. A few seconds later, the fury caused by his daughter being "abducted" vanished without a trace, receding like the tide.

Every muscle in his face settled into stillness. Only a pair of unfathomably deep eyes remained, calmly controlling a vast commercial empire.

He continued standing before the window, watching Chen Tian's back disappear around the courtyard corner.

"Yes." The old butler, who had been standing silently in the corner like a shadow, immediately stepped forward.

Siongo Gaan's voice regained its usual composure, as though he controlled everything, without the slightest ripple:

"Tell Huang Guang that from now on, he is not to interfere in Kaguya's affairs again."

"Yes." The old butler asked no questions. He bowed deeply and silently withdrew from the room.

The door closed softly.

The enormous room now held only Siongo Gaan. He continued gazing toward the direction in which Chen Tian and Kaguya had disappeared. After a long while, an exceedingly complicated, indescribable emotion swept through his deep, sharp eyes.

There was helplessness and scrutiny, which eventually settled into a profound reminiscence.

He raised his hand and unconsciously brushed his fingertips along the cold edge of the window frame. His voice was as soft as a sigh, melting into the silent room:

"Nayotake..."

"Our daughter... has grown up."

Chen Tian carried Kaguya out through the imposing main gate of the Shiongo Family. A heavy motorcycle lay quietly outside in the open space.

The bike's design was exceptionally unique, its hard, fierce lines faintly resembling the vicious silhouette of Cavaliere, the demonic weapon wielded by Dante in Devil May Cry. Yet its overall dark style was more restrained and profound, resembling the mount of a dark knight and radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Chen Tian waved a hand and easily placed Kaguya, who still had not recovered, onto the motorcycle's rear seat.

Kaguya hugged the cold metal helmet, still somewhat dazed. Her eyes stared blankly, as though two tiny mosquito coils were spinning in her pupils.

Seeing her soul-wandering expression, Chen Tian could not help laughing.

As if performing a magic trick, he somehow produced another helmet.

This helmet was completely different from his own angular, murderous one. It was entirely pink and white, with two fluffy, limp dog ears sticking up from the top. Brightly colored paint covered both sides and the back with all kinds of adorable chibi puppy designs. It was so cute it practically bubbled over.

Without giving her a chance to refuse, Chen Tian directly placed the criminally adorable helmet on Kaguya's little head.

The sensation of her head suddenly being enclosed finally brought Kaguya back to her senses.

She instinctively fiddled with the helmet's visor, trying to see Chen Tian clearly. Her muffled voice came from inside the helmet. "T-Tian Jun? W-Where are we going?"

Chen Tian smiled and tapped twice on top of her adorable dog-eared helmet with a crooked finger, producing two crisp knocks.

"Tsk." He then swiftly removed his own black leather jacket. Carrying the warmth of his body, he wrapped it directly around Kaguya's long dress.

The jacket was far too large for her, making her look like a child wearing an adult's clothes.

Chen Tian swung one long leg over and sat securely in the front seat, starting the motorcycle.

The engine released a deep, powerful roar like a beast awakening.

He turned his head, his voice filled with amusement as it passed through the helmets:

"Didn't I already say?"

The motorcycle shot forward. The powerful force pressing her back made Kaguya cry out, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Chen Tian's waist.

"Fireworks!"

The engine's roar tore through the air.

Kaguya held Chen Tian's waist tightly, her helmet pressed against his broad back.

The force pressing her back as their speed suddenly climbed instantly drove the last traces of embarrassment and wild thoughts from her mind!

The wind howled. The scenery on either side of her helmet turned into blurred bands of light flying backward, twisting and stretching so quickly that she could not make out a single detail.

Her vision held nothing but a chaotic stream of brilliant light. The intense sensation of weightlessness and the wind pressure rushing toward her made her heart pound like a drum, her blood surge, and adrenaline flood her body.

This feeling... was both unfamiliar and familiar.

It was like the extreme dizziness and weightlessness she had experienced when plunging from the highest point of the roller coaster Chen Tian had taken her on.

Reckless, thrilling, and carrying the sense of losing control after breaking through every rule and restraint.

The initial, extreme stimulation left her entire body tense. Her fingers tightened until she could feel the solid contours of Chen Tian's waist and abdominal muscles through his clothes.

But as her body gradually adapted to the violent speed, a strange sense of calm began to grow within their close embrace.

The speed no longer brought simple fear. Instead, it became something she could rely on.

The wind pouring into her ears became a barrier isolating her from the outside world. Unable to see the world rushing past, all her senses instead focused on the person in front of her.

His body heat reached her, and his back became her only support.

Where was their destination? Where were they going? Did any of that matter? Only one thought remained in Kaguya's mind.

It no longer mattered. Not at all.

She tightened her arms around him and pressed herself even more firmly against him. Resting her head against that broad, warm back, she seemed able to feel the steady, powerful heartbeat beneath his helmet and clothes.

Thump... thump...

The world's clamor was shut out by the engine and the wind.

Inside the helmet, the corners of her lips had lifted into a small smile at some point. She peacefully closed her eyes.

The back pressed against her vibrated with the engine's low growl, while his body heat filled her palms.

The wind screamed outside the helmet, unable to disturb her present peace.

Her heart was beating too fast. She could not tell whether it was the speed or him that had set it racing—but either way, it was burning hot.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and the world blurred into a mass of light. Only the arms holding him felt real, like iron bands tightening around the sense of security that belonged exclusively to her.

The corners of Chen Tian's mouth rose beneath his helmet as he felt the sudden force with which those small hands tightened around his waist. He sharply twisted his wrist. The engine's roar suddenly rose, tearing across the night sky, and the speed climbed again!

The needle on the dashboard instantly swung into the blazing-red limit zone.

If any street racers had been present, they probably would have had no thought beyond kneeling and shouting, "Hell yeah!" As for the police? Hah. Arrangements had been made in advance.

The savage speed tore through space, and the long coastline of Kujukuri Beach arrived almost in an instant.

The engine cut out, and the world suddenly fell silent. Only the deep, regular waves of the Pacific remained.

Her helmet was still pressed against Chen Tian's warm back, and Kaguya was almost intoxicated by the feeling of being enveloped.

"Kaguya." Chen Tian's amused voice passed through the helmet. "We're here."

As though awakening from a dream, Kaguya suddenly opened her eyes and realized that she was still clutching his waist tightly. As if scalded, she instantly pulled her hands back, her cheeks burning beneath the helmet.

Chen Tian swung off the motorcycle with a smooth motion. He bent down, his handsome face once again drawing close to Kaguya's visor, near enough for her to see the amusement in his eyes.

"Kaguya, get off." His deep voice carried the scent of the sea breeze.

A muffled "Mm" came from inside the helmet. Kaguya hurriedly fumbled with the clasp and removed the dog-eared helmet.

Fresh, cool sea air rushed against her face, blowing her hair into disarray. The heat in her face had not faded, and she instinctively fanned herself with her hand.

A well-defined hand reached out before her eyes.

She paused and looked up.

Chen Tian stood beside her, wearing the familiar gentle smile that held a hint of laziness and indulgence.

A small smile also bloomed across Kaguya's face. Her cheeks were still red, but her hand had already risen naturally and slipped lightly into his palm.

Warm... and strong.

Chen Tian's hand was dry and warm, firmly enclosing Kaguya's cool hand. Their fingers naturally interlocked, knuckles touching.

"Come with me." He gave a gentle tug and led Kaguya into a light jog across the cool sand.

The broad hem of the leather jacket fluttered behind her. They had not gone far before several inconspicuous cardboard boxes lay quietly on the beach.

Chen Tian released her hand and swiftly bent down to tear open the packing tape. Kaguya stood to the side curiously, watching him take out all kinds of fireworks.

He picked out a slender sparkler with a delicate golden star at the tip and held it out to her.

Kaguya carefully accepted it. The metal rod felt cold in her hand.

Chen Tian stepped closer and snapped his fingers crisply.

A small cluster of orange-red flames leaped onto his fingertip.

Kaguya's eyes widened slightly.

Although she had heard about the Gojo Family and knew he was no ordinary person, seeing flames ignite out of thin air on his fingertip still made her heart skip a beat.

The flame burned steadily, illuminating his smiling eyes and brows.

He brought his fingertip close to the tip of the sparkler.

Fine golden sparks instantly burst forth, spreading upward along the metal wire and leaping into the air, illuminating Kaguya's delighted face.

Warm firelight danced in her deep-red eyes, dispelling the last trace of lingering chill.

Kaguya gazed at the golden sparks leaping in her hand, a sweet smile blooming across her face like a child who had finally received her favorite candy.

Seeing the brightness in her eyes, Chen Tian reached out and rubbed her soft hair.