Rhodes Island Mid-Autumn Stories, Part One

(There was too much combat, which felt a little strange, so I added an extra side story chapter. The main plot will continue tomorrow. I was too tired, so I split a 4,000-word chapter into two halves. Today's is one half.)

"Exhausted..."

After opening the door to Penguin Logistics' dorm, Texas strode into the living room and collapsed onto the sofa.

"Yeah... mentally exhausted too." Bai Ye looked equally worn out as he sat beside Texas. "As expected, real-life amusement parks are simply the worst places in the world."

That was Bai Ye's conclusion.

Over the weekend, Bai Ye and Texas had booked tickets to Lungmen Amusement Park in advance, intending to go on a date together.

According to Croissant's recommendation, it was an exceptionally wonderful place for dates.

However, before they had even officially entered the amusement park, they were stunned by the sea of people before them.

Because it was a holiday, and to encourage spending, the park had offered half-price tickets.

Combined with the fact that it was the weekend, the entire amusement park was packed to the brim.

The tickets Bai Ye and Texas had bought were all-access passes for every attraction in the park.

Yet in the end, they only managed to ride a handful of them.

Most of their time had been spent standing in line. They had not even had lunch by the end; the two hastily ate some snacks Bai Ye had brought and made do with that.

"Looks like amusement parks really aren't suited for us... We should go somewhere else next time..."

Bai Ye stretched. With his physical condition, walking around an amusement park all day would not have tired him out, but he still felt strangely drained.

"Even though I'm tired, I'm happy... because Bai Ye was with me the whole time."

Texas had hardly ever gone to an amusement park before. This was her first time. Though her first amusement park experience had not left her with a perfect memory, she had still enjoyed herself.

Bai Ye had stayed by her side the entire time.

In the past, whenever the two went out together, it was usually for a mission. But today, they had gone out together simply to have fun.

For Texas, that was quite an interesting experience as well.

"Texas..."

Watching the girl's faintly upturned lips, Bai Ye reached out and took her hand.

"We held hands the whole day today..." Texas's cheeks reddened slightly. This kind of physical contact still made the girl somewhat shy.

"Yeah, I was afraid I'd lose you... Next time, let's go somewhere with fewer people and have a proper day of fun!"

"Mm." Texas nodded.

Before they knew it, their heads drew closer and closer, like two magnets pulling each other together.

They could feel each other's breath.

Texas's breathing began to quicken, and her face grew increasingly flushed.

Just as the atmosphere became perfect, the dorm door suddenly opened.

"I'm back!"

A voice familiar to both of them came from the doorway.

"Whoa!"

Both snapped awake at once. Their bodies, which had been pressed together, instinctively sprang apart, and they sat upright on the sofa.

Exusiai walked in from outside, carrying a bag in one hand and holding an apple pie in the other.

"You two... what's going on?"

As she approached the sofa, Exusiai looked curiously at Texas and Bai Ye.

Both of them were acting a little strangely.

"Ahem, nothing's going on." Bai Ye waved a hand.

"Really? Then why are both your faces so red? Did you sneak some of the Boss's alcohol?"

"It's really nothing..."

"Hmm, very suspicious... Oh well, never mind. I won't pry."

It had to be said that Exusiai's instincts were quite sharp, but she did not pursue the matter further.

With a soft thud, Exusiai placed the bag on the coffee table in front of the sofa, then looked at Texas and Bai Ye.

"Croissant and Exusiai aren't here today. Do you two have plans for dinner?"

"No." Bai Ye and Texas had finally returned to normal by then.

Bai Ye looked at Exusiai curiously. He had not expected this Laterano girl to take the initiative to care about dinner arrangements.

"No plans? Then that's perfect! We can go back to Rhodes Island together tonight!"

As Exusiai spoke, she opened the bag and handed the invitations to Bai Ye and Texas.

"Rhodes Island Mid-Autumn Banquet?" Bai Ye and Texas accepted the invitations. The name of the dinner was written on them in Yan script and the common language.

"At first, it was just some Operators from Yan who wanted to gather for a meal, but somehow, the news spread farther and farther."

"First, some Lungmen Operators wanted to join in. Later, it wasn't just Yan Operators anymore—anyone who wanted to go could attend the banquet."

Exusiai seemed quite interested in the banquet. In her eyes, it was more or less the same as a party.

And parties were one of Exusiai's favorite things.

"Mid-Autumn Festival... Right, it's almost Mid-Autumn Festival..."

Looking at the invitation Exusiai had brought back, Bai Ye fell into thought.

Since coming to Terra, he had not celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival in a long time. This would be his first time.

"Bai Ye?"

Seeing Bai Ye stare blankly at the invitation in his hand, Texas and Exusiai waved their hands in front of him.

"Not often you space out like that..." Exusiai said with a smile.

"I was just feeling a little sentimental. So, are a lot of people attending this banquet?"

Exusiai tilted her head, thought for a moment, then said:

"Probably quite a few... Qingliu asked messengers to deliver invitations to every Yan and Lungmen Operator currently away from Rhodes Island. Besides that, anyone who wants to attend can go, though other Operators have to register in advance."

"Because the desserts have to be prepared according to the number of guests."

Exusiai explained from the side.

"Desserts? Shouldn't they be called mooncakes?" Bai Ye blinked.

Though it was not the same world, Great Yan on this planet also celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival and had the legend of Chang'e flying to the moon.

Of course, in this world, Chang'e was not called Chang'e. She was called Xi'e.

However, Bai Ye always felt that the ancient Terrans' description of the legend of "Xi'e flying to the moon" sounded exactly like a rocket launch.

"Suddenly, a blazing trail rose from the mountains in the west and shot toward the moon.

"The trail grew brighter and brighter, until for one moment, it even eclipsed the moon's radiance."

That was roughly how the original legend was written, making Bai Ye suspect that Terra's ancient people had not flown to the moon metaphorically—they had actually landed on it.

Perhaps the ancient Terrans had already mastered lunar landing technology? Was Xi'e actually a launch vehicle?