By the time the sky darkened, the neon lights outside the mall were already on.
Xia Luo walked at the front, her Beret sitting crookedly on her head and a freshly bought lollipop in her mouth.
Lin Xi walked beside her, glancing down at her phone every so often. Qin Luoyu walked in the middle, her fingers tapping nonstop on her screen.
Chen De stayed by her side, his hands in his pockets, occasionally glancing back.
Qubi lay on Chen De's head, its tail swaying idly.
Fei Xiao brought up the rear, her steps a little slower than everyone else's.
Xia Luo looked back, spotted her, and immediately slowed down.
Once Fei Xiao drew closer, Xia Luo hooked an arm around her neck and leaned half her weight against her.
"Little Meng-Meng, what's on your mind?"
Fei Xiao didn't pull away, merely tilting her head.
"Today's sparring..."
"Stop."
Xia Luo's expression changed, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Fei Xiao was forced to stop walking and could only make a muffled sound.
"Mmph?"
Up ahead, Chen De turned around.
"What are you two doing?"
"Nothing."
Xia Luo answered quickly.
"Xiao Meng said she's going home tonight to write couplets."
Fei Xiao's eyes widened.
She hadn't even said anything yet.
Chen De looked at Xia Luo, then at the hand covering Fei Xiao's mouth.
"Take your hand away first."
"No."
Xia Luo spoke with a perfectly straight face.
"Xiao Meng's lips are too cold. I'm warming them up for her."
Lin Xi finally couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Covering them with your hand warms them up?"
"It's a new method."
"Sounds like you just made it up."
"You don't understand how to keep warm."
Sprawled on the backpack, Qubi drawled.
"She's just afraid Fei Xiao will say something that'll