Sunlight filtered through the plane tree leaves on either side of the street, scattering tiny patches of light across the gray-blue stone pavement.
The Imperial Capital's old district still retained its layout from a hundred years ago. Most of the shops lining the streets were low buildings, with all kinds of signs hanging beneath gray-tiled eaves and blue-brick walls. Here and there, modern glass storefronts were set into the old walls, but the mix of old and new did not look out of place.
The streets were crowded with people coming and going, bustling with life.
The National Competition had ended.
But the teachers and students from the various schools, along with the spectators who had traveled from afar, had yet to leave.
They rarely got a chance to visit the Imperial Capital. Since they were already here, they naturally wanted to explore properly rather than waste the trip.
To capitalize on the influx of visitors and business, the Imperial Capital's merchants had been pulling out all the stops with promotions. The whole city was enjoying a level of bustle it had not seen in a long time.
Zhou Fan and Lin Qianqian strolled side by side, taking in the lively, thriving streets around them.
He had already explored the city once on his last visit.
But this time, they were taking a different route, and the events were different too, so the experience felt completely new.
The two wandered at leisure, with no particular destination in mind.
Before long, they reached the busiest shopping street in the center of the Imperial Capital.
Food stalls of every kind lined both sides of the street, while the central plaza hosted all sorts of activities and performances. Stalls selling little trinkets surrounded it, making the whole place lively.
"It looks pretty lively