Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo finished lunch amid the strange looks from everyone in the burger restaurant.
Including the five Heart-Pounding Badges they had earned for completing the ice cream shop's extra task, Sheng Nian's team now had seventeen, so they were in no particular hurry to complete more tasks. They mainly picked attractions along their route or ones Sheng Nian wanted to try, earning another ten badges along the way.
The sun slowly sank westward, and the lights came on. Evernight Sky was even livelier and more beautiful than it had been during the day.
"A sleepless sky of glittering lights! Evernight Sky's night market is even prettier than it is during the day. Shall we go change at Cloud Robes and Feather Garments in Jiyaotian, then go shopping?"
Sheng Nian hadn't stayed overnight on his previous visits to Evernight Sky. This time, he wanted to experience its bustling night market no matter what.
Yan Feizhuo had joined the show for Sheng Nian in the first place, so naturally, Sheng Nian's wishes came first. He readily agreed.
The two headed to Cloud Robes and Feather Garments, the hanfu experience studio in Jiyaotian.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered Jiyaotian, they spotted Ye Heng doing tasks alone.
Ye Heng took the initiative to greet them. "President Yan, Mr. Sheng, what a coincidence. Are you here for Jiyaotian's night parade too?"
Sheng Nian blinked. "Night parade? What's that?"
"You haven't heard of it, Mr. Sheng? The night parade is a regular event at the Evernight Sky festival. It's actually divided into two parts. The first is the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, where Evernight Sky staff dress up as all sorts of ghosts and monsters from myths and legends and parade through the streets. Visitors can also join this part in their own cosplay."
"The second part is a night patrol led by the Night Wandering God and a nuo performance troupe. They parade and perform exorcisms, symbolizing the banishment of evil and disease and prayers for blessings and peace."
"Wow~ That sounds really interesting. Can we dress up as ghosts too?"
Ye Heng smiled. "Of course. There are places here in Jiyaotian specifically for doing visitors' makeup and styling."
Sheng Nian immediately became torn between wearing hanfu to go shopping and cosplaying for the night parade.
Seeing how torn he was, Yan Feizhuo spoke up. "What's there to agonize over? It's still early, and the night parade won't start for a while. You can wear hanfu for a look around first, then come back for cosplay makeup and styling and keep having fun."
Sheng Nian's eyes lit up. "We can do that?"
"Why not? Hurry over to Cloud Robes and Feather Garments and pick out your clothes."
[Hahahahaha, only kids choose. Adults want it all!]
[President Yan's domineering CEO tone is really something else!]
[Waaah, the makeup and styling at both Cloud Robes and Feather Garments and Break the Fourth Wall are really expensive, okay? I'm so jealous they can just do it whenever they want!]
Just as they were about to set off, Yan Feizhuo received a work call. He switched off his Livestreaming Hoverball and stepped aside to answer it.
That was when Ye Heng approached Sheng Nian.
Sheng Nian gave him a puzzled look. "Did you need something, Mr. Ye?"
Ye Heng's gentle smile made Sheng Nian feel as though he were looking at He Gu number two, giving him the creeps.
"Sheng Nian, you like Jiang Shu, don't you?"
Sheng Nian was full of questions, but he kept quiet, wanting to hear what exactly Ye Heng was up to.
"You like Jiang Shu, and I'm interested in He Gu. Why don't we work together?"
"Unpaired guests like us have an advantage when it comes to tasks. If we team up to sabotage Jiang Shu and He Gu's tasks, I can get Matchmaker Badges. Once I'm in the top three, I can assign you and Jiang Shu to the same team."
Sheng Nian: "(๑•̌.•̑๑)??" Was this really how the gloomy second male lead from later on operated at this stage?
"Um... why do I feel like you're taking me for an idiot? If you get into the top three, wouldn't your first priority be putting yourself on the same team as He Gu?"
Ye Heng's expression stiffened.
[Hahahahaha, Nian-baby: I'm very smart, you know (´I`). Don't even think about fooling me!]
[Ye Heng really looks like a big bad wolf trying to abduct Little Red Riding Hood.]
[Um, and he's doing it while President Yan isn't around...]
Ye Heng continued trying to persuade him. "Since I'm asking you to work with me, of course I'll keep my promise and let you be with Jiang Shu the next time we choose our Heart-Pounding partners. As for getting onto He Gu's team, I'll figure that out myself. In any case, splitting Jiang Shu and He Gu up is the top priority."
Under Ye Heng's expectant gaze, Sheng Nian pursed his lips and shook his head.
He wasn't interested. Neither cooperating nor collecting Heart-Pounding Badges was what mattered most to him.
That was what he thought, but he couldn't say it.
Sheng Nian activated his manipulative innocent act again. "We can't do that. I don't want to force Jiang Shu to team up with me. As long as he's happy, isn't that enough? Whoever he's with, I... I can bear it."
[Sigh, isn't Sheng Nian being too self-effacing when it comes to Jiang Shu?]
[Take a look at our President Yan! Rich, handsome, and a top-tier Alpha. Isn't he ten thousand times better than Jiang Shu?]
[But that's what's so strange about liking someone. It has nothing to do with fame, status, or money.]
Ye Heng tried persuading him a few more times. Seeing that Sheng Nian wouldn't budge, he finally said, "Since you won't cooperate, contribute something toward getting me into the top three, then. I'll help you split Jiang Shu and He Gu up."
As he spoke, he pulled out a water gun and sprayed Sheng Nian several times. A large patch of Sheng Nian's shirt and vest was soaked. He stared blankly at Ye Heng, unable to make sense of what had happened.
The Production Team's announcement came right on cue: [Guest Ye Heng has successfully used a prop to seize five badges from Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo's team.]
Ye Heng ran off as soon as he had used the prop, leaving the drenched Sheng Nian speechless.
Hearing the Production Team's announcement, Yan Feizhuo returned to find a large patch of Sheng Nian's clothes soaked. He frowned, quickly took off his trench coat, and draped it over Sheng Nian.
"What happened? Did Ye Heng do this?"
Sheng Nian nodded aggrievedly. "Not only did he get my clothes wet, he stole five badges too! He's gone too far! (▼皿▼#)"
"It's fine. If the badges are gone, they're gone. Let's hurry and pick out an outfit for you to change into, or you'll catch a chill."
[I feel like Ye Heng went a little too far. Steal the badges if you must, but getting his clothes all wet...]
[Whatever else Sheng Nian is, he's still an Omega. His white shirt became see-through when it got wet, and it's still a bit cold at night.]
[That was pretty ungentlemanly. Sure, the Production Team said they could use any means necessary, but couldn't he have aimed the water gun at his feet or somewhere? There was absolutely no need to spray his body...]
[I already thought something felt off when Ye Heng was trying to trick Sheng Nian into cooperating. Now I finally know what it was. I feel like Ye Heng is really hostile toward Sheng Nian. He's treating him like a brainless, lovesick idiot.]
[I've wanted to say this for a while, but all Sheng Nian did was fall for someone who doesn't like him back. He hasn't caused anyone else any trouble. I don't think anyone except Jiang Shu has any right to criticize him for it...]
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