The Journey Begins: Guangzhou Arc (Prologue)

The trip begins at 9:00 AM.

The girls of Solaris, after much anticipation, finally welcomed the day when their journey would officially begin.

"Girls, check yourselves to make sure you have everything you need," Xiao Ling reminded them. "There's still half an hour before the train arrives, so you have time to check."

"I brought this... and this too... Hmm! No problem at all, A-Yu!" Aemeath nodded energetically, indicating that she was ready.

"I don't need to bring anything extra," Chisa said calmly, nodding.

"Everything I need is here!" Lynae patted her suitcase, smiling brightly.

"I've brought everything I need," Sigrika said with a smile. "And Yaya?"

"Don't worry about me~ I packed everything last night." Dania yawned, "But right now I just want to go back to sleep."

After everyone else checked themselves and confirmed that they hadn't forgotten anything, Xiao Ling spoke.

"Since everything's alright, let's go. The Shorekeeper are already waiting for us."

Good morning, A-Ling.

The Shorekeeper held her handbag in front of her with both hands. Seeing Xiao Ling and her group arriving at the crossroads with large and small bags, she smiled gently.

"Good morning, Shorekeeper. Did you sleep well last night?" Xiao Ling waved with a smile.

"Slept very well, how about A-Ling?"

I plan to take a nap after I get on the bus.

"Xiao Ya!"

Just as the Shorekeeper and Xiao Ling were chatting, the sharp-eyed Lupa spotted Dania and the others following behind, waved, and ran over.

Without saying a word, she immediately took the large bag from Dania's back and put it in her own hands.

"Ah... I'm saved, thank you Lupa..." Dania, feeling relieved, sincerely thanked her kind neighbor Lupa.

"It's nothing," Lupa grinned, showing her tiger teeth. "But what's in your bag? It's quite heavy."

"Hmm... it's full of snacks."

"Xiao Ya, can you finish all these snacks by yourself?"

"I can eat slowly on the way..." Dania replied lazily, but out of the corner of her eye she suddenly caught a familiar figure, which startled her so much that she hid behind Lupa.

"Hmm? Xiao Ya?" Lupa asked, puzzled.

"Let me hide for a bit..." Dania peeked out from behind her, eager to avoid the approaching figure in the distance.

Following Dania's gaze, a tall, slender figure stood not far away, with skin as smooth as jade and long, snow-white hair tied into a neat high ponytail. Although she was dressed in a typical outfit of a beige short-sleeved shirt and black denim shorts, her eye-catching long legs were a definite plus. The black sunglasses, combined with her already cold and stern aura, gave her a cool and edgy vibe.

After she joined Xiao Ling and the others with her luggage, she took off her sunglasses, revealing her crimson eyes.

"Greetings, everyone," Crimson Snow greeted with a smile. "I hope I'm not late?"

"No, you've come at the perfect time, Crimson Snow," Roccia nodded. "I thought you wouldn't be very interested in this kind of activity."

"Since it was you and Little Ling who invited me, I'm naturally happy to accept," Crimson Snow replied gently. "The only downside is that it seems some people aren't entirely welcoming of my arrival?"

"Haha... nothing like that, Crimson Snow." Dania awkwardly stepped out from behind Lupa, handing Crimson Snow a bag of Pocky along the way. "I just wanted to get you some snacks..."

Crimson Snow looked at Dania and the Pocky stick in her hand, and knew perfectly well that giving her snacks was an excuse, but her real intention was to ease the atmosphere.

However, this could also be an opportunity to break the ice with her.

Crimson Snow took the Pocky, tore open the packaging with a ripping sound, and then took one out and handed it to Dania.

"You eat," she said with a smile and a gentle voice.

?

Looking at the other person's smile and the Pocky offered to her lips, Dania felt for a moment that she was about to die.

Right! That's the kind of plot, isn't it! As soon as you catch the Pocky, the next second this seemingly gentle shrine maiden in front of you will immediately catch the hilt of her sword and unleash a devastating attack, then finish you off with a combo!

But with so many people watching, it would be a bit impolite not to accept.

So, Dania mustered her courage and took a bite out of the Pocky stick in Crimson Snow's hand.

"Mmm, it's delicious, thank you, Crimson Snow!" Dania said sweetly with a soft smile.

Crimson Snow nodded gently, her smile unwavering, and her slender, jade-like hand, accustomed to wielding a knife, slowly rose with her movement.

Is it finally coming?!

Dania instinctively wanted to back away, but found that Crimson Snow simply placed her hand on her head.

"My dear child," Crimson Snow said softly, radiating maternal warmth.

"Gurgle..." Dania was caught in a dilemma, and could only stand there silently, making some cute noises along the way.

Fortunately, not long after, a tour bus drove straight towards them, allowing Dania to escape Crimson Snow's head pat.

But why did Xiao Ling feel that the driver in the car looked more and more familiar?

With a beep, the front and rear doors of the bus opened, Xiao Ling finally saw the familiar face sitting in the driver's seat.

"Brother Qiushui, you've given up being a guest minister and become a driver?" Xiao Ling teased, looking at Qiushui in the driver's seat.

"I mean, you have to pay to be a guest advisor, anyone understand?" Qiushui chimed in, complaining, "Being a driver is great, you get paid and can travel the world, go wherever you want, and all the expenses are reimbursed by the boss."

He jumped out of the car in a few quick steps, adjusting the goggles hanging on his nose. "He gave me a strict order, that I must get you and your family safely to every destination, Young Master Xiao. Let's get ready, get in the car and set off!"

"Of course, but before that, shouldn't you exchange a few pleasantries with your former boss?" Xiao Ling turned to the side, and Qiushui saw the serene smile of the Shorekeeper.

"Sounds like you're living a pretty comfortable life, Qiushui Guest." The Shorekeeper chuckled with a hint of slyness.

"Uh... is it possible for me to take back what I just said?"

"There's no medicine for regret in this world, Qiushui Guest Elder... oh no, I should call you Master Qiu now," Xiao Ling added from the side.

"Quack! Don't abandon my teeth! If it weren't for Black Shores! Vadashi!"

"Heave-ho!"

After the last bag of luggage was thrown into the storage compartment under the bus, Xiao Ling clapped her hands, quickly climbed into the bus, and went straight to the back seat.

"Master Qiu, the bus is departing! The bus is departing!"

"Alright!" Seeing that everyone had arrived, Qiushui stepped on the gas, and the bus immediately started and sped off towards the highway.

And so, Xiao Ling and the girls' summer vacation officially began.