Conquer the other worlds with abandon, they've fallen in love with me!

Meanwhile, the East Market of Wind Chime Town—

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted nuts, the sweetness of syrup, and the warm, cozy atmosphere unique to the crowd.

The streets were lined with stalls, colorful tarpaulins stretching as far as the eye could see, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and children's laughter mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Lilia clutched a small purse as she weaved through the crowd.

Her light yellow dress and pink side ponytail bounced with her movements.

She stopped in front of a candy shop, stood on tiptoe and looked around for a long time, and finally bought a small bag of colorful hard candies. She peeled one open and put it in her mouth. The sweetness melted on her tongue, and she squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

Today is her monthly day off, and going to the market is an indispensable part of her routine.

Looking at novel gadgets, smelling the aromas of various foods, and listening to street performers' music allows her to temporarily escape from her daily front desk work, making her feel light and carefree.

But today, this lightness is mixed with a trace of inexplicable loss.

She was biting into a candy when her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the children being carried on their fathers' shoulders.

The children sat high up, excitedly pointing at the magic show in the distance, chattering away.

She could only barely see a swaying corner of a colorful garment through the gaps in the crowd.

"They're sitting so high up..." she muttered to herself, her eyes filled with envy.

She wanted to watch too, but she was always squeezed to the outside.

I'm short, there's nothing I can do about it.

The gods gave her a lovely face, but forgot to add her height as well.

She tried standing on tiptoe and jumping, but it didn't work.

I eventually gave up, since I couldn't see it every time anyway.

This time will probably be the same.

Lilia turned around, preparing to go to the old street corner to check out the new jewelry stalls.

I heard they sell those star-shaped hair clips that light up.

Just then, the crowd stirred slightly and parted to both sides.

Lilia subconsciously looked up.

Then, she froze.

The sunlight slanted in from the west, casting a warm golden-red hue over the crowded and bustling market.

Against the light, a tall figure was walking through the crowd toward her.

With black hair, a well-defined profile, and simple dark clothes, he stood out clearly and...reassuringly against the chaotic background.

It is Mr. Lin Yu.

What's he doing here? Is he looking for her? Or... is it a coincidence?

Lilia's heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously clenched the candy wrapper in her hand, making a slight rustling sound.

The candy in her mouth seemed to suddenly become even sweeter, so sweet that her nose felt a little sore.

She watched Lin Yu approach, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as if searching for something.

Then, his gaze fixed on her.

A few steps apart, their eyes met.

Lilia seemed to pause for a moment when she saw him, and then her small, somewhat dazed figure was clearly reflected in his usually calm and deep black eyes.

Lin Yu's lips curved into a small, but undeniably real, smile.

There was no sound, but Lilia seemed to hear a "pop" in her heart, as if a small flower bud had bloomed in an instant.

All the disappointment, all the self-comforting thoughts of "I probably won't see the performance," were swept away by the overwhelming joy at this moment.

The sunlight seemed to suddenly become exceptionally bright, and the surrounding noise faded into a blurry background sound.

She looked at him, her eyes widening little by little, and tiny glimmers of light appeared in her pupils.

His lips curled up uncontrollably, growing wider and wider until he revealed a silly yet incredibly radiant smile.

The next second, she moved.

Like a startled pink bird, she suddenly darted toward the backlit figure.

Her skirt fluttered, and her side ponytail swung merrily behind her.

The crowd automatically parted to make way for her.

"Mr. Lin Yu—!"

She shouted, her voice filled with undisguised joy, carrying the sweet scent of candy.

When she was still two steps away from him, she jumped with all her might.

Lin Yu almost reflexively opened his arms and caught the sweet "pink cannonball" that was fired at him.

Lilia instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a koala.

The impact caused Lin Yu to take a slight step back, but his arm supporting her hips remained as steady as a rock.

"Mr. Lin Yu! What brings you here? Did you come to see me? Vera told you, right?"

Lilia buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, nuzzled him, then lifted her face up, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

One question after another popped up, and his breath was warm on the side of his neck, carrying the sweet scent of candy.

Lin Yu groaned as Lilia bumped into him, then chuckled softly, lifting her up slightly to make her more stable.

"Yes, I came to find you. Vera said you might be here."

"I miss you so much!"

Lilia blurted it out, and only after she finished speaking did her face belatedly turn red, but the hand around Lin Yu's neck didn't loosen at all; instead, it tightened even more, as if afraid he would run away.

"You haven't been to the guild for the past few days..."

"I'm a bit busy," Lin Yu explained briefly, his gaze sweeping over Lilia's cheeks, flushed with excitement and running, and her large, wet eyes, filled with his reflection.

"I heard there's a magic show here?"

"Yes! It's over at the fountain square!" Lilia nodded vigorously, her ponytail brushing against Lin Yu's cheek.

"But there are so many people, I can't squeeze in, I can't see anything..."

As she spoke, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of unconscious grievance and coquettishness.

Lin Yu didn't say anything, but used his arm to lift her up.

Lilia gasped softly, feeling her gaze suddenly rise higher.

The next second, she was already sitting steadily on Lin Yu's broad shoulders.

She was familiar with this pose.

Last time in the forest, he let her ride on his shoulders in the same way.

But this time it was in a bustling market, surrounded by countless unfamiliar faces.

After a brief moment of embarrassment came an overwhelming sense of joy and security that nearly overwhelmed her.

"Wow!" she exclaimed softly, instinctively cupping Lin Yu's head in her hands.

From this vantage point, the entire market is laid out before you.

A sea of ​​heads, colorful tarpaulins, and in the distance, a juggler performing somersaults in the fountain square...

All the scenery that previously required strenuous tiptoeing or jumping to see is now presented before my eyes with crystal clarity.

The warm golden light shone on her, giving her pink hair a fluffy, shimmering edge.

She sat on his shoulders, her legs, clad in a light yellow dress, swaying gently against his chest.

"I see it! Mr. Lin Yu, I see it!" Lilia pointed excitedly towards the square, her voice sweet and soft, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"That guy in the red shirt is tossing torches! That's amazing! And the guy behind him is stacking chairs! So high!"

As she watched, she chattered excitedly as she shared her observations with Lin Yu.

When she sees something dangerous, she nervously grabs his hair.

When she saw something funny, she would giggle and laugh out loud, her body trembling slightly with laughter, and Lin Yu, who was sitting below her, could feel the excited vibration.

Lin Yu supported her calves and steadily walked towards the fountain square.

People around them cast kind glances, and a child pointed at them and said to his parents, "I want to sit that high too!"

Lilia blushed even more when she heard this, but her heart was bubbling with sweetness.

She lowered her head, held Lin Yu's head in her hands, and pressed her face against his thick black hair.

There was a refreshing scent in my hair, a blend of sunshine and the smell of the market.

"Mr. Lin Yu," she called softly.

"Um."

"Thank you." Her voice was soft, but every word carried real weight and warmth.

"Although I've seen performances before, this one... is the best one yet."

"Because you're here, because you let me sit so high, because you're with me~ my Mr. Lin Yu~" Lilia added in her mind.

Lilia didn't say what came next, but Lin Yu understood.

He didn't say anything, but the hand supporting her calf tightened slightly.

Lilia's smile widened.

She raised her head again, looking at the wonderful performance in the square, her eyes shining as if stars had fallen into them.

The sun gradually moved westward.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two people, which intertwined intimately and were projected onto the bustling market ground.

The girl sat on the man's shoulders, pointing excitedly, while the man steadily supported her, walking with ease.

The area was filled with noise and bustling crowds.

But at this moment, in Lilia's mind, the world was very small, so small that it consisted only of her and the broad, sturdy shoulders beneath her.

A breeze carried the sweetness of candy, the aroma of roasted meat, and the reassuring warmth of the person beneath me.

very nice.