They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"Class monitor, can you just tell me which path you've chosen? At least I can eliminate one wrong option..."

"?!"

Unbeknownst to me, An Yu's brain has developed so rapidly, and I feel a sense of pride, like an old father.

"...Are you thinking about something rude again?"

When have I ever thought of doing anything rude to you?

"It's happened too many times, I can't count them all."

It seems so.

"But who is that little girl? Ning Ruoyu, do you have a younger sister?"

"I actually thought you were much smarter just now. I should really repent."

"!"

An Yu snorted unhappily and lightly slapped my arm with her hand.

"...But I do have something to tell you."

Seeing Qiu Luxi and the others chatting with Su Qiqi, I lowered my voice.

It recounted what had just happened.

"...How could there be such a mother?"

After I finished speaking, Chen Di and Hu Dan fell silent, while An Yu looked indignant.

"An'an, shh."

Hu Dan gently nudged An Yu with her elbow. An Yu immediately reacted, glanced worriedly at Su Qiqi, and lowered her voice.

"So you really can't find it? Do you need our help?"

"How could we possibly compete with the police and street thugs in this regard? Let's not get involved too much."

"But……"

Chen Di shook his head at An Yu, who still wanted to say something.

“If it were just a lost child, that would be one thing, but in this situation, it’s really beyond our ability to help. Rather than wasting an afternoon in vain, we should spend some quality time playing with the child—that’s what you think, right?”

He looked at me.

"That's what Qiu Luxi thinks."

If it were me, I wouldn't have gone to help the little girl when I saw her crying. And it was Qiu Luxi's idea to take Su Qiqi to play now.

"...I didn't expect Qiu Luxi to be so gentle."

An Yu looked at Qiu Luxi with a sparkling gaze. It was clear that her fondness for Qiu Luxi had greatly increased at that moment.

However, in my opinion, Qiu Luxi's kindness towards Su Qiqi was less a condescending pity and more a compassionate empathy.

But this kind of sympathy usually comes from empathy—I'm curious why Qiu Luxi, a rich girl who doesn't have to worry about food or drink, would sympathize with and empathize with a child like Su Qiqi.

"In that case, how about we all go together for the third leg of the journey? We can't let the kids choose their own routes; it would be terrible if they got lost."

Hu Dan's suggestion is exactly what I wanted to say. Although Su Qiqi, being a child, doesn't need so many high school students to take care of her, it will be almost evening after the third leg of the route ends, and it won't be good for her to have the same playtime as the other groups.

"Yeah! I think so too."

"I'm OK."

An Yu and Chen Di nodded in agreement.

After a brief visit to the gift shop, our group set off for the final leg of our journey.

Since we were traveling with a little girl like Su Qiqi, we naturally chose a safer and more suitable "romantic trip".

but--

On the Ferris wheel, Qiu Luxi and I looked into each other's eyes.

There was no one else around; the huge private room was empty except for the two of us.

Qiu Luxi seemed indifferent. She looked around and finally focused her gaze on my face.

"Why come here?"

She asked softly, her eyes as usual, and her tone indifferent.

I swallowed hard.

"Actually, we've been a couple from the very beginning."

[Next chapter preview: These mascots are all singing and dancing, which seems to me more like they're drunk and acting crazy.]

Damn it, I wasn't the one eating turkey legs for lunch.

You could even say it was King Arthur's cuckoldry.

"Love!! And!!! Peace!!!!"

Does anyone actually read rulebooks?

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Holy Ring War

Let me start from the beginning.

After accompanying Su Qiqi through the last part of the attractions, we took a ride on the Ferris wheel.

After all, it was a large amusement park ride, unlike the ones in anime and games. The cabin perfectly accommodated all eight of us.

...How could a romantic Ferris wheel ride for two possibly happen in real life?! Why would you specifically divide into groups when you're all going together?!

After a cursory glance at the city's night view, we all fell into a somewhat silent silence.

As we are a limited group ticket holder, we still have one more project, but for Su Qiqi, it's like the end of a fairy tale, and she will have to face the cruelty and ugliness of reality.

This is definitely not the kind of atmosphere where people can laugh and make noise.

"I... I'd like to see the castle, is that alright?"

Su Qiqi is a smart child. She may not have realized that she had been abandoned during the journey, but she at least sensed our forced smiles, so she took the initiative to speak up.

"Ok!"

An Yu held her small hand and nodded vigorously.

I saw An Yu's phone screen while we were on the Ferris wheel. We were finally getting to see the view from such a high place, and normally this idiot would be looking around and making a ruckus, but instead, she was looking down at her phone the whole time.

The phone screen displayed several search results, roughly about how abandoned children should live and whether group-limited tickets could be transferred to others midway through the trip.

—Hmm, there's another one: "Can the park's team-limited dinner be purchased separately after the transfer?" For the sake of Ms. An's reputation, I'll just pretend I didn't see it.

However, just as we were about to enter the castle, we were stopped by staff members wearing leather veils.

"what?"

Looking at the mascot waving at her, Su Qiqi felt both excited and puzzled.

"Are these mascots trying to tell us something?"

An Yu asked me.

"It feels like they're preparing to give us something."

Qiu Luxi, who was beside me, said calmly.

How did you come to that conclusion? These mascots are all singing and dancing; to me, they look more like they're drunk and acting crazy.

"!!!"

Among them, the park's most iconic cat mascot began clapping and opening its arms towards Qiu Luxi, while another duck mascot handed over a black plastic box.

"No way, you actually guessed that?!"

I looked at Qiu Luxi in surprise.

"Because I'm just as interesting as they are."

Qiu Luxi said calmly, though her tone carried a hint of smugness.

"Theme parks are actually graveyards for pragmatic egoists!"

An Yu lectured him with an air of superiority.

"You weren't right either. Who was that guy who was so flustered just now? You can lie in the coffin with me!"

"I...I just didn't realize what was happening!"

"...And these theme parks' various fees aren't exactly idealistic either."

An Yu shut her mouth and nodded sadly. Having eaten two set meals for lunch, it seemed her wallet was also quite practical.

The duck mascot made a punching gesture and gently patted me.

Damn it, I wasn't the one eating turkey legs for lunch. And you're clearly a duck!

...Could there be a special attraction between a duck and a former gigolo?

Just as I was about to argue with the mascot, Su Qiqi exclaimed "Wow!" and we all crowded around.

"It's a bracelet! It's so pretty!"

The duck and I made eye contact. It nodded slightly at me. For some reason, its build started to resemble the staff member from lunchtime.

"Brother, does that mean..."

Ning Ruoxin turned to look at me, her tone tinged with joy. Ling Chuqing, standing beside her, also smiled, as if she wanted to say something.

"Oh ha ha ha!!!!"

A plume of white smoke rose out, accompanied by an extravagant entrance, as an old man with a white beard strode out from the castle gate.

"Oh? Little girl, what you're holding, could it be...?!"

This kind of entrance might seem a bit childish to young kids. But for middle and high school students, it's incredibly cool!

"Oh my, so it really is this!"

What is it? What is it?

"King Arthur's Bracelet!!!"

Merlin's beard, huh?! Could you be any more ridiculous?!

You could even say it was King Arthur's cuckoldry.

What's with the wristbands? So, does a roundtable meeting mean everyone sits in a circle around wristbands? Shall we play drop the handkerchief again?

"King Arthur's Bracelet!"

An Yu repeated after her, her eyes shining brightly.

Actually, I quite enjoy hanging out with friends like that, since the atmosphere is just right. But I also need a normal person around to express the right reactions.

For example, Qiu Lu Xi—

Although Qiu Luxi didn't repeat the year, she was also watching the old man intently, looking like a curious cat.

...I'm so disappointed.

"That's right! Legend has it that only the chosen ones will receive this bracelet, and it will bring the holder unparalleled glory and treasures!"

"treasure!!"

Even Ning Ruoxin and Ling Chuqing are repeating a year. I can understand why Chen Di will fall for her later.

"But!" the old man suddenly changed his tone.

"If you want to wear the bracelet, you must bear its weight! The bracelet is a symbol of power and glory, but also a curse and a test!"

"test!!"

Chen Di repeated after him with a smile. It was clear that he was really enjoying himself.

"That's right! Brave young ones. This is a great bracelet war! You chosen ones will experience betrayal, competition, and slaughter, but you will also experience kindness, courage, love, and peace!"

……

The old man glanced at me.