I save a pathological girl with a twisted love story.

In the girl's heart, she watched that scene from afar.

Chiho, standing on the vermilion wooden bridge, obviously didn't understand Asahi's feelings.

Her heart was overflowing with something called "happiness," and she could no longer think about anything else.

Especially now, she can hardly wait to confess her feelings.

But it was suppressed again.

"How much longer do you think it will be before the lanterns are released?"

Chiho turned her head and asked Natsugiri Kai.

"It'll probably be another half hour," Xia Wuzhao said. "Right now, most of the tourists haven't come out yet."

"It'll take this long?" Chiho said, somewhat distressed.

“But isn’t that good too?” Xia Wuzhao said, “It’s only lively when there are so many tourists that they’re shoulder to shoulder. Otherwise, even if you release lanterns, it would be a pity if only a few lonely people watch them.”

“That’s true,” Chiho said. “But it would be nice to see fireworks.”

The girl sighed again.

"Because there are many forests here and no large rivers, there probably won't be any fireworks. Unless all the tourists gather at the lake on the mountain. However, the lantern festival will not be canceled. Tourists who go up the mountain won't be able to see the lanterns."

Xia Wuzhao said, "I guess that's why we won't set off fireworks."

"Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"

Looking at the river reflecting the lights, Chiho said, "Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"

“Of course not,” Xia Wuzhao said softly. “There is never a perfect solution in the world. If you want to gain something, you have to give up something.”

"is it?"

Chiho acted as if she were genuinely discussing fireworks and lanterns.

She said, "Then let's watch the lanterns. I'd also like to see fireworks, but compared to the lanterns, they're definitely not as good."

“But for most people, fireworks are the most important thing,” Xia Wuzhao said. “Compared to fireworks, lanterns are far too insignificant.”

Looking at Natsugiri, Chiho finally said, "No matter what, whether it's fireworks or lanterns, it's all good. As long as it's something I see with you, Natsugiri, it's all good to me."

She expressed her feelings so directly.

But Xia Wuzhao didn't seem to like that answer. He said, "Is it just because of me?"

“Yes, that’s right.” Chiho said, “Whether it’s watching lanterns or fireworks, everyone comes here to travel because they feel happy. But for me, the main thing is being able to be with you, Natsugiri, and that makes me happy.”

"That's why I'm saying that both river lanterns and fireworks are not wrong for me."

Xia Wuzhao did not answer Qianhui's question, but instead tapped her fingers on the wooden bridge railing painted with vermilion.

Chiho looked at the silent Natsugiri Kai and couldn't help but fall silent as well.

She had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

"But even if it's wrong, so what? I'm going to do it anyway."

Thinking this, she stood beside Xia Wu, quietly waiting for the lanterns to arrive.

The number of tourists gradually increased, and the previously sparse crowd suddenly became dense. It was truly shoulder to shoulder, and originally there were only Natsume and Chiho on the vermilion wooden bridge.

But now, there are more people.

Two or three couples came up and crowded the wooden bridge so much that it was almost impossible to pass.

Next to Chiho was a girl, and the girl and her boyfriend were talking intimately about something.

They looked so lovey-dovey, it made everyone incredibly envious.

She simply watched, thus taking another step closer to Xia Wuzhao.

His entire body pressed against Xia Wuzhao's side.

The fragrance emanating from her body almost completely enveloped Xia Wuzhao.

Chiho was smug because of this intimate contact.

"Although I'm not as intimate as the couples next to me, I'm at least much better than Asahi."

"I am already very lucky."

Thinking this, a smile returned to the girl's face. Lost in these thoughts, she didn't even notice the time.

And the time for happiness is always so short.

"Let's release the lanterns!"

A long shout came from the river, and a boatman was drifting along in a small boat. He wore a large straw hat, obscuring his face.

However, at this moment, almost no one would notice the boatman's face.

Because behind him were dense, brightly lit river lanterns.

They almost completely covered the narrow river surface, each one resembling a blooming lotus flower. The outer petals were pink, and the base was green.

In the middle, a dim candle was lit.

They drift aimlessly on the river, and because of their large numbers, they sometimes collide with each other due to the current.

But after only a slight sway, it continued to flow along with the river.

The entire river surface was almost completely reflected, and even the river water itself was shimmering.

The lanterns quickly reached the wooden bridge where Chiho and Natsugiri were standing, and several couples nearby cheered.

They were all taking photos with their phones or expressing their wishes.

I hope my wish can come true.

Chiho glanced at the couples who were already embracing, feeling a slight pang of envy.

But she asked Xia Wuzhao, "Xia Wu, can I make a wish on this lantern?"

"Perhaps it is possible."

Xia Wuzhao said, "After all, customs are completely different in many places, so even if there are conflicts, it's not surprising."

"Then, I'll make a wish."

As Chiho spoke, she closed her eyes and made a wish.

'I hope things go smoothly for me today. I hope I can become lovers with Xia Wu, and I hope my life will be happy from now on.'

"I hope that everything will get better from now on."

Chapter 203 The Summer Rain Suddenly Poured Down

The girl opened her eyes only after she made a wish.

Xia Wuzhao stood to the side, neither making a wish nor doing anything else.

Chiho asked, "Natsugiri, are you going to make a wish?"

“What’s the point of making a wish?” Xia Wuzhao said. “What’s the use of making a wish to the dead? Before death, everyone is just an ordinary person. But after death, they all become like gods, making others believe that they really have the ability to grant wishes.”

"If death is such a good thing, then why is everyone afraid of dying?"

"People aren't making wishes on the dead, they're making wishes on the elusive concept of fate," Chiho corrected Natsugiri. "Because people can't access fate, but the dead might. That's why people make wishes."

"Perhaps."

Xia Wuzhao neither refuted nor admitted it.

As the lanterns in the river below swayed with the faint glow of candlelight, they drifted away with the ripples and disappeared from sight.

The others standing on the vermilion bridge, as well as the couples lining both sides, suddenly dispersed.

Just moments ago, they were fiercely pushing and shoving, even fighting, for a single spot. But now, they're carelessly abandoning the places they worked so hard to get, and instead, they're all walking forward.

The stalls were set up on both sides of the river. If you kept walking forward, you could reach the place upstream where they sold lanterns.

And by simply turning a corner, one can follow the stalls and crowds on the other side back to their respective hotels, completing a full round trip.

Chiho and Natsugiri walked along the stalls on the right, but the things sold there weren't particularly interesting.

They are all pretty much the same; if it's your first time there, you might think it's great.

But the second time you go, you'll find it somewhat mediocre and boring.

Same shouts, similar stalls, similar clothes.

Xia Wuzhao walked through the crowd, while Chiho seemed rather excited.

Is this your first time here?

“Mmm.” Chiho nodded happily. She said, “I’ve never been to a festival before, I’ve only seen them on TV. But after coming here, I found that it really is just like what they say on TV. It’s definitely a fun and cheerful place.”

Xia Wuzhao simply smiled and said, "Then take your time and see."

Chiho's crimson eyes seemed to be sparkling as she pulled Natsumi along, looking at each stall one by one.

She wanted to try everything at every stall. At the air gun stall, she held the gun and fired over a dozen shots. But she missed every single one, which made the girl quite frustrated.

There's also the "rope-drawing" stall, where you have to draw a rope from a bunch of messy, tied-up ropes, and whatever you draw is the prize you get.

However, most of the ropes don't actually have any prizes; most of them are just consolation prizes.

She went over to them one by one and tried each one.

Even if there were no results, they still made a fool of themselves.

But Chiho was still smiling, her laughter ringing out like silver bells.

Even at food stalls, she wanted to try them all. But she could only eat a few bites before giving everything to Xia Wuzhao.

Stir-fried noodles brimming with vegetables and pork; takoyaki served in a cardboard box and eaten with toothpicks; thick fish cakes filled with sweet red bean paste; squid cakes made from a whole grilled squid; and grilled chicken skewers that the uncle liked.

When you're sweating profusely from eating, you can also eat chocolate bananas coated in chocolate candy.

But what Chiho likes most is the summer shaved ice served in a palm-sized transparent plastic bowl. It's usually topped with this sweet and sour sauce, and if you want to be more particular, you might add sliced ​​strawberries or jam.

It looks sweet and has a sweet, cool scent.

Chiho only took one bite before squinting her eyes.

"So sweet."

Unable to resist saying it, she looked up at Xia Wu and asked, "Want some? It's very, very sweet."

As she spoke, she scooped out a spoonful of shaved ice and handed it to Xia Wuzhao.

After eating it, Xia Wuzhao realized that it was indeed very sweet.

Seeing Chiho's expectant gaze, Natsugiri nodded: "It really is sweet."

"I knew it!"

Qian Su smiled smugly.

Linked by Xia Wuzhao's arm, they wandered along the roads on both sides of the festival.

Chiho had never felt such happiness before, and she even felt that her heart was now full of joy.

"But that's not enough. Not enough at all."

The girl thought to herself.

"I crave much more, much more, something even more dangerous."

Chiho was lost in thought when she realized she had already completed a round of the festival.

"Then let's go back now."

Xia Wuzhao pointed in the direction of the hot spring inn.

"Shall we go back now?"

Chiho was unwilling.

"Because, I haven't done anything yet. I've just been wandering around here for a while."

The girl thought to herself, but kept saying, "Let's go around one more time. Even if we go back this early, there's nothing else to do."

"Besides, isn't the atmosphere the whole point of coming to a festival?"

She pointed to the other people and said, "Look, there are so many couples."