Ch. 27 - In a Small Park at Noon

"What time is it now...?"

My head rested on Tang Xin's lap beneath her long dress. It was soft, like a pillow stuffed with fragrant cotton. Comfortable enough to make me sleepy.

Under the concentrated gaze of everyone in the restaurant, Tang Xin had helped me out of the private dining restaurant without looking back once, leaving behind Chen Yu, who sat frozen in his chair looking utterly miserable. Now the two of us were in a small park not far from the restaurant.

Tang Xin sat on one end of a stone bench wearing her lady's hat. Meanwhile, I was stretched out across the bench, my head resting on her bonelessly soft thighs through the fabric of her dress. Behind us stood a large banyan tree, generously providing a patch of shade. A cool breeze drifted through the park.

Perhaps because we'd left the restaurant's overly air-conditioned interior, my muddled mind had become somewhat clearer.

"Four in the afternoon."

Tang Xin paused her fanning and smiled mischievously.

Four in the afternoon...Four?! Bai Lu's performance started at two! Did that mean I'd missed her show?!

"I-I-I'M LATE!"

Realizing the severity of the situation, I panicked and scrambled to get off Tang Xin's lap.

Smack.

The moment my head rose halfway up, Tang Xin lightly tapped it with her folding fan and pushed it right back onto her lap.

"Idiot. I was kidding."

She brushed a few strands of silver hair behind her ear and sighed helplessly.

"You believe everything people tell you."

"No wonder you almost got framed by Chen Yu."

"Framed?"

I raised a hand and rubbed my temples, trying to recall what had happened. As soon as Tang Xin said that word, everything slowly started making sense. The reason Chen Yu's wallet had been found in my pocket...Was because Chen Yu had secretly slipped it there himself. If the police had arrived after he reported it stolen, I would have been branded a thief.

But...

The same Chen Yu who had chatted happily with me about games. The same Chen Yu who had smiled and acted so approachable. Even now, it still felt unreal.

Tang Xin seemed to understand what I was thinking. Looking down at me, she spoke slowly.

"When he talked to you about games, when he kept chatting with you...That was all to lower your guard."

She continued fanning me gently.

"The moment I tasted that wine in the restaurant, I knew the alcohol content was high. I just didn't know what he was planning yet, so I didn't stop you."

So he'd started laying the groundwork that early...A cold sweat slowly ran down my back.

"His family owns businesses related to the gaming industry."

Tang Xin reached into her handbag and took out the box containing Firebearer IV.

"If he'd done even a little research, chatting about those topics would've been easy."

She glanced at me.

"Remember when he said he loved the Firebearer series?"

I nodded.

"I think he saw this game when I took out a tissue from my bag to wipe your sweat."

She held up the collector's edition box.

"I don't play games. So if I owned this, it could only have been because of you."

Then she lowered her gaze. The playful smile remained on her face. But something else lingered behind it. A faint loneliness.

"Never trust people who wear smiling masks."

She paused.

"...Including me."

That expression reminded me of the first time I'd met her.

The noon sun blazed beyond the shade. It was so hot outside that even the cicadas had given up singing. I lay there quietly on her lap, looking up at her delicate face, meeting her eyes. Her silver hair shimmered brightly in my vision.

"Thank you."

I blinked and thanked her sincerely. For two seconds, our eyes met. Then Tang Xin looked away first.

"So..."

Her previous expression vanished instantly. The familiar fox-like smile returned.

"Are you planning to devote yourself to me now, Vice President?"

This woman always loved making jokes like that. My face felt warm. I turned my head away to avoid her gaze.

"What time is it really?"

I sat up, leaving her lap. My head still hurt. I ran a hand through my hair and massaged my temples. Strangely enough, as I left her soft thighs behind, I felt a faint sense of reluctance. This was bad. I'd almost been charmed by this beautiful snake again.

"One o'clock."

Tang Xin answered. The theater wasn't very far away. There was also a nearby subway station. If we left now, we should still make it on time.

"I'm heading to the theater."

I stood up and stretched. The dizziness remained, but at least I could walk normally again.

"I'm going to watch my sister's performance."

"Mm."

Tang Xin nodded and stood up as well. Wait. Why was she acting like she was coming with me?

"I'm going to watch my sister's performance."

I repeated myself.

"Mm."

Tang Xin repeated herself too. Did she not understand what I was implying? This woman was incredibly clever. There was no way she couldn't understand.

"...I only have one ticket."

I dug into my pocket and pulled out the slightly wrinkled ticket.

"No problem."

Seeing the ticket, the smile on Tang Xin's lips widened.

"I have one too."

She opened her handbag and produced two tickets identical to mine. Waving them before my eyes with her pale hand.

"W-Why do you have tickets?!"

I stared at her in shock. My mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. Only now did I realize something. The mischievous expression she'd worn when she saw my ticket this morning hadn't been because of Chen Yu. It had been because of this.

"This was actually the other reason I invited you out yesterday."

She used the tickets as a fan, creating a breeze that only made me sweat harder.

"My father's friend gave them to me."

"I knew your sister studied ballet."

"So I thought you might be interested."

She tilted her head and smiled.

"I never expected it to be such a coincidence."

No way. Could there really be such a coincidence? So today had been destined to become a Tang Xin Day from the very beginning? Looking at her smiling face, my shoulders drooped helplessly. All my energy seemed to drain away.

"Shall we go, Vice President?"

Tang Xin stepped closer. Then naturally wrapped her arm around mine. Turning her head, she smiled.

"...We can go."

I looked at her arm around mine.

"But why are you holding onto me?"

"Because my Vice President is drunk."

She answered matter-of-factly.

"I need to support you."

"I'm already sober..."

"That's exactly what drunk people always say."

"..."

I had no response to that.

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