People are in the magic card, instigating rebellion against the world.

Chapter 201: Being able to kiss Tomoyo-chan is a blessing that countless people could only dream of! (Bonus chapter: 1.8 words)

He cannot make a move.

If he intervenes forcefully, he might easily resolve the hidden card issue, but it would cause Sakura to lose this precious opportunity for growth, and could even affect her subsequent understanding of magical power.

So this time, he could only be a quiet spectator.

I believe in Sakura; she can definitely do it.

In the darkness, he suddenly felt a soft little hand gently grasp his arm.

The touch was delicate and warm; I knew without even thinking that it was Tomoyo.

"Ye Huijun, is it a Clow Card?" Tomoyo's voice was low but still calm.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +9】

"Yes, it's a hidden card."

Ye Hui nodded gently, and although he knew that Zhi Shi was blind, he still conveyed reassurance in his tone, "Don't be afraid, it won't hurt us for now."

He grasped Tomoyo's hand in return, transmitting a faint, soothing spiritual energy to her, allowing her to feel her presence more clearly.

Zhi Shi couldn't see Ye Hui's expression, but she could feel his calmness from his steady tone and warm hands, as if he could handle anything with ease.

Indeed, as long as Ye Huijun is around, it seems there's nothing to be afraid of.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +13】

Just as the two fell silent, a complaining voice with a distinct Osaka accent suddenly rang out in the deathly darkness: "Hey! Where are we? Why is it so dark around us? Can you even find your way?"

"Shut up! I can smell it, I'll find it soon!" Qingque's voice, tinged with impatience, rang out clearly in the darkness.

Ye Hui could sense that the two little creatures were approaching him.

"Master! Sister Zhi Shi! I've found you!" A moment later, Qing Que's voice came.

Following the familiar spiritual energy aura emanating from Ye Hui, it plunged headfirst into his arms, its small body causing a slight numbness in his chest.

The blue sparrow affectionately rubbed its fluffy little head against Ye Hui's cheek, the soft feathers brushing against his skin with a touch of warmth. Then it fluttered its wings and flew over to gently rub against Zhi Shi's hand, soothing her emotions.

"Xiao Ke? Qing Que? How did you find us?" Zhi Shi asked in surprise as she felt the touch on the back of her hand.

"Master, what happened?" Qingque landed on Ye Hui's shoulder, looking pitiful. "I tried to use magic to light up the surroundings, but I found that I couldn't use my spiritual power at all. It's so dark here, I can't see anything or hear any other sounds. It's so scary."

Ye Hui understood.

Qingque's current spiritual power has not yet surpassed that of the Dark Card, so naturally she cannot mobilize her power in the absolute darkness.

He gently patted Qingque's little head: "Don't be afraid, it's the hidden card playing tricks."

"A hidden card?" Tomoyo frowned.

“That’s right, it’s the Clow Card that can devour all light and sound.” Kero’s voice came from Ye Hui’s pocket, unusually serious. “Its ability is to create an absolutely dark, enclosed space. In this space, time is paused for non-magical beings. Only those with magic power are drawn in, and it’s very difficult for them to get out.”

"What about Sakura? Was Sakura also involved?" Tomoyo was most worried about Sakura, and she tightened her grip on Ye Hui's hand.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +7】

“Don’t worry, she’s definitely here too,” Ye Hui said. “The Dark Card’s space will pull in all people with magic, and Sakura, as a Cardcaptor Sakura, is no exception.”

"And she was right in the center of the stage just now, so she must have been caught up in it too, but she's just temporarily separated from us now."

The grand sect competition of the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect has been interrupted by the Shadow Beast! You and the Dharma Protector, Daodaoji Tomoyo, have been swept into the endless void, and the fate of Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple with the Heavenly Spiritual Root, is unknown!

The system logs have been refreshed, but why aren't the task logs?

Could it be that the system thinks this is a trial for Sakura alone, and therefore can't come up with a script?
"What should we do now? How can we find Sakura?" Tomoyo's voice pulled Ye Hui back to reality. She tried to mobilize her spiritual power to sense Sakura's location, but found that the power in her body seemed to be suppressed by an invisible boulder, making it impossible to use smoothly. It could only flow weakly within her body.

“It’s no use.” Xiao Ke sighed. “In the space of the Dark Card, besides itself and the Light Card that exists in pairs with it, any other magic will be infinitely weakened and cannot play any role at all. All we can do now is wait.”

Ye Hui understood the unspoken meaning in Xiao Ke's words.

It unilaterally believes that with its current strength, it is no match for the hidden card, so it can only choose to wait.

Ye Hui raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Wait?" Tomoyo asked.

"Let Sakura find a way to break through this space herself," Kero said confidently. "She's a Cardcaptor Sakura, she'll definitely find a way."

Ye Hui remained silent.

Xiao Ke is right.

This trial was prepared for Sakura from the very beginning.

In the darkness, Sakura found herself all alone.

There was no tactile sensation of a stage, no familiar props, only a cold emptiness.

"Ye Huijun? Zhi Shi? Where are you?" she called out tentatively, but her voice seemed to be swallowed by the darkness, and she could only hear a faint echo, which could not travel very far.

All around was an endless darkness, without a trace of light or sound, eerily quiet, so quiet that even the sound of one's own breathing and heartbeat was exceptionally clear.

"Where is everyone? Have they all been dragged into this?" Sakura looked around.

Then she reached out and groped around in front of her, but could only touch nothingness; there was nothing to lean on.

She recalled what had just happened on stage.

Just as he was about to kiss the princess awake, the spotlight shone blindingly bright, and the music became gentle and moving.

But the next second, all the light and sound disappeared, leaving only endless darkness.

Just as she was about to kiss the sleeping princess Tomoyo awake, before her lips even touched her skin, she was suddenly swallowed by darkness, and then even sound and touch disappeared.

Then she knew nothing more.

"No, it's the Clow Cards..." Sakura quickly realized.

She instinctively reached into her pocket, pulled out the familiar sealing key, and tried to mobilize the magic within her to break the seal and summon the Clow Cards for help.

But the key didn't respond at all, not even a faint glimmer of light, just like an ordinary decorative key.

"How could this happen?" Sakura started to panic.

Undeterred, she tried several more times, repeatedly reciting the incantation to unseal the key, but it remained cold and unchanging.

Magic... I can't use it anymore.

"Kero! Where are you? Kero!" Sakura shouted into the darkness, hoping to get a response from Kero.

But all that answered her was deathly silence; even her own echo dissipated very quickly.

Xiao Ke wasn't there, nor were Ye Huijun and Zhi Shi.

She is now truly a person, trapped in this endless darkness, unable to even use magic.

How to do?
Sakura walked for a while but couldn't see anything, so she hugged her knees and slowly squatted down.

A chilling sense of emptiness washed over her from all directions, making her shiver involuntarily.

In the past, when she encountered danger, Ye Huijun would always stand in front of her, Zhi Shi would comfort her, and Xiao Ke would always offer advice.

Although their methods are sometimes unreliable, at least she's not alone.

But now, she has nothing.

Sakura swallowed.

She couldn't help but think of her brother and Snow Rabbit Brother in the audience.

I wonder if they've been dragged into this.

And there's Chiharu and Naoko backstage, as well as Li and Meiling...

Are we all trapped in this strange place? Are we all waiting for her to rescue us?
No! She can't just sit here and wait to die!
Sakura quickly wiped her eyes and stood up from the ground.

She is the Cardcaptor Sakura, the chosen one. Protecting everyone is her responsibility. How can she give up because of a little difficulty?

She took a deep breath, took a step forward, and continued to grope her way forward in the endless darkness.

She didn't know which way to go, nor how long it would take; she could only move forward step by step by instinct.

She didn't know how long she had walked, but her legs were starting to ache. The scenery around her remained unchanged; the darkness was like a giant net, trapping her tightly.

Just when Sakura was about to give up, and even wanted to squat down and cry again.

Suddenly, the words Ye Hui had once said to her echoed in her mind.

It was during one of her frustrations at being unable to control the new Clow Cards that Ye Hui gently patted her shoulder. "Sakura, true power doesn't come from the wand, nor from the Clow Cards, but from within yourself."

"As long as your heart is strong and firm enough, nothing can defeat you, and nothing can trap you."

The power within...?

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +15]

Sakura stopped and looked down at her hands.

Just then, she suddenly noticed that her body was emitting a faint white light!
Although the light was not strong, it was enough to illuminate a half-meter radius around her, making it appear exceptionally warm in the pitch-black space.

[The disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root, Kinomoto Sakura, has suffered a setback in her Dao heart and is trapped in the endless void! This is a great tribulation for ascension; if she cannot overcome it, she will be eternally trapped in the cycle of reincarnation!]

Ye Hui sensed the light in the darkness and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

They will also face the great calamity of ascension and be forever trapped in the cycle of reincarnation.
He had already sensed it with his divine sense; Sakura's aura was initially somewhat disordered, filled with fear and panic.

But as the light appeared, things gradually became more stable and firm, clearly indicating that the key to solving the problem had been found.

"Ye Huijun, is Xiaoying alright? I have this feeling of unease."

Tomoyo's voice carried an undisguised worry.

Although Ye Hui had repeatedly comforted her, she still couldn't rest easy because she couldn't see Xiaoying or feel her presence.

"Don't worry, she'll get through this on her own soon." Ye Hui smiled slightly, gently squeezing Zhi Shi's hand to send her more comforting words. "You see, she's already found her way."

He believed in Sakura, in her inner strength, and even more so, he believed she wouldn't let everyone down.

This crisis doesn't require his help.

In the darkness, Sakura looked at the faint light emanating from her body and gradually calmed down.

She reached out her hand, watching the light flow through her fingertips, a warm feeling spreading throughout her body, dispelling all fear and unease.

"It will be fine."

She whispered words of comfort to herself, her eyes becoming exceptionally resolute.

Ye Huijun once said that true power comes from within.

Is this beam of light the power deep within her heart?

Is it the Light Card that can fight against darkness?
"I understand!" Sakura suddenly realized, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Because I am shining, even in the darkest darkness, I can still see the way! Because there is light in my heart, darkness can never trap me!"

[Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root, experiences enlightenment! She finds the light of origin in the endless void, and is about to break through illusion, attain enlightenment, and ascend to immortality!]

Ye Hui: “…”

System, could you please stop explaining?

It's really distracting, isn't it?

Didn't you see he was with Tomoyo, worried about Sakura? Can't you at least respect the atmosphere?!
"Ye Huijun, look! There's light over there!" Zhi Shi suddenly pointed excitedly ahead.

In the darkness in the distance, a beam of white light, growing ever brighter, is slowly approaching.

The light carried a familiar scent to Sakura, warm and resolute.

That beam of light was so striking and dazzling in the darkness, like the sun in the night, instantly dispelling the unease in everyone's hearts.

"It's Sakura! It must be her!" Tomoyo's voice was excited. She gripped Ye Hui's hand tightly, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at the approaching beam of light. Her worry was instantly replaced by joy.

"Yes, she's been found." Ye Hui's lips unconsciously curled up, a hint of relief in his expression.

He knew that Sakura wouldn't let everyone down.

And it was even faster than he had expected!
In a very short time, the power of the Light Card within me was awakened.

The light gradually drew closer, finally stopping in front of Sakura and slowly coalescing into a human shape.

She was a woman dressed in a gorgeous white gown, the hem of which was adorned with tiny specks of light, like stars in the night sky. She wore a silver crown, her long hair cascaded down her back, and she radiated a warm and dazzling light. She was like a queen from a fairy tale.

Starbucks?
Sakura looked at the figure in front of her, tilted her head uncertainly, and asked softly, "You...you're also a Clow Card?"

“Yes.” The woman nodded with a smile, her voice gentle and ethereal. “From the moment the seal on the Clow Cards was broken, I have been in your heart, waiting for the day you truly awaken me.”

"In my heart?" Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, and she subconsciously touched her chest, as if she could feel that warm power. "I never knew... that you had always been by my side."

“That’s right.” The Light Card nodded slightly and patiently explained, “I am the Light Card, and I exist in pairs with the Dark Card.”

“Only when you realize that ‘the light is in your heart,’ and no longer rely on external forces, but find me through your own inner steadfastness, can I truly appear and stand beside you.”

It turned out to be like this...

Sakura suddenly realized, and the words Ye Hui had once said came to mind again.

True power comes from within yourself!

She suddenly realized.

Did Ye Huijun already know that Guangpai was in her heart, which is why she specifically reminded her?

This thought warmed her heart and strengthened her resolve.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +14]

"Thank you for always being there for me," Sakura said sincerely to the light sign.

Guangpai looked at her with a playful smile and winked mischievously: "You're welcome, it's our agreement."

"However, I have a question for you—what can illuminate the darkness?"

Upon hearing this question, Sakura blurted out without hesitation, "It's light! It's the light hidden in my heart!"

"You got it right!" The Light Card smiled and raised its head, its light shining even brighter.

As her words fell, the endless darkness was completely illuminated!
The originally thick black color melted away like ice and snow.

On the other side of the light, the hidden card slowly appeared.

She wore a long black dress, surrounded by a faint black mist, but showed no malice.

She walked towards the light sign, gently took its hand, and the two stood together, forming a striking yet harmonious contrast.

“Hidden card…” Sakura looked at her and softly uttered her name.

"It's good that you found the light." The voice of the Dark Card was deep yet gentle. "I knew you would find her and seal me away."

“Because she is the girl whose soul I can inhabit,” the Light card added with a smile, holding the Dark card’s hand.

The hidden card nodded in agreement, explaining, "Light and darkness are inherently twins, interdependent and indispensable."

"Only by sealing both of us at the same time can this dark space I created be completely released, and everyone can return to their original world."

"Yes...yes! I understand!" Sakura nodded vigorously, took a deep breath, and gripped the sealing key tightly in her hand.

The key now shines again, no longer cold and lifeless.

She held up the key and recited the unsealing incantation.

"Key that conceals the power of darkness, reveal your true strength before me! Sakura, who made a pact with you, commands you: release the seal!"

As the spell was cast, the key transformed into an exquisite magic wand, which Sakura held in her hand.

She looked at the light and dark cards in front of her with a determined gaze: "Restore your original form, Clow Cards!"

The Light Card looked at her gently and said softly, "We hope you can become our true master and use the power within your heart to control light and darkness."

The hidden card added, "Although the one who makes the final judgment is Yue, I believe in you. You will definitely pass the test. Please keep going!"

“Moon? Moon is…” Sakura looked confused when she heard this unfamiliar name. She wanted to ask more, but then she saw the Light Card and the Dark Card turn into two cards and fly towards her.

Sakura quickly reached out and caught them steadily.

The two cards trembled slightly in her hand, as if responding to her touch.

"The moon is right beside you." The last words of the light card rang in Sakura's ears.

"But don't worry, because you have the invincible spell of 'no problem at all.' As long as you believe in yourself, there is no difficulty that cannot be solved." The voice of the hidden card then dissipated.

As the Light and Dark cards completely transformed into cards and flew into Sakura's hand, the endless darkness that had been devouring everything began to rapidly disintegrate, and the surrounding scenery gradually became clear.

The outline of the stage, the shadow of the prop bed, and the figures of Ye Hui and Zhi Shi in the distance gradually emerged.

"We have to go back!" Ye Hui reacted immediately, and he tightly gripped Zhi Shi's hand before letting go.

With his other hand, he quickly reached out and scooped up Xiao Ke and Qing Que, who were still in a daze, and stuffed them into the pocket of his wizard's robe in one swift motion.

Soon, the darkness completely disappeared, and the lights in the auditorium came back on.

On stage, Tomoyo was still wearing her light pink princess dress, lying quietly on the prop bed, maintaining a sleeping posture.

Sakura, dressed in a white prince's gown, remained bent over, standing in front of her, only centimeters away from her lips.

The darkness just now seemed as if it had never existed.

Offstage, time, which had been paused by the hidden cards, quietly resumed.

The audience was completely oblivious to the unusual events of the past few minutes, still immersed in the tense atmosphere of the play prince about to awaken the princess.

Some people whispered about what would happen next, while others clenched their hands, hoping for a kiss from true love.

In the front row of the audience, Touya's knuckles were turning white from gripping the camera so tightly, and his fingertips pressed down on the camera body with a slight pressure.

On stage, Tomoyo, lying on the prop bed, was the first to awaken from her slumber. Sensing Sakura's motion suspended in mid-air, she softly called out in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Sakura..."

Sakura finally snapped out of her daze, her cheeks instantly flushing a hot pink.

The courage I had shown when facing the hidden cards alone in the dark has vanished, leaving only the embarrassment of being confronted with the "kissing" scene.

She silently encouraged herself.

It's just acting and using camera angles!
It wasn't a real kiss, so what's there to be shy about?
Moreover, being able to act opposite Tomoyo like this is a very precious opportunity!
Sakura thought so, and so did Ye Hui.

It's just a kiss in a movie, it's not real.

Being able to get close to Tomoyo-chan is a blessing that many people would rather die for.

"Master, why is Sakura's face so red? Does she have a fever?" Qingque asked softly with her divine sense from inside Ye Hui's wizard robe pocket, her little head occasionally peeking through the pocket gaps to curiously watch Sakura on the stage.

“She doesn’t have a fever, she’s just shy,” Ye Hui said. “Girls are easily shy when faced with such intimate scenes.”

"Shy? What's so shy about a kiss?" Qingque was still puzzled, tilting her head and muttering, "When you and Zhishi were leaning together reading the script before, you weren't shy either."

Ye Hui: “…”

Okay, okay, Qingque is starting to tease him now?
Even if this little guy observes very carefully, he still doesn't understand the difference between acting and everyday life!

"What is Sakura dawdling for? Hurry up and kiss her! I can't wait to see the ending!" Kero jumped around in another pocket, his voice extremely low, but he couldn't hide his excitement at the spectacle. "It's just a matter of using a camera angle, what's there to hesitate about!"

Sakura on stage was indeed caught in a dilemma.

To kiss or not to kiss?

this is a problem.

She subconsciously looked at Ye Hui on the side of the stage.

Ye Hui happened to catch her gaze, raised an eyebrow at her, gave her an encouraging smile, and even secretly made a cheering gesture.

Sakura, keep it up! We're all watching, don't let us down!

Seeing his expression, Sakura couldn't help but mentally accuse him.

Ye Huijun is such a big bad guy!

Sakura Kinomoto's mood value +10

"Sakura..." Tomoyo called softly again.

Sakura took a deep breath, abruptly closed her eyes, and without further hesitation, leaned down and slowly approached Tomoyo's lips.

Although the two maintained a few millimeters of distance in a tacit manner, which was a matter of feigned positioning, the soft illumination from the stage overhead lights and the clever combination of the audience's seating angles made the scene even more captivating.

From the audience, it looked like a genuine, loving kiss.

In the audience, Touya's fingers trembled suddenly, and the camera almost slipped from his hand. He quickly gripped it tightly.

The students in the back row let out a low gasp of amazement, and some couldn't help but applaud.

Backstage, Li Meiling jumped up excitedly, hugged Li Xiaolang tightly, and laughed and shouted, "Wow! They kissed! They kissed! Xiaoying is so brave! This ending is so romantic, hehehe!"

Li Xiaolang felt a little suffocated by her hug, but he still patted her back helplessly.

In any case, it seems that this theatrical performance has finally proceeded smoothly to the end.

On stage, Sakura felt her cheeks burning, and even the tips of her ears were scorching hot.

Just as she was about to sit up, she saw Sleeping Beauty slowly open her eyes while lying on the bed.

Tomoyo blinked in confusion, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, as if she hadn't fully woken up from her century-long slumber. Then, she turned her gaze to Sakura, her eyes gradually becoming clearer, and a gentle smile appeared on them.

"Am I dreaming?"

Tomoyo reached out and gently stroked Sakura's cheek with her fingertips; the touch was soft and warm.

Tomoyo: Ahhh, this feels so good!
The next second, she slowly opened her mouth.

"Did you awaken me? My brave prince."

"Yes...yes, my beautiful princess."

Sakura became even more nervous at her actions and almost stammered. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to maintain her prince persona and make her voice sound more composed.

"Thank you for waking me from my eternal slumber and allowing me to see the sunlight again."

Tomoyo sat up from the prop bed, the white gauze curtain slipping off her shoulders to reveal a light pink princess dress, exuding elegance.

"I..." Sakura opened her mouth, but the lines she had memorized perfectly suddenly vanished. Her mind went blank, and she could only stand there awkwardly, her eyes darting around.

"Hold your hand and grow old together with me."

Just then, Ye Hui's voice came from the side of the stage, very low, but just enough for Xiaoying to hear, reminding her of her next lines.

"Ah, right!" Sakura immediately came to her senses and quickly extended her hand to Tomoyo, palm up, with sincere eyes, "Beautiful princess, you have suffered for a hundred years of waiting."

"Now, are you willing to leave this castle with me and create a happy future together? Let us hold hands and grow old together!"

As Tomoyo looked at Sakura's outstretched hand, a gentle and radiant smile gradually spread across her face. Without hesitation, she placed her own hand in Sakura's palm.

Her hand gently grasped Sakura's hand.

"I am willing."

As she finished speaking, the romantic background music that had been interrupted started playing again, its melody gentle and moving.

The stage curtain slowly closed, enveloping the two figures holding hands.

The entire play revolves around the scene of the "prince" and "princess" holding hands happily.

A perfect ending.

A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted backstage as students swarmed around Sakura and Tomoyo, showering them with praise. Ms. Mizuki also smiled with satisfaction.

"We did it!" As the curtain closed completely, the students backstage could no longer contain their excitement and cheered. Some high-fived each other, and some hugged each other, celebrating what they considered a perfect performance.

No one knew that the seemingly smooth performance just now actually had a little episode related to the Clow Cards.

Yamazaki, who played the tree, was finally free from his motionless posture. He stretched and loosened his stiff limbs, then pushed up his non-existent glasses and began to ramble on about his impressions of the film.

"Judging from the applause and gasps of amazement from the audience just now, our theatrical performance can be described as an unprecedented success!"

"Especially in the final scene, the moment the prince kisses the princess, the audience's emotions clearly reached their peak, and the applause lasted for at least five seconds, which is very rare in previous campus plays..."

"Yamazaki, nobody wants to hear your analysis report!" Chiharu came around from behind, grabbed him by the neck, and interrupted him with a laugh, "This is time to celebrate, not your data seminar!"

Yamazaki was so choked he couldn't speak, and could only wave his hand, which made the surrounding classmates laugh.

"Sakura! Tomoyo! You two acted so well! You were just like a real prince and princess!" Rika and Naoko ran over hand in hand, their faces full of excitement.

Rika hugged Sakura tightly, while Naoko hugged Tomoyo.

"Especially that last kiss! Even though I knew it was just a camera trick, it was still so romantic! My heart melted, and I almost cried along with it!"

Sakura's cheeks flushed again from their compliments, and the blush that hadn't completely faded deepened. She scratched her head shyly and could only giggle awkwardly, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Tomoyo calmly accepted everyone's praise. She gently patted Naoko on the back and said softly, "Thank you for your recognition. Actually, this is the result of everyone's hard work. Without the help of the props team and everyone's cooperation, we wouldn't have been able to complete this performance."

"Kinomoto! Daidoji! Wait for me!"

Li Meiling rushed over from the other end of the backstage area in a flurry of activity. Her hair was a little messy from running so fast, but it didn't dampen her enthusiasm at all.

She first gave Tomoyo a big bear hug, so strong that Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh, and then she reached out to Sakura, grabbing her arm.

“Especially you! Kinomoto!” Li Meiling teased with a mischievous grin, her eyes full of curiosity. “Tell me honestly, what did it feel like when you kissed me just now? Was it soft and fragrant? Were Tomoyo’s lips like cotton candy?”

"Meiling, you're so annoying!" Sakura's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple. She quickly slapped Li Meiling's hand away and took two steps back, afraid that she would say something embarrassing again. "What kiss? I already said it was just a camera trick! It just looked like we were touching! Don't talk nonsense!"

"Meiling, stop teasing Sakura. If you keep teasing her, she'll get embarrassed and hide away," Tomoyo said with a smile, trying to help Sakura out of the predicament.

She walked over to Sakura and naturally took her arm. "Whether it was a trick or not, Sakura's performance just now was outstanding. She was brave and determined. She is the most handsome prince in my heart."

Ye Hui also came over. Seeing Xiaoying's embarrassed look, he pretended to be curious and asked, "So what did it feel like? Our prince, could you share it with us? After all, this is a precious experience of 'kissing the princess for the first time'."

"Ye Huijun!" Xiaoying pouted, her dark green eyes filled with reproach.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +9]

"I'm not telling you! This is my secret!" Sakura turned her head away, refusing to look at Ye Hui.

She decided to ignore this big bad guy who liked to tease her for a second.

"Oh, what a pity." Ye Hui sighed regretfully, and deliberately shook his head. "I thought I could hear some first-hand information to share with the other students, but it seems that the opportunity is gone now."

"Ye Hui-kun, if you keep teasing Sakura like this, she'll really get angry." Tomoyo looked at Ye Hui's childish behavior and smiled helplessly, her purple eyes filled with gentle indulgence. "Besides, these kinds of little secrets should be kept by Sakura herself, so let's not ask any more questions."

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +10】

We arrived at the locker room.

"Finally I can come out! I've been holding back!" Xiao Ke flew out of Ye Hui's wizard robe pocket, stretched lazily in the air, and spun around. "Being in the pocket, I could only hear the sounds and peek through a crack. I couldn't see what was happening on the stage at all. It was so unsatisfying!"

"Sakura-neechan! Tomoyo-neechan! You guys were amazing! Your performance was incredible!" Aozora flew out as well, fluttering its wings to land on Sakura's shoulder. It nuzzled her cheek with its fluffy head, its voice filled with admiration. "Especially Sakura-neechan, you looked absolutely stunning in your prince's suit! Even more handsome than the princes in storybooks!"

"Hehe, really?" Sakura felt a little ticklish from being rubbed by it, and chuckled as she shrank her neck. Her embarrassment dissipated considerably. "Actually, I forgot my lines just now. Luckily, Ye Hui reminded me, or I would have made a fool of myself."

"Of course!" Kero flew over and landed on Sakura's other shoulder. With its hands on its hips, it said proudly, "Just look at who her Cardcaptor Sakura is! With me, the great sealing beast, guiding her, how could she not be amazing? Just now, back in the pocket, I was cheering her on in my mind!"

Xiao Ke is at it again, trying to make himself look good. Just now, in the pocket, only Qing Que was really paying attention to the stage.

Xiao Ke complained the whole time that her pockets were too cramped and she couldn't see the performance.

Now look what's happened, they're even taking all the credit for themselves.

"But speaking of which..." Xiao Ke suddenly changed the subject, her bright little eyes looking at Xiao Ying, "We acted so successfully, shouldn't we celebrate? Like... going out for a big meal or something?"

"All you ever think about is eating!" Sakura poked its head with her finger, annoyed. "What else do you know besides eating? But... we really should celebrate. Everyone's worked so hard for so long, it's time to relax!"

"We definitely need to celebrate," Tomoyo said with a smile. She glanced at her classmates, then changed the subject, her eyes filled with anticipation. "But before we celebrate, I have a small request. I wonder if you can grant it?"

Ye Hui raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Oh? What request? Do you need our help to pack up the props, or do you need our assistance in organizing the photos?"

"No, neither." Tomoyo shook her head slightly, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her tone became a little embarrassed. "I... I wanted to take some photos of Ye Hui and Xiaoying together."

"You're still in your costumes, one a handsome wizard and the other a dashing prince. The sight of you standing together must be quite special, and I want to capture this precious moment."

Seeing the expectation in Zhi Shi's eyes, Ye Hui naturally wouldn't refuse.

Tomoyo enjoys using her camera to capture beautiful moments in life, which is wonderful.

Moreover, being able to take such a photo with Sakura is actually quite meaningful.

"Of course, no problem." He readily agreed, even winking at Sakura. "Our prince, would you be willing to take a few pictures with this big bad wizard?"

Sakura looked at Tomoyo's expectant eyes, then at Ye Hui's teasing expression, snorted softly, and nodded anyway.

"Okay, then... let's take a few pictures."

"Great!" When she heard that Sakura and Ye Hui had agreed, Tomoyo's eyes lit up instantly, as if they were filled with starlight, and her smile became even brighter.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +10】

“Sakura, stand here—yes, right here, turn slightly to the side, your hand can rest lightly on the hilt of your sword, and make your expression more determined, just like when you faced the monster on stage.”

As Tomoyo spoke, she circled around Sakura, adjusting her angle and occasionally helping her straighten the hem of her dress.

After settling Sakura in, she turned to Ye Hui: "Ye Hui, stand slightly behind Sakura, a little off-center, so you don't block her view—her eyes…yes, that kind of eyes that's playful yet exudes a wizard's aura, it's fantastic! Raise your staff a little higher, with your fingertips touching the crystal at the top, that will make the scene more dramatic!"

Ye Hui: “…”

Tomoyo-chan, do you have some strange misunderstanding about the role of the wizard?

He remembered that the wizard in the script was clearly cold and evil, so how come he became playful in Tomoyo's case?
However, seeing the creative passion sparkling in Tomoyo's eyes, Ye Hui still adjusted his posture very cooperatively, slightly turning to the side and standing diagonally behind Sakura, his left hand hanging naturally, his right hand raising the crystal staff, his fingertips lightly touching the transparent crystal at the top of the staff, his eyes deliberately carrying a playful look that was not quite a smile.

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The crisp sound of camera shutters rang out in the background, almost without stopping.

Tomoyo then had Sakura raise her sword, the tip of which gently touched Ye Hui's staff, simulating a confrontation between a prince and a wizard.

A moment later, Ye Hui was asked to bend down slightly, his staff pointing diagonally to the ground, with Xiaoying standing beside him. The two of them looked at the camera together, creating an atmosphere of temporary truce.

Ye Hui even used his staff to gently lift the neckline of Sakura's dress, and Sakura pretended to be wary and took a half step back. Every pose was designed to be full of story.

"Alright! Perfect!! This is definitely the best one of the day!" After pressing the shutter button dozens or even hundreds of times, Tomoyo finally put down the camera with satisfaction, looked down at the photos on the screen, and kept the corners of her mouth upturned, very satisfied with the results.

Sakura finally breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing her stiff shoulders. Her arms were almost sore from maintaining the posture, but seeing Tomoyo's happy face made all the hard work worthwhile.

Just then, Li Meiling and Li Xiaolang opened the door and came over.

Li Meiling immediately spotted the photos on Zhiyi's camera and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! Kinomoto, Ye Hui, what are you two doing taking pictures here secretly? But your poses just now were so cool!"

She looked at the photos with envy, then suddenly turned to Li Xiaolang beside her and said, "Xiaolang, let's take some pictures too! You played the prince of the neighboring country before, and I played the crow. The two of us standing together will definitely make a great image!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaolang instinctively took a step back, shaking his head vigorously: "No! I don't want to take a picture with you like a crow and a prince, it's too weird!"

"Hey, come on, come on! Just one picture, just one!" Li Meiling persisted, grabbing Li Xiaolang's arm and trying to pull him in front of the camera.

"I don't want to! Let go of me!" Li Xiaolang resisted resolutely, trying to shake off her hand.

A lively chase instantly broke out in the locker room.

Li Meiling chased after them, constantly trying to persuade them.

Li Xiaolang ran behind, his face full of resistance.

"The photos are all taken, shouldn't we go..." Xiao Ke's beady eyes sparkled, and it was obvious that it was already thinking about the celebratory feast.

"Xiao Ke, don't be in such a hurry. We're definitely going to celebrate, and you'll definitely get a share." Ye Hui found it a little funny to see how impatient it was.

No matter what happens, this guy always thinks about food first.

Even if the sky were to fall, it probably wouldn't affect its desire to eat.

"Then what are we waiting for! I know a new all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant opened nearby, let's go eat there! I can sneak some food, you won't have to pay anymore!" Xiao Ke flapped her little wings and began to plan the route with great interest.

Tomoyo smiled and shook her head, reminding him, "Let's change back into our performance costumes first. It's not very convenient to go out in formal attire, and it's also easy to get it dirty."

"Tomoyo is right! Let's go change our clothes quickly, and then we'll go celebrate!" Sakura immediately nodded in agreement. She had long felt that the prince's suit was a bit restrictive, and her everyday clothes were much more comfortable.

The group quickly split up to change their clothes.

Ye Hui was the first to change and come out. Not long after, Sakura and Tomoyo also came out in their everyday clothes.

Sakura wore a light pink dress, while Tomoyo wore a light purple suit.

Both of them returned to their usual selves, with less of the stage persona and more of a friendly demeanor.

They had a great understanding.

No one had changed out of their school uniforms.

"It's still more comfortable wearing my own clothes." Sakura stretched her arms and smiled easily. "Shall we go celebrate now? Kero can't wait."

Seeing Xiao Ke's eagerness to fly out, Ye Hui suggested, "Let's watch the other performances at the talent show first. After all, everyone has worked hard to prepare for a long time, and it wouldn't be very polite to leave now."

"Once everything is over, let's go to my house together. I'll cook a celebration feast for you all. How about that? I've learned a few new home-style dishes, and I can give them a try."

"I agree!" Sakura raised her hand, her eyes lighting up. Going to Ye Huijun's house would not only allow her to eat his delicious cooking, but also let Xiao Ke and Qing Que come out and eat with him openly, without having to hide in their schoolbags anymore. It was the best of both worlds!

Before, when I secretly ate with Xiao Ke, I would usually let her hide in my bag, which would always make her bag dirty.

Even if there were magic to cleanse her, she wouldn't like it.

Tomoyo naturally had no objections. She smiled gently and said, "I think Ye Huijun's suggestion is excellent. It will not only do justice to the other students' performances, but also allow us to celebrate quietly and have a taste of your cooking. It's a win-win situation."

"Let's go to the audience seats first. I glanced at the program when we came out, and there are still a few good performances coming up. Maybe we can catch a few exciting shows."

As Ye Hui spoke, he took the lead and walked towards the entrance of the auditorium.

Kero and Aokiji were stuffed back into Sakura's schoolbag. Before Sakura could take more than a few steps, the sound of the two little ones bickering could be heard coming from inside the bag—

"Why do you insist on sharing a backpack with me? It's so small here, can't you go into Ye Hui's pocket?" Xiao Ke's dissatisfied voice came out.

“This is Sakura’s schoolbag, not yours! I can stay wherever I want! Besides, I came in first, so you’re the one who should leave!” Qingque retorted defiantly.

"Baka! You stinky bird, you want me to beat you up?!"

"You idiot! Come on then! I'm not afraid of anyone!"

Sakura shook her head helplessly and patted her backpack: "You two stop arguing, or I won't let you eat at the victory celebration!"

The bickering inside the schoolbag disappeared instantly.

Ye Hui felt a headache coming on from the noise of the beast and the bird.

He now seriously doubts whether putting those two guys together was the right decision.

When Ye Hui and his group arrived at the audience seats, they were still full of people, and the air was filled with the aroma of snacks and the sound of hushed conversations.

Fortunately, the talent show was already halfway through, and some parents had left early due to other commitments, leaving many empty seats.

They found several empty spaces connected together without much effort.

"Let's sit here. The front row has a better view, and we can see the performance on stage clearly." Tomoyo pointed to the front row seats near the aisle, where there were four empty seats, enough for the four of them.

Ye Hui had just sat down and hadn't even had time to adjust his posture when a familiar voice came from beside him: "Xiao Ying?"

Sakura instinctively turned her head, and her eyes lit up instantly when she saw who it was: "Brother! Yukito-kun! You're here too! I thought you left after watching our performance!"

Touya and Yukito were sitting not far from them.

Yukito was still holding a half-finished glass of juice, while Touya crossed his arms, looking somewhat nonchalant, but his eyes were fixed on the stage.

"You're done performing?" Snow Rabbit put down her juice, smiled gently at them, and waved. "We wanted to wait for you to come down and say hello, but there were too many people backstage, so we went back to the audience first. We were thinking of finding you after the talent show."

"Yeah! It just finished! We even took a group photo and changed clothes before coming over!" Sakura excitedly leaned over, "Yukito-nii, what did you think of our performance? Was there anything wrong with it?"

"It's fantastic, even better than I imagined." Yukito didn't hold back his praise. "Especially Sakura, you played the prince so handsomely. Whether it was the way you fought or the way you woke up the princess at the end, I was completely mesmerized."

Sakura was so happy to receive Yukito's praise that she felt like she was floating on air.

She scratched her head sheepishly, her cheeks slightly flushed, and muttered, "Hehe...really? I thought it would be very obvious when I forgot my lines..."

Snow Rabbit Bro praised her for being cool!

Hahaha~~
This made her happier than any reward!

Ye Hui sat beside her, watching her infatuated expression, and sighed.

The charm of the snow hare remains as powerful as ever, possessing an inexplicable attraction for both humans and "beasts".

"Ye Hui and Zhi Shi are also very impressive."

Snow Rabbit turned its gaze to Ye Hui and Zhi Shi.

"Ye Hui's portrayal of the wizard is very powerful. He stunned everyone as soon as he appeared. Zhi Shi's portrayal of the princess is just like a real princess. She is elegant and beautiful, and every move she makes is gentle."

[Moon City Snow Rabbit Mood Value +5]

"Thank you, Yukito-san, your compliment makes me very happy," Tomoyo replied with a smile.

Ye Hui also nodded politely to the snow rabbit and thanked it, saying, "Thank you. If you like it, then our efforts have not been in vain."

Touya remained silent, only glancing at Ye Hui with a somewhat complicated expression.

【Kinomoto Touya’s Emotion Value +7】

[The protector, Kinomoto Touya, has noticed the growing bond between you and Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root! He believes that you, this "evil cultivator," are using some kind of "sorcery" to bewitch the naive Kinomoto Sakura, making her increasingly dependent on you!]

Ye Hui: “…”

Touya's sister complex radar is probably military-grade.

It has a wide detection range and incredibly high sensitivity.

"By the way, Sakura, I have another question I want to ask you."

Yukito seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Sakura curiously, "Why did you suddenly pause during the last scene of the play? I thought there was some kind of accident on stage."

When Sakura heard this question, her heart skipped a beat, and the smile on her face instantly froze.

She glanced at Ye Hui and Zhi Shi, unsure how to respond.

We can't exactly say that we were just pulled into another dimension by the Clow Cards, can we?

"That's because..." Sakura opened her mouth, her mind racing, but she couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation.

"Because it was Sakura's first time playing a prince, she was too nervous."

Just then, Tomoyo smiled and took over the conversation, her tone natural and without any flaws, "She told me before going on stage that she was so nervous about performing a kissing scene in front of so many people that she could hardly speak, and she even practiced the movements wrong several times."

I must have gotten too into character just now, and then suddenly remembered I was still acting, so I didn't react for a moment and that's why I paused. Luckily, I recovered quickly.

"Oh, I see. I thought something was wrong."

Yukito suddenly realized, smiled and reached out to gently rub Sakura's head, "Sakura, this is your first time acting, and you've done a fantastic job. Don't be so nervous, you've done very well."

"Um... thank you, Yukito-nii." Sakura blushed and nodded vigorously, secretly relieved.

Tomoyo, you are truly my savior!

Tomoyo smiled gently and patted the back of her hand lightly.

Before the two could exchange more than a few words, a commotion came from Sakura's schoolbag.

"Fatty Huang, stop pushing me!"

"You're the fatso! You featherless stinky bird! You're the one taking up too much space! You want me to beat you up?"

"Come on then! Who's afraid of who!"

Sakura felt extremely overwhelmed.

Fortunately, the audience was quite noisy at the time, and the performance on stage attracted most people's attention, so no one noticed what was happening here.

"Sakura, your schoolbag... seems to be making some noise?" Yukito keenly noticed Sakura's unusual behavior, his eyes filled with curiosity, but he didn't seem inclined to investigate further.

"Ah! No...nothing!" Sakura quickly hugged her backpack tighter, a stiff smile on her face, her mind racing as she searched for an excuse. "It's just...it's just that there were a lot of books and stationery inside, and it shook a little, that's why it made a sound."

"Really?" Yukito blinked, not pressing further, but gently reminded her, "Then be careful."

Ye Hui sat down beside him and sighed silently.

It seems that the world of Magic Cards won't be long before everyone becomes an acting master.

Even Sakura has learned to make up excuses on the spot.

On stage, the next performance has begun.

It's the school choir.

They were dressed in matching white uniforms, standing in the center of the stage, holding sheet music, and singing a classic animated film theme song.

The familiar melody echoed in the auditorium, making people want to hum along.

Sakura temporarily forgot about the two little guys in her schoolbag, and started humming along to the melody, tapping her feet lightly to the rhythm, her face beaming with enjoyment.

Tomoyo is actually a member of the choir, but she asked the choir for leave because she was going to participate in a play performance today and needed to prepare in advance.

She looked at her friends on the stage and started humming along softly.

Ye Hui leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to enjoy the music, but his mind was on something else.

What delicious food should we make for the celebration banquet later?

Xiao Ke has been talking about barbecue ever since we started, so this dish is definitely a must.

Sakura likes to eat omelet rice and pudding. The omelet rice should be made soft and sticky, and the pudding should have more milk added so that it is sweet enough.

Tomoyo prefers a lighter taste, so you can make some sushi and tempura. For sushi, you should choose fresh ingredients, and for tempura, you should fry it until it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

There's also Qingque. Although this little guy isn't picky about food, he has a special fondness for spirit fruits. We happen to have a few high-grade spirit fruits left over from before, so we can wash them and give them to him as dessert.

With that in mind, the menu for the victory celebration was decided quite happily.

The talent show performances came one after another.

There were instrumental solos, dance performances, and poetry recitations.

It was drawing to a close very quickly.

People in the audience began to leave one after another, and the once crowded auditorium gradually became empty.

"Brother, Yukito, the talent show is almost over, we have to go now." Sakura stood up and waved to Touya and Yukito.

"Where are you going?" Touya asked immediately, his eyes filled with a hint of wariness.

"Ye Huijun said he's going to throw us a celebration banquet to celebrate the success of the play. We're going to his house for a big meal!" Sakura said excitedly, completely oblivious to Touya's increasingly grim expression.

【Kinomoto Touya’s Emotion Value +11】

"Just the three of you? No one else?" Touya asked again.

"Yes, it's just me, Ye Huijun, and Zhi Shi." Sakura nodded and answered honestly.

【Kinomoto Touya’s Emotion Value +12】

Momoya: (﹁﹁)~→

[The protector, Kinomoto Touya, believes that you, this evil cultivator, lured his sister to your cave alone, definitely with ill intentions, and might even be planning something bad to Sakura! He is considering whether to use his power to suppress you on the spot to prevent future trouble!]

Ye Hui: “…”

"Touya, don't be so nervous." Yukito saw what Touya was thinking and patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Sakura is so close to Hikaru and Tomoyo, it's normal for them to go to the celebration party together."

After saying that, he turned to Xiaoying and the others and said gently, "Then you should go quickly. Be careful on the way and have fun."

"Okay! Goodbye, Yukito-nii! Goodbye, brother!" Sakura waved happily and pulled Tomoyo along, ready to leave.

"Wait a minute." Touya suddenly called out to her.

Touya pulled out a few bills from his pocket, didn't even count them, and stuffed them directly into Sakura's hand: "Here, don't be too reserved when you go to his house for dinner. Buy whatever you want to eat yourself. Don't always try to take advantage of him. It's not like we can't afford it."

Although he said that, his eyes remained fixed on Ye Hui.

【Kinomoto Touya’s Emotion Value +13】

Okay, he figured it out.

Touya wasn't giving Sakura pocket money; he was clearly provoking her.

The subtext is probably this:

My sister is not short of money. Don't try to bribe her with small favors, and don't try to do anything strange to her!
"Thank you, brother!" Sakura didn't care what Touya was thinking and happily accepted the money, her face beaming with joy.

Who wouldn't be happy to get pocket money?

She carefully put the money into her schoolbag.

Looking at Touya's expression that seemed to say, "Stay away from my sister," Ye Hui suddenly felt a rebellious thought.

He decided that at the celebration banquet later, he would definitely cook several of Sakura's favorite dishes.

Not only do we have to make it, but we also have to make it even tastier than usual, so that Sakura will be even happier eating it!
As for Touya's warning? Let's just pretend we didn't see it.

"We'll be going now, Touya-kun, Yukito-kun."

Ye Hui nodded to the two of them as a greeting, and then led Sakura and Tomoyo toward the entrance of the auditorium.

Touya watched them leave, his brows furrowing even more: "That guy... I hope he doesn't try anything strange with Sakura..."

Yukito shook his head helplessly and patted his shoulder: "Alright, don't worry. Sakura has grown up and has her own judgment. Besides, Ye Hui doesn't seem like a bad person and won't do anything to Sakura. Let's go, it's time to go back."

Touya reluctantly stood up and left the auditorium with Yukito.

As Ye Hui, Xiaoying, and Zhishi stepped out of the auditorium, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Li Meiling quickly caught up, with Li Xiaolang following behind her.

"You're going out for a big meal, how can you not invite us?" Li Meiling said, hands on her hips, clearly displeased. "We're colleagues who acted in the play together, how can the celebration party be without us!"

Sakura scratched her head a little embarrassedly and explained, "Um... because we're going to Ye Huijun's house for dinner, not a restaurant, I haven't had a chance to tell you yet..."

"Go to Ye Hui's house?" Li Meiling's eyes lit up instantly, her dissatisfaction vanished immediately, replaced by excitement. "Then we should definitely be invited!"

As she spoke, she looked at Ye Hui expectantly: "Ye Hui, can we go together? I promise I won't cause any trouble!"

Ye Hui shrugged: "I have no objection. Two more people will make it more lively. The celebration banquet is all about everyone having fun together."

"Yay! Ye Hui, you're such a great guy!" Li Meiling cheered, clapping her hands excitedly. She also nudged Li Xiaolang next to her with her elbow, "Xiaolang, did you hear that? We're going to Ye Hui's house for a big meal later! There's bound to be lots of delicious food!"

Li Xiaolang nodded coolly.

As a result, the celebration team, which originally consisted of three people, suddenly grew to five, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

Ye Hui had contacted the driver in advance, and the car arrived at the auditorium entrance shortly afterward.

Everyone got into the car, which drove smoothly along the road, the scenery outside the window slowly receding, and soon they arrived at the villa area where Ye Hui lived.

"arrive."

The driver parked the car in front of an exquisite villa, then got out and opened the car door for them with a respectful and attentive attitude.

As soon as they entered, Kero and Aozora couldn't wait to fly out of Sakura's backpack.

Little Ke flapped its tiny wings and flew around the spacious living room, constantly muttering, "Finally, I can come out! I was so suffocated!"

The bluebird was relatively quiet, gently landing on Ye Hui's shoulder.

"Li Xiaolang, Meiling, please make yourselves at home, don't be shy." Ye Hui pointed to the soft sofa in the living room, and then to the coffee table next to it. "There are fruits and snacks on the coffee table, you can have some to tide you over, dinner will be a while later."

"I'm going to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Would you like something to drink?" Ye Hui asked again.

"I want a Coke! Iced!" Li Meiling raised her hand.

"I'll just have juice, thank you," Li Xiaolang replied softly, being rather reserved.

Ye Hui nodded, then looked at Sakura and Tomoyo: "What about you two? Are you drinking juice as usual?"

"Let us help you, Ye Hui-jun!" Sakura didn't answer what she wanted to drink, but volunteered instead. "Preparing dinner must be a lot of trouble, and you definitely can't manage it all by yourself. If we help each other, we can finish it faster and everyone can eat sooner!"

“Yes, Ye Huijun, we also want to help.” Zhi Shi echoed, her purple eyes curving upwards.

Looking at their expectant faces, Ye Hui couldn't help but smile: "Alright then, since you're so eager to help, I'll trouble the beautiful princess and the handsome prince to come with me, this wicked wizard, to the kitchen to prepare our victory celebration banquet."

"Ye Huijun, please don't mention this!" Xiaoying's cheeks flushed slightly as she muttered softly, still feeling a little embarrassed thinking about the kissing scene on stage earlier.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +7]

Tomoyo covered her mouth and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +6】

Ye Hui's kitchen is much, much larger than that of an average family, and it is fully equipped with all kinds of kitchen utensils, which are neatly arranged in their respective places.

Of course, part of the reason is that Ye Hui often has to prepare spiritual dishes himself, so he has high requirements for the kitchen and usually keeps it tidy.

Ye Hui took out the finest ingredients from the refrigerator and placed them one by one on the counter.

Fresh steaks, marinated chicken wings, and a variety of colorful vegetables such as lettuce, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes, as well as fresh shrimp, squid, scallops, and other seafood—a rich selection indeed.
"The theme of our celebration banquet today is a barbecue buffet, so everyone can choose the ingredients they want to eat according to their own tastes, which is more flexible."

As Ye Hui sorted and arranged the ingredients, he said to Sakura and Tomoyo, "Besides the barbecue, I'll also prepare some sushi, tempura, and your favorite omelet rice and pudding."

"Yay! There's omelet rice!" Sakura cheered upon hearing this.

Ye Huijun's omelet rice is the best she's ever eaten!
I can eat a whole big bowl of food every time!

"What can we do for you?" Tomoyo asked, looking at the table full of ingredients.

Ye Hui thought for a moment, pointed to a pile of unprocessed vegetables next to him, and said with a smile, "Then you guys are responsible for washing these vegetables and cutting them into appropriate sizes. Just wash the lettuce and drain the water. Remove the roots from the enoki mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms. You can cut the carrots and potatoes into thin slices or small pieces for easy grilling later. Leave the other more complicated ones to me."

"No problem! We've got this covered!" Sakura patted her chest confidently, then picked up her apron and started tying it, pulling Tomoyo along with her. "Tomoyo, let's get started quickly, the sooner we're done, the sooner everyone can eat!"

Ye Hui couldn't help but smile as he watched the two of them working so hard.

With their help, not only can the preparation speed be increased, but the atmosphere in the kitchen can also become more lively.

Such a celebration banquet is more meaningful.

He then picked up a knife and began processing the seafood and meat, preparing a sumptuous celebratory feast for everyone.

Ye Hui took the lead in preparing the ingredients, taking out the secret sauce he had prepared in advance from the cupboard.

The sauce is dark brown and contains a mixture of honey, light soy sauce, black pepper, and a little minced garlic. Even before opening the lid, you can faintly smell its rich aroma.

He laid the fresh steak flat on the counter and used a brush to evenly spread the sauce on both sides of the steak, not even missing the edges. Then he put the steak into a sealed container, gently shook it, and let the sauce penetrate the meat better.

"Marinate for 20 minutes first, so that the steak will be more flavorful after grilling."

After finishing the steak, Ye Hui began to prepare other meats and seafood.

Arrange the marinated chicken wings one by one on a plate. The chicken wings are coated with orange-red Orleans marinade, which looks very appetizing.

Fresh shrimp should be deveined and deveined to allow them to absorb flavor during grilling.

The squid was cut into even rings and soaked in water to remove the fishy smell.

The whole process was carried out in an orderly manner.

At this moment, Tomoyo stood in front of the sink next to her, holding a vegetable washing basket, and carefully washed the vegetables.

She first separated the lettuce leaves one by one, rinsed them gently under running water, carefully cleaning the dirt and sand from the gaps between the leaves, and then placed them in a colander to drain.

Then, she carefully used a knife to cut off the harder parts of the enoki and shiitake mushroom roots.

After peeling the carrots and potatoes, she cut them into evenly sized small pieces and thin slices as Ye Hui requested.

Both Zhi Shi and Ye Hui were very skilled in their movements.

Sakura, on the other hand, was a bit flustered.

She picked up the potato like Tomoyo, and just as she was about to peel it, the potato slipped from her hand because she didn't hold it properly.

"Ouch!" With a gasp, the round potato rolled several times on the smooth kitchen floor before finally stopping at Ye Hui's feet.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Sakura stuck out her tongue, quickly ran over, bent down to pick up the potato, her face full of apology. "It's all my fault for not holding it properly and getting the potato dirty..."

"It's okay, it's just a little dusty, I can wash it clean." Ye Hui looked at her annoyed expression and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Sakura has excellent athletic ability; she's great at both running and playing ball.

Why do I become so clumsy in the kitchen?
He was worried that if he let her handle vegetables again, she might accidentally cut her hand.

Even if you get timely treatment, it will still hurt.

He thought for a moment, then pointed to the cabinet next to him and said to Sakura, "Sakura, go and help take out all the tableware and put it on the dining table."

"The cutlery is all in the top cabinet, including plates, forks, knives, and spoons. Just arrange them as you see fit."

"Oh well."

Sakura lowered her head somewhat dejectedly and whispered her agreement.

She originally wanted to help with some "proper tasks," but she didn't expect that she couldn't even wash vegetables properly, so she could only set the table.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +5]

"Sakura, don't be discouraged." Tomoyo noticed her mood, stopped what she was doing, and said gently, "Setting the table is also a very important step."

“A beautiful plating can make food look more appetizing, and everyone will enjoy eating it more. That’s also contributing to the celebration banquet.”

Hearing Tomoyo's words of comfort, Sakura regained her energy. She nodded vigorously and said with a smile, "That's right! Setting the table is also important! I'll definitely set it beautifully!"

After saying that, she turned around and ran to the cupboard to get the tableware.

Soon only Ye Hui and Zhi Shi remained in the kitchen.

The air was filled with the fresh aroma of ingredients and the fragrance of sauces, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Tomoyo kept her head down, continuing to carefully chop the mushrooms. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a soft golden glow on her long hair.

A strand of long hair slipped down from her ear, obscuring her cheek. She raised her hand, gently hooked the strand with her fingertips, and then tucked it behind her ear with an elegant movement.

(End of this chapter)