A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

In an instant, the atmosphere of the fairy tale puppet show that Alice was performing changed drastically, and the originally heartwarming storyline was now filled with a murderous aura.

The audience below gasped in surprise.

As a first-time viewer of the Alice in Wonderland puppet show, Xia Xun was initially taken aback by the unfamiliar atmosphere, but still felt that the performance had suddenly become more intense and particularly captivating.

Several elderly spectators around, who always watch Alice's performance at every festival, @喜道:

"Fantastic! I never expected that Master Alice's performance this time would be such a completely new style!"

"The performance at the beginning was just a setup; now we're getting to the climax!"

Listening to the discussions around her, Xia Xun couldn't help but nod in agreement, as if she herself had become a long-time Alice fan.

On stage, Alice's performance style became increasingly fierce under the stimulation of Reimu Hakurei's smile. The puppets raised small longswords or lances and fought as they moved through the forest setting.

It was clearly just a play, but a chilling aura emanated from the stage, enveloping the entire venue.

Each clash between the little puppets drew gasps from the crowd, as if they were witnessing a fierce battle with rivers of blood flowing.

Time flew by amidst the spectacular puppet show.

With the hero's puppet successfully defeating the dragon and rescuing the imprisoned princess, the story officially comes to an end.

A series of tiny puppets and Alice faced the audience below, then slowly exited the stage.

Snap, snap snap!

Enthusiastic applause immediately erupted in the venue, with everyone excitedly cheering for the wonderful performance.

Cheers and shouts rose and fell, with many people calling out that they hoped Alice would perform again.

Xia Xun clapped excitedly, genuinely happy and impressed by Alice's performance.

Although he comes from a modern background, this was his first time watching such an exquisite puppet show live, and it was truly amazing.

“Lingmeng, Alice’s performance is over. Let’s go backstage to find her,” Xia Xun said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Hakurei Reimu couldn't help but feel embarrassed, her eyes darting away as she avoided looking into Xia Xun's eyes.

Ah—! What have I done?!

Hakurei Reimu cried out in her heart.

After the performance ended, she realized what a foolish thing she had just done.

Why did he suddenly give Alice such a provocative look?

Fortunately, Xia Xun was focused on watching the performance and didn't notice her strange expression, otherwise she really wouldn't know how to face her.

Upon hearing that Natsumi wanted to go find Alice, Reimu Hakurei just wanted to escape the scene immediately.

She simply couldn't imagine what Alice would say when she saw the other person later.

"Xia Xun, you go." Reimu Hakurei quickly shook her head in refusal, blinked, and made up an excuse:

"I was a bit tired after watching the performance, and the shrine is going to hold a cherry blossom festival tonight, so I have to go back early to prepare."

Hearing this, Xia Xun nodded: "Then Lingmeng, you should go back and rest. Do you need me to go back with you to help with the cherry blossom festival?"

"No, no!" Reimu Hakurei quickly refused.

She felt that what she needed most right now was to stay away from Xia Xun for the time being. It was all his fault, otherwise why would she have suddenly done such a stupid thing!

Suddenly, Reimu Hakurei raised her hand and punched Natsumi in the chest: "It's all your fault, you idiot Natsumi!"

After saying that, she snatched the wooden box from Xia Xun's hand, turned around, took off, and flew into the sky, quickly disappearing away.

"what?"

Xia Xun rubbed her chest, which had been suddenly punched, looking puzzled.

What's Reimu doing now?

Surely you can't be hitting yourself because you dragged yourself to the festival, leaving no time to prepare the shrine site?

But he clearly said he could help. If he brought Marisa and Alice along, the four of them working together would be much more efficient.

He shook his head, temporarily setting aside his doubts, and turned to walk backstage to congratulate Alice on her wonderful performance.

Chapter 83 Playing at the Festival with Alice

"Xia Xun, where's that guy?!"

As soon as Xia Xun arrived at the back of the stage, he saw Alice rushing over angrily.

Her slender shoulders swayed slightly, and her deep blue eyes were fixed on him, filled with anger.

"Which guy?"

Xia Xun was stunned, not realizing for a moment who Alice was referring to.

"Reimu, Reimu Hakurei!"

Alice practically spat out the name, her delicate face filled with undisguised anger.

Along with her, the Shanghai and Hourai dolls flying behind her simultaneously raised their miniature lances and longswords, drawing dangerous and rapid arcs in the air, as if they were about to tear Hakurei Reimu to pieces.

“Reimu? Reimu said she was a little tired after her performance and went back to the shrine to prepare for the cherry blossom festival tonight,” Xia Xun answered truthfully, while looking at Alice with even more confusion, “What’s wrong? What happened between you two? Why did Reimu suddenly make you angry?”

"Humph!"

The mere mention of this seemed to ignite Alice's anger even further.

"After doing that, she actually! She actually ran away?!"

Alice said, her little face full of disbelief.

This cowardly lizard, with that hateful smile, has the guts to stay and face the consequences?

She had already adjusted her mindset and was ready to have a fierce three-hundred-round battle with Hakurei Reimu, that heartless, ungrateful girl who wanted to steal her friend.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xun frowned slightly, even more puzzled.

But seeing Alice so angry that her chest was heaving slightly and her face was flushed red from the rush of blood, he knew that she was really angry. He understood that Reimu Hakurei must have done something that was extremely wrong in Alice's mind.

"Alice, calm down. What exactly happened?" Xia Xun softened her tone, asking with concern and inquiry, "What exactly did Lingmeng do?"

“That Reimu dared to laugh at me!” Alice blurted out, her voice rising slightly with excitement.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she saw the worry on Xia Xun's face and suddenly realized that it was not appropriate to involve Xia Xun in her personal feud with Ling Meng.

He is a mutual friend of theirs, and we shouldn't make things difficult for him.

"……call."

Alice forced herself to take a deep breath and then slowly exhale.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, the anger in her eyes had been forcibly suppressed by most of it, and she regained the elegance and composure that belonged to a mage.

"Xia Xun, don't worry." Alice forced a smile and softened her tone. "It's just a small misunderstanding between Ling Meng and me. We'll handle it ourselves."

In that instant, Xia Xun felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason.

He seemed to read the unspoken message behind Alice's perfect smile and gentle tone: This is between her and Reimu, and Xia Xun has no right to interfere.

Xia Xun couldn't help but think of many examples she had seen online and in real life, and felt that this time she should follow her heart.

I won't mix it in.

"Okay, okay..." Xia Xun nodded readily, then quickly changed the subject, inviting, "Alice, shall we go and stroll around the festival together next?"

"Your performance was fantastic, you should relax and celebrate."

"Okay, let's go together." Alice nodded excitedly. Although she tried her best to maintain her ladylike elegance, a hint of girlish liveliness could already be seen.

She was incredibly excited and happy to be able to enjoy the festival with her friends.

Therefore, she got up very early today to do her makeup and prepare for her trip.

"Let's go then. Is there anywhere Alice particularly wants to see or have fun?" Xia Xun smiled and turned to walk outside with Alice.

“I want to try out the games at the various stalls first,” Alice’s steps became lighter again, having already put her earlier unpleasantness behind her. “Then I’ll see if there are any materials suitable for making new dolls; sometimes there are some good ones at the festival.”

Xia Xun looked at Alice, a girl immersed in the festival atmosphere and her own interests, and found her to be exceptionally lively and vibrant.

In an instant, it was as if I saw a beautiful canary spreading its wings in the sunlight, full of vitality and charm.

Ah, it's Alice I've never seen before.

With a happy smile, Xia Xun quickly caught up with Alice, and the two of them joined the bustling crowd on the festival street.

It was a completely different experience from when I was with Reimu Hakurei before.

Both Xia Xun and Alice felt the same level of novelty towards many of the festival details in the Human Village, and were able to immerse themselves in them with anticipation and joy.

Together, we squatted down in front of the goldfish catching stall, clumsily but happily trying it out like ordinary tourists. We stopped at each stall selling unique handicrafts or snacks, whispering among ourselves, commenting on or guessing the uses and origins of those items. We stood side by side on the roadside, watching with curiosity and appreciation as the colorful folk parade slowly passed by.

Alice stopped in front of a stall that specialized in selling doll materials, her delicate face flushed with a beautiful blush from her previous play and excitement.

At this moment, she was intently picking up a ball of soft velvet with her fingers, carefully feeling its texture, and then moving closer to observe a box of special sewing thread that shimmered with a faint light.

Standing next to her, Xia Xun couldn't help but secretly glance at Alice's profile, who was focused on the materials.

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded her golden hair with a soft edge, and her long, thick eyelashes cast long shadows on her fair cheeks. Her focused expression made her look like a meticulously painted classical oil painting, serene and exquisitely beautiful.

So beautiful, it's hard to look away.

As Alice kneaded the soft downy fur with her fingertips, her keen senses naturally detected Xia Xun's gaze fixed on her.

Her earlobes had subtly taken on a deeper pink hue.

As a very beautiful woman, Alice was always well aware of her attraction to men.

She usually politely and distantly refuses unnecessary approach, but if the other party persists, she doesn't mind using magic to make them understand what it means to keep their distance.

As a puppet mage, and one who cultivated herself from a human into a mage, Alice is no weakling.

Although she is kind and beautiful and likes to stay at home researching magic and making dolls, she is also passionate about fighting.

But Xia Xun was different from the others.

He was a friend, and the first person to invite her to the festival to share the joy.

Therefore, Alice felt no disgust at being gazed upon with such admiration; instead, a slight shyness arose within her.

But... being stared at like that still makes me very shy.

After a while, Alice finally selected a few materials she liked, paid for them, and then put them all into her magic bag.

She planned to use these materials to make a unique doll for Xia Xun, as well as for the three lively little fairies, Sunny, Luna, and Stanah, as a souvenir of this joyous festival.

"Xia Xun, is there anywhere else you'd like to go next?" Alice turned around and asked with a smile.

Xia Xun did indeed have many places he wanted to go, but he looked up at the sky.

The sun had already sunk to the edge of the distant mountains, the sky was dyed orange-red, and the lights of the festival shone even brighter, announcing that the end of the daytime portion was approaching.

It's getting late.

“I’m sorry, Alice,” Xia Xun said apologetically, “I have some things to take care of right now, so I probably won’t be able to continue shopping with you.”

He had to head to the Lost Bamboo Forest to find Fujiwara no Mokou before it got completely dark.

Considering Fujiwara no Mokou's mental state, Natsumi naturally wouldn't invite her to the daytime festival.

The other person is afraid of parting and death.

As an immortal Hourai native, Natsumi felt that Fujiwara no Mokou was more suited to the cherry blossom viewing festival held at Hakurei Shrine than to the Reitaisai, which ordinary people would participate in.

If everyone is an oddball, then naturally no one is an oddball.

Upon hearing this, a fleeting hint of disappointment flashed in Alice's eyes, but that emotion was quickly replaced by understanding and tenderness.

“It’s alright, Xia Xun.” She shook her head gently, her smile still bright. “I’m already very, very happy to have been invited by you to this festival and to have experienced so much fun that I used to just watch from the sidelines or ignore.”

"Besides, isn't it better this way? Leaving some anticipation for the next festival makes it even more wonderful?"

With that, Alice gracefully extended her hand to Xia Xun, palm up, her eyes filled with a smile and anticipation: "Then, for the next festival, let me invite Xia Xun?"

“Okay, it’s a deal!” Xia Xun reached out and gently grasped Alice’s soft, slightly cool hand, nodding solemnly. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

"Then I'll take my leave now." With a hint of reluctance, Xia Xun let go of Alice's hand, took a half step back, and waved. "See you at the shrine festival tonight."

"Okay, see you tonight, Xia Xun." Alice waved her little hand gently, watching Xia Xun's tall figure nimbly walk through the increasingly crowded crowd and disappear into the darkness.

Alice slowly withdrew her hand only when his back was completely out of sight. Unconsciously, she gently covered the back of his hand with her other hand, as if the warmth and slightly rough touch of his palm still lingered on her fingertips.