Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

"Just like a human, Little Lantern."

Xiangzi told her the answer.

Time flies, and perhaps we can never return to the simplicity and hope we had on that bridge.

But as long as the future continues, those profound memories will one day be able to make a beautiful comeback.

"is that so?"

The lamp fumbled around, using its fingers to lift the corners of its mouth upwards to a similar arc once again.

"Um……"

Xiangzi stroked his chin, looked it over, and then shook his head. "It doesn't feel the same as before."

The lamp lowered its hand with some regret: "Hmm..."

It's so hard to laugh from the heart like a human being.

"Lantern-chan's expression has turned serious again... Ahahaha."

Miao Meng put down the plate she had finished eating, immediately picked up the parfait that had just been served and ran resolutely toward Koumiao Linxi.

Yanming glanced at Miaomeng's flat stomach and casually said, "I've wanted to ask this for a long time: why are we both considered 'close' to you, but Lenai and Xiaodeng are considered 'sausage'? How is this determined?"

"Well, there's no particular reason. It's just based on Miaomeng's preferences: 'Yanming's kin' and 'Xiang's kin'."

Miaomeng, holding a parfait spoon, counted on her fingers one by one, "'Lanna-chan,' 'Deng-chan,' that's it, hmm... Could it be that Yanming is jealous and wants to use a more unique nickname?"

Yanming bluntly refused: "Excuse me for being blunt, but your choice of nickname is as terrible as a horror movie from the last century."

"Tch—that's just because you don't know how to appreciate it, Yanzi."

Miaomeng retorted defiantly, "Besides, Xiangqin's naming skills are even worse than mine. What's with Oblivionis, and what's with Amino... what was it again? Anyway, they all sound awful..."

"Yutenji Wakana, do you want to die?"

"...Full of energy, with top-notch spirit and a particularly imposing presence."

Meow-san, you change your expression so quickly.

As Yanming drank the juice that Deng had given him, he watched in amazement.

Having narrowly escaped from Xiangzi's clutches, Miaomeng suggested, "Right, right, since we've run into each other, let's take a group photo! Every other band has one!"

The lamp hesitated for a moment: "But, Xiao Lena isn't here..."

"Don't worry, Teacher Miao is a Photoshop master. I'll Photoshop Xiao Le Nai in later!"

"Then remember... to give Lena an extra matcha parfait... that's her favorite."

"Uh."

Miao Meng choked on her saliva, unsure how to begin her comment. "Deng-chan, your perspective... is as novel as ever. I understand, I'll Photoshop it onto Boss Lena."

“That’s great…”

"Alright, alright, everyone, come closer to me, look at the camera, and don't forget to leave some space for Xiao Le Nai."

Miaomeng called out, raising her phone.

Upon hearing this, the others formed a semi-circle around Yanming.

"Three, two—one, cheese!"

"Eggplant." *3.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Travel Plans

Within a minute, Miaomeng's hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

The others also looked at the photo with some tension.

Miaomeng hesitated before suggesting, "How about... we take another picture?"

"Fine, this one will do. At least it's still somewhat human-like."

Yanming never expected that a casual group photo taken during the day could have such an animated feel.

As for what specific film it is.

...It's Pokémon.

The lamp seemed to have lost focus while waiting for the light to refocus, and in that frozen moment, her eyes appeared unusually empty and lifeless. In addition, there was a little red mark on her lips after drinking juice. If you were to cut her out on her own, you could easily conjure up a whole bunch of supernatural and terrifying scenes, like "The Penguin Pavilion."

Xiangzi really wanted to take a normal, heartwarming photo. With Yanming's tacit approval, she put her standard peace sign behind her head. Unfortunately, Miaomeng kept giggling and making noise next to her during the photoshoot, which caused her originally tight smile to immediately break down, and she ended up looking like a grumpy little octopus.

Miao Meng seemed very concerned about Yan Ming's central position. While holding her phone, she desperately tried to squeeze into the center, so much so that her eyes didn't return to the lens until the shutter was pressed. Under the focus, her eyes were completely blurred, making her look like a vengeful female ghost. In addition, she was wearing light makeup today, which made her look even fairer than others, making her look even more like a ghost.

Then there's Yanming... him...

Okay, he's normal.

But precisely because it's so normal, appearing in the same frame as other people's biodiversity, it becomes the most unusual one.

A polite smile, a peace sign, and an upright posture—it's more formal than many people's graduation photos.

...If this were a video instead of a photograph, the next scene, given the atmosphere, would most likely be Yanming suddenly looking terrified, turning around, and then being tackled by three people, before the screen goes completely black.

"This photo will absolutely become the biggest stain on my photography history..."

Miaomeng covered her face in despair, then pointed at her phone and said, "Where's Lena-chan? Where am I supposed to put her? There's not enough space!"

"Since it's already like this, why don't we just put it upside down on the ceiling?"

Xiangzi immediately came up with a terrible idea.

"She's a cat, not a bat, my dear Miss Xiang! Besides, where's the parfait? If it's upside down, where do you put the parfait?"

"Um... how about we change the background to an aquarium background... that way the parfait can float in the water..."

The lamp's suggestion delivered the final blow to the already tottering Meow Dream.

"Hehe... Okay, let's do it that way."

Whatever, just destroy it, hurry up and do it!

Poet Mei Yige!

Including herself!

"I'm going to post this online and denounce your crimes to all normal netizens!!!"

Yanming patted her shoulder sympathetically: "Don't get excited, it'll make you age faster."

Miaomeng was still angrily muttering to herself.

After some time, a new website appeared on the vast and complex internet that no one paid attention to. Its background and functions were all blank. The only thing you could see when you clicked on it was an everyday photo with a shooting angle and content that was more abstract than Picasso's.

The photo shows an upside-down matcha cat, a terrifying little penguin, a grumpy octopus girl, and a black-eyed, white-faced rat surrounding a human who is so normal as to be abnormal in the most extreme way.

It's hard to imagine that such a work, which is several centuries ahead of its time, could exist on Earth.

……

"Whew—what a fruitful day! After this, it's officially summer vacation!"

Xiangzi carried the things he bought today in one hand and held a half-eaten ice cream in the other. "I wonder if I'll still have time to come out and play with everyone like today after I'm promoted to Yuqiu."

Yan Duiming walked back beside her, the beautiful sunset hanging in the sky, no longer scorching.

"Yes, there will definitely be other opportunities."

……

Holidays always seem to fly by.

Xiangzi, who had been pulling a rickshaw for two months, was almost there...

Wait a minute, that's not Xiangzi.

After working as a telephone customer service representative for two months, Xiao Xiang, who was still a little dazed, felt a sudden wave of disorientation, as if his soul had been stuck on the first day of his holiday just a few seconds ago.

[Ding-dong, you have a new message]

[Group Chat: A Loving Family (5) 99+ Unread Messages]

Xiangzi turned off the Do Not Disturb mode that he had on while at work.

[Su Shi: There are only a few days left before school starts. What's everyone at Crychic saying? Have you decided where to go for fun yet?]

[Lixi: Still there, Crychic.]

[Deng: Xiaoxiang... hasn't spoken in the group for a few days... I'm a little worried about her.]

[Mu: Xiang is not dead, don't worry.]

[Xiangzi: Xiaomu!!]

[Light: It's here! It's appeared!]

[Li Xi: Speak of the devil, and he appears.]

[Li Xi: Give me a straight answer, Miss. When are we going, or are you just going to cancel altogether?]

[Xiangzi: I won't stand you up! I've just been busy lately. I'll be free for the next few days, so let's have a good discussion now.]

[Xiangzi: Let me gather some feedback first... (Not sent)]

"Xiao Xiang, come out and eat. Stop lying there playing on your phone."

"Oh—okay—"

Xiangzi sat up from Yanming's bed, put on his slippers, and ran out.

[Xiangzi: If you have any opinions, please post them in the group first. I have to go eat, otherwise I'll get scolded.]

[Xiangzi: I'll organize the things you guys sent me when I get back after I finish eating.]

[Lixi: How old are you? You still get scolded by your parents for not eating? I never noticed how childish you were before.]

[Xiangzi: Angry Jpg]

After sending the emoji, Xiangzi put his phone back in his pocket and sat down opposite Yanming.

The two of them had become quite accustomed to this routine without even realizing it.

In the past, as a young lady from a wealthy family, Xiangzi was not only waited on hand and foot, but she also had a personal chef who would cook for her. Whenever she wanted to eat, she only needed to tell him in advance, and hot food would be delivered to her quickly.

This kind of life, where people get nagged if they arrive even slightly late after the food is served, only started for Lai Yanming.

However, Xiangzi prefers things to be like this now compared to before.

It's as if she's not some glamorous "Miss Toyokawa Shoko of the Toyokawa family," but just an ordinary "Shoko" in other people's eyes.

"Toyokawa Kosho, if you keep spacing out, the food will get cold."

"Okay, okay? Don't rush me!"

"Eat more vegetables, don't just eat white rice all the time. It's not nutritious, or you won't grow tall."

"it is good."

Only after watching Xiangzi obediently put the food into his mouth did Yanming look away with satisfaction.

[Host, you're really starting to sound like a mother hen...]

Miss Xiangzi, sigh... she's almost been spoiled rotten.

This can't go on... Sigh...

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Shiina Tatsuki's Sense of Inferiority.

"I'm done eating!"

Yanming was startled. Only five minutes had passed from when she sat down at the table to when she put down her bowl.

"Are you full? Would you like some more?"

Xiangzi refused, saying, "No need. Xiaodeng and the others are still waiting for my reply. I can't keep them waiting any longer!"