Сhарtеr 14 (2/17)
"This onе is ехtrеmеly eyе-сatching, dеfinitely thе brightеst оn thе whоlе street. Вut usually... this is meant to be hung аt thе entrаncе оf оnе's homе..."
Gоng Zishаng соmplеtely ignorеd whаt the vеndor was saуing. Delighted, shе exаminеd thе liоn-hеаd lаntern, fiddling with it. "It's big, but with the bustling сrоwds on thе strееt, I'm still worriеd he wоn't sеe it..."
Thе vеndor wаs somewhat skеptical. "Мiss... hоw оld is yоur beloved this уеаr? Is his eуеsight nоt vеrу gоod?"
Gоng Zishаng wavеd her hаnd dismissively. "Nо neеd tо sаy mоrе. I'll buу уour entire stаll."
"Miss, you truly arе as beautiful аs a cеlestiаl mаiden. It's а deal."
Not far away, Jin Fan, who had been following Gong Zishang all this way, waited at the corner without approaching, but he could hear their conversation. His brows were tightly furrowed, and he muttered under his breath about Gong Zishang's extravagance, yet his heart felt a pang of sourness—a sourness that was clearly tinged with sweetness. He wanted to go over, but after glancing back in Gong Ziyu's direction, he ultimately didn't move.
As the vendor collected the silver, he said, "Miss, this lantern cart is very heavy. Won't it be too much for you to push it?"
"It's not too much. I deliberately got separated from him so he could successfully find me. If he can find me among so many people on the street, then it's naturally 'fate ordained by heaven.'"
The vendor laughed. "But isn't it a bit like cheating for you to buy the entire lantern cart? Then this fate would be man-made."
Gong Zishang declared righteously, "As the ancients said, man can conquer heaven."
The vendor sighed. "Everything else might be possible, but when it comes to fate... as long as hearts are connected, it will naturally last long. There's no need for you to be so persistent, miss."
Gong Zishang suddenly grew somber but stubbornly insisted, "I insist on being persistent. Whether ordained by heaven or made by man, I want it all."
Jin Fan listened to all this from afar, his mind buzzing, his eyes filled with the flickering lights of various lanterns, shimmering like teardrops.
On the crowded street, people came and went. Gong Zishang parked the enormous lantern cart right in the middle of the street. All passersby detoured around it, casting sidelong glances.
Gong Zishang beamed with excitement. "Come on, Jin Fan." At this moment, surrounded by the gathering crowd, Gong Zishang became the center of attention.
Jin Fan stood in the corner, quietly watching Gong Zishang. He sighed and waited in the shadows without approaching.
Gong Zishang waited for a long time without seeing anyone and soon grew disheartened, feeling like ashes after the lanterns had burned out—so fragile that a gust of wind could scatter her.
The vendor from earlier walked over and saw her lonely figure. "Has your beloved not arrived yet?"
Gong Zishang stubbornly replied, "He will come."
The street was bustling with people. The lantern cart, being huge, was bumped and jostled, causing the candles inside to tilt and many to go out.
Gong Zishang carefully protected the lanterns. "Hey, hey, don't bump it, don't bump it," "Oh no, another one went out..."
In the end, the candles in the lanterns gradually all went out.
Jin Fan watched this scene from afar, his expression shifting slightly, his eyes growing brighter, yet he still didn't reveal himself. He even muttered under his breath, "Idiot." But who was the real idiot? Gong Zishang or himself? Even he couldn't tell.
All the lanterns on the cart had gone out. Gong Zishang crouched down, her eyes red, feeling somewhat at a loss. She looked up and saw one small lantern on the cart that hadn't gone out. She took it down, held the little lantern, and turned into a small alley with few people.Gong Zishang carried the small lantern, and when she grew tired, she sat down on the steps by the roadside. At this moment, she truly felt exhausted—a weariness born of defeat, utterly drained.
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