The Sweet Trap of Festival Preparations

The morning air at Ritou's docks carried the scent of sea salt caramel. Lumine barged into the shop with a stack of *Otherworldly Oddities* flyers, her hair still adorned with maple leaves from Chinju Forest. Ling Feng, crouched by the shelves adjusting a new **"Elemental Resonance Device,"** looked up to see her slam the flyers on the table. "Yae Miko wants to host a Three Realms Blind Box Festival, and she's giving us a booth!" 

The flyer's corner bore a fox paw print, with a note: **"Special Couples' Collaboration Stage—winners get a limited-edition Shogun Puppet! (Extra rewards if Mr. Ling cross-dresses~)"** 

Lumine pointed at the note, raising an eyebrow. "Forget the cross-dressing, but we *have* to get that limited-edition Shogun Puppet!" 

Ling Feng's ears turned red as he caught the fire in her eyes. "Fine, but you have to follow my lead during the collaboration stage..." 

"No way! Last time I listened to you, the firework tube was installed backward, and I ended up with a *Genshin Impact*-style explosion hairdo!" 

Sayu rolled out from behind the shelves, clutching a stolen **"Sleep Aid"** blind box. "You're disturbing a ninja's nap..." Before she could finish, a mechanical jellyfish popped out of the box, chasing her around the room with sleep-inducing bubbles. 

At the festival booth planning meeting, Ayaka used her Cryo powers to create an intricate model. "Combining the Kamisato sword dance with blind boxes—we can set up a crystal illusion here." 

Yoimiya jumped up, raising her hand. "My **'Thunderfire Scroll'** needs center stage! It can project a panoramic view of the Shogun slicing through the sea!" 

Lumine suddenly grabbed Ling Feng's arm. "We're doing a duo mechanism challenge! Let's call it **'Heartbeat Challenge'**—loser has to cross-dress!" 

Ling Feng facepalmed as everyone stifled laughter. "You just want to see me embarrass myself, don't you?" 

"Of course not~" Lumine blinked, her fingertips sparking with Electro energy. The mechanism model suddenly started dancing to *Gokuraku Jodo*. "See? Even the Shogun Puppet approves!" 

The projected puppet swung its naginata, a mechanical voice announcing: **"High-quality proposal detected. Execution permitted."** 

Late at night, the two huddled in the storeroom, fine-tuning the mechanism. Lumine leaned in with the blueprint, her hair brushing Ling Feng's neck. "Where does this Geo sensor go?" 

"T-third gear on the left..." Ling Feng's Adam's apple bobbed as Lumine suddenly stood on tiptoe, her warm breath brushing his ear. "I can't reach! Lift me up!" 

Ling Feng stiffly hoisted her up, the feel of her waist through the fabric sending his thoughts into disarray. Lumine tightened the screw triumphantly and turned with a grin. "Teamwork!" Only to see Ling Feng, red-faced, knock over the toolbox, sending parts raining down on Sayu's hiding spot. 

"Mr! Ling!" Sayu crawled out, gears tangled in her hair. "I'm reporting you to Sangonomiya for child abuse!" 

On the day of the Three Realms Festival, a long line formed in front of the **"Heartbeat Challenge"** mechanism. Lumine dragged Ling Feng into the center. "The rules are simple—survive three rounds of attacks to win, but..." She shook the Elemental Resonance Ring on her wrist. "If your heart rate goes over 140, you lose~" 

**Round One:** Electro Slimes swarmed in. Lumine spun, unleashing Anemo blades, while Ling Feng raised a Geo shield. As elemental sparks flew, her back pressed against his chest. "Tilt the shield half an inch left! Did you fail your combat training?" 

"How am I supposed to move when you're stepping on my foot?!" 

**Round Two:** A Hydro illusion of Yae Miko hurled fried tofu attacks. Lumine laughed so hard she missed a block, and Ling Feng instinctively pulled her aside. "Focus! We'll lose the limited edition!" 

"Your heartbeat is too loud! It's distracting!" 

**Round Three:** A Shogun Puppet illusion swung its blade. Lumine suddenly turned, wrapping her arms around Ling Feng's neck and whispering, "Close your eyes." 

Amid the roar of wind and thunder, Ling Feng felt a soft warmth brush his lips. Lumine took the chance to throw Sayu's special sleep bubbles, shattering the illusion into stardust. 

"Ch-Challenge complete!" the mechanical voice stuttered. Lumine waved the limited-edition puppet with a smirk. "That was tactical deception!" 

Ling Feng touched his burning ear. "That tactic was cheating..." 

At the award ceremony, Yae Miko appeared. "The special prize is—" Her tail curled around a heart-shaped blind box. "The **'Heart Observer Edition,'** which reveals the wearer's true feelings~" 

Lumine snatched the box and clamped it on Ling Feng's wrist. The dial's needle spun wildly to **"Flustered."** Ling Feng retaliated by putting one on her, and the dial exploded with *Genshin Impact*-style elemental effects. As the crowd cheered, Miko added with a sly smile, "Looks like someone triggered Overload~" 

That evening, the two sat on the crooked **"Couples' Lookout,"** sharing tri-colored dango. Lumine suddenly pointed at the sky. "Look! My **'Thunderfire Scroll'**!" 

Fireworks exploded into a Q版 (chibi) animation of the two dancing, accompanied by Miko's voice: **"Be happy~"** 

Ling Feng secretly took Lumine's hand. "Tomorrow... want to try the **'Duo Management Challenge'**?" 

"Only if you don't mind the shelves getting blown up again~"