You're pissing me off, you idiot.

Nico looked at them both in turn. "Please, don't get mad or leave me, okay?" he pleaded, his tone full of regret. After catching his breath, he continued, "It seems the money Kirana gave us was left behind in Soltera. Right now, I only have five coins in my pocket."

Sana stared at Nico in shock. "What?! How could you be so stupid and careless!" she exclaimed, cursing herself.

Arga took a deep breath, trying to stay composed. "We're in a tough situation, but now's not the time to blame each other," he said firmly yet calmly. He quickly grabbed Sana's raised hand, stopping it just before it could hit Nico, and looked at her. "Nico panicked when the bandits were chasing us. This mistake might not entirely be his fault. I'll find a way out. Trust me."

Arga's words silenced Sana. Even though she was older than Arga, she felt compelled to listen to him. To her, Arga was different from Kevin, someone from her past who always blamed others and avoided responsibility. This man had a calming decisiveness.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke their reverie. A man was walking around, enthusiastically announcing something. "Couples' Festival! Join now and win the grand prize!" he shouted. Posters were handed out to anyone passing by. Nico grabbed one, but before he could read it, Arga quickly snatched it.

"Couples' Festival, grand prize: 100 coins. Wow, that's a lot of money," Arga said, his tone full of hope, then took off running.

Sana and Nico exchanged glances before following Arga as he chased after the man. "Excuse me, sir. Is this real?" Arga asked.

The man smiled and nodded. "Of course. This festival is held to bring people together, give them new hope, entertain them from their longings, and help them accept their current situations. It's a chance to start a new life in this world."

Nico, Arga, and Sana listened attentively. The man continued, "If you're a couple, come to the address listed on the poster immediately. If you're too late, you won't be able to register."

Nico quickly exclaimed, "In that case, since this was my fault, I'll go with Sana..."

But before he could finish, Sana grabbed Arga's arm and pulled him along. "Let's try this. It's our only chance to survive in this city," she said firmly. Then she turned to Nico with a bright smile. "Nico, book us a room with the money in your pocket. We'll bring back food and the prize, okay?"

Nico nodded, though he was puzzled by Sana's sudden enthusiasm. "Alright. Good luck, you two!" he called out, waving.

Arga, who still didn't fully grasp the situation, could only follow as Sana clutched his arm tightly, leading him toward the competition venue. In his heart, he wondered what was really going on, but Sana's optimistic expression made him choose to stay silent and walk with her.

In the distance, colorful lanterns hung low between wooden poles lining Kashgar's square. Their soft glow shimmered in the chilly night air, casting dancing shadows on the cobblestone streets. Amidst the festival's hustle and bustle, the sounds of laughter and traditional music blended into one, bringing warmth that defied the biting cold.

For Sana, however, the atmosphere was far from cheerful. She stood at the edge of the crowd with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on a large announcement board standing tall in front of the main stage. A tattered poster was haphazardly nailed to it, the rusty nails barely holding it in place. Bold letters in the center stood out:

"Couples' Competition! Grand Prize: 100 Coins"

"Do we really have to do this?" Arga asked, standing beside Sana. His tone was hesitant, though the corner of his lips hinted at a faint smile. He folded his arms, as if to shield himself from the cold or perhaps his nerves.

Sana glanced at him briefly, her expression neutral. "We don't have a choice, Arga." Her voice sounded firmer than she felt.

Arga shrugged lightly. "There are other options, you know. I could work at anything, as long as they pay me. Or—"

"We don't have time for that," Sana interrupted, her tone sharper. "We don't even have enough money for dinner tonight. This is all because of that careless idiot!" Her face flushed, anger clearly visible.

Arga sighed deeply, his eyes scanning the announcement board as if searching for answers there. "Don't blame Nico again. He didn't leave the money behind on purpose," he said gently. Then he turned back to Sana, raising an eyebrow. "But a couples' competition? Sana, I don't even know how to pretend to be… your partner." His tone was a mix of bewilderment and amusement.

Sana tightened her coat, trying to fight off the creeping cold. "We just need to follow the rules. No need to overdo it. We'll claim the prize, and that's it."

"And what if they start asking personal questions? Or make us do something… weird?" Arga attempted to inject a bit of humor into his tone, but there was genuine concern behind his words. "And your age? Isn't that… suspicious?"

Sana shot him a sharp glance, her eyes narrowing. "Does a girl this pretty look old to you?"

Arga stammered, caught off guard by the question. "That's not what I meant, I just"

"You just need to go with the flow. Stop asking so many questions," Sana cut him off, her voice quiet but firm.

Deep down, Sana knew Arga's concerns weren't entirely unfounded. The age gap of more than twenty years between them was bound to raise eyebrows, making their relationship appear awkward to others. But in this world, Sana had returned to her twenties. The city of Kashgar didn't know them; no one knew Sana's past—not even her failed marriage to Kevin. No one cared that she now appeared to be a woman in her twenties, even though her heart carried the weight of a lifetime of experiences.

"Fine," Arga finally said, surrendering to Sana's resolve. He adjusted his jacket collar, trying to steady himself. "If we're doing this, at least try not to look like you want to kill me every time I talk."