Do you want to know my wish?

After ending his "eye contact" with Ei, Lu Chen turned back to find Miko watching him with a puzzled look.

"What were you two doing, exchanging glances? And why were you smiling so slyly?"

Lu Chen suppressed his grin and whispered, "When we get to the neighboring provincial capital tomorrow, someone's going to have to spend quite a bit~"

"Hmm?" Miko didn't get it. "Who? The Anemo Archon?"

Who else... Venti's terrible card skills couldn't even beat Qiqi. No matter how many rounds he played, he'd lose them all. The worse he played, the more enthusiastic he got.

Miko wasn't interested in cards and kept her eyes on the road.

"Ei is smiling more and more lately..."

"Yeah." Lu Chen had been watching her in the rearview mirror. While playing cards with everyone, Ei would occasionally smile.

"Ei's like this now, all thanks to you..." Miko said softly.

Lu Chen withdrew his gaze.

With his companionship, Ei's personality had brightened a lot—no longer the cold figure she'd once been.

Spending so many days together, he was changing her in his own way.

Seeing Lu Chen lost in thought again, Miko remarked, "But you haven't changed at all. Still the same as always."

Lu Chen chuckled. "Well, I've been handsome for a few thousand years, and I'll keep being handsome. Envious? Even the Geo Archon praised me for being hard to wear down."

Of course, that wasn't exactly what Zhongli had meant, but normally Miko would have poked fun at Lu Chen's shameless boasting. Today, though, she unusually held back.

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. For a while, the only sound was the wind blowing in through the window, stirring their hair.

Lu Chen slowly closed the window. It was late at night, and a bit cold.

"Sometimes I really envy Ei..."

Miko turned to him, looking serious. "I envy Ei. I envy the way you two save each other."

Moonlight poured through the window, casting a soft glow on Miko's profile.

When her playful eyes quieted, they held a fleeting, elusive light few could ever touch.

Lu Chen remained silent.

"That makes me very happy..." Miko sighed.

"Oh, does it..."

Miko looked ahead, her expression suddenly shifting back to the ever-enigmatic Guuji.

"Do you still remember the wish you promised me?"

"Hmm?" Lu Chen hadn't expected her to bring that up.

"I remember."

"Do you want to know..." Miko blinked, "what kind of wish I made?"

"What wish?" Lu Chen asked.

"Guess first!" Miko suddenly grew playful. "If you guess it, I'll grant you a wish in return. Fair trade—what do you say?"

"I don't want to guess." Lu Chen pouted. "Just tell me."

"You're no fun." Miko pouted, pretending to look aggrieved.

Lu Chen leaned back in the passenger seat, hands behind his head, gazing at the moonlight outside.

He heard Miko giggle softly.

"I might reveal this wish someday, but for now I'm keeping it to myself—until the very end."

Lu Chen glanced at her.

Seeing his expressionless stare, Miko laughed even more happily.

"Maybe you'll owe me a wish forever! Every day you'll be on edge, wondering how I'll trick you. Isn't that fun?"

"You sneaky little fox!" Lu Chen snorted.

"Actually..." Miko's smile faded.

"You've already guessed, haven't you?"

"Right?"

Under her gaze, Lu Chen slowly got up from the passenger seat.

"I'm a bit sleepy. I'll go make some coffee. How much sugar do you want?"

Miko didn't answer, simply watching him.

Lu Chen turned and walked forward, passing the card players and heading toward the tea room.

After a while, the scent of coffee spread through the RV.

Miko silently watched Lu Chen's retreating figure.

A long time passed.

Finally, she turned her head back.

A soft laugh escaped her lips, as if mocking him.

"Coward."

...

Late that night, the RV finally arrived at the capital of H Province.

Feeling a bit tired, Lu Chen gazed out the window. The inland province's nightscape was completely different from that of a coastal city.

The RV pulled into the parking lot of a luxurious hotel. The other team members had arrived earlier, and the coach was leading them through the lobby to check in.

The hotel was lavishly decorated. The staff, impeccably dressed, bowed as Lu Chen and the others entered.

Normally, the school team wouldn't stay at such a high-end hotel, but Zhang Director had generously footed the bill to provide them with luxury accommodations.

This year, the sports department had done exceptionally well—even the fencing team, long at the bottom of the rankings, had shown improvement. Zhang Director now felt much more confident in meetings.

Zen Zhang had once confided to Lu Chen that he didn't mind his own shortcomings, but his father's standing in the family wasn't very high.

The Zhang family ran a family business, and while his uncles thrived in the business world, his father had failed and had been placed at Haizhou Middle School by the patriarch, starting from the bottom.

So the school's admission rates didn't really reflect Zhang Director's ability—the school would be the same with or without him. But if the sports programs he'd supported began to shine, that would prove his value.

That was why he was being so generous—if the team did well, he'd gain face.

The competition was still four days away, so Lu Chen planned to check in first, get a good night's rest, and take everyone out for a drive the next day.

When Lu Chen led everyone into the lobby, the school team members immediately turned their attention toward them.

It couldn't be helped—with a group of such handsome men and beautiful women walking in together, they drew attention wherever they went.

"Lu Chen, Miss Raiden, you're here!" The coach walked over with a smile.

"Sorry we're a bit late," Lu Chen replied. The coach and assistant coach had already checked in the others.

Lu Chen also handed over everyone's ID cards.

"It's not late," the coach said. "Take a few days to get used to the environment, train moderately, maintain a healthy routine—early to bed, early to rise. If you're not used to the climate, it can affect your performance."

"Understood, coach."

"By the way, are these... your family?" The coach looked at the group behind Lu Chen, puzzled.

He knew about Lu Chen's relationship with Miss Raiden, and he'd met Ms. Venti from the music department. But the rest he hadn't seen before.

A young woman dressed sharply, wearing sunglasses—her small face more striking than any TV star's.

A tall young man in a plain white shirt—despite his youth, he carried an air of calm maturity. When his gaze casually swept over them, it felt like he could see right through you...

As if he could read your mind.

And the last one...

A cute little girl in children's clothing. Huh—was that a piece of paper tucked in her hat? What an odd outfit.

Lu Chen's "family" was certainly a strange group. Even if you ignored their looks, they stood out wherever they went...

Wait, family?

While checking them in, the coach curiously sized them up.

Judging by their ages, maybe they were Lu Chen's...

Older cousin?

Older male cousin?

And younger cousin?

Hmm... probably something like that.

The coach speculated to himself.