There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Extra 1.2

He took the spoon into his mouth.

The young man with beautiful almond-shaped eyes lazily raised his eyelids, “Aren’t you on your period today? You shouldn’t eat cold things.”

Qin Ke: “…”

Under Qiao Xiaoyun’s shocked gaze from across the table, Qin Ke awkwardly let go of the dessert spoon.

“I didn’t eat it, I was just looking.”

“…”

Feeling guilty, Qin Ke couldn’t argue further and was dragged away by Huo Jun under Qiao Xiaoyun’s benevolent gaze.

In the car.

“Where are we going?”

Qin Ke looked at the route they were taking and curiously glanced down at Huo Jun, who was still resting his head on her shoulder.

Huo Jun slightly raised his eyelids, “Don’t know.”

Qin Ke: “?”

Was she being kidnapped?

Huo Jun seemed to read the girl’s silence and chuckled softly.

“I asked the driver to look up the most popular dating spots near the city — he’s taking us to the closest one.”

Qin Ke: “…”

Qin Ke: “That doesn’t sound very reliable.”

“I don’t have high requirements,” Huo Jun said with a smirk. “As long as there are no third wheels, just the two of us is enough.”

“…”

Ten minutes later.

The car stopped at the parking lot of an amusement park.

As far as the eye could see, more than half of the people were middle school students.

Qin Ke turned to look at the person beside her. “… A dating hotspot?”

Huo Jun bit the inside of his lip and laughed softly, “I’m quite satisfied with it.”

“?”

Before Qin Ke could voice her doubts, Huo Jun had already taken her hand and was leading her towards the entrance.

Adding her past and present lives together, this was truly Qin Ke’s first time entering such a large amusement park.

So she refreshed her own understanding: apparently, dying once doesn’t mean you’re no longer afraid of anything.

—

Certain large amusement rides could truly give one a strange feeling of teetering on the edge of death, frantically testing one’s limits.

“…I can’t take it anymore.”

After getting off the giant pendulum ride, Qin Ke was now actively holding Huo Jun’s hand, expressionlessly dragging him towards another part of the amusement park.

“Let’s try something quieter, calmer.”

Huo Jun chuckled, “How about the haunted house?”

Qin Ke: “…”

Huo Jun: “I’ve seen on TV, girls often get scared and jump into the guys’ arms.”

Qin Ke: “…I suggest you watch less of those TV dramas.”

Seeing the girl’s poorly concealed panicked look, Huo Jun smiled gently.

“Alright, we won’t go then.”

“…”

Qin Ke let out a long sigh of relief.

Hand in hand, they walked through a much more harmonious area of the amusement park, where they couldn’t hear any screams.

Without realizing it, they had walked into a garden area. Suddenly, a small sign appeared in front of Qin Ke and Huo Jun:

[Fortune Telling House].

Qin Ke looked at the amusement park map in her hand, confused.

“The map doesn’t show any attraction here.”

Huo Jun: “Maybe it’s newly built. Want to check it out?”

“…Mm.”

Qin Ke’s eyes flickered for a moment.

—

Just a second ago, she had wanted to refuse this suggestion.

But why, when it came time to speak, did she agree?

This thought flashed quickly through Qin Ke’s mind, not giving her a chance to ponder it further, and leaving no trace behind.

Qin Ke and Huo Jun walked together towards where the small sign was pointing.

A few seconds later, after rounding a grove of trees, a pitched tent appeared in their view.

The tent was set up rather simply, looking as if it could be pushed away on a small cart at any time.

Inside the tent sat an old man facing them, with graying hair and a kind smile. In front of him was a low, long table, on which rested a large glass ball that looked like it could have been bought for five yuan at a roadside stall.

Seemingly hearing the footsteps of the two, the old man looked up with a smile, his eyes kindly squinting — making one wonder if he could really see clearly:

“Young customers, would you like your fortune told?”

Qin Ke didn’t speak.

She was looking down at the front of the small long table. Where there should normally be one cushion, there now lay two side by side.

It was as if…

The owner of this place knew from the start that there would be exactly two customers arriving together.

This thought didn’t linger long in Qin Ke’s mind; even her rational self didn’t seem to be aware of its existence.

She and Huo Jun exchanged a glance, and without discussion, sat down on the cushions.

Behind the large glass ball, the kind-looking old man was smiling.

“I can see that you two are a couple about to enter the hall of marriage.”

Qin Ke wanted to ask how he could “see” that.

But she didn’t speak, only listening to what he said next.

“This gentleman has made thorough preparations, but this young lady…”

The old man smiled at Qin Ke.

“This beautiful young lady seems to have a bit of regret in her heart. This regret has become a hindrance in your heart, hasn’t it?”

Qin Ke’s eyes flickered for a moment.

… Regret?

It seemed so.

The… indescribable regret that stopped her from accepting Huo Jun’s proposal at the last second.

“This old man sincerely hopes that all lovers in the world can end up together.”

The old man smiled, his eyes squinting.

He gestured towards the large glass ball in front of him that looked like it might have been bought from a street vendor.

“Dear customers, please place your hands on this crystal ball. I will help you resolve this last bit of regret.”

Qin Ke instinctively asked, “How will you resolve it?”

The old man smiled.

“That’s a secret, beautiful lady. –But, trust me, you’ll know very soon.”

Qin Ke skeptically placed her hand on the glass ball.

Unlike the rough texture she had imagined from a street vendor’s wares, the glass ball felt smooth and warm like fine jade, but with a slight, subtle gravitational pull.

Qin Ke felt as if its power suddenly tugged at her.

The next second.

Qin Ke’s consciousness abruptly fell into endless darkness.

…

“Miss Qin Ke? –Miss Qin Ke??”

“…”

Qin Ke woke up to repeated worried calls.

She opened her eyes.

In front of her was a somewhat familiar face –Qin Ke remembered this was one of the Huo family’s servants.

And she seemed to be in one of the guest rooms in the Huo family’s house.

Qin Ke sat up, rubbing her sore neck.

“Why am I here? Where’s…Huo Zhonglou?”

The servant seemed startled and hurriedly lowered her voice to advise.

“Miss Qin Ke, even if Mr. Huo is your future brother-in-law, you shouldn’t address him by his full name.”

Qin Ke froze.

“My… what?”