It didnât actually feel that great for the three of them to be going to the shopping mall together, especially since they didnât know each other that well. The atmosphere felt a bit awkward, so they ended up gravitating toward more populated areas where each of them could buy their own stuff and feel less awkward about the whole thing.
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Shen Lanâs main motivation for attending the masquerade ball was to capture Count Ravel. So he only bought some simple masks. It wasnât that realistic for him to also put on a full face of makeup.
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But Su Tang was different. He was excited by everything he saw. It seemed like there was everything on the racks: ghostly headgear, witchesâ capes and brooms, and even the fangs of vampires and cat ears. All of them were made quite exquisitely, almost lifelike with their details.
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âThis oneâs so realistic.â He said to Shen Lan as he couldnât help but put the cat ears on his head.
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âYeah.â Shen Lan nodded and pointed at the tail with a smile. âIf you added this too, youâd really look like a cat.â\n
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Su Tang hadnât really figured out what was going on, so he got closer to take a better look. âHow do you wear this. Tie it on?â
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âNo idea.â Shen Lan said carelessly, bringing out his phone to point at Su Tang. âLook here.â
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Su Tang stared for a moment before realizing that Shen Lan had snapped a photo of him in cat ears. He blushed, embarrassed, leaping closer to him and making a fuss. âHow could you do this? Delete that picture.â
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âWhy would I do that? Look at how cute it is.â Height-wise, Su Tang was no taller than Shen Lanâs shoulder. When he raised his hand, he couldnât grab the phone away at all. Shen Lan glanced at him with a smirk, setting the picture as his screensaver. âGood boy. Itâs cute. I like how it looks on you.â
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Su Tang had been prepared to throw a tantrum. When Shen Lan praised him, he couldnât help but feel a little warm inside. But not being able to see the picture still worried him, so he raised his head and asked, âReally? Then show me.â
 \nâNope. This is a valuable picture. Iâm charging if you want to see it.â Shen Lan stuffed his phone into his pocket.
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Su Tang glared at him, reaching out toward his pocket. But Shen Lan caught his hand in a grip. He wanted to pull his hand away but was stuck and couldnât get out.
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âItâs my picture,â Su Tang protested.
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âYouâre right.â Shen Lan nodded, seeming to think for a moment. âDoes that mean youâre charging for it too?â
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Su Tang didnât know what he was getting at. He felt like a rabbit being tracked down: surrounded by traps, doomed to get trapped in a corner and eaten up.
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But he couldnât think about all that right now. He wasnât really being trapped after all. So he nodded heartily. âYep. I charge for it too!â
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âI think so.â Shen Lan looked at him, thought for a moment, and gripped his hand tighter, stepping up so they could walk side by side.
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After their shopping trip, An Shiyu said that she was feeling a little unwell and wanted to go home first. Making sure she was safe and sound and had a taxi ride home, Shen Lan finally started shopping once more with Su Tang.
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During this season the sky always grew dark very early. The streetlights by the side of the road lit up one after another, like stars embedded in a dark night sky.
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It wasnât as crowded as it was during the day on the streets, and the air outside was so refreshing. Leaves fell from the trees, shuffling along the pavement, making a calming sound.
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Neither of them were in a hurry to go home, so they paced along the streets slowly. The billboard ads next to the streets kept changing color, reflecting onto their interlocked hands. They leaned close to each other, whispering a word or two to each other every once in a while.
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Su Tangâs hand was cold, but since Shen Lan had been holding it tightly he felt warmer, both inside and out. It was so nice to stroll along like this. The atmosphere was peaceful, but also romantic. He leaned in closer to Shen Lan, who immediately embraced him.