Chapter 22: Complimentary Barbecue

Meanwhile, at the Guancheng District Park, the night had turned the surroundings tranquil and beautiful. Soft light illuminated the pathways, and the shadows of trees swayed in the gentle breeze. It was around seven in the evening when Bai Yuze and Bai Youqing stepped off the Ferris wheel.

Both were lost in their own thoughts, falling into an unspoken, resonant silence.

‘I finally get to ride the Ferris wheel with my brother, and we didn’t even get to see the view or take photos. Damn those villainous witches! I curse your mothers to always pay higher prices for groceries, your fathers to always get stuck in traffic on their way to work, and I hope you all grow up to have five sons each!’ Bai Youqing was like a gasoline canister ready to explode, her lips moving in a quiet, venomous stream of curses.

Bai Yuze, however, walked aimlessly. Having realized that the trap set for them wasn't fully prepared, he had let go of his tension and began to appreciate the scenery, looking quite content. He reasoned that even the Abyss might not know Bai Youqing was a Magical Girl, let alone those villainous witches. It was highly likely that he and his sister had simply stumbled into the situation by accident. Regardless, he wouldn't be coming back here for a long time after today—at most, he might leak a few clues to that fellow Peng Liang. As for playing the hero, he had no interest in meddling in such affairs for now. After his Cursed Armor had spiraled out of control last time, he might already be on the radar of the Magical Girls and the Public Safety Bureau. If he caused any more trouble, that old hag, the Bellflower Mage, would surely come knocking.

As they walked, Bai Yuze showed no sign of wanting to head home immediately. Bai Youqing followed closely behind, wanting to speak up and stop their aimless stroll but unsure how to bring it up. Her anxiety persisted until her uniquely obnoxious Mickey Mouse ringtone began to play.

“Hey! What are you looking at? It’s me...”

To her credit, Bai Youqing was remarkably quick; she answered the call before the Mickey Mouse toy could reach its familiar greeting of ‘Your daddy.’

“Ms. Bai, hello. We are the staff from the Guancheng District Park’s ‘Cool Summer’ event. Is this a convenient time to talk?” The caller’s tone was gentle and polite.

“Yes, it is.” Bai Youqing suddenly remembered that she had entered some kind of contest earlier that afternoon.

“According to the prize list, you’ve won the second prize, Ms. Bai. You are entitled to a free meal of skewers at Silver Lake Barbecue. The offer is valid only for today. If you wish to redeem it, please arrive before nine o'clock, as our park staff will be finishing their shifts after eleven.”

Upon hearing this unexpected stroke of good fortune, Bai Youqing immediately checked her phone’s map. She was pleasantly surprised to find that Silver Lake Barbecue was located just outside the park. Though not far, anywhere outside the park was better than staying within its grounds.

She had just been agonizing over how to stop her brother from wandering around, and now the problem was solved. “Brother, I’m hungry.”

Bai Yuze glanced at the map and searched for the location of Silver Lake Barbecue. His previously relaxed expression vanished instantly. Was his sister a human-shaped Calamity Beast radar? She always seemed to drift exactly where the danger was. Seeing her excitement, he couldn't bear to dampen her mood. He sighed, “Alright, let’s go.”

At least he was there to handle whatever might happen.

“Hehehe.” Bai Youqing giggled, secretly proud of herself for leading her brother out of danger.

On the phone, the staff asked for their location, and soon a small, park-exclusive tourist train pulled up. It was already filled with young men and women—mostly couples—chattering away happily. The train followed a pre-arranged route. Seeing this, Bai Yuze wasn't so sure anymore. Could his sister’s luck truly be that ‘good’? Before leaving, he glanced a few times at the yellow balloons tied to a park gazebo in the distance. Regardless, being prepared never hurt.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded. As the little train rolled out of the park, the lively attractions and scenery faded into silence. When the train stopped in front of Silver Lake Barbecue, the pair disembarked with the crowd. The restaurant sat near the park, adorned with weeping willows and overlooking the shimmering, rippling waters of Silver Lake. Patrons near the fence enjoyed the evening breeze, eating skewers, drinking, and taking in the view—it was quite pleasant.

Upon their arrival, a park staff member greeted them, verified their identities, and led them to a designated seat. Soon, a petite staff member wearing a face mask approached and handed them a menu. Bai Yuze scanned it and realized that the restaurant’s main dish was actually lobster; barbecue only made up a small portion of the menu. Clearly, the park’s promotion only covered the free skewers, and any lobster would have to be paid for separately.

He flipped through the menu and handed it to Bai Youqing. He was generally unfussy and had no particular dislike for any food. Bai Youqing, having eagerly snatched the menu, began to order frantically. Since it was free, she didn't have to worry about the cost like she used to when she would hold back to save her brother money. She could eat as much as she wanted. As for the lobster that cost extra? Not even a dog would order that!

“Ten servings each of the lamb skewers, beef skewers, fish balls...”

The server recording the order was professional, smiling from start to finish. The only odd thing was that her mouth twitched slightly, as if she were suffering from a toothache. The lobster restaurant’s promotion usually attracted fashionable young couples, where the men, eager to save face in front of their dates, would often order a serving or two of lobster.

“Even if it’s free, can you tone it down a little?” Bai Yuze looked at the plates piling up on the table, speechless.

“I didn't order that much! It’s just one person’s portion. It’s their plates that are too big—typical case of a huge bowl for a tiny serving of food,” Bai Youqing argued defensively. She paused, then lowered her voice so only he could hear. “Besides, brother, you should eat more. I remember you used to love barbecue. After Mom and Dad passed away, you stopped letting yourself enjoy it. Look at you, you’ve gotten so thin.”

Bai Yuze hadn't actually loved barbecue; his foster parents had just loved making it, claiming it brought the family closer. They would grill every weekend, though the results were, to put it mildly, an acquired taste. To avoid the ordeal, he had started sneaking off after school to learn from a professional barbecue master, eventually taking over the grilling duties for the weekend gatherings himself. Perhaps that was when his sister had formed her fixed impression of him.