The moment they reached the market, Syaoran's eyes widened with awe.
"Why are there so many shops here?" he asked, mouth slightly open in amazement.
Fang laughed, tugging his hand. "Because it's a market, silly! Of course it's full of shops."
She led him from stall to stall, ordering snacks and food from every place they liked. The air buzzed with cheerful chatter, sizzling grills, and colorful displays. Syaoran followed her with wide-eyed curiosity, tasting everything she handed him with delight.
Then, suddenly, he stopped and tapped her shoulder. "What's this?" he asked, pointing to a tiny booth with a curtain.
Fang smiled knowingly. "It's a photo booth! We can take pictures inside—just the two of us."
He blinked in confusion, scratching the back of his neck. But before he could ask more, Fang grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.
"Okay, sit here. Look at the camera and smile," she instructed as she pressed the start button.
Flash!
Syaoran flinched and shut his eyes.
Fang checked the printed photo and burst into laughter. "You look like someone just threw light in your face!"
He peeked at it, embarrassed. "Let's take another…"
She smiled and hit the button again.
Flash!
This time, the photo was perfect. She printed two copies and handed one to him. Syaoran stared at it silently, a small smile tugging at his lips.
From there, they made their way to KFC and Subway. Fang let Syaoran pick everything he liked, and they packed it all up before heading to a nearby park.
They sat on a bench under the shade of a large tree and began eating. Syaoran was completely mesmerized by the flavors and quickly finished his food with childlike joy.
Fang chuckled and returned with two cones of ice cream.
Syaoran looked at it suspiciously. "What is this?"
Fang took a bite and grinned. "Just try it!"
He mimicked her and took a cautious bite… and then eagerly went in for more.
They finished their desserts and wandered through the park, the golden sun dipping toward the horizon. As the sky turned pink and violet, Syaoran spotted the swings.
Fang noticed his gaze and grinned. "Wanna try it?"
He hesitated, but she didn't wait. She ran toward the swings and sat down, motioning for him to join. Soon, they were laughing like children, kicking their feet and soaring into the air.
As night fell, they returned to the swings and sat quietly, the moon rising high above the trees.
Syaoran stared at it, his expression distant.
Fang glanced at him. "What's wrong?"
He didn't look at her. "I just… miss home."
"You can go home whenever you want, right?" she asked softly. "Then why do you look so sad?"
He closed his eyes. "Because my home isn't here. And you… you can't even imagine where it is."
His tone turned sharp at the end, and she frowned slightly.
"Don't make me angry," he added, quieter now.
Fang paused, then looked up at the glowing moon.
"If your home is the moon," she whispered with a small smile, "then I'd like to go there with you someday."
Syaoran turned to her slowly, his gaze unreadable—somewhere between sorrow and something gentler. His lips parted, as if to say something—
And then it happened.
A sudden gust of wind. A loud crack in the sky.
Something neither of them saw coming.