With that, Uncle Li brought out several dishes.
Lucian pushed the plates toward Zhezhi, who looked slightly embarrassed but quickly began eating, as she was genuinely famished.
"Ahem—"
Under Lucian's gaze, Zhezhi ate a little too hastily. Lucian gently patted her back and said, "No need to rush. Take your time."
Zhezhi scratched her head shyly. "I was worried eating too slowly would waste your time..."
Lucian smiled. "How could that be? Time spent without you is a waste of time."
Zhezhi's face flushed crimson at his words, and she immediately lowered her head to shovel in a few more bites, secretly wondering: Is Lucian hinting at something...?
No, no... He must just be comforting me so I don't eat too hurriedly. Zhezhi, don't overthink it!
Noticing she was still eating quickly, Lucian asked, "Was the set of painting brushes I gave you useful?"
Zhezhi nodded. "Very much! Not only do they make the artwork more vibrant, but they're also durable. They've saved me a lot of money..."
Lucian gave a slight nod. "That's good to hear."
Zhezhi set down her chopsticks—the table had been cleared of food as if swept by a whirlwind.
Seeing the empty plates, her face reddened again: Will Lucian think I eat too much...?
As if reading her mind, Lucian took her delicate hand and stood up. "As the old saying goes, 'A good appetite is a blessing.' This is a good thing."
Zhezhi trailed behind Lucian like a shy sprite. When she saw him pay the bill, she whispered, "How much was it? I'll pay you back now..."
Lucian pulled her hand closer and laughed. "No need. I already said it's my treat. If you really feel bad, you can treat me next time."
Zhezhi adjusted her glasses. "O-okay... Next time, when we're free, I'll treat Lucian..."
Lucian strolled through the Moonlit Fair with Zhezhi, pausing here and there. Seeing her flushed, joyful face, he couldn't help but feel happy too.
"By the way, where's that painted fan stall you mentioned? I haven't seen it before."
Zhezhi pointed east. "Over there! Would you like to see it, Lucian? I'll take you!"
Following Zhezhi to the stall, she greeted the vendor: "Miss Dianxiao..."
The woman named Dianxiao exclaimed, "Oh my! Isn't this Lucian and Zhezhi? What an... unusual pair!"
Lucian eyed the items on display. "This stall sells fans?"
Dianxiao eagerly explained, "Yes, Lucian! We Jinzhou folks take great pride in our hometown's landscapes. Scholars and artists often paint these sceneries or inscribe poems on fan surfaces, and these painted fans have become beloved keepsakes."
"I also personally commission familiar artists to create exquisite fan designs for the Moonlit Fair. Zhezhi is one of them!"
"So, Lucian, how about buying a fan painted by Zhezhi to take home?"
Dianxiao then pointed to a stack of fans—all featuring Zhezhi's artwork, noticeably fewer in number compared to the others.
Lucian picked one up. The landscape on its surface was far more vivid and lively than the others.
"The quality of this fan's artwork is indeed the best here."
Dianxiao clapped her hands. "You've got a keen eye, Lucian! Among all these fans, Zhezhi's sell the fastest. Look, they're almost gone!"
Lucian nodded slightly. "In that case, I'll take one."
He gently fanned himself. "A shame there's no self-portrait of Zhezhi on it, though. Its collectible value is somewhat lacking."
Zhezhi's cheeks pinkened. "If Lucian wants one, I can paint another..."
As they wandered, they drifted off the main path, arriving at a quieter corner of the Moonlit Fair.
Few people were here—only scattered groups chatting and debating at an open-air rest area nearby.
"Even such a remote spot has a stall?"
Curious, Lucian approached. The stall displayed several bamboo tubes with sticks inside.
"What's this...?"
The vendor, Uncle Dong, quickly explained, "Ah, Lucian! This stall is called 'Divining the Moon'..."
Lucian tilted his head. "Divining the Moon? Like fortune-telling?"
Uncle Dong laughed. "Close, but more accurately, it's drawing lots for divination!"
"Divining the Moon, also called Sentinel Oracle Sticks, features verses tied to various Sentinels. Drawing a daily lot to receive a Sentinel's blessing might just bring good luck..."
Lucian had little interest in Sentinel blessings but was intrigued by Sentinels from other regions. Since the verses were related to them, perhaps he could learn about their forms elsewhere...
"Then I'll draw one."
Uncle Dong grinned. "Sure! Please draw it yourself, Lucian. If I do it for you, the reading might change."
Lucian nodded, shook the bamboo tube, and drew a stick.
He examined it: a crude sketch of a winged horse, so simplistic it was hard to discern.
Uncle Dong took the stick, gasped, and muttered, "This..."
Lucian frowned. "Is there a problem?"
Uncle Dong sighed. "This is the Star Mansion: associated with the sun, the horse. It's the fourth southern mansion, representing the Vermilion Bird's eye. Birds' eyes are often as bright as stars, hence the name 'Star.' As the saying goes, 'The eye tolerates no sand,' so this mansion is often inauspicious."
"In geomancy, it's considered an unlucky sign, symbolizing potential hardships and trials. When the Star Mansion reigns, sorrow follows; disasters loom, misfortunes multiply..."
Zhezhi asked worriedly, "Nothing bad will happen, right...?"
Uncle Dong reassured her, "Belief shapes reality. Just relax."
Lucian studied the winged horse design thoughtfully. He recalled Jinhsi mentioning a city-state in Rinascita called Laguna, where the Sentinel took the form of a winged horse...
Setting the stick down, he patted Zhezhi's head. "Don't worry. I don't believe in these things—just drew it for fun."
Then he asked, "Now that we've wandered enough, have you decided where to paint?"
Zhezhi lowered her head. "Not yet... I got too caught up in the fair..."
Lucian chuckled. "I figured."
"I have a spot in mind. How about returning to the Wishing Tree? Behind it, you can see all of Jinzhou. Would that work?"
Zhezhi nodded. "Mm! If Lucian thinks it's good, let's go there!"
Lucian pinched her slightly red cheek. "So indecisive... But it is a place with stunning views. You'll love it."