Chen who was still vibrating from watching Paola emotionally conquer a human being- jumped in front of Knight like a maniac.

"THAT," Chen declared, pointing dramatically at Paola's retreating back, "was the most romantic thing I've ever seen."

Knight rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Chen leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Are you gonna marry her?"

Knight's face went blank. "No."

Chen gasped. "But she owns you."

Knight narrowed his eyes. "Get out of my face."

Chen grinned wider. "You're blushing."

Knight shoved him lightly. "Go do something useful."

Chen snapped into attention like he'd been given a mission. "YES. I HAVE A DESTINY."

Then he turned-

and immediately froze.

Because Jenn was standing there.

Not in front of him like Paola had been with her dramatic attack.

Just... near.

Quiet. Still.

Watching him the way Jenn watched everything- like she was studying the world, and somehow already knew the ending.

Lantern light draped over her hair like a soft crown, and her face was calm as always.

But her eyes-

Her eyes were warm tonight.

Chen blinked hard as if he needed to reboot.

Then he smiled, instantly loud again, because Chen couldn't hold silence without turning it into noise.

"JINNIE!" he announced like she'd just arrived at the festival for him specifically. "Did you see? Paola kidnapped Knight with romance!"

"I saw," Jenn replied mildly.

Chen nodded fiercely. "Terrifying. I would've died."

Jenn's gaze drifted to the little paper bag Chen had been carrying.

Then to his hands.

Then to his face.

"Did you buy anything?" she asked.

Chen perked up. "YES."

Jenn's eyebrow lifted slightly. "For who?"

Chen smiled like a proud criminal. "For many purposes."

"That's not an answer."

Chen clutched his chest. "Why are you interrogating me under lanterns?"

Jenn replied calmly, "Because you are suspicious even while breathing."

Chen laughed. "Fair."

Then he remembered what he was here for.

His posture straightened like he was about to give a speech.

"Okay," Chen announced seriously, which instantly made everyone within hearing distance nervous. "I have decided something."

Jenn waited.

Chen looked at her for a long second, then grinned like his brain lit up.

"I got you a gift."

Jenn didn't gasp.

She didn't overreact.

But her fingers- just slightly- curled at her side.

"Why?" she asked, tone almost bored, like she was discussing homework.

Chen frowned, genuinely confused by the question. "Because it's festival."

Jenn tilted her head. "That's still not a reason."

Chen stared at her like she'd asked him to calculate taxes.

Then he shrugged.

"Because you're... you," he said, like it was obvious. "And you always look like you're thinking too hard. So I thought maybe you need a gift that helps you be less... scary."

Jenn blinked slowly. "I'm not scary."

Chen pointed at her with full confidence. "Yes you are."

Jenn's lips twitched faintly.

Not quite a smile.

Chen's eyes widened, delighted. "OH! That almost looked like happiness."

Jenn replied, flat. "It wasn't."

Chen ignored her, digging into his bag. He pulled out a small wrapped pouch- messy ribbon, uneven knot, the kind of wrapping that screamed- Chen did this himself and survived.

He held it out like he was presenting treasure.

Jenn took it.

Her fingers brushed his.

Chen's breath caught for half a second and he didn't know why, so he immediately spoke to cover it.

"Open it! It's amazing."

Jenn loosened the ribbon with careful hands.

Inside was a small charm: a tiny chess piece- a Knight- carved from smooth dark wood, polished and clean.

Simple. Elegant. Quietly powerful.

Chen leaned closer, proud. "It's like you."

Jenn paused.

"...Me?" she asked softly.

Chen nodded like he was explaining the obvious.

"You move like that," he said. "Like you're always planning three steps ahead. And you always win even when you don't do anything."

Jenn stared at the chess knight.

Her fingers tightened around it slightly.

For a moment she didn't speak.

Chen, suddenly nervous, scratched the back of his neck.

"I mean- if you don't like it, it's fine. I can make you something else later. I'm flexible."

Jenn finally looked up at him.

Her eyes held his.

Steady.

Warm.

And she said quietly, "I like it."

Chen's face brightened like the whole festival had approved him.

"YES!" he shouted, then clapped his hands over his mouth because everyone nearby turned.

He whispered loudly instead, "I KNEW IT. I HAVE PERFECT TASTE."

Jenn's lips curved- small, genuine.

A real smile.

A soft curve of lips like lantern light finding a crack in stone.

And everything paused.

Paola grabbed Ping's arm and squealed silently.

Mrs. Lang made a choking sound.

Mr. Lang blinked twice like he'd just witnessed history.

Nathan's eyes flicked up- quiet surprise.

Knight-

Knight panicked.

It was instant.

Like a system error.

He stepped forward sharply, eyes flaring with protective alarm.

"Chen," he snapped, voice suddenly dangerous.

Chen flinched.

"Huh- what-"

Knight pointed at him like he was accusing a criminal. "Why are you giving my sister things?"

Chen blinked. "Because I had a gift."

Knight's jaw clenched. "WHY."

Chen stared in confusion. "Because... it's nice?"

Knight stepped closer like he might actually combust. "WHO SAID YOU CAN BE NICE TO HER."

Jenn, still holding the chess charm, looked up calmly.

"Brother," she said.

Knight immediately froze- caught between rage and care.

"Stop," Jenn's tone stayed quiet.

Knight's mouth opened.

Then closed.

He tried again.

"But-"

"Stop," Jenn insisted.

Knight glitched visibly.

Then he turned to Nathan like he needed support against this nightmare.

Nathan finally reached out, calm as ever, and caught Knight by the back of his collar- gently, like holding an angry cat.

"Knight," Nathan said quietly. "Not now."

Knight hissed, "He's smiling at her."

Chen shouted, offended, "I SMILE AT EVERYONE!"

Then Jenn reached into her own small bag.

Chen blinked. "Wait- YOU have a gift too?"

Jenn didn't answer immediately.

She pulled out a small box- neatly wrapped, ribbon perfectly tied, no chaos, no wrinkles. It looked like the gift had been trained to behave.

Chen stared, awed. "Your gift wrapping is scary."

Jenn handed it to him. "Open it."

Chen clutched it dramatically like it was sacred.

"You got me something?" he whispered, like the concept was illegal.

Jenn replied calmly, "Yes."

Chen's eyes watered. "Why?"

Jenn looked at him for a long moment.

Then she said the truth- simple, clean, and deadly.

"Because you're Chen."

Chen froze.

Even Paola stopped bullying Knight long enough to inhale.

Knight's head snapped toward Nathan again like- Are we seeing this?

Nathan's face stayed calm.

But his eyes sharpened slightly, like he'd just been given unexpected entertainment.

The words didn't sound romantic on the surface.

But the way she said it-

like it explained everything-

made Chen's chest do something weird.

He didn't understand it.

So he immediately panicked and opened the box too fast.

Inside was a bracelet- bright braided threads, colorful like fireworks, with a tiny charm attached: a little spark-shaped pendant, playful and bold.

It looked like chaos.

It looked like laughter.

It looked perfect for him.

Chen stared.

His mouth fell open slowly.

"This..." he whispered, stunned. "This is..."

Jenn watched him quietly.

Chen looked up at her, eyes wide like a child.

"You didn't buy me something to calm me down," he said.he said.

Jenn replied, soft but firm, "Why would I?"

Chen blinked. "Most people say I should be less loud."

Jenn's gaze didn't waver.

"I don't want you less loud," she said simply.

Chen stared at her like he was trying to translate her words into a language his brain understood.

"You... like loud?" he asked.

Jenn's eyes warmed.

"It suits you," she said.

Paola covered her mouth to stop herself from squealing.

Ping's eyes widened like he'd just discovered forbidden romance.

Mrs. Lang whispered "OH!" like she was witnessing her favorite drama.

Mr. Lang's gaze softened with quiet amusement.

Knight muttered, "Oh no."

Chen, however, didn't process the sentence properly. Not the way it was meant.

He grinned, suddenly emotional for no reason.

"YES," he declared proudly. "You are right."

Jenn's mouth curved again- another small, private smile.

Chen fumbled with the bracelet, trying to put it on himself and failing immediately.

Jenn sighed quietly and stepped closer.

She took his wrist.

Chen went still like he'd been unplugged.

Jenn tied the bracelet for him with calm fingers, neat knots, the spark charm settling against his skin.

Chen stared at her hands like they were performing magic.

His ears turned pink.

But his brain did not connect a single dot.

He only swallowed and muttered, "You're... really good at tying things."

Jenn replied smoothly, "You're really bad at everything."

Chen beamed. "Yes!"

When she finished, Jenn's fingers lingered for half a second- soft, gentle- then she let go.

Chen blinked rapidly, then grinned again because his brain couldn't handle softness without turning it into comedy.

"Okay," he announced loudly. "We are officially the coolest pair here."

Jenn replied, "Pair?"

Chen nodded seriously. "Yes. Like... team."

Jenn didn't correct him.

She just looked at his bracelet once more, then back at his face-

and smiled again.

Small.

Satisfied.

Like her chess game had already begun.

And Chen- still clueless, still loud, still Chen- stood there under lantern light wearing her gift proudly like a trophy, completely unaware he'd already lost something he didn't even know he was playing for.

Above them, the fireworks warmed up- booms getting louder, light gathering.

And the night held its breath, just for a moment-

Because something bigger was about to happen.

Next Stop in The City of Lanterns: