Chapter 11 "Please, Lord Kidd"...
Except for her first year of junior high school, Jiang Meng has never missed a Children's Day, even though she is almost an adult now.
Chen Jizhou would take her out to play.
They agreed to participate in an event every year, such as an amusement park, video game arcade, shooting, or ice skating.
Xie Zhuo doesn't participate with them; Xie Zhuo has long wanted to grow up.
Jiang Meng received some good news: Jiang Su was having a dinner with the graduates today. He always came back very late when he went out to eat, usually around 9 or 10 pm at the earliest.
They have plenty of time.
Chen Jizhou took her to a shopping mall and then queued up to buy her ice cream.
Jiang Meng sat in the shop enjoying the air conditioning.
She rested her chin on her hand and looked downstairs, seeing some people in strange costumes walking towards an exhibition hall in the southwest direction.
Immediately afterwards, she saw a promotional advertisement for a Children's Day comic convention on the roadside.
Jiang Meng was surprised and paused slightly.
Soon, Chen Jizhou placed the ice cream in front of her.
Jiang Meng scooped up the paper cup and said, "There's a Detective Conan-only convention today."
He didn't look downstairs, seemingly unsurprised, and gave a simple smile: "What a coincidence, isn't this the encore of that event that someone missed?"
Jiang Meng instinctively wanted to ask, "Did you bring me here specifically?"
But the answer is self-evident.
A few seconds later, she lowered her head and scooped out a small cookie with a spoon. Everything Chen Jizhou gave her was her favorite.
Jiang Meng was too embarrassed to say it, but she was very touched.
Children's Day was abolished the year I started junior high school.
A few days in advance, Jiang Meng received a notice about her favorite comic convention.
As a die-hard fan of Detective Conan, Jiang Meng bought a lot of props in advance and made plans to go on a team-building trip with some friends. However, no one gave her a heads-up that once she entered middle school, she would no longer have the right to celebrate Children's Day.
That day after school, she was kept in the teacher's office to recite her lessons.
It seems quite lively outside.
Jiang Meng silently finished memorizing her lessons, returned home, ate dinner, rested, and went to sleep, quietly and dejectedly spending a holiday that would no longer be celebrated for her.
A few days later, the props in the house were removed.
For Jiang Meng, the energy she gained from virtual space had a hallucinogenic effect, a kind of happiness that couldn't be replaced in the real world. Examples include following celebrities, shipping couples, and being obsessed with anime/manga idols.
Parents and teachers can't understand this; they only criticize her, asking why she's always daydreaming and why she won't focus on her studies.
During those days, every time she saw Chen Jizhou, she would tell him how heartbroken she was.
He lazily propped his chin on his hand and said bluntly, "What's so interesting about Kidd? His harem is on fire, what chance do you have? Go wash up and go to sleep, you can have anything in your dreams."
She would pound the table and argue vehemently: "Although Kaito is a bad boy, although he flirts with every girl he meets, and although he's always kissing other girls, but, but, Kaito only gives his blue rose to Aoko! How can that not be considered deep affection!"
She chattered on and on, her self-justifying logic leaving Chen Jizhou only able to squint and give a dry laugh: "You're quite interesting."
Jiang Meng never imagined that the person who was only focused on teasing her would remember this incident for so long.
"Thank you," Jiang Meng said softly, putting the small spoon into her mouth.
Chen Jizhou glanced at her but didn't say anything.
She quietly ate her ice cream for a while.
He waited quietly.
A moment later, Chen Jizhou glanced at his watch and said, "Have a seat, I'm going to buy a gift."
"Don't buy it, I don't want a gift."
"Buy it for Su Yu."
"..." Jiang Meng was embarrassed. She had been presumptuous. It turned out it was for her younger sister. "Then come back before I finish eating."
After she finished speaking, I heard a soft laugh behind me.
"Nonsense."
His light, delicate fingertips touched the top of her head with a touch of indulgence, and then he walked away as quickly as possible.
Because of her instructions, Chen Jizhou rushed through the journey.
He first found a flower shop on the street, and after entering, he looked around. A man came over, saw his haste, and asked, "What flowers are you looking for, young man?"
"Rose."
"Isn't it right by the door? How many do you want?"
Do you have blue ones?
The man said, "Blue roses? You can't grow them. You've been watching too many TV dramas. How about some rose bushes? They look quite similar."
Chen Jizhou frowned and shook his head: "Roses won't do, I only want roses."
"Blue rose? Yes, yes!" The female shopkeeper came out from inside, parted the flowers, and found a individually wrapped dark blue rose for him. "This variety is called Blue Enchantress. It's the color you spray on. What do you think?"
Chen Jizhou's eyes flickered, and he immediately took it: "This is it, thanks."
Children's Day is special. Today's comic convention has a special part for interacting with children. When Chen Jizhou entered, the event had not yet officially started. The cosplay team was preparing, setting up chairs and inflating balloons. There were also many actors who had already finished their character costumes and came out of the dressing room.
Chen Jizhou strode forward, traversing the fantastical space of the two-dimensional world.
A girl in a blue uniform was taking pictures nearby. He walked by, took two steps back, looked her over briefly, and called out uncertainly, "Xiao Lan?"
The other person turned to look at him.
Chen Jizhou: "Excuse me, has Kidd arrived?"
The girl pointed to the side: "She's getting ready in the lounge. The event hasn't started yet, you..."
He walked in the direction she pointed, nodding, "I know, thank you."
Finding the entrance to the lounge, the door was open. Chen Jizhou knocked on the door, and the cosplayer inside, who was putting on makeup, glanced at him in the mirror and said, "Please come in."
He looked around and saw no one else. Chen Jizhou walked in and tried to get close to him, lowering his voice and saying in a very urgent tone, "Brother, can you do me a favor?"
The man sat there, having just put on his wig, adjusting his top hat, looking in the mirror, then glancing at the handsome young man who had barged in: "What's wrong?"
Chen Jizhou leaned against the edge of the dressing table, glanced at the person beside him fiddling with their hair, and then noticed the gift box on the dressing table: "Is this the gift you gave me today?"
"Yes." The cosplayer opened the gift box to show him, revealing some beautifully shaped candies inside. "These are for kids. You actually like these?"
Chen Jizhou said, "I don't want your candy. Can I give this flower to my girlfriend? She'll be standing with me in a bit."
"Me? For your girlfriend?" He glanced at the delicately wrapped flower in Chen Jizhou's hand, then looked at him.
"She said she'd break up with me if she didn't receive a gift today, but I can't break up with her. I need you to save me." Chen Jizhou looked at him very sincerely. "Okay?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"I'd be a dog if I lied to you."
"I used that trick when I was young!"
Chen Jizhou remained noncommittal. He reverently clasped his hands together, placed the rose in his palm, and smiled, "I'm entrusting this to you, Lord Kidd."
Although he was in a high place, his sincere demeanor was just like that of a puppy—a beautiful, well-fed puppy with stars in its eyes, sparkling brightly.
No one can resist a puppy.
The cosplayer laughed and accepted it: "Okay, okay, just wait! I'll give you a big one."
...
Chen Jizhou returned very quickly.
He placed the 3DS gift box on the table and picked up Jiang Meng's ice cream cone to take a look.
Not bad, there's still half left.
"You bought Su Yu a game console?" Jiang Meng's eyes widened. "You have to give gifts that suit her tastes. How could she possibly like playing games?"
"It's better to treat the symptoms than to cater to their preferences."
Chen Jizhou sat down on the sofa opposite her, his posture relaxed, his hands loosely resting on his hands, and his eyes looking quite tired. He didn't look like he had just gone out to buy a gift, but rather to participate in a triathlon.
Looking at Jiang Meng across the table, Chen Jizhou offered his own explanation: "She's too sensitive, has too many worries, and is always thinking about things. You can't overuse your nerves; they'll break if you overuse them. I told her to play games when she's bored and stop thinking about those useless things all day."
Jiang Meng asked, puzzled: "Is playing games useful?"
"Of course, it's tense, exciting, and requires complete concentration."
Chen Jizhou didn't eat ice cream; instead, he opened a bottle of ice water and drank it.
Jiang Meng asked, "Aren't you afraid she'll get addicted?"
He said, "It would be even better if I got addicted. Eight hours of sleep, eight hours of studying, eight hours of playing games, my schedule is packed full, where would I find the time to be sentimental?"
Jiang Meng was speechless for a moment: "Can you stop being so unreasonable? Why do you spout so many fallacies and heresies every day? Don't let good students fail to get into university."
He raised an eyebrow and continued his fallacious argument: "Is physical and mental health more important than taking the college entrance exam? Good students can't be corrupted, and bad students can't be taught. How can you blame me?"
"But buying games is expensive too."
"Of course, it's up to my brother."
Chen Jizhou folded one arm behind his head, leaning back. His words always seemed casual and offhand, but upon closer listening, they actually made a lot of sense. He raised his chin and said, "Do you want one? I'll buy one for you too, so you don't start thinking about jumping off a building as soon as you're locked up."
"..."
Jiang Meng put the game console back. "No way, I'm too busy chasing after celebrities."
Chen Jizhou agreed: "I think we should forget about it. You have no self-discipline at all and can't compare to Su Yu."
Jiang Meng kicked under the table.
He smiled slightly and dodged it easily.
-
The event had been going on for quite a while before Jiang Meng led Chen Jizhou into the venue.
She looked around, weaved through the noisy parents and children, and nimbly squeezed to the front of the stage, murmuring, "Has my idol come on stage yet?"
Chen Jizhou followed behind Jiang Meng, looking around as well. When he reached the waiting area, he finally spotted the man he had spoken to. The man raised a rose and gave him an OK sign, which Chen Jizhou returned with a thumbs-up.
Jiang Meng turned back to look for him.
Chen Jizhou looked at her with an open expression and asked, "Who do you like again?"
Jiang Meng rolled her eyes, too lazy to argue with him.
She found a spot in the open space, and the event started in just a few minutes. To the tune of the theme song, the actors appeared one by one.
A chorus of "Wow!"s came from the noisy children.
"Xiao Lan is so pretty, with such a cute hairstyle." Jiang Meng poked her non-existent horn.
"Hey, I noticed Conan's glasses are crooked. Is this some kind of unique design?" Jiang Meng adjusted her non-existent glasses.
"There's only one truth!" Jiang Meng shouted along with them.
"Hahaha, so cringeworthy." Jiang Meng laughed awkwardly and turned around to look at Chen Jizhou, looking for a way to ease the embarrassment.
Chen Jizhou wasn't particularly interested in the comic convention. He quietly watched Jiang Meng, and when she suddenly turned around, a smile appeared on his face, indicating that he had participated in the fun.
Soon, a cosplayer dressed in a white tuxedo walked out, holding Kid's top hat on his wrist, and the man bowed politely to everyone.
A child shouted, "It's Kaito Kid!"
Kidd's popularity was so high that the arena immediately erupted in cheers.
Jiang Meng: "They're here! Look!"
She was so nervous that she grabbed Chen Jizhou by the collar, tearing the fabric of his shirt into a mess.
As she pulled him tighter, he stumbled forward slightly. Instead of getting angry, Chen Jizhou showed a submissive smile, as if he were obeying her.
He lowered his head, and she raised her face.
Jiang Meng looked up and met his expression, seeing the charming little parentheses appear on the boy's lips.
She was a bit too strong; the sudden closeness startled Jiang Meng, who was just centimeters away from kissing his chin.
Time stands still, regardless of the hustle and bustle around us.
Chen Jizhou let out a soft "Ah".
"So it was him."
He smiled and looked down at her.
The surrounding atmosphere was lively, and all the noise retreated to their space. Jiang Meng's heart beat faster in the distant drumbeats.
The distance is too close.
She suddenly looked into his eyes and forgot what she was going to say.
Jiang Meng had many words to describe this good friend, but among his prominent characteristics such as enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and narcissism, the word that stood out most was "clean." Her instinctive reaction was that he was clean.
Chen Jizhou is a very clean person.
Skin that won't tan, eyes that won't become cloudy. A smile that isn't worldly, a demeanor that isn't vulgar.
As she walked further and further, she realized that the world was never clear and just.
But he was still that glass marble, with a pure heart hidden in his clear mind.
Just as everyone was cheering for Kidd's appearance, Jiang Meng clung to Chen Jizhou as if she had been paralyzed by an acupuncture point.
Until his smile even had a hint of pleading – “Let go, grandma, I’ll remember this.”
She silently let go of him and looked back at the stands.
The crowd around shouted: "Show us a magic trick! Show us a magic trick!"
Jiang Meng seemed to have her heartstrings disturbed by something, and stood there silently, no longer joining in the cheers.
The man on stage indeed pulled a pigeon from his hat, then shoved it back in amidst gasps of surprise. Next, he pulled out a deck of cards, showed off a bit, and then shoved it back again. Finally, the man pulled out a string of pretty candies. This time, he didn't shove them back; as he scattered them below, the children screamed and took turns grabbing them. Jiang Meng didn't grab any; she didn't like candy. But she stepped back a little, making room for those who truly deserved Children's Day.
When she looked up again, Kidd pulled a unique blue rose from his hat.
Jiang Meng finally came to her senses, her pupils constricting.
The man walked to the front of the runway, holding the rose and pointing to the audience below. He moved from one end to the other, finally pointing in the direction of Jiang Meng. He solemnly uttered a slogan: "It's show time!"
Then the lights went out, the ribbons fluttered, and he flicked his wrist, tossing the flower down.
The blue roses are crystal clear and dazzling, like flames burning in the sky.
As Chen Jizhou looked up at the flowers, he pressed his palm against the girl's back and pushed her forward: "Come on, Jiang Meng!"
Jiang Meng was still staring at the flower in surprise when he pushed her, and she quickly tried to take it.
She stared at the cluster of flowers and stretched her hand out high.
"Hey, hey, hey—don't go."
Unfortunately, a gust of wind blew by, scattering the flowers away, and she missed her target.
Chen Jizhou was behind her, and immediately raised his hand and grabbed her.
He hadn't intended to snatch it, but the flower seemed to have come for him, and only by being personally delivered by him could its whereabouts be given meaning.
For a split second, almost everyone froze.
The boy raised his hand and caught the flying rose. Everyone looked up at the blue flame.
The ribbon on the packaging hurt his palm, but he held it tightly with amusement. Without hesitation, he offered it to the person next to him, touching the delicate petal to the forehead. As this quick and light movement was completed, Chen Jizhou said, "Good luck to you."
Jiang Meng took it, still seemingly immersed in the immense surprise and unable to come to her senses: "Kidd's rose..."
The voices dispersed again.
She looked at the blue rose in her hand with delight, paused for a while, and then stammered, "Oh my god, I actually caught it! I'm so happy, Chen Jizhou, I'm so happy! I'm so glad I came out today, otherwise I would have been so disappointed! I love Kidd, I really, really like him!"
The fashion show ended, and the crowd began to move away.
Relieved, Chen Jizhou let out the breath he had been holding for so long. He was so afraid that happiness would not fall into her hands. Fortunately, everything went perfectly.
He looked at Jiang Meng and smiled, then, in a cheeky, girlish voice, said, "Oh~ I love Kidd, I really, really like him~~"
Under Jiang Meng's warning glare, he continued to tease her in an extremely irritating tone: "How come your dream really came true? Unbelievable."
Jiang Meng carefully protected her roses: "He must have heard my heartfelt words!"
Chen Jizhou agreed: "It seems the luck I owed you when we were kids has come back. You're so lucky. Hurry up and go out to buy a lottery ticket."
Jiang Meng smiled and said, "Okay, you'll come with me later."
Chen Jizhou looked at her and thought, "It's really unbelievable. How could someone be so happy about a childish little gift?"
Could it be that her mindset is stuck at the age of ten?
But he couldn't help but be satisfied with it.
Perhaps, he and she both stopped at the age of ten.
There is no Phantom Thief Kid in this world, nor is there a blue rose.
The real magician is someone else.
Some people are creating dreams, while others are living in dreams.
She looked around and said, "They're collecting stamps over there, I want to go too."
Jiang Meng grabbed Chen Jizhou's wrist and pulled him into the crowd.
She held it above his mechanical watch, her thumb and forefinger resting precisely on the dial.
She could rest her hand on it without worrying about it slipping off the edge like last time.
She didn't care about these minor details.
The harmless touches happened simply and lightly, just like the times we had as children.
So she didn't know that a butterfly's wings could stir up a hurricane.
He looked down at her hands.
The pain in my palm and the joy in my eyes hadn't faded, but seeing her happy brought a sense of relief and peace to my heart, followed by the warmth of this touch.
Everything connects into a coherent feeling, both bitter and sweet.
Silent love releases the signal of budding maturity, just like this feeling, naturally falling from the branch, drowning for a long time in the flood of youth.
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