Chapter 59: Claw Machine
Resigned, Xiang Er left the apartment with the small eyeball clinging to her wrist, hidden beneath her sleeve.
A date, at a restaurant suitable for couples.
Xiang Er stepped out the door, her heart lighter than the leaves swaying in the breeze, she looked at the trees, and the leaves were her, trembling in the gentle wind generated by Shen Yuhe’s presence, like she had drunk too much wine, her heart full of unspoken words.
She descended the old stairs, walked along the cracked and uneven stone path, leaving the silent, old residential compound. No one here understood her happiness, and no one outside would either.
No one understood her happiness, the lightness in her steps as she walked beside Shen Yuhe, the way she was enveloped by Shen Yuhe’s unique fragrance… and she didn’t even dare glance at her.
As they walked side by side, Xiang Er felt a strange sensation on her wrist. She looked down and saw the small eyeball peeking out from under her sleeve, a tentacle lifting the edge of the fabric.
“How… does it also want to see the outside world?”
Xiang Er asked in surprise.
She turned to look at Shen Yuhe, a natural movement, but the moment their eyes met, she froze, her face flushing crimson.
Shen Yuhe glanced at the thing on Xiang Er’s wrist:
“It’s still so young, it’s normal for it to be curious.”
Xiang Er looked down. The small eyeball, hidden in her sleeve, wasn’t noticeable, and she whispered to it:
“Stay hidden, don’t let anyone see you, okay? If they see you, I’ll hand you over to Little Fish!”
She glanced at Shen Yuhe:
“You’ll help me keep an eye on it, right?”
Shen Yuhe smiled and nodded.
The sunlight illuminated the sky, and Shen Yuhe, like a meticulously crafted jade statue, her face serene and gentle, her eyes filled with unconcealed affection, that affection, like water, reflecting the light, making her face glow.
It was a breathtaking beauty, a warmth that made Xiang Er’s heart race, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in the rare sunlight, the reason she had fallen in love with this world.
Shen Yuhe suddenly took Xiang Er’s hand, the one with the small eyeball attached.
Her long fingers gently squeezed Xiang Er’s palm.
Like a silent game between them, neither looking at the other, yet aware that every small gesture, every touch, could send ripples through their hearts.
Xiang Er felt intoxicated, her fingers clumsily reaching out, wanting to touch Shen Yuhe’s palm, but the moment she extended her hand, Shen Yuhe grasped it firmly.
A warm, firm grip, as if wanting to meld their hands together.
The small eyeball extended a tentacle towards Shen Yuhe’s hand, then quickly retracted, hiding in Xiang Er’s sleeve, its red eye darting around.
They walked hand in hand, and Xiang Er had never found the ordinary streets so beautiful before, wanting to point out everything she saw, to share it all with Shen Yuhe.
“Look over there! That statue is so cute, two hearts joined together~”
“That tree looks like it’s been grafted, the leaves on the top and bottom are different.”
“That person just drove past on a motorcycle with a mirror strapped to his back, so dangerous!”
And Shen Yuhe patiently responded to every comment, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s profile.
“Yes, it’s a cute statue, I like it.”
“It doesn’t matter if they’re different, they’re both trees, grafted together they can grow taller.”
“He’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
Xiang Er pulled Shen Yuhe into a shopping mall, where several claw machines lined the hallway. She glanced at them, and a thought crossed her mind: Don’t couples usually play claw machines together?
Shen Yuhe, as if reading her mind, took her hand and whispered:
“Let’s go play the claw machines, I have a feeling you’ll be lucky today.”
Xiang Er’s eyes lit up, Shen Yuhe had the same thought!
Was this what they called being on the same wavelength?
She was already floating on cloud nine, and she smiled, saying:
“No, claw machines are a rip-off…”
But her hand was still in Shen Yuhe’s, and Shen Yuhe gently pulled her towards the claw machines.
“Oops…”
The floor was slippery, and she almost stumbled, but Shen Yuhe quickly caught her, her wrist twisting, and Xiang Er, helplessly… fell into her arms.
Xiang Er looked up, startled, her gaze meeting Shen Yuhe’s smooth, delicate jawline, her beautiful face illuminated by the colorful lights of the claw machine.
Shen Yuhe was holding her… Realizing this, Xiang Er’s body went limp, a mixture of shyness and secret delight. She reached out, wanting to grab something…
And the handle of the claw machine was placed in her hand.
The claw machine played a cheerful tune, its colorful lights flashing on their faces, the world spinning, the plush toys inside smiling at her.
Xiang Er felt like she was at a glamorous party, Shen Yuhe’s date, dancing under her watchful eye.
Shen Yuhe held Xiang Er’s hand, her long fingers sliding between Xiang Er’s, their hands together on the joystick, her breath warm against Xiang Er’s hair:
“Which one do you want?”
Xiang Er looked at the plush toys inside, each one adorable, and said sincerely:
“Any one is fine.”
Shen Yuhe, through Xiang Er’s hand, guided the joystick, left, then right, their fingers intertwined, gently touching, caressing, the delicate, creamy sensation sending shivers through Xiang Er’s hand, through her heart…
Xiang Er barely exerted any force, her hand simply following Shen Yuhe’s movements, then her hand lifted, Shen Yuhe’s hand covering hers, their hands pressed together as they pushed the button.
The claw descended, its movements shaky and uncertain, grabbing the ear of a plush toy, its grip precarious. Xiang Er thought it was going to drop it when…
A thin, black line, seemingly from nowhere, snaked into the claw machine, taking control of the claw, and with a “thud,” swung it towards the chute.
The plush toy was deposited into the prize slot, the claw machine playing a triumphant jingle.
Xiang Er:
“Wait, I think I saw something…”
Shen Yuhe, suppressing a smile, said:
“It was nothing, you must have imagined it.”
Xiang Er:
“?”
She picked up the plush toy, and the small eyeball on her wrist immediately extended a tentacle, wrapping it around the toy and holding it close, swaying happily.
Xiang Er:
“Ah… it seems to like it?”
Shen Yuhe chuckled softly, her fingers caressing Xiang Er’s, and whispered:
“Don’t you think… it’s rather cute sometimes?”
Xiang Er:
“It is a bit cute, but…” it was still a monster!
Shen Yuhe caressed the back of Xiang Er’s hand, her palm, her smile widening as she leaned closer:
“Don’t you think… it’s a bit like our child?”
Xiang Er:
“Huh? No, I don’t think so…” How could she have such an ugly child?!
Shen Yuhe sighed in mock disappointment and placed Xiang Er’s hand back on the joystick.
With Shen Yuhe’s help, Xiang Er played ten times and won eleven plush toys. Yes, one time the claw even managed to grab two toys at once, a double prize.
Xiang Er, overjoyed, clutched the pile of plush toys, almost jumping for joy:
“Wow! You’re so good at this! You’re amazing at claw machines!”
Shen Yuhe:
“It’s you who’s amazing, for finding me, for controlling me.”
Xiang Er paused, not quite processing the meaning of her words, and went to ask the shop assistant for a bag, carefully placing the plush toys inside, one by one.
As she was putting in the last one, the small eyeball suddenly jumped from her wrist, its tentacles flailing as it fell into the pile of colorful plush toys.
Xiang Er was startled, and when she looked again, the small eyeball had already emerged from the plushy ocean, its tentacles gripping the toys, climbing to the top of the pile before opening its red eye, rolling around, its expression one of pure joy.
It looked like a slightly unusual plush toy itself.
Xiang Er suddenly realized that, for a moment, she had actually found it cute… This was ridiculous! Had she forgotten that it was part of a monster?!
Shen Yuhe chuckled:
“It’s truly adorable, anyone who sees it would find it cute.”
Xiang Er:
“Huh?”
Shen Yuhe casually stopped a passerby and asked politely:
“Excuse me, do you think these are cute?”
The elegant woman in her forties smiled at the bag:
“Of course they’re cute! Especially that eyeball one, so interesting, where did you get it? I want to get one for my child!”
Shen Yuhe helpfully pointed out the claw machine, and the woman, her face alight with excitement, walked towards it, leaving Xiang Er standing there, speechless.
Had she become so out of touch with modern aesthetics? Or did she truly have a prejudice against this small eyeball?
No! The point wasn’t that, the point was, why could ordinary people see the small eyeball now!
She turned to Shen Yuhe, about to ask, when Shen Yuhe answered:
“The small eyeball has lost its power, it can’t hide itself anymore, everyone can see it now. It’s better to keep it in the bag than on your wrist.”
Now Xiang Er couldn’t object. The small eyeball lay sprawled amidst the plush toys, its tentacles waving happily.
Shen Yuhe took Xiang Er’s hand again, their fingers intertwining, and asked with a smile:
“So, have you found your couple’s date restaurant yet?”
Xiang Er:
“I don’t really have any experience with this… wait a moment, I’ll check online.”
She took out her phone, clumsily trying to use it with one hand, Shen Yuhe leaning in to look, making her even more nervous and clumsy.
Shen Yuhe pointed at the screen with a slender finger:
“Let’s go to this one.”
It was an Italian restaurant, its description emphasizing “private and intimate atmosphere,” the reviews mentioning “saw several couples kissing secretly, a single person’s nightmare.”
Xiang Er blushed crimson. What was this woman planning? No way… in a restaurant? That would be her first kiss…
She nodded:
“Okay…”
Shen Yuhe, a playful smile on her lips, lifted Xiang Er’s hand and kissed it, making Xiang Er blush even more deeply and quickly pull her hand away, looking around:
“Don’t do that! What if someone sees us?”
Shen Yuhe chuckled and stopped teasing her. They took the escalator, not in a hurry, as long as they were together, every moment was a joy.
The restaurant was tucked away in a corner on the fourth floor, its ambiance elegant, the entrance and walls adorned with lush greenery, soft music playing in the background.
The waiter led them to a table, and Xiang Er, glancing around, suddenly tensed up, as if she had seen someone she knew.
Shen Yuhe followed her gaze. Sitting diagonally across from them was a cool, handsome woman with short hair, staring at Xiang Er with a bewildered expression.
Clearly an old acquaintance… Shen Yuhe frowned slightly.
Xiang Er’s eyes widened, and she whispered:
“Let’s change tables…”
But it was too late. The short-haired woman had already stood up and walked towards them, her face a mask of shock:
“Ears, I can’t believe you’re in this city too! I’ve missed you so much these past few years, why did you block me? You didn’t even leave me any way to contact you!”
Xiang Er, flustered, instinctively let go of Shen Yuhe’s hand, stood up, and stammered:
“Senior, I…”
But the short-haired woman looked at Shen Yuhe, her expression a mixture of anger and mockery:
“So this is your type?”
Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow, her gaze cool as she looked at the woman:
“And you are?”
The short-haired woman lifted her chin proudly:
“I’m Ears’ first love!”
Xiang Er’s eyes widened in alarm, and she frantically waved her hands:
“No, I’m not! I’ve never been in love! She’s just… mm!”
Shen Yuhe stood up, pulled Xiang Er close, and kissed her, a deep, forceful kiss.
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