"I just knew it was you."

Qing Rong was outside the wooden corridor. With a long stride, he stepped out from the stone path into the streetlight’s illumination.

He took off his black baseball cap, tilted his head slightly upward, smiled at them so they could see his face clearly, then put the cap back on.

Due to the difference in height, from their angle, half of his face was hidden by the cap’s brim, revealing only the sharply defined jawline of his lower face.

Mu Qiu was a bit puzzled: "Qing Rong? What are you doing here so late at night?"

Could it be that the legendary online novel publishing god secretly harbors a heart wanting to be a princess?

Qing Rong didn’t notice her subtly curious gaze and answered her question casually:

"Didn’t you say I look like someone who writes Western fantasy? I’ll try writing fantasy for my next book, so I’m here to find some inspiration."

Zhao Yu, standing next to Mu Qiu, watched Qing Rong with interest, poking Mu Qiu excitedly several times.

Mu Qiu didn’t need to turn around to guess what Zhao Yu’s thoughts were—

Damn, Qing Rong is really handsome!

What a pity, what a pity, someone with similar interests is being let go.

You two meeting like this, isn’t it fate?

No, no, your current situations don’t allow it!

And similar questions.

She had heard these questions more than once.

With an unchanged expression, she reached behind to stop Zhao Yu from poking her anymore, while smiling and continuing the conversation with Qing Rong: "Is this new book starting so soon? Not taking a break?"

"Inspiration is fleeting, isn’t that what you said? Write more when inspired, and take a break when there’s none. Aren’t you curious about the type I’m going for?"

"What type? Coming to Disney’s Alice in Wonderland for inspiration, a dark fairy tale?"

Qing Rong shook his head. Perhaps finding it a strain on his neck, he stepped onto the wooden corridor.

The wooden corridor wasn’t long, meant for close encounters with plants and colorful decorations. With two of them on it, they had to walk cautiously.

Now a third person stood there, a tall man, making the space feel immediately cramped.

The lace on Mu Qiu’s skirt touched his pant leg.

She stepped back, pulling Zhao Yu along, and said to Qing Rong, "Hey, it’s so cramped with you up here, let’s talk down there."

Qing Rong rubbed his nose, took a long step back down, but raised his hand, back facing up: "Ladies, need a hand?"

"Thank you."

With their hands on his, they stepped off the wooden corridor, merging with the other tourists on the path lined with stone walls.

As they walked, the conversation picked up from earlier.

Qing Rong walked beside Mu Qiu.

Those long legs that could easily stride up and down the corridor now matched their pace.

His slow pace was likely considerate of their dresses and high heels, deliberately slowing down a bit.

"If it’s not a dark fairy tale, why come here for inspiration?"

Qing Rong tilted his head slightly, glanced sideways, smiling: "Guess?"

Mu Qiu pondered: "Environmental design reference?"

"Correct. Writing Western fantasy can’t rely purely on imagination, right? If so, the content wouldn’t feel genuine, and readers would see it as just uninspiring lines of text instead of visualizing the imagery I’m trying to convey."

"Makes sense, but is that really the only reason you’re here at Disney’s Alice in Wonderland so late?"

"Ah, perhaps not." With a snap of his fingers behind his back, his hand twirled, and by some trick, he presented two pink roses.

"And part of the reason is to meet two princesses."

Mu Qiu lifted her skirt slightly, curtsying, without intending to take the roses.

Qing Rong seemed to anticipate this and without a word, extended the flowers a bit further to Zhao Yu.

"It seems to be this princess’s birthday? Perfect, flowers for the princess, happy birthday."

Zhao Yu, pleasantly surprised, took the flowers and curiously asked: "How did you know it’s my birthday?"

Qing Rong glanced at Mu Qiu, catching her eyes: "Last year, Mu Xiaohua asked me for ideas on how to surprise a girl. Honestly, as a guy who writes romance novels, I wasn’t sure if those tricks work in real life."

Zhao Yu chuckled: "So her feigned forgetfulness followed by a surprise was your idea. I was wondering why it was so dramatic, hahaha."

Qing Rong was articulate, and Zhao Yu was outgoing, keeping the conversation lively.

But Mu Qiu, caught in between, felt rather awkward.

"Could you please not analyze my life in such a happy place?"

Qing Rong amiably concurred: "This is indeed a happy place."

Spending half a day in a place for kids, suddenly meeting someone you were thinking about. In a blood-red crinoline dress, her laughter crisp like bells.

Under the draped night sky, she seemed to glow, compelling attention, evoking a sense of wonder.

The admiration lasted but a moment as he paused, then continued humorously:

"I should’ve dressed as the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. I’d probably look better than the Beast, right? Maybe even get a photo with Belle tonight."

"You couldn’t be the Beast; you’re more like the prince from The Little Mermaid."

No Beast had such a handsome, mixed-heritage face.

Qing Rong’s eyes and brows were full of laughter: "Thanks for the compliment."

"You’re Qing Rong, right? The author with the nice name; didn’t expect the person to be just as good-looking. Do all authors have such high standards now?"

"I’m Qing Rong." He casually slid his finger along the cap’s brim.

Confirming his name, he casually asked: "Did Mu Xiaohua mention me?"

Zhao Yu smiled.

"She said she has an author friend with a nice name, very skilled, quite impressive."

Their peculiar relationship, if elaborated on, was awkward. Qing Rong, subtly seeking relevance, used a special nickname for Mu Qiu, as if emphasizing their special bond.

However, everyone knew Mu Qiu had a boyfriend, and many knew she had an author friend with a great relationship.

Simply put, believing these rumors meant seeing them as the secret admirer and the married woman.

How thrilling.