The place I was taking Lu to was the nearest commercial street—so close it was just a few steps away.
As we walked, Lu held my hand, curiously taking in the surroundings. Everything here was new to her, yet she kept her wonder carefully in check, not showing excessive surprise. Clearly, she planned to commit everything to memory and ask me later once we were back home.
But the moment I pushed open the door of a clothing store—its bell jingling brightly—we ran into someone unexpected.
"Oh? Aren’t you the one from earlier… Amelia, right?"
A silver-haired girl greeted us the instant we stepped inside. I froze for a moment.
Standing before us was Chixun—the neighbor I’d briefly met in the elevator on my way home.
"Oh? What a cute little girl… Is she your sister?"
Before I could reply, Chixun’s attention shifted to Lu beside me, her smile warm.
"Yes, this is my sister, Lu," I answered promptly, nodding slightly.
"Lu, this is Miss Su Chixun. She’s our neighbor. Say hello."
I gently squeezed Lu’s hand. Understanding, she nodded shyly but politely, smiling up at Chixun. "Hello, I’m Lu."
Inside, my mind raced.
To avoid drawing attention, Lu and I had toned down our presence before leaving. Yet here we were, bumping into Chixun the moment we entered this store.
…Coincidence?
I frowned inwardly. The elevator encounter made sense—tight space, Chixun’s lively nature. But now? True, the doorbell had jingled when we entered, momentarily breaking our subtle magic and drawing eyes. Still, running straight into her felt… too convenient. Hmph.
"Hehe, hi there~ Hey, are you two here to buy clothes too?" Chixun beamed at Lu’s greeting, then peered at us curiously.
"Yes. Lu just moved in with me today, and I needed new clothes anyway," I replied with a light smile.
"Wow, what a coincidence!" Chixun’s eyes widened playfully as she tilted her head. "I’m here for the same reason! I just moved in and didn’t bring many clothes. With the season changing, I figured I’d shop for some new ones. Never expected to bump into you here!"
