The next morning, Ouyang Shi’s eyes snapped open exactly at six o’clock. She glanced around.

“Strange ceiling. Strange room.”

Sitting upright under the thick quilt, she shook her head sharply to banish the last traces of drowsiness. After quickly slipping into her underwear, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

Fifteen minutes later, she was fully dressed—in workout gear.

Though Ouyang Shi often visited Ouyang Ge’s room, she seized every spare moment to train her body. Even away from home, waking early meant no lingering in bed. Time for a long-overdue morning run.

Radiance, still bathed in the morning light, lay quiet. Aside from a few early-rising professions, the streets were nearly empty.

She walked slowly to a park on the west side.

Tying her long hair into a ponytail, Ouyang Shi began jogging along the park’s outer path.

This park was no different from others: a large central lake, pathways branching outward, and a wide circular road looping the perimeter.

Whether from habit or laziness, she saw no one during her run. The morning mist, thinning under the sun, was almost gone.

*Huff… huff… huff…*

Her breathing stayed steady. After twenty laps—nearly thirty kilometers—Ouyang Shi showed no fatigue, her pace unwavering.

Then she spotted it: ahead, finally, another person—the first outsider she’d seen all morning.

Ignoring them, she maintained her rhythm. Her jog was neither fast nor slow, and she soon overtook the other runner.

!!!

As she passed, the profile… it was last night’s bespectacled man!!

“Hey! Fancy meeting you again!”

He sped up, matching her stride.

“……”

A single glance, then Ouyang Shi accelerated, leaving him behind.

“Hey now, seems you’ve got the wrong idea about me?”

He caught up again.

“……”

She sped up.

“Seriously, sprinting like this? Terrible for your health.”

He overtook her once more.

“……”

Another burst of speed.

“Tch. Kids these days.”

He matched her pace again.

This was no jog anymore—they were sprinting like Olympic finalists. Ouyang Shi even activated her magic, gliding on ice like before. Yet the glasses-wearing man clung to her heels.

*Persistent…*

Gritting her teeth, Ouyang Shi’s competitive spirit flared. Ice magic wouldn’t shake him. Time for something… fiercer.

Heat rippled unnaturally behind her. Superheated air exploded like a propulsion system, rocketing her forward—like a missile launched.

“I surrender! I surrender!”

Seeing her reach inhuman speeds, the bespectacled man immediately slowed, throwing up his hands.

“……”

The twin magic effects vanished. Ouyang Shi decelerated with the momentum’s fade, stopping a short distance away—smoke curling from the back of her workout top.

“You’re relentless, you know? Winning against me won’t get you anything.”

The bespectacled man approached, chuckling wryly at the girl before him.

“What do you want? Why are you following me?”

“Huh? Following you? No way!”

“Last night’s gala. Now this. Repeatedly…”

“You’re mistaken. I attended the gala on my own. I run here every morning out of habit. You’re overthinking it.”

“……” Ouyang Shi said nothing to that. “Goodbye.”

She turned to leave. No more words for this troublemaker. Dealing with him meant endless headaches—she knew it instinctively.

“You!”

Watching her unresponsive back, the bespectacled man could only sigh.

“At least let me introduce myself…”

......

Back at her hotel, Ouyang Shi loosened her hair tie, letting her damp, ice-blue locks fall free.

“Oh? If it isn’t Ouyang Shi? Out for such a *healthy* jog?”

“……”

Just before opening her door, Ouyang Feng materialized beside her—voice dripping with sarcasm.

“You look ridiculous. Last night’s honored guest clearly favored *me*. You’re irrelevant. No amount of training will change that.”

“Done talking?”

“You!”

Ouyang Shi pushed open the door, stepped inside, and shut it firmly. No interest in feeding this argument.

“Damn it… Enjoy your arrogance while it lasts…”

Stomping her foot, Ouyang Feng left the door, fury simmering. But her mood lifted quickly. The bespectacled man’s… *kindness*? It felt like a miracle. Ouyang Shi wasn’t even competition.

“Xiao Feng? You seem cheerful.”

Ouyang Lijia appeared nearby, smiling warmly.

“Ah, Mom. It’s nothing, just—”

Before Ouyang Feng could finish, a gentle hand settled on her head.

“I know what’s on your mind. You’re my daughter, after all.”

Ouyang Lijia chuckled, then took her daughter’s hand.

“Come. Today’s Magic Exchange Conference features finished artifacts. There’ll be fascinating new things to see.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

Hand in hand, they left the hotel in high spirits.

The annual Magic Exchange Conference began with two weeks of exhibitions showcasing magical innovations. The Kingdom’s R&D division scouted these displays; impress them, and you’d earn a prestigious position in their ranks. The top three exhibits also won prizes—including every Sorcerer’s dream: unlimited state-funded resources for a set period.

The third week held the main event: the Grand Trade Bazaar. The tech exhibitions were mere showcases—rarely yielding mass-producible items. Most visitors browsed them out of curiosity. True profit came during the Bazaar.

Money for goods. Goods for goods. Even people for goods. The Bazaar accepted any transaction imaginable.

“Ge… are you doing okay…?”

Fresh from a hot shower, Ouyang Shi had no interest in the exhibitions outside. Curled on her bed, she scrolled through photos of her and her brother on her phone, trying to ease the ache of missing Ouyang Ge…

There was still a long time until the closing ceremony…