The Devil's Contract Lover - Chapter 35

“Pop!” The few balloons in the center were all burst. Yao Yuan put down the air gun and breathed a sigh of relief: perhaps she had a talent for shooting, as she had never practiced outside of military training.

The boss squatted down to pick up the paper slips that fell out of the balloons: “You can exchange them for 12 gold badges or pick a stuffed animal from the second row. Which do you choose?”

“The gold badges, please.”

“Alright.” The boss eagerly counted out 12 paper tickets and handed them to Yao Yuan. These were the gold badges, the general-purpose tickets for the carnival events. Collecting a certain number allowed one to exchange them for prizes at the service desk.

The carnival grounds were divided into a five-petal flower shape: the center was a huge castle, and the petals were different entertainment areas.

The upper right corner, where they were currently located, was the quietest place, hosting no large-scale events, only shopping and relaxation.

“Need my help?” Star Sky pointed to the claw machine next to them.

“No need, I’m not in the mood for claw machines right now. Let’s play something else first~” Yao Yuan glanced at the men and women enjoying the festive atmosphere and shook her head.

Participating in a real amusement park carnival was nothing more than this: if you didn’t come with friends, it lacked a lot of fun. The highly paid actors and artificial backdrops failed to draw her in.

Perhaps some experiences are more romantic left untried.

“Xiao Yuan, do you want to eat something?” Star Sky conjured a paper bill from the void and handed it to her, her eyes fixed on the hot dog stand not far away.

Yao Yuan nodded, took the bill, bought two hot dogs, and ran back. When she handed one to Star Sky, she was affectionately patted on the head.

“…Star Sky.” She finally figured it out: “Are you getting revenge?”

The devil’s tone was natural: “Of course not. I strongly agree with his concept of the Dominator.”

Who is the Dominator, then? Taking revenge for the “dog training” at a time like this is too childish!

Yao Yuan took bites of her hot dog, feeling a bit bored: the only fun seemed to be collecting fifty gold badges to redeem the cute rabbit doll.

“Do you want to go play inside the castle?” The stick from the finished hot dog dissolved at Star Sky’s fingertips.

“No, you’d definitely reserve the whole place, but today is special for others too.” She shook her head. Though she refused, honestly… she really liked Star Sky’s current attire; the aura subtly matched it.

Under the silver moon wheel, the devil suddenly extended her hand to her, the pale skin concealed by pure white gloves. This was an invitation to go somewhere together. Yao Yuan understood and walked toward Star Sky.

The flow of time slowed, and her steps became light. With just the simplest pull, when they landed again, they had already moved to the other end of the flower-shaped area.

Actors dressed as farmers and demons, along with tourists, were mingling and celebrating the night in the square.

Yao Yuan’s right hand was still held by Star Sky. She nudged her shoulder, feeling a bit shy: “Aren’t you going to let go yet?”

“Not yet.”

Star Sky led her around the crowd and towards the back.

“Where would we go if we walk further outside?” Yao Yuan clutched Star Sky’s cape.

The devil didn’t answer. She raised her hand and pulled at one end of the backdrop; the black curtain was pulled down with one tug.

Crimson instantly flooded the scene; tender and arrogant red rosebuds bloomed one after another. The flowers grew wildly, pushing aside the surrounding inappropriate artificial objects.

The most enchanting rose was plucked by the devil. A deep blue flame enveloped the stem, licking away all the thorns, leaving only two perfectly shaped leaves.

Star Sky held the half-open flower and fastened it near Yao Yuan’s temple. When the veins of the leaf touched her long hair, the rose quietly burst into full bloom.

“W-What are you doing?” Yao Yuan touched her chest, which felt cool. Looking down, nearly half of her bosom was exposed: what kind of dress is this!

A Western-style court gown had replaced her previously functional modern clothes. Layers of silk and scattered jewelry seemed to be engaged in a life-and-death struggle, yet only the open-chest design was simple and elegant. She quickly used her arm to shield the beautiful curve of her cleavage.

“Miss, are you still regretting it at this point?” The devil’s finger traced her neck, a mesh necklace of round pearls covering a large area of skin.

Yao Yuan’s pupils contracted, and then she smiled: “You must be joking. I have no regrets.” The boundary between reality and fantasy blurred in this moment.

“Is that so? If you earnestly beg, I might be able to pretend I heard nothing.” Star Sky blinked, her eyes radiating a never-before-seen, somewhat childish clarity, distancing herself as if to draw a line.

“Are you questioning love? Or are you questioning my promise?” Yao Yuan pressed forward step by step. Every time Star Sky retreated half a step, she would surely advance one, until they were almost touching.

“Love, oh, love.” The devil’s lament was serious and tender, imbuing rhythm into the unscripted lines: “You say you love me, yet your heart still rests safely in a birdcage.”

“Are you referring to the birdcage you personally forged from gold?” A hint of cunning flashed in Yao Yuan’s eyes: “No, not quite. The cage is missing a crucial element.”

“What element? As long as you are willing to ask for it…”

The girl’s index finger pressed against the vampire’s lips, her smile mournful: “I can offer you a dance, I can water your roses with my blood, but for my heart, you need to come and take it yourself.”

“Do you permit it?” The devil’s palm rested on her chest, cold yet brewing fire, pious yet overflowing with cruelty.

Yao Yuan gradually detached from the playful drama, standing on her tiptoes to touch her earlobe: “You know, right? Equivalent exchange.”

“I regret to say, you must first fulfill your promise.”

“I am very happy to truly stand on your side.”

The ending of the drama should naturally be a sharp blade and a blood-stained long kiss, but both lead actors tacitly chose to stop short of the limit.

The light faded, and time resumed its flow.

The surrounding noises returned to her ears. Yao Yuan saw a small door ajar, with a crystal ball painted on it. It looked like a fortune-telling booth provided by the amusement park? She wondered if anyone was inside now.

“Star Sky, let’s go check that out.” She linked arms with the devil and walked toward it with some curiosity; she had never seen a professional fortune teller before.

Stepping through the wooden door, a tea-colored tablecloth covered a wooden table, where a somewhat stout middle-aged woman was wrapped in a long robe. Hearing the sound of someone entering, she hooked her hood back with her hand and gave Yao Yuan a kindly smile: “Come for a reading?”

Her tone was similar to “Want a pancake?”

This left Yao Yuan feeling a little disappointed, yet inexplicably relieved: “Yes. Do I need to pay?”

“No need, no need. Today is a good day.” The woman, who had no fortune teller aura whatsoever, cheerfully waved her hand: “Let me guess, you want a love reading~” Guessing wrong again. How could she consult on love? Her love had already been mortgaged… although, she didn’t have any other intentions either. Consult on career? Forget it. Since this staff member, who definitely couldn’t tell fortunes accurately, was trying hard to act the part, she shouldn’t interrupt.

Yao Yuan didn’t want to share her troubled thoughts, so she forced a smile: “Yes, that’s right.”

The kind fortune teller nodded, pressing her fingers on the sides of the tablecloth and flipping it over abruptly. The tea-colored side, which had a slightly flannel texture, was the bottom. The side used for divination was quite clean, a purple surface decorated with a silver hexagram.

“Hmm, let me think. How about the Soulmate Spread?” The fortune teller cheerfully spoke in unprofessional slang, touching the cards right after scratching her face: “This spread is very accurate!” Whish, whish, a poker shuffle.

A stack of Tarot cards was violently stacked, patted twice, and placed face down on the tablecloth.

After a moment of silent blankness, the fortune teller seemed to remember something: “Oh dear, oh dear, little girl, let me draw for you.”

Yao Yuan mourned for these Tarot cards for half a second and nodded, really reluctant to touch them.

The fortune teller’s hand trembled as she selected for a long time, finally drawing out five cards quickly, placing them face down one on top of the other in a triangle. The number was correct, but the shape was certainly not the Soulmate Spread…

Yao Yuan could only give a wry smile: Well, Tarot is mostly a personal interest, so never mind the fixed forms.

“Let’s look at the first one…” The fortune teller winked conspiratorially.

Yao Yuan mimicked her expression and looked at Star Sky: “The first card of the Soulmate Spread represents the type of true partner, you know~” Swoop, the first card was flipped over. Yao Yuan, turning her head back, was immediately shaken: The Devil, upright.

Why, of all cards, did it have to be… The Devil, upright?!

“Oh, it seems there’s a mistake~ No, no, it’s not bad either. The Devil card itself has a similar composition to The Lovers card.” The fortune teller held her stomach: “Type, oh type… It probably means your true partner is a very persistent person who possesses considerable wealth!”

No, no, no.

It sounded reasonable, but Yao Yuan’s ears were ringing: That’s not it, because… Star Sky is the true Devil.

She dared not turn back to question whether the devil had deliberately interfered with the Tarot cards. She knew she would only hear a denial, and she also knew… Star Sky would not lie to her.

The fortune teller didn’t hesitate and flipped the second card directly: “Aha, it’s The Emperor. Regardless of upright or reversed, in a choice-making question, it’s usually a [Yes].”

The question corresponding to the second card is whether your true partner has already entered your life. Is that… so.

The question corresponding to the third card is, will there be difficulties?

The third card was flipped without delay. The fortune teller tutted: “It’s Justice, upright. That’s a very clear yes. Perhaps there will be many difficulties requiring decisions. In any case, both the devil and the angel will manipulate the scales in your heart.”

The fourth card, The Wheel of Fortune, reversed.

The fortune teller hesitated over this card… The corresponding question is what kind of change needs to be made.

She slapped the table and recited from memory: “Ah, it’s the reversed Wheel of Fortune. In short, it means don’t gamble.”

Yao Yuan’s heart plummeted. No, this card might mean more than just “don’t gamble.” The most crucial meaning of the Wheel of Fortune… and what the reversal represents…

The term [Karmic Retribution] flashed in her mind. Is this mocking me, suggesting that opposing the devil is like going against fate itself? Humans are insignificant.

When the last card was revealed, the fortune teller had a relaxed smile: “It’s The Chariot, upright…”

Ding-a-ling-a-ling, the clock outside chimed.

The middle-aged woman quickly pulled off her hood: “Oh dear, I’m off work. Sorry, sorry. There’s a really fun escape room at the castle, you two should go play that!”

“Mhm.” Yao Yuan, shrouded in the shadows of The Devil and The Wheel of Fortune in the spread, was preoccupied and allowed Star Sky to lead her out.

Star Sky had not made any comment about the spread from beginning to end. The devil must not believe in destiny. Even if destiny demonstrated a small coincidence in front of her, she wouldn’t show any interest.

“Oh dear, girl, I didn’t interpret the last card yet!” The fortune teller had already changed into plain clothes and walked out of the house with them.

“It’s alright, I know it.” Yao Yuan forced a smile: “The question corresponding to the fifth card is what you will believe.”

“Yes, what does The Chariot represent believing in?”

Does she forget even the basics? She answered reflexively: “The Chariot represents will, self-discipline, victory, and a journey.”

[The Chariot represents will, self-discipline, victory, and a journey.]

Yao Yuan suddenly looked up at the distant fortune teller, then withdrew her gaze. She hooked her arm around the devil’s and put her smile back on.