Chapter 56: The Pink Sea

It was not until the next day that Xiao Ziyu slowly regained consciousness.

He opened his eyes, only to find the space beside him completely empty. With a trace of bewilderment, he propped himself up on his arms.

Looking down, he discovered that all the wounds on his body had vanished without a trace, and even the pain was entirely gone.

What was going on...

With a sense of disbelief, Xiao Ziyu gently touched his own skin.

"Husband? You're awake!" Chen Xingmiao walked in carrying a washbasin, hurrying to his side.

She gazed at him with a radiant smile, two charming dimples dancing at the corners of her lips.

"How do you feel? Did you sleep well?"

Xiao Ziyu was slightly dazed. He looked at his unblemished body once more and said, "Wife, I..."

Anticipating his question, Chen Xingmiao cut him off before he could finish. "It must be the heavens showing pity on you! I've prepared new clothes for you. No reading today—I'm taking you out to have fun and spend some money!"

With those words, she pulled a neatly folded set of new garments from her bundle, placed them into his hands, and then hurried out with brisk, dainty steps.

The moment the bedroom door clicked shut, the bright smile vanished from Chen Xingmiao's face, replaced immediately by an expression of bitter agony.

It wasn't the heavens showing pity; it was *her* showing pity. That had cost her every single accumulated contribution point, sending her right back to square one overnight.

"Miss, everything is ready. Please rest assured and take the young master out to celebrate his birthday today," Chuntao said, running up and whispering into her ear.

Chen Xingmiao took a deep breath, quickly readjusted her emotions, turned around, and squeezed out a smile for Chuntao. "Good. Make sure nothing goes wrong."

Smoothing down the hem of her skirt, she pushed open the bedroom door once more.

Inside, Xiao Ziyu had already changed into his new clothes and was examining his reflection in the bronze mirror.

Seeing Chen Xingmiao enter, his expression remained calm as he offered a serene smile. "Wife, you've gone to a lot of trouble. The clothes fit perfectly."

Chen Xingmiao walked up to him, adjusted his collar, and said playfully, "Why are you being so formal with me? Today, your only job is to be happy."

"Is that so... Is there a special occasion?"

His question instantly caught her off guard.

She blinked her eyes, a flash of hesitation crossing her gaze.

Could the little villain possibly have forgotten that today was his birthday?

Chen Xingmiao parted her lips and asked tentatively, "You... don't know?"

While speaking, she kept her eyes fixed on Xiao Ziyu, but his gaze remained detached, as though he were discussing a matter that had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

Chen Xingmiao immediately flashed a smile, gently taking his hand as she led him toward the door. "There's no special occasion. I just noticed how hard you've been working on your studies lately, so I wanted to take you out for a proper relaxation today."

The two of them walked side by side out of the house. The streets were bustling with life, the calls of hawkers and the laughter of crowds weaving together into a vibrant melody.

Having not witnessed such a lively scene in a long time, Xiao Ziyu found himself momentarily dazed.

Chen Xingmiao glanced at him sideways and asked cautiously, "Husband, is there anywhere you'd like to go or anything you'd like to buy?"

Coming back to his senses, Xiao Ziyu wore a hesitant, faint smile.

"Would it be all right if I bought a mask?"

Chen Xingmiao's eyes lit up. A look of pleasant surprise blossomed across her face as she nodded eagerly. "Of course it is! There happens to be a mask stall right ahead. Let's go pick one out."

With that, she took Xiao Ziyu's hand and jogged toward the stall.

The display was filled with all sorts of masks: majestic generals, endearing animals, and brilliantly colored theatrical faces.

"Husband, which one do you like?" Chen Xingmiao led him forward, gesturing for him to choose.

Xiao Ziyu swept his gaze across the display, only to finally pick up the plainest, most unadorned mask among the dazzling array of choices.

Chen Xingmiao paused slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes, though it was quickly replaced by a smile.

At that moment, the stall owner stepped forward enthusiastically. "You two, have you found one you like?"

Chen Xingmiao turned her head and pointed at the mask in Xiao Ziyu's hand. "Boss, how much for this one my husband is holding?"

The vendor's eyes lit up. He heaped a warm, eager smile onto his face and rubbed his hands together.

"You have a fine eye, patron! The materials used for this plain mask are of the absolute finest quality. You won't find its like anywhere else. I'll give you an honest price: five taels of silver!"

Hearing this, Chen Xingmiao instinctively arched an eyebrow.

Five taels of silver? For a single mask? Did he take her for a fool?

Just as she was trying to figure out how to bargain, Xiao Ziyu had already reached into his pouch.

Strange—the little villain was usually extremely thrifty. Why was he suddenly so generous today...

Feeling puzzled, Chen Xingmiao quickly pressed down on his hand and smiled at the vendor. "Boss, as you can see, we genuinely like it. Can you come down a bit on the price?"

The vendor put on a troubled expression, frowning deeply. "Young lady, I run a small business and barely make a living. How about this—four taels of silver, and not a copper less!"

Chen Xingmiao's brow furrowed even deeper. She opened her mouth to continue bargaining, but Xiao Ziyu gently pulled her behind him.

Puzzled, she looked up at him, only to see that he had already placed four taels of silver into the vendor's palm.

The vendor accepted the silver, his face instantly blooming into a wide grin. He bowed repeatedly and said with eager enthusiasm, "You're a most decisive young master! If there's anything else you fancy in the future, just come right back to me—I guarantee you the fairest price!"

Xiao Ziyu nodded politely. Holding the mask in one hand, he took Chen Xingmiao's hand with the other and led her away from the stall.

Dissatisfied, Chen Xingmiao shook off his grip. "Husband, that thing wasn't worth four taels of silver at all. You—"

"When I was a child, in a dream, my mother gave me one very similar to it."

His voice was low, his gaze lowered as though he were deep in thought.

Hearing those words, Chen Xingmiao froze in her tracks, the lingering dissatisfaction instantly vanishing from her face.

What a blunder!

Filled with remorse, she bit her lip, suddenly at a loss for words.

Xiao Ziyu gently stroked the surface of the mask with his fingertips, his frail frame letting out a soft, faint sigh.

"Husband..." Chen Xingmiao stepped forward and lightly took his hand. "Close your eyes. I'm taking you somewhere."

Xiao Ziyu tilted his head and frowned slightly. Though filled with doubt, he obediently closed his eyes.

Chen Xingmiao took a deep breath. After steadying her emotions, she summoned the system in her mind.

*Xiaoliu, it's about time. Take me to the seaside!*

*Understood! Opening the gateway to the alternate world for the esteemed host right now!*

The moment Xiaoliu's voice faded, she opened her eyes, and an otherworldly, dreamlike vista abruptly burst into her field of vision—a boundless, limitless expanse of pink ocean.

Having never seen anything like it before, Chen Xingmiao was completely transfixed. She parted her lips slightly, her eyes filled with shock and delight.

*The host is so lucky! We've caught a rare super glow at dawn! Wishing the host a pleasant journey!*

Xiaoliu's cheerful voice rang out in her mind once more, breaking the brief silence.

"Super glow at dawn..." she murmured, hastily tapping Xiao Ziyu beside her. "Husband, open your eyes!"