As they passed a corner, a sudden force yanked her off the street.
Her back slammed against the cold wall, startling her. Her hat tumbled to the ground.
Before Noelle could cry out, her mouth was covered by Avira’s hand.
“Don’t make a sound…”
That familiar voice brought her back from her initial panic.
Her heart was still racing from the sudden turn of events, and under the dim light, she could clearly see Avira’s face.
In a stroke of serendipity, golden fireworks burst into the night sky, their radiant sparks cascading down like glittering petals.
The shimmering light danced across her lashes, while her dark eyes reflected the brilliant explosions, lending her an ethereal beauty that took one’s breath away.
In the shifting light and shadows, Avira’s face appeared almost otherworldly—so flawless and serene, it seemed angelic.
So beautiful…
Noelle hesitated, knowing it wasn’t appropriate to describe a boy with the word “beautiful.”
Yet, in that moment, it was the only word she could think of.
It was as if she were staring at an elusive fairy—one who might vanish the moment she blinked.
The faint scent wafting from Avira carried an indescribable allure, enveloping her in its subtle presence.
Her palm pressed lightly against Noelle’s lips, so close she could feel her warmth.
Noelle stared at her, frozen in place. A blush crept across her cheeks, spreading like wildfire, and she found herself holding her breath.
It felt as if something deep within her was beating uncontrollably, a powerful rhythm syncing with the faint glow that surrounded them, entwining with the starlit sky.
Meanwhile, the man following them trailed far behind. When he finally reached the corner, he realized the two figures had disappeared.
Confused, he glanced around, searching for any sign of them.
Suddenly, someone stepped out from the shadows.
The man jumped in fright, his camera slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground.
As the streetlight illuminated the figure’s face, his gaze froze.
What a stunning boy…
Even in the darkness, the young man seemed to radiate a natural brilliance, an aura both captivating and tranquil.
Avira bent down to pick up the camera, her expression calm as she raised an eyebrow.
“You’re a reporter…?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
The man stammered, clearly flustered and guilty.
He explained hastily that he had just returned from gathering material and happened to spot Noelle holding hands with this boy while leaving the cinema.
Noelle was currently a hot topic—her new movie performance and rumored affair with Nimca had been stirring up endless gossip.
The reporter had followed them out of habit, hoping to capture some scandalous content that would undoubtedly dominate the headlines and trends the next day.
He never expected to get caught, let alone by someone so sharp.
Avira casually flipped through the photos on the camera, her lips curling into a faint smile—a delicate curve that bloomed as suddenly and vividly as the ephemeral flower of night-blooming cereus.
“Not bad photography…”
The man blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her unexpected reaction.
“But you know, kid…”
Her tone shifted as she raised her gaze, her sharp eyes locking onto his.
The man stiffened instantly, unable to move.
It was as if a venomous serpent had leapt from behind her, its mesmerizing eyes fixed on him, lazily flicking its scarlet tongue in warning.
With deliberate slowness, Avira removed the memory card from the camera and discarded it like trash before tossing the now-empty camera back into the man’s arms.
Still stunned, the man instinctively caught the camera, staring at her in a daze.
“You really shouldn’t do things like this…”
Her smile faded, and her dark eyes turned glacial—like an endless tundra cloaked in snow and frost.
“The next time I catch you…”
Her voice carried a chilling weight as she finished, “It won’t just be the memory card that gets broken.”
Snap—
The memory card in Avira’s hand broke cleanly in two.
The crisp sound echoed sharply, cutting through the cacophony of fireworks exploding in the distance.
The man stood frozen, even after Avira’s figure disappeared from sight.
In that fleeting moment, he had been paralyzed by the sheer intensity of her presence.
