Chapter 62: You Are My Best 'Birthday Gift' [Dual Chapter Merge]

"Congratulations, congratulations! As the first guests today to personally touch the white dolphin at our themed restaurant, you’ve been awarded two complimentary tickets to Jellyfish Amusement Park. Please accept them with gratitude."

Just minutes after Tian Dao and Kalolin finished lunch, a staff member—pre-arranged by Tian Dao—appeared precisely on cue, handing them two golden tickets to the amusement park.

Kalolin’s eyes lit up instantly, and without waiting for Tian Dao to say a word, she flashed a radiant smile—one utterly unlike her usual icy demeanor. Her voice, unusually high-pitched and playful, chimed in:

"Oh? Really? How incredibly lucky we are!"

"..."

To be honest, Tian Dao had to admit—Kalolin had just delivered a masterclass in subtle mockery.

She said nothing outright, yet everything was implied.

Only someone who’d seen through the entire charade could pull off such a performance.

With her trademark frosty expression, Kalolin had never once spoken in such a bubbly, saccharine tone.

This was pure, unfiltered sass—aimed directly at him.

"Is something wrong, Tian Dao? Aren’t we going? These tickets are only valid for today."

Kalolin waved the two tickets playfully, flipping them like a fan in front of Tian Dao’s face with a mischievous grin.

Tian Dao blinked, then stood up decisively.

"Of course we’re going! Why pass up freebies?"

"Damn it," Kalolin laughed, finishing his sentence as they both stepped out of Sunken Ship Grand Restaurant.

And as she walked, Kalolin herself didn’t notice—today, she was brighter, more animated, her laughter freer than ever before.

Sometimes, when you wear a mask long enough, you forget what your true face looks like.

Perhaps it wasn’t that she was suddenly different today.

Maybe this was simply who she’d always been meant to be.

---

Reality World, Station 13

As Tian Dao and Kalolin arrived at Jellyfish Amusement Park, the narrative style shifted—fragmented, cinematic, like a series of fleeting memories.

Jellyfish Ferris Wheel

Sea Serpent Roller Coaster

Octopus Drop Tower

With Tian Dao by her side, Kalolin finally let go of her usual burdens.

No more mission objectives. No more intel collection.

She surrendered completely to the simple, rare joy of freedom—something ordinary people take for granted, but to her, it was priceless.

A cheerful, nostalgic BGM began to play.

Every time they finished a ride, the screen would freeze with a soft click, then a digital photo frame would appear—like a snapshot from a real-life memory album—preserving that moment forever.

One by one, the photos filled the album.

At first, it was empty, barren.

But soon, it grew fuller, richer, more vivid.

And soon, observant viewers in the multiverse noticed something peculiar.

In every photo—though only Tian Dao and Kalolin appeared—there was always a third presence.

In the corner of the Ferris Wheel.

In the back row of the roller coaster.

At the edge of the drop tower.

Two people.

But three souls.

It made the audience chuckle at Chen Xing’s stealthy, spy-like outfits—always lurking just out of frame.

Yet, more than that, they were touched by the genuine, unguarded joy on the two faces in each photo.

Even though they knew this was a sugar-drenched fantasy—crafted by the production team as a final, bittersweet farewell to Tian Dao—they couldn’t help but sink into it.

“Why do I know this is a trap… yet I still leap in willingly?”

“Illusion! All of this is illusion! Reality isn’t like this!”

“Haha! I did it! I actually saw it—the perfect happy ending!”

“Delicious! Even if it’s my last meal, let me have just two more bites. I’ll be full when I go… (crying)”

“No way, the Stars team—aren’t you monsters? How do you manipulate hearts like this?”

What is true pain?

It’s knowing the oasis ahead in the desert is a mirage—yet still walking toward it, greedily drinking in the illusion of hope.

Because you know it’s false… yet you choose to believe anyway.

And that’s the real knife.

What is true torment?

It’s flying toward the light like a moth—only to realize you’ll never reach the center of it.

You’re drawn to the fire’s fleeting beauty… but the closer you get, the faster you burn.

Yet you don’t regret it.

Not even a little.

The viewers knew why the Stars team inserted this moment of joy into Kalolin’s birthday arc.

Of course they did.

But knowing didn’t stop them from drowning in it.

Because the truth is—no matter how cruel the future may be, the only way to change it isn’t by running from it.

It’s by cherishing now.

So after all the cuts, all the heartbreaks to come—none of it mattered.

All they wanted was this: this moment. This memory.

And just when the audience thought the sugar rush had peaked—

The Stars team dropped a second bomb.

Night fell.

Tian Dao, holding two half-meter-tall dolphin plushies—one in each hand, squeezed through the crowd and made his way to the rest area.

There, Kalolin sat, savoring her jellyfish ice cream, waiting for the evening fireworks.

"Kalolin, here," Tian Dao said, handing her the pink dolphin plush.

Kalolin’s left hand—still empty—reached out, and gently cradled the soft, round creature into her arms.

But then, noticing the blue dolphin still in Tian Dao’s grip, she tilted her head.

"Tian Dao… wasn’t the Gun Shooter Vendor’s prize only one? Why do you have another?"

"Oh, that?" Tian Dao plopped down beside her on the empty seat, grinning.

"I threatened him. Told him if he didn’t give me a second prize, I’d win every single item on his stall."

He lifted the blue dolphin like a trophy, proudly displaying it.

"See? He caved."

Kalolin hadn’t been there when it happened—but she could imagine it perfectly.

The vendor’s face, frozen in disbelief.

Tian Dao’s smug, unstoppable confidence.

And honestly? She couldn’t blame the man.

With Star-Eclipse Eye and Vector Control, Tian Dao didn’t just play the game—he rewrote it.

Even if the air rifle shot missed completely, Tian Dao could manipulate the trajectory mid-flight—bending physics with a flick of will.

It was like playing a shooting game with auto-aim, lock-on, and magic bullets.

Against someone like that?

The vendor had no choice.

Better to surrender early than get wiped out completely.

So he gave in.

Kalolin smiled.

"Tian Dao… using Stellar Envoy to intimidate a regular Gun Shooter Vendor? That’s really not fair."

Tian Dao adjusted his sunglasses, unfazed.

"Not intimidation. I earned it. Why shouldn’t I use my abilities?"

You don’t care if I cheated.

Just ask—did I win?

On the scale of “not being human,” Tian Dao had always excelled.

Because he’d never been one to begin with.

Seeing Tian Dao so shamelessly proud of his “victory,” Kalolin couldn’t help but laugh.

She didn’t care if he’d bullied the vendor.

She just liked teasing him.

And even if, one day, Tian Dao stood at war with the world—

She’d still stand beside him.

Because in Kalolin’s eyes, Tian Dao wasn’t just a partner.

He was her entire world.

"Kalolin," Tian Dao said softly, "happy birthday."

"I was going to get you a gift. But then I realized—you don’t really need anything. So I figured… why not just give you a whole day of joy?"

"But birthdays need a little ceremony. So this dolphin… it’s my birthday gift to you."

Kalolin, holding the pink dolphin, opened her mouth to speak—

Then, a sudden gasp erupted from the crowd.

The fireworks had begun.

At exactly 8 PM, Jellyfish Amusement Park’s lights dimmed.

The sky erupted.

A cascade of colored flames burst into the night, painting Tian Dao’s face in fleeting hues.

Boom.

In the thunderous silence after the explosion, Kalolin whispered—so softly, she didn’t mean for him to hear.

"Thank you, Tian Dao. I don’t need anything else. Because you… are my best birthday gift."

Tian Dao, one hand covering his ear, suddenly turned to her.

"Kalolin! Did you just call me?"

Her face flushed crimson.

And for the first time in her life—

Kalolin lied.

"No."

Click.

The screen froze.

The final frame:

The confused boy, the blushing girl, and the shadowy figure in the corner—Chen Xing, quietly eating an ice cream.

A memory captured.

A photograph sealed.

And the album—now overflowing with moments—closed with a gentle snap.

The pages turned:

The roller coaster duo grinning like fools.

Kalolin screaming with wild abandon on the drop tower.

Tian Dao giving a victory sign at the shooting booth.

And finally—two silhouettes, shoulder to shoulder, watching the fireworks.

The memory album—full at last.

As the final photo settled, the book slowly closed in the viewers’ eyes, fading into the void.

---

Reality World, Station 13

"Ahhhh! Locked in! Tian Dao is officially locked in!"

"90% pure sweetness—rare!"

"If this is my final meal… I die happy."

"This… is art."

The audience was still reeling from the emotional avalanche—when the screen cut to the villa.

Chen Kong sat alone, staring at the table he’d set.

Two empty seats.

He frowned.

"Strange… Tian Dao said they’d be back tonight. Why aren’t they here yet?"

The image of Chen Kong—alone, sitting in the dim light, surrounded by untouched food—tugged at the viewers’ hearts.

They felt for him.

And yet… they couldn’t help but laugh.

"Busy is good!"

"Chen Kong: The plan was supposed to include me… right?"

"Who else knows the feeling? Team’s out having fun, I’m the only one holding the base."

"Poor little Kongbao... next time, you keep guarding the base, okay?"

But his loneliness didn’t last.

Just as he was about to turn off the lights and pack the food for later—

The front door creaked open.

"Hey, Kong! This operation was a total success!"

Tian Dao pushed the door open with his shoulder, holding a blue dolphin plushie.

He placed it on the couch, then handed Chen Kong a box of specialty octopus balls.

"Here. Tasted amazing. I saved one for you."

Before Chen Kong could open the box, Tian Dao slung an arm around his shoulders.

"Come on, let’s go. I haven’t eaten all day!"

Outside, Kalolin and Chen Xing arrived, arms full of shopping bags.

With everyone back, the villa buzzed with life once more.

And across the city, in Bodean’s executive office—Deep Blue Metropolis.

"What?! You want us to hold him for one minute? You’re sending us to die!"

Rongshan shot up, flames erupting from his body in uncontrolled bursts.

Claude reacted instantly, gripping his shoulder, grounding him.

The office barely escaped becoming a charred ruin.

Bodean spoke calmly.

"Relax, Rongshan. Thanks to Claude’s surveillance footage, we’ve found a way to limit Tian Dao’s abilities."

"And it’s not just you and Claude. It’s all of us."

"Take it easy. You won’t die."

Rongshan’s jaw twitched.

Easy?

You want me to stay calm… facing Tian Dao Siming?

Bodean, you’re either overestimating me…

or underestimating that monster.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end