Chapter 171

“Zinnia, you’re so stunning! If I’d known, I would have picked the same outfit,” Maisie exclaimed. Zinnia, her makeup complete, sipped her juice while waiting.

Lydia kept her makeup simple—a few quick touches and she was done. With glasses and a side braid, she looked studious. A book in hand completed her scholarly vibe.

After finishing her makeup, Maisie turned and nearly gasped. She wanted to shower Zinnia with kisses. Zinnia, delicate in a gorgeous dress, had her hair pinned up, revealing her beautiful face. The makeup artist had shaped her brows; hairpins sparkled in her updo, and delicate ear cuffs adorned her ears. She was ethereal—a fairy from heaven.

Zinnia had never worn makeup before, but with a little touch-up, she was captivating. Lydia, camera in hand, kept circling her, trying to capture her glow.

As soon as the girls stepped out, Ethan’s eyes lit up. He gasped, “Holy moly, Zinnia! How are we supposed to protect you when you look this gorgeous? Seriously, we’re worried someone might kidnap you!”

“Tonight, our main job is to protect our little princess,” Ethan said dramatically, drawing his sword and stepping in front of Zinnia. His eyes scanned the crowd, watching for anyone suspicious. He thought, ‘She is stunning. No way we are letting any creep snatch her away!’

“Ethan, you’re such a drama king!” Maisie laughed.

Ethan remarked, “Maisie and Lydia look amazing too. I’ve never seen Maisie with long hair—she almost blinded me with how beautiful she is. And that outfit is just perfect for Lydia’s scholarly look—she looks so cultured.”

“Seriously, the clothes you both picked are perfect. I can’t wait to see how awesome our photos turn out. We’re just killing it with these looks,” Ethan said, complimenting everyone.

“Alright, enough of the compliments. We all look amazing. Why not take a photo to remember this moment?” Brian chuckled.

“Come on, everyone! Let’s take a group shot to capture this wonderful day,” Ethan called out.

They stepped out of the shop and set up a camera. Ethan wore a tight-fitting guard’s uniform with a sword at his side. His strong eyebrows and confident smile showed his youthful energy—like a young hero. Brian, in a lawyer suit, looked sharp and relaxed.

Maisie wore a red rope that fit her perfectly. Her short hair was neatly tucked under a fancy updo wig, decorated with delicate hairpins, giving her a refined look. In her hand, she held a wooden flute. Passersby couldn’t help but glance at the five good-looking young people.

“Here we go. Smile!” Ethan set the timer and stepped back. The five of them smiled brightly, their joy frozen in the photo.

“Let’s get these photos printed—one for each of us!” Maisie said, pulling Zinnia and Lydia into another shot with her phone while calling the boys.

“We still have the carousel and Ferris wheel to ride. After that, we can watch the show and call it a day,” Maisie cheerfully said after taking more photos.

When they reached the carousel, all the spots were full, so they waited a few minutes. While waiting, they took more photos. After riding the Ferris wheel, their last ride, the group headed to the performance area. The staff had set up a large open space, but it was already full.

“Over here, guys. We got VIP tickets. We can watch from the top deck,” Ethan called out happily, waving everyone forward.

“Wow, this is amazing!” the group said as they reached the top deck and found the best spot, just as the artist stepped onto the stage. The crowd watched, breathless and amazed.

Just as they were about to leave after the show, they heard music. The group paused, looked at each other, then turned toward the music. They saw a stage decorated with many…

Ethan tapped the person in front and asked, “Hey, what’s going on?”

That person explained, “They’re holding a music contest, and the prize is the Opaline Lamp. It took a whole year to make, and they’re giving it to the winner.”

Ethan pointed at the lamp. The patterns were detailed, and the craftsmanship was amazing. Zinnia’s eyes shined. “Wow, it’s so beautiful!” she said excitedly.

“Hey, since we’re already here, it’d be a shame to leave without that lamp,” Ethan said with a grin. “Our little princess likes it—let’s win it for her!”

“Count me in,” Brian said casually. The others agreed. They each knew how to play several instruments.

Ethan said, “Let’s go.” Maisie gently touched Zinnia’s cheek. “Zinnia, wait here. We’ll win it for you.”

“Can I join too?” Zinnia asked.

“Zinnia, you can play an instrument too?” Maisie asked, feeling a little sad remembering Zinnia’s tough life.

“I can play that one,” Zinnia said, pointing at the zither.

“Alright, let’s go up together,” Maisie said. As the last group finished, they confidently stepped onto the stage.

“Are you guys performing as a group?” the organizer asked, his eyes shining with admiration. They were a beautiful sight.

“Yeah,” they said at the same time.

“Okay, you have three minutes to get ready. You can choose any instrument from the side—your performance starts right after,” the organizer said.