"I'm very happy," Lin Xingshi said, wiping her eyes and speaking softly.

The Little Nian Beast was taken aback: "That's good. As long as Xiaoxing is happy," he mumbled. Thinking for a moment, he added, "Don't just watch, make a wish first, or the fire will go out."

"Hmm..." Lin Xingshi murmured, closing her eyes, her lips moving silently.

In the silence, the Little Nian Beast stared at her face, seemingly understanding what she was saying.

"I wish to be with Little Nian forever, never to be apart." Right as she finished saying this silently and was about to blow out the candles on the cake, the Little Nian Beast suddenly stopped her.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xingshi opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Change your wish," he said.

"Why?"

The Little Nian Beast was stunned. He actually wanted to tell Lin Xingshi that he was a demon and that it was impossible for them to always be together. One day she would find out he was a demon, and then she would know she had been deceived into befriending a demon.

He should have left long ago. The longer he stayed, the more hurt this human girl would be. The Little Nian Beast knew everything, but he just couldn't bear to leave. That's why he stayed here for so long. Waking up every morning to see her sleeping face was really nice, sneaking into school with her to listen to lectures was really fun, and laughing together when they played tricks on others was really enjoyable. On Hai Fan Mountain, no demon had ever been willing to play with him.

Lin Xingshi was his only friend.

But he was a demon... Ever since he was born, he had been told, Little Nian Beast, you can't leave that mountain because the world outside belongs to humans. Humans hate demons and don't want to see them, so they drove them onto the mountains... He should never have made friends with her from the beginning.

He knew all this, yet the Little Nian Beast still acted foolishly. "Now look," he told himself, "if you hadn't hesitated, she wouldn't have gotten hurt. It's all your fault."

After a long silence, the Little Nian Beast softly asked, "Xiaoxing... do you hate demons?"

"Why would I hate demons?" Lin Xingshi lifted the back of her hand, wiping away the tears on her cheeks.

"Isn't the destiny of an Exorcist to kill demons? Otherwise, why are you called Exorcists?" the Little Nian Beast continued.

Lin Xingshi thought for a moment: "My parents taught me since childhood that Exorcists and demons are sworn enemies. They said demons are all man-eating monsters... but I don't know if there are any kind demons. I think everything is only real if seen with one's own eyes."

"What if I'm a demon?"

"How could you be a demon?" Lin Xingshi said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

The Little Nian Beast felt a wrenching pain in his heart and spoke in a nearly hoarse voice: "Can't I be a demon?"

"You're so silly, so clumsy... it seems pretty obvious you're not a demon," Lin Xingshi said, poking his nose.

At that moment, Lin Xingshi's expression suddenly changed. The candle's flame flickered, stretching the shadow of a beast on the wall. But just a second ago, that shadow clearly belonged to the Little Nian Beast.

She was stunned, slowly turning her head. By the firelight, she saw a lion-shaped shadow. Now, appearing before her was a small lion about a meter long, its fur a purplish-red with undeveloped fangs, and a tuft of flamboyant flame rising from its head, flickering alongside the candlelight.

Lin Xingshi was silent for a long time before she asked, "Are you... Little Nian?"

The little lion stood awkwardly for a moment, then nodded silently.

"So it was you..." Lin Xingshi murmured softly.

These days, in her dreams, she often dreamed of a purplish-red little lion, majestic and imposing. Every time it appeared in her dreams, she slept very soundly, feeling a strong sense of security. But each time she woke to find the little lion gone, she felt a bit downcast. In this moment, looking at the Little Nian Beast, Lin Xingshi understood everything.

"So, even among demons, there's a child like you..."

Lin Xingshi extended her hand, gently stroking its fur as she spoke. In the candlelight, the Little Nian Beast silently lowered his head. Outside, a gentle rain was still falling, the mist climbing up the window.

"Do you hate me now?" The Little Nian Beast didn't dare to lift his head, asking in a low voice.

But just then, Lin Xingshi leaned over, hugging the little lion tightly in her arms, resting her face on its soft fur.

"I've made my wish," she said softly.

"What?"

"To be with you forever."

...

...

"What are you daydreaming about... you've been acting like you're possessed these past two days." The sudden voice broke Lin Xingshi's train of thought.

She came back to reality, slowly lifting her head to see Zhou Jiuya next to her, staring at her intently.

The two exchanged a glance, then Lin Xingshi quickly looked away.

"It's nothing, just enjoying the sea breeze today, the weather's nice," Lin Xingshi paused, then suddenly blurted out, "Peace forever."

"Then, after we've defeated the Year Beast Monarch, we'll celebrate your birthday again."

"Alright, alright. You don't think the crew will choose August 24 to celebrate my birthday, do you?" Lin Xingshi said lightly, "Thanks to you, Old Crow."

Zhou Jiuya took a deep breath, one hand in his pocket, the other rubbing his forehead. "Don't mention those unlucky things."

Just then, in the distance, a horn sounded. Both of them looked toward it, seeing a yellow taxi coming up the coastal road, stopping in front of them.