As Luca and Lucy reentered the festival grounds, the atmosphere seemed even more vibrant than before. 

The sun had set, and the campus was now illuminated by strings of twinkling fairy lights, casting a warm and magical glow over the entire area.

The festival had truly come alive in the evening hours. Laughter and the sounds of live music filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and celebration.

As they strolled through the festival, taking in the sights and sounds, Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The festive spirit, the music, and the laughter in the air reminded him of the lively campus events at Kai University.

“Lucy! A’Luca!” called Mira once she spotted the siblings making their way through the festival. She was joined by Xia, who waved enthusiastically. There were a couple of other people with them—Lucy's vibrant and diverse group of friends, each radiating their own unique charm.

The rest of Lucy’s friend group had gathered around, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere. Laughter and animated conversations filled the air as they shared stories and caught up on each other's lives. 

The group was a mix of personalities, each one adding their unique flavor to the gathering.

It was a lively group as they explored the festival grounds together. They sampled a variety of street foods, from savory skewers to sweet desserts, and shared their favorites with each other. 

They took turns trying their luck at carnival games, winning stuffed animals and prizes that they proudly carried around. Luca even showed off his skills at the ring toss, earning cheers and admiration from the group.

As the night continued, the group's energy remained high, but it wasn't long before they all began to tire out from the excitement and festivities. 

They found a cozy spot beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, surrounded by the magical ambiance of the illuminated campus.

Sitting on blankets and makeshift cushions, they shared stories, jokes, and heartfelt conversations. The evening air was filled with the warmth of friendship and the soft melodies of live music playing in the background. It was a perfect moment of togetherness, where the past and present converged under the glow of the festival lights.

“Taya, can you get us some drinks? Please?” Lucy asked with her puppy dog eyes. 

“Don’t you have five with you?” Luca pointed out to the multitude of drinks surrounding the group.

“But I don’t want these. There was a strawberry flavored one at a stall. Please? Please Taya?”

Luca chuckled at Lucy's puppy dog eyes.

“Alright, alright,” Luca relented, unable to resist his sister's pleading look. “Strawberry flavor, you said, right?”

Lucy nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. “Yes, please, Taya! You're the best!”

With a playful roll of his eyes, Luca got up from his spot among Lucy's friends. He ventured deeper into the festival grounds, following the twinkling fairy lights that led him to the stall Lucy had mentioned. 

After a brief wait in line, Luca returned with two strawberry-flavored drinks in hand. He knew that Lucy asked for strawberry flavor since he also liked it. He didn’t get any of the drinks so far.

He walked through the quiet lantern-lit pathways, enjoying the serene beauty of the festival at night. The soft glow of the lanterns added a touch of enchantment to the surroundings, and Luca felt as if he were in a different world altogether.

He was taking a sip from his drink as he looked up at the string of fairy lights. When he looked back to the path, he froze.

Luca's heart skipped a beat as he saw a familiar face standing in the middle of the lantern-lit pathway. It was a face from his past, someone he hadn't seen in years but had never forgotten.

Wei.

He stood there, his eyes locking with Luca’s the moment Luca moved.

Wei's presence in front of him sent a rush of emotions through Luca. Memories of their time together at high school flooded back.