After losing several rounds in a row, Vic couldn't take it anymore. His eyes were swimming with tears.
"Ugh... I lost again..."
Vic, acting like a giant, wounded golden retriever, buried his shaggy head deep into the warm curve of Enid's neck. He nuzzled back and forth, his voice muffled and thick with grievance.
"Jade is definitely counting cards... No rookie is this lucky... I don't believe it..."
Enid, ticklish from his nuzzling, couldn't help but giggle. Her eyes were brimming with tenderness and indulgence.
She put down her cards and wrapped a slender arm gently around Vic's shoulders. Her other hand stroked his black hair rhythmically, as if soothing a distressed pet.
"There, there. Maybe Jade is just naturally gifted?"
Enid's voice was soft and coaxing as her fingertips gently massaged his scalp.
"It's just a game, no big deal. We'll win it back next time, okay?"
Feeling the faint, sweet scent and gentle comfort from Enid, Vic squinted his eyes comfortably. He let out a satisfied hum, like a cat being petted.
But clearly, he wasn't satisfied with just that. He sneakily lifted his eyelids. With those peach-blossom eyes still shimmering with "tears," he cast a pitiful glance toward the other side of the aisle, where Wednesday was quietly reading.
Although Wednesday's gaze was fixed on her book, her peripheral vision had already taken in someone's "miserable state."
Feeling the weight of that suggestive stare, she sighed almost imperceptibly and closed her book.
She turned around. Her pale, exquisite face remained expressionless, but deep in her eyes, a trace of faint helplessness and... indulgence flickered.
Wednesday extended her cold fingers and gently pinched Vic's chin, turning his head—which was still glued to Enid—slightly toward herself.
Then, under his surprised and expectant gaze, she leaned in. Her cool lips pressed a kiss onto his forehead—light as a feather, yet undeniable.
"Imbecile."
Wednesday's voice was cold, yet it brushed against Vic's heart like velvet.
"Losing to a child and then pouting about it. Have you no shame?"
Although the words were a rebuke, combined with that kiss, they sounded sweeter than honey to Vic.
He immediately pushed his luck. He grabbed Wednesday's hand before she could pull away and pressed it against his cheek. A brilliant, blinding smile bloomed on his face, erasing every trace of his earlier grievance.
"Hehe, with you guys comforting me, losing a hundred rounds is worth it!"
He looked left at Enid's gentle smile, then right at Wednesday, who feigned coldness but allowed him to hold her hand. He felt his life was complete. Happiness was practically bubbling out of his ears.
He adjusted his posture, resting his head comfortably on Enid's lap while clutching Wednesday's hand tightly in his palm. He closed his eyes contentedly, feeling like he owned the world.
The sweet interaction between the three formed an invisible "barrier" radiating pink bubbles, making the surrounding air thick and warm.
"..."
Sitting opposite them, Jade silently took the last two cards in her hand—
A Red Joker and a Black Joker—and shoved them to the bottom of the deck. Then, expressionless, she organized the cards and placed them gently on the tray table.
She looked up and scanned her surroundings:
Diagonally ahead, Count Dracula was elegantly cutting a piece of steak and feeding it quite naturally to Captain Ericka.
Ericka opened her mouth with a smile to accept it. They looked at each other, eyes locked with the intense affection of lovers who had survived tribulations to finally be together.
Not far away, Mavis and Johnny had their heads together, sharing a pair of headphones, listening to some music.
Mavis would occasionally giggle at something Johnny whispered, slapping his arm playfully. Johnny just grinned and held her hand, the atmosphere intimate and warm.
Even in the corner, little Dennis and Winnie had their heads leaning against each other, sharing an earbud wire. They swayed gently to the rhythm with their eyes closed, their faces glowing with pure, innocent joy.
Jade silently retracted her gaze. She looked down at the empty tray table in front of her and felt inexplicably like her mouth was stuffed full of something sweet and sickening.
Expressionless, she stood up, returned to her own seat, and pressed the call button.
"What do you need? Gremlin Air is at your service!"
A green gremlin asked with a grin.
"One vegetarian meal, please," Jade said, her voice flat.
Jackie Chan, sitting nearby, heard this and looked at Jade in surprise.
"Jade? You're voluntarily asking for vegetables?"
Usually, getting her to eat a single stalk of broccoli required bribery and trickery.
Jade lifted her eyelids, glanced at her uncle, and spoke with the detached tone of a monk who had seen through the vanity of the world:
"Yeah. Suddenly felt a bit greasy. Need something green... to cleanse the palate."
With that, she agilely caught the meal box tossed by the gremlin. She picked up a fork and silently, rhythmically stabbed a piece of broccoli. Her small figure, nestled in the spacious seat, looked exceptionally... lonely?
Jackie looked at Jade, who seemed to have attained some profound, sorrowful enlightenment. Then he looked around at the couples radiating beams of happiness. He seemed to understand something.
Jackie Chan looked at Jade, who seemed to have attained some profound, sorrowful enlightenment. Then he looked around at the couples radiating beams of happiness. He seemed to understand something.
He shook his head helplessly, patted Jade on the shoulder sympathetically, and silently ordered a meal for himself as well. He decided to join his niece in this "cleansing of the spirit."
It seemed this trip was indeed a little "nutritionally excessive" for certain single individuals.
---
After the plane landed...
"Jade~ Wait up!"
Wearing a harmless, sunny smile, Vic jogged to catch up with Jade, who was leaving with Jackie.
In his hands, he held a "gift box" of considerable thickness, carefully wrapped with colorful ribbons.
"Here, a parting gift for you!"
Vic shoved the box into Jade's arms. He blinked, his tone so sincere you couldn't find a single fault with it.
"This is a 'travel souvenir' that Venom and I just rushed to custom-make for you. Exclusive limited edition!"
Jade looked at the heavy box in her arms, then at Vic's "praise me for being thoughtful" face. A ominous feeling rose in her gut.
She cautiously untied the ribbon and lifted the lid—
Inside, neatly stacked, were several thick, handwritten workbooks. On top of the stack sat a thoughtful box of twelve scented pencils!
"VIC——!!!"
Jade's face turned bright red with rage. Her hands holding the box were shaking.
"You... you troll! You big jerk! I'm gonna fight you!"
She raised the box, ready to smash it over Vic's head, but he dodged nimbly, sticking out his tongue and making a face.
"Now, now, don't be so emotional!"
Vic pressed his palms together, his expression the epitome of innocent yet punchable.
"I'm doing this for your academic future! Look at you, addicted to gambling at such a young age. That won't do! Knowledge is power! Venom and I combined the essence of multi-dimensional knowledge to compile these. Guaranteed to let you win at the starting line!"
At this moment, Jackie walked over. He looked at the furious, teary-eyed Jade, then at the "gift" Vic had given her. A look of realization—mixed with gratitude—dawned on his face.
"Vic! Thank you so much!"
Jackie grabbed Vic's hand and shook it vigorously, his tone full of sincerity.
"I was just worrying about how to fix her playful habits! This gift is too timely, too meaningful!"
As he spoke, Jackie very naturally took the box full of workbooks from Jade's arms. Smoothly, he then reached into Jade's pocket, pulled out the bulging bag of gems she had won, and stuffed it into his own backpack.
"It's not safe for a child to carry so many valuable items. Uncle will keep them safe for you. I'll give them back when you grow up."
Jackie spoke with earnest gravity, leaving no room for argument.
Jade watched her hard-earned gems change owners in an instant. She looked down at her empty hands, then at the stack of workbooks her uncle was clutching like treasure...
"WAAAAAH——!!!"
She couldn't hold it back anymore. Sadness, grievance, and anger mixed together, exploding into a wail that shook the clouds.
It was a cry that would break the hearts of listeners—like a small animal that had lost its entire hoard.
Vic watched Jade crying her eyes out and stroked his chin with satisfaction. His face showed the refreshing comfort of revenge served cold. He even whistled leisurely.
"You... you really hold a grudge."
Enid walked up to Vic. Watching Jade's pitiful retreating figure—half-coaxed, half-carried away by Jackie while still glaring tearfully at Vic—she shook her head helplessly and poked Vic in the waist.
Her blue eyes held a bit of rebuke, but mostly the indulgence and amusement of someone who had seen through his true nature.
"The little girl just beat you a dozen times, didn't she? sometimes you really act like a child, seeking revenge for the smallest grievance."
Vic chuckled, wrapping his arm around Enid's shoulder and raising an eyebrow smugly.
"It's called returning the favor! Besides, I'm helping her adapt to the 'cruelty' of society ahead of time. No need to thank me~"
Standing slightly behind them, Wednesday watched Vic's childish, triumphant display. She spat out one word expressionlessly:
"Juvenile."
But in those dark eyes, a trace of an almost imperceptible smile flashed by.
Clearly, regarding Vic's childish "revenge," although she verbally disdained it, she didn't actually mind. In fact, she found it... mildly amusing?
Vic didn't care about Wednesday's sharp tongue at all. Instead, he leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her cold cheek.
Laughing as he dodged the hand Wednesday instinctively swiped at him, he took Enid's hand with one hand and tried to grab Wednesday's with the other, marching spiritedly toward the exit.
"Let's go! I'll take you guys to check out Hotel Transylvania."