Lights blazing, the carousel spinning.

The stuffed cat on top stood up, arched its back, stretched languidly, and let out a long, drawn-out: “Meoowww~~~”

Its voice was shrill, the trailing note thin and long — even amid the surrounding cacophony of music, Shen Mo and Bai Youwei inside the shop heard it with perfect clarity.

Mary, draped over the cat, let out a yawn as well.

She rubbed her eyes and reached out with her slender white arms, pinched the tip of one of the cat’s ears, and complained like a petulant little girl: “Alright, quit sleeping! You lazy cat! It’s time for hide-and-seek — get up!”

Mary climbed astride the cat’s neck and yanked it firmly.

The stuffed cat was stirred into something resembling wakefulness, let out a “Mroww,” and with Mary on its back, leapt down from the carousel.

“Where is everyone hiding~?” The little girl sat atop the stuffed cat, her bright little face wearing a venomous smile. “Ahh~ I do love hide-and-seek so much! Every time I see the look on people’s faces when they’re found — it makes me so happy~!”

Her gaze drifted slowly across the surroundings, the smile at her lips brimming with enjoyment. “I can see you~~ You really have no idea how to hide at all~!”

By the window, Shen Mo’s brow was furrowed, his eyes fixed unblinking on what lay outside.

The stuffed cat had stepped right onto a trap.

It was a decorative fishing net they had dismantled from the Pirate Ship at Adventure Island, suspended roughly five or six centimeters off the ground — and now it had snagged one of the cat’s feet. The cat lifted its paw in irritation and tore the net apart with a wrench.

The long masts rigged at both ends of the net were set into motion and swung inward — crashing toward the center!

Mary cried out in alarm. The cat leapt aside in a flash!

Dodging the masts, it immediately triggered Yan Qingwen’s second trap! — The large red chairs from the spinning tea-cup ride came hurtling through the air like enormous red projectiles, one after another!

The stuffed cat dodged the first, but was struck by the second and the third in quick succession! It let out a wail and toppled to the side of the road! Mary was not spared either — the fourth red spinning chair struck her hard on the shoulder!

“Ahhhh!!!” She scrambled up, screaming furiously, “You players are so horrible! So horrible! I’ll have my cat catch every single one of you and tear you to shreds! Ahhhhhh!!!”

“Mreooww!~~” The cat yowled in response, as if in agreement.

The next instant, the stuffed cat adjusted its direction and charged straight toward Fantasy Street.

Shen Mo felt a start.

At first he assumed it was a coincidence — but when he realized that Mary and the cat were clearly heading in his direction, his heart gave a sudden lurch. He moved swiftly to the checkout counter and scooped Bai Youwei up in his arms.

“What’s happening?!” Bai Youwei asked, startled.

She had been hidden below the counter and couldn’t see what was happening outside — she had no idea that Mary and the cat were already coming this way.

Shen Mo carried her out through the window on the other side, sprinted a few steps, and ducked into the candy shop next door. “Mary knows where we are!”

“What?” Bai Youwei was taken aback. “She found us that quickly?”

“No — she didn’t search for us!” Shen Mo scanned the surroundings. This time he didn’t choose the checkout counter; instead, he set her down behind the door, then dragged over a potted indoor plant to conceal her, before jumping back out through the window.

At that same moment, the cat’s roar rang out — heavy thumping sounds came from the roof above, as if a great beast were running across it.

Through the gaps in the leaves, Bai Youwei watched as an enormous stuffed cat leapt down from the rooftop and landed with a mighty thud.

On top of the cat, the hot-tempered little girl screamed, “Grab him! You stupid cat! Grab him — don’t let him get away!!!”

Shen Mo had dashed into the toy shop.

Mary and the cat charged in right after him.

The massive body smashed through the shop entrance, shattering the glass with a resounding crash. From inside came the intermittent sounds of shelves collapsing, and Mary’s piercing shrieks.

Bai Youwei couldn’t see what was happening inside.

—