Chapter 78: VIP Tickets To A Death Trap

Half an hour later, they stood in the penthouse’s marble foyer, dressed and ready for the day out.

Kane had to admit that Cyrus’s interpretation of "casual" still looked like something ripped from a magazine spread.

Gone was the tailored suit, replaced by dark jeans and a charcoal cashmere sweater that somehow made Cyrus look even more intimidating.

Kane glanced down at his outfit—simple jeans and a navy henley from his new wardrobe—feeling distinctly underdressed by comparison.

They descended to the parking garage, Kane’s excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

When Cyrus led him to the Mercedes G-Wagon instead of the sleeker sports cars, Kane raised an eyebrow.

"It offers more space for whatever ridiculous purchases you’ll inevitably make," Cyrus replied dryly, unlocking the doors.

Kane slid into the passenger seat and immediately noticed the ceramic cat figurine resting on the dashboard.

"Is that...?" Kane picked up the figurine, recognizing the familiar broken piece from Mochi’s shop.

With increasing amusement, Kane flipped the figurine over in his hands and examined the missing ear.

"Where did you get this?"

Cyrus’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he pulled out of the garage.

"It was a gift."

The lie came easily, practiced through years of corporate negotiations and carefully constructed truths.

Kane’s eyebrows shot up, a grin tugging at his lips.

"That’s funny. I broke the exact same cat figurine at Mochi’s shop yesterday. Same missing ear and everything."

He held up the ceramic piece, waggling it between them.

"What are the odds?"

Cyrus felt heat creep up his neck. He hadn’t expected Kane to have damaged the very item he’d purchased in his ridiculous search.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken implications.

Kane’s amusement faltered as he kept the cat away, watching Cyrus out of the corner of his eye.

Cyrus kept his gaze locked on the road, jaw tight, as if the traffic required absolute focus.

Kane’s grin returned, slower this time. "Yeah... probably just a coincidence."

The Mercedes cruised through the city streets, the tension gradually dissolving with each mile.

Kane relaxed into the leather seat, stealing glances at Cyrus’s profile.

After a day of crowded metro lines and noisy buses, the quiet luxury felt much too comfortable.

He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he’d missed this—missed him.

Cyrus kept his eyes fixed on the road, but his thoughts remained on the fox spirit beside him.

Not that he’d ever say so.

Instead, he simply adjusted the temperature controls, ensuring Kane’s side was slightly cooler, just as he preferred it.

They pulled into the sprawling parking lot of Dream Kingdom Park, a massive amusement park that sprawled across the city’s edge like a neon fever dream.

Towering roller coasters twisted against the sky, their steel frames glinting in the afternoon sun, while the distant sounds of screaming riders and carnival music drifted through the air.

Kane practically bounced in his seat, amber eyes wide as he took in the chaos of spinning rides, colorful game booths, and crowds of families weaving between attractions.

"Look at that drop tower—it’s got to be three hundred feet tall!"

Cyrus surveyed the scene with the expression of someone witnessing a natural disaster.

His sharp gaze catalogued every potential hazard: the creaking Ferris wheel that looked older than some of the spirits he’d encountered, the sticky-fingered children running wild, and the overwhelming assault of cotton candy and funnel cake aromas mixing with diesel fumes from the rides.

"This place violates at least fourteen safety codes," he muttered, watching a teenager operate a spinning ride with questionable enthusiasm.

"Wow, you must be a blast at birthday parties." Kane commented.

"I don’t go to birthday parties," replied Cyrus dryly.

Kane was already unbuckling his seatbelt, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?"

"I left it somewhere between common sense and self-preservation."

Despite his protests, Cyrus followed Kane toward the entrance gates, his long strides easily keeping pace with the fox spirit’s eager bouncing steps.

The ticket booth attendant beamed at them through the plexiglass window.

"Welcome to Dream Kingdom! We have two ticket options today—our standard day pass for forty-five dollars, which gets you access to all rides and attractions, or our VIP All-Inclusive experience for two hundred and fifty dollars per person."

She gestured enthusiastically at a laminated poster covered in golden stars.

"The VIP package includes front-of-line access, reserved seating areas, complimentary snacks, and priority parking!"

Kane immediately reached for his wallet, pulling out crumpled bills.

"Two regular passes, please. My treat."

Before Kane could slide the money through the window, Cyrus’s black credit card appeared with predatory swiftness.

"Two VIP packages."

Kane whipped around to protest, but Cyrus was already inputting his PIN.

"Cyrus, that’s five hundred dollars for tickets—"

The attendant’s eyes widened at the casual dismissal of the astronomical price difference.

Cyrus pocketed his card and collected their golden wristbands with the air of someone who’d just purchased groceries.

"Consider it an investment in my sanity."

Kane grabbed his wristband and a park map; he studied the map with the intensity of a military strategist.

"Okay, so we hit the roller coasters first, then work our way through the midway games, and finish with the Ferris wheel at sunset for the view."

Cyrus studied the map over Kane’s shoulder, noting the walking distances and crowd patterns.

"You’ve put considerable thought into this."

"I’ve been wanting to come here since I moved to Feilun," Kane admitted, his enthusiasm making his amber eyes practically glow.

"Never had anyone to go with, though."

The simple confession caught Cyrus off guard, a strange warmth settling in his chest.

He cleared his throat, adjusting his sunglasses.

"Lead the way then."

Kane’s face lit up with pure joy, and something inside Cyrus’s chest loosened at the sight.

For once, there were no corporate meetings demanding his attention, no ancient artifacts to retrieve, and no trafficking rings to investigate.

Just Kane’s infectious excitement and the promise of a day where the most serious decision would be choosing between funnel cake or cotton candy.

He tucked his hands into his pockets and followed Kane deeper into the chaos.

Kane practically dragged Cyrus through the park, weaving between families and couples until they reached the towering steel beast that dominated the skyline.

Cyrus stopped dead in his tracks, staring up at the monstrosity with growing horror.

"You want me to voluntarily strap myself into that death trap?"

Kane turned back with a grin that could have powered half the park.

"It’s going to be amazing!"