99 Next Step
Engagement! (4K Words)
The first date item for the date operation:
Watch a ballet.
The couple arrived at a theater ticket booth.
Due to venue capacity and performance style, the ballet generally only runs three to four shows a day.
And their dating time is limited to just this one day.
So the first item is straightforward: catch whichever show is available.
The ticket seller glanced at their outfits and smiled,
“Excuse me, are you two in a romantic relationship?”
Leon and Roswiser exchanged a glance, both letting out a simultaneous sigh, then reluctantly nodded.
“Good! I’ll arrange for a couple’s seat for you. The ticket price remains the same.”
Leon blinked, “Just for a ballet, do we really need couple’s seats and regular seats?”
“Yep, it’s a new thoughtful service our theater is offering!”
Leon forced a smile, “Wow, you really are thoughtful, huh.”
After buying their tickets, they had half an hour until the show started.
They sat on a bench outside the theater, quietly waiting.
The square outside the theater was open to the public, where some elderly folks and children were feeding pigeons.
Sitting side by side, some pigeons waddled over, begging for food.
But, alas, neither of them had any crumbs or snacks.
The pigeons, upon realizing they were getting nothing, cooed a couple of times before flapping their wings away.
Leon watched the pigeons disperse, his gaze drifting off until it spotted an ice cream stand.
He turned to Roswiser, who was staring at her shoes, head down, bundled in her hoodie, hands stuffed in her pockets, her long legs fidgeting as she played with her feet.
“Want ice cream?” Leon asked.
Hesitated.
Nodded.
“What flavor?”
“Any will do.”
Leon’s eyes sparkled mischievously, “How about cilantro flavor?”
Roswiser shot him a glare, “Carrot flavor!”
Leon chuckled and got up to head to the ice cream stand.
While paying, he caught a glimpse of something in the bushes nearby.
Startled, he quickly averted his eyes, muttering, “The disguise skills need some work, huh?”
But hiding next to the ice cream stand—what’s the motive, my little cotton-padded jacket?
Leon returned with two cones, “I got strawberry and banana. Which one do you want?”
“I want orange!” Roswiser tried to challenge him.
To her surprise, Leon anticipated her little game and handed her an orange-flavored cone, “Here you go, orange flavor.”
Roswiser blinked, her lively eyes fluttering, “But you only bought strawberry and banana, didn’t you?”
Leon shrugged, “Just kidding! I knew you’d want orange.”
Roswiser scoffed but accepted the orange cone.
“Let’s go inside and eat while walking,” Leon said.
“There are still twenty minutes before it starts.”
“Yeah, but the assistant director might not wait that long.”
“Huh?”
Leon didn’t elaborate, gently linked arms with Roswiser.
Her heart skipped; she almost dropped the ice cream but was pulled to her feet, and they strolled to the theater entrance together.
Just as they walked away, three figures emerged from the bushes near the ice cream stand.
Anna brushed off the leaves from the two young princesses and tidied her outfit.
“Anna, Anna, I want ice cream too!” the assistant director pointed excitedly at the stand.
Anna nodded and led them there, “Hello, three ice creams, please.”
Never doubt a father’s judgment when it comes to his daughters!
The director’s team had chosen this spot for a covert observation, not just for the excellent view but also to snag some ice cream!
Meanwhile, Leon and Roswiser had entered the theater and took their seats as other audience members filled in.
Leon noticed the couple’s seats and regular seats were indeed separated, but he still didn’t get what the point of the distinction was.
Even considering the rare cases of certain families, it didn’t seem necessary.
Oh well, maybe it’s just one of those dragon race quirks—not meant to understand!
He settled his thoughts and waited quietly for the ballet to begin.
“This show is called ‘The Albatross’s Sunset Sonata,’” Roswiser said.
Leon glanced at his ticket, “Yep, I can read.”
“It’s about two people who become a couple by accident, but initially, there are no feelings. Through time spent together, they understand each other, ultimately opening their hearts and falling in love.”
Leon bit his lip and shifted in his seat.
Isn’t that a bit too close to home?!
Even though he knew very well the characters mirrored reality, he played it cool, “Oh, sounds nice.”
After a moment, he asked, “Hey, you’ve seen this before?”
Roswiser shook her head, “I just read the original novel.”
“Novel?”
Leon recalled the late-night planning session where they’d combed through romance novels, one of which was also about an albatross.
“Is that the one we read last night?”
“No, but it’s by the same author.”
Leon raised an eyebrow, “Seems like that author really likes albatrosses, huh?”
“Because, in an albatross’s life, there’s only one partner, which resonates with the dragon race’s marital bonds. Many authors use the albatross to symbolize unwavering love,” Roswiser explained leisurely. “This is the last part of the author’s albatross trilogy, the magnum opus, and due to its excellent content, it was adapted into the ballet we’re about to see.”
Leon gazed at Roswiser’s profile, impressed as she passionately elaborated on the subject, completely different from how she usually spoke to him in a few choice words.
Clearly, she had a genuine love for these artistic forms.
That was a side of her Leon hadn’t really explored.
“Have you ever watched a ballet or opera before?” Roswiser asked, glancing at him.
Leon quickly looked away, “Uh… not much.”
“Well, if anything confuses you later, feel free to ask! I’ll explain.”
“Such a sweetheart?”
Roswiser shot him a side-eye, “Just concerned that when we get home, if our daughters ask and you have no clue, it’ll just make the date look fake!”
Leon shrugged, “Okay.”
Ten minutes later, the performance began.
The first act was a wedding, a romantic and extravagant scene that captured the audience’s gaze.
Ballet is a blend of music, drama, literature, dance, and stage art.
Along with the captivating storyline, the performers’ singing and dancing skills significantly enhanced the experience.
Leon’s artistic sensitivity wasn’t exactly thriving, so he was all about the plot.
Being a romantic novel adaptation, some scenes inevitably felt a bit melodramatic when shown on stage.
Leon held back his snark since he noticed Roswiser was quite engrossed, choosing not to disrupt her mood.
In the final act, as Roswiser had mentioned, after various trials and tribulations, the lovers finally united—the lead male proposing to the lead female under the sunset.
Touching music played, heartfelt lines resonated, making some in the audience tear up—
Not exaggerating: Leon actually saw a few girls in the front row dabbing their eyes.
He exhaled, unable to resist tossing out a line, “I’d never propose like that, way too cheesy.”
Unexpectedly, Roswiser nodded in agreement, “Yeah, in the original novel, that final moment was very romantic and beautiful. But it’s a bit too much when adapted into ballet. Still, overall, it’s a great piece.”
Leon nodded as if he understood, “Definitely.”
Pausing, Roswiser added, “Honestly, I wouldn’t accept a proposal in that kind of setting either. Just too staged.”
The couple surprisingly reached an unspoken understanding once again.
Good thing that was the final act of the ballet.
Proposal, embrace, cast came out for a bow.
The audience erupted into applause, acknowledging the actors’ performances.
Roswiser stretched her legs, “Alright, let’s go! On to the next date item.”
“Sure.”
“Wait! Everyone, especially those in couple’s seats, please hold on a moment!”
The host on stage raised a mic dramatically, declaring, “After the main show, we’ve prepared a special ending surprise! It won’t take up too much of your time, just about ten minutes. Those interested can stay to watch!”
Hearing this, the audience members who were about to leave settled back down.
“An ending surprise? What’s that about?” Leon inquired.
Before Roswiser could even express her confusion, the lights suddenly dimmed and focused on the host.
Under the spotlight, the host raised one hand high, “With this spotlight, we’ll select a couple from the couple’s seats to stage a recreation of the final act! What do you say, everyone?”
“Ooh, what a fun surprise! So glad we didn’t leave!”
“They even have an interactive session! I should’ve chosen couple’s seats too!”
“……”
Leon stood frozen, so that’s why you separated the couple’s seats from the regular ones?!
Wait, now’s not the time for snarky remarks.
Danger bells were ringing in Leon’s head.
We gotta move!
If they didn’t get out soon, they’d definitely find themselves in trouble.
In the dark, he grabbed Roswiser’s hand—instead of her wrist since it was too dark to see.
Roswiser panicked, her fingers instinctively curling, but she quickly regained composure and firmly held onto Leon’s hand.
Their thoughts aligned:
Run!
With their luck so far, even a one in a million chance would pick them; they definitely had to flee.
The couple stealthily made their way to the aisle, just about to escape.
Only, unfortunately…
It was too late.
The spotlight flitted around the couple’s seating area, like the Grim Reaper eyeing suitable prey.
Eventually—
In a twist no one expected, the spotlight landed not on the couple section but on the aisle.
Under the spotlight, a man and a woman were holding hands, looking like they were about to sneak away.
The audience gasped.
After a brief moment of surprise, the host quickly explained, “Oh, perhaps our spotlight malfunctioned, which is why it stopped on the aisle. But no worries! We still have a couple selected!”
Leon and Roswiser stood underneath the spotlight, feeling like they were being scorched by a thousand eyes, every pore on their skin tingling with heat.
No way, we ended up in the aisle and still got picked?!
Are they trying to finish us off here?!
“No, no, no, we’re not a couple! We just bought couple’s seats because we ran out of regular tickets,” Leon stammered awkwardly, desperate to avoid reenacting that proposal scene.
“Don’t be shy! You both are in matching outfits; how could you not be a couple?”
Matching outfits…
So that was all part of the grand director’s plan?
Everything interconnected with no loose ends!
Well done, sweet daughter.
Roswiser was covering her face with her free hand.
Of course, there was no escaping fate.
This could just be destiny.
“Alright, please come on up and start your performance! We’re just here for a laugh, so let’s have some fun~”
“Yeah, you two look great together! This is sure to be entertaining for everyone~”
“Go, go, go~”
And the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
The couple looked at each other, then resigned themselves to their fate.
After all, their daughters were somewhere secretly watching; how could they not perform well?
So, under the watches and applause of the audience, they walked up on stage.
The previous male lead handed Leon the ring.
It was just a prop ring, but felt real and sparkled delightfully—far prettier than anything he’d seen!
Leon let out a chuckle, thinking if it were bigger, he’d love to throw it around the necks of you obnoxious peeps—
“Okay! Our brave male lead, now, please kneel and present your most loyal—love!”
XX
Chapter 99 – Writing Proposals, impressive, huh?
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