My wife is a witch princess

Chapter 48 Don't Laugh Challenge, Xia Li Has a Bright Future

On a weekend night, the streets finally showed their true vitality. Crowds thronged, lights mingled, and the noise was much more lively than usual.

Xia Li was carefully wrapped in a scarf and coat by Song Che, and walking in the slightly cool air, she could hardly feel the chill. She didn't yet understand what those increasingly subdued emotions were, but she knew one thing clearly: Song Che was very good to her.

The witch's memories will not fade; she will always remember.

When they arrived at the internet cafe, Jiang Shuo and Zhang Hanyu were already waiting outside.

"You're here so early, why don't you go inside and wait?" Song Che walked up the steps and came to the two of them.

"We were asked to leave." Jiang Shuo, dressed casually, smiled helplessly. "Xiao Xiao and Zhang Hanyu were recognized by the internet cafe manager. They've been cracking down lately..."

Zhang Hanyu, dressed casually, chimed in, "But we were just discussing moving on to the next venue. We were originally planning to play some games before going to eat, but now we can go straight to the next segment."

"It's a newly opened shop, it just opened yesterday, and they're having an opening promotion right now." Jiang Xiaoxiao approached from the side, her makeup impeccable, dressed in a pink and white maid outfit, as if she had just stepped out of some themed event. "I heard that couples get a 20% discount, and if you participate in the couples' challenge, the lowest discount you can get is a free meal. How about it, want to give it a try?"

Jiang Shuo hesitated for a moment, then looked at Song Che: "If you and Xia Li team up, we can join your table... can we get a 20% discount?"

"Of course it counts, I already asked." Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes curved into a smile as she added, "Besides, the restaurant doesn't just offer food, it also has a lot of interactive games. If you complete them all... you really can get a free meal."

"Free meal? Isn't the boss afraid of losing money?" Zhang Hanyu took a half step closer to Jiang Shuo. "How about we pair up and try it out?"

"Zhang Hanyu, stay away from me, I'm afraid I'll be misunderstood." Jiang Shuo shrank back.

"There's no one else here, what's there to be afraid of? It's free, the money saved is enough to top up several credit cards."

"No, I'm a person who keeps to myself." Jiang Shuo adjusted his glasses in a mock manner. "Besides... you're not a woman."

"Fine." Zhang Hanyu waved his hand dismissively. "I just wanted to try out the challenge and see if I could get the meal for free... You're so boring."

"Why don't we go check it out first?" Song Che suggested. "These kinds of couple challenges are usually pretty tricky, the boss won't really do business at a loss."

"Hmm." Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded. "The notice says that if you fail the challenge, you can only enjoy the basic 10% discount."

She led the way in her little leather shoes, the heels clicking lightly, and she seemed to be in a good mood. Song Che glanced at the label above her head:

"Plagued by inner demons" and "Cunning"

...In her little heart, there was indeed something weighing on her mind.

Song Che didn't ask any questions, but silently followed. His gaze habitually swept over the crowd of people around him, and only after confirming that there were no unusual signs did he regain his composure and join the conversation with a smile.

Xia Li quietly followed beside Song Che, mostly listening to his inner turmoil. She discovered that although he spoke lightly on the surface, he was always secretly worried about others.

As they walked and chatted, a new shop soon appeared on the street corner.

The excitement of the opening hadn't yet faded, and flower baskets were neatly arranged on both sides, but the storefront didn't look like a typical restaurant—it occupied a large area, with a parking lot and railings, a clear distinction between indoor and outdoor areas, and the decor resembled a hybrid of an amusement park and a leisure space. The flow of people coming and going was sparse compared to its size.

"Xiaoxiao, is this really a place to eat?" Jiang Shuo looked around the storefront, somewhat puzzled. "Why does it look like a playground to me?"

"It should be... right?" Jiang Xiaoxiao wasn't too sure either, her eyes searching around. "There's a sign at the entrance."

Zhang Hanyu leaned forward and read aloud: "Couple Challenge, singles can participate as well. Maximum of one couple, unlimited number of singles... What does this mean? Is it discrimination against singles?!"

Jiang Shuo continued, "Our store focuses on the recreational experience, with dining as a complimentary service. During the first week of opening, first-time customers can enjoy a discount. As of the second day of opening, 121 couples have failed the challenge, one couple received a 30% discount, and no couples received a 10% discount. All you little losers, couples who think you have perfect chemistry, feel free to come and challenge me! This boss only respects the strong; the weak deserve to be thoroughly humiliated!"

"Provocation?" Jiang Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow.

"It's a blatant insult!" Zhang Hanyu said angrily.

"I think... it's necessary to show this boss what real teamwork is like, buddy." Jiang Shuo patted Zhang Hanyu on the shoulder. "I've changed my mind, let's go."

"Alright, that suits me perfectly. I, Zhang Hanyu, have never lost a game!"

All three of them turned their gazes toward Song Che and Xia Li.

Song Che was still carefully reading the rules: "There are three challenges listed: 1. Don't Laugh Challenge; 2. Don't Be Afraid Challenge; 3. Couple's Teamwork Challenge, one person reads the clues and acts them out, while the other person guesses..."

"Brother Che, wanna play? We've already teamed up." Jiang Shuo was eager to try.

"Interesting." Song Che turned around, smiling at Jiang Xiaoxiao. "Xiaoxiao, I suggest you come with us. Jiang Shuo has a low threshold for laughter and is a bit timid. He loves playing jungle in games; while his teammates are teaming up, he's farming the jungle. He's known as the Miracle Walker..."

"Brother Che, you've gone too far!" Jiang Shuo cried out as he punched Song Che.

"Then ask Xiaoxiao if she'd like to be on your team?"

"I want to be on Song Che's team," Jiang Xiaoxiao answered decisively.

Jiang Shuo clutched his chest, feigning heartache: "Brother Che, to be honest, I don't care at all that Xiao Xiao isn't with me. It's just that I feel a little uneasy, you know? Like I'm choking on water for no reason. I'm not really upset, I just wanted to offer a small suggestion... Just to clarify, this is purely a suggestion, not my personal opinion..."

"Alright, Xiaoxiao isn't even talking to you."

"Oh..." Jiang Shuo immediately deflated, hanging his head and muttering, "She doesn't care about her brother at all now... Do you think all younger sisters are like this now that they're in high school? Or have I just not been paying enough attention to her?"

"I don't know, I don't have a sister."

People come and go around me, mostly in groups, especially young couples.

Some are real couples, some are temporary partners, and the difference is often obvious—temporary pairings are polite and distant when they appear together. Real couples, however, are often quite different: they tease each other but can't help but laugh and joke around.

"Can you please stop hiccuping every time you laugh? It sounds like a goose, isn't that embarrassing!"

"Haha...Does it look like it? Hahaha...This boss is too ruthless, three hundred dollars just vanished like that, I doubt anyone can pass this test."

"I'm speechless! We have absolutely no understanding! I said watermelon, and you insisted on saying sesame seeds! From now on, you eat your sesame seeds, and I'll eat my watermelon! I'm so angry! I'm going to sweep the floor when we get back, so don't you dare try to take it from me!"

"Haha... then I'll cook, so don't try to take it!"

"No way, the earth would explode if you cooked."

Pedestrians walked by laughing and joking. Song Che listened, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. He turned his head to look at Xia Li—she probably wouldn't laugh like that and banter with him like that.

On another note, is she afraid of ghosts? Even if she is, she probably wouldn't show it. [Not afraid of challenges] probably means haunted houses or something... She should be worried that Xia Li might scare the NPCs and knock them on the head.

Xia Li blinked her blue eyes. "Are ghosts scary?"

"The ghosts here are different from Hit. Hit is a race of ghosts with horns, but we are the souls of the dead, clinging to you with our lingering attachments..."

"After death, if the soul becomes a ghost, can it live on as a ghost indefinitely?" Xia Li asked.

"We believe in reincarnation. Ghosts who can't transcend their past lives suffer greatly. When their energy is exhausted, they can only become wandering ghosts, and even their memories will fade away. Without anyone to guide them to the underworld, they will wander forever and never be able to be human again."

"Will you and I become ghosts after we die?"

"Theoretically, it's possible." Seeing her serious look, Song Che hurriedly explained, "It's just a folk tale. These are just fabrications with no basis. If they could really turn into ghosts, the underworld would be full long ago."

"Just asking." Xia Li paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Becoming a ghost, aside from not being able to reincarnate, really allows you to wander the world forever... It sounds pretty good."

"It's fake. Don't die just for fun. If you die, you're really dead. Even holy magic can't bring you back."

Song Che was unaware that Xia Li had been thinking of him all along. She had researched a potion that would grant him a hundred years of lifespan, but decided that becoming a ghost would be more practical.