Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

That day they passed through a very bustling town.

The streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians, lined with shops and fluttering flags.

The air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies and the noisy sounds of people.

As they looked around curiously, they heard people talking excitedly.

It turns out that the city is about to host a grand celebration – the Lantern Festival.

It is said that during this festival, the entire city will be illuminated by colorful lanterns, and there will be various wonderful performances and activities.

Lingyan was drawn to the news and decided to stay and participate in the grand event.

So they found an inn to stay in and began to look forward to the Lantern Festival.

As the Lantern Festival approaches, the atmosphere in the city is becoming increasingly lively.

The streets began to be decorated with all kinds of lanterns, including lifelike animal lanterns, beautiful fairy lanterns, and auspicious lanterns with the character "福" (fortune).

As night falls, lanterns are lit one by one, and the whole city seems to transform into a dreamlike world.

Ling Yan, Chu Xiyao, and Shen Qingchen couldn't wait to leave the inn and blend into the crowd.

They strolled along the street, admiring the exquisite lanterns.

Each lantern seemed to tell a story, making her linger and reluctant to leave.

In a square, people gathered to watch a spectacular acrobatic performance.

The acrobats, dressed in gorgeous costumes, performed a variety of difficult stunts.

The audience frequently gasped in amazement and applause.

After watching the acrobatic performance, they continued walking.

The three of them then arrived at a riverbank where a lantern-releasing event was taking place.

People put the lanterns they made into the river and let them float away with the current, symbolizing that they take away troubles and misfortunes and bring happiness and good luck.

Lingyan and the others also each bought a lantern.

At this moment, Lingling held a carefully selected lantern in her hands. The lantern was made of light and thin gauze, with exquisite patterns painted on it. A delicate plum blossom seemed to come alive under the light.

The people around were also immersed in this warm atmosphere.

There was a family of three; the child excitedly pointed at the lantern, his face beaming with a pure smile.

There were young couples, holding hands, their eyes full of hope for the future.

There were also elderly people with white hair, whose eyes revealed the wisdom gained from years of experience and their understanding of life.

Lingyan and the other two squatted down and gently placed the lantern into the river, watching it drift away slowly with the current.

The lanterns swayed in the water, like tiny sprites sailing into the distance.

She closed her eyes and silently made a wish.

After she opened her eyes, Chu Xiyao and Shen Qingchen had just opened their eyes as well.

Chu Xiyao then asked curiously, "What wish did Lingling make?"

Shen Qingchen looked at her expectantly, wanting to know the answer.

Ling Yan smiled mysteriously and said, "It's a secret."

Upon hearing this, the two stopped asking questions.

The main point is that if she wanted to tell them, she would have done so now.

The fact that she didn't tell them proves that she didn't want them to know.

So Chu Xiyao replied first: "Alright, since it's a secret, I won't ask. I can tell you my wish, which is to be with Lingling for a long time and to hope that Lingling will always be healthy and happy."

Ling Yan was not surprised to hear this.

Then Shen Qingchen looked at Lingyan and said, "My wish is similar to his. I also want to accompany you for the rest of my life and hope that you will be safe and happy throughout your life."

After hearing this, Lingyan looked at the two of them and promised, "This wish should be able to come true."

Upon hearing this, the two were overjoyed and felt extremely happy and content.

Looking at their smiling faces, Lingyan felt very happy.

It also has a bitter taste.

Her wish was that she would never again be saddened by leaving any of the five of them, and that she could forget the people she was leaving without pain.

She also hopes she can do it.

Lingyan then looked again at the lanterns floating in the river, her heart filled with emotion.

After leaving the riverbank, they went to a food stall.

The stalls were filled with all kinds of delicious snacks, such as sugar figurines, candied hawthorns, and pastries.

Lingyan and the other two sampled some snacks and found them to be very delicious.

Just then, they suddenly heard a melodious tune.

Lingyan looked in the direction of the music and saw a stage where a song and dance performance was taking place.

The dancers, dressed in dazzling costumes, danced gracefully, and their singing was melodious and pleasant.

So Lingyan pulled the two of them closer and stood in the crowd to quietly admire the scene.

As time went by, the Lantern Festival drew to a close, and people began to disperse one after another.

Lingyan and the other two returned to their inn and quickly fell asleep.

The next day, they went to join the poetry gathering.

The poetry gathering was held in a quaint garden in the city, with pavilions and towers scattered in a well-organized manner, and artificial hills and ponds complementing each other.

The garden was filled with blooming flowers, their fragrance adding an elegant atmosphere to the poetry gathering.

The literati and scholars attending the poetry gathering were dressed in fine clothes, some holding folding fans, others gently playing the strings of a zither, each with an extraordinary air about them.

Ling Yan, Chu Xiyao, and Shen Qingchen found a quiet corner to sit down.

Because they were merely spectators, appreciating this literary feast.

At this poetry gathering, talented men and beautiful women took to the stage one after another, reciting their masterpieces.

Their poems are either graceful and delicate, like a gentle stream, soothing the heart.

It can be bold and unrestrained, like a galloping horse, shaking the soul.

Or they are full of philosophical insights, like brilliant stars, illuminating the mind.

At this point, many talented individuals who had come to participate went on stage and joined in.

Therefore, Lingyan and her two companions' incongruity with the others, as well as their demeanor, attracted particular attention.

Therefore, when a self-proclaimed outstanding young talent saw that Lingyan and the other two had ordinary appearances but outstanding temperament, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

He walked up to the three men and said arrogantly, "Judging from your extraordinary demeanor, you must be well-read people. Why are you just standing here as spectators and not daring to go on stage and show your talents?"

Ling Yan smiled slightly and replied calmly, "We were just passing by and were attracted by the atmosphere of the poetry gathering. We have no intention of going on stage."

The young talent persisted, saying, "Hmph, I think you're all all show and no substance, you just don't dare to go on stage."

The three of them completely ignored his provocation.

Seeing that the three remained unmoved, the young scholar became even more arrogant: "Since you dare not go on stage, it means you are shallow in talent. You might as well leave here as soon as possible to avoid making a fool of yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan's eyes flashed with a cold light as she said, "Since you are so aggressive, why don't we go up on stage and give it a try?"

Although the provocation tactic was ineffective, this person was so arrogant and unforgiving.

Then Lingyan will give him a good slap in the face and let him experience the harsh realities of society.

Chu Xiyao and Shen Qingchen naturally supported Ling Yan's decision.

So the three of them stood up and walked to the center of the poetry gathering.

Their appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention, and people started discussing it.