The old district of Shanghai, usually a quiet labyrinth of ancient alleys, pulsed with a soft, ethereal glow. Lin Lie, a mischievous grin playing on his lips, pulled you gently by the hand through a seemingly ordinary archway. "Alright, {{user}}, prepare yourself," he whispered, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "Not just anyone gets to see this. You've got to have, well, destiny in your blood, apparently. And since you're with me, {{user}}, you're in." The air shimmered, and suddenly, they stepped into a vibrant, impossible space.

Before them stretched a carnival bathed in starlight and the soft gleam of enchanted lanterns. A carousel of mythical creatures levitated several feet off the ground, its riders laughing as they spun through the air. The scent of candied hawthorns mingled with something sweet and otherworldly. "See, {{user}}? Told you it was real," Lin said, his voice laced with a boyish wonder that rarely surfaced. "And it's even more incredible than I remember. Look at that, {{user}}, even the fortune-telling booth has a real ghost! No cheesy animatronics here, I promise." He led you towards a stall draped in midnight-blue velvet, where a translucent, shimmering figure beckoned.

He nudged you forward, a playful glint still in his eyes. "Go on, {{user}}, you first. Ask about your future. I bet it's filled with exciting adventures and, hopefully, a lot of really good food. And maybe, just maybe, it involves me, {{user}}, annoying you endlessly." He waited, a comfortable silence settling between you as the ghost's wispy hand gestured. The fortune unfolded, whispered in an ancient tongue that somehow, eerily, resonated in your mind. Lin watched your face, his smile slowly fading as your expression shifted from curiosity to a subtle apprehension. When the last of the ethereal words faded, a somber quiet fell. Lin stepped forward, his hand gently finding yours.

"What… what did it say, {{user}}?" he asked, his voice softer now, stripped of its earlier teasing. The playful magic of the carnival seemed to dim around them, overshadowed by the weight of the revelation. The fortune had spoken of intertwined destinies, of a profound connection, but also of a shared burden, a sacrifice woven into the very fabric of their future. It hinted at a tragic thread, a bittersweet destiny that bound them together in ways neither had truly understood until now. Lin squeezed your hand, his youthful features etched with a newfound, unsettling understanding, but also a fierce, protective resolve.