Lu Xixiao raised his eyebrows, repeating in amused surprise, "You're taking me out?"

Zhou Wan paused, shrinking back a little. "Yeah... If you don't want to, then..."

"Let's go," Lu Xixiao said.

When Zhou Wan was a child, Zhou Jun was always in charge of the graduating classes and was very busy with work. He often got off late, so there weren't many places he could take Zhou Wan to have fun.

So, a place they often went to back then was an open-air amusement park in the city's suburbs.

It was a public welfare project. You just needed a citizen's card, no tickets required, and it never closed, so you could go and play anytime.

Since Zhou Jun passed away, Zhou Wan hadn't been there in a long time.

When they arrived outside the amusement park, Zhou Wan discovered it had been renovated. At this hour, there were still a few people scattered about.

"What do you want to play?" Zhou Wan asked.

"Whatever."

"Let's go on the Ferris wheel then." Zhou Wan pointed into the distance. "When you reach the highest point, you can see Pingchuan Lake. The night view is beautiful."

She rode it often as a child.

When they reached the base of the Ferris wheel, someone was just getting off. Zhou Wan bent down and entered the cabin. Lu Xixiao got in too, causing it to sway for a moment before steadying again.

The Ferris wheel slowly ascended, and the city's nightscape gradually appeared before their eyes.

Zhou Wan always felt a sense of happiness when riding the Ferris wheel.

It was as if she could temporarily escape from being small and ordinary, standing high up to overlook the entire city, becoming just a little bit different.

"Lu Xixiao." She leaned against the window. "Look, that's Pingchuan Lake. It's sparkling at night."

Lu Xixiao didn't speak.

Zhou Wan turned back to look at him.

She saw him sitting opposite her, his brow slightly furrowed, looking uncomfortable with his eyes half-closed.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Wan asked. "Are you not feeling well?"

He didn't even lift his eyelids, just hummed a "mm" in a low voice.

Zhou Wan thought it was because of his cold and the drinking, so she placed the back of her hand on his forehead. But she found that he was very cold, and even the color had drained from his lips.

Zhou Wan froze for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Are you afraid of heights?"

He answered with a hoarse sound.

"Why didn't you say so before we got on?"

Lu Xixiao shot her an unfriendly look, then closed his eyes again.

It was the first time Zhou Wan had seen him afraid of something. She was surprised, but seeing his expression, she also found it a little funny. He was clearly afraid of heights but still had to act tough.

She pressed her lips together, trying to hold it in, but couldn't, and let out a soft laugh.

Lu Xixiao opened his eyes and raised a hand to pinch her cheek. "What are you laughing at?"

Zhou Wan immediately shut her mouth. He was pinching hard, forcing her to lean her face closer to ease the pressure, and she mumbled, "It hurts."

Lu Xixiao didn't let go. "Apologize."

She meekly and good-naturedly said, "I'm sorry."

Only then did he let go.

Taking advantage of the moment he closed his eyes, Zhou Wan pursed her lips again, suppressing her smile before speaking, "Just bear with it, we'll be at the bottom soon."

When they stepped out of the cabin, Lu Xixiao's face was still pale. He rested a hand on Zhou Wan's shoulder, and it felt a little heavy.

Zhou Wan had no choice but to wrap an arm around his waist to support him. "Are you okay?"

Lu Xixiao cursed unhappily.

They sat down on a nearby bench. Zhou Wan went to a small supermarket, bought a bottle of mineral water, and twisted the cap open for him.

He took a sip of water, finally managing to suppress the nausea.

Zhou Wan looked at his expression and asked, "Is your fear of heights really bad?"

"It's alright."

"..."

Oh.

Because of his fear of heights, many other rides were out of the question. After they had rested, Zhou Wan took Lu Xixiao to the bumper cars.

Bumper cars were a game that children loved, and also the most popular attraction in this amusement park. Even at this hour, there were still people playing.

It was a two-person bumper car. Lu Xixiao drove while Zhou Wan sat beside him, fastening her seatbelt.

A boy of about eight or nine saw the "big brother and sister" come to play and got excited. He drove his car over and challenged them in a childish tone, "I want to duel you."

His mother, sitting next to him, laughed. "How old are you to be dueling a big brother and sister?"

Zhou Wan's eyes curved, and she laughed too.

The little boy sensed he was being looked down on and was displeased. Lu Xixiao, however, lifted his chin. "Bring it on."

The little boy immediately became excited.

For someone like Lu Xixiao, who was used to driving on racetracks, bumper cars were no challenge, let alone when his opponent was a child.

At first, the little boy was full of energy, trying to compete with him. But later, he was completely suppressed, his car trapped in a corner, unable to move at all, with zero game experience.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

A loud cry erupted in the amusement park.

Lu Xixiao was at a loss.

Zhou Wan was speechless.

"Lu Xixiao." Zhou Wan patted his arm. "Stop for a second."

Lu Xixiao pulled the car to the side.

Zhou Wan immediately got out of the car and walked over to the little boy. She crouched down and coaxed in a soft voice, "I'm sorry, little one, the big brother didn't do it on purpose."

The boy's mother quickly said, "It's fine, it's fine."

The boy couldn't win and felt his pride was deeply hurt, so he turned the tables and accused the big brother of cheating.

Lu Xixiao clicked his tongue.

He didn't go over, his long legs uncomfortably cramped in the narrow bumper car, watching Zhou Wan.

The girl was small even when crouching down. Her profile was soft and pretty, her eyes bright. The wind messed up her stray hairs, scattering them fluffily at her temples.

Lu Xixiao watched, his Adam's apple bobbing, before looking away and getting up.

Zhou Wan felt her pocket; as it happened, she had brought two fruit candies from the Arcade today.

She took one out and handed it to the boy. "The big brother was wrong. Please forgive him, okay?"

The boy took the candy and finally stopped crying amidst his sobs.

The mother apologized to Zhou Wan again, then picked up the little boy and left.

Zhou Wan stood up. Lu Xixiao had already gotten out of the bumper car and was standing in the dim light not far away. She walked over. "You scared the little boy to tears."

Lu Xixiao said coolly, "He was the one who wanted to duel me."

Zhou Wan wanted to laugh. "He's just a kid."

Lu Xixiao scoffed. "You're quite good at coaxing people."

He was in a mood, so Zhou Wan didn't speak.

Lu Xixiao started getting physical with her again, pinching her face and harping on her earlier words, "So, I was the one in the wrong?"

"..."

Zhou Wan felt a bit helpless. She had just finished coaxing one, and now she had to coax another.

"He was crying, so I was just going along with him."

"Tch."

"...Are you unhappy?"

He didn't speak.

Zhou Wan paused, then offered him the remaining candy from her pocket. "Want it?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm a beggar?"

"..."

Just as Zhou Wan was about to put the candy back in her pocket, he suddenly reached out, took it from her hand, and popped the fruit candy into his mouth.