Helping Wei Zhanpeng with the tickets took no time at all. Once everything was settled, the group stepped straight into the amusement park.
Just inside the gate stood a vending machine. The earlier minor hiccup was quickly forgotten as everyone shifted focus to the present.
“Who wanted water earlier?” Yan Zhikai walked over to the machine, pulled out his phone, and turned to the others.
Lao Mei and the rest immediately chimed in, shouting their drink choices all at once.
Yan Zhikai paused, tapped the machine lightly. “Alright, one at a time.”
After everyone got their drinks, Peng Xiaoxiao and Wei Zhanpeng each bought one too. Yan Zhikai glanced at Shu Yuxin and Jiang Zixuan standing nearby, then clapped his hands. “With so many of us, grouping up is messy. Go play whatever you like first. Want company? Just say so. I’ve added you all to a group chat—message there if needed. Sound good?”
“Sure!” Lao Mei squeezed a mouthful of Maidong, grinned mischievously at Fu Bai. “Fu Gou, shall we go now?”
Fu Bai snorted. “Let’s go! Whoever chickens out is a loser!”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Let’s go, let’s go…”
Watching them leave arm in arm, Peng Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. She turned to Wei Zhanpeng. “Let’s go too?!”
Wei Zhanpeng nodded with a slightly awkward smile. “Sure.”
“Let’s go!” Peng Xiaoxiao cheered, waving at Shu Yuxin. “Yuxin, Wei Zhanpeng and I are off to bumper cars!”
“Oh, go ahead,” Shu Yuxin paused a beat, then added firmly, “Don’t worry about me. Just have fun.”
After they left, Yan Zhikai pocketed his phone and slapped Zhang Houlin’s back. “Let’s go, Houlin.”
Zhang Houlin smiled and followed, tossing back, “You two enjoy yourselves too.”
Lao Guan had been glued to his phone. Only as Yan Zhikai and Zhang Houlin faded into the crowd did he look up—blinking in confusion at finding only Shu Yuxin and Jiang Zixuan left—then hurried after them. “Hey! Wait! I’m coming with you!”
And just like that, only Shu Yuxin and Jiang Zixuan remained.
“What should we play now?” Shu Yuxin tilted her head up at Jiang Zixuan.
It was her first time at an amusement park; she’d only ever seen these rides on TV. Denying her excitement would be a lie—but her face showed little. Not because she was stoic. She was just stubbornly holding it in.
Why? Showing childish thrill in front of her best friend felt embarrassing. She wasn’t sure why—but it did.
Jiang Zixuan noticed nothing. Instead of picking a ride, he pointed to the vending machine. “Everyone bought drinks. You want one too?”
“I can get it later. Not thirsty now.”
“Heh. Water stands are scarce. With this crowd, deeper inside you’ll queue—and no one cares about your ‘privileges’ then.”
Shu Yuxin thought it over and nodded. “Alright. Let’s grab one first.”
“What do you want? My treat.” Jiang Zixuan stepped to the machine, phone in hand.
Shu Yuxin blinked slightly.
*He’s treating me again.*
He always did—meals, drinks. She rarely returned the favor. Heck, he even covered all the rent. Still doing it.
A faint unease stirred.
“My treat today!” Snapping out of it, Shu Yuxin strode over, gently nudged him aside, tapped the machine. “What do you want? Just say it!”
She quickly added, “Drinks only.”
Jiang Zixuan blinked, then laughed. “Haha, fine. It’s not like I can’t afford it.”
“No. Today, I’m treating you.” Shu Yuxin dug in her heels.
“My treat.”
“I’m treating you!”
“I’ll get it.”
“I’m treating! I said I’m treating!”
“Okay, you treat. Assam, please. Thanks.” Jiang Zixuan gave in instantly.
Shu Yuxin froze. “…The hell? You couldn’t push back *once*?”
“You were so insistent—I’d feel bad refusing,” Jiang Zixuan shrugged, grinning mischievously.
“You… ugh.”
She felt utterly exasperated.
She *had* wanted to treat him—that was fine. But his sudden surrender? Annoying.
Humans were unreasonable creatures: get what you want, yet still feel unsatisfied.
Shu Yuxin stared at his face, gritted her teeth, said nothing. Bought two Assams. Handed him one. Popped her bottle, gulped deeply. “Hah—! Alright~! What now?”
“Whatever. I’m easy.” Jiang Zixuan sipped his drink. “What do *you* want?”
Shu Yuxin hesitated.
She wanted to try *everything*.
No wonder—how could someone who’d never set foot in an amusement park have strong opinions? Especially Shu Yuxin, whose entire mental image of parks was “roller coaster.” She knew almost nothing about other rides. Her only thought: *“Don’t get it… but looks awesome.”*
She tossed it back to him. “You pick. I’ll follow.”
Jiang Zixuan sighed gently. “Alright. First time here—I’ll take you on every ride.”
“Okay…” She nodded, then rushed, “But skip kiddie stuff like carousels, okay?”
Jiang Zixuan shot her a sidelong glance. “Carousels aren’t just for kids…”
“Whatever! You know what I mean!”
Lighter Paradise Amusement Park buzzed with National Day crowds—the entrance queue proved it. But inside? Even livelier.
People everywhere: strolling, resting, queuing endlessly. Parents with kids. But mostly young couples, flaunting affection like the world had vanished. Their PDA surely blinded single onlookers and pricked lonely hearts.
“Ugh… This place reeks of lovey-dovey vibes too…” Shu Yuxin murmured, wiping sweat from her brow as they walked.
Same as campus—couples everywhere after dusk. But here? Worse. And it wasn’t even evening.
Jiang Zixuan chuckled beside her. “With weather this nice, why would couples stay on campus to show off?”
“Showing off *here* is better? Packed like sardines.” She exhaled sharply, finished her Assam.
They’d tried two or three rides. Shu Yuxin felt zero joy—only squeezing. Skipping queues didn’t help; every cycle end meant racing to grab seats. Visitors fought for spots like rush hour. Staff barely held the line. Sometimes, staff had to politely coax others to yield—a privilege they had, yet watching those humble requests made them cringe.
Time for a break. Try later, or call it a day.
Where were the others? Probably having fun. Yan Zhikai’s group chat stayed silent. Shu Yuxin wouldn’t be first to message. What would she even say? *“Bored—come sit with me?”*
Yeah, no.
They wandered to a quiet corner bench. Fewer people. Softer noise.
“Thoughts? Fun?” Jiang Zixuan broke the silence, leaning back, twirling his empty bottle, eyes on the sky.
Shu Yuxin slumped beside him, arm draped over the back, shook her head. “Meh… Rides were meh. Too crowded.”
“Hah, fair. I prefer fewer crowds too,” he chuckled.
“And all those PDA couples—impossible to ignore. Ruins the vibe,” she added.
Jiang Zixuan gazed upward, thoughtful. Then turned to her. “So… ever thought about trying dating?”
“Dating…” Shu Yuxin murmured, shaking her head. “Not planning to.”
“Oh.”
“Besides…” She glanced at him. “Given how I look now—if I dated, should I go for a boyfriend… or a girlfriend?”
Jiang Zixuan fell silent.
Yeah. That question ran deep.
