Sheng Qingxi added quietly, “I don’t want to do anything too high.”
She wasn’t fond of the feeling of being out of control.
Lin Ran chuckled. “We won’t.”
As Lin Ran held Sheng Qingxi’s hand and led her inside, Xie Zhen and He Mo were arguing behind them.
He Mo grumbled, “I told you not to follow!”
Xie Zhen clutched his chest, trembling. “How was I supposed to know we were coming to a place like this? Mozi, I’m scared.”
He Mo, seeing his chubby friend’s terrified face, decided to break the harsh truth to him. “Zhen, a lot of these rides have weight limits. There’s a chance you won’t even fit.”
Xie Zhen’s mood shifted instantly, from gloomy to joyous, his voice raising several notches. “Really? That’s great news!”
The two bickered their way to the restaurant without even realizing it.
The restaurant was located inside a castle within the park, normally closed to the public and accessible only to members of an exclusive club. Not only was Lin Ran a member, but he had rented out the entire castle for the evening.
As soon as Lin Ran stepped through the doors, the staff informed him that they had prepared an elegant dress and a splendid scepter for Sheng Qingxi. Tonight, she would be the most beautiful princess in the castle.
Lin Ran casually replied, “No need.”
To him, Sheng Qingxi was his princess no matter what she wore. Even in her simple school uniform, she was the most beautiful in his eyes.
Sheng Qingxi, hearing Lin Ran say no, quietly let out a sigh of relief. Before coming, she had been a bit anxious, worrying that there would be a crowd singing “Happy Birthday” or performing for her.
The restaurant was perched high in the castle, and from the small balcony outside, they could see the bustling park below—twinkling lights like glass beads, cute and fluffy mascots, girls twirling in skirts. It was a magical sight.
Meanwhile, Xie Zhen and He Mo had already started devouring the snacks inside the restaurant, unable to resist the temptation.
Lin Ran led Sheng Qingxi for a walk on the small balcony outside the restaurant.
By now, the sky had darkened slightly, though the last hues of the sunset lingered.
Sheng Qingxi leaned on the railing, gazing out at the brightly lit amusement park. The carousel played a cheerful tune, its crown gleaming with intricate beauty. She could almost smell the sweet fragrance of candies in the air.
Lin Ran leaned lazily against the railing, his back to the park, while watching Sheng Qingxi out of the corner of his eye.
The twinkling lights of the park were reflected in her beautiful eyes, and she seemed lost in thought. He couldn’t quite guess what was going through her mind.
Shifting his posture, Lin Ran looked out at the park with her. “Sheng Qingxi, what are you thinking about?”
It took a moment for Sheng Qingxi to snap out of her reverie and turn to look at the boy beside her. He wore the same blue-and-white school uniform as her, looking clean and lean. Behind him, the sky was tinted with hues of orange and purple as the sun set. He lowered his gaze to meet hers.
In the depths of his dark eyes was her small reflection.
He was right within her reach.
Sheng Qingxi looked into his eyes, her voice serious. “I was just thinking, a life like this feels so distant from me. For those ten years, I couldn’t afford to relax for even a day. It’s been such a long time since I’ve looked at this city like this.”
Sheng Qingxi rarely spoke about those ten years or her past in general.
She didn’t want to use her past as a burden on Lin Ran.
She understood that, and so did Lin Ran.
So, Lin Ran simply reached out and gently tousled her hair, his voice low. “I’ll stay with you to watch, now and in the future.”
Sheng Qingxi smiled softly, her lips curving. “Lin Ran, let’s go inside and eat.”
Lin Ran smiled too. “Okay.”
…
Inside the restaurant, they were the only guests—well, the only four. It had originally been just Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi, but now Xie Zhen and He Mo had joined. After the waitstaff served the dishes and placed the cake on the table, they quietly left, leaving a service bell behind. The cake was simple in design, a white base with a small bunny perched on top, clutching not a carrot but a bright red strawberry.
Sheng Qingxi stared at the little bunny holding the strawberry for a while before suddenly saying, “Lin Ran, you like strawberries.”
Lin Ran replied lazily, “Mm, I like strawberries, and you like me.”
Xie Zhen and He Mo: “……”
Sheng Qingxi blinked a few times, not refuting him.
Lin Ran chuckled at her reaction and casually grabbed a candle from the side. “Do you want to make a wish?”
Sheng Qingxi shook her head, her eyes sparkling as she softly said, “No wishes.”
Her wish was right beside her.
Lin Ran put the candle down and cut a small piece of cake for Sheng Qingxi. He placed the strawberry on her plate, and of course, kept the little bunny for himself.
Xie Zhen and He Mo had arranged for birthday gifts to be delivered to the amusement park earlier that afternoon. By the time Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi were on the balcony, the gifts had arrived. Eager to give their presents, they quickly pulled them out.
The chubby Xie Zhen was quick on his feet and placed his gift on the table first.
Scratching his head, he looked a bit uncomfortable being so formal. “Fairy, thank you for tutoring me and Mozi these past few weeks. It’s not much, but you can use it to read e-books and stuff.”
Sheng Qingxi took the gift box from Xie Zhen and looked at him earnestly. “I’ll make good use of it.”
Xie Zhen’s face flushed bright red, and for once, he didn’t know what to say. Normally, he was full of chatter, but now he couldn’t even manage a single word. All he could do was nudge He Mo, signaling him to take over.
He Mo cleared his throat, placing his gift on the table. “Fairy, this year, I gave Brother Ran a watch for his birthday. And, well, it just so happens that this model also comes in a women’s version.”
Eh?
Everyone was momentarily surprised by the coincidence.
Sheng Qingxi turned to look at Lin Ran, as if silently asking, *Where’s your watch?*
Lin Ran: “…”
He had no idea He Mo would pull such a stunt. The watch was probably sitting somewhere collecting dust. But He Mo was quite clever—by tying it to this moment, the watch’s value suddenly shot up.
As Lin Ran thought more about it, he started to suspect something. Was He Mo indirectly insulting him?
After giving their gifts, Xie Zhen and He Mo both turned to Lin Ran, curious about what gift he had prepared for Sheng Qingxi. After all, among them, Lin Ran was the one most likely to go all out with a surprise.
Noticing the sudden attention, Lin Ran curled his lips into a cold smirk.
His gift? That was reserved for a much more important moment. He wasn’t about to let these two clowns watch.
With a casual glance, Lin Ran said, “Eat.”
Xie Zhen: ????
He Mo: “…”
What’s going on? He didn’t prepare a gift?
In the softly flickering candlelight, Sheng Qingxi finished her noodles and tilted her head, listening to the trio bicker. It was usually He Mo and Xie Zhen ganging up on Lin Ran, but somehow, their arguments always ended with the two of them turning on each other.
Lin Ran didn’t even need to jump in; the two across from him squabbled like elementary school kids.
Lin Ran watched them with an expressionless face.
The birthday he had meticulously planned for Sheng Qingxi had now turned into a childish quarrel fest.
He glanced sideways at Sheng Qingxi, who was resting her chin in her hand, listening intently to the argument. Occasionally, she would show a look of surprise at something absurd they said, as if she were listening to an important speech.
Lin Ran reached over and lightly pinched her cheek. In a low voice, he asked, “Wanna go for a walk?”
Sheng Qingxi nodded but glanced at the two bickering boys across the table, as if asking, ‘What about them?’
Lin Ran snorted softly. “They haven’t finished the cake. Ah Zhen won’t waste food.”
That was his way of saying they should stay and finish their meal.
Sheng Qingxi grabbed her small gift box, ready to head out, but the moment she stood up, Lin Ran took the box from her. “Confiscated. I’ll give it back tomorrow.”
She blinked but didn’t argue, instead slipping her hand naturally into his, waiting for him to lead her out.
Lin Ran paused for a moment, then smiled.
He firmly held her hand in his.
—
The night sky hung high overhead.
Everything around them seemed to glow with a warm, golden hue.
The carousel spun, its vibrant lights reflecting off the surroundings. Gentle music floated through the air, mingling with the sweet smell of cotton candy. It was a night straight out of a fairytale.
Lin Ran scanned the area with a quick glance, then tilted his chin slightly. “Sit over there and wait for me.”
Sheng Qingxi didn’t ask why, simply nodding and obediently walking over to the bench he had pointed to.
Although it wasn’t the weekend, the park was still bustling with people. In no time, Lin Ran’s figure disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sheng Qingxi staring blankly in the direction he had gone.
June was drawing closer.
The unease in her heart was gradually growing, but she couldn’t let it show.
She lowered her eyes and sighed softly.
Lost in thought, Sheng Qingxi didn’t notice the people walking by, many of whom were secretly glancing her way.
The quiet, beautiful girl, dressed in a simple blue-and-white school uniform, sat alone on the bench. Her slender figure looked somewhat fragile in the night, and the faint trace of worry on her face made her seem even more delicate.
Someone had already pulled out their phone, intending to capture the scene.
Just as he pointed his camera towards the girl, a hand, long and distinct with its well-defined knuckles, reached out and pressed his phone’s power button. The screen immediately went dark.
Confused, the person looked up, meeting the dark, stern eyes of a tall boy.
The young man was tall and imposing, his sharp brows and eyes carrying a hint of menace. He was dressed in the same uniform as the girl, and though they stood a short distance apart, the weight of his presence was palpable.
The would-be photographer awkwardly apologized, “Sorry,” and quickly left.
Lin Ran strode over to Sheng Qingxi, who remained lost in her daydream, completely unaware of what had just transpired.
A shadow fell over her, blocking out most of the light.
It wasn’t until then that Sheng Qingxi finally came back to her senses. When she looked up, she was greeted by the sight of a fluffy, cloud-like cotton candy, adorned with a few colorful chocolate beans.
Lin Ran stood in front of her, blocking out the majority of the view behind him.
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together in a smile and called softly, “Lin Ran.”
He responded with a simple hum, then placed the cotton candy in her hands. Along with the cotton candy, he had brought her a balloon—a bright yellow one that stood out even in the night.
It was shaped like a little lion, quite cute.
Lin Ran leaned down slightly, tying the balloon around her slender wrist with a neat bow.
Sheng Qingxi took a bite of the cotton candy, the sweet flavor melting on her tongue.
She quietly watched as Lin Ran moved, and when he finally straightened up, she curiously shook her wrist. The little yellow lion floated upward with her movement but was anchored back in place by the ribbon.
Lin Ran’s expression remained calm as he watched her play with the balloon for a bit. When her eyes finally returned to him, he reached out and gently patted her on the head.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to play.”
“Lin Ran, the balloon is flying so high.”
“Mm, that way I won’t lose you.”
Under the soft glow of the park lights, the night and the moon both felt gentle.