Wen Xian held an ice cream cone in one hand and pulled Shen Lingge with the other toward the most popular roller coaster ride in the park. Shen Lingge had purchased VIP tickets for two, allowing them to bypass the queues and go straight to the attractions.
Shen Lingge stared at the twisting, turning train of cars in the air for a while. The screams from the riders grew increasingly frantic, and his face gradually paled. Eventually, he averted his gaze entirely.
But as soon as he lowered his eyes, he locked gazes with a little boy around seven or eight years old.
The boy studied him for a moment before suddenly asking, “Big brother, are you scared too?”
The moment the boy spoke, Wen Xian also turned to look at him.
Shen Lingge: “……”
With stubborn defiance, Shen Lingge insisted, “I’m not scared.”
The boy looked skeptical. “My sister was just like you earlier, and then she screamed and ran out, saying she’d wait for me outside. Big brother, if you’re scared, you can say so. I won’t laugh at you.”
Shen Lingge glanced at Wen Xian, who was peering curiously at his face.
He cleared his throat. “I’m really not scared.”
At this, Wen Xian shot him a glare before crouching down in front of the little boy and saying gently, “Thank you, little one. Big brother is just worried that if he admits it, I might get scared too. Actually, he’s very brave.”
The boy nodded. “Mm, I protect Rongrong like that too.”
Wen Xian smiled and then led Shen Lingge toward the exit. Shen Lingge still seemed reluctant. “Wen Xian, I’m really not scared. If you want to ride it, go ahead.”
Without turning back, Wen Xian replied, “It’s me who’s scared.”
Shen Lingge: “……”
Wen Xian pondered for a moment with a troubled expression. Since Shen Lingge couldn’t handle thrilling rides, that meant most of the park’s major attractions were off-limits for them.
She thought to herself: As expected, Gege is still just a kid—only suited for children’s rides.
So, Wen Xian took Shen Lingge to the bumper cars area. Pointing at the cars inside the arena, she declared proudly, “Gege, today I’ll show you what it means to be the Bumper Car King.”
The bumper cars weren’t just for kids—many couples were playing too.
The two of them squeezed into one car. Once seated, Shen Lingge’s long legs were forced into an awkward bend. He frowned at the tiny steering wheel, experimentally turning it a couple of times.
Wen Xian watched as Shen Lingge’s car lurched forward unsteadily, occasionally stalling entirely.
Seeing how seriously Shen Lingge was taking it, Wen Xian didn’t want to disturb him—until she heard a derisive snort from beside them. A man with a buzz cut was sneering at Shen Lingge. “Bro, your girlfriend’s this pretty, but you’re useless, huh?”
Shen Lingge froze mid-motion and turned his head to the left.
The buzz-cut man had a delicate-looking girl sitting in his car. The girl shot them an apologetic glance. “Sorry, my boyfriend’s just joking. He was just saying you’re good-looking.”
Wen Xian frowned. “I don’t need you to tell me I’m good-looking. And whether my boyfriend is ‘useless’ or not is none of your business.”
Shen Lingge: ?
Who’s “useless”? Where exactly am I “useless”?
Wen Xian thought this was just a minor incident, but Shen Lingge seemed to take it as a personal challenge. The two men locked eyes, and immediately, an intense bumper-car duel erupted between them.
Wen Xian watched in exasperation as Shen Lingge shot daggers at the buzz-cut guy from across the track. The two of them started ramming into each other like overgrown children. When Shen Lingge got pinned to the edge of the arena for the second time, Wen Xian finally couldn’t take it anymore—she grabbed the steering wheel.
With a sharp 90-degree turn, she broke free from the corner, then executed a flawless 180-degree J-turn, maneuvering as smoothly as a professional racer.
Within seconds, the tables had turned completely. The buzz-cut guy and his girlfriend were left dazed from Wen Xian’s relentless collisions.
By the time the ride ended, they still hadn’t recovered. The buzz-cut guy stumbled out of his car, fuming. “If your boyfriend’s got any guts, let him face me one-on-one. I don’t pick fights with women—so is he man enough?”
Wen Xian opened her mouth to retort, but Shen Lingge stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. Calmly, he said, “You’re on.”
Wen Xian: “……”
If she wasn’t mistaken… this was just a bumper car game, right?
Next thing she knew, Wen Xian and the buzz-cut guy’s girlfriend stood side by side, watching the two men chase each other around the arena like kindergarteners, sparks practically flying between their locked gazes.
Wen Xian: “…Does your boyfriend always talk like such a jerk?”
Buzz-cut’s girlfriend gave an awkward smile. “He had a little too much to drink at lunch.”
Wen Xian adopted a stern, lecturing tone. “Remember: Safety first, okay?”
Buzz-cut’s girlfriend: “……”
The “epic battle” finally ended with Shen Lingge mercilessly pinning the buzz-cut guy in a corner. Expression cool, he stepped out of the bumper car and walked over to Wen Xian, who was waiting outside.
He stared down at her small face for a long moment—his reflection clear in her bright eyes—before she reached out to take his hand.
“Gege, don’t be mad anymore. Let’s go play somewhere else.”
Shen Lingge didn’t move. His dark eyes remained fixed on her face as he suddenly asked, “Am I capable or not?”
Wen Xian blinked blankly. “Huh?”
It took her a moment to recall the buzz-cut guy’s taunt about him being “useless.” She shot him an exasperated look—this man held grudges against everyone, whether it was Qin Zan or complete strangers.
Wen Xian had no choice but to reassure him, “You’re very capable. The most capable guy in all of Mingcheng.”
Shen Lingge gave a faint hum of satisfaction and tugged her along.
…
The two found a bench to sit on, where Wen Xian buried herself in the park map, searching for attractions suitable for Shen Lingge. Beside her, Shen Lingge stabbed a straw into an iced milk tea and held it to her lips. “Take a sip. Rest a bit before we go again. Are you hungry?”
Wen Xian parted her lips to bite onto the straw, took a sip, then released it. Chewing on the tapioca pearls, she mumbled, “Gege, do you want to try the haunted house?”
Shen Lingge replied calmly, “Sure, let’s go.”
Wen Xian eyed him suspiciously but was interrupted when Shen Lingge pushed the milk tea toward her again, forcing her to pause her questions.
The line for the haunted house was long. After triple-checking that there were no live actors inside, Wen Xian finally led Shen Lingge in through the VIP entrance. Another couple followed behind them, and Wen Xian shamelessly eavesdropped on their conversation.
Man: “Baby, are you scared? Hold me tight if you are.”
Woman: “Hubby, I’m a little scared, wuwu. You have to hold my hand the whole time.”
Man: “Close your eyes if it’s too much. I’ll be your eyes and guide you out.”
Woman: “Hubby, you’re the best.”
After listening for a while, Wen Xian decided to imitate them. “Gege, are you scared? If you are, hug me tight. I’ll be your eyes and lead you out.”
Shen Lingge: “……”
Shen Lingge reminded her flatly, “Wen Xian, I’m not deaf. I can hear the couple behind us.”
Wen Xian pouted, then raised her chin proudly. “Daddy will take you out!”
Shen Lingge fell silent. Even though his teeth itched with the urge to toss her over his shoulder and teach her a lesson, his last shred of morality held him back.
As they stepped through the first door, darkness enveloped them, broken only by faint glimpses of floating specters and skeletal figures lining the walls. When a blast of cold air suddenly hit them, Wen Xian distinctly felt Shen Lingge’s grip on her hand tighten.
This fragile facade of calm lasted only until a severed head dropped from above without warning.
Wen Xian shrieked and instinctively clung to Shen Lingge. All around them, screams erupted as the haunted house claimed its latest victims.
Shen Lingge immediately covered her eyes with his hand, leaning close to murmur, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out right away.”
The next moment, Wen Xian felt herself being lifted into the air—Shen Lingge had scooped her up in a bridal carry. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, the image of that severed head still flashing in her mind.
She buried her face against the curve of his shoulder, her warm breaths ghosting over his skin.
After what felt like an eternity, Shen Lingge finally stopped walking. Gently, he set her down on a bench. The girl’s face was pale, clearly still shaken. Kneeling before her, he took her hands in his and soothed, “Xian Xian, it’s over now. Open your eyes and look at me.”
Wen Xian’s lashes fluttered before she cautiously peeked out. Shen Lingge was right there, steady and real.
With a whimper, she threw herself against him, clinging to his neck as she complained tearfully, “Gege, it was so scary! That head looked so real—and even a little bit like you! You can’t ever die, wuwu…”
Shen Lingge: “……?”
By now, dusk had settled. Seeing that Wen Xian refused to let go, Shen Lingge simply held her like a child, carrying her effortlessly. Nearby, his bodyguards received a call from Duoduo.
One approached and whispered, “Young Master, the car is ready. We can head straight to the airport.”
Shen Lingge acknowledged with a nod and carried Wen Xian toward the exit. The flickering park lights cast shifting shadows across his profile. As they passed through the crowds, every pair of eyes turned toward them. Bodyguards discreetly blocked anyone attempting to take photos, shielding the couple from prying gazes.
Wen Xian mumbled against his shoulder, “Gege, I have to go back to Licheng soon. I’ll be busy with work and art classes… I might not have much time to visit you.”
Shen Lingge’s voice was soft but firm. “Then I’ll visit you. Whenever I’m free, I’ll come to you. Okay?”
She tightened her hold and nodded into his collar. “Mm.”
If Shen Lingge wanted to see Wen Xian, he could arrange it a hundred ways—summoning her to Mingcheng for “business trips” or temporarily transferring her to Shen Group’s headquarters. But he couldn’t bear to.
Couldn’t bear to make her travel back and forth so exhaustively.
He exhaled quietly. It seemed his plans to expand operations into Licheng would need to accelerate. With Shen Rongsheng fully recovered and the company stabilized, he could shift next year’s focus entirely to Licheng.
If he couldn’t bear the separation, then he would go to her. Stay by her side for good.
Even in the car, Shen Lingge kept Wen Xian cradled in his arms. She sat curled on his lap, her head resting against his chest as his large hand stroked her hair. “Xian Xian, still scared?”
She shook her head.
The drive to the airport took an hour. Gradually, Wen Xian drifted asleep against him, her fingers still clutching his sleeve.
Shen Lingge gazed down at her, remaining perfectly still even as his muscles grew stiff. Only when the car entered a tunnel—plunging them into momentary darkness—did he finally lower his head.
With unbearable tenderness, this coldly handsome man pressed a feather-light kiss to his beloved girl’s forehead.
A secret witnessed only by the night, and by him.