Lu Xixiao raised his eyebrows, repeating in surprise and amusement: “You’re taking me out to play?”
Zhou Wan hesitated, shrinking back slightly: “Um… if you don’t want to…”
“Let’s go,” Lu Xixiao said.
When Zhou Wan was young, Zhou Jun was always busy teaching graduating classes. He often finished work very late, and when he wanted to take Zhou Wan out to play, there weren’t many places to go.
So back then, they frequently visited an open-air amusement park in the suburbs.
It was a public facility that only required a citizen card, with no entrance fee and no closing time. People could visit and play anytime.
Zhou Wan hadn’t been there since Zhou Jun passed away.
When they arrived at the amusement park, Zhou Wan discovered it had been renovated, and there were still a few scattered visitors at this hour.
“What do you want to ride?” Zhou Wan asked.
“Whatever.”
“Then let’s go on the Ferris wheel,” Zhou Wan pointed to the distance. “When you reach the highest point, you can see Lake Pingchuan. The night view is beautiful.”
She used to ride it often as a child.
When they reached the Ferris wheel, someone had just gotten off. Zhou Wan ducked into the cabin, and Lu Xixiao followed. The cabin swayed briefly before steadying.
The Ferris wheel slowly ascended, and the city’s night view gradually emerged before their eyes.
Zhou Wan always felt that riding the Ferris wheel produced a sense of happiness.
It was as if you could temporarily escape from being small and ordinary, standing high above to overlook the entire city, becoming slightly different.
“Lu Xixiao,” she leaned against the window, “look, that’s Lake Pingchuan, sparkling at night.”
Lu Xixiao didn’t respond.
Zhou Wan turned to look at him.
She saw him sitting opposite her, brows slightly furrowed, looking uncomfortable, his eyes half-closed.
“What’s wrong?” Zhou Wan asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Without even lifting his eyelids, he gave a deep “mm” in response.
Zhou Wan thought it might be because of his cold and drinking, so she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead but found his body was very cold, and even his lips had lost their color.
Zhou Wan paused, then hesitantly asked: “Are you afraid of heights?”
He responded hoarsely.
“Why didn’t you say something before we got on?”
Lu Xixiao shot her an unfriendly glance before closing his eyes again.
This was the first time Zhou Wan had seen him afraid of something. She found it surprising, and looking at his expression, she also found it somewhat amusing – clearly afraid of heights yet still trying to act tough.
She pressed her lips together, wanting to hold it in but couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.
Lu Xixiao opened his eyes and raised his hand to pinch her face: “What are you laughing at?”
Zhou Wan immediately closed her mouth. He was pinching hard, so Zhou Wan had to lean in closer to ease the pressure, mumbling: “It hurts.”
Lu Xixiao didn’t let go: “Apologize.”
She good-naturedly and gently said: “I’m sorry.”
Only then did he release her.
Zhou Wan took advantage of him closing his eyes to press her lips together again, suppressing her smile before speaking: “Just hold on a bit longer, we’ll be down soon.”
When they stepped out of the cabin, Lu Xixiao’s face was still pale, one hand resting heavily on Zhou Wan’s shoulder.
Zhou Wan had to wrap her arm around his waist to support him: “Are you okay?”
Lu Xixiao cursed in displeasure.
They sat down on a nearby bench, and Zhou Wan went to the mini-mart to buy a bottle of mineral water, which she opened and gave to 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 very severe?”
“It’s fine.”
“…”
Oh.
Because of his fear of heights, many other rides were off-limits. After resting, Zhou Wan took Lu Xixiao to the bumper cars.
Bumper cars were a favorite among children and the most popular attraction in this amusement park. Even at this hour, there were still people playing.
In the two-seater bumper car, Lu Xixiao drove while Zhou Wan sat beside him, both fastening their safety belts.
An eight or nine-year-old child, seeing the older brother and sister come to play, got excited and drove over, challenging them in a childish voice: “I want to duel with you!” The mother sitting beside him laughed: “How old are you to be challenging big brother and sister to a duel?”
Zhou Wan’s eyes curved as she smiled too.
The little boy, sensing he was being underestimated, became unhappy, but Lu Xixiao lifted his chin: “Bring it on.”