Chapter 36 Part 2: The Ferris Wheel and Fireworks

The plane landed smoothly, the clock hands pointing exactly to eleven in the morning.

Song Jin and Duan Yan’s hotel rooms were adjacent, while Xu Qin and He Xin were assigned to other rooms nearby.

The two of them quickly settled their luggage.

Song Jin took out the address her sister had provided. At six in the evening, she gently knocked on Duan Yan’s door.

“Sister Duan, I heard there’s a really fun amusement park nearby. Let’s go play there together, shall we?”

Song Jin’s pair of watery eyes were wide and round, her innocent cuteness impossible to refuse.

Besides, Duan Yan had already promised to take Song Jin out. She considered it for a moment; there was still a full day before the fashion show, so it wouldn’t hurt to go out and have fun today. She readily agreed, “Okay, let’s go.”

Song Jin briefly informed Xu Qin and He Xin of their whereabouts and then went with Duan Yan to the joyful amusement park.

Originally, Xu Qin and He Xin were worried about their safety and wanted to go along, but how could Song Jin let those third wheels get in the way?

When she was little, Song Yuan had been worried about Song Jin being bullied and forced her to learn kickboxing. As she grew up, Song Jin maintained a year-round fitness regimen, making her physically strong enough to protect Duan Yan completely.

On the outskirts of the capital of Country F, a bustling amusement park opened its arms to welcome every visitor seeking joy. Above the main gate, colorful balloons swayed in the wind, and the flashing neon signs were exceptionally dazzling.

The moment Song Jin and Duan Yan stepped into the amusement park, a straight path unfolded before them, lined on both sides with all kinds of snack and game stalls. Children held ice cream cones, their faces blooming with joyful smiles.

“Are you hungry?”

Song Jin looked at all the snacks and turned to ask.

“I’ve had dinner, I’m not hungry yet.”

Being slightly older, Duan Yan was more thoughtful. She said considerately, “I think we forgot to bring water. We should probably buy a bottle to carry with us. If we get thirsty inside the park later and can’t find a place selling water right away, it could be a bit of a hassle.”

Song Jin nodded in agreement, then cleared some space in her backpack and put in two bottles of water.

In the core area of the park, a magnificent Ferris wheel turned slowly, while the roller coaster tracks twisted and turned, spiraling through the air.

Frankly, Song Jin had experienced amusement parks like this countless times. But precisely because the person beside her was Duan Yan, this ordinary amusement park became extraordinary, filled with special meaning.

‘What should we play?’

Song Jin’s gaze fell on the artificial lake to the side.

Several small boats floated on the lake, offering couples a quiet time for boating. Many couples were on the lake enjoying this activity.

She excitedly pulled Duan Yan by the hand, their palms touching closely, feeling the warmth of Duan Yan’s hand.

Duan Yan hadn’t expected Song Jin’s move and was caught off guard as they held hands, letting out a small gasp.

Song Jin turned her head to gaze at Duan Yan, and Duan Yan happened to look up at Song Jin at the same time.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

Song Jin’s eyes sparkled with childlike excitement, while Duan Yan wore a look that was both helpless and doting, sighing softly in her heart: ‘Such a child who never grows up.’

The owner of the amusement park clearly understood the psychology of couples, and had specially prepared two-seater boats, creating an intimate space for lovers.

After Duan Yan bought the tickets, the two sat facing each other, every subtle movement of one clearly visible to the other.

The afterglow of the sunset scattered across the tranquil lake, making it glitter. Half of the lake shimmered with a golden light, while the other half was gently covered by the red of the sunset.

Although the boats were equipped with an automatic navigation function, they were also thoughtfully prepared with a manual paddling option to add to the fun.

Curious, Duan Yan picked up an oar and gently paddled, sending ripples spreading across the water like nature’s soft response to her movement.

She was dressed in warm-toned clothes that blended perfectly with the surrounding scenery. For a moment, it was hard to tell where the scenery ended and the person began. The warm yellow light fell upon Duan Yan, and her silhouette, intertwined with light and shadow, was like a vivid painting, every stroke revealing a natural harmony and tranquility.

Song Jin finally understood why Duan Yan liked to take pictures of her when she was in her orange cat form.

When a person is deeply imprinted in your heart, every smile, every exchange of glances, can touch your heartstrings, making you want to treasure these moments forever.

At this moment, Song Jin also wanted to record every beautiful moment of Duan Yan.

She quietly took out her phone and carefully took a picture of Duan Yan.

In the photo, Duan Yan had just revealed a faint smile, like a lotus gently blooming, impossibly gentle, hazy yet stunning. That smile shone straight into Song Jin’s heart.

However, Song Jin’s phone was not on silent, and a soft “click” gave away her secret.

She had been caught taking a candid photo.

Duan Yan realized Song Jin had been taking a picture of her. She just looked up and smiled slightly, not stopping her.

Song Jin gave a mischievous smile and put her phone away, feeling fortunate in her heart to have captured that moment.

She gently paddled the small boat. Considering it was still early and not yet time for the fireworks, it seemed a bit lacking in romantic atmosphere to go to the Ferris wheel and give her the necklace now. So, Song Jin took Duan Yan on a few more rides.

Song Jin had always preferred thrilling amusement park rides. She excitedly dragged Duan Yan onto the roller coaster and bumper cars, and Duan Yan also seemed to show considerable interest in these games.

Song Jin wanted to continue exploring more fun games with Duan Yan, but she noticed that Duan Yan’s lips were a bit dry, as if she were thirsty.

They paused for a moment to rest, then sat down on a park bench.

Song Jin thoughtfully took a bottle of water from her backpack and gently handed it to Duan Yan.

In the dim light of dusk, Duan Yan didn’t look closely. She just gratefully took the water bottle, casually twisted off the cap, and took a few sips.

Song Jin, on the side, watched Duan Yan drink with a soft gaze, her heart filled with admiration, while also feeling satisfied to be able to care for Duan Yan in these small ways.

Duan Yan drank elegantly and with restraint. Even if she was parched, she only let her cheeks puff out slightly before swallowing slowly, as if she were savoring a cup of fine tea.

The glint of water left a faint trace on her lips, making their color even more vivid.

Song Jin couldn’t help but stare, transfixed. ‘I really want to kiss her…’

Halfway through drinking, Duan Yan suddenly noticed something was off. The weight of this water bottle seemed different from usual.

Duan Yan’s heart raced, and a sliver of unease spread through her.

Song Jin also realized this oversight. Her eyes widened unconsciously, and a wave of panic washed over her.

The water in Duan Yan’s hand was the one Song Jin had already drunk from.

Song Jin felt a little flustered, afraid that Duan Yan would get angry because of this. Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of apology.

“Hey, this was just an accident, I didn’t mean to…”

Duan Yan silently handed the water bottle back to Song Jin, her heart a mix of complex feelings.

It was strange. Duan Yan had a slight mysophobia and disliked touching things others had touched, but she didn’t dislike this feeling.

Was it because that person was Song Jin?

Duan Yan lowered her eyes, thinking.

Song Jin hung her head, a blush spreading across her face. Her heart pounded like a drum, unsure of how Duan Yan would view this little misunderstanding.

Due to the recent little incident, the atmosphere had become a bit strange.

The cheerful laughter of the children around them seemed unable to penetrate the silence between them.

In this slightly awkward silence, Duan Yan suddenly broke the deadlock with a joke, “Right now, I feel like a parent who’s brought their kid out to play.”

Duan Yan’s tone was teasing and playful, attempting to ease the tension between them.

Song Jin feigned displeasure. Why did Duan Yan have to treat her differently, to draw a line between their ages?

“Why would you say that? I’m all grown up, I’m not a kid anymore,” Song Jin said, feigning seriousness.

Duan Yan thought Song Jin was mad at her for seeing the amusement park outing as too childish. She smiled helplessly and said, “Alright, alright, not a little kid. You’re a big kid who’s over two hundred months old, okay?”

“Doesn’t Sister Duan like to play? It was clear that you looked curious too,” Song Jin retorted.

“It’s not that I don’t like it. This is my first time playing games like this. I was a little curious.”

Duan Yan’s smile was tinged with bitterness.

Song Jin keenly caught the shift in Duan Yan’s emotions and made a mental note to take Duan Yan to try everything one by one in the future, but now was not the time to talk about this.

Song Jin immediately changed the subject. “Look, the Ferris wheel over there is so magnificent!”

“Want to try it?”

Duan Yan seemed to snap out of her brief reverie and asked softly.

Song Jin nodded. Duan Yan bought the tickets, and then they queued up together.

The Ferris wheel was at its peak popularity at this time, with numerous couples lining up to wait.

Duan Yan and Song Jin, two women from the East, stood out conspicuously among the bustling crowd of French tourists.

A young girl in the front row noticed how intimately they were standing together and couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. She curiously asked them, “Est-ce ta petite amie?” (Is this your girlfriend?)

Song Jin had a basic understanding of French. She smiled and replied in French, “Oui.” (Yes.)

The blonde, blue-eyed girl got the answer she wanted, generously gave up her spot, and then skipped away cheerfully.

Although Duan Yan was fluent in English, she didn’t know a lick of French and was somewhat puzzled by the sudden offer of their spot in line.

“What did she just say?” Duan Yan asked curiously.

“She asked if we were celebrities. I said yes, and then she let us have her spot for free.”

Song Jin wove a small lie without batting an eye.

“Really?” Duan Yan was a little skeptical.

For some reason, she always felt there was some deeper meaning hidden in that girl’s smile.

However, looking at Song Jin’s sincere expression, Duan Yan didn’t feel it was right to press further.

A few minutes later, the two of them boarded the Ferris wheel together.

The Ferris wheel slowly ascended, with Song Jin and Duan Yan securely fastened by their seatbelts.

With each graceful turn of the wheel, their view gradually widened. The scenery of the capital of Country F, like scattered stars, gradually wove into a brilliant tapestry beneath their feet.

While Duan Yan was fully engrossed in the beautiful scenery outside the window, Song Jin quietly took the exquisite velvet box out of her bag and held it tightly in her palm.

When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, it was as if time itself had frozen. Everything was so quiet you could hear a heartbeat.

At this tranquil moment, with a “bang,” splendid fireworks suddenly bloomed in the night sky. They were like a colorful dream, their momentary brilliance illuminating the entire night.

“Wow,” Duan Yan said, gazing at the fireworks before her with a smile.

The brilliant light of the fireworks shone through the glass window of the Ferris wheel, gently灑 on Song Jin and Duan Yan.

Song Jin seized this perfectly timed moment and presented the sparkling necklace to Duan Yan. “This is for you.”

On the surface, Song Jin looked calm, but if one looked closely, they would find that her hand was trembling slightly, her heart racing in her chest like a drumbeat.

The light of the fireworks reflected on Duan Yan’s face, her features becoming even more captivating in the interplay of light and shadow.

The necklace in Song Jin’s hand sparkled brilliantly. Its exquisite design and high-quality materials all spoke of extraordinary taste. The gemstone set in the center shone like the brightest star in the night sky under the fireworks’ light.

Duan Yan’s gaze was firmly locked on the necklace, but she didn’t reach out to take it.

‘Does she not like it?’

A trace of anxiety welled up in Song Jin’s heart. Her breathing became shallow and rapid, like a defendant awaiting judgment. Every passing second was like torture.