“Yuqiong says she wants to ride this one. Wanna join?”
Shen An pointed at the roller coaster nearby, turning to Song Rui.
Song Rui nodded without a second thought. “Sure, I can do it.”
“Whoa, then you’re in for it today.”
Shen An stretched lazily. “She plans to hit every thrill ride once.”
“Every one?”
A flicker of fear crossed Song Rui’s face. “All of them?”
“Yep. Roller coaster, drop tower, pirate ship—the works. Whatever’s the most intense.”
Song Rui wasn’t the bravest, truth be told—quite the opposite.
Any one of those rides was a real challenge for her…
If it were just her, she’d never pick them. One full round might leave her puking her guts out.
But…
Song Rui bit her lip, glancing hesitantly at Shen An.
He watched her with keen interest, a teasing glint in his eye as he savored her obvious trepidation.
“If it’s too much, no big deal.”
Shen An patted her shoulder in apparent reassurance.
“No.” Song Rui mustered her courage. “I can handle it.”
“You sure?”
“I…” Song Rui was beyond caring now. She just nodded. “Mm!”
“Tsk.” Shen An’s fingertip brushed her silky hair as he softened his voice. “It’s fine if you can’t hold out. I’ll sit right next to you then. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“Mm~”
That was exactly what Song Rui had wanted to hear.
“Yo yo yo~” A mocking drawl cut in suddenly. “Harassing your female coworker bright and early, huh?”
Neither Shen An nor Song Rui had paid attention to Wang Yuqiong’s side of things.
So when they saw Zhao Qingyu and the other two big shots approaching, they both betrayed a flash of surprise in unison.
As for that mocking remark, it had slipped from Yu Wen’s lips.
Although Zhao Qingyu said nothing, her expression had turned rather unpleasant.
Shen An calmly continued ruffling Song Rui’s silky hair, his gaze shifting to the three women as he said softly, “You’re here early, Senior Sisters.”
Qi Taili’s eyes were barely open. She fought back her sleepiness to greet Shen An. “Morning…”
No sooner had she spoken than she let out an uncontrollable yawn.
Yu Wen had been drowsy too, but the sight of Shen An perked her right up.
“Tsk, your skin’s thicker than a city wall. Can’t you see the poor girl’s face is all red?”
Yu Wen’s words sounded like teasing, but in truth, she was covering for Shen An.
Shen An shot her a sidelong glance. Song Rui’s little face flushed quietly, her small hands gripping her knees tightly, every bit of her tension written on her face.
“I’m just soothing her nerves in advance,” Shen An said, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “She’s not great with roller coasters, but she wants to give it a try.”
“What about you three Senior Sisters? Here for the roller coaster this early?”
Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “Nah, just wandering around.”
“And we happened to run into you. Come with me for a sec. Got something to assign you.”
Yu Wen pressed a hand to her forehead. Behind Zhao Qingyu’s back, she shot Shen An a meaningful look, urging him to think of some way to placate the Troupe Leader.
Song Rui kept her head down the whole time. Only when Shen An stood and walked toward Zhao Qingyu did she lift it slightly, watching Zhao Qingyu’s back with the corner of her eye.
As if sensing it, Zhao Qingyu suddenly turned while walking, her gaze meeting Song Rui’s stare.
Across the air between them, the two women’s eye contact carried profound weight.
Each one’s eyes held meanings neither could quite put into words—perhaps not even to themselves.
Shen An followed Zhao Qingyu to a secluded corner, grinning as he asked, “What orders for me, Senior Sister?”
Zhao Qingyu wasn’t one for reason or subtlety.
She rose onto her tiptoes and stomped hard on Shen An’s foot.
Hiss.
Shen An reached out to struggle, but his hands were bound by Zhao Qingyu.
Her eyes narrowed, the chill in them sharp as knife points, stabbing at Shen An’s face until it almost hurt.
“Senior Sister, this isn’t very nice, is it?”
Shen An knew this was his moment of judgment. He decided to play weak first.
“Not nice?” Zhao Qingyu let out a cold laugh, saying flatly, “I told you to wait for me in the room, but you left on your own.”
“What? You don’t want to listen to me anymore?”
“Er, I had my reasons.”
Shen An whispered.
“Hmph, of course I know you had reasons!” With that, Zhao Qingyu released his hands and flashed a disdainful smile. “It was Wang Yuqiong, right?”
“You’re a smart one, Senior Sister,” Shen An flattered.
“That girl somehow got a Universal Card. She was the one who took you, wasn’t she?”
Zhao Qingyu had seen everything on the monitors, yet she still asked knowingly.
Shen An leaned in closer, close enough to catch her fragrance. “She said she picked it up on the road. Did you lose your card, Senior Sister?”
Zhao Qingyu instinctively stepped back, pinching his chin with her small hand. She gave a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Don’t try to dodge the point. Tell me—did you go with her willingly?”
“Uh… that’s a bit complicated to explain.”
“What’s complicated? Take your time. I’ve got all the time in the world.”
“She did come find me, and I was shocked she could get into my room,” Shen An drawled. “But I quickly realized I had to go with her.”
“Oh? So what did you tell her? That you were staying in the room willingly? Or that I’d locked you in?”
Zhao Qingyu’s smile was bright and charming, but it carried more menace than the cold glint in her eyes.
“I told her I was exhausted last night, lay down on the bed, and passed out. No idea what happened after that.”
Shen An still skirted the main issue.
Zhao Qingyu eyed him for a moment before snorting coldly.
She knew this guy was slippery, never telling the full truth even to her.
But after last night’s events, Zhao Qingyu couldn’t maintain the same unyielding front with him.
Or rather, her dominance had to be tempered somewhat.
She hadn’t called him over to harp on it endlessly, lest he grow annoyed.
What Zhao Qingyu wanted was a warning.
And warnings often came with soothing. She stepped forward, pressing close to Shen An.
Shen An found himself backed into the wall.
Her slender hands blocked both sides, leaving him blinking. Was this a reverse kabedon?
“She’s your classmate, and a friend. I know you two get along well.”
Zhao Qingyu said softly, “So I’m not going to make a fuss. If you want to hang out with her, go ahead.”
“Just next time, tell me in advance.”
“Don’t just vanish without a word—or put on that fake enthusiasm to butter me up!”
Her meaning was straightforward: She permitted him playing with others since they were friends, nothing wrong with that.
But she wanted honesty from him. Voice any complaints outright, don’t say one thing and mean another.
It sounded like a gentle request, an attempt to build deeper, more sincere trust between them.
Shen An could only chuckle inwardly at that.
Who couldn’t spout pleasantries?
Without Wang Yuqiong, he’d probably still be stuck in that room today.
Ask her for permission?
Fat chance. Zhao Qingyu only pretended magnanimity after the fact.
Shen An didn’t believe for a second that if he’d asked to leave and wander before she departed, she’d have allowed it.
Seeing his expression, Zhao Qingyu could guess what he was thinking.
She could only sigh silently to herself.
This was the so-called process of adjustment.
Things wouldn’t always go her way, nor his.
Reaching complete trust in their relationship would take countless moments of accumulation over time.
Her expression softened a touch. She reached up to gently stroke Shen An’s cheek, murmuring, “Anyway, have fun with them today. Make sure you enjoy it.”
Shen An raised a brow. “And you?”
“Me?” Zhao Qingyu’s lips curved. “I’ll just wander around. Who knows, we might run into each other.”
Heh…
Just as he figured—she wouldn’t let it go that easily!
“But fun is fun. Let me warn you first.” Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “Don’t do anything out of line, got it?”
“You’re mine, not hers.”
“If you cross the line first, don’t blame me.” Zhao Qingyu’s smile hid razor-sharp edges—a classic fox’s grin with a dagger behind it.
Shen An wasn’t content to let her keep the upper hand. He reached up to toy with her short hair, chuckling lightly. “I figured you’d wear heels today too.”
His gaze drifted to her black leather flats.
“Didn’t feel like it. Too tiring.”
Zhao Qingyu pouted.
“How about we all play together?” Shen An dangled the idea. “Three’s a bit lonely. With you three, it’d be six—sounds fun.”
“Ha!” Zhao Qingyu jabbed back with a scoff. “Not enough for you?”
Shen An shrugged. “Just think more people means more fun.”
“Fun my ass. Those two scaredy-cats—making them ride would probably kill them.”
Zhao Qingyu rolled her eyes. “You guys have your fun.”
With that, she turned to leave.
But after a few steps, she spun back, pointing to her eyes in a clear warning to Shen An.
Mm…
Shen An rubbed his chin. Somehow, it came off as oddly cute.
So this was a battle for possession?
By the time Shen An returned to the benches, Wang Yuqiong had come back from the bathroom.
She stood there coldly. As Shen An passed, she spoke up. “Handled?”
Shen An blinked. “What?”
Wang Yuqiong shot an irritated glance aside with her peripheral vision. Shen An followed it.
Zhao Qingyu, Yu Wen, and Qi Taili.
The trio sat there, all three pairs of eyes locked intently on their side.
Oh boy.
No wonder Wang Yuqiong looked so sour.
Did this mean all the rides from here on out would have these three watching?
Shen An chuckled helplessly and patted Wang Yuqiong’s little head. “They’re just sitting for a bit. They’ll leave soon.”
Wang Yuqiong pursed her lips. “Hope so.”
“More importantly, aren’t you checking if the roller coaster’s open yet?”
“It opened ages ago.”
Wang Yuqiong glanced at Song Rui again. “Hurry up and call her over.”
Shen An turned with a smile, beckoning Song Rui.
The three gathered and headed toward the roller coaster.
Meanwhile, Qi Taili…
She was fading fast, slumped against Yu Wen’s shoulder. “Can I go back to bed?”
Yu Wen looked utterly done with life.
She could only turn to Zhao Qingyu. “Troupe Leader, can we head back first?”
Zhao Qingyu propped her chin on her hand, eyeing the roller coaster with interest. “What do you say—should we give it a go too?”
Qi Taili perked up instantly. “Huh?”
Yu Wen blinked, puzzled.
Zhao Qingyu looked at the two women. “We’re here already. Why not ride?”
One minute later.
“Wah, I don’t want to! Don’t pull me—I don’t want to play!! I want to go home!!!”
The pitiful Qi Taili wailed and struggled, but she had no strength to resist as Yu Wen dragged her along.
Zhao Qingyu strode confidently ahead.
Coincidentally, the three women ended up queued right behind Shen An and the others.
Wang Yuqiong didn’t even want to turn her head. She could only glare coldly at Shen An, her eyes conveying a clear message: This is what you meant by “we’ll leave soon”?
Shen An kept his gaze straight ahead. He had known that the Stinky Fox never uttered more than a few truthful words.
But for him, this wasn’t a bad thing at all.
One person? That was a monopoly.
Two people? That meant competition.
Three people?
