It had probably rained for the past few days, but today the weather finally cleared up.
After lunch, the three of them prepared to head out.
Meng Bai wheeled the mountain bike into the courtyard, puzzling over how to ride it.
The red-and-white frame gleamed under the sun, every detail perfectly eye-catching.
Zhou An sighed in admiration. “Your dad really loves you. I bet this bike costs at least three hundred bucks!”
Meng Bai pursed her lips. “It shouldn’t be that pricey. He said it was pretty cheap.”
Xu Zhou patted the seat. “This bike doesn’t look cheap at all!”
After a bit of chatter, they settled on Meng Bai riding up front, with Xu Zhou and Zhou An squeezing onto the back.
“Will we even fit!!!” Zhou An fretted right before climbing on.
Xu Zhou jumped in quickly from the side. “We’ll fit, we’ll fit. We just have to huddle close. We’re all skinny—what’s to worry about!”
Meng Bai wasn’t paying attention to any of that. She had just one thought: “Hop on quick! We’ll sort out the positions once you’re up!”
Sitting in front was no problem, but the back was cramped as could be.
Xu Zhou let Zhou An climb on first, and they had to press right up against each other without a gap. Once settled, Xu Zhou added, “Zhou An, there’s nowhere to put my feet—half my butt’s hanging off!”
Zhou An scooted forward a little more. “Your feet are dangling, and as for your butt, I can’t do much. Meng Bai, just take it slow and support us!”
Meng Bai nodded with a grin. “Got it, got it! Here we go!”
The bike wobbled unsteadily at first, but she soon found her balance. Zhou An, squished tight, burst into giggles. “Xu Zhou, stop poking my armpit—it’s so ticklish, hahaha!!!”
Xu Zhou shot back, “I have to hold on tight! Otherwise I’ll fall off!”
Meng Bai’s lips curved up. “Then you two better hang on. I’m gonna ride fast.”
Zhou An let out a shriek. “Don’t go too fast!!!”
Meng Bai loved to tease, though. The more Zhou An begged her to slow down, the faster she went. Soon the wind was whistling past their ears, and the backseat duo screamed in unison. “Aaaah, slow down! Little Meng, slow down!!”
Meng Bai just laughed. “Can’t slow down—this bike’s made for speed.”
She was doing it on purpose.
The brand-new wheels rolled over the bumpy gravel path, jostling them the whole way. The two in back bounced so hard their voices shook.
“Aaaah, oh my god!!!”
The faster they went, the tighter Xu Zhou clung.
More than once, Zhou An felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Xu Zhou, loosen up a bit—I can’t get any air!”
“I can’t help it. I’m scared I’ll fall.”
Xu Zhou murmured it right by Zhou An’s ear, her hot breath slipping in along with the wind.
Amid the cool breeze, there was a hint of warmth.
For a split second, Zhou An felt dazed. She didn’t even catch what Xu Zhou had said.
“What?”
Xu Zhou raised her voice. “I said, this is the only way I can hold on without falling!”
“Fine, whatever.”
It felt awkward at first, but they gradually got used to it. With the afternoon breeze in their faces, they pedaled past the fields along the ridges, then onto the narrow road. All around them stretched fields of golden yellow.
Wildflowers bloomed everywhere, mostly chrysanthemums, filling the air with their pollen scent.
Meng Bai rode on, savoring the whoosh of the wind.
Gazing at the vibrant colors all around, she mused aloud, “How am I already eighteen?”
Zhou An called from behind. “What’s wrong with eighteen? Isn’t it great? Eighteen means freedom! Growing up is the best!”
Xu Zhou chimed in. “Freedom where? We’re still eating and living off our families, dirt poor with not a dime to our names.”
Meng Bai laughed and nodded. “I agree with Xu Zhou.”
“Tch!” Zhou An shoved back a little, shrugging off Xu Zhou’s arms. “Eighteen might not be free, but nineteen has to be, right? Next year at this time, we won’t be here anymore. We’ll have aced our exams and left. We’d only come back once a year at most.”
Nineteen.
It didn’t sound far off, but it was hard to picture.
Meng Bai had to admit that the word “freedom” didn’t spark much joy in her.
People were strange like that. Sometimes they desperately wanted to break free from their shackles, but when the door finally swung open, they felt this masochistic reluctance and anxiety.
As she mulled it over, Meng Bai realized a big part of that reluctance centered on Miao Bai.
Nineteen might be great, but once she was in the city at nineteen, would she still see Miao Bai every day like now?
“What’re you thinking about? You’ve gone quiet.” Zhou An prodded Meng Bai’s back.
“Nothing.”
“See, you’re spacing out again.” Zhou An’s tone turned probing. “Bet you’re thinking about the Lunatic.”
“Is my riding too slow? Now the chatter’s picking up again.” Meng Bai sped up, startling the two in back into clinging together and yelping.
Youth was wonderful—even the wind seemed to cheer them on.
The old squeak of the bike faded, replaced by the smooth swish of the new chain.
They laughed into the wind the whole way, spinning endless dreams of the future. They crossed field after field of flowers and finally arrived at the Town Amusement Park.
The park wasn’t new—it had been built in the late nineties, renovated once along the way, but the rides were still dated.
Not many attractions either: Pirate Ship, bumper cars, High-Altitude Bicycle, and some ring-toss games.
No more than ten in all, but to Meng Bai and her friends, it felt plenty exciting.
Whoosh—
The three stood under the Pirate Ship, watching the curved frame swing back and forth.
“This looks kinda thrilling.” Zhou An glanced at Meng Bai. “You scared?”
Meng Bai shook her head, her face impassive. “What’s to be scared of?”
She thought to herself: Nothing could top that night flying through the sky with Miao Bai. Would she be afraid of this? Flying was ten, a hundred times more intense.
“Oh yeah? Big talk. Don’t scream later!” Zhou An turned to Xu Zhou. “What about you, Xu Zhou? Scared?”
Xu Zhou shivered and nodded. “Terrified! You have to protect me!”
Zhou An beamed at the answer, slapping her shoulder. “Leave it to me!”
The attendant hurried over, asking if they were riding or not. This round was almost done—buy tickets quick or miss out.
“I’ve got the tickets!” Zhou An patted her pocket. “It’s Meng Bai’s birthday—she’s not paying. I’m loaded!”
Xu Zhou and Meng Bai exchanged a glance, helpless smiles in their eyes.
This was Zhou An—the Zhou An who was so impossibly perfect that no one could find a single flaw.
The three tickets were bought in no time, fifteen bucks apiece. They were thin slips of paper that the ticket inspector snatched away before shoving the trio forward.
“Hurry up and grab your seats! Next group’s waiting!”
Zhou An led the way aboard, claiming the most thrilling spot right at the front. She patted the seat to her left, then the one to her right. “Come on! Hop on quick!!”
She was buzzing with excitement, and Meng Bai caught the vibe, tugging Xu Zhou along behind her.
The other passengers trickled in and picked their spots, but they all played it safe, steering clear of the bow—after all, that was the wildest position.
Meng Bai clocked it right away and let out a sigh. “Guess that makes us the daredevil trio.”
The staffer grabbed a megaphone and bellowed, “Safety belts! Safety belts! Buckle up tight, all of you!!! If you don’t and go flying, that’s on you!!!”
Everyone scrambled to fasten theirs. Someone came by for a quick check, then yelled into the windows through the megaphone: “All clear!!”
The worker ducked into the control booth and shoved a lever forward. The red light flipped to green.
The pirate ship beeped twice, rumbling with heavy machinery as it lurched into motion, slow at first.
“It’s starting! It’s starting!” Zhou An grabbed one hand on her left and one on her right. Turns out, she was the scaredy-cat of the bunch. “Protect me! Both of you, protect me!”
Xu Zhou stayed cool as a cucumber, giving Zhou An’s hand a reassuring pat. “Got you. Don’t worry—I’ll keep you safe.”
The pirate ship crept up to its peak, that torturous slow climb like waiting for the axe to fall—a bowstring drawn tight, zero clue when it’d snap and send them plummeting into weightlessness. Any second now—
Zhou An lunged instinctively for Meng Bai’s hand.
Meng Bai yanked hers back with a whisper. “Grab Xu Zhou.”
“Jerk!” Zhou An snapped at her, but there was no time to dwell. She seized Xu Zhou’s hand instead, fingers interlocking in a death grip.
Xu Zhou went rigid for a split second.
Meng Bai caught the moment.
Sure enough, Xu Zhou…
No time to unpack it—whoosh. The pirate ship dove without mercy, weightlessness crashing over them like a wind-slap to the face!
Meng Bai’s heart hammered once, hard. But then Zhou An beside her stole the show.
Zhou An: “Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!”
Meng Bai: “…”
Zhou An: “Meng Bai, save me! Save me!!!”
Meng Bai burst out laughing. “You’re squeezing Xu Zhou’s hand!”
Zhou An shrieked: “Then Xu Zhou, save me! Xu Zhou!!!”
The quiet Xu Zhou finally chimed in. “Holy crap, you’re breaking my hand! Ease up!!!”
She said it, but Zhou An only clamped down harder. Xu Zhou yelped. “Ow ow ow ow!!!”
Meng Bai nearly snorted, staying chill enough to study Zhou An’s face.
Ridiculous. Hilarious. Adorable.
Scared of the pirate ship? Not a bit.
Compared to that night’s gut-wrenching drop, this was a mere tickle.
As the ship whipped back and forth, Meng Bai drifted off, her mind wandering to nonsense.
World flipping, everything shaking. Each plunge felt like a duel with the wind itself.
Lost in thought, Meng Bai’s eyes snagged on a corner below—right by the control panel. A tall, slender figure stood there, plain as day.
Whoosh.
Up it went, view blocked.
Whoosh.
Down again—and there she was.
Meng Bai jolted, unsure. She peered harder.
Miao Bai!
Hallucination?
Next swing—barely a second—their eyes locked. Meng Bai’s shock drowned out the chaos. If the ship weren’t still swinging, she’d have bolted over for answers.
How?
No way it was fake.
“Awooooooh—” Zhou An’s wail kicked up again.
Xu Zhou cut in: “Enough, it’s winding down.”
The swings eased off, tracing lazy arcs like a crescent moon before grinding to a halt.
Meng Bai unbuckled and sprinted straight for Miao Bai.
Behind her, Zhou An blinked in confusion. “What’s her deal? Why’s she running? Xu Zhou, you think she’s spooked? Total fake-out earlier!”
Xu Zhou frowned. “Beats me.”
The sun shone bright but not brutal, casting a cheerful glow.
That dash to Miao Bai left Meng Bai’s heart a tangled mess.
Face-to-face, Meng Bai’s first instinct was to lift a hand, shielding her from the light. “What are you doing here? Sun hurts you during the day, right?”
Miao Bai’s face was veiled, but her eyes bored into Meng Bai, unblinking.
Meng Bai: “Quit staring! Talk! Why are you here?”
Those eyes met hers—like staring into an endless well, dark mysteries churning at the depths.
Two beats later, Miao Bai murmured, “You… can see me?”
Meng Bai’s hand froze mid-air, the penny finally dropping.
Daytime. No one saw Miao Bai under the sun. So why could she?
A quick scan: oblivious crowds. Zhou An and Xu Zhou approached, faces normal—they saw nothing.
Then why…
Meng Bai’s pulse thundered. She dropped her hand.
“Looks like it. That tutoring day, I glimpsed you—for one second.”
“One second?” Miao Bai’s brows knit tight. “So then it was just a flash… and now you see me clear as day?”
Meng Bai nodded. “Crystal clear. Right now.”
“Impossible…” Miao Bai’s gaze raked over her, disbelieving. “How…”
Meng Bai squirmed under the intensity.
The others caught up. Zhou An piped up: “Little Meng! Nuts again? Muttering to yourself way out here!”
Meng Bai turned, her own face conflicted.
“You two—”
“Us? What’s with us?”
Can’t you see her?
So why was that? Why had Miao Bai worn such an expression just moments ago?
