Chapter 7

When she said such words, Jin Yizhu didn’t have any other intentions.

She was just used to it—whatever came to mind, she said it. She had always been like this, and no one had ever told her there was anything wrong with it. On the contrary, people always seemed happy when she spoke this way.

But Wei Shuyu wasn’t.

Wei Shuyu’s expression didn’t change.

As if she hadn’t heard those overly flirtatious words at all, she naturally ignored them and asked, “Shall we go buy Dumbo first?”

Jin Yizhu felt a bit disappointed. She couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but if she had to put a name to it, it was displeasure, irritation—a sensation she rarely experienced at Tokyo Disneyland. Being surrounded by pure joy was the norm here.

Was it because of Wei Shuyu? She made her feel uneasy. Perhaps she should have told her to leave, but she didn’t.

Jin Yizhu couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She felt uncomfortable, yet she still hoped Wei Shuyu would stay by her side, like clinging to a faint glimmer of hope.

They lingered in the park until six in the afternoon, and Wei Shuyu already felt a little tired.

She wasn’t the energetic type, but Jin Yizhu was the opposite. After playing all day, she showed no signs of fatigue.

“Shall we go watch the fireworks?” Wei Shuyu hadn’t wanted to say it, but she really couldn’t hold on any longer. “I’m a bit tired.”

“You’re tired?”

It was only then that Jin Yizhu noticed something off about her—pale face, a hint of red at the corners of her eyes, even her hair strands looking listless.

She felt guilty and took Wei Shuyu’s hand, giving it a gentle shake.

“Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be okay after sitting for a bit.”

Wei Shuyu smiled a little strainedly. She felt dizzy and couldn’t help grabbing Jin Yizhu’s arm.

“How about we head to the fireworks spot first? I can sit there for a while, and you can see if there’s anything else you want to do?”

She rarely made such gestures. Most of the time, she kept a distance from Jin Yizhu that was just right—somewhere between friends and strangers, perfectly suited to their relationship.

But with her arm being held, her body weight pressing against her, Jin Yizhu’s breathing slowed.

It was strange. Among female friends, this wasn’t a distance that required special attention.

Having earned her master’s in the UK and her PhD in the US, Jin Yizhu had her own understanding of personal space. Among her friends, holding hands was nothing, and linking arms was even more common.

Even leaning in like this wasn’t anything particularly special.

Yet when Wei Shuyu leaned against her, and she caught that faint scent like pine wood— so subtle it seemed it might vanish at any moment—Jin Yizhu felt as if her heart was gripped by a hand, a strange sensation washing over her.

“I’ll stay with you,” Jin Yizhu sat down with her on a bench. “Rest a bit, then we’ll watch the fireworks.”

“Not going to the fireworks spot? The view isn’t great here.”

Wei Shuyu felt a bit surprised. It wasn’t far from their spot to the fireworks viewing area.

Five minutes at most. There was really no need to rest here.

“It’s fine. I’ve seen the fireworks plenty of times,” Jin Yizhu said. “You’re not feeling well, are you?”

Wei Shuyu didn’t know how to respond, but she knew that rejecting Jin Yizhu’s kindness right now would definitely be the wrong move.

“Then we’ll head back after the fireworks,” Wei Shuyu leaned back on the bench. “I haven’t seen Tokyo Disneyland’s fireworks yet.”

That night’s breeze was mild, a far cry from the sharp winds of the day. It brushed over Wei Shuyu, carrying flecks of starlight that transformed into a shimmering Milky Way above the castle.

Jin Yizhu sat beside her, not looking at her phone or at her, just gazing distantly at the castle, lost in thought.

With her attention not on herself, Wei Shuyu felt relaxed instead.

The atmosphere at Tokyo Disneyland was great, cheerful music surrounding them. She was wrapped in the CookieAnn shawl, warm and fluffy. Wei Shuyu’s taut nerves slowly eased, and before the fireworks even started, she was assaulted by a wave of drowsiness.

She couldn’t sleep—not here at Tokyo Disneyland, at least. The fireworks were about to begin. She could sleep in the car afterward; Jin Yizhu wouldn’t mind. But dozing off now, in front of the castle, during the fireworks… that would be a bit too much… Zzz…

Amid this internal struggle, Wei Shuyu’s energy ran out, and she fell asleep without warning.

Jin Yizhu leaned in a little closer, letting her rest on her shoulder.

Wei Shuyu mumbled, “That would be so embarrassing…”

“It’s fine,” Jin Yizhu smiled. “The fireworks are starting. I’ll wake you then.”

It felt oddly wonderful. Jin Yizhu looked at the castle in the night, even more magnificent than during the day.

There was a bit of weight on her shoulder. Wei Shuyu’s breathing was light; she wasn’t sleeping deeply and still had a slight frown.

Jin Yizhu reached out and smoothed her brow, whispering softly, “Sleep well. Don’t overthink.”

She actually didn’t mind Wei Shuyu falling asleep on her—in fact, she found it amusing. Few people showed this side to her: dependent, acting spoiled. Most of the time, they catered to her needs, just like Wei Shuyu did when awake—thoughtful to the point of nausea.

…What would Wei Shuyu be like if she got her drunk?

She recalled the central theater, where Wei Shuyu downed a Martini, took her hand, and led her out of the stuffy venue to see Hong Kong’s real starlight.

What if she drank even more? Would she talk about her past? Her desires? The places she wanted to go? Once the thought arose, it wrapped around Jin Yizhu’s heart like a curse.

Perhaps last night, she should have sat down and had a drink with her.

Even if she couldn’t get up today and missed Tokyo Disneyland, it wouldn’t matter.

Tokyo Disneyland was the kingdom of joy, but if one person could bring her happiness, what did Tokyo Disneyland matter?

The fireworks burst one after another, forming a dazzling display above the castle.

Jin Yizhu tilted her head back, gazing at them for a long time, but her thoughts weren’t on the fireworks, Mickey, or Tokyo Disneyland.

She was thinking about how to keep the person beside her trapped by her side forever, smiling only for her.

Even if it was that faint, indifferent smile.

“…Did I fall asleep?”

The weight on her shoulder suddenly lifted. Wei Shuyu sat up in a daze and looked up at the fireworks.

“Are they almost done?”

“Almost, more than half are gone,” Jin Yizhu said. “But the best part hasn’t come yet.”

“Really?” Wei Shuyu took out her phone and aimed it at the night sky. “So pretty.”

A few fireworks shot into the sky and exploded at their peak.

In the pitch-black night, the fireworks scattered like stardust, cascading like a waterfall before vanishing above the castle. Each burst drew cheers from the crowd, their voices so loud the ground seemed to shake.

Wei Shuyu smiled softly. “Pretty nice.”

Her voice was drowned out by the fireworks’ booms. Jin Yizhu didn’t catch it and didn’t ask, just watched the sky on her own until the final firework exploded high above, turning into a brilliant glow—like the ending of a fairy tale.

“Do you like watching fireworks a lot?” Jin Yizhu turned her head, looking at Wei Shuyu’s profile. She seemed so focused, as if nothing else existed in her eyes but those brilliant bursts.

“Yeah,” Wei Shuyu adjusted her shawl. “Too bad I missed the first part.”

“Want to come back and see them again?” Jin Yizhu said out of the blue. “If you’re willing to come with me.”

Wei Shuyu paused. “Sure.”

She didn’t dwell on what Jin Yizhu really meant. In truth, there wasn’t much to think about with a question like that.

Empty promises abounded, unfulfilled invitations even more so. Perhaps Jin Yizhu had just casually voiced an unrealized wish under the moonlight.

Like the childhood vows of “We’ll be best friends forever” or “We’ll never part,” forgotten before long.

As the fireworks neared their end, people in front of the castle began standing and leaving in droves.

“Should we go?” Wei Shuyu asked. “It’ll get crowded soon.”

“No problem,” Jin Yizhu said. “We’re driving. No need to worry.”

Wei Shuyu nodded and didn’t ask more.

Jin Yizhu took her hand and they re-entered Main Street, browsing through keychains and plush toys, seemingly determined to kill the last bit of time before closing.

By the time they emerged from the shop with a bag of plushies, most people had left the park.

Main Street was sparsely populated, the moonlight equally desolate.

“Wei Shuyu.”

Jin Yizhu suddenly stopped and looked toward the castle.

“Look over there.”

“Hm?”

Wei Shuyu turned to look. Under the clear moonlight, the castle was bathed in a silver halo. The park was empty, the music softer.

She had never seen Tokyo Disneyland like this, and her heart stirred.

In this vast, quiet park where everything seemed to fade away, only she and Jin Yizhu remained, sharing the moonlight in this illusory fairy-tale world, standing side by side.

“Just the two of us,” Jin Yizhu said. “Wei Shuyu, are you scared? In such an empty place.”

“I’m not,” Wei Shuyu’s voice was faint, as if drifting from afar. “I don’t have agoraphobia… Jin Yizhu, are you scared?”

She pulled herself from the surreal scene and turned to the person beside her.

That dazzling, ever-composed Eldest Miss gazed at the empty park, a hint of fear beneath her refined features.

“A little… but it’s fine,” Jin Yizhu smiled at her. “We can head out now. The parking lot should have lots of people.”

What’s wrong? Wei Shuyu wanted to ask, but seeing Jin Yizhu’s forced composure, she thought perhaps she shouldn’t.

“Alright, let’s go now.”

She hesitated only half a second before decisively taking Jin Yizhu’s hand.

“If you’re scared, close your eyes. I’ll lead you out.”

Jin Yizhu was slightly stunned. She wasn’t a weak person, raised in a cutthroat world where fear wasn’t praiseworthy.

But Wei Shuyu took her hand, her fingertips still a bit cool—colder than the night air in the desolate moonlight.

“Okay,” Jin Yizhu finally lowered her head. “Thanks.”

“No trouble,” Wei Shuyu said. “Not at all.”

In the empty park, she held Jin Yizhu’s hand and led her step by step out of the moonlight.

With that short walk, Wei Shuyu became the only person in the world to truly enter Jin Yizhu’s heart.