“The most fun part, I think, is that final dive.”
“Right, right! The last loop is the fastest! Uh… not just the last—from the very first dive, it scared the life out of me! Hahaha, look at those kids screaming. Age really does match courage. What a bunch of scaredy-cats, hahaha!”
Uwah… Little Qiu, do you really have any room to talk?
When it came to screaming your head off, on the entire Spring Mud Children’s Train, weren’t you the one who wailed the loudest?
When we got off the roller coaster, I clearly heard some kids glancing at you and whispering, “Eek, don’t know what elementary school that one’s from—talk about a chicken!”
Ye Zhibai decided to keep those potentially contentious observations to herself.
In any case, judging from Little Qiu’s smile—which still hadn’t faded—this roller coaster ride had brought her far more joy than terror.
The children’s roller coaster had resumed normal operations, now switched to night mode with dreamy colored lights illuminating the cars circling around.
The lights flowed in mesmerizing patterns, dazzling and otherworldly.
Even as night fell, they took the place of the earlier sunset glow, shining on Little Qiu’s beaming face. She took a deep breath to compose herself, but she was in no hurry to let that grin slip away.
On the Azure Ping Grounds, Yun’er and Zihan had already strolled back around to stand beside Ye Zhibai.
“You okay, sister? No dizziness this time?”
“No problem. I’m used to it now. That morning ride, I just wasn’t in top form.”
“Yep, yep, of course I know~ If you were at your best, sister, you could ride the roller coaster ten times and not get dizzy once~”
Haa… Thanks, Yun’er.
You’re the only one who always puts up with my stubborn bravado, bringing a touch of—
“Hahaha! I get it, Ye Zhibai. You think the big roller coaster shuts down at night, so you can talk all you want without consequences?! I gotta say, the hardest thing in the human world isn’t diamond—it’s your mouth! Hahaha!”
Mm.
Guang Yu’s words only confirmed it again: sure enough, only Yun’er could tolerate her tough talk.
“Yeah, if Little Bai’er says she wasn’t in form, then she wasn’t. Must’ve gotten dizzy from those teacups. Yep, yep, I get it, I get it~”
Make that Zihan too, when it came to tolerating her stubbornness.
See that, Guang Yu? Same snide sarcasm, but Zihan’s version of doubt sounds way nicer coming out of her mouth.
That’s something you could stand to learn. It’s all about social graces!
Over on the other side, Tang Yuzhu had already walked up to meet Little Qiu.
Tang Yuzhu had been clutching the medicine bottle so tightly for so long that her palm was slick with sweat.
Now, finally seeing her daughter standing steady before her with no sign of discomfort, she felt a profound relief in her heart.
A mother’s questions about her daughter’s well-being were always so plain yet warm.
“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Any sharp, stabbing pains in your heart? Headache? Or heart palpitations?”
“Huh?! No way! Mom, I told you you were worrying too much. See? I’m standing right here, perfectly fine! Hehe, to be honest, just like Yezi said, I feel like even if a wild dog charged out barking at me right now, I wouldn’t blink… Uh…? Hey? Mom?!”
“Silly girl, what wild dog… Don’t talk big like that…”
“I’m not talking big… Aah, anyway, Mom, let go first!! Yezi and the others are watching! Hey! Don’t laugh!”
One embrace.
It often conveyed more than a thousand words ever could.
It had been so long since Tang Yuzhu had hugged her daughter like this at home.
She hadn’t dared to.
Fragile as glass, weak and brittle.
Tang Yuzhu had truly feared that a single hug might shatter the bubble, sending it scattering into the air like another ungraspable illusion.
But now, it was fine.
Because Yuqiu had said it herself.
—She was okay.
Ye Zhibai and the others paused their banter, watching Little Qiu’s side with keen interest—regardless of her protests.
Not watch? Impossible.
That would be a total loss.
Because it was just too entertaining.
Su Yuqiu’s face was red as an apple, utterly mortified.
She put on a show of wanting to break free from her mother’s arms, but in reality, she didn’t struggle at all. She could only shake her head furiously in place.
After all, you couldn’t just push your own mom away!
Besides… for some reason, Little Qiu kind of liked it this way…?
Aah, but didn’t this make her look just like a seven-year-old throwing a tantrum to her mom?!
Luckily, Tang Yuzhu knew her daughter had grown up and needed to save face in front of friends.
Having reassured herself with the hug, Tang Yuzhu slowly released her and stepped back.
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with the back of her hand.
When she turned to Ye Zhibai and the other two—girls a generation younger than her—Tang Yuzhu’s weary eyes finally showed genuine gratitude and a faint sense of relief.
She had already thanked them many times.
To thank them more would disrespect the precious friendship they had given Yuqiu.
If she wanted to express gratitude, she would do it at home—tell Yuqiu all about it, let her know that her friends were truly exceptional.
“Miss Zhibai, Miss Zhiyun, Miss Zihan, today was… truly special for Yuqiu. When I get home, I’ll tell her dad all about it, so he knows she has friends as outstanding as you all. As for now… it’s getting late. I’ll take her home.”
“Heading home already?” Yun’er knew that, no matter the situation, a polite attempt to detain them was in order. “The amusement park’s night session closes most rides, but I hear there’s a fireworks show tonight. Not staying for that?”
“…Haha, if there’s a chance in the future, I’ll definitely let Yuqiu watch fireworks with you all. But today… well, I’m sure Miss Zhiyun noticed.”
“Ah… yes, indeed. I understand. I’ll arrange a car to take you home.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Yuzhu’s peripheral glance, full of warm concern, drifted to her left rear.
Su Yuqiu might have been beaming with satisfaction, but Tang Yuzhu could tell her breathing was still irregular—not just from the lingering thrill of the roller coaster.
Beyond the flare-ups of her illness, years of intermittent torment had left her constitution fragile.
An afternoon of rides, a barely touched lunch, and the high-intensity excitement just now—Yuqiu’s body simply couldn’t handle staying another few hours.
Su Yuqiu understood this herself. She might have pushed through if she hadn’t gotten her roller coaster fix earlier, but now that she was content, she respected her mother’s concern and cherished her own health.
Seeing how understanding her daughter was, Tang Yuzhu smiled warmly.
“Alright, before we go, didn’t you have a surprise to show your friends, Yuqiu?”
“Right! Can’t forget this! Yezi, come here—I’ve got something awesome to show you!”
“What is it… Uh?”
This time, it was Su Yuqiu who took the initiative, grabbing Ye Zhibai’s hand.
Just like “returning the favor” for when Ye Zhibai had suddenly clutched hers on the roller coaster.
Call it payback.
With Little Qiu’s strength, she couldn’t drag Ye Zhibai along, so Ye Zhibai jogged alongside her.
And it wasn’t just Ye Zhibai who followed.
Yun’er and Zihan naturally had to tag along and see what was up.
Guang Yu too.
But Yun’er’s focus was a bit different.
As she jogged behind, her gaze locked intensely on something rather telling.
“Their hands… holding again… sister’s hand… Hmph, Lin, let me tell you, coming to this amusement park was the worst idea ever… Heh heh…”
“Hey~ Snap out of it. And don’t try pinning this on me. You were just saying how glad we came because Little Bai’er was so happy. Now you’re flipping the script faster than turning a page?”
“Their hands… still holding…!”
“……”
Fine. Looked like it wasn’t just a matter of flipping moods.
Women’s hearts were impossible to read—deceptively simple yet utterly inscrutable.
After all.
Zihan was rolling her eyes even as she snuck glances at that snow-white hand up ahead.
Little Qiu didn’t lead them far.
