After quickly tidying up, Jiang Cheng took Pei Xi to wash her hands.
There was a water storage area in the open courtyard. Jiang Cheng scooped a ladle of water from the bucket, roughly rinsed himself, and then said to Pei Xi, "Give me your hand, I'll rinse it for you."
Pei Xi rolled up his sleeves and then obediently extended his hand.
Her fair and slender fingers were covered in mud and grime. Jiang Cheng slowly rinsed the dirty areas, while Pei Xi gently rubbed them under the running water.
The ladle of water was used up, and my hands were washed clean.
Jiang Cheng lowered his head and checked it for a moment, then said, "I'll go get it for you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Pei Xi suddenly raised his hand and flicked the water off his face.
Jiang Cheng subconsciously squinted and turned his head to avoid it.
Unable to dodge in time, a drop of water still landed on his face, sliding down his forehead and slowly down to his chin.
Pei Xi looked at his face, her hands awkwardly frozen in mid-air.
She froze the moment she flicked the water away. She often teased Pei Zhi like this, so what she did just now was a conditioned reflex without thinking.
Jiang Cheng seemed a little stunned as well, looking down at her and raising his eyebrows slightly in surprise.
His eyes held an inscrutable emotion.
One looked up, the other looked down, and the two stared at each other, their gazes seemingly intertwined.
Pei Xi subconsciously held his breath.
That feeling of my heart racing is back.
She clearly saw the drop of water slide down Jiang Cheng's chin, tracing a perfect arc across his strong, handsome features.
However, the next second, Jiang Cheng suddenly turned his head, raised his hand, and wiped it away.
Pei Xi suddenly came to his senses.
She said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
Jiang Chengqing shook his head, "It's okay, I'll go get you some tissues to wipe your hands."
"good."
Pei Xi nodded, and Jiang Cheng went back into the house to get her some tissues so she could dry her hands.
After they finished packing, the two locked the door and headed to the amusement park together.
The amusement park was very close to Jiang Cheng's house, only a few hundred meters away, and the two of them could walk there in just a few minutes.
Despite being mentally prepared, Pei Xi was still somewhat shocked when she actually saw what was in front of her.
The ornate iron gate was already covered in rust, making a creaking sound when touched, and rusty iron sheets were falling off in a rustling sound.
Upon entering, it became clear that the once enormous and towering Ferris wheel had been dismantled, leaving only a bare base.
The carousel has been completely weathered, its once colorful shell now covered in a layer of gray and white from years of wind and rain, and overgrown with weeds all around.
There was also a tattered and deflated balloon in the lawn, its original shape no longer recognizable.
Pei Xi stood there watching quietly, without saying a word for a moment.
The power of time was displayed before her in a very concrete way.
The bustling and prosperous scene here is still vivid in her mind. She can even remember where the carts were and where the roasted sweet potato stalls were.
But now there's nothing left.
All that remains is a dilapidated, abandoned facility, like a frail old man, lonely and watching over this place.
Pei Xi suddenly realized that something was missing from his painting.
Because she hasn't seen what it's like now, she always lacks the imagination to grasp the passage of time.
Pei Xi took a deep breath; she thought she probably understood.
She was standing right next to the carousel, in the background of that group photo.
“I loved riding the carousel when I was little.” Pei Xi turned her head to look at Jiang Cheng, a nostalgic smile on her face.
Jiang Cheng remained silent.
He had never sat there before, so he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Pei Xi seemed to have gotten used to his taciturnity and didn't mind, continuing, "But Pei Zhi doesn't like it. I always pester him to sit with me, and he always acts awkward, saying that only girls like to sit on these things. But he still sits with me every time."
"Do you like it here?" Jiang Cheng suddenly asked.
He could hear the nostalgia in Pei Xi's words.
Pei Xi nodded.
“I came here many times when I was little, and I was always very happy when I came,” she said.
Pei Xi looked at Jiang Cheng, smiled at him, and suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, I also met a little boy once."
Jiang Cheng's gaze suddenly paused.
Pei Xi pointed to a broken section of the fence next to him and continued, "He sold balloons here. He was about my age. It was winter then, and it was very cold. His hands were covered in frostbite."
An incredulous look flashed across Jiang Cheng's eyes. He hadn't expected that Pei Xi... would actually remember.
He looked away and suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.
Then Pei Xi's voice came from beside her: "Do you know why I can still remember him?"
Jiang Cheng's Adam's apple bobbed twice, and his hands, which were in his pockets, clenched into fists. He remained silent for several seconds before speaking with some difficulty: "You think he's pitiful, right?"
"Yes." Pei Xi nodded.
Jiang Cheng instantly felt his throat tighten and harden.
But then he heard Pei Xi say, "But more than anything, I think he's amazing."
Pei Xi's tone was somewhat incredulous and admiring: "I don't know why he had such a hard time, but he's really amazing. While I was still being pampered by my parents and brother, he was already able to earn money on his own."
Pei Xi continued talking to himself, unaware that Jiang Cheng had stopped talking.
He looked at Pei Xi's profile and was momentarily at a loss for words.
He has heard a lot from other people since he was a child.
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