Chapter Sixty-Three
The amusement park was crowded with people, and it was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights everywhere. Even the flower-shaped streetlights along the road were multicolored and brighter than during the day.
You Congxi leaned against the railing, watching idly as a ten-year-old girl and an eighteen-year-old boy sat together in a cartoon teapot-shaped shaker cup, spinning around.
You Youyi insisted that You Congxi accompany her. What a joke! How could You Congxi, who was carrying a ten-pound burden on his shoulders, ride such a childish amusement ride?
Yu Youyi stared at her expectantly, and without thinking, she pushed Shen Yue, who was engrossed in playing the role of a bodyguard, out to coax the child.
The two disliked each other, one pouting and the other pursing their lips, and reluctantly sat on the cartoon teapot cup.
Yu Congxi was pondering whether to buy a giant ice cream to reward the person who had worked hard to coax the child when the alarm rang and she heard the familiar maniacal laughter.
She looked over in surprise, paused for a moment, and then, after realizing what had happened, was completely convinced.
Shen Yue gripped the central rod that controlled the rotation speed, laughing wildly as he shook it frantically.
Sitting opposite her, You Youyi's arms and legs were not even half the length of Chen Yue's, so she naturally couldn't compete with him. She could only hug the cup tightly, close her eyes, and scream wildly, like a mad myna bird.
The surrounding cups were slowly spinning peacefully, with people taking photos with their phones. But the cup in the middle, which looked like it was on drugs, was completely out of place. Not only was it spinning wildly, but a large one on top of it was laughing maniacally, and a smaller one was shouting arrogantly.
All eyes within a ten-meter radius were fixed on this mutated spinning cup.
After pausing briefly at You Congxi, he decisively turned around and, pretending to be a stranger, sat down on a bench about 200 meters away.
I can't bear the shame.
She scrolled through her phone listlessly, sending Jing Ling a message saying she'd be home late and not to worry. As she exited the chat, her gaze lingered on a certain nickname for a second.
Yu Junya sent her a message just now at the amusement park ticket booth.
Xiaoxi, thank you for your help tonight. I'll reimburse you for the expenses.
Five minutes later, she sent another message, which she didn't see.
-Thanks.
After stroking the edge of his phone a few times, You Congxi didn't return. A shout came from not far away.
"sister!"
She turned off her phone, tossed it back into her pocket, and looked up.
Yu Youyi skipped and hopped toward her, munching on an ice cream.
Surprisingly, I didn't vomit.
You Congxi, recalling the speed at which they had spun earlier, raised an eyebrow in surprise. She then turned her gaze to the pretentious man with one hand in his pocket: "Oh, you passed the astronaut selection?"
Shen Yue coughed lightly, his expression finally breaking down. He grinned at her, as if seeking praise: "How about that? Am I amazing?"
"Go away," You Youyi pushed him away, snuggled closer to her sister, took the ice cream she had been licking in her mouth and held it to You Congxi's lips, "Sister, you eat."
You Congxi immediately tilted her head back, distancing herself from the drool-worthy ice cream.
"I'll decline, huh?" Before You Congxi could even refuse, Shen Yue returned the favor in kind, shoving away You Youyi's wrist as she held up the ice cream. "You're so rude."
"Sister! Look at him!!" You Youyi lost her temper, no longer caring about feeding her sister shit, and turned to glare at the annoying man, her big eyes practically spitting fire.
"What are you looking at?" Shen Yue finally understood the fun of teasing children. No wonder there were always those weird uncles who made people grit their teeth when he was a kid. He pinched his ear and made a face. "Can't hit me, can't hit me, nyah nyah nyah."
"I'm going to kill you!!!" You Youyi stopped eating her ice cream and screamed as she raised her leg to punch the male fox spirit.
Shen Yue, of course, wasn't going to stand still and wait to die. As he ran, he turned back to taunt him: "Hehe, you can't catch me, you can't catch me~"
You Youyi was furious. The two of them played a game of chasing each other around You Congxi, running and chasing, screaming and laughing wildly.
Finally, You Congxi ended the fight by slapping someone.
Finally, it was quiet in my ears.
Shen Yue didn't know what promise he made, but You Youyi finally stopped glaring at him and obediently took You Congxi's right hand and walked to the side. He also sneakily moved to You Congxi's left side, their shoulders getting closer and closer...
You Congxi didn't notice; her mind was filled with that phone call with Yu Junya from a little earlier, the woman on the phone who always maintained her composure no matter what... This was the first time she had heard Yu Junya's desperate pleas and her cries of relief after surviving a disaster.
She glanced down at the carefree child munching on a crispy cone.
The heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart, making it hard to breathe, was lifted a little.
The resentment is real, the hatred is real, and the love... is also real.
Humans are born with a thirst for parental love. Whether it's an ant on the roadside or a human who considers himself the master of the earth, no one wants to be an island, and love is the umbilical cord that connects these islands.
Fatherly love and motherly love are the two umbilical cords that first formed on a small, isolated island.
Looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar younger sister, she felt as if she were seeing herself from back then.
Jing Ling didn't hit her, but he rarely interfered with her either.
The life of wandering and living under the roof of others after her parents' divorce was just like the lashes that struck You Youyi's arm.
The difference is that a puncture wound on flesh can heal and fade with medicine, but a puncture wound to the heart is incurable.
What they had in common was that Yu Youyi's purlins were treated with medicine by her, and Yu Congxi's purlins were also treated with medicine by her herself.
It was only now that I realized that humans do not necessarily need the original two umbilical cords to survive.
An isolated island is self-sufficient.
At this moment, her left hand was tightly stuck to a noisy little island, while on her right... she silently curled the corner of her mouth, her fingers twitched slightly, and she took the initiative to grab the cable that was being extended to her, leading to a new world.
If this island has wildflowers, grass, fish, birds, squirrels, strangely shaped tree holes, and rushing streams and rivers... one day, it will attract another island that resonates with you. It might be a passerby, a good friend to chat with, or even a lover who shares your feelings.
Shen Yue instantly shut his incessant chattering mouth like a chicken with its neck being choked.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Hmph," You Youyi's pent-up frustration instantly dissipated, and she triumphantly swaggered at the annoying male fox spirit, "Defeated opponent!"
Shen Yue had no time to deal with the elementary school student's provocation. He felt like he was stepping on cotton candy, like he was dreaming.
He quickly turned his head to glance at the girl whose expression was unreadable, then turned back, his shoulders tense as if he was enduring something.
They arrived at a place resembling a small market, with stalls adorned with colorful lights on both sides. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, laughing and talking, and children crying filled the air. In this noisy environment where you couldn't hear each other unless you raised your voice, You Congxi could still hear the pounding of her own heart.
Their hands were warm, like two freshly cooked sticky rice cakes stuck together.
She subconsciously relaxed her grip.
"Sister!" You Youyi tugged at her hand, "I want that little bunny mask!"
"Which one? I'll buy it for you." Shen Yue responded readily, taking the girl's hand tightly again. He was very generous to the child picking out masks at the stall, saying, "Pick whatever you like."
He squeezed the girl's slender fingers, turned his face, and raised his eyebrows: "Which one does our little fish want? I'll buy it for you too."
The moment he finished speaking, he was slapped hard on the arm.
In the end, You Youyi still bought the little rabbit one, while Shen Yue picked out a little fox one for You Congxi. You Congxi refused to wear it, so Shen Yue had to ask for a bag to carry it in his hand.
After strolling around for a while, Shen Yue and You Youyi's relationship progressed very rapidly.
The reason was that Shen Yue was very generous and bought You Youyi whatever she wanted. For a child from a strict family, this was like a mouse falling into a granary. She forgave the male fox spirit for all his provocations and willingly started calling him "brother".
"Brother, you're such a nice guy!" You Youyi walked out of the shooting stall with a big pile of food and toys, completely satisfied.
You Congxi sighed as he looked at his good-for-nothing younger sister.
Looking at You Youyi, her eyes sparkling as she clutched her spoils, Shen Yue felt as if he were seeing a miniature, perhaps even happier, version of You Congxi. His heart softened, and he ruffled her hair: "What else do you want? Tell me! As long as your sister is happy, I'll buy the entire amusement park."
You Youyi wanted to ride the bumper cars, but You Congxi, of course, wouldn't participate in such a crude and childish amusement ride, so he sat down on a bench two hundred meters away.
She watched as Shen Yue was pulled by You Youyi towards the bumper car area. That tall, arrogant boy was willing to play childish games with a primary school kid for her sake.
She licked the cool orange-flavored ice cream, but felt something in her heart rapidly becoming hot and melting.
Shen Yue lifted the child into the car and then stepped in himself.
He glanced at You Congxi not far away, then hesitated for a moment before looking at the child beside him who was intently trying to hit someone with his car: "Um..."
Before he could finish speaking, with a "bang," he was jolted back and slumped against the back of his chair. A little boy next to him chuckled and made a gesture towards them.
"That bitch!" Before Shen Yue could speak, You Youyi went berserk again, slamming on the gas and speeding forward. "Watch this!"
"...Xiaoxi's sister," Shen Yue said with a hint of helplessness, gripping the handrail beside him. Amidst the clanging and banging sounds from the arena, he continued, "Isn't your brother good to you?"
"Okay, brother, you're so good to me... Watch my super invincible car crash!" You Youyi didn't even have time to turn her face, she stared at the little boy in front of her and crashed into him.
Bang!
There was another sound.
Shen Yue sighed, but after thinking about his purpose, he still said amidst the violent children's revelry, "Then do me a favor..."
"......"
"There are fireworks ahead," You Congxi said, suppressing a laugh as she looked at the two people who were walking unsteadily. "Want to watch?"
Before the three of them even reached the fireworks display area, a dazzling display of colors exploded in the sky.
"Wow—" You Youyi looked up at the sky, her mouth slightly open in shock.
There were many people watching the fireworks. You Congxi held tightly to the little girl's clothes on her shoulders, with a big baby following beside her.
Even the eldest son, a burden, exclaimed without any self-respect, "Wow!"
Fireworks burst one after another, accompanied by hushed gasps from all around. The lights dimmed, leaving only the light and shadow of the exploding fireworks reflected on everyone's faces.
When her sleeve was tugged, You Congxi looked down and felt something hard touch her hand.
It's the little fox mask that Shen Yue insisted on buying earlier.
You Youyi pushed it up again, indicating that You Congxi should put it on.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she took the mask.
“Hey,” she called out, turning her face with her mask in hand, “Chen Yue.”
"Hmm?" Shen Yue turned her head, just as a firework exploded, the light shining down on her eyes.
Something bumped his nose, and he instinctively closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he was stunned for a moment before realizing that part of his vision had been blocked by the mask.
"What did you say?" Shen Yue saw the girl's lips move as if she said something, but the fireworks around them were too loud, and he couldn't hear a word.
He leaned slightly forward, turned his face to the side, and whispered in his ear.
The mask blocked his peripheral vision, and he could only see blue fireworks exploding all over the sky.
The crowd around them was counting down in unison, as if the fireworks display was about to end and the grand finale fireworks were about to be ignited.
"ten!"
“I said—” the girl’s voice rang in my ears.
"Nine!"
Shen Yue waited for a while.
"eight!"
The air was filled with endless noise.
"seven!"
He couldn't help but want to turn his head, but not being able to see You Congxi made him a little anxious.
"six!"
A rustling sound of fabric rubbing together.
"five!"
His head was held down and turned around, and the mask he had just put on was taken off.
"Close your eyes."
"Four!"
Shen Yue did as instructed without thinking.
"three!"
The noise around them was put on pause, and the whole world was just the two of them.
"two!"
A warm, moist spot was imprinted on the thin eyelid.
"one!"
The fireworks were deafening, but this time he could finally hear them clearly—
"Shen Yue, let's be together."
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