Chapter 25: For the stars Do you want to...
Half an hour later, Wen Mu stood under the neon sign of "Starry Sky Paradise", looking at the bustling crowd in front of him with an expressionless face.
“…”
"So, you want me to accompany you to the amusement park?"
Song Xingran put his hands in his pockets and smiled brightly: "Hmm."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-three."
"Then do you know how old I am?"
"Twenty-eight."
Wen Mu took a deep breath and said, "I'm too old to go to the amusement park."
Song Xingran tilted his head to look at her, reached out, and gently poked her cheek with his fingertips: "Teacher Wen, you're not right to think this way."
"What's wrong?"
"Life isn't divided by age," he said cheerfully, his eyes reflecting the colorful lights of the amusement park. "Play when you want to, eat when you want to, love when you want to."
“This is the meaning of life.”
Wen Mu was stunned.
In Song Xingran's world, there seems to be no "should" or "should not", only "want" and "don't want".
Unlike her.
Maybe it's not different, it's just that she has never thought of living like Song Xingran.
Wen Mu was silent for a while, and finally sighed: "Let's go."
Song Xingran's eyes lit up.
Wen Mu: "Sister will play with you once."
"That's wrong," the man corrected with a smile. "You should say, 'Wife, play with you once.'"
Before Wen Mu could refute, he held her hand.
——This was the first time they held hands in the true sense.
It wasn't a drunken entanglement, nor was it interlocking fingers in bed, but like an ordinary couple, holding hands naturally at the entrance of an amusement park at night.
The man's palm was large, warm, and his fingertips were covered with calluses from years of steering. Wen Mu subconsciously curled his fingers, but he gripped them even tighter.
"Let's go." Song Xingran took her hand and strode into the paradise.
The night breeze carried the sweet aroma of popcorn. In the distance, the roller coaster track, entwined with colorful lights, twisted like a giant, luminous dragon into the night sky. The sounds of laughter, music, and screams mingled together, and the entire world seemed to be bathed in a dazzling syrup.
Wen Mu looked up and saw the neon lights all over the sky.
It seems that it is not that childish.
The carousel of Xingzhou Paradise is built in the central square. It is snow-white and decorated with warm yellow star-shaped light strings. It looks like a glowing fairy tale castle in the night.
Wen Mu stood outside the fence, watching a group of children excitedly climb onto the horses' backs, while their parents stood by and took pictures with their mobile phones.
She pursed her lips and turned to look at Song Xingran: "Are you serious?"
Song Xingran had already bought the tickets. Holding two pink tickets in his hand, he raised an eyebrow at her and said, "Why, Teacher Wen doesn't dare?"
"It's not that I don't dare." Wen Mu pushed his glasses, "I just think it's unnecessary."
"How can there be so many 'necessary' things in life?" He smiled and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in directly. "Just have fun."
The wooden horse slowly turned, and melodious music from a music box flowed into the night. Wen Mu chose a white unicorn, while Song Xingran lazily leaned on the golden carriage beside her, one long leg casually propped up, staring at her intently.
"Why are you looking at me?" Wen Mu felt uncomfortable being stared at.
"You look good." Song Xingran laughed maliciously, "Teacher Wen, do you know that you look special when you sit on the carousel-"
"Special what?"
"It looks like they were kidnapped."
"Princess."
Wen Mu: "..."
Tie up your uncle!
She didn't bother to pay attention to him and turned to look around. The carousel rose higher and higher, and the night view of the park spread out in her sight.
In the distance, the colorful lights of the Ferris wheel are like a string of glowing pearls, the tracks of the roller coaster draw smooth arcs in the night sky, and the laughter of the crowd is softened by the music, becoming hazy and distant.
The night breeze blows across your cheeks, bringing pleasant comfort.
"Teacher Wen."
Wen Mu turned his head.
“Click.”
The flash went off.
Wen Mu said calmly: "You are infringing on the right of portrait."
Song Xingran curled his lips and smiled: "Why, do you still want to sue me?"
"My princess."
Wen Mu turned her head away. She felt that the person she had brought back was not a prince charming, but a beast.
The wooden horse slowly stopped, and Wen Mu just stood up when she felt a wave of dizziness. She stumbled and held onto the railing, her face slightly pale.
Song Xingran immediately jumped off the carriage and supported her: "Did you faint?"
"Um."
"puff."
Wen Mu looked up and glared at him: "What are you laughing at?"
"A PhD in astronomy, and you got dizzy after riding a carousel?" Song Xingran suppressed a laugh and reached out to smooth her wind-blown hair. "Teacher Wen, are you okay?"
Wen Mu wanted to refute, but the churning feeling in her stomach made her bite her lip and remain silent.
Song Xingran stopped teasing, patted her back gently with one hand, and took out a tissue from his pocket with the other hand and handed it to her.
"If you feel uncomfortable, don't force yourself." His tone softened a little, "Come on, I'll take you to eat something to calm you down."
In front of the snack stand in the amusement park, Song Xingran bought a grilled sausage and gave it to Wen Mu, but he himself held up a ball of pink marshmallows, took a bite, and the sugar threads stuck to the corners of his mouth.
Wen Mu stared at him, his eyes unable to hide his speechlessness: "You eat marshmallows?"
"No?" Song Xingran raised an eyebrow. "Sweets can make people feel better."
"I thought you'd be more into beer and barbecue or something."
"That's usually the case." He leaned closer to her, his eyes fixed on her cherry lips, and lowered his voice, "But now, I want to taste something sweet."
Wen Mu turned his face away, took a bite of the sausage, and didn't respond.
Song Xingran held Wen Mu's hand, and they stood at the entrance of the bumper car park, one holding a grilled sausage and the other holding a marshmallow.
Wen Mu stared at the vehicles running amok in the stadium, frowning slightly: "Let's forget about this."
Song Xingran took a bite of the marshmallow, the sugar threads sticking to the corners of his lips: "Are you afraid of losing?"
"No." Wen Mu took a bite of the sausage calmly, "It's not suitable."
"How can there be so many questions about suitability?" He tilted his head to look at her, the colorful lights of the amusement park reflected in his eyes.
Suddenly he lowered his voice again: "Look, we have been getting along for so long, aren't we a good match now?"
"Song Xingran!"
Wen Mu really wanted to pry open his brain to see what was inside.
The man suddenly came closer, his breath brushed against her ear, and he lowered his voice and said, "Teacher Wen, if you don't play, I will kiss you here."
Wen Mu: "..."
She looked up and met his teasing gaze.
He's serious. This guy can definitely do it.
"Let's play." She gritted her teeth.
"I hit you hard, don't cry."
"Teacher Wen, I said this last night."
Song Xingran smiled triumphantly and pulled her into the venue.
The bumper car arena was bustling with people. More than a dozen brightly colored cars were running around in the arena. Children were screaming and chasing each other, while parents were smiling and directing the children from the side.
Wen Mu chose a blue car. Just as he sat down, Song Xingran drove straight towards him in a red car.
"Bang!"
Her car was knocked around in a circle.
Wen Mu held onto the steering wheel and glared at him: "Song Xingran!"
"Here I am." He propped his chin up with one hand and smiled freely, "Teacher Wen, bumper cars are fun only when they bump into each other."
After saying that, he stepped on the accelerator again and crashed into us.
Wen Mu was knocked back and almost bit her tongue. She took a deep breath, gripped the steering wheel, and decided to fight back.
But this man's driving skills were so good that he seemed to be able to predict her every turn. Every time she was about to speed up, he would easily avoid her and even find the time to raise his eyebrows at her and smile arrogantly.
It's really a waste of talent for a racing driver to drive a bumper car.
"You..." Wen Mu gritted his teeth and stepped on the accelerator again to catch up.
But Song Xingran's car was like it was greased with oil, weaving through the crowd flexibly, and she couldn't catch up at all.
"Sister, your boyfriend drives so well!" A little girl sitting in her father's car shouted to Wen Mu.
Wen Mu: "..."
When Song Xingran heard this, he smiled even more proudly. He even held the steering wheel with one hand and waved at the little girl with the other hand: "Thank you for the compliment!"
"But, not my boyfriend."
"It's my husband!"
Wen Mu took a deep breath and decided to change his strategy.
She stopped chasing him and pretended to give up, slowly circling around the edge of the field.
Song Xingran really took the bait and drove towards her, yelling, "Teacher Wen, do you surrender?"
Wen Mu didn't answer, but just turned the steering wheel suddenly the moment he approached.
"Bang!"
The two cars collided violently.
Song Xingran was knocked back and almost slipped off his seat. He was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Of course, Teacher Wen!"
Wen Mu finally raised the corner of her mouth, but before she could be proud for long, Song Xingran stepped on the accelerator and pushed her car backwards until her car hit the fence with a "clang".
He supported the steering wheel with one hand, leaned over to her, and smiled like a teenager who had succeeded in a prank: "Unfortunately, I still won."
Wen Mu looked up at him.
His black hair was messed up by the wind, and sweat was oozing from his forehead, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, and there was a bit of marshmallow filaments at the corner of his mouth.
He really fits in here.
Free, passionate, and carefree.
Just like his life, always rushing forward and always full of vigor and vitality.
The music stopped and the game ended.
Song Xingran jumped out of the car and reached out to pull her up. After Wen Mu stood firm, she tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tighter.
"Next project?" he asked.
Wen Mu looked at the flashing Ferris wheel in the distance and pointed in that direction.
Tonight, maybe I can indulge myself a little more.
On the way to the Ferris wheel, Wen Mu suddenly stopped.
Song Xingran followed her gaze. A spooky haunted house stood on the side of the road, a tattered curtain hanging at the entrance, and faint screams could be heard from inside.
"Want to play this?" He raised his eyebrows.
Wen Mu nodded.
Song Xingran's Adam's apple rolled slightly, but he still smiled with ease: "Teacher Wen, I didn't expect you to like this kind of excitement?"
"It's okay." Wen Mu pushed his glasses up, "I just feel like I'm already here."
Song Xingran: “…”
He stared at the dark entrance of the haunted house and was silent for two seconds. Suddenly, he put his arm around her shoulders and said cheerfully, "The Ferris wheel is more romantic. Why don't we just—"
"Are you afraid?" Wen Mu saw through his little thoughts and turned to look into his eyes.
Song Xingran immediately straightened his back: "Who's scared? I just think it's boring."
"Oh." Wen Mu nodded and made to leave. "Then I'll go by myself."
"Wait!" Song Xingran grabbed her wrist and gritted his teeth, "Go, go, go, okay?"
The inside of the haunted house is darker than expected.
The cold air was filled with a faint musty smell, and there was an uneven "stone road" underfoot. Pale white skull lamps were hung on the walls on both sides, and occasionally a green light flashed.
Song Xingran walked behind Wen Mu, pretending to be calm at first, and even commented in a deliberately provocative tone: "This prop is too fake, who would be scared by it?"
Wen Mu ignored him and continued walking forward.
Sudden.
"Bang!"
A "corpse" hung upside down from the ceiling, almost touching Song Xingran's face.
“Oh my god!!!”
He suddenly hugged Wen Mu from behind, his arms tightly around him, his voice distorted: "Don't go, don't go! Wait a minute!"
Wen Mu was strangled by him and almost couldn't breathe. He said helplessly: "Okay, I won't leave."
Song Xingran buried his face in her shoulder, breathing rapidly. After a long while, he asked dully, "Is he gone?"
Wen Mu glanced at the "corpse" that had already shrunk back into the ceiling and said, "Yeah."
“…”
"Aren't you letting go yet?"
I have already lost face, and now that I have someone in my arms, I cannot lose it anymore.
Song Xingran simply hugged her tighter and said confidently, "I'm scared."
Wen Mu glanced down.
"I mean, do you want to watch where you put your hands?"
The man was startled at the words and lowered his head. His hand was resting squarely on the hillock, the soft curve beneath his palm.
One in each hand, fair distribution.
The air froze for a second.
“…”
He pulled his hand back as if he had been electrocuted, his ears red as if bleeding.
"I-I didn't mean it!"
We've touched each other so many times in bed, why are you blushing now?
Wen Mu turned around, his eyes narrowed slightly: "How did you do it, to locate it so accurately?"
Song Xingran took a half step back, his Adam's apple rolling, his eyes wandering: "Maybe it's a stress reaction?"
Although he said this, his face had already returned to that annoying expression. He even moved his fingers deliberately, as if he was savoring the touch just now.
Wen Mu pushed his glasses expressionlessly, turned around and continued walking forward.
"Wait!" Song Xingran immediately caught up and grabbed her wrist, "Walk slower!"
"Are you scared?" Wen Mutou didn't reply.
"Who's afraid?" The man still spoke stubbornly, but his fingers quietly slipped into her fingers and interlocked theirs.
"I'm afraid you'll get lost."
coward.
Wen Mu didn't expose him and let him hold her hand.
The man's palms were slightly sweaty, but he clenched his hands tightly, as if he was grabbing a life-saving straw.
The haunted house was deep and winding, with ghosts popping out from the shadows from time to time. Every time he encountered one, Song Xingran would get closer to Wen Mu. By the end of the walk, he was practically hanging onto Wen Mu.
"Song Xingran," Wen Mu stopped, "You're blocking my way."
"I'm cold." He simply put his chin on her shoulder and breathed in her ear, "Let me hug you."
Wen Mu turned his head to look at him. His eyelashes were trembling slightly and he almost didn't dare to look up.
"It's up to you." She finally said lightly and continued walking forward.
Song Xingran became more and more aggressive. He put his arms around her waist and hung on her back like a giant sloth, forcing Wen Mu to drag him forward.
"Teacher Wen, your hands are so cold."
"Teacher Wen, you smell so good."
"Teacher Wen, you are so soft."
"temperature……"
"stop."
"Teacher Wen," he whispered in her ear, "Don't tell anyone about this after you leave."
"What?" Wen Mu asked knowingly.
"It's just that I'm afraid of ghosts." Song Xingran's voice was filled with rare embarrassment. "If this gets out, my reputation will be ruined."
A lifetime of fame? Does he really have that?
Wen Mu suppressed the corner of his mouth: "It depends on your performance."
"My performance wasn't good enough?" Song Xingran immediately returned to his provocative tone, his warm breath blowing behind her ears. "Who was it the night before last—"
"Shut up." Wen Mu's ears felt hot and he quickened his pace.
When he finally saw the light of the exit, Song Xingran breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's it?" He put his hands in his pockets and looked at Wen Mu with a raised eyebrow. "It's not challenging at all."
It was as if the person who was trembling just now was not him.
Is this man mentally ill?
Wen Mu felt somewhat.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to call her "wife" in a sweet way in bed while keeping my foot on the accelerator and not braking at all.
She didn't bother to pay attention to him and walked straight to the Ferris wheel not far away.
Song Xingran quickly followed and naturally took her hand.
"Are you angry?" He tilted his head to look at her, his eyes sparkling in the neon lights.
"No." Wen Mu said lightly, "I just think someone is very naive."
He seemed to be used to her saying this to him, and instead of feeling ashamed, he felt proud: "Thank you for the compliment."
Most of the people queuing in front of the Ferris wheel are couples. The two of them are tall and good-looking, which makes people in front of them look back frequently.
The man pulled her closer to his arms, and placed his big hand on her forehead, covering half of her face.
Wen Mu looked up at the huge wheel that was slowly turning. The colorful lights outlined its shape, and it looked like a bright moon in the night sky.
"Is this your first time riding a Ferris wheel?" Song Xingran asked.
Wen Mu shook his head: "I sat on it when I was a child, a long time ago."
"With whom?"
"My parents." Wen Mu paused. "I was about ten years old at that time. After that, I was busy with school and never came to the amusement park again."
Song Xingran looked at her thoughtfully: "Teacher Wen, is your life going according to plan, with every step clearly planned?"
"Almost." Wen Mu admitted frankly, "I like things that are controllable."
Just like getting married, she felt that she had reached the age to get married, so she started to consider it, and then she got married.
"Like stars?"
"No."
"The stars are precisely the most uncontrollable."
Wen Mu rarely spoke a word. "They are born, evolve, and die according to the laws of the universe, not human will. We can only observe, calculate, and predict, but we can never truly control them."
Song Xingran blinked: "It sounds romantic."
"Romantic?" Wen Mu was a little surprised. "Most people find astronomy boring."
"Uncontrollable things are interesting." Song Xingran said with a smile, "It's like racing. You never know what will happen next. That feeling of uncertainty..."
“It’s addictive.”
Wen Mu wanted to ask him a question, but it happened to be their turn to get on the Ferris wheel.
The staff opened the cabin door, and Song Xingran gentlemanly let Wen Mu go first, then he squeezed into the narrow space and sat next to her.
The hatch closed and the Ferris wheel slowly rose.
The night view of Ningchuan spreads out beneath your feet, and the lights of thousands of homes are like a galaxy reflected on the ground.
"Why did you choose racing?" Wen Mu took the initiative to speak.
Song Xingran leaned against the glass, his profile flickering in the colorful lights: "Because I hate being bound."
"You know, my family is a family of scholars. My older brothers studied in the United States or the United Kingdom. My parents hoped that I would follow their example and pursue an academic career. But I knew from a young age that I wasn't cut out for studying."
"Many times I wondered why I didn't inherit the gene for reading. But I soon figured it out."
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
The man raised his eyebrows proudly: "Because I have a most special talent that my eldest and second brothers don't have."
He smiled, his eyes drifting off into the distance: "I was ten years old when I secretly drove a go-kart for the first time. The feeling of speed was like flying."
“That’s when I knew that was the life I wanted.”
Wen Mu: "Mom and Dad don't agree?"
"More than I disagree." Song Xingran sneered, "My dad almost broke my legs, but I don't care. I'm alone in Europe. Eating, training, competing, that's all I do in life. I started from the lowest level of competition and worked my way up to where I am now."
"I'm pretty awesome now, aren't I?" he asked her back.
Wen Mu looked at his shining eyes when he spoke, and suddenly understood why this man was invincible on the court.
There was pure dedication and love in his eyes.
In a sense, they are very similar.
"What about you?" Song Xingran turned to her, "Why did you choose Xingxing?"
Wen Mu was silent for a moment: "Because they are eternal."
"eternal?"
"Human life is short, and civilization is fleeting. But stars are not. Their light has traveled billions of years to reach Earth, telling us the story of the universe." Wen Mu's voice was soft but firm. "I want to understand those stories."
Song Xingran stared at her intently.
This seemingly old-fashioned and cold woman hides such a romantic and persistent heart under her suspender skirt and gold-rimmed glasses.
"Teacher Wen," he suddenly leaned closer, "Has anyone ever told you that when you talk about the stars..."
"Particularly charming?"
Wen Mu turned his face away to hide his slightly hot cheeks: "No."
"Then I'm the first one." The man smiled proudly.
"It's my pleasure."
The Ferris wheel continued to rise and was already halfway up.
Song Xingran played with her fingers restlessly and suddenly asked her, "Do you know the legend of the Ferris wheel?"
"What legend?"
"When the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point," he deliberately drawled out his voice, his eyes ambiguously fixed, "lovers who kiss will be together forever."
Wen Mu turned his head away: "Superstition."
"Besides, we are not lovers."
"It won't hurt to try." Song Xingran moved closer, his nose almost touching her cheek.
Wen Mu was unmoved: "I have no interest in superstitious activities."
"This is not superstition, this is tradition."
Song Xingran didn't give up and gently stroked her palm with his fingers.
"Tradition is also a form of superstition."
The man leaned back in his seat in frustration, crossing his legs: "Teacher Wen, you are so boring."
Wen Mu: "You only know now?"
Song Xing turned his head to look out the window in anger, but he still held her hand tightly. Wen Mu looked at his childish profile and couldn't help but feel a little soft-hearted.
He looks fierce, but he is actually surprisingly easy to understand.
Are all young men like this?
Wen Mu didn't know, but she felt that it didn't seem that annoying.
The Ferris wheel was about to reach its highest point, offering a panoramic view of the entire city at night. Although the man was angry, he would occasionally steal glances at her, then at the increasingly approaching apex, his intentions so obvious that they were almost written on his face.
Wen Mu pretended not to notice his little action and just enjoyed the scenery.
The apex has arrived.
The Ferris wheel paused slightly, as if time had stopped at that moment.
"Song Xingran."
"what."
"Would you like to kiss me?"
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Date at the amusement park [starry eyes][starry eyes]
I'm thinking about whether to update more on the weekend. Thank you all for your support and encouragement! [shy]
I hope everyone can leave more comments!
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