amusement park
With the crisp autumn air, it was the perfect time for an outing. Shen Ci kept his promise and took Qing Ran to the newly opened theme park.
This matter was reported to Sister Jin and Qi Shuo in advance, and the reason given was to "encourage Qing Ran to experience social situations and improve her adaptability," which is reasonable.
Although Qi Shuo was still a little annoyed that his little cabbage was about to be taken, seeing his sister's expectant and bright eyes and Shen Ci's consistently reliable and steady actions, he finally nodded with a straight face and only said curtly, "Be careful and come back soon."
Qi Shuo originally planned to have someone else accompany them, just to put their minds at ease, but strange things happened and no one in the family was available.
Sister Jin has to teach classes, Xiao Jue is busy with a case, Lin Ye Bank is working non-stop, Song Yungui still has many patients, Tan Huaiyu has to prepare materials, and he himself still has a lot of work to do.
Actually, Qin Zhou wasn't busy. He could have taken leave to accompany Qing Ran and Chen Ci, but just as he raised his hand to say something, Qing Ran ran to sit next to him, puffed out her cheeks, looked at him with her little hands clenched into fists, and said in a small, threatening voice, "Brother Qin Zhou, is there something you need?"
Qin Zhou immediately shut his mouth.
Of course, Qi Shuo knew nothing about all this. Helpless, he could only agree to let Shen Ci take Qing Ran out alone.
The park was colorful, filled with cheerful music, and brimming with children's laughter and screams.
As soon as Qingran entered, her eyes couldn't take it all in. She looked at the huge rainbow Ferris wheel over there, and then at the roller coaster rushing by over there. Her mouth was slightly open, and her face was full of wonder.
Shen Ci was incredibly patient throughout, holding her hand, avoiding the crowds, carefully asking about her wishes, and then taking her to play suitable, low-stimulation activities.
The carousel was brightly lit and the music was tinkling. Qingran chose a small white pony, and Shen Ci stood next to her on the large brown horse, his hand protectively around her.
The carousel slowly rotated and undulated. Qingran gripped the railing tightly, a little nervous at first, but quickly became captivated by the dreamlike atmosphere, giggling and turning to find Shen Ci: "Brother Shen! I'm flying!"
Looking at the pure joy on her face, Shen Ci's eyes and brows were as gentle as melting spring water, and he replied softly, "Yes, Ranran flies so steadily."
When they were playing bumper cars, Qingran was too scared to drive by herself at first, so Shenci let her sit in the passenger seat and took control of the steering wheel, leading her nimbly through the area, dodging collisions with other vehicles. Occasionally, he would take the initiative and gently touch the rear of other cars, making Qingran both nervous and excited. She would gasp softly, grip the handrail tightly, and her eyes would light up with an amazing gleam.
After playing for two laps, with Shen Ci's encouragement and "off-field guidance," she actually dared to try to control the direction herself. Although she drove crookedly and almost crashed into the guardrail, the sense of accomplishment after successfully "escaping" made her face flush with excitement.
The most thrilling ride was the pirate ship. Shen Ci carefully checked the safety devices and gently placed Qing Ran in the seat next to him. The pirate ship slowly started moving, swinging higher and higher, and waves of weightlessness washed over them.
Qingran was a little scared and instinctively closed her eyes, her small hands tightly gripping Shen Ci's arm. Shen Ci didn't say anything, but simply used his other hand to gently cover her clenched fist, his warm palm conveying silent comfort.
Feeling the reassuring warmth, Qingran's tense body slowly relaxed, and she secretly opened her eyes a crack, watching the ground beneath her feet getting farther and farther away, and then suddenly getting closer. When she swung to the highest point again, she finally couldn't help but let out a small, trembling cheer along with the crowd around her, her face showing a strange light that was a mixture of fear and excitement.
Shen Ci turned his head to look at her. The girl's hair was a little messy from the wind, her cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush from excitement and the breeze, and there was a little bit of physiological tear on her eyelashes caused by the stimulation, which glistened in the sunlight.
At that moment, Shen Ci felt that bringing her here was the right decision.
They also rode a slow sightseeing train, watched a fairy tale performance, and ate a cute children's meal at a themed restaurant.
Qingran was in a state of high excitement, her little mouth constantly talking and laughing, like a happy little bird. Shen Ci hardly played at all; his enjoyment seemed to lie entirely in watching Qingran experience these novelties, in every happy exclamation and every delighted smile she gave.
As the sun set, the lights in the park gradually illuminated, blending with the evening glow to create a gentle, warm hue. After an afternoon of fun, her energy was finally depleted. Stepping off the last gentle "spinning teacups," Qingran's steps began to falter, her eyelids started to droop, and her head bobbed up and down like a sleepy little chick.
"Tired?" Shen Ci stopped and bent down to ask her.
Qingran nodded groggily, her body involuntarily leaning closer to Shen Ci, mumbling indistinctly, "Brother Shen... sleepy..."
Shen Ci's heart softened instantly. He checked the time; there was still a while before his agreed meeting with Qi Shuo. He looked around and saw a relatively quiet bench with a streetlamp not far away. "Let's sit over there for a while and wait for your brother, okay?"
"Hmm..." Qingran was already so sleepy that she was not fully conscious. She was half-supported and half-carried by Shen Ci as she moved to the bench.
Shen Ci sat down first, then carefully pulled the drowsy Qing Ran over and let her sit sideways on his lap, with her back against his chest.
Qingran, who is 151cm tall, looked even more petite and delicate in the arms of Shen Ci, who is 185cm tall, like a fragile porcelain doll.
Shen Ci adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, then took off his thin trench coat and carefully covered her with it, even tucking it in to block the cool autumn breeze of the evening.
Qingran seemed to feel the familiar and reassuring aura and the warmth of being enveloped. She nuzzled her little head against his chest, found a more comfortable position, and her breathing quickly became even and long as she fell into a deep sleep.
Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she was dreaming of something happy.
Shen Ci leaned back on the bench, one arm firmly around her to prevent her from slipping, and with the other hand took out his phone to send a message to Qi Shuo, informing him of his exact location.
After doing all that, he didn't put away his phone or do anything else; he simply lowered his head slightly and looked at the girl sleeping peacefully in his arms.
The warm yellow glow of the streetlights cast a soft glow on her sleeping face, with a few unruly strands of hair falling across her smooth forehead. Shen Ci stared at her, somewhat mesmerized, and as if possessed, reached out his free hand, his fingertips lightly brushing away those few strands of hair, his movements incredibly gentle, as if touching a fragile dream.
The touch from his fingertips was delicate and warm. Shen Ci's heart felt as if it had been gently tickled by the softest part of a feather, sending a strange tingling sensation through him.
However, just as his fingertips were about to leave her forehead—
Perhaps sensing the gentle touch, or perhaps having a beautiful dream, Qingran, in her sleep, unconsciously and hazily tilted her head slightly upwards, following the reassuring source of warmth. Her soft lips unexpectedly and gently brushed against Shen Ci's cheek, which was so close to hers.
It's soft, moist, and carries a sweet scent unique to girls.
Like a feather, yet it carries the power of a wildfire.
boom--
Shen Ci froze.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely and stand still at that moment. The faint sounds of music, voices, and wind from the surrounding amusement park receded like a tide, leaving only complete silence.
He could only feel the fleeting yet incredibly clear soft touch on his cheek, and the sudden, uncontrolled, thunderous heartbeat pounding in his chest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Blood seemed to rush to his head in that instant, and his ears belatedly began to burn. He remained motionless, head bowed, fingers still suspended in mid-air, as if frozen in place. His mind went blank, leaving only the gentle touch and his frantic heartbeat echoing repeatedly.
He...was kissed?
Qingran... kissed my cheek?
Although I know this was entirely an unconscious act, a result of her being half-asleep, a sign of dependence, closeness, or a childlike instinct... but...
Shen Ci's breath hitched slightly, his deep eyes churning with a complex mix of emotions: shock, helplessness, a secret flutter of excitement, and many other unspoken turmoil.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the girl in his arms who was still sleeping soundly and had no idea that he had just been "ambushed". Her long eyelashes were like two small fans, quietly covering her.
She seemed to have simply done something perfectly natural, smacked her lips in her dream, snuggled deeper into his arms, and slept even more soundly.
Shen Ci's Adam's apple bobbed silently. His arms around Qing Ran tightened almost imperceptibly, but he forced himself to relax them the next second, afraid of waking her.
Beneath the trench coat, the girl's soft body nestled against him, conveying a heart-warming temperature through the thin fabric.
He should... push him away? Or at least, create some distance?
But his body defied reason, stiffening, clinging to this moment of tenderness and...throbbing. The evening breeze swept by, carrying the coolness of the autumn night, but it couldn't dispel the burning heat on his face and in his heart.
Just as Shen Ci was in a state of utter confusion, trying to calm his unusually out-of-control emotions and racing heartbeat—
"Shen, resign!"
A low, chilling growl, filled with suppressed anger, shattered the silence of this small space and Shen Ci's chaotic thoughts, like the coldest ice in December.
Shen Ci suddenly looked up.
Not far away, Qi Shuo had arrived at some point and was standing a few steps away. His face was so gloomy that it was almost dripping with water. His dark eyes were fixed on Qing Ran, who was fast asleep in Shen Ci's arms, and... Shen Ci's hand, which was still hanging on Qing Ran's face, and the suspicious stiffness and... blush on his face that had not yet faded.
Tan Huaiyu was tightly gripping Qi Shuo's arm, her expression a mixture of embarrassment, helplessness, and the anxious thought, "I knew this would happen." She lowered her voice and urged him urgently, "A-Shuo! Calm down! Ranran is asleep! It must have been unintentional! Don't be impulsive! Consider the situation!"
But Qi Shuo was clearly not listening. He stared intently at Shen Ci, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him whole and examine him inside and out. The veins on his forehead were throbbing, and his hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched into fists, the knuckles cracking.
Where's my knife?!
At this moment, Qi Shuo's mind was filled with only these three bold, enlarged, and looping words, as well as the insane thought of tearing Shen Ci, that bastard who dared to "touch" his sister, to pieces.
A chilly evening breeze rustled through the air. Shen Ci, cradling the sleeping Qing Ran on the bench, stiffened slightly as he faced his future brother-in-law, who was seething with rage, and his future sister-in-law, who was practically jumping up and down in frustration…
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, like a powder keg with its fuse lit.
Qi Shuo's angry growl startled Shen Ci, causing his arm to tremble slightly and almost causing him to drop his grip on Qing Ran.
He almost instinctively tightened his arms to hold the sleeping girl more securely before looking up and meeting Qi Shuo's eyes, which were practically spitting fire.
Tan Huaiyu clung tightly to Qi Shuo, practically hanging on his arm, and said urgently in a low voice, "A-Shuo! Look carefully! Ranran is asleep! Teacher Shen is just holding her! Don't scare Ranran!"
Qi Shuo's chest heaved violently twice, his gaze sharp as he scanned back and forth between Shen Ci's face and Qing Ran, who was sleeping soundly with a flushed face in his arms.
In the end, his worry for his sister overwhelmed his raging anger. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, but his face was still as black as the bottom of a pot. He strode to the bench, stretched out his hand, and squeezed out the words through gritted teeth: "Give it to me."
The tone was an unquestionable command.
Shen Ci had also recovered from his initial shock and agitation. The gentle touch on his cheek still seemed to linger, and his heart was still pounding erratically, but he knew very well that explaining that "she fell asleep by accident" would only add fuel to the fire.
He steadied himself, ignoring the strange ripples in his heart and the lingering heat on his face, and said in a low, steady tone, "She's asleep. Be careful."
As he spoke, he carefully lifted Qingran, who was wrapped in his trench coat, and handed her to Qi Shuo. During the movement, his fingertips inevitably touched Qi Shuo's outstretched arm briefly, and both men stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Chen Ci was embarrassed and at a loss.
Qi Shuo... uh... it means disdain.
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