The car pulled into the amusement park, and Cecilia Ye’s eyes lit up.
Luckily, it wasn’t the weekend, so there weren’t too many people—just about a dozen in line at the ticket gate.
Fu Zhiyie drew Cecilia Ye over to the end of the line. A few young girls who looked like students stood nearby, their gazes drifting toward them.
“Wow, he’s so handsome! And that girl is so pretty!”
“I can’t take it! They look so good together—I’m about to faint!”
“If I could snap a photo and post it online, it would totally blow up!”
Their whispered chatter floated into Cecilia Ye’s ears. Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed and she unconsciously edged closer to Fu Zhiyie, feeling a bit shy.
Fu Zhiyie’s face remained cool as ever. He rested his hand on Cecilia Ye’s shoulder, pulling her a little closer to him, which set off another round of delighted squeals from the girls.
Soon it was their turn, and the two of them entered the amusement park.
Looking down at Cecilia Ye, who found everything fascinating, Fu Zhiyie asked, “What do you want to try?”
“Umm…” To be honest, Cecilia Ye didn’t really know what was fun.
“Oh! The carousel.”
She’d seen it on TV; it always looked so beautiful.
After consulting the map, Fu Zhiyie led her toward the carousel.
Holding onto Fu Zhiyie’s hand, Cecilia Ye felt an overwhelming sense of security. It seemed to her that nothing could ever faze him.
She thought of the girls’ words from earlier, and her lips pressed lightly together. She couldn’t help wondering if, in other people's eyes, they were also a couple—close and inseparable.
The amusement park bustled with life. As they walked, it didn’t take long to reach their destination.
When Cecilia Ye climbed onto the ride, she could hardly believe it: this was the carousel straight out of a fairytale, every bit as beautiful as she'd imagined.
Fu Zhiyie waited outside, snapping photos of her every time she spun into view. His expression was serious, but his attention was unwavering.
Whenever she lost sight of him during the ride, her heart filled with anticipation. The feeling was intoxicating.
More than a few people smiled at the striking young couple—a beautiful pair for all to see.
Cecilia Ye felt like her heart had been pounding all day, too fast to hide.
After the carousel, their next stop was the pirate adventure. The pirate ship ferried them into a mountain cave.
Inside, only dim lights illuminated the way. Water curtains cascaded from both sides, the sound of rushing water echoing all around.
The pirate ship sank beneath the cave’s surface, then bobbed back up. Massive 3D screens appeared around the corners: one moment, a sky ablaze with sunrise, the next, a fierce storm at sea—so vivid it felt like a real voyage.
Couples around them clung together, some even stealing kisses under cover of the dim lights.
Cecilia Ye was afraid of both water and the dark. She clung tightly to Fu Zhiyie’s sleeve.
Fu Zhiyie didn’t say much—he simply wrapped his arms around her.
Pressed against his broad chest, so warm and reassuring, Cecilia Ye felt completely at ease.
His sweater was soft and fuzzy, cocooning her in warmth. Her fear vanished, replaced only by a wish that this moment could last forever…
They tried several attractions before fatigue finally crept in, so they found a bench and sat down.
“Tired?”
Fu Zhiyie smoothed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Cecilia Ye shook her head, her face radiating a happiness Fu Zhiyie had never seen before. Smiles lit up her eyes and lips, her dimples like soft indents in her cheeks.
A little boy holding an ice cream strolled by, and Cecilia Ye’s gaze locked on.
Rabbit-shaped—so cute and absolutely delicious-looking.
Fu Zhiyie chuckled at her hungry expression and pinched her nose. “Want one?”
“Yes, please.”
For today, Cecilia Ye allowed herself to make a request. Just for this one day—after all, today was the anniversary of the day she’d met Fu Zhiyie six years ago.
Ever since she’d come to the Fu family, she’d treated this day as her own birthday.
Just let her indulge herself, for one day.
Fu Zhiyie stood up. “Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”
The ice cream stand was crowded, but Fu Zhiyie stood straight as a pine in the line—a figure impossible to overlook.
Watching him from afar, Cecilia Ye thought, no matter where he went, someone as outstanding as Fu Zhiyie would always stand out.
Lost in her thoughts—beyond the whole Vivian Belle situation—Cecilia Ye realized that Fu Zhiyie really was good to her.
He didn’t like crowds, but he still brought her to the amusement park, waded through people to buy her ice cream.
She was so absorbed that she didn’t notice him returning until the ice cream was handed to her. A rabbit-shaped scoop, creamy and fragrant, the best she’d ever tasted.
“That’s enough, it’s too cold. You’ve had your fill.”
After she'd only managed to nibble half the rabbit’s head, Fu Zhiyie took the ice cream and ate the rest himself.
“But…”
Cecilia Ye trailed off. Oh well, if he wanted it, he could have it.
They had lunch together at a restaurant in the park and wandered around for a while.
By dusk, Cecilia Ye had collected two balloons—one bear-shaped, one rabbit.
She thought they looked a bit like her and Fu Zhiyie.
The last stop was the haunted house, where shrieks from inside could be heard even before they went in.
Cecilia Ye’s face showed her anxiety—scared but excited. Fu Zhiyie took her hand and led her inside; if she skipped it now, she’d probably regret it when they got home.
With Fu Zhiyie pulling her along, Cecilia Ye dove for his arms whenever she got scared, finally experiencing what a haunted house was really like.
But by the time they came out, her face was bright red.
It was so dark—she’d nearly clung to his waist the entire way, sometimes hugging him tightly for dear life.
“Alright, that’s enough for today. Time to go home for dinner.”
In the past, Fu Zhiyie always thought amusement parks were places only kids liked.
This was actually his first visit, and it turned out to be much more fun than he’d expected.
They walked hand in hand toward the entrance as the sun set behind them.
In the golden light, the two of them glowed, beautiful as a painting.
Bzzz…
Fu Zhiyie’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered.
“A-Ye, sob, where are you? I just got hit by a car—my leg hurts so much.”
For a moment, the composure faded from his face, replaced by worry. “Where are you? Did you go to the hospital?”
“No, it’s really remote here, and the person who hit me ran off. I’m scared. A-Ye, can you come get me?”
His handsome face grew colder as he looked at Cecilia Ye beside him, his emotions a tangled mess.
“Wait there. I’m coming now.”
He hung up, feeling guilty toward Cecilia Ye, but a car accident could be serious—he had no choice.
“Cecilia, I’ll have Henry Hart drive you home. Vivian Belle was in a car accident—I need to go.”
Cecilia Ye blinked in confusion, her smile vanishing in an instant.
“Then… will you come home tonight?”
She hesitated, her hope clearly faint. They’d promised to celebrate her birthday together tonight.
“I don’t know. Let Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers celebrate with you. I’m leaving.”
With that, Fu Zhiyie turned and strode away.
Cecilia Ye stood frozen, watching his hurried back disappear, all traces of happiness gone—her eyes edged with tears.
Fu Zhiyie, you promised me…
Whenever Vivian Belle had trouble, she would always be the one left behind.
She couldn’t even have one perfect dream.
Cecilia Ye thought she was being too petty; someone had been in an accident, and here she was, thinking only about her birthday.
Cecilia Ye, when did you become so selfish?
Still, the sadness wouldn’t go away.
She fought to hold back her tears as she walked to the gate of the amusement park.
The sun had set. The breeze was chilly. Balloons clutched in her hands, she squatted by the entrance.
Just like a little rabbit who’d lost her favorite carrot.
Her heart seemed to shatter into pieces, every breath hurting.
Not far behind her, a person in a clown costume watched her with an eerie gaze. The blood-red smile painted on his face split wide into a bone-chilling grin.