Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow, repeating with surprise and amusement: "You're taking me out to play?"
Zhou Wan paused, shrinking back a bit further: "Well... if you don't want to, then..."
"Let's go." Lu Xixiao said.
When Zhou Wan was a child, Zhou Jun was always busy teaching graduating classes and often came home very late after work. Even when he wanted to take Zhou Wan out to play, there weren't many places to go.
So back then, one place they frequently visited was an open amusement park in the suburbs.
It was public welfare oriented - just needing a citizen card for entry, no admission fee required, never closed, and available to visit anytime.
Zhou Wan hadn't been back since Zhou Jun passed away.
When they arrived outside the amusement park, Zhou Wan noticed it had been renovated. At this hour, there were still scattered visitors around.
"What do you want to play?" Zhou Wan asked.
"Whatever."
"Then let's ride the Ferris wheel." Zhou Wan pointed into the distance. "From the highest point, you can see Pingchuan Lake. The night view is really beautiful."
She used to ride it often as a child.
They arrived at the Ferris wheel just as some people were getting off. Zhou Wan bent down to enter the cabin, Lu Xixiao followed, the cabin swayed slightly before stabilizing.
As the Ferris wheel slowly ascended, the city's nightscape gradually unfolded before them.
Zhou Wan often felt that riding Ferris wheels brought a sense of happiness.
It was as if one could temporarily escape from being small and ordinary, standing high up to overlook the entire city, becoming slightly different.
"Lu Xixiao." She leaned against the window. "Look, that's Pingchuan Lake, all sparkling at night."
Lu Xixiao didn't respond.
Zhou Wan turned to look at him.
He sat opposite her, brows slightly furrowed, looking uncomfortable with his eyes half-closed.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Wan asked. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Without even lifting his eyelids, he grunted in affirmation.
Thinking it might be because he had a cold and had been drinking, Zhou Wan pressed the back of her hand to his forehead, only to find him cold, even the color had drained from his lips.
Zhou Wan was taken aback, asking hesitantly: "Are you afraid of heights?"
He responded hoarsely.
"Why didn't you say something before we came up?"
Lu Xixiao gave her an unpleasant look before closing his eyes again.
This was the first time Zhou Wan had seen him afraid of something. She felt surprised, but looking at his expression, she also found it somewhat amusing - clearly afraid of heights yet still putting on a brave face.
She pressed her lips together, trying to hold back but failing, letting out a soft laugh.
Lu Xixiao opened his eyes and pinched her cheek: "What are you laughing at?"
Zhou Wan immediately closed her mouth. He pinched hard, forcing her to lean closer to relieve the pressure, mumbling: "It hurts."
Lu Xixiao didn't let go: "Apologize."
She said meekly and slowly: "I'm sorry."
Only then did he release her.
While he had his eyes closed, Zhou Wan pressed her lips together again, suppressing her smile before speaking: "Just bear with it a little longer, we'll be down soon."
When they stepped out of the cabin, Lu Xixiao's face was still pale, one hand resting heavily on Zhou Wan's shoulder.
Zhou Wan had no choice but to put her arm around his waist to support him: "Are you okay?"
Lu Xixiao cursed irritably.
After they sat down on a nearby bench, Zhou Wan went to the convenience store to buy a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed it and handed it to him.
He took a sip, finally suppressing the nausea.
Looking at his expression, Zhou Wan asked: "Is your fear of heights severe?"
"Not really."
"..."
Oh.
Because of his fear of heights, they couldn't enjoy many other rides. After he rested, Zhou Wan took Lu Xixiao to play bumper cars.Bumper cars are a game loved by children and the most popular attraction in this amusement park, with people still playing even at this hour.
In a two-seater bumper car, Lu Xixiao was driving while Zhou Wan sat beside him, fastening her seatbelt.
A child around eight or nine years old, excited to see the older siblings joining in, drove over and challenged them in a childish voice, "I want to duel with you!"
The mother sitting nearby laughed, "How old are you, wanting to duel with your older siblings?"
Zhou Wan smiled, her eyes curving.
The little boy, sensing he was being underestimated, grew unhappy, but Lu Xixiao raised his chin and said, "Bring it on."
The boy immediately got excited.
Lu Xixiao, accustomed to racing on tracks, had no trouble handling the bumper car, let alone when his opponent was just a child.
At first, the boy tried hard to compete, but soon he was completely overpowered, his car trapped in a corner and unable to move, leaving him with no gaming experience at all.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
A loud cry erupted in the amusement park.
Lu Xixiao: ? Zhou Wan: "..."
"Lu Xixiao," Zhou Wan patted his arm, "stop for now."
Lu Xixiao parked the car to the side.
Zhou Wan immediately got out and walked over to the little boy. She crouched down and coaxed him gently, "I'm sorry, little one. Your brother didn't mean it."
The boy's mother hurriedly said, "It's fine, it's fine."
The boy, unable to win and feeling his pride deeply wounded, decided to turn the tables and accused the brother of cheating.
Lu Xixiao let out a "tsk" sound.
He didn't go over, his long legs cramped in the narrow bumper car, and he watched Zhou Wan.
The girl was small even when crouching, her profile soft and beautiful, her eyes bright. The wind tousled her stray hairs, leaving them fluffy around her temples.
Lu Xixiao watched, his Adam's apple bobbing, then he averted his gaze and stood up.
Zhou Wan felt her pocket and realized she happened to have two pieces of fruit candy from the arcade today.
She took one out and handed it to the boy, "It was your brother's fault. Can you forgive him?"
The boy took the candy and finally stopped crying, though he still sniffled.
The mother apologized to Zhou Wan again, picked up the little boy, and left.
Zhou Wan stood up. Lu Xixiao had already gotten out of the bumper car and was standing in the dim light not far away. She walked over to him, "You scared the little kid into crying."
Lu Xixiao said flatly, "He was the one who challenged me."
Zhou Wan wanted to laugh, "He's only a few years old."Lu Xixiao scoffed, 'You're quite good at coaxing people.'"
He was in a mood, so Zhou Wan stayed silent.
Lu Xixiao started messing with her again, pinching her cheek and picking on her earlier words, "And, it was my fault?"
"...Zhou Wan felt a bit helpless—she had coaxed one and now had to coax this one.
"He was crying, so I just went along with it."
"Hmph."
"...Are you unhappy?"
He didn't answer.
Zhou Wan paused, then took the remaining candy from her pocket and offered it to him, "Want some?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Think I'm begging?"
"..."
Just as Zhou Wan was about to put the candy back in her pocket, he suddenly reached out and took it from her hand, squeezing the fruit candy directly into his mouth.
The taste of orange spread in his mouth.
Zhou Wan checked the time—it was already past midnight.
She had woken up early today and was feeling sleepy, her eyelids drooping involuntarily. She couldn't help but yawn.
Lu Xixiao crunched the candy, "Heading back?"
"Yeah."
He hailed a taxi, and both of them sat in the back seat.Lu Xixiao had quite a few messages on his phone. He glanced at them—all birthday wishes—and was about to swipe them away when his finger accidentally tapped on a voice message. Jiang Fan’s piercing voice burst through, howling like a ghost to wish him a happy 18th birthday.
Zhou Wan paused, turning her head to ask, "Is it your birthday today?"
"Yeah," he replied indifferently.
"Happy birthday, Lu Xixiao," Zhou Wan said immediately, her tone earnest.
Lu Xixiao tugged at the corner of his mouth and chuckled.
"I didn’t know before, so I didn’t prepare a gift."
Lu Xixiao truly didn’t care about such things.
He genuinely felt birthdays weren’t worth celebrating.
Besides, he was someone who never lacked for gifts. Many girls would stuff presents into his desk drawer, but he couldn’t even match the gifts to their names or faces. In the end, those gifts ended up discarded somewhere.
Lu Xixiao turned his head and studied her for a moment before saying, "Then I’ll give you some time to prepare. I’ll come by tomorrow night to pick up the gift."
Zhou Wan hesitated briefly, then smiled softly. "Okay."
The taxi stopped in front of Zhou Wan’s house.
Far from the bustling city center, the neighborhood was even quieter and more deserted late at night. The sound of shoes crunching on fallen leaves seemed especially sharp.
Zhou Wan avoided stepping on the leaves.
"I’m here."
"Mm."
"Happy birthday," Zhou Wan repeated. She turned around, tilting her head up to look into Lu Xixiao’s eyes. "Did you have a good day today?"
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow. "It was alright."
"That’s good."
"What?" he chuckled deeply, his voice low. "Trying to make me happy?"
Zhou Wan nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah."
Lu Xixiao was taken aback.
The girl before him wore a faint smile, but her eyes seemed to melt like honey, her dimples holding sweetness. Her shoulder-length hair lay softly against her fair neck—delicate yet resilient, refined yet fragile.
She blinked at him, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering.
Lu Xixiao’s heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by those delicate lashes.
His voice came out slightly hoarse. "Go on inside."
Zhou Wan waved at him. "Goodbye, Lu Xixiao."
His hands stayed in his pockets, unmoving. He only lifted his chin in acknowledgment, watching as she entered the building.
Lu Xixiao stood there for a few more minutes before finally turning to leave.
Early the next morning, after waking up, Zhou Wan finished the rest of her weekend homework. She had lunch at home before heading out.
She had spent the entire night thinking about what to buy Lu Xixiao for his birthday but still couldn’t decide.
Anything too expensive was beyond her means, and he seemed to have everything he needed.
Left with no other choice, she decided to wander around outside and see if she could find a suitable gift.
Finally, she stopped in front of an accessories store.
Displayed on the glass counter were various photo frames. One, in particular, caught her eye—a retro-style metal frame with intricate carvings and cutouts, reminiscent of the small Western-style house where Lu Xixiao lived.
Zhou Wan recalled the wooden frame she had seen at his house, the one holding the photo of her mother. Perhaps due to the heavy summer rains and humidity, it had already begun to fade and turn pale.
This one seemed quite fitting.
Having made her choice, Zhou Wan took the frame to the counter to pay.
"135 yuan," the shop assistant said.
"That expensive?"
"Little sister, just look at the craftsmanship—it’s intricate and delicate. These days, handmade work is what’s pricey."
Zhou Wan didn’t say more. She picked out a simple gray gift bag and placed the frame inside.
Lu Xixiao had said he would come by tonight to pick up the gift, which probably meant he’d stop by the arcade.
Zhou Wan didn’t message him to say she had already bought the gift, feeling it would seem too deliberate.After dinner that evening, Zhou Wan carried a gift bag to the arcade.
Weekends were always busier, and she was kept occupied for quite some time before finally getting a break.
She had just sat down when a boy suddenly approached her. "Hey."
Zhou Wan looked up. "Can I help you?"
The boy ruffled his hair, his smile bright and sunny. "Miss, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Ah." Zhou Wan was momentarily taken aback.
"Can I get your number then?" the boy continued, pulling out his phone. "My name is—"
Before he could finish, a cold male voice cut in from the side. "Zhou Wan."
Lu Xixiao's face was dark, his features and jawline appearing even sharper. With long, slender fingers, he snatched the boy's phone and tossed it back to him.
The boy froze for a moment. "...Are you her boyfriend?"
Lu Xixiao tilted his head, giving him an icy glare.
The boy felt as if he had been sliced by a blade of frost. Being easygoing by nature, he immediately muttered an "I'm sorry" and turned to leave.
Lu Xixiao narrowed his eyes, lifted Zhou Wan's chin with one hand, studied her for a moment, and then curled his lips in an ambiguous sneer. "You're quite popular."
"..."
When he was displeased, his oppressive aura was overwhelming, thinning the air around them and making it hard to breathe.
"I didn't give him my number," Zhou Wan explained softly and hesitantly.
She could sense that Lu Xixiao was curious and interested in her, and from that interest stemmed a hint of affection and possessiveness.
Perhaps it wasn't much, but he had always been unrestrained and saw no need to hide his feelings, wearing his displeasure plainly on his face. It was as if it were magnified a thousandfold, easily mistaken for deep affection.
Lu Xixiao asked indifferently, "Where's my gift?"
Zhou Wan retrieved the gift bag from under the table and handed it to him.
Lu Xixiao opened it, took out the photo frame inside, and raised an eyebrow. "Just a frame?"
Zhou Wan pursed her lips. "Other things were too expensive, I..."
She didn't finish her sentence, interrupted by Lu Xixiao. "I meant, where's the photo?"
Zhou Wan paused.
She had originally bought the frame thinking she could replace his mother's damp-damaged one, but she knew mentioning his mother was a taboo subject in front of him and didn't dare bring it up.
Lu Xixiao looked at her for a moment, then took out his phone and snapped a picture of her directly.
The arcade was dimly lit, and the flash automatically turned on. In the captured moment, the girl's expression was startled, her eyes wide and round like plump black grapes.
Lu Xixiao studied the photo for a while and let out a soft chuckle.
"This one will do."
"..."
Just then, Jiang Fan called, inviting him to hang out.
The place was noisy, so Lu Xixiao put the call on speakerphone.
Lu Xixiao replied flatly, "Not going."
"You're really spending your birthday alone? Come on out, there's a whole group of us."
"Spending my birthday with a bunch of guys? Do I have a death wish?"
At that moment, someone playing a nearby game triggered some surprise, and the arcade machine erupted in cheerful sounds. Jiang Fan heard it, paused for a second, then understood, drawing out a long "Oh—" in a suggestive tone.
Jiang Fan's voice turned teasing and ambiguous. "Well, that wouldn't be appropriate. You're an adult now—time to do some adult things."
Zhou Wan's fingers, holding a pen, stilled, and her eyelashes fluttered.
Lu Xixiao glanced at her expression, clearly seeing the blush spread from her neck to her face.
He smirked, tossed out a "Get lost," and hung up.
He didn't use the earlier comment to tease Zhou Wan further. Instead, he picked up a game card and went to play games nearby.
Zhou Wan breathed a sigh of relief and buried herself in her homework again.
For the next few hours, Lu Xixiao stayed there playing games.Meanwhile, Zhou Wan had finished two sets of test papers.
By eleven o'clock, Lu Xixiao brought another thick stack of arcade tickets for Zhou Wan to record. He visited the arcade intermittently, but each time he managed to earn quite a few tickets. By now, he had accumulated nearly 100,000 points.
Zhou Wan glanced at the gifts that could be redeemed with 100,000 points—mostly items like rice cookers and juicers, things Lu Xixiao surely had no use for. She didn’t mention it and let the points continue accumulating.
The weather had turned cold again today.
Winter air was always somewhat polluted, with only a few stars visible in the sky.
Taking a breath felt chilling enough to make one shiver.
Zhou Wan put on the gloves she had gotten from Lu Xixiao’s friend’s supermarket, rubbed her hands together, and looked up at the sky.
"I wonder if it’ll snow this year," Zhou Wan said.
Pingchuan City hadn’t seen snow for two or three years.
Even when it did snow, it was mostly sleet that melted as soon as it touched the ground.
The memory of snow covering everything in sight belonged to her childhood, when her father would build snowmen with her.
"It won’t," Lu Xixiao said. "It’s a warm winter."
The fallen leaves on the ground had been swept away. The road was lined with cherry blossom trees, now bare in this season, their branches stark and intertwined.
Zhou Wan sighed softly.
Lu Xixiao turned his head. "Do you like snow?"
"Yeah," Zhou Wan nodded. "Don’t you?"
"It’s too noisy."
His description was odd, but Zhou Wan understood.
Snowy days were noisy. Every time it snowed in Pingchuan, people would cheer and exclaim excitedly. The streets would be unusually crowded, and even social media would buzz with activity.
Zhou Wan smiled. "I think it’s very pure."
The world blanketed in white felt incredibly clean.
As if all the ugliness, darkness, cries, and pain no longer existed.
Even she herself seemed to revert to the Zhou Wan of her childhood, who found immense joy and satisfaction in snowball fights and building snowmen.
"Then let’s go see snow at the end of the year," Lu Xixiao said casually.
"But you said it won’t snow this year."
Lu Xixiao glanced at her, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly. His voice carried a hint of laughter and the unrestrained boldness of youth. "If I say I can make you see it, then you’ll see it."
Zhou Wan was taken aback.
She stared at Lu Xixiao for a moment, lost in thought, before finally looking away.
She thought to herself, the end of the year.
The Spring Festival was in early February, still over three months away.
If Lu Xixiao would take her to see snow at the end of the year, then their ambiguous relationship would last at least three more months.
That way, the threat she had made to Guo Xiangling—to hand over the remaining 150,000 within the next three months—could also be fulfilled.
Grandma would probably have the money for her surgery.
As Zhou Wan thought this, the next moment, she felt deeply disgusted with herself.
Lu Xixiao asked, "How old are you?"
Noticing her distraction, Lu Xixiao tugged lightly on her ponytail. "I’m asking you a question."
"What?"
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"When’s your birthday?"
"March 25th."
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow. "You started school early?"
"Yeah, my dad was a teacher. He arranged for me to start elementary school a bit earlier."
This was the first time Lu Xixiao had heard her mention her parents.
They continued walking.
Lu Xixiao lit a cigarette. Sensing her low spirits, as if something was weighing on her mind—something that hadn’t been there earlier at the arcade—he flicked the ash off his cigarette and asked casually, "What’s on your mind?"
Zhou Wan paused and looked up into his eyes.
His gaze was calm, yet knowing, as if he saw right through her and understood exactly what she was feeling.Sometimes, Lu Xixiao could be remarkably perceptive. Though he rarely spoke of it, he was acutely aware of subtle emotional shifts.
It felt surreal.
Like encountering another version of oneself in this world.
Or, to put it differently, like finding a kindred spirit.
But Zhou Wan couldn’t possibly tell him what was on her mind.
She shook her head lightly. “It’s nothing.”
Lu Xixiao didn’t press further and let the matter drop.
When they reached her doorstep, Zhou Wan turned to face him, looking intently into his eyes as she said earnestly, “Lu Xixiao, happy 18th birthday.”
Her tone was sincere and heartfelt, as if she were laying bare her soul.
Lu Xixiao’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“I hope you’ll always be free and unrestrained,” she continued, her voice soft yet resolute, “doing what you wish and becoming whoever you want to be.”
A gentle breeze drifted by,
carrying her final words into the air.
“May you always dare to love and hate boldly, and may everything go smoothly for you.”
May you find the girl you truly like.
And may you hate me without reservation.
OpenNovel