The term "actor" refers to a performer who portrays a particular role in the performing arts.
But in Qin Ao's case, the word "shill" would be more appropriate.
At the entrance of the small park's amusement area on the weekend, the crowd was bustling, with parents leading their children and young couples jostling about.
When Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa arrived at the meeting spot, they were instantly bewildered.
The sweet atmosphere of the autumn amusement park was overflowing. Banana boats rocked up and down, accompanied by the screams of young visitors. Parents and children painted sand art at the entrance, and every time the carousel played its cheerful tunes, the sound of innocent laughter echoed around.
Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa had only waited a short while for their student when they were surrounded by two groups promoting children's Go classes and elementary school Olympiad math courses.
A middle-aged man shoved a flyer into Lin Wanxing's hand.
The flyer was brightly colored, and as Lin Wanxing read the four points explaining "Why Children Should Learn Go," she couldn't help but ask Wang Fa, "Do I look like I'm suited for children's Go classes?"
"When kids start learning Go, parents have to accompany them. If you think you can't learn it yourself, your husband can come along!" The course salesman, clearly an old hand, said this directly.
Lin Wanxing was stunned. "No... we don't..."
"Oh, you haven't had kids yet? Think it's too early?" The middle-aged man selling the children's Go classes immediately pulled out another flyer. "Our institution also offers early education classes. Since you two don't have kids yet but might plan to in the future, early education classes are simpler than Go. Even women like you can understand them."
The uncle's sales strategy was flexible and seamless—a comprehensive, multi-dimensional service where there was no course he couldn't sell, only ones you hadn't thought of.
Lin Wanxing was already displeased by the man's final remarks.
Wang Fa suddenly turned to the course salesman and asked, "What does 'atari' mean?"
The young man was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt today, with a baseball cap pulled low, revealing his clean, sharp jawline. His voice was crisp and clear, and the course salesman shuddered, suddenly falling silent.
"Why do they say 'seven stones along the edge, even if alive, still lose'?"
"If it's said that the master plays in the center, why is there the saying 'golden corners, silver edges, straw belly'?"
Three questions in a row, and the course salesman couldn't answer a single one.
Wang Fa understood. "You don't know how to play Go."
His tone was light, carrying a hint of surprise.
The uncle looked embarrassed but also defiant. "It's precisely because I didn't study Go properly as a kid that I didn't do well in school and ended up selling courses!"
"Then, did you do well in school?"
Lin Wanxing heard Wang Fa ask her this.
"Pretty... decent," Lin Wanxing replied.
"What university did you attend?" Wang Fa asked.
"Yongchuan University."
"What was your entrance exam score?"
"720..." Lin Wanxing answered, only then realizing that Wang Fa was standing up for her because the course salesman had been subtly belittling her.
But upon hearing her answer, Wang Fa also fell silent for a moment.
Still, he quickly composed himself and turned to the course salesman. "It seems our child won't need your early education classes."
The course salesman, probably never having encountered someone so adept at calling his bluff, blurted out, "What are you pretending for? The full score is 750, and you only lost 30 points?"
"Well, my essay was a little off-topic, so I probably lost a few extra points there," Lin Wanxing said somewhat apologetically.
The course salesman: "..."
Seeing the salesman rendered speechless, Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa decided to step aside and continue waiting for their student.At that moment, Lin Wanxing felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned to see a person wearing a brown horse-head mask holding a bunch of strings. Following the strings upward, she saw various colorful cute balloons tied to them, floating under the clear autumn sky.
Lin Wanxing was startled and squinted her eyes. "What are you doing, Qin Ao!"
The masked person was shocked. "How did you know it was me? I didn't even say anything!"
"A balloon seller in the park, tall and tanned, who deliberately greets me, and most importantly, has a scar on his hand just like Qin Ao. What's the probability that he isn't Qin Ao?" Lin Wanxing retorted.
The masked person swiftly pulled off the horse-head mask, revealing Qin Ao's annoyed expression. "Damn, I just asked you guys to meet up. How did I run into you showing off again?"
Lin Wanxing felt wronged and could only glance innocently at Wang Fa.
Wang Fa looked even more innocent. "I think I only asked a few questions."
The course-selling uncle nearby nearly coughed up blood and walked away without looking back.
Lin Wanxing turned back to Qin Ao. "What are you doing? Calling us here to be 'actors'—you're not trying to make us play 'vendors' to experience life, are you?"
Qin Ao stiffened his neck, his face turning red. Clearly, his thoughts had been guessed but he refused to admit it. His mind racing, he suddenly clutched his stomach and shouted, "Teacher, I need to use the bathroom! Can you hold these balloons for me?"
With that, Lin Wanxing found a large bunch of balloons shoved into her hands by the student.
Qin Ao pulled the horse-head mask back over his head and ran off without looking back.
The park still had the relaxed atmosphere of a day off, with the wind carrying the sweet scent of cotton candy.
Lin Wanxing held the large bunch of balloons and looked up. Under the sunlight, balloons of Minnie Mouse, Pleasant Goat, Superman, Batman... various cartoon characters gently bumped against each other beneath the tall camphor trees.
Leaves filtered gold-coin-like spots of light. Lin Wanxing asked Wang Fa, "Is he not coming back?"
"Obviously not," Wang Fa said.
The vast park was bustling with people—small hills, ponds, gardens...
Lotus flowers were half-withered, revealing tender lotus seed pods inside. It was unclear which corner Qin Ao was hiding in to observe them.
Lin Wanxing directly took out her phone and sent Qin Ao a WeChat message.
Lin Wanxing: How long until you're back?
Qin Ao: Are you for real? Messaging someone while they're taking a dump?
Lin Wanxing: If you're not back in five minutes, I'm setting your balloons free.
Qin Ao: No no no! These helium balloons cost 7 yuan each, they're fucking expensive! You have to sell them for at least 15!
Lin Wanxing: I'm selling them?
Qin Ao: Don't you get it? This is just to get you and the coach out for a walk. Is it fun staying cooped up at home all day on your day off?
Lin Wanxing: 70-30 split on the profits.
Qin Ao: Why don't you just rob me??????
Lin Wanxing: 60-40, I take 60 you take 40.
Qin Ao: ...Damn! Fine.
Lin Wanxing put her phone back in her pocket. Wang Fa stood beside her.
Lin Wanxing reported the negotiation results to Wang Fa: "We got a 60-40 split with Qin Ao."
Wang Fa: "We could have negotiated 80-20."
Lin Wanxing laughed: "Then he definitely wouldn't agree. He'd come rushing back from the bathroom without even washing his hands."
Holding the large bunch of balloons, Lin Wanxing walked and chatted with Wang Fa.
She told Wang Fa that she had loved park balloons since she was a child—the sight of a large cluster floating felt dreamlike, capable of conjuring countless fantastical scenes.
But now that the dream had actually come true, she instead felt..."Pulling balloons is exhausting too," Lin Wanxing sighed.
"Didn't your family ever buy you any?" Wang Fa asked, hands in his pockets, tilting his head back to look at the balloons.
"Back then they were all hydrogen balloons. My grandparents thought they were unsafe and wouldn't buy them for me." As she said this, Lin Wanxing pulled out her phone and asked Qin Ao, "Are you really selling helium balloons?"
Qin Ao: Of course! Didn't you lecture me before? Absolutely! No! Hydrogen! Balloons!
Lin Wanxing pressed the voice message button: "Safety concerns outweigh everything!"
A gust of wind blew by as they happened to be walking across the wooden bridge spanning the pond. Lin Wanxing hurriedly stuffed her phone back into her pocket, scrambling to grab hold of the balloons.
Wang Fa, walking behind her, reached out to steady her shoulder.
The next moment, Lin Wanxing felt Wang Fa take her hand, his fingers brushing against her palm as he grasped the bundle of balloon strings instead.
His fingertips were rough with many calluses, completely different from his fair and slender appearance. Though he was a coach, he must have maintained various physical trainings, never relaxing his demands on himself.
While Lin Wanxing was still stunned, Wang Fa's voice sounded beside her ear.
"Let go."
Lin Wanxing instinctively released her grip, and Wang Fa took over the large cluster of balloons.
Lin Wanxing turned to look at him.
The young man held a colorful bunch of balloons against the backdrop of green pond water and blue sky.
Just as Lin Wanxing was about to say something.
Wang Fa: "Safety concerns outweigh everything."
Lin Wanxing: "..."
Comrade Wang Fa's linguistic artistry meant using few but precise words, and he never came out short when it came to pricing.
This was just like how he now held the cluster of balloons - their profit split became:
"Eighty-twenty split. I take eighty, you take twenty."
As they were crossing the wooden bridge, Lin Wanxing immediately protested at this price: "That's way too harsh!"
"I'm the one holding the balloons now," Wang Fa said.
"But I made huge contributions too!"
"Like what?"
"Like I can take you to a great spot for selling things."
Lin Wanxing led Wang Fa across the wooden bridge, around the small hill in the park, through a grove of southern magnolia trees, until they stood at the park's back entrance.
Facing the road, across the street was a parking lot. Compared to the bustling main entrance of the amusement park, there were far fewer vendors here.
Wang Fa pulled the large cluster of balloons while nearby sat only an old grandmother selling tea eggs.
The aroma of tea eggs filled the air, corn was heating on the pot, and cracked eggs bobbed up and down in the soy sauce broth.
Lin Wanxing swallowed hard and squatted in front of the stall. Before her own business had even started, she was already spending money.
When she turned back holding tea eggs and corn, she found Wang Fa had hoisted himself up with one hand and was sitting on the railing outside the park.
Lin Wanxing glanced at the railing's height, then could only peel her tea egg and stand silently beside him.
Compared to the noisy park, it was truly much quieter outside. Many cotton rose trees grew around them, and it being flowering season, large pink hibiscus blossoms bloomed gorgeously.
While peeling her tea egg, Lin Wanxing chatted with Wang Fa.
She told Wang Fa that this park was actually designed a hundred years ago by a French designer, just like the stadium - both were works from that era.
Back then, the designer wanted to create an elegant park, but somehow, as times changed, it gradually became a children's paradise.She began telling Wang Fa stories from her childhood again. She said her grandfather used to bring her to this park every week. Back then, it seemed you had to exchange money for game tickets, and one ticket would get you a ride on the little train that circled the amusement park. She would always ride it four or five times, and her grandfather would let her ride until she was satisfied.
She talked a lot, while Wang Fa sat beside her, listening attentively.
Lin Wanxing finished the last bite of her tea egg, licked her fingers, and asked him, "Why did you come back from abroad and end up renting a place in Hongjing?"
Wang Fa: "My grandmother told me she grew up in Hongjing. She said it was very beautiful and peaceful here, so I’ve always wanted to come see it."
This was probably the first time Lin Wanxing had heard Wang Fa talk about his family and why he chose to come to Hongjing.
"Then... did your grandmother mention any particular spots you really wanted to visit? We could..." Lin Wanxing had been about to say, "We could go before you leave." But then it occurred to her that Wang Fa was always so mysterious—maybe he had already visited them alone. So she trailed off mid-sentence.
Wang Fa: "Actually, I don’t really remember. She passed away early. She did mention the old family house, but someone else lives there now, and I can’t be bothered to go."
"Didn’t your grandmother take care of you when you were little?" Lin Wanxing asked.
"She... was probably the type who was very busy with work while she was alive. Our family relationships were quite distant. But one summer, she came to the UK for a vacation and taught me how to play Go."
Only then did Lin Wanxing understand why Wang Fa had asked the course-selling man about Go earlier. It seemed that, in his grandmother’s hometown, he couldn’t stand anyone subtly belittling women.
Lin Wanxing: "I don’t know how to play Go. When I was little, my grandparents only taught me Olympiad math and made me memorize ancient poems."
Wang Fa: "I’m not very good at it either."
His voice was calm, without any particular emotion. His expression was serene, his gaze distant, and against the backdrop of the large clusters of hibiscus flowers behind him, he seemed to blend into the autumn scenery.
Lin Wanxing suddenly didn’t know how to continue the topic and could only switch to another angle: "What about Yongchuan? I’ve lived in Yongchuan for many years. After you go, I can write you a guide telling you where to find good food."
As she said this, Wang Fa suddenly looked at her and called her name: "Lin Wanxing."
Lin Wanxing’s heart skipped a beat: "What? Don’t suddenly use my full name—it’s a bit scary."
Wang Fa: "Teacher Lin, we’ve been here for 20 minutes. Is this really a good place to sell things?"
Lin Wanxing: "Coach, don’t be impatient. Are you tired of holding the balloons? Do you want me to take over?"
Wang Fa raised an eyebrow: "I’m not in a hurry. It’s just that I saw you finish your tea egg and corn, and now I’m a bit hungry."
"Well, it’s about time anyway," Lin Wanxing said with a smile, looking toward the park exit.
It was nearly noon, and occasionally, parents who had finished their outings were leaving with their children, who often seemed reluctant to go.
"Let me tell you, this spot is really great," Lin Wanxing explained to Wang Fa. "First of all, there’s very little competition. And then, right around noon, the amusement park will let out, and parents will walk their children out through here. At that time, the kids will definitely cling and not want to leave, still wanting to play, right? If they spot the balloons, their parents will often agree to buy one to pacify them. That’s what I call reverse thinking!"Before she finished speaking, a chubby little child stopped in front of her.
The little boy tilted his head up, his arms plump like segments of lotus root. He stared at the balloon floating in Wang Fa's hand and refused to move on.
Lin Wanxing looked at Wang Fa and smiled.
The balloons sold faster than expected. Lin Wanxing promoted them enthusiastically, emphasizing the safety of helium balloons. Wang Fa also had a good attitude, always crouching down to let the children choose their favorite balloons.
Before long, only one balloon remained in their hands.
The last couple stood before them.
The young man took out his phone to scan the payment QR code.
Lin Wanxing looked up at Wang Fa. At that moment, the young man was slightly bowing his head to look at her. Under the sunlight, the color of his pupils resembled honey.
"Do you like it?" Lin Wanxing also looked up and asked Wang Fa with a smile.
Before Wang Fa could answer, Lin Wanxing put away the QR code and said to the young man about to pay, "We're not selling the last one."
After saying this, she took Wang Fa's hand, wrapped the balloon string around his palm, and carefully tied a bow, saying with a laugh, "A parting gift."
Wang Fa lowered his head, staring blankly at the bow tied to his palm.
Much higher up his wrist, the pink Minnie balloon swayed in the wind.
Autumn memories were like a dream.
Many years later, when Lin Wanxing recalled this moment, she could still remember Wang Fa's surprised expression then. It was like a green pond brushed by the wind, or a camphor leaf rendered translucent by the sunlight.
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