“Sure.” Shen Xi bobbed her head without a second thought while keeping an eye on his expression to see if he saw anything by accident.
“Shall we get two passes?” Browsing the amusement park website, Li Yuan asked.
“Make it three!” Shen Xi uttered and glanced at Kun Lun.
Whatever the activity, Shen Xi was happy to be around Li Yuan and all for it. Her eyes reflected happiness. The carnival at the amusement park was a great place for a date.
Kun Lun dared not make a peep. Since Boss mentioned two passes, it was clear he did not want Kun Lun to be the third wheel. Why did Ms. Shen not get it?
The self-deprecation shook Li Yuan deep to his core. He knew where her heart was, but he remained firm on his answer. “Two passes.”
A cripple like him was only a burden to others!
Li Yuan did not want to have anyone following them while he was with her, even if the person was Kun Lun. For once, he wanted it to just be the two of them.
“I won’t be playing the games. I won’t join in.” With the growing pressure mounting on him, Kun Lun immediately declined the invitation.
“Two it is then.” Shen Xi’s heart went out to him as she picked up on the tension in Li Yuan’s muscles. Not only did she hurt his feelings, she had also hurt his pride.
She blurted without thinking, and now there was no way to take it back.
Keeping to himself, Li Yuan scrolled his tablet. It was so quiet in the vehicle that their individual breathing patterns could be heard.
Did he overreact?
Li Yuan should not be so stubborn since he was a handicap anyway. This was a fact he could not deny. There were many things he had to depend on the help of others, so as not to appear a fool.
With the air being eerily quiet, Kun Lun, who was behind the wheel, was perhaps in the best position for a good look at the situation. Through the rear-view mirror, he could see the hesitation between the couple while they figured out how to break the god*mn silence.
It had not been long. Less than a minute went by.
After making up her mind, Shen Xi picked her head up and faced the man’s eyes that were as profound as the galaxy. She paused for a moment before letting out a bright smile. “Brother, take me to the amusement park again once your legs are all better, alright?”
Li Yuan’s heart was racing as he met the girl’s sparkling eyes. Warmth, fieriness, and endless hope were reflected in those windows to the soul. He nodded and solemnly vowed, “Okay.”
He should trust her that his legs would only get better. Li Yuan hoped to always be like her – warm like the sun as she strode steadfastly in the face of adversity.
“Let me see what we can ride together.” Shen Xi cheerfully drew close and went through every attraction on the tablet herself.
Lowering his gaze, Li Yuan had a good look at the girl’s fair side profile and soft dainty ear. His breathing turned ragged.
His fair lady was sitting a wee bit too close to him, so close he could feel the warmth of her body. With her faint scent attacking his senses and holding his heart captive, his eyes grew darker with desire.
“I think we can try everything.” Shen Xi read through each ride and suddenly lifted her head.
Li Yuan was caught off guard by her sudden movement. The girl’s bright onyx eyes shimmered like the stars in the night. “Brother, you’re aware that I can lift heavy objects, right?”
“Yes.” Li Yuan nodded.
“Will you feel embarrassed if I carry you onto the rides?” Shen Xi believed she would only hurt him if she tiptoed around him. Hence, she spoke whatever was on her mind.
Li Yuan was taken aback for a moment but a smile broke across his lips. He shook his head. “No.”
She had already seen him at his worst. What else was there to worry about? His dignity was not worth the mention in front of her.
“Great.” Happy at last, Shen Xi went through the attractions and chattered on about getting on the rides later at the amusement park.
Nevertheless, Shen Xi got ahead of herself. There was a huge discount for the night session because the carnival was in town. They were stuck in the sea of people, much less a chance to ride anything. The endless queues seemed to lead to a road of despair.
Shen Xi pushed the wheelchair, feeling like they were getting nowhere. She was disappointed and after finally persuading Li Yuan that she could carry him; they were unable to check any attractions off their list.
Holding two confetti balloons in his hand, Li Yuan turned to the dejected girl and inquired in a serious tone, “Shall I have the place cleared?”
Shen Xi cleared her throat to get over the shock from his words. Noticing that people were looking at them, she shook her head. “It’s not fun without people.”
Part of the fun in amusement parks was the crowds. It would not quite do it if it was just the two of them.
“But you can’t have any fun if there are too many people.” Li Yuan solemnly gazed at the bustling crowd before adding. “How about clearing half the place?”
People walking by looked at the couple like they had lost their minds. Who did the pair think they were to clear the place? They talked as though they owned the place!
Li Yuan pulled a long face as tension rose around him.
Picking up on the changes in Li Yuan, Shen Xi turned to the public and explained, “He’s joking.”
These people bought their tickets to have fun at the amusement park. They would only think Li Yuan and Shen Xi were either fools or nuts to talk about clearing the park out.
The tourists did not take them seriously and instead, let out a friendly smile. It was hard enough for a young lady to take her crippled boyfriend out to the amusement park.
The boyfriend, joking or not, was merely trying to please his girlfriend. There was no point in making a fuss over it.
Shen Xi pushed the wheelchair and fled the scene; afraid he might drop another bomb. He meant it when he said he would clear the place. To him, buying the amusement park was simply a matter of saying the word.
Li Yuan was uncomfortable with the sights and sounds, especially in crowded and polluted places. He would not be able to stand it had it not been for his fair lady.
He suddenly regretted his suggestion to come to the amusement park.
It never crossed his mind that there would be a lot of people here. He should have cleared the place in advance so as not to end up in the current situation. His fair lady could not even enjoy one ride.
There were fewer people further up, even around the ring toss stall.
As his fair lady was fixated on the stall, Li Yuan asked, “Do you want to go over and try that?”
Shen Xi shook her head. “I’m just looking.”
She was too old to play this childish game.
Li Yuan said, “I’ve never tried this before.”
Shen Xi remarked, “Let’s head over for a closer look.”
Li Yuan grinned as his gaze fell on the stuffed bunny the girl was staring at.
It was only when Shen Xi pushed Li Yuan over that she realized why people were scarce around the area. The game here cost extra and was expensive too. It was a hundred bucks for seven tosses. No wonder no one came to play.
The admission pass itself was a hundred eighty after discount. No sensible people would be willing to part with a hundred bucks for several tosses.
However, the prizes were lucrative. There were authentic plush toys, resin kits, Lego, to name a few. These were exquisite toys and not the cheap kind sold on the streets.
The ring toss area was not huge. A spread of LED-lit miniature figures laid on the ground and each figure was tagged with a prize number. The physical prize would be given according to where the ring landed.
Shen Xi had no intention of playing, but since Li Yuan rarely showed interest in anything, she was happy to keep him company.
Li Yuan paid a hundred bucks for seven rings. The stall owner offered him an extra ring, making it eight altogether.
Shen Xi kneeled beside him, waiting with gusto for him to kick some *ss. Li Yuan seemed to have it in the bag. Her adrenaline was pumping as she watched on.
Li Yuan picked up a ring and aimed at figure number 4. It was the prize code for the stuffed bunny.
The first was a miss.
Shen Xi stayed by his side. “Come on, Brother!”
The second was a miss.
Shen Xi comforted him. “It’s okay. You have six more.”
The third did not even come close.
Shen Xi remained confident. “You’ll get the next one.”
The fourth, fifth… eighth attempt was a bust.
Li Yuan turned black in the face.
Shen Xi stifled a laugh. It was hard to believe that there was something Li Yuan was incapable of doing. She let out a cough. “Brother, let’s try something else.”
Sticking to his guns, Li Yuan whipped up a hundred-yuan bill. “Again.”
The stall owner was ecstatic and gave him another eight rings. He was always welcoming towards customers with deep pockets but no skills to match.
Sometimes, it simply was not the person’s day, be it due to bad luck or they sucked. A hundred yuan, two hundred yuan, five hundred yuan, a thousand yuan… Li Yuan still could not make the shot.
Too awkward to accept more money, the stall owner generously looked at them and said, “You don’t have to toss any more rings. Let me give you a prize.”
Li Yuan was persistent. He took out another thousand yuan and gazed at the stall owner.
The stall owner, “…”
Since Li Yuan was not ready to back down, the stall owner was not going to say no to more money. They were about to make money and ring exchange.
Suddenly, Shen Xi jumped in to seize Li Yuan by the arm. She took out a hundred bucks and gave it to the stall owner before uttering, “A hundred-yuan worth of rings please.”
She could not stand it anymore. It would be best if she did it herself!
The stall owner gave her ten rings.
Li Yuan looked at the girl and extended one arm. “Give me.”
Shen Xi had never seen such childish spite in the man’s face. “Are you planning to camp here if you can’t toss a prize?”
Li Yuan was without a word.
Shen Xi nearly burst out laughing. “I’ll do it then.”
Li Yuan wanted to do the toss, but his fair lady refused to give it to him. In the next moment, Shen Xi was seen casually hurling the ring.
The ring took flight.
It landed.
