NOVPUBQiao Chuchu stepped out of the car in frustration, glancing around.
This was an amusement park?
Pei Youchuan straightened his clothes and walked over shamelessly, wrapping his long arm around her petite frame and pulling her close.
He grinned brightly: "How could I not bring you to an amusement park? Books and paintings are boring—only fun gets the heart racing!"
Pei Youchuan nuzzled his cheek against hers: "Because every time I’m with you, I’m just so happy~"
Qiao Chuchu relaxed: "You’re right. Let’s have some fun then."
Pei Youchuan eagerly grabbed her hand: "Let’s go!"
She followed behind, watching his tall figure.
In this life and the last, nothing about them had changed.
Pei Youchuan was still the tallest among the brothers, and just like before, he loved getting a tan.
His hair shimmered under the sunlight, but it couldn’t compare to the brightness in his eyes when he looked at her.
Whenever Pei Youchuan was with her, he always wore a smile and had endless compliments ready.
On the carousel, Pei Fengnong stood opposite her, snapping photos: "Come on, smile!"
Qiao Chuchu hugged the pole, eyes closed, and grinned sweetly.
Pei Youchuan praised: "Wow, so pretty! That’s our Chuchu for you—one more!"
She got into the groove, stretching her arms toward the camera.
Pei Youchuan’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he crouched awkwardly on the platform to find the perfect angle: "Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! Hold still just like that!"
A girl nearby nudged her boyfriend, grumbling: "Look at them, then look at you—put some effort into my photos!"
Pei Youchuan smirked proudly and handed his phone to Qiao Chuchu like a prized possession: "See how well I captured you?"
The composition and colors in the photo were flawless!
Qiao Chuchu gasped in delight: "You made me look so beautiful!"
Pei Youchuan preened: "Of course! I studied photography just for this. But the main reason—"
He leaned in, whispering by her ear: "—is that you’re already stunning."
Qiao Chuchu beamed: "Damn right!"
Pei Youchuan flashed a radiant smile, pulling her close with an arm around her shoulder as he raised his phone: "Look at the camera!"
Qiao Chuchu blinked, then tilted her head up just as the shutter clicked.
Pei Youchuan zoomed in on the photo admiringly: "See? You’re breathtaking even like this."
He set the two new pictures as his wallpaper: "So pretty! My Chuchu is just too pretty!"
Qiao Chuchu flushed crimson: "Okay, okay, enough already."
Pei Youchuan pocketed his phone: "Fine, I’ll stop. Want some ice cream?"
She nodded: "Yes!"
Pei Youchuan volunteered: "I’ll go queue up."
As Qiao Chuchu stepped off the carousel, she watched Pei Youchuan dash toward the snack stand.
Bored, she waited—until a phone camera suddenly focused on her, capturing her against the glittering carousel lights.
Pei Youchuan jogged back with a strawberry ice cream: "Here you go."
She took it, curious: "What’s next?"
Pei Youchuan checked his watch, his smile fading: "Next… isn’t my time anymore."
Qiao Chuchu licked her ice cream: "Huh?"
[Why do they keep talking about time? Are they taking turns to hang out with me?]
Pei Youchuan tilted his head: "Do you know what today is, Chuchu?"
Qiao Chuchu shook her head: "No… Is it someone’s birthday?"
[I’m terrible with dates, so I saved all their birthdays in my phone calendar.]
[None of their birthdays are this month though. Why keep asking?]
Pei Youchuan chuckled, ruffling her hair: "Doesn’t matter if you don’t know. It’s too late for surprises now anyway."
Qiao Chuchu eyed his empty hands: "Why didn’t you get ice cream for yourself?"
Pei Youchuan arched a brow, staring at her half-eaten cone: "Not in the mood yet."
He grabbed her hand: "Let’s squeeze in one more ride before that guy shows up."
As she followed, another hand suddenly seized her wrist—yanking her straight into someone’s embrace!
She turned and met Weisheng Huailing’s displeased gaze: "Huailing?" 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Huailing first smiled at her, then shot Pei Youchuan a glare, signing sharply:
「My turn now.」
After living together for years, they’d all learned sign language to communicate seamlessly with him.
Pei Fengnong’s grin vanished as he checked his watch: "You timed it down to the second? Couldn’t even spare a minute?"
Weisheng Huailing smirked:
I've been here.
I even took photos of my sister.
Pei Youchuan scoffed but reluctantly released Qiao Chuchu: "Fine, have fun."
He turned to leave—then spun back, snatching her half-finished ice cream and devouring it in one bite!
Qiao Chuchu: "?!"
Weisheng Huailing: "???"
Pei Youchuan licked his lips, sighing contentedly: "So sweet~"
Qiao Chuchu grimaced: "Couldn’t you buy your own? That was mine!"
Pei Youchuan ignored her, waving cheekily: "Bye!~"
Weisheng Huailing glared after him before turning to Qiao Chuchu, signing stiffly:
「Want another ice cream?」
His fingers moved angrily:
「I’ll buy it.」
Qiao Chuchu twitched: "No, I’m good."
Huailing’s eyes dimmed, shoulders slumping like a drenched puppy staring at his shoes.
Even dejected, his tall frame loomed over her, casting a shadow of melancholy.
She tried cheering him up, rising on tiptoes to sign:
「Do you want ice cream?」
Huailing lifted his gaze—pitiful, longing—and signed:
I wanted to taste my sister's ice cream.
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
"Ew."
Huailing pouted, undeterred:
Sister thinks it's gross. I think it's sweet.
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
Are we really doing this? Forcing the cringe?
She glanced toward a snack stall: "How about cotton candy?"
Huailing followed her gaze, head tilting in confusion.
He’d never had cotton candy.
What even was it?
Spotting his interest, Qiao Chuchu hurried to the vendor, eyeing the sign:
「Artisanal Cotton Candy」
Pricier than average, but each design was exquisite.
She pointed: "One unicorn, please!"
[I remember Huailing likes unicorns.]
Huailing blinked, stopping her before she could pay. He scanned the price and transferred 56 yuan himself, eyeing the vendor skeptically as sugar spun into the machine:
「What is this?」
Qiao Chuchu bounced excitedly:
「You wanted something sweet, right? This is the sweetest.」
She handed him the fluffy unicorn: "Here, take it!"
Huailing gaped at its size, accepting it gingerly:
「How do you eat it?!」
She laughed: "Just tear off a piece."
Weisheng Huailing reached out hesitantly:
「It looks like quilt stuffing. Is this edible? Not a decoration?」
Qiao Chuchu had no choice but to tear off a small piece and hold it to his lips. "Here, open your mouth."
Weisheng Huailing was caught off guard, staring at her in surprise.
Qiao Chuchu urged him, "Eat it!"
He parted his lips and took the cotton candy.
The sweetness of strawberry instantly spread across his tongue.
His eyes widened, shimmering like sunlight dancing on a river, flecks of gold flickering in and out of view. He signed excitedly, "This thing melts in your mouth!"
Seeing his delight, Qiao Chuchu relaxed. "Now you know it's edible!"
She plucked off another piece and popped it into her own mouth.
For a fleeting moment, the innocence on Huailing’s face froze. Then, he tore off a bit and held it out to her.
"Eat, sister."
His smile was sweet.
Qiao Chuchu hesitated before opening her mouth to accept it.
Huailing’s fingertips brushed lightly against her lips—so faint it might have been imagined.
He inhaled softly before tearing off another piece to feed her.
Qiao Chuchu frowned. "Why aren’t you eating any?"
"Soon."
Huailing eagerly offered the cotton candy again. "Sister, eat."
She had no choice but to comply.
But just as she closed her lips around it, Huailing’s fingers pushed forward—
She accidentally sucked on his fingertip and jerked back in alarm. "Sorry! I didn’t mean to!"
The cool, damp sensation of her lips lingered on his skin.
Weisheng Huailing’s smile deepened as he plucked another piece of cotton candy and slipped it into his own mouth.
It was fine.
He had done it on purpose.
