NOVPUBAfter the two finished eating cotton candy and washed their hands, Huai Ling stood in front of the Ferris wheel, gazing at her with longing.
"I want to ride this, sis."
Qiao Chuchu: "..."
She turned to leave. "I have something to do, so I’ll head out first."
Huai Ling grabbed her sleeve, frowning. "Sis doesn’t want to play with me?"
Qiao Chuchu, like a cat being pulled by the arm, leaned backward. "It’s mainly because I’m afraid of heights!"
Weisheng Huailing looked dejected. "Fine, then let’s go play something else."
He pointed at the haunted house. "Let’s go there."
Qiao Chuchu’s lips twitched, and suddenly her fear of heights vanished. "Actually, I think this ride is perfect—just a bit slow and a bit high."
Huai Ling happily paid for the tickets, carefully leading her onto the Ferris wheel and sitting beside her.
Qiao Chuchu stiffened. "If you sit next to me, won’t it make this thing unbalanced?"
"It won’t, don’t worry." Huai Ling held her hand. "I’m here."
He gazed at the distant scenery. "I just wanted to be alone with sis for a while."
Then he blinked at her expectantly. "Can you call my name in your heart?"
Qiao Chuchu pursed her lips, slightly embarrassed. Huai Ling?
Weisheng Huailing raised his hand joyfully. "I’m here!"
She couldn’t help but laugh. Weisheng Huailing?
Weisheng Huailing waved excitedly. "That’s me, that’s me!"
He lowered his hand and mouthed slowly: "Qiao~ Chu~ Chu~"
Qiao Chuchu’s eyes widened in shock. "What?" 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
He’s calling my name?!
Weisheng Huailing’s eyes sparkled like stars as he tried again. "Qiao Chuchu?"
His ears turned slightly red as he asked timidly, "Di-d I s-say it r-right?"
His voice was magnetic, smooth and pleasant.
Though his pronunciation was far from perfect, it was clear enough to recognize who he was calling.
Her eyes welled up, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes! But you can actually say my name?! How did you learn to pronounce it? When did you practice?!"
I know Huai Ling can make sounds—he doesn’t speak because he’s never heard voices before. But now he can talk!
She was so moved she nearly cried. "It feels like watching your own child achieve something great!"
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Huai Ling’s eyes also stung.
He blinked hard to hold them back, then pointed at himself. "Weisheng Huailing."
Qiao Chuchu nodded, encouraging him.
He then pointed at her and said carefully, "Like. Qiao Chuchu."
She froze.
Weisheng Huailing took a deep breath, steadied himself, and spoke in one go: "Weisheng Huailing. Likes. Qiao Chuchu."
Qiao Chuchu was stunned, tears instantly spilling from her eyes.
Huai Ling panicked, clumsily wiping them away. Why are you crying?
She shook her head. "I don’t know."
Overwhelmed, she replied in her heart: Qiao Chuchu also likes Weisheng Huailing very much!
Weisheng Huailing’s eyes widened, his lips trembling before tears began falling even harder. "Mmm~"
He was crying more than she was!
Qiao Chuchu laughed tearfully as she wiped his face. "You just asked me why I was crying, and now you’re the one bawling!"
Reading her lips, Huai Ling wrapped his arms around her like a little leopard, burying his face in her chest. "Happy."
Qiao Chuchu froze.
He tightened his embrace, clinging to her as he struggled to speak. "With sis. Living. Together. Hearing sis. Voice. Me. Happy."
Her nose stung, and she choked up, turning to look out the window.
I’m happy too.
Huai Ling gazed up at her.
She stared outside, unaware she had leaked her thoughts again: So, so happy.
Huai Ling leaned down like a kitten, gently wiping her tears away.
Then he rested his head on her lap, closing his eyes contentedly as he secretly turned off the video recording.
All that month of practice had paid off—he’d finally made Qiao Chuchu happy!
The video could capture her inner voice.
These few words, he could listen to them for a lifetime.
As the Ferris wheel ride ended and they stepped out, they ran straight into Lou Yuejue.
Dressed in a sharp suit, Lou Yuejue stood waiting like a cunning fox. "My turn now, Huai Ling-ge."
Huai Ling’s expression darkened, eyeing his outfit with disdain. Wearing that now? How pretentious.
Lou Yuejue smirked. "Unlike you, it’s lunchtime. I’m taking sis to eat."
Qiao Chuchu only then realized it was noon. "Then let’s all go together."
Lou Yuejue’s face fell. "No."
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her away firmly. "I only reserved two seats—just sis and me. No extras!"
Qiao Chuchu frowned, glancing back at Huai Ling.
But the usually petty Weisheng Huailing didn’t seem upset, smiling as he signed: Don’t forget what I said today, sis.
Before she could nod, Lou Yuejue dragged her out of the amusement park. "Stop talking to him!"
He pressed her against the car, his expression icy. "You’re with me now. Don’t look back at him—look at me, got it?"
Qiao Chuchu stared at his sharp features. "...Uh."
Lou Yuejue’s all grown up now, but I still can’t get used to him being an adult.
She nodded. "Got it."
Lou Yuejue’s expression softened slightly as he opened the car door for her.
She climbed in.
Glancing at the time, he scowled. "He stole three whole minutes from me. Weisheng Huailing definitely did it on purpose!"
Qiao Chuchu shifted awkwardly. "What are you guys even planning? Or is this just another day of wanting to hang out with me?"
Lou Yuejue’s irritation vanished instantly, his gaze calm. "Secret."
Qiao Chuchu: "..."
He ordered the driver, "Let’s go."
As the car started moving, Lou Yuejue’s phone rang. He answered, his voice a deep, youthful baritone. "What?"
His brows furrowed. "If the shipment got hijacked, go take it back. Why bother me? Did I not say no interruptions during this time?"
After a pause, his eyes narrowed. "My dad told you to call me?"
Qiao Chuchu perked up, studying Lou Yuejue.
At twenty-two, he’d shed all traces of boyishness, his fox-like eyes a perfect inheritance from Lou Tingsi.
The difference was, Lou Tingsi remained unflappable no matter what, his smiles laced with venom.
Lou Yuejue was more direct—ruthless, decisive, his demeanor cold and unyielding.
He hung up irritably, loosening his tie. "That old fox. The second he knows I’m with you, he finds ways to ruin it."
Qiao Chuchu coughed awkwardly. "Lou Tingsi’s just worried."
"About what?" Lou Yuejue arched a brow. "Two adults being alone together?"
Her hair stood on end. "Don’t say nonsense!"
"Not talking nonsense, are you?" Lou Yuejue lifted his chin with an arrogant expression. "I'm twenty-two, you're twenty-four—are you saying we're not adults?"
Qiao Chuchu's mouth twitched as she awkwardly turned her face away. "Well, if you put it that way, I guess we are."
Lou Yuejue narrowed his eyes dangerously and pressed the button to raise the electric partition, sealing off the front seats from the back.
A sense of foreboding crept over Qiao Chuchu.
Lou Yuejue's muscular frame loomed over her from above. "Sister, did you still think I was a kid?"
