After discussing in the group chat, the five of them settled on a time to visit the amusement park. Since Lu Shinian and Qiu Yu had make-up classes in the morning, they decided to meet at the park entrance at 3 p.m.
The night before, Lu Shinian took a detour to the convenience store where Yu He worked and bought a large bag of snacks.
Yu He scanned each item from the shopping basket one by one and asked, “Are you going on a picnic?”
Lu Shinian replied, “Bringing more snacks means we can share them when we get hungry.”
“You don’t need this much. It’ll just be a hassle,” Yu He said.
At this point, there was no one else in line, and only Yu He and the store owner remained at the counter.
Lu Shinian glanced at her. “Want to help me carry them?”
Yu He refused. “No.”
Lu Shinian pouted. “How cruel, Yu He.”
Yu He pulled out a pack of “Fool’s Melon Seeds” and said flatly, “Put this back.”
“Why?” Lu Shinian asked. “Because it’s called ‘Fool’s Melon Seeds’?”
Discrimination based on names was unacceptable.
Yu He didn’t answer her question and instead picked out several more items from the pile. “Put these back too. They’re unnecessary.”
Lu Shinian coughed. “I don’t think this is appropriate.”
Yu He replied indifferently, “You’ll be the one struggling later.”
The store owner nearby chuckled as she watched them.
“Your boss is right here,” Lu Shinian said, amused by the owner’s expression. “How can you openly discourage me from buying stuff?”
The owner smiled. “It’s fine. Pretend I’m not here.”
Yu He remained expressionless and reached to scan the items again.
Lu Shinian stopped her. “Fine, I’ll listen to you. I won’t buy these.”
She looked at the items Yu He had set aside—they were indeed heavy and impractical. Carrying them around would definitely be a burden. She had gotten too excited about visiting the amusement park after so long, clouding her judgment.
Yu He: “Mm.”
After putting the items back, Lu Shinian returned to the counter. “Yu He, what rides do you want to go on?”
Yu He closed the cash register and answered, “The merry-go-round.”
“…”
She hadn’t expected Yu He to be so childlike. Lu Shinian suggested, “Let’s ride the roller coaster instead.”
Yu He looked up and gave her a sidelong glance. “No.”
Yu He’s refusals were always so swift. Lu Shinian asked, “Are you afraid of heights?”
“No.”
“Have you ever been on a roller coaster? You have to try it at least once when you go to an amusement park. I’ve heard from people who’ve ridden them that roller coasters are super thrilling…”
Lu Shinian rambled on about how exciting roller coasters were.
Yu He, ever sparing with words, repeated, “No.”
Lu Shinian guessed, “Are you scared?”
Yu He shot back, “Aren’t you?”
“I am, but I want to try it now.” In her past life, she had visited amusement parks a few times but never dared to ride a roller coaster. Later, when she started working, she simply didn’t have time to go anymore. Now that she had a second chance, she wanted to experience things she had never tried before.
Especially with Yu He—imagining Yu He pretending not to be scared, sitting on the roller coaster with a blank expression.
Wow, just the thought was exhilarating.
Yu He ignored her and pulled out her phone.
Lu Shinian grinned and asked, “Want to try it with me?”
Yu He stared at her phone and suddenly said, “Roller coaster malfunctions at a certain park, leaving 20 passengers hanging upside down. Cause of the accident remains under investigation.”
Lu Shinian: “…”
Yu He continued reading, “The tourist was left suspended 68 meters in the air and had to climb down alone. Afterwards, the tourist broke down in tears.”
Lu Shinian’s jaw tensed slightly, as if grinding her teeth. “Yu He, you’ve become bad.”
Yu He neither confirmed nor denied it, simply asking, “Still want to play?”
Lu Shinian, rebellious by nature, scoffed at the idea of fear. “Play.”
Yu He parted her lips, and Lu Shinian, thinking she was about to read another news snippet, quickly cut in, “Bye, see you tomorrow.”
With that, Lu Shinian grabbed her shopping bag and swiftly slipped out of the convenience store. You never truly know a person, she thought. Who would’ve guessed Yu He had learned to tease her like this? This place wasn’t safe to linger.
Yu He turned her head, watching Lu Shinian’s retreating figure through the window, and smiled faintly, pressing her lips together.
The shopkeeper, noticing Yu He’s smile, asked cheerfully, “Going to the amusement park with friends tomorrow?”
Yu He nodded. “Mm.”
The shopkeeper said, “At your age, you should go out and have fun with friends. Enjoy yourselves!”
The afternoon sun in Yancheng was scorching, the temperature unbearably high. Before heading out, Lu Shinian had slathered on sunscreen and even brought some for Yu He her delicate skin couldn’t afford to tan.
During the National Day holiday, the amusement park was packed, with a long line of people waiting at the entrance for ticket checks.
Beside the queue, Yu Jingjing had slipped on a pair of cooling sleeves and was holding up an umbrella, waving Lu Shinian over. “Come here, take shelter.”
Qiu Yu stood under her own umbrella, her delicate features adorned with two dimples when she smiled. “It’s really hot today.”
Fang Xing cleared his throat. “Mind covering me too?”
Yu Jingjing shot him a look. “You’re a grown man. Shouldn’t you be embarrassed, squeezing under our umbrellas?”
“…”
Still, Yu Jingjing tilted her umbrella slightly toward him, hinting, “Isn’t someone supposed to be calling someone Dad today?”
Lu Shinian nodded. “Today, I’m gaining a son.”
Fang Xing rolled his eyes. “No need to remind me. A man keeps his word. The moment Yu He shows up, I’ll immediately acknowledge you as my dad.”
Yu Jingjing grinned. “Xiao Lu, ask Yu He how much longer she’ll be. I can’t wait to see Fang Xing become a son.”
“Let me check.”
She pulled out her phone and sent Yu He a message.
[A Deer: Yu, where are you? We’re at the amusement park entrance.]
Ever since Yu He got WeChat, they had been chatting frequently, exchanging messages almost daily. Their last conversation had ended with Lu Shinian’s “Good night” the previous evening.
After sending the message, Lu Shinian held her phone, waiting for a reply while scanning the distance for any sign of Yu He.
The sky was a clear blue, the shadows at their feet shifting inch by inch with the sun’s movement. The heat was oppressive, the wind carrying a dry, sweltering edge.
“Damn this Yancheng weather,” Fang Xing muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead and fanning himself. “I’m melting. Where’s Yu He?”
Lu Shinian glanced at her silent phone. “She should be here soon.”
Qiu Yu suggested, “Maybe call Yu He and check if she’s stuck in traffic.”
“Alright.” Yu He spent most of her time working or studying, and to avoid disturbing her, Lu Shinian had never actually called her before.
She dialed the number. The line rang a few times with no answer. Pausing, she tried again, still no response.
Yu Jingjing noticed something was off. “No one’s picking up?”
Lu Shinian hummed in confirmation.
“See, I told you Yu He wouldn’t come. She’s always busy,” Fang Xing said leisurely.
Yu Jingjing snapped, “Fang Xing, shut up.”
Lu Shinian frowned, a sudden tightness in her chest. She instinctively believed Yu He wouldn’t stand her up.
“I’ll wait here for her,” she said. “You guys go ahead, and I’ll catch up later.”
Yu Jingjing nodded. “Alright, we’ll head in first.”
Just then, Lu Shinian’s phone buzzed. She glanced down.
[From Sprout: Sorry, something came up.]
Her lashes trembled slightly, a flicker of unreadable emotion swirling in her eyes before vanishing seconds later. Forcing a smile, she looked up. “Let’s go. Yu He can’t make it. We’ll just enjoy ourselves.”
The inside of the closet was dim, the faint glow from her phone barely illuminating the darkness.
Yu He tucked the phone against her chest, lips pressed tightly together as she listened to the commotion outside.
The door rattled violently under a barrage of pounding, interspersed with men’s curses. A loud crash followed, and their rough voices grew clearer.
“Search the place. See if anyone’s home.”
The soft click of the bedroom lock turning made her freeze. She covered her mouth, holding her breath, peering through the closet’s narrow gap.
A tall man prowled around the room, flipping through books on the desk before stubbing his cigarette out on a page.
As he turned to leave, he suddenly paused, his gaze locking onto the closet. Slowly, he stepped closer.
Footsteps thudded nearer.
Yu He bit down hard on her lip, shutting her eyes.
Just as his hand reached for the closet door, a shout from outside stopped him. He turned and left.
The moment he was gone, her chest heaved violently, but she dared not make a sound, gasping in shallow breaths.
“Where the hell did that bastard Yu Liang run off to?”
“Fourth Brother, you think he knew we were coming and bolted?”
The man called Fourth Brother scoffed. “Dares to run after owing me money? What about his daughter?”
“Didn’t see her. Probably took her with him.”
“Damn rat.”
“So we came for nothing today?”
“For nothing? Trash the place.”
The screech of objects being hurled to the ground filled the air, followed by shattering and crude curses.
Time crawled. The sliver of light through the closet gap dimmed as the chaos outside gradually faded.
Yu He’s legs, numb from being curled up too long, gave out when she pushed the door open. She tumbled out, gripping the bedframe to stand, only to slide back down, collapsing onto the floor.
Her dark eyes stared blankly ahead, cold and hollow, devoid of any emotion.
Minutes later, she rose and walked out. The living room was pitch black until she flicked the switch, revealing utter devastation shattered belongings, the floor dented and uneven.
Neighbors had gathered at the doorway, whispering among themselves.
She ignored them, righting the toppled metal door, shutting out their murmurs bit by bit.