Yun Su continued to take a few more days of leave for Gu Yan, deciding to wait until the bruises on his leg had healed a bit more before sending him back to kindergarten.
When Gu Yan returned to kindergarten again, his classmates no longer crowded around him whenever they saw him.
Gu Yan was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Only Shao Jun kept sneaking glances at him, his tiny black eyes peeking repeatedly in Gu Yan’s direction from his chubby face.
Being stared at like that made Gu Yan uncomfortable. He lifted his eyelids and shot Shao Jun a glare.
Shao Jun reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately shrinking back into his seat with his head lowered.
Gu Yan ignored him and continued with what he had been doing.
Yet when recess arrived, Shao Jun cautiously approached him again.
His small eyes trembled as he looked at Gu Yan, and even his voice shook slightly.
“Gu Yan, you won’t hit me again, right?”
Gu Yan was speechless.
“You were the one who hit me first.”
As soon as Shao Jun heard that, he immediately took another step backward.
“I’m sorry, I apologize to you.”
Gu Yan was somewhat surprised. He had never expected Shao Jun to apologize.
“As long as you don’t bother me, I won’t hit you,” Gu Yan replied before lowering his head to continue reading.
Seeing that Gu Yan clearly did not want to continue the conversation, Shao Jun stopped trying to approach him.
After all, Gu Yan had said he would not hit him again.
Thinking back to that punch Gu Yan had thrown, Shao Jun still felt lingering fear. He had never been hit before. Usually, he was the one bullying others, and sometimes he even complained that punching people hurt his own hands. How could he possibly endure that kind of pain?
Who would have thought that Gu Yan, who looked like someone who would only get bullied, could actually be so fierce? Just one glare from him made Shao Jun feel as though a fist would land on his face the next second.
And just like that, Gu Yan began enjoying an exceptionally peaceful kindergarten life.
It was the weekend.
Yun Su checked the bruise on Gu Yan’s leg. Only a faint greenish mark remained, and it seemed to be healing quite quickly.
Thinking about it, Yun Su realized she had never properly taken Gu Yan out to have fun. Children his age were supposed to run around and play.
Yet whenever it came to Gu Yan, he somehow always ended up either at a crime scene or in the middle of a fight.
It really wasn’t a proper childhood experience.
“Xiao Yan, Sister will take you out to play. Do you want to go to an amusement park?” Yun Su suggested excitedly.
Seeing how happy Yun Su looked, Gu Yan’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
“Okay!”
Yun Su brought Gu Yan to the largest amusement park in the city.
Since it was the weekend, the amusement park was packed with people.
Most were parents accompanied by their children, and laughter filled the air everywhere they went.
Colorful bubbles floated through the air, blown from bubble machines lining the pathways, shimmering under the sunlight.
Yun Su reached out and popped one drifting in front of her, feeling that the scene before her was overflowing with happiness.
It reminded her of her grandparents, who had taken her out to play like this when she was little.
Yun Su had been an orphan. Since birth, she had never known who her biological parents were.
But compared to Gu Yan, Yun Su had been fortunate. She had been adopted by the former director of the transmigration bureau. The old director and his wife had once had a son who suffered from a serious illness and passed away at only twenty years old. Grief-stricken, the couple spent several years mourning before they encountered Yun Su, who had still been an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and decided to raise her.
The old director and his wife treated Yun Su exceptionally well, loving her as if she were their own granddaughter. In return, Yun Su regarded them as the only two family members she had.
Snapping out of her memories, Yun Su lowered her head and looked at Gu Yan.
“Xiao Yan, do you want to blow bubbles? Let’s go buy some bubble solution.”
Gu Yan looked at Yun Su, who clearly wanted to play herself but still insisted on asking for his opinion.
Honestly, there was nothing embarrassing about adults wanting to have fun.
His eyes shifted thoughtfully before he said in a soft voice, “Sure, Sister. I want to play too.”
Yun Su knew it. No child could resist blowing bubbles.
After buying the bubble solution, Yun Su placed it in Gu Yan’s hands. Holding Gu Yan’s hand with one hand while blowing bubbles with the other, she left a trail of floating bubbles behind them.
Yun Su took Gu Yan on the carousel and then onto the Ferris wheel.
As Gu Yan sat inside the Ferris wheel cabin, gazing out the window, excitement sparkled in his eyes. He had never viewed the scenery from such a height before, and everything felt fascinating and new.
A faint smile rested on Yun Su’s lips as she watched the child leaning against the window, his eyes shining brightly.
Gu Yan still possessed the innocence expected of someone his age.
If he had been given a happy childhood, perhaps he would never have become the darkened version of himself described in the novel.
Gu Yan walked over and tugged on Yun Su’s sleeve.
“Sister, come look with me. We’re almost at the highest point.”
Standing up, Yun Su joined him by the window, watching as the buildings below grew smaller and the cars on the streets became tiny as ants.
After stepping off the Ferris wheel, Gu Yan’s excitement had yet to fade.
He immediately pulled Yun Su toward the roller coaster.
Watching Gu Yan bounce around energetically like a lively little rabbit, Yun Su resigned herself to accompanying him no matter what.
However, as she watched the roller coaster racing overhead, her legs began to weaken.
Truthfully, she was rather terrified.
“Xiao Yan, roller coasters are really intense. Are you sure you won’t be scared? Maybe we should try something else?” Yun Su made one final attempt at negotiation.
Gu Yan looked at her with innocent wide eyes.
“But it looks really fun.”
Fine then, she would endure it.
Yun Su led Gu Yan onto the ride.
Nearby, the staff’s loudspeaker continued broadcasting reminders.
“Please place your belongings in the lockers. Parents accompanying children, please take good care of them.”
Yun Su’s palms were already slick with sweat. Even then, after hearing the announcement, she still turned to remind Gu Yan.
“Xiao Yan, if you’re scared, just close your eyes.”
“Sister, are you scared? If you are, you can hold my hand.” Gu Yan stretched out his little hand and squeezed Yun Su’s.
“Sister isn’t scared…”
Before Yun Su could finish speaking, the roller coaster shot forward.
The roaring wind rushed past her ears as the car plunged downward from a great height.
Feeling the sudden sensation of weightlessness, Yun Su screamed.
“Ahhh!”
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly when she heard Gu Yan shouting beside her.
“Sister, don’t be scared. You can hold onto me!”
Then Yun Su felt a pair of soft little hands clasp tightly around hers.
Eventually, the roller coaster slowed and gradually rolled back into the station.
Yun Su’s legs had completely given out, soft and powerless.
Dragging Gu Yan over to a nearby bench, she sat down and took a long time to recover.
Gu Yan pulled out a bottle of mineral water and handed it to her.
“Sister, I didn’t know you were this scared. Let’s never ride this again.”
Looking at Gu Yan, who appeared perfectly composed, Yun Su felt deeply embarrassed.
She had actually been outdone by a five-year-old child.
After spending the entire morning playing, both of them were tired and decided to find a restaurant for lunch.
Once they had placed their order, Yun Su brought Gu Yan to an empty table.
A little while later, Yun Su went to collect their food.
When she returned carrying the tray, she noticed someone sitting beside Gu Yan.
It was a well-dressed woman in her early thirties, accompanied by a refined-looking man who appeared scholarly. The two were probably husband and wife.
At this point, Yun Su had developed something close to trauma whenever she saw Gu Yan talking to strangers.
Carrying the tray, she hurried over and sat down.
“Xiao Yan.”
The standing man noticed Yun Su’s arrival and spoke politely.
“You must be this child’s older sister. My wife injured her leg after bumping into a chair just now. Since it’s crowded and there aren’t any empty seats available, we were hoping to share this table for a while so she could rest. Would you mind?”