The carousel stopped.
But the wheelchair experience card had not expired yet.
So Shen Yuqing rode it one more time.
When that ride ended, the children’s line still had not finished.
Song Tinghuan said: “President Shen, how about you—”
“I’m not riding anymore.” Shen Yuqing said expressionlessly.
“But if you’re not riding the carousel, where will you sit?”
Shen Yuqing said: “…The carousel horse isn’t allowed to spin.”
Song Tinghuan said: “Got it. We’ll satisfy your request right away.”
After the last couple finished their ride as well, the carousel was finally able to resume spinning.
On the drive home, Song Tinghuan carefully asked: “President Shen, did you feel happy today?”
Shen Yuqing had his eyes closed and did not answer.
Had he fallen asleep?
Song Tinghuan sat properly again and kept quiet.
After a long while, she suddenly heard Shen Yuqing hum in acknowledgment.
It was soft, carrying an affirmative tone.
Song Tinghuan suspected she had misheard and turned to look at him, but Shen Yuqing still had his eyes closed.
After they arrived home, Song Tinghuan pushed Shen Yuqing through the door—
The wheelchair had been used until its battery ran out.
“President Shen, when you hummed in the car just now, did that mean you were happy?”
Shen Yuqing replied: “Mm.”
It was still soft.
But this time, Song Tinghuan was certain she had heard correctly.
“That’s great.” Song Tinghuan said with a smile. “As long as you’re happy. As long as you’re happy.”
Hearing that, Shen Yuqing smiled as well.
The next morning.
While making breakfast, Song Tinghuan attached the only instant photo they had taken yesterday to the refrigerator door with a magnet.
In the photo, Shen Yuqing was sitting on a white carousel horse. A trace of confusion appeared on his handsome face, making him look somewhat adorable.
After putting it up, Song Tinghuan ordered several more packs of instant film.
The next time they went out to have fun, they could take more pictures as keepsakes.
She had even planned out the arrangement on the refrigerator door.
A separate area in the center would be reserved for Shen Yuqing to stick notes listing the dishes he wanted to eat. The remaining space would be filled with photos or local specialty refrigerator magnets.
After finishing everything, she tore off a sticky note and began preparing the breakfast Shen Yuqing wanted.
Halfway through making breakfast, Shen Heng burst in like a whirlwind.
“Huanhuan, quick, food. I need food…”
Song Tinghuan turned around from the stove and was startled by Shen Heng’s miserable appearance.
His face was yellowish, his eyes were bloodshot, his jaw was covered in stubble, his forehead looked dark, and his short hair resembled a sea urchin.
“Did you go to war?” Song Tinghuan asked.
Shen Heng collapsed onto the sofa with lifeless eyes and said weakly: “I only worked overtime at the company for three days and nights straight. Altogether, I slept only ten hours.”
Song Tinghuan said: “You’re actually still alive.”
Shen Heng looked as though he wanted to cry.
“Yeah, how come I’m not dead yet?!”
“Breakfast isn’t ready yet.” Song Tinghuan said. “How about eating a few chocolates first?”
Shen Heng replied: “I don’t eat chocolate.”
Song Tinghuan was speechless.
What had chocolate ever done wrong? Not a single person wanted to eat it.
Like a wandering ghost, Shen Heng crawled off the sofa and drifted toward the refrigerator in search of food.
The moment he opened the refrigerator door, his gaze froze.
Then his bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief.
The expression was so alarming that Song Tinghuan felt a little scared.
Pointing at the instant photo, Shen Heng asked: “Is this photoshopped?”
“No. I took it yesterday.”
“You two went to an amusement park?”
“Yep.”
The next second, Shen Heng’s howl shook the heavens—
“YOU WENT TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK! WITHOUT! TAKING! ME!”
Song Tinghuan rubbed her tingling ears and casually delivered another blow.
“Weren’t you working overtime?”
Shen Heng clutched his chest.
His Adam’s apple rolled violently. He was probably swallowing down the surge of blood and emotion threatening to burst out.
Seeing that something seemed wrong, Song Tinghuan quickly filled a bowl with the preserved egg and lean pork congee she had just finished cooking and shoved it into his hands.
“Alright, go eat.”
At last, she managed to get rid of Shen Heng.
By the time breakfast was fully prepared, Shen Yuqing had also come downstairs.
Immediately, Shen Heng tearfully accused him.
“Brother, how could you go to an amusement park without taking me?”
Shen Yuqing replied calmly: “I didn’t go by myself. Song Tinghuan was there too.”
“Exactly! You took Huanhuan but not me. Am I still your biological younger brother or not?”
“Huanhuan?” Shen Yuqing’s brows drew together.
Last time at the Song residence, Shen Heng had been influenced by the atmosphere there and had started calling her that along with Song Tinghuan’s family.
For some reason, Shen Heng suddenly sensed that the atmosphere had become strange.
So he immediately changed his wording.
“Xiao Song.”
Shen Yuqing’s expression relaxed.
Now the atmosphere felt right.
Taking a sip of the congee Song Tinghuan handed him, Shen Yuqing said: “You have greater responsibilities now and represent the company’s image. It’s better to visit amusement parks less often.”
Shen Heng’s shoulders drooped.
“Why do you sound just like Mom and Dad?”
Shen Yuqing paused while drinking his congee.
At that moment, Song Tinghuan sat down at the dining table with her own bowl of congee and grabbed a croissant.
“How does going to an amusement park hurt the company’s image? It’s not like he’s evading taxes, and he’s not cheating or having an affair. What’s wrong with going out to have some fun?”
Tears filled Shen Heng’s eyes as he nodded vigorously.
“Huan— Xiao Song is right! I’m a good person, a very good person. I just want to go to an amusement park. I’ve done exactly zero wrong things!”
Shen Yuqing nodded.
“Alright then. I’ll take you with us next time.”
“Brother, you’ve changed.” Shen Heng said. “You weren’t this easy to talk to before. You’re so much gentler now that I’m honestly not used to it.”
Shen Yuqing shot him a glance.
“Shut up and eat.”
Shen Heng immediately said: “Right. This is how you should treat me. Now that’s my brother.”
After being scolded by Big Brother, Shen Heng’s appetite improved considerably.
After breakfast, Shen Heng went upstairs to find a place to catch up on sleep.
Shen Yuqing sat in the courtyard enjoying the sunlight.
Song Tinghuan sat cross-legged on the ground beside him with a small low table in front of her.
On her left was a guide from Little Red Book, and on her right was a notebook filled with handwritten notes.
Shen Yuqing quietly watched her.
He had seen that notebook before.
Its cover was made of soft brown leather, and inside were many details related to him.
When Mo Hai had visited last time, Song Tinghuan had used this very notebook.
There were several large characters on the first page, but he had not seen them clearly because Song Tinghuan had deliberately covered them to keep him from reading them.
“Have you finished making the plan?” Shen Yuqing asked.
Song Tinghuan handed him her phone.
“What do you think of this restaurant?”
Shen Yuqing took it and looked.
“It’s a Chinese fusion restaurant. They say the environment is wonderful, and there are singing and dancing performances during meals. The performers even come down to interact with the guests. It looks really nice!”
Most importantly, the restaurant had excellent accessibility facilities.
However, Song Tinghuan did not mention that.
And what she did mention was not what Shen Yuqing cared about.
He asked: “How does the food taste?”
Song Tinghuan paused.
“…The guide didn’t say.”
“But this restaurant is really interesting!” Song Tinghuan argued earnestly.
Shen Yuqing returned the phone to her.
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
“Yay!”
While making the reservation, she suddenly remembered something.
“I should ask Young President Shen whether he wants to go.”
“No need.” Shen Yuqing said. “If he doesn’t sleep for a full twenty-four hours, he won’t wake up.”
After thinking about it, Song Tinghuan agreed. After working overtime for so long, he should get some proper rest.
So she reserved a table for two.
After completing the booking, she handed the phone to Shen Yuqing.
“One thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight per person. Please reimburse me.”