To Zhou Fan, an amusement park was a place he had visited so often since childhood that he was almost tired of it. He never imagined that there was someone in this world who had reached adulthood without ever setting foot in one.
On the way there, Miaomiao sat in the back while holding his and Chi Hanqing’s hands as she happily sang nursery rhymes along with the music from the speakers. Chi Hanqing usually looked cold, but he surprisingly had a lot of patience with children. Holding the chubby hand of Miaomiao, the ice on his face melted away to leave only a warm smile.
Zhou Fan wondered what Chi Hanqing was thinking right now as he watched him. He wondered if the boy was thinking about his own childhood. He questioned if the childhood of Chi Hanqing was spent like this, suffocated by an endless mountain of tutoring sessions without a single gap to breathe. Zhou Fan could not quite name the feeling rising in his chest, but it was bittersweet. One thing was certain: it was not pity or sympathy. It was a deeper and softer emotion that was indescribable. For Zhou Fan, this feeling was a first in his life.
Dating Chi Hanqing truly offered all sorts of new experiences. Chi Hanqing noticed his gaze and turned his head. He silently mouthed a question to ask what was happening. Zhou Fan grinned widely and mouthed back a reply that he wanted to kiss him. He was certain Chi Hanqing understood because the pale ears of the boy instantly turned red. Zhou Fan thought that the boy got embarrassed easily. When the boy was by his side, his cheeks, ears, and neck always ended up flushed. He felt it was beautiful.
When they arrived at the amusement park, his parents took Miaomiao’s hands and told Zhou Fan to go play with Hanqing. They noted they would call to meet at the entrance when it was time to leave. Zhou Fan thought his parents were being incredibly considerate. He knew this thoughtfulness was not for him but for Chi Hanqing. His little lover was beautiful and polite, and his mannerisms made people instinctively feel for him.
Zhou Fan was about to agree, but Chi Hanqing spoke first and noted it was okay because he wanted to spend more time with Miaomiao as well. His parents were stunned for a moment. They exchanged a glance with Zhou Fan and then laughed while noting that if Hanqing did not find them a nuisance, they should all go together.
Chi Hanqing wondered how he could find them a nuisance. When he was a child, his greatest wish was to go to an amusement park with his parents and play happily. In his own home, that wish was destined to remain a fantasy. Now, in the harmonious and happy Zhou family, Chi Hanqing finally felt the warmth of a family as he had always hoped. Even if they were not his parents or his sister, he had his boyfriend.
Miaomiao held the hand of Zhou Fan on one side and Chi Hanqing on the other as she skipped along while humming a song. Chi Hanqing looked at Zhou Fan and realized late that he had turned down the suggestion for private time. He felt a bit apprehensive and leaned in to whisper a question about whether Zhou Fan was unhappy.
Zhou Fan was lazily enjoying the autumn sun and the noisy crowds. He let out a light laugh and asked what he would be unhappy about. He noted he was more than happy that the boy liked his family. The smile on the face of Chi Hanqing deepened. He thought to himself a silent thank you to Zhou Fan for bringing him such happiness. He felt that falling for Zhou Fan in that crowd years ago was the greatest luck of his life.
The favorite ride of Miaomiao was the carousel, and she had to ride it two or three times every visit. Zhou Fan lost interest after one go, but Chi Hanqing was enthusiastic and willing to play with her. Amidst the tinkling music, colorful lights danced across the beautifully shaped horses. They trotted in another round of rotation under the glow.
In the crowd surrounding the carousel, Zhou Fan watched Chi Hanqing sitting on a white horse. At this moment, Chi Hanqing truly looked like a prince from a fairy tale who was exceptionally handsome with a happy smile. The distance Zhou Fan had felt at the concert hall surfaced in his mind again. He stood there while watching Chi Hanqing on the horse as he moved further away with the music. First he could only see the boy’s back, and then even that vanished.
His fingers twitched instinctively, but he did nothing. When the ride stopped, many people stepped forward to collect their children. Zhou Fan also walked over and first picked up Miaomiao from a pumpkin carriage then opened his arms to lift Chi Hanqing off his horse. Chi Hanqing nervously gripped the neck of Zhou Fan and whispered that there were so many people watching. Zhou Fan smiled innocently and noted that he simply wanted to hold him.
Accompanied by the Zhou family, Chi Hanqing played his heart out all day. Eventually even Miaomiao grew tired. She lay on the back of the father of Zhou Fan and whispered that the pretty brother was amazing because she was exhausted but he was still full of energy.
Zhou Fan held a container of freshly bought octopus balls in front of Chi Hanqing. Hearing the comment from Miaomiao, he laughed and called him the pretty brother who could play harder than a child. Chi Hanqing took a bite of a ball and gave a soft hum. It was strange because he usually felt uncomfortable around elders. However, with the Zhou parents, he felt only relaxed and happy. Moreover, throughout the day, Zhou Fan had pampered him like a child by delivering food and drink to his hands and fulfilling every request immediately. Chi Hanqing finally understood that only those who are loved and pampered learn how to act spoiled.
That night, they had dinner at a restaurant inside the park. Just as the food was served, a bang echoed in the night sky as a magnificent firework bloomed in the dark. Miaomiao was sleepy but grew excited again upon seeing the fireworks. Her father kissed her cheek and asked if his choice of seating was good. Miaomiao gave him a kiss and continued to watch the sky.
Chi Hanqing was also focused on the fireworks. After a series of explosions, he felt a gaze and turned back to find Zhou Fan was not watching the sky but was watching him instead. His heart raced and his lips curled upward as he asked why Zhou Fan was looking at him. Zhou Fan leaned in until his lips nearly touched the ear of the boy and noted it would be great if he were a child of his family.
Back at home, everyone was exhausted. After washing up, they retreated to their bedrooms. In the bedroom of Zhou Fan, only a single desk lamp was lit at its lowest setting. He lazily held Chi Hanqing while using his other hand to reply to messages he had not seen all day. Chi Hanqing rested quietly in his arms like a kitten seeking warmth.
After a while, seeing that Zhou Fan was still messaging, he asked who he was talking to. Zhou Fan openly showed him the screen. It was a flood of messages from friends asking him to come out and play. Zhou Fan had only just replied that he had been out and had not checked his phone. The person on the other end asked who he was with and if it was the honor student. Zhou Fan confirmed it was. Chi Hanqing looked at the top of the chat to see who it was and noticed Zhou Fan had given the person the nickname Spike Brother.
Chi Hanqing asked curiously what Spike Brother meant. Zhou Fan laughed and explained the nickname. He noted the friend once chased a girl and was rejected several times but kept bothering her. He added that the friend posted on social media that beautiful roses have spikes, so he got that nickname. He clarified that the person was Zhang Chifeng.
Chi Hanqing asked in a low voice what his own nickname was. Zhou Fan was busy replying to Zhang Chifeng and did not catch the question at first. Chi Hanqing propped himself up from his chest and asked again what his contact name was. Zhou Fan laughed and noted he had not had time to change the contact name yet. Chi Hanqing leaned forward while lying on his chest and asked why he had not changed it.
Zhou Fan noted he had not decided what to change it to and handed over the phone while suggesting the boy choose a name. Chi Hanqing took the phone and found his own contact in the list to modify it with reddened ears. Zhou Fan took the phone back and laughed when he saw the result. Replacing the name Chi Hanqing was the word Treasure followed by a small sun emoji. The warm tone shone on him just as the presence of Chi Hanqing had taught the once cynical Zhou Fan what true affection felt like. Zhou Fan thought that Chi Hanqing truly was the little sun in his world.