Chapter 33: Couple Tickets

Zhu Niao and Gou Yu walked toward the entrance, holding their couple tickets.

With her ticket held high, Zhu Niao looked like she was brandishing a special token that granted her passage through any barrier.

“Excuse me, you two—please wait a moment.”

The staff member, who had just been about to scan Zhu Niao’s ticket, suddenly stopped the impatient girl, blocking her like she was about to launch herself through the gate.

Gou Yu quickly reached out to hold down Zhu Niao’s little head, which was beginning to stir restlessly.

In response, she turned around and bit him.

“Sorry about that. I forgot to leash her before leaving the house today,” Gou Yu said apologetically to the staff member while wiping Zhu Niao’s drool off his hand and onto the hood of her white hoodie.

He hadn’t expected this—Zhu Niao had seemed so calm on the ride over, but the moment they got to the amusement park, she turned into a completely different person.

Or maybe… she’d just been quietly excited all along and finally couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Uh… you two really seem to get along well…” The staff member was a bit stunned by the leash comment.

What a wild little couple.

“However, our park has a policy: couples who buy the ‘couple ticket’ must provide proof of their relationship,” the staff member said, looking between them.

Zhu Niao, who had been baring her teeth at Gou Yu, stopped and turned her gaze to the staffer. After staring for a moment, she tilted her head.

“Wait a sec,” Zhu Niao pulled Gou Yu closer, “You’re saying we need proof to be a couple? Do I really look like I don’t deserve to be with… this thing?”

“Hey, hey—what do you mean, this thing?” Gou Yu clearly didn’t appreciate the label.

Zhu Niao casually waved her hand. “Alright, alright. You’re not a thing.”

Gou Yu responded by pulling her hoodie over her head, covering her completely, and then tightening the drawstrings around her.

“It’s just a standard procedure,” the staff member sighed, watching this couple who had started flirting and messing around in broad daylight. “We’re just following the rules.”

He made a silent vow: today after work, he was definitely switching shifts.

“What kind of rule?” Gou Yu asked, one hand holding the bundled-up Zhu Niao, while turning to face the staff.

“All you need to do is hug each other. Just one minute and the process is complete,” the staffer explained, clearly worn out—his eyes no longer even focused on them.

“…What?”

Gou Yu wasn’t sure if he’d misheard. He even loosened his grip on Zhu Niao’s hood.

Freed from her cloth prison, the little bird emerged with her hair a mess and cheeks faintly red. She glared at Gou Yu fiercely and made two slashing motions across her throat.

“So, when would you like to begin the hug?” the staffer asked flatly, his expression now dead-eyed. “I’ll start the timer when you’re ready.”

“H-Hug?” Zhu Niao blinked, stunned. That question completely threw her off.

Then she turned—and saw Gou Yu with his arms open, moving toward her.

“What are you doing?!”

“We have to hug for a minute. Otherwise, we can’t go in,” Gou Yu said simply.

Zhu Niao nodded and dove right into his arms.

The staff started the timer, and a few passersby even stopped to watch.

Gou Yu looked down at the tiny person nestled against his chest, resting her head under his chin.

Like a groggy little kitten—temperamental, but adorable. Independent, but sensible.

His chest tickled slightly—Zhu Niao had lifted her head and was rubbing it against him. Her eyes sparkled like galaxies, filled with intimacy and mischief meant for him alone.

She said, “I just wiped my snot on your shirt.”

Gou Yu chuckled softly and tightened his arms, pulling her closer.

The staff nearby just felt they were overly clingy—but to Gou Yu, it felt more like he might suffocate her if he hugged any harder.

“Alright, time’s up,” the staff finally called, stopping the timer at just over forty seconds.

Gou Yu immediately released the slightly dazed Zhu Niao.

But the staff wasn’t done: “One more thing. If the couple is willing to show a kiss, they’ll receive free meal vouchers and a souvenir—”

Just as Gou Yu turned to head into the park, Zhu Niao grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked him back with unexpected strength.

They were face to face—Zhu Niao had to tilt her head up, and Gou Yu had to lower his.

“Just so you know, you were the one who wiped gross stuff on my clothes first. No revenge,” Gou Yu warned, raising his hands in surrender.

“Who’s revenging anything?” Zhu Niao still held his shirt.

“Didn’t you hear what he just said? Free meal vouchers.”

It was a distance made just for two people. A conversation only two people could hear.

“You’re serious?” Gou Yu frowned at her bashful expression.

“If we eat inside, we can play from morning all the way until the park closes,” Zhu Niao whispered.

Gou Yu knew the food inside would be expensive—Zhu Niao would never willingly spend that much.

But now he realized—she really did want to enjoy herself today.

Maybe last night, lying alone in that big bed, she had stared at the moonlight for a long time, quietly anticipating today.

He smiled brightly.

Then, he leaned in toward Zhu Niao, who was tilting her head up at him.

He saw those soft pink lips right in front of his eyes. He saw Zhu Niao’s long eyelashes trembling gently. He saw that pair of eyes — which were usually filled with starlight — now holding only his reflection.

It felt as if, just for this moment, this chirpy little bird belonged solely to him.

But he abruptly stopped — two inches away.

He didn’t know what this kiss was supposed to mean.
Was it merely about trying to win that free meal coupon Zhu Niao mentioned,
or did it signal something deeper in their relationship, something beginning to change color?

After all, Zhu Niao’s so-called “romance mission” had a target — and that target was him.

He didn’t dare, and he couldn’t — not let a moment of impulse send them down separate paths.

Gou Yu was scared.

But this wasn’t something he could decide alone.

Smooch.

A slightly sweet, wet warmth landed on his cheek, like someone had stamped a seal onto his stunned face.

He thought he even heard a camera shutter click, and in the corner of his eye, caught a flash of reddish-brown.

Gou Yu looked over and saw Zhu Niao hopping two steps away in a panic, avoiding his gaze and turning toward the now eye-rolling staff member.

“You never said where to kiss, right? Kissing the cheek counts too, doesn’t it?”

“…These two…” The dead-inside staff member didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice. “Yes, of course it counts. Here’s your souvenir — there are different styles. Do you want to pick one? And here’s your meal coupon.”

He even sounded like he wanted to rush them.

A moment later, Zhu Niao marched up proudly to Gou Yu and held the prizes up in front of him.

“Well? Pretty awesome, right?”

She looked just like a cat with its tail proudly held high — except her eyes were still darting around shyly.

“Very awesome.”

Gou Yu looked at her ears, red as boiled shrimp, and reached out to take his share.

The souvenir was a red wristband with a little bird-shaped charm attached. But the one Zhu Niao was wearing clearly had a little fish on it.

Maybe the scatterbrained little bird grabbed the wrong one — or maybe she just stubbornly refused to admit she was the “little bird” here.

He chuckled softly and fastened the wristband onto his own wrist.

Well, no — this was probably the only time he’d dare wear it. Normally, he’d have to keep it carefully tucked away in his room.

If he lost it while out doing deliveries… the little bird would probably kill him.