The number of tourists was decreasing at a visible rate. Before they knew it, the sun began to set, and the crowds within the amusement park gradually dispersed.
Under a canopy in the plaza, Jiang Sui plopped down and stretched her body lazily.
Today, she really had a blast.
Initially, she hadn’t looked forward to this trip to the amusement park. Or rather, she wasn’t concerned with the fun itself, but with the act of inviting Lu Yunze.
In other words, as long as she could be alone with Lu Yunze, it made no difference to her if they were at an amusement park or somewhere else.
However, after they actually started playing, Jiang Sui realized she had underestimated her own desire for fun.
From the very first attraction, the Pirate Ship, she felt a thrill of excitement and tension, allowing her to scream to her heart’s content. She had never imagined there was such a way to release her emotions.
In her previous life, Jiang Sui had always buried herself in work. Even on her days off, she had no entertainment, choosing instead to shut herself away at home to pass the time.
Going to an amusement park? That was something she had never even considered; she always felt it was a childish place meant only for young people and children.
She had originally intended to use this as a tool for her strategy to win over Lu Yunze, but she hadn’t expected to become so immersed in it herself.
At first, she reminded herself that today’s purpose wasn’t just to play; but later, her mind was filled with what to ride next and how to have the most fun, turning her into an ordinary person reveling in the amusement park’s festivities.
‘Could it be because my current body is only 18 years old, combined with the personality differences between men and women, that led to such a change?’
Running around the amusement park all day was practically more exhausting than working at the Luo Family Residence.
After sitting down, Jiang Sui couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. She hoped she wouldn’t sleep too soundly tonight; if she were late, her salary would likely be docked.
Today was Sunday, and tomorrow she had to return to work at the Luo Family Compound.
Jiang Sui looked up at the seat across from her.
“Young Master, did you have fun today?”
Lu Yunze was currently looking down at the nine photos in his hand.
After the two of them finished lunch, they had borrowed a Polaroid from a passerby and took nine group photos. Although they were all close-ups, the results were surprisingly good.
If there was any flaw, it was that Jiang Sui had her arm hooked around his neck while taking the photos, causing Lu Yunze’s expressions to grow increasingly stiff and look somewhat comical.
“You keep these photos for safekeeping.” After looking through them, Lu Yunze pushed the photos toward Jiang Sui. “You can buy a frame or something… decorate them however you like.”
“Is it really okay for the Young Master to just give them to me?” Jiang Sui picked up the photos, a faint smile on her lips. “This is the first time we’ve taken a photo together. Aren’t you going to keep a souvenir?”
“Leaving them with you is enough.”
The main reason was that Lu Yunze didn’t dare keep these photos in his room. If someone were to find them, things would get troublesome.
It was often said that wealthy families had many rules and lived restricted lives, but Lu Yunze hadn’t expected to be limited even in matters like this.
Being unable to keep the photos left him with some regret, and it also sparked a desire within him to live more freely.
‘Leave the Luo family?’
Though he had thought about it before, it had only been a passing thought. Now that he was seriously considering it again, the smile on Lu Yunze’s face grew a bit stiff — because he was truly contemplating the idea.
“I’m thirsty. Do you want a drink, Young Master?” Jiang Sui asked.
“Whatever flavor you’re having is fine.”
Hearing this, Jiang Sui stood up to find a vending machine. The orange glow of the setting sun cast a filter over the amusement park, and by this time, most of the shops had already closed.
As soon as Jiang Sui left, Lu Yunze couldn’t help but sigh.
He was also exhausted.
Accompanying Jiang Sui as she ran around from one attraction to the next was taxing. More importantly, he suffered a bit from motion sickness and a fear of heights, so those thrilling rides had been very stressful.
Fortunately, he had persevered through the thought of ‘not wanting to leave Jiang Sui with any regrets.’ However, he now felt a bit dizzy, similar to being carsick.
“It’s already this late. Young man, aren’t you leaving yet? The amusement park is about to close.”
“Hm?”
Hearing the voice, Lu Yunze immediately turned around and discovered that someone had appeared in the seat behind him at some point.
And it was someone he had encountered earlier today.
“Mr. Yan Chen, you haven’t left yet either?”
“My kid and her little lover are still reluctant to leave this place. How could I leave on my own?” Yan Chen gave a bitter smile.
He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and offered it to Lu Yunze.
“No, thank you. I don’t smoke.”
Lu Yunze waved his hand in refusal.
He didn’t like cigarettes, mainly because he had once seen a smoker’s teeth up close, and the yellow staining was terrifying.
However, back in elementary school, he had tried a discarded cigarette butt out of curiosity, only to nearly choke to death. Since then, he had sworn never to touch such things in his life.
Yan Chen didn’t mind being rejected and lit one for himself.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said for a long time. You’re right. If I could be stronger than I am now, things wouldn’t have turned out so badly.”
“Don’t blame yourself too much, Mr. Yan Chen. Every family has its own difficulties, right?”
“It’s not the same. I’m getting older, and more than half my life is over. I can’t give my family what they want, so I can only rely on you young people to work hard.”
Hearing this, Lu Yunze turned to look at him.
Yan Chen still had his back to him, smoking as he gazed at the sunset.
“Don’t say that. I think you’re still quite young.”
“The young man sure has a silver tongue. You’re right, I’m not so old that I can’t lift a blade yet. There are still many things to do.”
‘That sounds a bit scary,’ Lu Yunze muttered to himself.
Without realizing it, the two began to chat about their families and complain about life.
“I didn’t think we’d get along so well. Why don’t we become friends?”
Lu Yunze proactively extended his hand.
“Sure.”
Yan Chen responded quickly. After they shook hands, they both laughed in unison.
“I hope you don’t repeat our mistakes and can have a happy life, Lu Yunze.”
“You as well, Mr. Yan Chen.”
Just as those words left his mouth, a question suddenly occurred to Lu Yunze — had he ever told the man his name?
As he was thinking, Jiang Sui’s figure appeared in the distance, running toward him. She was holding two bottles of drinks.
He had no idea how many bottles of drinks they had bought today; this was probably the most she had ever spent on water in a single day.
“The Young Master really stayed here obediently waiting for me. Weren’t you lonely?”
“Who said that? Wasn’t there also —”
Lu Yunze looked back, only to find the seat behind him was already empty.
“Strange, where did he go?”
“Was the Young Master talking to someone just now?”
“Was it a man or a woman?”
“Do you really care about that?” Lu Yunze didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, especially seeing her serious expression. “It was a man.”
“That’s good.”
A smile bloomed on Jiang Sui’s face again.
***
The trip to the amusement park soon came to an end. Lu Yunze saw Jiang Sui home, and after having dinner, he headed back to the Luo Family Residence first.
If today were Saturday, Jiang Sui would have definitely made him sleep in her bed for another night, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
If Luo Yaochun saw Lu Yunze not coming home at night and then returning with the little maid the next day, there would certainly be trouble.
Jiang Sui lay on the bed, carefully examining Lu Yunze’s expression in the group photos, and couldn’t help but mutter: “Is he the type who doesn’t like taking photos?”
She would have to be more careful next time.
“If he doesn’t even like wedding photos, that’ll be a problem…”
Wait, wedding photos?
For some reason, a strange image suddenly flashed in Jiang Sui’s mind — she was wearing a pure white wedding dress, and Lu Yunze was in a sharp suit. The two of them stood together, taking a happy photo that belonged only to them at the photographer’s request.
*Sss—*
Jiang Sui gasped sharply and sat up.
“This is too ridiculous… Wearing a wedding dress and walking into a wedding hall with a man…”
‘What am I thinking? I’m just toying with his emotions. There’s no need to go that far…’
But… what if the strategy required that step?
The girl pursed her lips, remaining still for a long time.
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Jiang Sui simply tossed all the photos into a drawer and slammed it shut.
“You two had quite a bit of fun today.”
Accompanying the voice, a black cat leaped in from the window.
“I thought Senior would be escorting me,” Jiang Sui said, reaching out to rub its head.
“I have my own things to do.” The black cat yawned. “Weren’t you two going to the amusement park today? Did you actually encounter an attack?”
“We really were ambushed.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Sui recounted her encounter with the fortune teller and took out the photo of the strange woman.
“Does Senior know this person?”
The black cat stared at the photo for a long time without speaking. It wasn’t until Jiang Sui spoke again that it reacted.
“I don’t know her. What else did that fortune teller say, besides asking you this question?”
Jiang Sui placed a finger against her chin, thought for a moment, and said: “He seemed certain that I would know the woman in the photo, but unfortunately, I really don’t.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Senior to investigate this woman for me.”
“There’s no need for that.”
The black cat turned and jumped from the bed to the windowsill.
“The focus isn’t on the person in the photo, but on the fortune teller’s purpose and the faction behind him.”
“Senior knows them?”
The black cat didn’t give a direct answer. It only gave Jiang Sui a meaningful look before jumping out the window.
“A group of people with ill intentions. I’ll help you deal with them.”
Its figure soon vanished into the nightfall.
Was the black cat… a bit strange tonight?
Jiang Sui held up the photo again, looking at the glamorous woman.
Whether it was an illusion or not, she felt that the moment the black cat looked back, its eyes seemed to overlap with the woman’s eyes in the photo.
“Troubles truly never cease.”