Throat
Accompanied by the thunderous rumble coming from this massive machine, Su Wanli sat a bit absentmindedly in her seat inside the cabin, gazing up at the semi-transparent ceiling.
This… so it’s already starting?
Am I really inside the body of that towering mechanical beast now?
The glass door at the entrance was slowly closing. Meng Wange sat down leisurely across from Su Wanli, gave her a gentle smile, then propped her elbows on her knees, resting her chin in her hands as she silently gazed out the window.
…Hmph?
Really now, she was the one who dragged me onto the Ferris wheel without a word, and now she’s just staring out the window on her own, not even willing to say a single word to me?
I clearly came up here just to accompany her, and she doesn’t even know to thank me!
Su Wanli silently puffed out her cheeks at Meng Wange, but she didn’t want to waste this precious time on complaints either, so she imitated Meng Wange’s posture and looked out the window together with her.
Although it’s a bit nerve-wracking at first, once you realize the Ferris wheel rises steadily and slowly, with no real threat to your life, your nerves gradually calm down.
…
Su Wanli quietly watched the scenery outside as it slowly rose.
Except for the places lit up and bathed in moonlight, everywhere else was pitch black.
The mountain is still the same mountain, the buildings are still the same buildings…
Ah, could that huge villa sprawling across the suburbs over there be the Su Residence? I can see it even from this far away—it’s enormous.
The people on the ground look so tiny.
As she watched, Su Wanli couldn’t help but yawn.
…It’s starting to get boring.
How could this be? Could it be that the Ferris wheel is actually a really dull attraction?
Even though I just told Meng Wange earlier things like “The Ferris wheel is just a slow, clunky elevator,” “Only country bumpkins get excited about this,” “It’s a complete waste of time,” deep down, I still had a bit of fantasy about the Ferris wheel!
Like in those old idol dramas, the writers always loved to have the protagonists ride the Ferris wheel, then at the highest point, do this and that, say things like making impossible promises, vowing to stay together forever, and as soon as they get off, the angst starts and everyone suffers.
Hmm, looking at it that way, the top of the Ferris wheel is basically a cursed place, isn’t it?
Wishes made up there never come true; instead, they leave behind hidden troubles for the future…
“Su-jie—”
A soft call interrupted Su Wanli’s drifting thoughts.
Meng Wange, who had been staring out the window, suddenly turned her head, a faint smile in her eyes as she looked at Su Wanli, pointing out the window.
“Look over there.”
Following Meng Wange’s fingertip and gazing out the cabin window, Su Wanli saw a lake reflecting the moonlight, lying quietly at the edge of the horizon. Silver-white beads of light danced across the surface, flickering with the evening breeze.
“That’s Nan Lake. The view of Nan Lake under the moon is famous all over the world.”
It was the first time she’d heard that, but Su Wanli still forced a smirk.
“Heh, you think I’m a foreigner? Of course I know. It’s just a lake—what’s so great about it…”
Meng Wange smiled and curled her fingers into the shape of binoculars, peering through the gap at the lake as she explained to Su Wanli,
“Sorry, I got a bit excited. It’s just, thinking that this is a view Miss Su especially brought me to see, I don’t want to waste even a single moment of it.”
“You…”
So that’s how it is. She was thinking about it like that…
Alright, I’ll forgive you for ignoring me just now.
Su Wanli cleared her throat twice, her gaze drifting out the window.
“Ahem, as long as you understand. Anyway, make sure to keep that gratitude in your heart and work hard for me later…”
“Ah! Miss Su, quick, come here!”
Not caring at all about interrupting Su Wanli, Meng Wange excitedly waved her over, leaving her finger-made binoculars in place.
“Right here, right now!”
You—you! Do you even care about me at all? I was just about to praise you!
She was a little annoyed, but seeing Meng Wange so animated was rare, so Su Wanli mimicked her, curling her fingers into makeshift binoculars…
“We’re about to miss it! Hurry!”
Meng Wange gently tugged Su Wanli’s hand, pulling her in front of her, aligning Su Wanli’s gaze with the gap in her palm.
“Hey! You! Don’t you have any sense of being a proper tool? How can you treat your master like this…”
“Shh—”
Su Wanli frowned and looked through Meng Wange’s hand.
Before her eyes, waves surged, crashing again and again against a reef, then slowly receding, leaving behind a uniquely shaped silver-white patch of light on the shore.
Meng Wange’s voice drifted down from above her head.
“I once heard an online rumor. If you can see a heart-shaped patch of light on Nan Lake’s surface on a bright moonlit night, the people who see it together will stay together for life, growing old side by side.”
“Pfft, didn’t expect you to be so superstitious…”
Su Wanli snorted, then kept looking through Meng Wange’s ‘binoculars.’
It’s barely heart-shaped at all, and this rumor is way too abstract, right? Stay together for life, grow old side by side…
…Wait, what did she just say?
Su Wanli suddenly stepped back twice, putting some distance between herself and Meng Wange, eyes wide as she stared into those innocent, calm eyes.
“…Wh-who said I want to grow old with you?!”
Meng Wange pointed to her temple, smiling faintly.
“It’s just an urban legend. Miss Su is right, it’s all just old superstitions—there are countless similar rumors.”
She turned her gaze back out the window, looking up at the clean, bright moon in the sky.
“For example, they say if two people ride to the top of a skyscraper and kiss at the highest point, it will have the same effect as seeing the heart-shaped light at Nan Lake.”
Kiss…
Looking at Su Wanli’s face flushing a light pink, Meng Wange quickly waved her hands.
“Just kidding, Miss Su! It’s all just gossip people make up for fun. Really, if anything, the idea of making a wish at the top of the Ferris wheel makes more sense.”
Listening to the mechanical rumble around her, Meng Wange smiled and closed her eyes.
“After all, the closer you get to the sky, the easier it is for the gods to hear your heart’s voice, don’t you think?”
That’s just as superstitious as before!
Before Su Wanli could voice her sarcastic retort, Meng Wange continued,
“Of course, from a more practical perspective, making a wish with a sense of ceremony makes people start to imagine what it would be like if it came true, which in turn creates anticipation, and then motivation.”
She opened her eyes again, arching her brows at Su Wanli.
“So, maybe making a wish does have some effect. Well, Miss Su, want to make a wish with me?”
“Who wants to do something so silly with you? If you want to make a wish, do it yourself.”
Though she said that, seeing Meng Wange close her eyes again, Su Wanli couldn’t help but close her own as well.
Ahem, even if it’s unlikely, if possible, I hope I can successfully earn that twelve billion and live a happy, fulfilling life…
At the same time, Meng Wange secretly peeked open her eyes.
She glanced at Su Wanli’s expression, then turned to look out the window.
No other cabins were higher than theirs now—in other words, they were at the Ferris wheel’s highest point.
A wish…
If it really works, I hope that when that day comes, Su Wanli will still be by my side, just like now…
…No, that’s impossible.
Meng Wange shook her head and began to watch Su Wanli’s earnest expression with a smile.
I was only joking, but she’s actually making a serious wish?
Then my wish is that yours comes true.
A little earlier, inside the Su Residence, which could be seen from the Ferris wheel.
Su Heng sat quietly at the head of the banquet hall table, gazing at the few dishes laid out on the white tablecloth.
“Aiya, President Su, why didn’t you tell me you’d be home early? We didn’t have time to make you more dishes, so these are all…”
“Zhang Ma.”
Su Heng closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Is it because lunch was filling? Why is it this late and there are still only a few dishes on the table?”
“Ah, that’s because Miss Su suddenly said she wanted to take Miss Meng to the Amusement Park, so she told us not to prepare dinner for them. So now it’s just me and a few servants at home, so I thought we didn’t need to make too much…”
As for what Zhang Ma said after that, Su Heng didn’t hear a single word.
Only a few words echoed in his mind.
—Miss Su took Miss Meng to the Amusement Park—
Amusement Park…
That was the place Su Wanli always wanted her mother to take her to as a child.
Back then, when he occasionally had free time and suggested taking Wanli out, she would only make a fuss and ask for her mother to go with her.
After her mother passed away, Su Wanli never took the initiative to go to such places again.
So that’s how it is. Now, Wanli has someone to go to the Amusement Park with…
That’s good. That’s very good…
But, two girls going out is still too dangerous! Even if they have one or two bodyguards, without a reliable adult, it’s not enough!
He thought for a moment, then waved to the butler preparing to make him a meal in the kitchen.
“Old Zhang, stop busying yourself. We’ll—”
No, wait.
He imagined the scene: the two girls playing together, laughing and chatting, but as soon as he appeared, their faces would turn cold…
Su Heng’s heart became conflicted.
“No, better not… Zhang Ma, when did Wanli leave?”
“Just left, not even an hour ago.”
Su Heng was silent for a moment, then checked his watch.
Left the company at four, the assistant reserved eight hours for me…
The Amusement Park closes at nine-thirty, they should get home around ten.
Good, there’s plenty of time.
“All right, Zhang Ma, arrange some light snacks for them tonight, around ten o’clock. I’ll go upstairs to rest for a bit.”
After straightening his collar, Su Heng headed up the stairs.
…It’s a good thing, of course it is. Wanli has a good friend now, and that’s the best thing, especially since I personally vetted Meng Wange.
Next, I’ll just wait upstairs for them to come home. Don’t show myself at first—wait until they’re eating, then have Zhang Ma casually mention that I’m home, and that everything was arranged by me…
Heh, little tricks from business—these unintentional gestures are the best way to win people’s hearts.
Even if it’s a bit underhanded to use such methods on little girls, after all, I’m just a petty businessman.
Now, I’ll nap until around nine, then wait for them to come home!
With that in mind, Su Heng smiled and closed his bedroom door.