"To date you."
Before reaching the entrance, Qin Ningyi led her to the side.
The amusement park's manager was waiting early and personally led the three of them into the park.
"Dad, why are we going this way?" An'an looked at Ren Zhen and Xia Qingxue, who were still queuing there, and asked with some confusion.
"Young master, this is a project developed by Qin Group. As the boss, of course, you don't have to queue to get in," the manager explained.
"Ah?" An'an was surprised. This was his dad's property?
Qin Ningyi's fingers were still caressing Huo Rou's wrist. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said to the manager, "You can go and be busy. We'll wander around ourselves."
"Mr. Qin, why don't I show you around and be your guide? We really weren't prepared today and didn't have time to clear the area." The manager dared not let the boss wander around by himself.
"No need." Qin Ningyi didn't intend to say more. He put An'an down, took the park map from the manager's hand, and then pulled Huo Rou away.
An'an was left behind by him. He looked at the clasped hands in front of him, smiled, and ran after them.
The manager naturally did not dare to disobey the boss's wishes. However, he could not just ignore them completely, so he posted a photo of the backs of the three people to the management group chat.
γThe boss is inspecting work, don't let the boss queue.γ
This was An'an's first time at an amusement park, and everything felt new and exciting.
Although he was smarter than his peers, his curiosity and playful nature were still childlike. He pointed at the roller coaster in the distance, "Dad, let's ride that!"
Huo Rou looked at the roller coaster that plunged down almost vertically, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes. Qin Ningyi heard An'an and pulled her towards it.
Children were not allowed on the roller coaster. An'an did not meet the height requirement. He could only watch Qin Ningyi with regret, "Dad, why don't you and Mom go?"
Huo Rou blinked and said calmly, "There are too many people here. It's not okay to leave you alone here."
With the roller coaster dream dashed, An'an could only look pitifully at Qin Ningyi, hoping he would tell him about the experience after riding it.
"Mr. Qin, I can watch the young master for you," a staff member in uniform said, having noticed their concern.
"Hooray! Dad, I'll wait for you and Mom with this uncle," An'an said excitedly to Qin Ningyi, then to Huo Rou, "Mom, you go with Dad, and tell An'an what it felt like later!"
An'an was settled, and if she refused again, it would arouse suspicion. "Okay."
She agreed casually. Qin Ningyi had never ridden such things before. He figured it was just a high-speed version of a freefall, and he didn't think much of it as he took Huo Rou to ride.
Huo Rou sat to his right. After the safety checks were completed, the roller coaster slowly began to ascend.
As it climbed higher and higher towards the first peak, the slow speed made it easy to let down one's guard.
But it was precisely this slow speed that, over a long period of time, as the height increased, made one's heart gradually tighten, approaching their destined fate bit by bit.
The roller coaster reached the highest point and suddenly stopped. They could see the bustling crowds below, a vast expanse of people, the silent amusement facilities, and the lush trees. They could see birds flying and clouds drifting in the sky.
In the silence, that moment arrived.
The roller coaster suddenly accelerated, passed the platform, and plunged downwards.
The speed was extremely fast, and excited screams filled the air.
Amidst the screams, Qin Ningyi calmly watched the rapidly receding clouds and the track that was getting closer to the ground.
At such high speed, he even felt a hint of excitement.
Amidst the screams, the person next to him seemed exceptionally quiet. He turned his head to look at Huo Rou.
Huo Rou's face showed no emotion, just like when she was alone. She looked straight ahead, seemingly unafraid and unexcited.
Even such a high speed couldn't stir any emotions within her.
Qin Ningyi was about to marvel at this calm woman when his gaze landed on her pale lips.
Something was wrong.
He suddenly felt a pang of panic. Amidst the increasingly loud shouts, he anxiously called out Huo Rou's name.
"Huo Rou, Huo Rou!"
Huo Rou turned her head to look at him, seemingly relaxed, and softly responded, "Mm?"
Her voice was very soft, so much so that it was drowned out by the surrounding screams as soon as it left her throat, but Qin Ningyi genuinely heard her response.
"What's wrong?" Although Huo Rou still had that serene expression, he felt that something was not right.
"Nothing," Huo Rou said, pursing her lips.
It didn't seem like nothing.
Qin Ningyi looked her up and down. Besides her pale lips, Huo Rou's hands were resting on the safety bar in front of her, her posture casual. However, Qin Ningyi keenly noticed the bulging veins on the back of her hand.
She was afraid?
Qin Ningyi looked closely into her eyes. Amidst the receding scenery, only Huo Rou remained in his vision.
Huo Rou's eyes seemed to be covered with a thick layer of ice. Although she appeared to be looking at him, her gaze was unfocused. Her current actions and words seemed to be subconscious.
The expression on her face, the tone of her voice, the casual placement of her hands, were all perfect.
After a long slope, the roller coaster suddenly swung to the left. Everyone's body leaned left due to inertia, but Huo Rou maintained her posture without shifting.
She turned her head and looked ahead, remaining silent.
Qin Ningyi suddenly felt a pang of heartache. So her earlier excuse about not being able to leave An'an unattended wasn't true. She was afraid of this, but didn't want anyone to know.
She had been faking a nonchalant demeanor, as if she felt no fear at all. This pretense had even become an unconscious habit.
He dared not think too deeply about what experiences had led her to become this way, unable to even show fear.
Then came another rapid turn. He reached out and took Huo Rou's hand.
The moment he touched Huo Rou's hand, it relaxed, as if the veins had never protruded.
This made Qin Ningyi regret agreeing to An'an's request to bring Huo Rou on the roller coaster all the more.
"Don't be afraid."
The roller coaster still had a long way to go. He could only say gently to her, "Be good, hold my hand."
He had never spoken so gently to anyone before. At this moment, Qin Ningyi was exceedingly soft.
Huo Rou gently shook her head, smiled at him, and said, "I'm fine."
"Yes, I know you're not afraid," Qin Ningyi said, indulging her with heartache. "Be good, it'll be over soon."
Huo Rou slowly withdrew her hand from his and shook her head again, "I'm fine."
The roller coaster reached another high point.
Qin Ningyi looked at the calmness in Huo Rou's eyes. In his eyes, it was a turbulent lake, with ice blades at the bottom ready to sever all her emotions.
He wanted to protect her. He wanted her to live life freely and without restraint.
Everything around them receded rapidly. The affection in his eyes grew stronger. Amidst the howling wind, he slowly reached out and stroked Huo Rou's head.