Chapter 34: But Today There Was a Silent Understanding…

Having a meal with Cui Zhe was quite a pleasant experience.

They didn’t need to have particularly compatible interests. Because Cui Zhe was a very considerate person – he would adapt to his companion, no matter what the other person said he could engage in polite and sincere conversation for a few sentences, never making the other feel awkward or at a loss, always providing ample emotional value.

In stark contrast to Jin He’s prominent personality, Cui Zhe had a peaceful temperament with excellent self-control. It seemed he would never lose control.

Not to mention, Xia Mi La did share some common interests with him. They could discuss movies, they could talk about artworks.

The conversation was quite pleasant, and the meal time passed quickly without them really noticing.

After dinner, Cui Zhe invited Xia Mi La to the amusement park.

This was a large amusement park under the Cui corporation. Closed to the public at night, tonight it was open only for him and Xia Mi La.

Xia Mi La happily agreed.

The amusement park at night, lacking the bustling crowds, felt somewhat deserted but also possessed a uniquely quiet romance.

The large streetlights illuminated the surroundings as brightly as daytime.

Cui Zhe walked slowly along the path with Xia Mi La: “What would you like to play? You can choose anything.”

“Mmm.” Xia Mi La clasped her hands behind her back, her steps lively, “It’s been so long since I’ve been to an amusement park, I really have many things I want to try.”

Cui Zhe smiled: “Then let’s try them all.”

For Cui Zhe, accompanying Xia Mi La in having fun wasn’t a particularly difficult task.

Xia Mi La had a good personality – this didn’t mean she was simply agreeable and accepted all his arrangements, but rather that she possessed a carefree and straightforward nature. Since they were here to have fun, then they should properly enjoy themselves, without any affectation, completely immersed in the genuine enjoyment of the games.

They went on many thrilling rides.

On the drop tower, Xia Mi La smiled at Cui Zhe: “How come you’re not making any sound? Aren’t you scared at all? Actually, you can shout – these amusement park rides are meant for stress relief.”

Earlier on the pirate ship, although he was tense, he had remained quiet as a mouse, not uttering a single scream.

Cui Zhe: “…”

It wasn’t that he wasn’t scared. But having maintained his noble young master persona for so long, making him shout and scream on amusement rides was something he genuinely couldn’t bring himself to do. His upbringing wouldn’t allow it.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Xia Mi La didn’t press further. She didn’t have any particular fetish for forcing people to scream.

At that moment, the drop tower was slowly carrying them upward.

Xia Mi La swung her legs excitedly.

Half the city’s scenery spread out before their eyes. The central area was brightly lit. Further away, buildings quietly disappeared into the night.

Sitting high and seeing far naturally generated some excitement.

But at the peak, from such a great height, it also made people hold their breath and created fear.

A breeze brushed against their cheeks, carrying the chill of autumn.

Cui Zhe heard Xia Mi La’s laughter from beside him: “Be careful…”

Accompanying it was the fragrance from her… it seemed like Versace, a sweet floral scent.

As the machine reached the top, Cui Zhe felt his thoughts slowing down.

He heard Xia Mi La’s warning but didn’t immediately realize what she was warning him about.

Be careful… of what? Just as he was about to ask, the machine was already plunging downward.

Beside them, Xia Mi La let out an excited scream: “Wow!”

She seemed completely immersed in the game.

Cui Zhe, constantly distracted by her, found his fear gradually fading.

The drop tower descended halfway and paused in the middle, offering a brief respite.

The weightlessness thrilled Xia Mi La. She tilted her head to look at Cui Zhe, observing his pale cheeks, and remarked, “Little mute.”

Cui Zhe, with his gentle temperament, wasn’t offended by her words instead, he was amused.

As the drop tower rose and fell again, after who knows how many cycles, Cui Zhe finally caught Xia Mi La’s enthusiasm and joined her in shouting.

During the descent, they both raised their arms and yelled together: “Wow!”

The first step is always the hardest. That initial shy hesitation had melted away, and once broken, the rest came easily.

When the ride ended and the safety restraints released, the two stepped off the machine.

By then, Cui Zhe’s rationality had returned, and he seemed a bit embarrassed by his earlier outburst.

“How was it?” Xia Mi La still grinned brightly at him. “So thrilling, right?”

It really was thrilling.

“Yeah,” Cui Zhe replied, looking at her, and smiled back.

“Are you afraid of heights?” Xia Mi La asked.

“Not really,” Cui Zhe answered. “But at such extreme heights, some instinctive fear is hard to shake off.”

“Shall we ride the roller coaster next?” Xia Mi La continued. “Are you up for it? It’s fine if you don’t want to, but it’d be a bit boring alone.”

She clearly wanted him to join.

Cui Zhe found it amusing, and he wasn’t one to refuse. “No problem. Let’s go.”

Familiarity breeds ease. This time, he was noticeably more relaxed than on the drop tower.

*

Meanwhile, Pei Duo Xing and Jin He were killing time at a cafe.

Pei Duo Xing was doing homework, while Jin He sat across from her, playing a rather dull mini-game on his phone.

Pei Duo Xing worked through a few problems with her pen but soon found her focus drifting.

She felt unusually distracted today perhaps it was the sound of Jin He’s game, even though the volume wasn’t particularly loud.

Amid the childish, mechanical “biubiu” sounds, Pei Duo Xing finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“Where did Cui Zhe take Xia Mi La?” she asked.

“They went to eat,” Jin He replied, eyes fixed on his screen, not looking up. “Then to the amusement park at A-Zhe’s place.”

Pei Duo Xing knew Cui Zhe’s family owned an amusement park.

“Is it open in the evening?” she asked.

“No. A-Zhe booked the whole place.”

Jin He’s casual remark carried significant weight for Pei Duo Xing.

Such a massive amusement park, reserved just for an ordinary date.

“What a grand gesture,” she commented, unable to keep a hint of envy from her voice.

Jin He, however, didn’t see Cui Zhe’s move as excessive.

After all, this was Xia Mi La she’d seen it all, and a half-hearted effort wouldn’t impress her.

He had grown more accepting of Cui Zhe pursuing Xia Mi La since that day.

Glancing up at Pei Duo Xing, he said, “What’s there to envy? If you want to go, I can book it for you another day.”

Pei Duo Xing wanted to go, but she didn’t want to follow the crowd or become Xia Mi La’s follower.

So she declined, “Forget it, what’s the fun with just two people? I prefer a livelier atmosphere with more people.”

“Yeah,” Jin He put down his phone and pondered seriously, “I think so too. With their personalities, what fun could they possibly have going to the amusement park alone?”

Cui Zhe and Xia Mi La shared similar traits both gentle and introverted.

“I doubt either of them would ride the roller coaster,” he continued, “They’d probably just kill time on the carousel.”

*

Cui Zhe and Xia Mi La had a thrilling ride on the roller coaster, their hair tousled by the wind when they got off.

The staff had taken many photos of them.

“Want them?” Cui Zhe asked, “Shall we pick a few?”

As he spoke, he realized his wind-chafed throat was hoarse, and he momentarily froze in surprise.

Xia Mi La turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but laugh together.

“Today,” Cui Zhe said, “I’ve broken through a bit.”

There was no need for him to hide anything anymore.

After spending time with Xia Mi La and doing things that felt slightly out of character for him, he felt their relationship had naturally grown closer. He became more open and honest in front of her.

It was a very comfortable state.

Xia Mi La had already lowered her head to select photos.

The lighting at night was poorer compared to daytime, but the hazy atmosphere had its own unique beauty.

She pointed at two photos on the screen and showed them to Cui Zhe, “These two seem pretty good.”

Cui Zhe leaned in to look with her. As she said, the photos were very vivid. The two sitting side by side had rich expressions fear from the thrill and joy from the excitement. Overall, they were captured in moments of exhilarated screams and laughter.

Looking at the person in the photo, he almost doubted it was himself.

It seemed he hadn’t shown such pure, unrestrained excitement since elementary school.

As the heir to the Cui family, he needed to embody the demeanor and grace expected of a successor.

In truth, Xia Mi La was the same. She used to keep herself tightly wrapped gentle, rarely emotional, and magnanimous, never arguing with others. He had never seen such vitality and liveliness in her before.

Was it because A He’s incident had hit her too hard? Earlier, she mentioned that thrilling rides like this were a great way to vent emotions.

So, after figuring things out, she decided to break off the engagement and start changing herself?

This kind of change…

“What’s wrong?” She asked, noticing he had been staring for too long, “Is it that hard to decide?”

“No,” Cui Zhe shook his head, withdrawing his gaze from the photos, and said softly to her, “Your taste has always been excellent. I think they’re great too.”

“Alright,” Xia Mi La said, “Then let’s have these two photos printed.”

The staff quickly printed the photos, and each of them took one.

Having tried almost all the thrilling rides, the two opted for some calmer activities next.

Of course, they had to visit the carousel. It wasn’t particularly fun, but it made for great photos.

Cui Zhe transformed into a photographer, patiently taking full-frame close-ups of Xia Mi La from every angle.

This wasn’t the first time he had done something like this.

Back when Xia Mi La and Jin He were still engaged, Cui Zhe would occasionally play this role. Being more patient than Jin He, he ended up taking most of the photos for Xia Mi La whenever they went out together.

Though it was still photography now, the circumstances were completely different from before.

The biggest topic between them was actually Jin He, but today they both tacitly avoided mentioning him.

———————–

Author’s Note: Does this count as a date! Does it! [dog head]