The next day in Shen City lived up to Lu Changjun’s words, with truly fine weather indeed.
The sun shone brilliantly outside, and Bai Ying wore a light spring outfit as he headed out. On top, he had a creamy white hoodie, with a fierce, clawing orange cat embroidered on the lower left corner. The hood even featured two pointed tips like cat ears. This outfit made Bai Ying look even more youthful, appearing younger than Lu Changjun, the actual university student.
Lu Changjun didn’t drive his usual black car; instead, he switched to a brightly colored one that blended perfectly into the vibrant, colorful spring scenery.
Bai Ying quickly scribbled out Lu Changjun’s internship evaluation on the car ride, praising him to the skies. Lu Changjun was so reluctant to hand in the internship manual that he almost wanted to tear out that single page—it was handwritten by his senior, filled with an entire page of compliments!
Bai Ying, who hadn’t really played around much in this city during his years of studying and working, gazed at the scenery flashing by outside the car window, his eyes brimming with anticipation. Every time they stopped at a red light, Lu Changjun caught sight of Bai Ying’s profile and felt his heart sweeten unbearably.
No wonder those travel guides always recommended amusement parks as couple hotspots. Lu Changjun had previously scoffed, thinking amusement parks were too childish, the kind of place only for kids. Now, he realized it was perfect—not childish at all, just right for a little snake!
Lu Changjun casually pinched the cat ear on Bai Ying’s hoodie hood, as if he were pinching a little snake’s tail.
Bai Ying generously let him, being a magnanimous little snake who didn’t mind humans playing with the tip of his tail.
They parked in the amusement park’s outdoor lot and walked to the main entrance. Though it was a weekday, the park was still packed with visitors. The crowded throng gave Lu Changjun a perfect excuse to stick close to Bai Ying and hold his hand.
The line wasn’t long to begin with, and they took the VIP channel, entering smoothly without a hitch. Since it was noon by the time they arrived, they didn’t rush to the rides but headed straight for the Treehouse Theme Restaurant inside the park.
Having earned a decent amount of money lately, Bai Ying was feeling generous and spoke with great confidence: “Your senior’s treating!”
There was no way Lu Changjun would let Bai Ying foot the entire bill.
Imagining Bai Ying later staring at his empty bank balance and gnawing on his own tail in heartache, Lu Changjun resolved to defend the little snake’s wallet to the death. The amusement park’s theme restaurants had long been booked by Young Master Lu. As soon as they entered, the attendants stationed at the doors on either side pulled the cord on the confetti cannon. With a pop, colorful streamers rained down from above their heads. The head waiter rushed forward excitedly to shake Bai Ying’s hand… but blocked by Lu Changjun, smoothly switched to grasping Young Master Lu’s hand instead, congratulating them as the restaurant’s ten-thousandth customers since opening. Today’s dishes wouldn’t be eighty percent off, or even fifty percent off—they were all just 0.1% off!
Bai Ying was dazed by the pie falling from the sky.
Young Master Lu smiled faintly, his merits hidden deep.
A swarm of attendants ushered them in, and before Bai Ying could fully process it, he and Lu Changjun were escorted into a special private room. The Treehouse Theme Restaurant wasn’t entirely built in trees; most diners ate in the ground-level hall. There were only five actual treehouses, and due to limited seating, meals there didn’t incur extra food charges, but reservations were pricey. However, as the “ten-thousandth customers,” everything was free for Bai Ying and Lu Changjun!
Not only free—they were led into the innermost treehouse, which held just one table. As soon as they sat down, attendants in squirrel mascot costumes served them fruit tea in wooden cups and handed over thick menus. Bai Ying flipped one open and nodded—amusement park prices were as imaginatively high as ever.
But with the 0.1% discount, even the little snake could emulate the big snake, boldly ordering the entire menu from cover to cover with lavish flair.
The meal turned out far better than Bai Ying had imagined, and the bill far cheaper.
Lu Changjun feigned ignorance as they marveled together at their luck, while the knowing restaurant staff inwardly sighed at how creative rich heirs had gotten in their pursuits.
The Treehouse Theme Restaurant’s dishes had a strong forest theme. Usually, such places prioritized looks over taste, but the flavors surprised Bai Ying, and he ended up devouring a ton of grilled mushrooms. After a hearty feast, the final bill came to just a dozen or so yuan after the discount. On top of that, the staff stuffed Bai Ying with all sorts of little gifts.
“This is our store’s treasure!” The manager finally shoved a plush Big Squirrel into Bai Ying’s arms—all because Bai Ying had lingered on the cute squirrel in the display window when they entered.
Their enthusiasm left Bai Ying a bit flustered: “Is it really okay to just give away the store treasure like this?”
“No problem!” The manager had a universal excuse. “Once it goes home with our ten-thousandth customer, a new squirrel will take its place!”
The restaurant was incredibly thoughtful. With bags full of souvenirs, carrying them around the park would be inconvenient, so they took Bai Ying’s home address and promised delivery. In the end, Bai Ying only clutched the Big Squirrel—its texture too irresistible to let go—while pocketing the Platinum Card for a full ten percent off all future purchases, and they were enthusiastically seen off.
“Welcome back anytime!” the manager hinted. “If you come as a couple for Qixi Festival, we have a special lovers’ treehouse!”
Bai Ying, overwhelmed by the service, dazedly agreed, leaving Young Master Lu immensely satisfied. He decided to wire the manager some money later.
One hand hugging the Big Squirrel, the other held by Lu Changjun, Bai Ying went wild playing around the amusement park with Xiao Lu all afternoon.
Everything went unbelievably smoothly. Everyone was friendly and kind, and their luck was off the charts. The crowds seemed perfectly managed—no lines for any rides, always the best seats.
On the roller coaster, the bold little snake snagged the front car, feeling the wind whoosh past his ears and the world spin dizzily before him. On the pirate ship, Bai Ying dragged Lu Changjun to the back row, his heart nearly leaping from his throat at the plunge from the highest point.
The staff kindly took charge of Bai Ying’s Big Squirrel, meticulously straightening its bowtie and smoothing its fur. Whenever Bai Ying floated off the roller coaster or pirate ship, he spotted them waiting with the plush, the Big Squirrel beaming happily.
Bai Ying eagerly hauled Lu Changjun to the Ghost House next.
This little snake was bold in claim but not so much in reality—best summed up as having a massive thrill-seeking itch. He started trembling the moment they entered, ghostly winds and eerie laughs scaring him into keeping his eyes shut. Midway through, a skeletal claw quietly grabbed his ankle, and Bai Ying finally froze, unable to walk.
He squatted on the ground, hugging his knees, eyes teary. Luckily, he didn’t revert to his original form.
Lu Changjun crouched too, coaxing him: “Senior, how about I carry you?”
Perhaps the word “senior” rekindled Bai Ying’s sense of shame. He tried to toughen up: “No carrying…”
“Piggyback works too,” Lu Changjun said in a troubled tone. “But what if a ghost hand grabs you from behind?”
Terrified, the little snake dove into the scheming human’s arms.
Lu Changjun, who had waited for this since entering the Ghost House, wrapped one arm around Bai Ying’s back and the other under his knees, hugging him contentedly.
Bai Ying looped his arms around his neck and whispered: “Actually, I’m not that cowardly. I dare live alone in a haunted house, play horror games solo…”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.” Lu Changjun nodded cooperatively.
Finally, the honest little snake buried his face in the human’s neck in defeat: “Fine, I’m super cowardly.”
He hadn’t said it all earlier—the little snake lived in the haunted house out of poverty, and yes, he played horror games, but he’d dropped the controller countless times from scares.
So… if Lu Changjun wanted to keep a little snake, he had to remember it was timid. No adopting big snakes to scare him, no leaving him alone in a glass tank…
After Lu Changjun carried him out of the Ghost House, it took Bai Ying a while to stand steady on the ground. The sun dipped toward the horizon, painting half the city sky red.
The amusement park released pigeons, flocks taking wing and dancing in the air.
They skipped the theme restaurant for dinner, opting for the snack carts scattered around. Bai Ying bought iced juice, cream-filled crepes, and treated the human to the promised triple-scoop ice cream.
The freezer had six flavors; two triple scoops covered them all.
“Senior, I want to try your ice cream,” Lu Changjun said, sneaking in some perks.
Bai Ying had the same idea, though purely innocent—the little snake just wanted every flavor.
As he bit into the mango scoop from Lu Changjun’s hand, a bit smeared on his lip corner.
The little snake was oblivious.
Lu Changjun leaned down, bewitched, tempted to lick off that tiny bit of ice cream. The mango flavor would probably be overwhelmed by Bai Ying’s own sweetness.
But just then, fireworks lit the sky. The amusement park’s nightly show began. Bai Ying’s gaze snapped to it, his profile turning toward the blooming fireworks against the dark night. The motion snapped Lu Changjun back; he stepped away, his wandering soul seemingly returning.
Wait a bit longer, he told himself. For the perfect moment.
He wiped the ice cream from Bai Ying’s lip and smiled when he looked over: “You had something on your mouth.”
Bai Ying looked a bit embarrassed, his face prettier than the fireworks above.
More brilliant than the fireworks, yet longer-lasting.
“Let’s ride the Ferris Wheel,” Lu Changjun whispered in his ear. “Insider info: tonight’s seven o’clock fireworks will run twice. If we go now, we’ll hit the top just in time for the second show.”
“Quick then!” Bai Ying grabbed Lu Changjun’s hand anxiously. “Or we’ll miss it!”
They’d make it for sure.
All the fortune in this worry-free amusement park today was meticulously planned from behind the scenes, all for that moment at the Ferris Wheel’s peak when the fireworks burst.
The perfect time for a confession.
Bai Ying awaited it too. He’d planned the Ferris Wheel ride from the start—in that high-up, enclosed space for just two, ideal for words he usually couldn’t voice, a question he’d pondered long.
Bai Ying wanted to ask Lu Changjun again: Did he want to keep a little snake?
A little snake like him.
Everything went as smoothly as the rest of the day—no wait, straight onto the Ferris Wheel. Bai Ying watched the ground recede through the window as they rose higher and higher. At the apex, a boom shook the air, half the sky filling with dazzling fireworks.
Bai Ying turned to speak, to ask that question.
But Lu Changjun spoke first.
His expression was more serious than Bai Ying had ever seen, without the usual “senior.”
He said, “Bai Ying, I like you.”
He said, “Will you let me be your boyfriend?”
