CHAPTER 34: AMUSEMENT PARK

’This time, I’ll just watch from afar. You and your heroines can fight it out yourselves.’

Her father glanced at her. "What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, giggling. "Just happy."

He smiled warmly. "Then that’s all that matters."

As they walked toward the car, the world seemed to quieten around them. The chaos of the school, the laughter, the whispers, all faded behind her.

And for the first time in a long while, Huaijin felt truly content.

She had her father. She had a simple, happy life.

Even if the storm of the main story would come one day, even if fate would try to pull her back into that cruel script, she was ready.

Because now, she wasn’t the lonely extra anymore.

She was Chi Huaijin, daughter of Chi Yuanfeng, the girl who had already rewritten her fate once, and would do it again if she had to.

And as they drove away, her laughter filled the car, mixing with her father’s soft chuckle.

Outside, the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the city.

Inside, everything was light, pure, warm, and beautifully ordinary.

For now, at least, her story was exactly how she wanted it to be.

*

*

*

Evening arrived with the last blush of sunset spilling across the horizon like watercolor on silk. The city lights began to glitter one by one, chasing away the gold and welcoming the deep blue of twilight.

And in that soft, glowing hour, the laughter of a little girl mingled with the carousel’s cheerful melody.

"Daddy, faster! Faster!"

Chi Huaijin’s tiny voice echoed above the music as she waved her arms excitedly, her cheeks pink, her eyes bright.

She sat in one of the carousel horses, her short legs kicking in the air, while Chi Yuanfeng stood beside her, holding the safety bar with one hand and her tiny hand with the other.

She had begged to come here after school, well, "begged" wasn’t exactly right. One look with her glittering eyes and a soft, "Daddy, can we go?" had been enough.

And of course, Yuanfeng couldn’t refuse her.

He could never refuse her.

The amusement park wasn’t very crowded that evening. The bright lights painted the sky in colors, and the air smelled of popcorn and cotton candy.

Huaijin’s laughter never stopped.

Every few minutes, she’d point at something new. "Daddy! That one!"—and off they’d go. The Ferris wheel, the mirror maze, the bumper cars, she wanted to try them all.

She wasn’t afraid of anything, even though her small frame barely reached the height line for most rides.

Every time they got off one, she’d be giggling breathlessly, tugging on her father’s sleeve for the next.

It was the kind of joy she’d never known before.

In her past life, she was always watching from afar, too grown, burdened, and careful.

Now, she was truly living.

And her father, though outwardly calm and reserved, couldn’t help but smile as he followed her from one attraction to another.

The cold lines of his face softened every time he looked at her.

"Daddy, let’s go there next!" Huaijin pointed at the roller coaster, her eyes sparkling.

Yuanfeng blinked, following her finger toward the twisting track that looped and roared in the distance.

"That one?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Sweetheart, that’s... for adults."

"I’m tall enough!" she protested, puffing her cheeks.

"You’re not."

"But Daddy, didn’t you say that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything?"

He coughed lightly. "That’s not exactly what I—"

"Then believe in me, Daddy! I can do it!"

He stared at her, speechless for a moment, before sighing in surrender.

"Fine, fine. One ride. But only one."

"Yay!"

A few minutes later, the two of them were seated in the roller coaster car, Chi Yuanfeng with a suspiciously calm face and Huaijin practically vibrating with excitement beside him.

When the coaster jerked forward, she cheered; when it climbed up the slope, she leaned forward eagerly; and when it dropped—

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Her scream split the air, but it wasn’t of fear; it was pure exhilaration. Her tiny hands clutched the safety bar while her hair flew wildly behind her.

Beside her, Yuanfeng’s stoic façade cracked slightly as the coaster plunged down.

When it finally stopped, Huaijin stumbled off the ride with messy hair and an enormous grin.

"That was so fun!!" she exclaimed.

Her father looked a bit pale. "Let’s... not do that again."

"But Daddy, you looked so funny when you screamed!"

"I didn’t scream."

"You did! I heard it!"

"You must’ve imagined it."

"I didn’t!" she insisted, giggling.

Their playful bickering drew a few amused smiles from nearby passersby.

It wasn’t just because they were adorable; it was also because everywhere they went, heads turned to see the pair in curiosity and amusement.

The reason was none other than Chi Yuanfeng.

His looks were the kind that drew attention even when he didn’t want to. Tall, effortlessly elegant, with sharp eyes and a quiet confidence that clung to him no matter how casually he dressed.

Even with simple black pants and a soft gray shirt, he looked more refined than half the actors on billboards.

Women passing by would whisper and nudge each other, some even daring to approach.

"Excuse me, sir, are you—"

"Do you come here often?"

"Your daughter’s so cute! What’s her name?"

Huaijin noticed all of them.

Her small face puffed up instantly like an angry little pufferfish.

When one particularly bold lady tried to hand her father a napkin with her number scribbled on it, Huaijin stepped forward and glared.

"My daddy doesn’t need that!" she announced loudly. "He already has me!"

The woman blinked, embarrassed. "Oh, I didn’t mean—"

"And he doesn’t talk to strangers!" Huaijin crossed her arms firmly. "Bye-bye!"

Then she tugged her father’s hand and pulled him away, muttering under her breath, "Flies. Shoo."

Yuanfeng tried not to laugh. "Huaijin..."

"They were staring at you, Daddy," she complained. "Like, staring-staring at you, stuck like glue!"