Chapter 78 — Seeking Happiness
He picked up a suit. No, too formal—like he was going to a meeting. Not right, not right. He quickly put it down.
A moment later, he picked up a casual outfit. Hesitated. No, too casual. Would she think he wasn’t taking this date seriously? Not right, not right. He quickly put it down again.
He tried several outfits but wasn’t satisfied. He thought about buying something online, but the date was tomorrow—too late. He scratched his head. Better to put something together himself.
—
Saturday.
Lin Yuejiu had woken up early. Seeing it was only six-thirty, she quickly got out of bed, opened her wardrobe, and picked out clothes. She held up a fresh, cute dress in front of the mirror, comparing it on herself. But what if they went on a roller coaster? A dress wouldn’t be practical.
She picked up a tracksuit. Too casual—would people think she was headed to a sports event?
What to wear, then?
She sighed and decided on pants.
By 8:30, Xu Nianshen was already waiting at the school gate.
By 8:40, Lin Yuejiu slowly walked out of the school.
They exchanged a glance.
Xu Nianshen wore a dark sweatshirt and black pants that wrapped around his long legs. His black hair looked soft in the sunlight. His deep black eyes were set under slightly shadowed eye sockets, with thick, dark eyebrows. The lazy sunlight bathed him, making him glow in golden light.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw the girl approaching.
She wore a dark short top, slightly revealing her slim waist. Her flared pants outlined long legs. Her black hair seemed curled, lips pink, eyelashes long and curled. She carried a dark crossbody bag.
For a moment, neither spoke. Lin Yuejiu curved her lips into a smile. “Good morning, Xu Teacher.”
“Mm.”
“Shall we go?”
“Where?” he asked. “You haven’t told me yet.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled. “I said before—I’ll take you to find happiness.”
She led him onto the roller coaster. Since it was Saturday, the ride wasn’t crowded. Lin Yuejiu chose the back seat.
As the ride started, she glanced at his profile. “Have you been on a roller coaster before?”
Xu Nianshen shot her a sidelong glance. “Who hasn’t? Who are you looking down on?”
Lin Yuejiu laughed cheekily. “I thought rich heirs like you would never ride a roller coaster.”
“That’s someone else, not me.”
“Which stop should we get off at?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Both were wearing dark tops today. Their good looks caught many eyes on the ride, making several people turn to look again and again.
After a few minutes, they got off. Xu Nianshen looked silently at the amusement park ahead.
Seeing him quiet, Lin Yuejiu asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like it here?”
Xu Nianshen’s gaze on her was complex. “I didn’t expect the place you brought me to… you brought me here to find happiness?”
Lin Yuejiu blinked. “Isn’t it happy here?”
The amusement park was full of laughter and shrieks.
“…Happy,” he admitted.
To be honest, Xu Nianshen really had never been to an amusement park. As a child, although he was mischievous, it was only at home—he wouldn’t cause trouble outside.
Lin Yuejiu shook her head, tutting. “Poor thing, you’ve never even been to an amusement park.”
Xu Nianshen’s face darkened. “Says you, like you’ve been before.”
In his memory, Lin Yuejiu also hadn’t been. On weekends, she either stayed home studying or practicing the violin. And since he suspected she had been an orphan, visiting an amusement park at the orphanage was even more unlikely.
Lin Yuejiu felt a bit stifled—she really hadn’t been.
Seeing her flustered, Xu Nianshen curled the corner of his mouth. “Never been yourself, and yet you have the nerve to mock me?”
Lin Yuejiu put her hands on her hips. “Never eaten pork, but seen pigs run, huh? I’ve probably seen more than you!”
Xu Nianshen raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, you’re the best.”
Suddenly, they both went quiet. After a glance at each other, they spoke at the same time: “Didn’t Xu Ge take us here last time?”
They laughed simultaneously. Their memory was really something—maybe they’d been too busy lately and had forgotten about amusement parks.
“Sorry, Xu Ge,” they thought.
Xu Nianshen chuckled. “What are you two talking about?”
It didn’t matter anyway. Last time there were three of them; this time, just the two of them—perfect.
After buying tickets and entering the park, Lin Yuejiu waved her small hand. “Come on, Xu Teacher! Which ride do you want to start with? You choose, and I’ll follow through!” She even patted her chest confidently.
Xu Nianshen raised an eyebrow, scanning the long line of rides, then grabbed her wrist. “Then let’s go. Let’s start with the most thrilling one.”
He chose the roller coaster. This park was bigger and more elaborate than the one Xu Ge had brought them to last time.
This roller coaster had a vertical drop—just looking at it was scary—and several looping tracks. It looked intense.
Before getting on, Xu Nianshen warned her: “This one’s much more thrilling than last time. If you’re scared, there’s still time to back out.”
Lin Yuejiu snorted. “Not scared.”
When the roller coaster started, her expression remained calm. As it climbed steadily, the sound of the chain moving filled the air. Reaching the vertical drop at the top, she couldn’t help but peek down. The dizzying height made her quickly pull her gaze back, her heart racing.
The slow climb was torture.
Suddenly, the roller coaster dropped without warning, giving a shock to anyone onboard. Lin Yuejiu screamed, instinctively grabbing Xu Nianshen’s hand tightly.
He tilted his head against the wind, glancing at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her grip on his hand unyielding.
Although he knew teasing her now might annoy her, he couldn’t help himself.
After the ride ended, Lin Yuejiu’s legs felt weak and unsteady.
Finally, Xu Nianshen couldn’t resist teasing, a clear smile in his voice: “You said you weren’t scared, remember?”
Lin Yuejiu tried to keep up her tough act. “Who’s scared?”
Xu Nianshen held out his right hand. On the back, faint red marks showed where she had gripped him.
She quietly turned her head away.
Next, they approached the drop tower.
Lin Yuejiu looked up at the height and muttered, “We’re here to seek happiness, not thrills. Don’t you think?”
Xu Nianshen smiled slightly. “Thrills are a kind of happiness too. Don’t you think?”
“…”
