Chapter 18

High-end hunters always appear as prey.

Gu Yi believed the standard for an excellent urban woman was to learn quickly and adapt. She could take someone else’s fast understanding and apply it herself. Then, advance. But when she saw an emotional blogger teaching people how to use their finger to charge their boyfriend’s nose and getting likes, she realized the blogger must have been released from No. 600, Wanping South Road, and the troubled readers following emotional advice were left outside, holding number tickets, unable to get in.

People trapped by emotions had gone crazy.

She changed her tactics at home, no longer engaging in emotional ambiguity but instead telling jokes and talking about work. She’d often bring up Liang Daiwen’s past with his weird pets, and there was no trace of romantic atmosphere. After a week, she was tired of Liang Daiwen’s rigid two-point lifestyle. She’d never met someone so unromantic despite being so good-looking. When she ordered boiled fish and spicy hotpot to enjoy Friday with Liang Daiwen, he said, “Unhealthy food isn’t good for your body,” and ate it with no spirit, then quietly increased his exercise. If she couldn’t get an answer to her question, he would smile awkwardly, and once, in the middle of the night when the lights were off, Liang Daiwen accidentally walked into her room and bumped into her bare leg. When she woke up and looked at him, he smiled and apologized awkwardly. That smile made her feel completely separated from him. They both went back home from ounce, and he sarcastically said that it was because Gu Yi lacked self-protection when she drank too much that others were worried about her. Gu Yi reflected the whole way home, feeling frustrated, and not long after, heard Liang Daiwen knock on the door, “I bought a cake, do you want to eat?” He was harsh because he was uneasy and subconsciously pushed others away.

After seeing through the surface, she felt a bit sorry for Liang Daiwen.

There was a whiteboard in the living room. Taking advantage of Liang Daiwen’s absence, Gu Yi wrote three psychological suggestions on it: 1. Keep real—get rid of the fake smiles and unwilling actions learned from Korean dramas; 2. Occasionally speak out when you feel something, try things that you think shouldn’t be done; 3. When you want to push someone away, swallow your words, especially what Teacher Gu says. You are not allowed to resist.

After staring at it for a while, Gu Yi hurriedly erased the last part of the third point—she didn’t want to give Liang Daiwen a chance to be sharp and get annoyed.

When Liang Daiwen returned, he stood in front of the whiteboard for a long time. Gu Yi, wearing her pajamas, walked over: “Is it really that hard to read these three lines?”

“I can start doing it now, right?” He turned his face and said, “The last line isn’t erased properly, I saw it.”

Gu Yi pretended to be angry: “Since you saw it, just follow it. From now on, listen to everything I say.”

To her surprise, he didn’t make a sharp retort. Gu Yi couldn’t help but stare at him for a few seconds, as the robot’s wide eyes looked somewhat innocent.

As night fell, Gu Yi recalled the joy of her time in the rental house and couldn’t resist taking out her XL-sized “Glamorous Lady Massage” T-shirt. She sat cross-legged on the sofa watching foreign stand-up comedy videos. Liang Daiwen came from the study to the living room and saw Gu Yi exposing her thighs, then turned around like in the game “Temple Run.” Gu Yi, hiding behind her bangs, watched him, her gaze reaching the area of her legs, while Liang Daiwen retreated—sigh, the morality of preserving nature and extinguishing desires.

She took the initiative to ask, “Do you want to watch Chapelle’s special?”

Liang Daiwen hesitated for two seconds, probably wanting to be sharp but swallowing it: “I want to sleep.”

Gu Yi lay on the backrest of the sofa and quietly watched him. Liang Daiwen, brushing his teeth, wandered aimlessly around the window in white sleep pants and a blue T-shirt, looking a bit chubby. There was foam around his mouth, making him look like Donald Duck.

Gu Yi finally understood a principle: When two people are in a deadlock, both staying silent in the same room feels like a punishment. It’s better to bring in other friends who want to create opportunities for ambiguity. The conversation never falls flat, and they can fan the flames for each other. Moreover, Gu Yi had a new idea—if Guan Xingxin is a flirtatious girl, double dates wouldn’t create a sense of crisis. If everything is already ambiguous, the presence of private desires would make the game of heartbeats more fun. She created a group chat with four people: Yu Dule, Liang Daiwen, Guan Xingxin, and herself, all with strong looks. As they chatted passionately, Guan Xingxin suddenly asked, “Is Uncle Lu alone? Is he recovering from an injury in Shanghai?”

Sure enough.

Lu Ming was pulled into the group, and Guan Xingxin seemed excited: “Ever since the last script meeting, I’ve felt that being with everyone is so much fun. Five people together feel like a family. We should get together more often.” Yu Dule showed no reaction. Gu Yi knew that this guy was holding back, absolutely not mentioning any feelings of crisis. He could still calmly buy tickets for everyone, clearly not considering Lu Ming as competition—after all, he’s the most popular guy among the girls at ounce. Gu Yi was in the mood to watch the drama unfold and texted: “Yes, we should hang out as five people, no one should be left out.”

And Yu Dule’s chosen destination was—Disneyland. Liang Daiwen set the alarm for five o’clock right next to Gu Yi’s ear, scaring her out of her wits. Was this man trying to shorten her life by chasing him?

Confused, she got into a taxi, and Liang Daiwen sat in the back seat with her. Gu Yi thought, why not sit in the front seat? How can I lie down back here?

Liang Daiwen said flatly, “If we crash, you’ll be thrown out.”

Without even looking, it was clear the driver probably wanted to argue with him. As the car started, she fell asleep. The last thing she thought before drifting off was that Liang Daiwen seemed to really enjoy skinship...

She slept soundly. When she woke up, Liang Daiwen used the alarm again to wake her up. Did this guy not know how to communicate?

Yu Dule opened his eyes like he hadn’t slept. Lu Ming, tall and handsome, kept taking photos, his eyes occasionally glancing at Guan Xingxin for a moment before quickly averting them. Guan Xingxin wore a yellow dress in the colors of Belle, with a skirt hoop that showed off a bit of her legs. She looked tall and thin, with twin ponytails, waving at Gu Yi. She seemed full of energy, a stark contrast to the gentle, calm girl from before. Gu Yi wrapped her coat tightly—wasn’t it cold?

Yu Dule took off his jacket and draped it over Guan Xingxin’s shoulders: “A beauty truly isn’t afraid of the cold for the sake of looking good.”

“It is a bit cold... but it’s much better with your jacket,” Guan Xingxin replied. While she adjusted her clothes, Gu Yi noticed the four rectangular shapes on her back—heat packs.

Being a beauty sure was exhausting!

The five of them lined up to ride the Tron Lightcycle Power Run. Gu Yi had been forced onto a roller coaster at Universal Studios in Osaka during a company trip. While in line, the ride had been paused due to strong winds, and after she got off, she felt like vomiting. As they approached, Yu Dule pretended to pick up a power bank and swapped places with Guan Xingxin: “Gu Yi, we’re behind you.”

“What’s the difference between the front and back? It’s the same ride, right?”

As soon as she said that, she was forced to sit in the first row. Strapped in and unable to move, Gu Yi thought, why did Yu Dule pick Disneyland? To rekindle his childhood? Absolutely not. He was clearly looking for an excuse to see Guan Xingxin in a skirt. The position she was in, with her skirt, made Yu Dule’s eyes pop out. He was probably not wanting to sit next to her, but behind her.

The third row’s Lu Ming gave a paternal smile.

Liang Daiwen knelt beside her, finally showing his tall figure in the motorbike position. Gu Yi wanted to escape, but Yu Dule suddenly shouted from behind: “Gu Yi, now that you’re here, don’t chicken out for the sake of a joke!”

Gu Yi’s heart was crying, but she didn’t know whether the joke would last two minutes, but her stand-up career was definitely doomed. Liang Daiwen slowly said, “The first row might actually be more fun, I think.”

Gu Yi was a little moved. Liang Daiwen was expressing his thoughts for the first time. She thought she should stick with him!

Then she regretted it immediately. The wind roared in her ears, mixed with the screams of Yu Dule and Guan Xingxin. Gu Yi closed her eyes the entire time. The sense of falling made her feel like her heart would escape from her throat. Yu Dule shouted behind her: “Gu Yi, what does it feel like?”

She wanted to go home, she missed her mother.

When Liang Daiwen came down, his face was expressionless, his forehead exposed by the wind, and his chiseled side profile was incredibly handsome. Yet, the handsome person showed no reaction—this person must have no heart, right?

For the second ride, Gu Yi didn’t even lift her head, just following Guan Xingxin and Yu Dule in the queue. This time, she was being cautious. She definitely wanted to sit in the last row, at least she’d feel safe there, and if someone said it was a seat for people with disabilities, she would still accept it! Yu Dule was still explaining how to use the fast pass, talking about whether they should wait to see the fireworks at night, but Gu Yi didn’t want to listen to a word of it. Disneyland is romantic, capable of lighting up one’s dreams, but the only thing being lit up for her was her fear of heights.

She finally managed to sit in the last row. Gu Yi felt a chill at the back of her neck—buckle up for the Dragon Soaring Racer, aka Pirate Ship Plus, a U-shaped track going back and forth. The first row was just like the last row.

Liang Daiwen still sat next to her, arms crossed, almost sitting up straight. Gu Yi couldn’t get off and could only silently wish for the time to pass faster—what kind of sin had she committed, saying in the group chat she couldn’t be alone, did she really want to take someone with her to the underworld?

She wanted to go home. She almost lost her life after riding the Flying Dragon at Universal Studios, and now she was this scared at Disneyland, wasn’t that too embarrassing? While she was hesitating, Guan Xingxin grabbed her hand, “I saw you didn’t speak just now, seems like you didn’t enjoy it. How about we go ride the Jet Pack Flying Machine next?”

Gu Yi felt her heart sinking. The music played, “Now let’s go flying!” and she felt herself floating in the sky. She thought she didn’t need love anymore, she just wanted to stay grounded and be an ordinary person. She never wanted to leave the ground again. As for the so-called shaking heart and the bridge effect, it didn’t exist. Even if Liang Daiwen suddenly issued an invitation of love with a seductive glance, the cost of riding a roller coaster would make her send him off immediately.

“If you’re scared, just look at me.”

“I don’t want to look.”

“Looking at me will make you not scared.”

“Big brother, not being scared is your default setting. I’m actually reacting in real time.”

“I wasn’t without a reaction when I was made either.”

These words made Gu Yi pause for a second. The fantasy music seemed to mute, and Liang Daiwen didn’t speak anymore. He just turned his head to look at the scenery. The sky was overcast, not the best weather to enjoy the view. Gu Yi trembled in the wind, wondering if she were a piece of clothing hanging in the air, the wind was so strong that someone might worry it would blow away.

The wind was making her heart a little confused, and she forgot about being grounded.

The group arrived at Soaring Over the Horizon, and there were fewer people in line than expected. Guan Xingxin asked, “Should we go together?” Gu Yi waved her hand, “I’m afraid of heights, but I’ve thought of a few jokes, you go ahead.”

No one interrupted her inspiration. Yu Dule made a cross with his arms and said, “I’ll stay with her then.”

Not yet done playing, Guan Xingxin turned to Liang Daiwen, “Are you going?”

“I can.”

She turned to Lu Ming. Lu Ming was still in good spirits, “I can’t go, but I can accompany you.”

Gu Yi felt a little sad. Liang Daiwen wasn’t her exclusive; when it came time to do what he wanted, he didn’t need to stay by her side. But before leaving, Liang Daiwen asked, “Do you want me to go?”

She froze for a second, “Of course, we rarely come here to play, I’m just too tired.”

Liang Daiwen and Lu Ming accompanied Guan Xingxin to play Soaring Over the Horizon while Gu Yi sat by the road, coming up with jokes. She could hear children’s cheerful laughter and the lively music around her. This was a fairy tale park, but her heart felt a little bitter. After finishing her jokes about her three unlucky experiences of not being protected by gravity, she went into a souvenir shop and bought a Donald Duck hat to stuff into her bag. Yu Dule, holding a balloon and a popcorn bucket, stood next to her. He wasn’t going on Soaring Over the Horizon, not because he was accompanying an old friend, but because he was planning a surprise for Guan Xingxin.

Gu Yi leaned on her hand, feeling a bit gloomy. She clearly wanted to pursue love, but fear of heights had made her retreat. The three of them were flying between the movie scenes, like riding a magic carpet traveling the world in a fairy tale. This romantic scene, Liang Daiwen was sharing it with Guan Xingxin, and he had asked about her thoughts...

She wasn’t reconciled, even if it made her petty. She wasn’t reconciled.

When she saw Liang Daiwen again, she forced a smile, “So, how was it? Was it fun?”

Liang Daiwen said indifferently, “It was okay.”

Yu Dule smiled as he handed over the gift he had prepared, not seeking any credit, just looking into Guan Xingxin’s eyes, “Do you want ice cream?”

Guan Xingxin took the balloon and popcorn bucket with a smile and waved at Yu Dule. When Yu Dule walked away, Lu Ming suddenly said, “These ears of Stardella and Sherry Rose were originally for my daughter, but now they’re with me, it feels a little awkward. Can I give them to you guys to wear for a while?”

A thoughtful yet hard-to-refuse offer. Lu Ming smiled as he put the headbands on Guan Xingxin and Gu Yi, his expression and actions showing the same tenderness to both girls. Guan Xingxin didn’t say thank you, only joking, “Even though we’re at such a loving place, it’s fine for guys to wear them. But since you’re willing to lend them to me, I won’t refuse.”

The term “guys” made Lu Ming pause for a second—high-end hunters often appear as prey.

Looking back at the robot, Gu Yi tentatively spoke, “Liang Daiwen, here you need a childlike heart, if you’re willing to wear it, I’ll give you one.”

Liang Daiwen stood outside the crowd. This childish thing wasn’t convenient for me to wear, you guys wear it yourself.

“Too much talk.” Gu Yi pulled out the Donald Duck hat from her bag and put it on Liang Daiwen’s head, “My bag’s too full. I can’t fit it. If you don’t look happy, I’ll feel upset. We’ve come to such a joyful place already.”

Liang Daiwen’s hand, which had been raised to remove the hat, slowly dropped. Gu Yi’s face showed grievance, but inside, she was elated. If it were in the past, she would’ve argued with him and ended up being silenced by his rebuttals. But now, she wore the Sherry Rose headband seriously, pretending to be pitiful, leaning next to his shoulder, and whispering, “It’s so cold, your ears are all red.”

An icy man only moved his eyes, giving up on taking the hat off. Robots don’t resist pampering!

Liang Daiwen didn’t speak, standing in the crowd with the Donald Duck hat on. The Donald Duck on the float spotted him, waved several times, but got no reaction, so waved more enthusiastically. Liang Daiwen remained unmoved, and the float passed, leaving Donald Duck puzzled as to why this audience member didn’t laugh. Gu Yi tilted her head, watching the still robot, realizing that he was a literal black hole—anyone who saw him not smile would get sucked in.

Liang Daiwen turned around and saw her, his reflex arc being ridiculously slow: “Do you like Donald Duck?”

Gu Yi didn’t look at him, but waved at the next float: “I don’t like him, I like Minnie.”