TPIL - 41

It was as if a glass vessel filled with incense had been shattered indoors—whether it was a blessing or a curse, he couldn’t tell. His pupils contracted, his brows furrowed even more, yet Qi Xiaochuan remained surprisingly calm, only looking at her with doubt in his eyes. Luo Andi also stared back at him. After a long while, he wanted to say something, but just as he opened his mouth, unexpectedly, more than one stranger passed by—they were still in the middle of the road.

Awkward.

Forced to interrupt their conversation, the man and woman could only shift slightly to let the pedestrians pass. Finally, they stepped onto the curb and returned to the sidewalk. However, once they stood still again, the atmosphere that had been brewing like drunkenness was no longer there. All that remained was the two of them staring at each other.

Qi Xiaochuan spoke, but first responded to her earlier statement: “It was very naive.”

Luo Andi smiled, her smile dissolving like salt in water, and said, “Let’s just give it a try.”

She hadn’t changed at all. She was exactly the same as the Luo Andi who used to say, “Think about it some more.”

An angelic smile and voice, yet the words she spoke were closer to a demon’s whisper. Qi Xiaochuan was secretly uneasy when Luo Andi suddenly changed the topic: “Actually, I’ve always wanted to go to an amusement park with someone—”

He seemed to have made up his mind, but this promise wasn’t so easy to utter. Let’s give it a try, then. Moreover, Qi Xiaochuan had experienced many dramatic torments in life, but if he had to choose the one thing he couldn’t bear the most, it would be watching Luo Andi’s wishes go unfulfilled.

Luo Andi’s gaze lingered on Qi Xiaochuan’s face, trying to discern what he was thinking. Unfortunately, even when not at the poker table, Qi Xiaochuan’s face was unreadable. Back when he represented the company at press conferences, netizens on forums like Tianya and Mop had scolded him, calling him things like “Who does he think he is with that deadpan face?” and “What’s with that attitude? Does he think he’s a Japanese female star?”

Finally, she heard his reply: “Then let’s go.”

Qi Xiaochuan looked at her and said, “I’ll come pick you up when the time comes. We can discuss the rest via text.”

He turned around, imagining himself as James Bond walking away from an explosion site, and slowly entered the subway station.

To say Luo Andi wasn’t surprised would be a lie. The fact that Qi Xiaochuan, who usually resisted such things, had agreed without any complaints or eye-rolling was unexpected. She blinked hard, still feeling dazed, when the shop owner called her, likely to discuss the new store. She listened while turning around.

What Luo Andi didn’t know was that less than half a minute after she turned her back, Qi Xiaochuan had already retraced his steps out of the subway station and strolled leisurely back to where he parked his car. Whether it was going through great lengths to cover up a lie or unconditional surrender, it was all done willingly, with no extra words needed.

Paradise Handicrafts was opening a new branch.

The media open class would be led by the owner herself, with Luo Andi, the top-performing employee by a wide margin, serving as the assistant. This arrangement was announced publicly, with no objections raised. Everyone was happily looking forward to the day and preparing for it.

On that day, Luo Andi was busy confirming seating arrangements with the media outlets scheduled to attend. The owner came down from upstairs, her hair, shoulders, and hands wrapped in yarn, with knitting needles dangling at the ends. She quickly held onto the railing and said to Luo Andi, “Andi, come here for a moment.”

Luo Andi hung up the phone and went upstairs.

In the candy-house-like office, they were alone together. The owner, rarely showing a serious expression, said, “You’ve been here for a few years now. To be honest, I was quite worried about you at first. You seemed to have no desires or ambitions—not that it’s necessarily bad, but in today’s world, it’s rare... Even now, I still think there’s a lot of uncertainty about you. You’re not someone I can fully trust as an employee.”

These heavy words from the usually carefree owner left even Luo Andi feeling awkward, hesitating whether she should apologize.

But the owner immediately continued, “I’m planning to focus my energy on the new store. You’ve seen the storefront—it’s larger than this one. I want to make you the manager of the first store.”

To be honest, Luo Andi had considered this possibility.

If they were to choose a store manager, she was naturally the best candidate—familiar with the business and holding a bachelor’s degree. She loved crafting, and she enjoyed the current environment of the store. Facing such a perfect opportunity, there was no reason to refuse.

The immediate priority was to ensure the smooth running of the media open class.

The culture of crafting needed and deserved promotion. Once more people appreciated the charm of DIY, Paradise Handicrafts would become even more successful.

However, before that, she had something more important to focus on.

They decided to meet at the store entrance. Qi Xiaochuan had just left the company and came straight to pick her up. As she got into the car, Luo Andi smiled and asked teasingly, “Look at me. Do I look different today?”

“I don’t know,” Qi Xiaochuan replied without hesitation.

At that moment, both the secretary and the driver were in the car. The plan was to drop off the secretary nearby first, then continue on. Because of this, when the boss made such a devastating statement, the secretary, overcome with emotion, couldn’t help but elbow him. This earned him a murderous glare from Qi Xiaochuan, who looked ready to twist his head off right then and there. Such a selfless, noble spirit, putting others’ concerns before his own, was truly admirable.

Fortunately, Luo Andi simply laughed and said, “You can’t act like that as a boyfriend, you know.”

“What should I do, then?” Qi Xiaochuan was beginning to economize on words, and it was unclear how many hollow shrimp snacks he had consumed to become so oblivious and heartless about his doomed love life.

“You need to answer properly,” Luo Andi tucked her hair behind her ears and lightly shook her head, pointing to the earrings on her earlobes. “I specifically wore new earrings today. Aren’t they cute?”

Qi Xiaochuan couldn’t help but stare at them, his expression resembling a cat spotting a teaser wand. He finally replied, “Not bad.”

“Hmm… ‘Not bad’ works,” Luo Andi adjusted her posture and smiled mischievously at him.

Meanwhile, they had already reached their destination. The secretary, who had been sitting in the car for several minutes, refused to get out, staring at them with determination. “What? What? Did I hear wrong? Have I gone too long without cleaning my ears and mistaken ‘boyfriend’ for ‘licking dog’?”

She answered first, then switched seats, linking arms with Qi Xiaochuan and smiling. “How about it? Don’t we look good together?”

“Boss Qi, didn’t you just say a few days ago that I was your girlfriend? My heart is broken, really broken,” the secretary joked, then quickly fled before Qi Xiaochuan could pull out a knife.

The driver handed over the driver’s seat to Qi Xiaochuan. Watching Luo Andi fasten her seatbelt, Qi Xiaochuan felt a mix of emotions and casually asked, “Have you met Su Yining recently?”

“Hmm? Mr. Su?” Luo Andi replied, “I’ve been quite busy lately, and I think I even forgot to reply to his messages.”

She met his scrutinizing gaze, tilting her head quizzically. Then Qi Xiaochuan explained, “...So even you sometimes don’t reply to messages.”

“Hahaha, what do you take me for?” Luo Andi burst out laughing. “When there’s too much to do, even I can get overwhelmed.”

“No,” he added, “I just thought you liked taking care of everyone’s feelings.”

She paused, then rested her chin in thought. “Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true... But wanting to do something and actually being able to do it are different. I’m not a saint.”

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask—what do you think about Gao Jie now?”

“She’s in a situation similar to mine back then, though her father hasn’t gone to prison. She’s still a teenager, and I believe I can help her by staying by her side.”

“...”

Qi Xiaochuan glanced at Luo Andi through the rearview mirror. The extent to which one gives to others is often tied to the depth of empathy. But for some reason, he felt she wasn’t following this proportional rule.

After arriving at the amusement park, Qi Xiaochuan went to exchange tickets while Luo Andi waited by the fountain. She raised her hand to shade her face, idly looking at his back.

Perhaps to match the style of the amusement park, Qi Xiaochuan wasn’t wearing formal attire today, nor was he dressed in his usual deliberately unkempt fashion. Instead, he wore the most inconspicuous combination of a hoodie and a shirt, his hair unstyled and tousled by the wind, resembling the most detested model student in university who would threaten others with exam answers.

Though compared to his past jobs washing cars, delivering pizzas, or selling women’s clothing, Qi Xiaochuan’s current status had skyrocketed, with an even brighter future ahead. Nevertheless, some abstract or concrete habits persisted.

As he approached, she kept smiling at him.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Xiaochuan asked, puzzled.

“Nothing,” Luo Andi replied. “The park hasn’t opened yet. Should we wait?”

“No need.” Just as he uttered those two concise words, someone in staff uniform came over and politely guided them inside.

They entered the park under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Though she had grown accustomed to privilege since childhood, the situation still made her feel somewhat embarrassed. On the other hand, Qi Xiaochuan acted nonchalantly, calmly informing her, “This isn’t privilege—it’s just spending more money.”

Once inside the amusement park, all worries vanished.

They went to pick out souvenirs. While Luo Andi casually browsed, Qi Xiaochuan stood frozen in front of the stuffed animal section. The female shop assistants exchanged knowing glances and smiled, having seen this kind of behavior from men who lose their composure upon encountering cute trinkets. However, reality diverged greatly from their assumptions. The next moment, Qi Xiaochuan turned his gaze toward them and, amid the suddenly tense atmosphere, said, “Wrap up one of each item here.”

Luo Andi happened to walk by wearing a pair of long-eared bunny headbands, curious enough to ask, “What are you doing?”

“Do you like these?” Qi Xiaochuan answered her question with another question.

Luo Andi smiled and said, “I do. Are you buying them for me?”

“Should I send them to your place?”

“It’s fine,” she replied. “I already have keychains. Stuffed animals take up too much space, and McQueen might get jealous. Hats are too flashy—I won’t use them. Just buy the one I’m wearing.”

Qi Xiaochuan differed vastly from the stereotypical rich characters in art. At her words, he didn’t insist, simply nodding and canceling the order.

Contrary to her outward appearance, Luo Andi loved thrilling rides, especially roller coasters. With their premium tickets, they bypassed all queues, and she rode the coaster round after round. Qi Xiaochuan stayed in the rest area, keeping an eye on their belongings, occasionally tilting his head back to look at the rides against the glaring sunlight.

It wasn’t until after three or four rounds that Luo Andi finally stopped. She ran over, radiant with excitement, and asked him, “Don’t you want to ride?”

Qi Xiaochuan opened a bottle of concentrated juice and handed it to her. “It’s enough that you’re having fun.”

She took it but didn’t drink immediately, instead smiling at him. Luo Andi asked, “Little Xiao, have you ever been to an amusement park before?”

“...”

“If you haven’t been, then you should try it,” Luo Andi reasoned confidently. “I want to share the things I find interesting with you.”

Qi Xiaochuan replied, “Are you hungry? They have a themed restaurant here—”

Luo Andi grabbed his hand and said, “Come ride the roller coaster with me.”

Could he possibly refuse her? At least, he had never completely succeeded in refusing her.

Qi Xiaochuan was seated, and four burly staff members came over to secure his safety harness. Though he knew they were simply providing service commensurate with the price paid, in context, it felt like they were escorting him to his execution at the Meridian Gate. Luo Andi, sitting next to him, reassured him with practiced ease.

Her hand seemed to forget to let go.

He neither pulled away nor resisted, simply leaving his hand slightly extended, hovering ambiguously above hers.

The roller coaster began its operation.

Climbing uphill, descending downhill, building anticipation, then suddenly plummeting, full of twists and turns.

He recalled his university days, during his freshman year, when confessions from the opposite sex came in droves. In campus gossip, he was once mentioned alongside cupped fragrant milk tea. Qi Xiaochuan was like Tyson, mercilessly knocking down every girl who approached him on the metaphorical ring. Many of them were campus beauties, and he couldn’t help but feel confused—if not for his sexual orientation, it would have been hard to explain. But when asked, his answer was somewhat unexpected.

Qi Xiaochuan wanted to focus his energy on making money, willing to sacrifice all forms of recreation. Add to that the factor of his deprived childhood. Amusement parks weren’t places he felt compelled to visit.

During a sudden drop, Luo Andi screamed along with the other passengers in front and behind.

She screamed like anyone else, but in that moment, he unconsciously broke the rules he had set for himself. Qi Xiaochuan tightly gripped Luo Andi’s hand. She turned to look at him, her smile the most distracting sight to him.

Luo Andi asked, “Are you scared?”

He gazed into her eyes. Qi Xiaochuan, whose mental fortitude was strong enough to take the college entrance exam even while riding a free-fall tower, replied, “Yes, I’m scared.”

In the blurry scenery, she smiled faintly, saying nothing more, just gripping his hand tightly. Amidst the tumult in his heart, he tried to rationalize his greed and attachment.

When they got off the roller coaster, Qi Xiaochuan still felt somewhat disoriented. Luo Andi thanked the staff and caught up with him, asking, “Still feeling sick? Do you want to go to the restroom?”

He shook his head, sitting down casually and silently trying to reboot his dizzy brain. Seeing him suddenly zone out, she couldn’t help but laugh helplessly as she stood beside him.

Suddenly, Luo Andi extended her arm and pulled his upper body into her embrace. Her voice, warm like the outer shell of a light bulb, said, “It’s okay. Rest for a bit, and you’ll feel better soon. Actually, I’m feeling a little unwell too. Here, let me give you some healing energy—”

Qi Xiaochuan was frozen. In his mind, dozens of responses flashed by: immediately pushing her away and complaining, “Isn’t it hot?” Pretending to answer a phone call and slipping away. Or sarcastically mocking, “Healing energy? Is this some video game?” The rest were variations, differing only in the angle of pushing her and the specific wording of insults.

He should have been able to decide instantly, yet inexplicably, he found himself hesitating. Luo Andi often hugged others—she had embraced a vomiting classmate during a school sports meet when others avoided her, and she had comforted Gao Jie multiple times after she suffered setbacks. Did healing energy really exist? Perhaps it did.

Finally, it was Luo Andi’s turn to use it on him.

He could have accepted it, as everyone else would. After much hesitation, Qi Xiaochuan finally wrapped his arms around her waist, his movements stiff, his voice cold. “Rebound,” he muttered a childish line he never imagined himself saying, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted. “I’d rather heal you.”