Chapter 4: Crooked Sun Hat
“Turn left, turn left. Hurry, hit him, hit him… Outstanding Representative, you’re so clumsy…”
Wen Hupo rarely showed such overt emotions. Her voice was a bit higher than usual, her eyes sparkling, and her left hand unconsciously gripping Lu Li’s right arm. It hurt a little, but Lu Li didn’t say anything. In front of Wen Hupo, he felt like a naive boy, both nervous and excited. He thought Wen Hupo was truly beautiful, especially her blonde hair, like the radiant light left by the sun god driving his chariot, breathtakingly beautiful.
Looking at the girl’s fair skin, a sudden impulse surged through Lu Li. He wanted to shout to Wen Hupo, “You’re so beautiful.” No flowery language, just a simple outpouring of emotion.
With a thud, their bumper car collided with the cushion of another car, sending them spinning. Wen Hupo initially let out a gasp of surprise, but the gasp quickly turned into silvery laughter.
The surrounding scenery blurred into a swirl of colors. Only this charming girl beside him, laughing freely, remained clear. Lu Li was mesmerized. He stared at Wen Hupo, his gaze unmasked. Wen Hupo also noticed the young man’s gaze. She turned her head slightly, meeting his eyes. Time seemed to freeze, slowing down like a scene from a Wong Kar-wai film, only the complex and changing expressions on the blonde girl’s face remaining in focus.
A child’s laughter brought them back to reality. Lu Li coughed lightly, looked straight ahead, gripped the steering wheel, and focused on driving the bumper car. Wen Hupo had stopped laughing, but her hand still gripped Lu Li’s arm. The girl’s body temperature seeped through his skin. Lu Li couldn’t help but wonder, did she like him? Why didn’t she let go? Was she oblivious, or…? Thinking of that possibility made his heart skip a beat.
Every time it’s Wen Hupo… Lu Li thought. No matter which life, when facing Wen Hupo, his well-laid plans and tactics felt like a leaky sieve, unable to hold water or keep out the wind. Every time, it was Wen Hupo who saw him at his most embarrassing and ignorant. In front of other girls, he might be a confident and capable young man, but in front of Wen Hupo, he felt like a clumsy child, unsure of which foot to put forward first.
I like this girl.
Does she like me?
The answer to this question might remain elusive until the end of time, but the bumper car ride wouldn’t. One yuan could only buy five minutes of fun. Lu Li asked awkwardly, “Want to put in another coin?”
Wen Hupo shook her head. “No, let’s go play something else.”
“What do you want to play?”
“How about the roller coaster?”
Lu Li’s stomach lurched, but he still smiled and nodded. “Of course.” He didn’t know why he agreed to ride the roller coaster with Wen Hupo, but he was sure that the heavens were punishing him for his fickle and promiscuous nature. His heart pounded, perhaps because of the impending roller coaster ride, perhaps because of Wen Hupo sitting less than a fist-width away.
The roller coaster started, and the girl in the couple behind them let out a whimper. “I’m scared…” The boy replied, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Lu Li couldn’t help but look at Wen Hupo. Would she be scared? If Wen Hupo said, “I’m scared,” what would he say? Lu Li’s legs felt weak. He mocked himself, thinking, “I’ll probably say, ‘Me too.’”
“Outstanding Representative, are you scared?” Wen Hupo asked with a teasing smile.
“…No…” Vanity was truly one of humanity’s greatest enemies.
The roller coaster gradually picked up speed. Lu Li’s heart pounded in his chest, a feeling of weightlessness growing stronger. He felt a sense of dread towards the impending drop. He remembered a low-budget cult film where a murderer placed a piano wire on the roller coaster track. When the roller coaster passed, the piano wire sliced through all the passengers… Thinking of this, Lu Li couldn’t help but shrink back.
He wasn’t afraid of ghosts, powerful enemies, or life’s hardships. But he was afraid of unpredictable, unchangeable, and uncontrollable disasters.
The roller coaster reached its first peak, and Lu Li couldn’t help but close his eyes, not wanting to see the terrifying descent. He heard Wen Hupo take a deep breath, and before he could react, he felt someone frantically grabbing his sleeve. Lu Li opened his eyes abruptly and saw Wen Hupo looking at him with a fearful expression, her hand clutching at his arm, her face filled with a pitiful plea.
Without thinking, Lu Li grasped Wen Hupo’s hand just as the roller coaster plunged downwards for the first time.
Wen Hupo let out a suppressed scream. So she was afraid after all? Lu Li thought smugly. He had thought she was truly fearless.
They said that the “suspension bridge effect” referred to mistaking nervousness and fear for love and affection. If you had a crush on a girl, take her to watch a horror movie during the ambiguous stage of your relationship, or take her to do something exciting. This thought flashed through Lu Li’s mind. He slightly opened his eyes and glanced at Wen Hupo. He was feeling his heartbeat, but what about Wen Hupo’s?
The wind was too loud, and the screams of the other passengers were too deafening. Lu Li had a ridiculous idea. He smiled and shouted to Wen Hupo, “Miss Wen Hupo, I’ve actually been in love with you since the first time I saw you!”
“What?” Wen Hupo looked at him, shouting, “I can’t hear you! Say it louder!”
“Nice words shouldn’t be repeated!”
“I can’t hear you!”
“I won’t say it again!”
Lu Li laughed heartily. Wen Hupo glared at him and kicked him lightly.
When Lu Li and Wen Hupo got off the roller coaster, Wen Hupo was a bit disheveled. Her blonde hair was tangled, as if she hadn’t combed it after waking up. Lu Li, although feeling a bit unwell, was much better than the first time he rode a roller coaster. At least he could stand steadily and wasn’t throwing up. Indeed, the best way to overcome fear was to face it.
The two of them were still holding hands, neither having let go. Lu Li was pretending to be oblivious, not wanting to let go. What about Wen Hupo? Had she forgotten?
He was about to tease her when he heard a shout from behind, “Brother-in-law~ Brother-in-law~”
It was Wen Hupo who let go first. She retracted her hand as if burned, pretending it had nothing to do with her. Lu Li was stunned, glancing at Wen Hupo, but she turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
“Brother-in-law, you’re afraid of heights, aren’t you? Why did you ride the roller coaster?” Little Long Jing laughed mischievously. Behind her, Chu Jingyi’s face was somewhat pale.
“Miss Wen Hupo, hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Chu Jingyi bowed slightly, her tone unexpectedly polite, so polite that it felt distant. She took Lu Li’s hand and stood between him and Wen Hupo.
Wen Hupo hummed softly. After a few seconds, as if to cover something up, she said, “It was a coincidence. I borrowed your boyfriend for a while, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Miss Wen Hupo, did you come alone? Would you like to join us?” Chu Jingyi said politely.
Too polite. Yi Bao. You don’t usually talk to Wen Hupo like this.
“No, thank you. I’m a bit tired. I’m going home.” Wen Hupo bowed slightly to Chu Jingyi, her gaze not even daring to fall on Lu Li, and then she hurriedly turned and left. Her white sun hat was a bit crooked. Lu Li wanted to remind her, but he didn’t say anything in the end.
He looked blankly at his right hand, where the girl’s warmth and a hint of sweat lingered. The experience of holding her hand just now felt like a dream. Before he could savor it, Chu Jingyi grabbed his right hand, their fingers interlocked, her face puffy like a steamed bun.
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