The amusement park was even louder inside than at the entrance.
Music, screams, laughter, and the rumble of machinery mingled into a noisy wave of sound, brimming with life.
The air carried the sweetness of cotton candy, the buttery scent of popcorn, and the savory aroma of grilled squid drifting over from somewhere.
Colorful balloons floated overhead, costumed cartoon characters wove through the crowds, and children ran around the fountain, its splashing water turning into countless tiny rainbows in the sunlight.
Zhiyan stood at the entrance, holding Shoko's hand, his brow faintly furrowed. Sure enough, no matter how many times he came, he still couldn't quite get used to places like this.
Shoko saw his expression and smiled.
"You're still not used to this place."
Zhiyan didn't deny it.
"Not really."
Shoko tilted her head in thought, then took his hand and led him in one direction.
"Let's start with something easy."
She pulled him through the crowd and stopped in front of a carousel.
The carousel was one of the amusement park's most classic attractions. Its circular platform turned slowly, the colorful horses rising and falling as lights flowed across their bodies-gold, red, blue, and purple, as though a rainbow had been sliced into pieces and pasted onto every horse.
The music was the old-fashioned sound of a hand-cranked organ, cheerful and lilting, with a nostalgic quality that put people at ease.
Most of the people in line were children and their parents. A few young couples stood among them too, holding hands and talking quietly.
Shoko pulled Zhiyan to the back of the line.
Zhiyan looked at the turning horses, then at the children riding them, his expression a little odd.
"This..."
"What? Too childish for you?" Shoko looked at him. "Don't tell me you're afraid someone will