Tian Jiayi seemed to have gotten prettier again.
So had Cheng Huan.
Both had gone for a more mature look, with carefully applied makeup and thoughtfully chosen clothes, without overdoing it. Wang Xiaoliang was twenty-five minutes late, but they hadn't hurried him or uttered a single complaint.
He could understand that from Tian Jiayi, but Cheng Huan behaving that way too surprised Wang Xiaoliang a little.
People's Park was crowded in spring, full of people taking their children for walks, taking photos to mark their visit, or going on dates. The four of them rented a pedal boat and drifted around the lake.
They had meant to pedal quietly for a while and float through the lovely spring scenery.
Instead, three boats crashed into them in a row.
The first carried two young girls, who giggled as they bumped into them, said, "Sorry," and left. The second was a couple; the man was showing off his steering skills and rammed straight into them. The third was the most ridiculous: a middle-aged man paddled one-handed while holding up his phone to film with the other, his bow heading straight at them with a bang.
At the stern, Luo Bisheng held Cheng Huan by the shoulders and turned to shout at the man, "Hey, mister, do you think these are bumper boats?"
The man didn't hear him and kept filming.
"Why don't we stop boating?" Tian Jiayi suggested, and Cheng Huan and Luo Bisheng immediately agreed.
Wang Xiaoliang had no objections either. The four returned the boat and walked along the lakeside path.
At some point, Luo Bisheng and Cheng Huan had moved ahead. They were deep in conversation, their voices quiet, but bursts of laughter kept drifting back. Wang Xiaoliang watched their backs as they drew closer and closer, their shoulders