Amusement park

The sun shone brightly. On this spring weekend, the city streets bustled with traffic.

When the taxi pulled to a smooth stop in front of the plaza outside the city's enormous theme park, cheerful, boisterous music instantly pierced through the car windows.

Lu Yan paid the fare and stepped out, holding Aemeath's hand.

The moment they stopped, Aemeath's gaze was riveted to the towering Ferris wheel ahead, the colorful hot-air balloon sculptures, and the roller coaster tracks winding across the distant skyline like a giant dragon.

"Wow~" Aemeath exclaimed in heartfelt amazement.

Her golden eyes reflected the park employees at the entrance, dressed in cartoon character costumes and handing balloons to passing children. Curiosity and wonder sparkled in her gaze.

Lu Yan stood beside her, feeling a faint tremble in her palm.

He turned to look at her adorable expression, his eyes full of gentle amusement. "What are you staring at? Come on, let's go inside."

Aemeath suddenly gripped Lu Yan's hand back with surprising force.

She turned to him, her eyes unexpectedly growing misty. Her voice carried a wistfulness that tugged at the heart. "A-Yan, this is my first time coming to a place like this."

Lu Yan's heart trembled slightly.

Aemeath took a deep breath, surrounded by the sweet aroma of popcorn and the cheerful music. She pressed her face against Lu Yan's shoulder, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear it. "There are hardly any recreational facilities in all of Solaris."

"Everyone's nerves are stretched tight just trying to survive. Places like this only exist in areas where the threats are relatively mild, and even if there were any, I wouldn't have had time to visit." Aemeath sighed when she finished.

Hearing her mention Solaris, Lu Yan felt a pang of discomfort.

"Aemeath." Lu Yan drew her into his arms and held her tight there in the busy plaza, paying no mind to the looks from passersby.

He made her a promise in a firm voice. "It's all right. From now on, you'll experience many more firsts. I'll take you to do every boring thing and every fun thing in this world."

"Today is just the beginning."

"Mm!" Aemeath nodded gently in his arms.

When Aemeath pulled away, the gloom in her eyes had already been dispelled, replaced by the energy of a girl deeply in love. "Then, A-Yan, let's hurry! I can't wait to go inside and play!"

The two had their tickets checked and entered the park.

As soon as they stepped onto the main path, Aemeath was drawn to a small cart selling themed hair accessories by the roadside.

The cart was covered with plush headbands bearing all kinds of animal ears.

"A-Yan, lower your head!" Holding a fluffy black cat-ear headband, Aemeath looked at him expectantly.

Lu Yan looked at the cat ears, then at the dignified brown long coat he was wearing. The corner of his mouth twitched.

In the past, he would never have worn something like that in public. But looking at Aemeath's eager expression, he could only sigh helplessly and lower his head.

"Hehe~ There, all done!" Aemeath placed the black cat-ear headband neatly on Lu Yan's head, then stepped back a couple of paces to give him a careful look.

The contrast between his cool, handsome features and the two upright black plush cat ears on his head was strikingly adorable.

Several young women passing by couldn't help covering their mouths and giggling, casting admiring glances his way.

"A big black kitty!" "That handsome guy really listens to that girl~"

Instead of bristling all over and staking her claim as she usually did, Aemeath proudly puffed out her chest.

She put on a matching pink cat-ear headband, then clung to Lu Yan's arm like a ragdoll cat. Her pose seemed to declare to everyone: Look, this handsome catlike boyfriend is mine!

We came to the first attraction, the carousel. It was an old-fashioned ride, but it was still a novelty to Aemeath, who was visiting an amusement park for the first time. Though the rides weren't what she cared about at all.

Aemeath chose a white horse and climbed onto it. Lu Yan didn't ride one. Instead, he stood beside her, holding one hand near her waist to keep her from falling in her excitement while repeatedly snapping photos with the phone in his other hand.

"A-Yan, come up too!" Aemeath called, reaching out a fair hand to pull him up as her horse rose and fell on its way around.

"I'll just keep you safe." Looking at the girl in his camera, whose smile was brighter than the sunlight, Lu Yan felt that the world was exceptionally bright at that moment.

When the carousel turned into a spot away from the light, Aemeath suddenly leaned down and, catching Lu Yan off guard, quickly planted a light, strawberry-scented kiss on his cheek.

"A reward for Mr. Knight~" she said with a smile.

Lu Yan's heart softened. Wearing a helpless yet somewhat doting expression, he rubbed the top of her head.

They arrived at the bumper cars.

Aemeath showed a degree of clinginess that left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The fun of bumper cars was supposed to lie in the thrill of crashing into one another.

In the arena, everyone else was chasing one another wildly. Aemeath alone drove a little pink car, following closely behind Lu Yan's blue one.

When Lu Yan went left, she went left. When Lu Yan went right, she went right.

Finally, she simply stepped on the accelerator and bumped lightly into the back of Lu Yan's car with a thump. Then she kept her car against his and pushed it leisurely around the arena.

"Why do you keep following me?~" Lu Yan turned to look at Aemeath and the sly smile on her face, helpless and amused.

"Who says bumper cars have to crash into each other?" Aemeath lifted her chin, both hands on the steering wheel. "I just want to stick to you. No matter where we are, I'm going to be the little tail you can't shake off!"

Hearing words so overwhelmingly sweet, Lu Yan gave up resisting and let his little tail push him around the arena, the smile never leaving his eyes.

As time passed, the two tried more and more attractions.

From the scream-inducing pirate ship to jungle shooting, which tested their teamwork, Aemeath was like a tireless kitten, pulling Lu Yan from one attraction to the next.

After an exhilarating roller coaster ride, Lu Yan's steps were noticeably unsteady when he got out of his seat.

The repeated rushes of weightlessness had left his stomach churning, his head foggy, and his temples throbbing.

He stood holding the railing for a while, his face a little pale.

Aemeath, on the other hand, hadn't even changed expression. She had even kept her eyes open at the highest point and taken a moment to tilt her head and glance at him.

Aemeath immediately stepped forward and pulled him into her arms, letting him lean against her chest and steady his breathing. "Feeling sick? Your face went completely white on that last dive."

"I'm okay, just a little dizzy." Lu Yan forced a smile.

Aemeath took a tissue from her pocket and gently wiped away the cold sweat on his temple. Then she slowly smoothed the hair the wind had mussed, her movements light and unhurried.

"I didn't really feel anything," Aemeath said, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.

She looked down at Lu Yan leaning against her shoulder, still feeling unwell, and her gaze softened.

"So A-Yan's scared of this." She spoke quietly, without a hint of mockery, only a little delight she couldn't quite hide.

"...I'm not scared. I'm just not used to it yet."

"Okay~ You're not scared." Aemeath held him a little tighter and gently rubbed her chin against his temple. "Then let's ride it again. You'll get used to it after a few more times."

"...Maybe next time."

Aemeath chuckled, took his hand, and let him walk slowly.

Before they knew it, the amusement park's clock tower struck twelve noon.

"Are you hungry?" Lu Yan glanced at the time and pinched her cheek.

"Mm-hmm!" Aemeath touched her tummy and nodded with complete honesty. "I was hungry back when we were playing the shooting game. I want a big meal!"

Lu Yan took her hand and led her around the crowded main path to a fairy-tale-themed restaurant inside the park.

The restaurant was decorated like a giant mushroom forest. Each booth was designed as a semi-enclosed tree hollow, offering excellent privacy.

The two sat down in a tree hollow by the window.

Lu Yan ordered a couples-only "Hearts in Harmony" set meal for two.

Before long, a server brought out heart-shaped steaks, honey fried chicken nuggets, and two cups of strawberry milk tea.

Aemeath eagerly picked up her knife and fork, but instead of cutting the food in front of her, she looked at Lu Yan expectantly.

The sight of Aemeath waiting to be fed made it impossible for Lu Yan to refuse.

Lu Yan cut the steak on his own plate into evenly sized pieces, then speared one with his fork, dipped it in a little black pepper sauce, and held it to Aemeath's lips.

"Ah~" Aemeath obediently opened her mouth and took the steak, chewing with great satisfaction.

"Is it good?"

"Super good!" Aemeath swallowed, then immediately speared a cherry tomato with her own fork and held it to Lu Yan's lips. "Have some too, A-Yan! I want you to share some of my fairy spirit~"

Lu Yan smiled and ate the cherry tomato she offered him.

Inside the semi-enclosed mushroom tree hollow, the noise outside seemed to have been shut away.

There was only the warm yellow light above the table and the girl across from him, whose eyes were fixed entirely on him.

Aemeath held her cup of milk tea in both hands, lightly biting the straw as she looked at the Ferris wheel outside the window. Then she turned to look at Lu Yan, who was cutting steak for her.

"A-Yan," she called softly.

"What is it?" Lu Yan kept cutting the meat.

"Later this afternoon... when the sun is about to set, can we go on the Ferris wheel?" Aemeath's voice was full of anticipation. "It's right over there. I saw it earlier. It's so, so tall."

Lu Yan paused with his knife and fork and looked up at her. He pushed the cut steak in front of her, then reached out and gently took the hands she was holding her cup with.

"Okay~" Lu Yan's voice was gentle enough to drown in. "When the sunset is at its most beautiful, I'll go up to the very top with you."

In the fairy-tale restaurant, the two smiled at each other, and an atmosphere sweeter than the cup of strawberry milk tea filled the air.

Their date was only just reaching its high point.