The Abused Villain is Always Obsessed with Me - Chapter 27

The rain continued to fall.

Bean-sized raindrops hammered against the umbrella’s surface, producing dull thuds before cascading like beads along the edge into puddles on the ground.

Lu Cang gripped the umbrella handle tightly, his palms damp with sweat.

He cautiously glanced sideways from beneath the umbrella’s brim, trying to read the expression of the man beside him. Feng Hechi maintained a half-arm’s length distance, his slender fingers loosely holding the umbrella handle as his calm gaze remained fixed ahead.

He showed no intention of speaking.

Lu Cang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked in a low voice, “Why… why did you come?”

Feng Hechi didn’t reply. The only sound was the patter of raindrops. Just as Lu Cang was about to repeat his question, Feng Hechi answered casually, “I noticed you didn’t have an umbrella in your bag when you left this morning.”

Lu Cang’s throat tightened instantly, his breathing becoming ragged.

Feng Hechi had actually noticed such a small detail.

That meant he had been watching Lu Cang’s retreating figure as he left the house.

He gripped the umbrella handle tightly.

The walk home was usually short, even in the rain, taking no more than twenty minutes.

As Lu Cang stood at his doorstep, folding his umbrella, he stared at the rain-soaked world outside, a sudden wave of melancholy washing over him.

For the first time, he wished the walk could have been longer.

Feng Hechi entered the house first. Noticing Lu Cang still standing outside in a daze, he called out, “What are you waiting for? Come in.”

Startled out of his reverie, Lu Cang lowered his head and hurried inside, closing the door behind him.

Feng Hechi hung the umbrella back on the wall and turned to walk further into the house when he heard a voice behind him.

“It’s been a long time since someone walked me home.”

Feng Hechi glanced back, his expression unchanged, and replied calmly, “Now you have.”

Lu Cang’s breath caught in his throat. The organ that had been pounding wildly in his chest since earlier skipped a beat, then resumed its frantic thumping with renewed intensity. He had to bend over slightly, terrified that his heart might burst through bone and flesh, tearing its way out of his chest.

A long-dormant joy surged through Lu Cang’s chest. He wanted to say something more, but Feng Hechi had already turned and retreated into his room. The door closed, once again shutting Lu Cang out.

Lu Cang stood rooted to the spot, slowly lowering his gaze.

It doesn’t matter. I’m already so happy.

I haven’t felt this happy in so long.

He lifted his foot and walked toward his own room, closing the door behind him. He took off his damp jacket, which was slightly wet from the rain.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on his door.

Lu Cang’s body tensed. He hurriedly tossed his backpack onto the desk and rushed to open the door.

Feng Hechi stood outside. When Lu Cang opened the door, Feng Hechi’s gaze swept subtly over him, lingering on the rain-soaked patch on his shoulder.

“Is there something you need?” Lu Cang asked, struggling to keep his voice steady.

“Your birthday’s coming up soon, right?” Feng Hechi said, his expression flat as he met Lu Cang’s eyes.

“Yeah, in three days. You… remember?” Lu Cang’s lips parted slightly as he stared at Feng Hechi in disbelief.

“Hmm, it’s just a date. Nothing too difficult,” Feng Hechi said with a shrug, leaning casually against the doorframe and gazing down at the boy, who was still half a head shorter than him.

“That day should be your weekly break, right? Have you thought about how you want to spend it?”

“Me?” Lu Cang froze, startled.

Feng Hechi nodded, his expression remaining impassive.

Lu Cang paused, his voice barely a whisper. “You’ve never celebrated my birthday before.”

A long time ago, his mother used to remember his birthday. But after she started dating that man, she seemed to gradually forget, her days consumed by work and taking care of the house.

Lu Cang, ever tactful, never brought it up himself. It was usually a day or two after his birthday when his mother would suddenly remember, apologizing profusely and promising to buy him a big cake when she got paid.

But when payday finally came, the money would inevitably be taken by that man to buy cigarettes and alcohol.

Feng Hechi froze at Lu Cang’s words.

Lu Cang looked up at him and caught a fleeting flicker of emotion in those narrow, elongated eyes.

It seemed like a mixture of reluctance and pity.

But that fleeting emotion was quickly erased, and when Lu Cang looked again, Feng Hechi’s eyes had returned to their usual calm.

He said, “Since you’re an adult now, you should still celebrate your birthday.”

With that, he straightened up, but then paused as if remembering something.

Lu Cang stared at him blankly as Feng Hechi took a step closer.

Feng Hechi extended his index finger and lightly tapped the fabric on Lu Cang’s shoulder, where the wetness had darkened the material.

“I gave you an umbrella. How did you get so wet?”

Lu Cang froze, instinctively glancing down at his shoulder. Realizing what Feng Hechi was implying, he began to stammer.

“Th-this is… um…”

Although they had each been holding an umbrella, Feng Hechi had walked to Lu Cang’s side. To see his face clearly, Lu Cang had consciously tilted his umbrella to the other side.

It was then that raindrops had slid down the umbrella’s edge and splashed onto his shoulder.

At the time, he hadn’t felt anything at all. If Feng Hechi hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have even noticed.

Warm fingertips pressed against the damp fabric, the heat seeping through the cold, wet stain to leave a small, burning sensation on his shoulder.

Feng Hechi’s remark made Lu Cang feel as if his subtle actions had been completely exposed. He stammered for a long moment, unable to articulate a coherent explanation.

Seeing this, Feng Hechi’s eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing more, withdrawing his hand.

“Change your clothes quickly. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Think about how you want to celebrate your birthday.”

As the man turned to leave, Lu Cang suddenly blurted out, “Wait!”

Feng Hechi turned back, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at him with mild confusion. “What is it?”

The words had escaped Lu Cang’s lips without conscious thought. He froze in place, his lips trembling slightly.

His gaze, usually steady, began to wander uneasily before he took a deep breath, as if steeling himself.

“I’ll have the day off on my birthday,” Lu Cang said, his voice strained.

Feng Hechi replied calmly, “I know.”

Lu Cang tilted his head slightly, fixing his gaze on Feng Hechi’s eyes as he struggled to keep his voice steady. “Could you… spend the whole day with me that day?”

Feng Hechi’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he studied the boy’s expression. Lu Cang seemed to be on the verge of collapse with nervousness, his lips pressed so tightly they had lost all color, and his hands clenched anxiously at the hem of his shirt.

After a long pause, Feng Hechi said flatly, “I can.”

Lu Cang’s head snapped up, his face alight with disbelief. “Really?”

Could it really be true?

When he had made the request, even he hadn’t believed it would be granted.

“I’ve already said yes,” Feng Hechi repeated calmly, glancing back at him as he turned away. “You have three days to decide where you want to go that day.”

The door closed softly behind him. Lu Cang stared fixedly at the wooden panel for several seconds before realizing he was still standing rooted to the spot.

The lingering warmth on his shoulder burned faintly, as if trying to seep through his skin and into his heart.

Inside the bedroom, Feng Hechi stood quietly by the window, his gaze fixed on the surging traffic below through the glass.

 Host, your recent attitude toward the target has been remarkably positive,  the System’s voice suddenly chimed in, tinged with confusion.

I must remind you that mission completion is time-sensitive. If you exceed the deadline…

Feng Hechi cut it off before it could finish.

“I know.”

Then why are you acting this way? The target’s stats haven’t increased in quite some time.

Feng Hechi rested his hand on the windowsill, his eyes drooping slightly at the corners, his lips pressed into a thin line. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“For humans, the pain of losing something after having it is far greater than never having had it at all.”

The air hung still for several minutes as the System seemed to process his words.

I understand now. You’re doing this deliberately.

Feng Hechi’s fingers tapped lightly on the windowsill, but he remained silent.

Indeed, it’s a brilliant method. Truly worthy of you.

The System praised him stiffly for a few moments before continuing.

But I sense you’re somewhat unhappy.

Feng Hechi’s gaze remained calm. “You’re mistaken. I’ve always been like this.”

Really? The System’s voice carried a hint of doubt. But I sense a trace of guilt.

Feng Hechi remained silent.

The System persisted.

Why?

I believed you were an exceptional executor, willing to exploit anyone to complete your mission, unaffected by emotions.

Feng Hechi scoffed, his gaze drifting to the windowpane before him. The glass reflected his image, his eyes so placid they seemed incapable of stirring any emotion.

“You’re mistaken,” he repeated, his voice barely audible, dissipating into the air like rising smoke.

“It’s merely about completing the mission. I have no ulterior motives.”

He held the pose for a few seconds, studying his own detached expression in the reflection.

“This mission will be over soon.”

Standing outside the retro black archway, Feng Hechi began to regret his decision as he gazed at the castle-shaped gate within.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have let Lu Cang choose the location.

A curved fountain shot a high plume of water into the air, its spray reflecting vibrant colors under the sunlight. Children darted around, their laughter and shouts echoing across the sky.

Feng Hechi stared at the retro plaque carved with the words “Amusement Park” above the castle gate and sighed.

He hadn’t been to a place like this since he was ten years old.

“I got the tickets,” a young voice called from behind. Feng Hechi turned to see Lu Cang holding two paper tickets.

Lu Cang tilted his head slightly, his expression still tense. When he saw Feng Hechi’s impassive face, his fingers unconsciously crumpled the tickets a little more.

“Do you… not like this place?”

Seeing Lu Cang’s reaction, Feng Hechi took two steps forward and plucked one of the tickets from his hand. “It’s your birthday. If you like it, that’s all that matters.”

Before Lu Cang could react, Feng Hechi strode toward the ticket gate.

Lu Cang blinked, watching the man’s receding figure. He suddenly realized that the anxiety that had been gripping him moments ago had completely vanished.

He hurried after Feng Hechi, jogging to catch up.

It was a weekend, and the amusement park was far more crowded than on weekdays.

Noisy children, couples holding hands, and excited middle school girls filled the grounds.

Lu Cang followed behind Feng Hechi, his eyes darting around with curiosity.

He had never been to a proper amusement park before.

When he was a child, his mother had taken him to an old-fashioned park with dilapidated rides that looked like they hadn’t been maintained in decades. The paint on the tracks was peeling, and the place had long since become a spot for middle-aged and elderly people to exercise and stroll.

This was his first time visiting a real amusement park.

Though he had seen them on TV and in novels, seeing one in person was a completely different experience.

The park was massive, boasting nearly every type of ride imaginable. Lu Cang stared at the map in his hand for ages, unable to decide where to start.

“Where should we go first?”

The figure ahead suddenly stopped, and Lu Cang, who had been walking with his head down, hurriedly braked to avoid bumping into the man’s back.

He looked up and glanced around, his eyes showing a hint of confusion.

“…I don’t know either.”

Feng Hechi glanced at him, took the park map from his hand, and scanned it. “Haven’t you been here before?”

Lu Cang nodded slightly.

This was more or less expected.

Feng Hechi carefully examined the locations of the various attractions.

“The closest is the haunted house, then the roller coaster, followed by…”

After briefly summarizing the attractions, he looked up at Lu Cang. “Which one do you want to go to first?”

His eyelashes cast small shadows beneath his eyes, and his dark pupils lazily met Lu Cang’s gaze. Sunlight streamed down, lending a warm glow even to the beauty mark at the corner of his eye.

Lu Cang’s breath caught for a moment.

Regaining his composure, he lowered his eyes in slight panic, his lips parting unconsciously as he blurted out without thinking, “Let’s go to the closest one.”

The haunted house?

Feng Hechi raised an eyebrow.

It was the first time he’d heard of someone going to an amusement park and heading straight for this.

Since Lu Cang had already suggested it, he had no objections. He led Lu Cang along the route indicated on the map.

They eventually stopped before a rusty iron fence.

A dilapidated wooden sign, scrawled with bl00d-red characters, read “Please Enter.” Beyond the fence stood a small, Gothic-style castle. Its windows were sealed shut with crossed wooden planks, allowing not a single ray of light to penetrate.

The scene looked remarkably realistic.

After confirming they were in the right place, Feng Hechi pushed open the fence and stepped inside. He noticed Lu Cang still standing rooted to the spot.

“What are you waiting for?” Feng Hechi glanced back at him.

Lu Cang’s expression was uneasy. His gaze shifted from the wooden sign to the castle before him, then back to Feng Hechi’s calm face.

So, the “nearest place” he meant was the haunted house.

Lu Cang immediately regretted his earlier lapse in attention.

Sensing his hesitation, Feng Hechi narrowed his eyes, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “You’re not scared, are you?”

“Huh? No, I’m not!”

Lu Cang instinctively retorted, unwilling to appear cowardly in front of Feng Hechi.

“Then let’s go.”

Feng Hechi shot him a cool glance before turning and striding inside. Lu Cang took a deep breath and hurried to catch up.

As they entered, they discovered a considerable queue. Most of the people were couples, with a few groups of girls out for fun. They seemed to be the only male pair.

Lu Cang pressed his lips together, feeling inexplicably nervous. He glanced sideways at Feng Hechi, but the man’s gaze remained calmly fixed ahead, completely unfazed by the curious stares around them.

Several more people had joined the line behind them. Lu Cang lowered his head and stood quietly beside Feng Hechi when he suddenly heard hushed voices a few meters behind.

“Hey, look at them—two guys in a haunted house!”

“That’s a bit weird, isn’t it?”

Lu Cang frowned and turned to look toward the source of the voices.

Two girls, who appeared to be around his age, were whispering.

When Lu Cang’s gaze met one of the girls’ eyes, she quickly ducked her head and tugged at her excited companion, mouthing, “Keep it down.”

Lu Cang glanced at the girls and quickly averted his gaze, deciding not to make an issue of it.

But then, deliberately hushed voices rose behind him again.

“Did you see that? The shorter one is actually pretty handsome!”

“Yeah, I saw him. I think the guy next to him is even hotter.”

“You think he’s hot even though he didn’t even turn around?”

“Look at his build! So tall with those long legs—definitely hot!”

Lu Cang listened to their chatter with a blank expression, planning to glance back at them again if they didn’t quiet down soon.

But the conversation suddenly shifted.

“Why do you think they’re here playing this?”

“Something feels off…”

“Right? I feel it too. Could they be a couple?”

“Whoa, really?!”

Lu Cang’s body froze instantly.

The word “couple” rang clearly in his ears, like a hand squeezing his heart so hard his breathing went erratic.

He instinctively looked up to gauge Feng Hechi’s reaction.

The man continued staring straight ahead with an impassive expression, seemingly oblivious to the commotion behind them.

Good thing he didn’t hear, Lu Cang thought, for some reason.

He lowered his head, desperately trying to ignore the two girls’ voices, but a faint smile unconsciously curved his lips.

Even his fear of the haunted house seemed to dissipate.

Twenty minutes later.

As Lu Cang stood before the pitch-black entrance, the fear he had momentarily shaken off surged back with renewed force.

In the corner near the entrance sat a human-sized rag doll, one eye socket empty, a line of glaring crimson liquid dripping from it.

Lu Cang instinctively took a step back.

Just as the thought of retreating flickered through his mind, the man ahead of him had already stepped inside.

“Wait, wait for me!” Lu Cang stammered in his panic.

Hearing this, Feng Hechi, who had already walked two meters inside, stopped and turned to look back. Seeing Lu Cang still standing at the entrance, he narrowed his eyes, his voice calm and even, as if he had anticipated this.

“You’re just scared, aren’t you?”

“I…” Lu Cang choked, his gaze flickering, his hands unconsciously clenching the hem of his shirt again.

Seeing this, Feng Hechi turned and walked back to stand before him.

“If you’re scared, just say so. We can leave right now.” His tone remained steady, without a hint of reproach.

Lu Cang stared at him blankly.

After a two-second pause, he lowered his eyes and strode resolutely into the darkness.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.”

His voice carried down the corridor, though it sounded somewhat muffled.

Feng Hechi raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, taking a few quick steps to catch up and walk behind Lu Cang.

The corridor was long and narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. The depths of the passage were pitch-black, with only dim yellow lights lining the walls illuminating small patches of ground beneath their feet.

Having walked ahead of Feng Hechi earlier, Lu Cang had no choice but to maintain his lead.

His lips were pressed so tightly they had turned pale, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Each step forward felt like it required every ounce of his strength.

He was terrified of the dark.

During countless nights when his mother was out working, leaving him alone at home, he would turn on every light in the house, huddle in a corner of his bed, and cling to his blanket until morning.

The old neighborhood’s power supply was unreliable, and blackouts were frequent. During those times, he would bury his head under the blanket, listening to his own breathing to get through the solitary nights.

As he grew older, the situation improved significantly. But in this pitch-black, claustrophobic environment of the haunted house, that familiar terror seemed to resurface.

After walking stiffly for about ten meters, they finally reached a corner.

Lu Cang let out a sigh of relief. As he rounded the corner, the ceiling above him exploded open with a deafening bang, and a rotting human face instantly pressed against his own.

Lu Cang froze for a moment.

In the next instant, he stumbled backward several steps, his lips parting uncontrollably, yet no sound escaped his throat. His legs buckled beneath him, threatening to collapse, when—

A pair of steady hands firmly supported him from behind.

The warmth of those palms seeped through the thin fabric of his clothes, even warming his fear-chilled skin.

“Are you alright?”

A deep, magnetic voice resonated close to his ear, its clarity piercing his eardrum and reaching his mind.

Lu Cang’s throat remained paralyzed. He could only watch as Feng Hechi calmly wrapped an arm around his shoulder, steadying him. Feng Hechi then casually glanced at the dangling figure suspended from the ceiling.

“Quite realistic,” he remarked dryly.

Lu Cang stared blankly at Feng Hechi’s profile. Only after hearing his voice did he remember to look back at the thing that had terrified him.

It was a human-skin mask stretched over a mannequin. The texture of the skin and the patterns of decay were remarkably lifelike; unless one examined it closely, it was nearly impossible to tell it was a prop.

Feng Hechi stared at Lu Cang’s dazed expression, finding it unexpectedly amusing.

Lu Cang actually shows such a youthful expression, just like someone his age? How rare, he thought, a faint smile curving his lips as he patted the boy’s shoulder.

“Let me take the lead.”

Lu Cang turned to look at him, this time not arguing. He obediently stepped aside to let Feng Hechi move ahead.

Even so, Lu Cang couldn’t escape his fate of being startled.

Props popped out randomly from all directions, accompanied by eerie and deafening sound effects. After several rounds, his arms began to numb, and he could barely lift them.

Fortunately, the path ahead finally widened and gradually brightened. Lu Cang breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace to walk beside Feng Hechi.

“It should be ending soon, right?” he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

“Yeah, looks like it.”

“Then…”

Before he could finish the word “good,” the wall beside them exploded with a deafening crash. A grotesque ghost face emerged, spraying icy liquid that splattered directly onto Lu Cang, who was walking on the right.

The most lethal scares are those that strike when you’ve let your guard down.

Lu Cang’s legs buckled, and he collapsed forward. The floor rushed up to meet him, and a cold liquid trickled down his neck, sending a shiver through him.

But the expected pain of hitting the ground never came.

Lu Cang realized he had fallen into warm arms.

A man’s hand gently steadied his shoulder, while the other arm wrapped around his waist to prevent him from falling further.

A faint, refreshing scent filled his nostrils—the familiar fragrance of the laundry detergent they used at home.

Lu Cang’s body had never felt so stiff, not even when he had been startled earlier.

He heard Feng Hechi sigh softly, as if slightly exasperated.

“After so many times with the same trick, you still get scared?”

Lu Cang finally snapped out of his daze. He gripped Feng Hechi’s elbow to steady himself, barely managing to stand upright. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words vanished the moment his gaze met those phoenix-shaped eyes.

The dark irises, reflecting the dim yellow light, stared intently at him. Perhaps it was the way the light refracted, but they seemed unusually gentle.

His heart pounded violently in his chest, as if trying to break free from his ribs.

“Steady now? I’ll let go then,” Feng Hechi said, his voice calm and detached, as if completely oblivious to Lu Cang’s turmoil.

Lu Cang instinctively reached out to hold him back, but in the next instant, he felt the warmth receding.

The man stepped back, creating distance between them, his gaze and familiar scent vanishing along with it.

“Let’s go,” Feng Hechi said, turning toward the exit after confirming Lu Cang was standing firmly on his own.

Lu Cang stared blankly at his retreating figure, a crushing sense of loss engulfing him like a swamp. He gazed fixedly at his palm, as if he could still feel the sensation of gripping the man’s arm moments ago.

If only that moment could have lasted longer.

He closed his eyes briefly, concealing the disappointment in his gaze, then strode after the retreating figure.

After sitting in the sun for ten minutes, Lu Cang finally regained his composure.

He lifted his head and glanced at Feng Hechi, who was standing beside him.

Feng Hechi was casually studying the map in his hand. Noticing Lu Cang’s gaze, he flicked his eyes up to meet his.

“Feeling better?”

Lu Cang pressed his lips together and nodded. He wanted to say something, but his gaze drifted to a couple holding ice cream cones.

The cones were strikingly unique, with pink and blue swirls adorned with elaborate decorations. Lu Cang had never seen such beautiful ice cream before.

Noticing his interest, Feng Hechi turned to look at the couple.

“Do you want one of those?”

Caught off guard by Feng Hechi’s directness, Lu Cang froze for a moment. His cheeks flushed slightly as he nodded sheepishly.

Feng Hechi said nothing but turned to leave. Lu Cang suddenly realized what he was about to do and instinctively called out, “I’ll go get it!”

Feng Hechi glanced back at him. “Do you know where to buy it?”

Lu Cang’s words caught in his throat.

After staring at him for a few seconds, Feng Hechi shrugged and handed him the map.

“Turn left at this spot and walk about ten meters. You’ll find it.”

Lu Cang took the map, glanced down at the marked location, nodded, and stood up to walk in that direction.

Five minutes later, standing at the end of the line, Lu Cang realized he had underestimated the ice cream’s popularity.

It seemed Feng Hechi would have to wait even longer for him.

Fortunately, despite the long queue, the staff worked efficiently. Within ten minutes, the seemingly endless line had shortened considerably.

A menu listing the various ice cream flavors was posted outside the shop, but the crowd completely obscured it.

It wasn’t until he reached the front of the line that Lu Cang could finally read the menu.

“Hello! What flavor would you like?” the staff member asked warmly, pointing to the menu. “Take a look and see what catches your eye!”

Lu Cang glanced over the menu but couldn’t find the pink and blue flavor he had seen earlier. “What’s the pink and blue one called?” he asked.

“Oh, that one!” The staff member smiled brightly and pointed to a separate sign. “That’s our new couples’ special! It’s not sold individually, but it’s cheaper than buying two regular cones, and the flavor is amazing!”

“Couples’…” Lu Cang repeated blankly, his lips parting slightly.

Realizing what this implied, the tips of his ears flushed a faint pink.

The shop assistant continued enthusiastically, “Exactly! Look at the line behind you—it’s mostly couples. Everyone’s here for our special flavor! And it’s not just for couples; friends and family can enjoy it too!”

Lu Cang stared silently at the sign for a few seconds before lowering his gaze.

“Then, I’ll take one, please.”

“Right away!”

The shop assistant swiftly prepared and packaged the cone while Lu Cang watched his movements.

Not just for couples… friends and family can buy it too.

So, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to buy one, right?

Lu Cang mentally justified his purchase, desperately trying to ignore the small, selfish desire tugging at his heart.

After taking the cone from the shop assistant, Lu Cang quickened his pace, almost jogging back to where he had been sitting earlier.

He rehearsed in his mind how to explain the extra cone to Feng Hechi, but froze in his tracks when he saw the bench where Feng Hechi had been sitting.

Feng Hechi was gone.

He had been there just moments ago when Lu Cang left.

A sudden, overwhelming fear surged through him. Though standing in the sunlight, Lu Cang felt a chill run down his spine.

Had Feng Hechi left?

Had he abandoned him here?

Why? He had clearly…

“What are you standing there like an idiot for?”

The familiar voice came from behind him, making Lu Cang flinch before whipping around.

Feng Hechi stood casually behind him, one hand on his hip, his expression as nonchalant as ever.

“Where did you go?”

Lu Cang stared intently at Feng Hechi, afraid that if he blinked, the man would vanish.

Feng Hechi gestured behind him with his thumb. “Just throwing out some trash.”

As if the shackles binding his throat had been released, Lu Cang’s breathing finally returned to normal. He let out a sigh of relief.

Feng Hechi’s gaze, however, fell on the ice cream cone in Lu Cang’s hand, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Are you going to eat two?”

Only then did Lu Cang realize he was still clutching the cone. He wanted to answer, but the explanation he had rehearsed in his mind had vanished completely.

After stammering for a moment, he finally managed to say in a low voice, “This… this was a freebie from the store’s promotion.”

“Is that so?” Feng Hechi’s gaze swept casually across Lu Cang’s face, but he said nothing more.

Lu Cang offered him one of the cones. “Here, you take it.”

Feng Hechi casually examined the cone Lu Cang held out to him, noticing the slight tremor in Lu Cang’s hand. He said slowly, “I don’t eat kid’s stuff.”

Lu Cang froze, his voice tinged with urgency. “But I can’t finish two by myself. They’ll melt too quickly.”

“Then throw it away,” Feng Hechi said casually, his gaze lingering on Lu Cang with detached amusement. “Or give it to a child. They’d probably be thrilled.”

Lu Cang’s hand slowly lowered, his eyes drooping as he murmured a soft “Mm.”

As expected, it’s still impossible.

The faint flutter of hope that had stirred in his heart moments ago had already dissipated like smoke.

Never mind.

Lu Cang pressed his lips together, preparing to discard the extra cone.

His steps were slow, his expression downcast. As he brushed past Feng Hechi, the man’s voice rang out again.

“Give it to me.”

Lu Cang froze for two seconds, confirming he hadn’t misheard, before snapping his head up to stare at Feng Hechi.

“You… didn’t you say you didn’t want it?”

Feng Hechi took the cone from Lu Cang’s hand, glancing at him with indifferent eyes.

“Trying something new once in a while isn’t bad.”

Lu Cang stared at him for a moment, then slowly lowered his head and took a bite of his own cone.

It tasted even sweeter than he had imagined.

Lu Cang had never felt time pass so quickly.

When he finally snapped out of his daze, the sun had already dipped several degrees westward, casting a warm, orange-red glow across the land.

Feng Hechi glanced down at his phone.

“It’s almost time to go. You can still try one more ride.”

The last one.

Lu Cang pressed his lips together, suddenly feeling a little nervous.

He turned his head, scanning the surroundings, his gaze skimming over the rides they’d already tried during the day before finally settling on one.

Lu Cang raised his hand, pointed in that direction, and said softly, “Let’s… go on that one.”

Feng Hechi followed his finger, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

He was pointing at the Ferris wheel.