The pirate ship began to sway, and her utterly useless best friend clung tightly to Ren Zhen next to her.
The key point was… this pirate ship was one for children, and the swaying amplitude wasn't particularly large.
She remembered Xia Qingxue once riding a roller coaster by herself, twisting, turning, and plummeting at high speed. She rode it twice in a row and excitedly exclaimed how thrilling it was upon getting off.
Could the person trembling, pale, and utterly terrified right now really be her best friend?
Huo Rou averted her gaze, unable to bear watching.
The pirate ship ride lasted two minutes. An'an was on it, laughing with great excitement, occasionally waving to Huo Rou.
Watching An'an's smile from afar, she felt she had been neglectful all these years, never having brought him to an amusement park. Fortunately, it wasn't too late.
Qin Ningyi accompanied An'an on the pirate ship, which swung like a giant swing. Seeing An'an's happy expression, identical to the other children around, he finally looked like a real child.
As he was thinking this with contentment, he heard a woman's soft scream from behind him. Amidst the laughter and shrieks of the children, it sounded particularly distinct.
An'an heard the abrupt adult scream and found it a bit strange, especially since the voice was somewhat familiar.
He turned his head and saw Xia Qingxue, her face turned to the side with her long hair flying as she buried her head in Ren Zhen's shoulder.
When his godmother took him to the school playground to swing, she had always told him to push as high as possible. This was similar, so why was she so scared?
"Godmother!" An'an called out, "Godmother, don't be scared, it's just like swinging!"
Xia Qingxue, who was in a state of helpless fragility, suddenly heard An'an's voice. She opened one eye a tiny slit and looked forward. An'an's puzzled little face came into view.
Her image of being majestic and heroic!
Xia Qingxue screamed inwardly, but her body remained motionless, as if she hadn't heard him.
Ren Zhen smirked wantonly beside her. Seeing Xia Qingxue continuing to play the turtle, he cooperatively reached out and pressed her head down, his arm blocking An'an's view.
An'an turned his head back to Qin Ningyi with great confusion, "Dad, isn't that Godmother? Why isn't she talking to me? And she's usually not scared of these things."
Qin Ningyi followed his gaze and met Ren Zhen's eyes, his fox-like eyes smiling enigmatically.
He thought he could probably understand Ren Zhen's feelings at that moment.
The image of Huo Rou's rosy lips and her tightly clasped hand involuntarily reappeared in his mind.
Compared to that, Xia Qingxue beside Ren Zhen, who was so skillfully feigning fear, seemed a little exaggerated.
"Don't bother them. What do you want to play next?" Qin Ningyi redirected An'an's attention to the next attraction.
It was one thing for their online friends to drag Huo Rou along, but this was his time to date Huo Rou. He couldn't be bothered by the two of them.
Unfortunately, Qin Ningyi's wish was shattered after the pirate ship ride ended.
It was very crowded when they got off. In the throng of people, Ren Zhen and Xia Qingxue were jostled to their side.
"Godmother!" An'an tugged at Xia Qingxue's hem, and her heart swayed gently, just like her hem.
"An'an…" Xia Qingxue clearly didn't want to admit that the person who had been scared earlier was herself. She had to be brave in front of An'an!
She pretended to be surprised and asked, "You're playing this too? Where's Ah Rou?"
"Mom is waiting for us below," An'an said with a smile. "Godmother, just now…"
Xia Qingxue quickly covered An'an's mouth, fearing he would reveal his past exploits of her leading him around the village to tease cats and dogs.
Boys liked delicate girls, and her past deeds were not suitable for being openly told to Ren Zhen.
An'an's mouth was covered, and his large eyes darted around, looking very innocent.
Qin Ningyi and Ren Zhen exchanged glances, seeing a shared unwillingness to participate in each other's eyes.
Upon reaching the exit, the crowd dispersed, and Huo Rou walked over.
From the moment An'an had called out "Godmother," Ren Zhen had a unbelievable thought. Now, seeing Huo Rou approaching, he looked at Huo Rou and An'an.
"She came with you?" Ren Zhen asked.
"Yes, Ah Rou and An'an came with me, but before we met, Ah Rou was pulled away by Qin Ningyi."
Ah Rou…
Ren Zhen repeated the nickname in his mind.
Female, Xia Qingxue's friend, accompanied her to a meeting, and was affectionately called Ah Rou.
Everything became clear.
He looked incredulously at the soft, sweet, and delicate woman who walked towards him, and the several instances of "ninety-nine percent" from a few days ago flashed through his mind.
Such a mischievous and formidable person was this one before him!
He couldn't believe it, but everything connected, forcing him to believe.
Back then, Chi You had told him he would bring his son, but he waited all day, and only Qin Ningyi arrived with his son. He had agreed with his father about the guests and hadn't thought in another direction.
So, it was actually Huo Rou who brought them, and then he had asked Qin Ningyi that question. Huo Rou hadn't explained, and everyone had misunderstood…
"Boss?" After realizing this, Ren Zhen looked at Huo Rou with doubt, uttering the two words with some difficulty.
Huo Rou raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Mm."
"It really is you!" Although he had almost confirmed Huo Rou's identity, her affirmative answer still made him somewhat uneasy.
Who could have imagined that the person who had led them in such reckless actions back then was such a delicate young girl?
During those wild and carefree times when they spoke without restraint, Huo Rou had shown no inappropriateness among them.
Ren Zhen's usually carefree expression cracked, "Boss, you are truly… a hidden master."
"Not really," Huo Rou replied calmly.
"You're too weak." Years of friendship, and despite meeting for the first time, there was no sense of unfamiliarity. Huo Rou's taunting words came out naturally.
Chi You of the Battle Flag Alliance, a person who made
Qin Ningyi watched Huo Rou smile at him with such ease and familiarity, his gaze shifted from Huo Rou's face to Ren Zhen's outstretched hand, his expression turning ashen.