Reluctantly Willing

Cotton candy took a long time to eat. The amusement park probably realized this, so they set up a glass room beside the food stall. The glass room was filled with gentle colorful light. People could rest there to recharge and continue playing.

Gu Jun chose a room with few people. After getting seated, he ordered some hot drinks.

They hadn’t felt anything while playing outside, but after coming in, they realized their hands were numb from the cold. The heat was turned up indoors. They quickly warmed up.

Gu Jun ordered warm milk for Guo Guo, hot milk tea for An Xiaoyan, and mocha for himself.

An Xiaoyan clutched the mug. The warmth traveled through his palm. He could tell that this cup of tea must be very expensive from just a whiff.

Guo Guo’s face was red from the cold. He picked up the warm milk and started drinking. White liquid was all around his mouth. An Xiaoyan quickly put down his mug and took out a tissue to wipe Guo Guo’s face.

Judging from Gu Jun’s expression, he probably didn’t want to talk about money today. Thankfully, An Xiaoyan had some money after getting his rent returned. He could pay for today. He already owed too much.

After the hot drinks, they all started warming up. They sat there, looking outside, when there was suddenly a commotion.

“It’s snowing! Look, it’s snowing!”

“Hey, it really is snowing.”

Small snowflakes floated down from the sky. The table of girls beside them pressed against the window to look outside.

“Did you know that making a wish at the Oriental Eye is the best when it’s snowing?”

“Really? Don’t lie to us.”

The girl who spoke earlier continued, “Even if it’s not true, imagine how romantic it is. Two people hugging at the highest point of the Oriential Eye, a blanket of snow falling down beside them, and then they make wish to love forever.”

“Oh my, stop daydreaming. You need a boyfriend first. Who’s gonna make a wish with you?”

The group of girls chattered while gathering their stuff to head to the Oriental Eye.

An Xiaoyan looked in the direction of the surging crowd and saw a round and flashing disc in the distance. It was a huge Ferris wheel! It was too far away, so he didn’t notice it earlier.

Gu Jun obviously knew about the Oriental Eye. It was a famous attraction in A City. It was a big Ferris wheel constructed beside the bridge crossing the river. The tossing waves were right below it.

“Daddy, circle!” Guo Guo said while pointing at the Ferris wheel. He could only say a few words.

Gu Jun had already become interested after hearing the girls’ discussion. It wasn’t too late now. They could ride the Ferris wheel and go home. More importantly, he wanted to make a beautiful wish at the top of the Ferris wheel.

“Let’s go now.”

An Xiaoyan obediently cleaned up their stuff and led Guo Guo outside.

They saw the heavy snow from inside the glass building, but it stopped snowing a bit after they walked out. The ground was covered in a layer of white. It crunched under their feet.

Because of the sudden snow, many people headed towards the Oriental Eye. By the time An Xiaoyan’s group arrived, there was already a long line. However, the snow stopped quickly, so a lot of people changed their minds. After all, you could ride the Ferris wheel at any time, but it wasn’t meaningful without the snow.

Only one-third of the people were still in line. They stood and waited in the back.

The Ferris wheel could fit around 100 people at a time. One round took half an hour. After waiting for a round, An Xiaoyan’s group could go on.

“How many people?”

“Three,” Gu Jun replied.

“I’m not going,” An Xiaoyan corrected. “Just these two.”

The worker didn’t know what to do. It was normal for a couple to get into a fight, but what was with these two? They even had a kid.

“So how many exactly?” The Ferris wheel had four-person cars in the twelve, three, six, and nine o’clock directions. The others were all two-person cars. They had to determine the number of riders to arrange the seats.

“Three.”

“Mr. Gu…” An Xiaoyan only came to take care of Guo Guo. Somewhere like the Ferris wheel wasn’t his place.

Gu Jun held onto An Xiaoyan with one hand while hugging Guo Guo with the other and walked in. He was afraid An Xiaoyan would run away.

This car could fit four people. Gu Jun’s trio could fit as well.

After telling them the safety precautions, the worker had them go in. He closed the door and started asking the next couple. The Ferris wheel’s decoration was pretty. It was sky-blue while the lights up top were dark yellow, making the atmosphere warm. On the walls, colorful paint said: whenever the Ferris wheel makes a turn, the world will have another kissing couple. It’s said that those who look up at the Ferris wheel are looking up at happiness.

“Daddy, Daddy!” Guo Guo pressed against the window and looked down. A big ship happened to cruise by on the river. All sorts of lights flashed on it and the ship’s whistle was especially loud. Guo Guo had been attracted to the sound.

The Ferris wheel spun slowly. The river and ship grew smaller and smaller. Soft music flowed out of the speaker, making it very relaxing.

An Xiaoyan rested his chin in his hands and looked down at the city lights. It had a quiet feeling.

Gu Jun couldn’t suppress the urge anymore. He took out his phone again and snapped a picture. An Xiaoyan turned towards him just as he finished.

Feeling like he was caught red-handed, Gu Jun didn’t relax until An Xiaoyan picked Guo Guo up so he could see the view from a higher point.

An Xiaoyan didn’t think much about Gu Jun pointing his phone at him. He just thought Gu Jun needed his phone for something.

The Ferris wheel got higher and higher. When they were almost at the highest point, it started snowing again. This time, they weren’t watching the snow fall from above. Instead, the snow was falling below them.

It was heavier but slower this time. Snowflakes fluttered down like goose feathers.

“Make a wish later,” Gu Jun reminded.

They soon reached the top. The amusement park set off fireworks. They were very high, exploding right beside An Xiaoyan’s group.

Whenever the six o’clock direction reached the highest point, the park would use fireworks to signify that it was halfway over. It also enhanced the mood.

An Xiaoyan closed his eyes and made a wish. I wish I can repay Mr. Gu’s debt quickly so he can forgive me.

Gu Jun also closed his eyes. He wished that he could be happy with An Xiaoyan.

Everyone said that making wishes at the top of the Ferris wheel worked the best because it was the closest spot to heaven.

Gu Jun opened his eyes after making the wish. He saw An Xiaoyan with his hands together and head lowered, making a wish seriously. On the side, Guo Guo stared at them with eyes widened in confusion.

After they passed the highest point, the fireworks stopped.

When they got off the Ferris wheel, An Xiaoyan turned around to look at it. He kind of understood where the name Oriental Eye came from now.

At the highest spot, they could see the entire city. It was like a huge eye looking down at the earth.

They took the amusement park’s bus back to where they came from. When Gu Jun went to get the car, Guo Guo fell asleep in An Xiaoyan’s arms. It was 11 o’clock. Guo Guo must have gotten tired from playing so much.

Even in his sleep, Guo Guo still licked his lips as if savoring the sweetness of the cotton candy from earlier.

It was already midnight when they got home. An Xiaoyan took Guo Guo to his room. He reached the other side of the house. When he saw the light still on in the library, he pressed his finger to the sensor and knocked.

Gu Jun thought that An Xiaoyan was here to tell him to sleep earlier. He happily put down his work.

“Umm…I didn’t read the books in the library yet. You told me to look before, but I felt that the things are really expensive. I was scared I’d break something, so I only came once.”

“If you think it’s troublesome, I can move the books to your room.”

An Xiaoyan thought that Gu Jun was angry, so he hurriedly waved his hand. “No, I’ll come in the future.”

Gu Jun was actually speaking the truth. He thought that An Xiaoyan would feel repressed in here. He really did want to build a small library in An Xiaoyan’s room.

“Also, for the ticket and food from the amusement park, this is the only money I have now. I can only give this much for now.”

Gu Jun looked at the thin bills on the table. It probably wasn’t even 1000. He pushed it back.

“No need. Just think of it as your reward for taking care of Guo Guo. If you really want to pay, when will you pay back the five million from before?”

An Xiaoyan lowered his head and stuffed the money into his pocket. “Mr. Gu, can I go out and work?” he asked softly. “I’m just asking. I can work here too. Mopping, washing clothes, making food…I can do it all.”

Gu Jun’s good mood had soured. He thought that An Xiaoyan thanking him in the amusement park could mend their relationship, but it hadn’t changed at all. An Xiaoyan was still like before.

“If you want to compete with the servants, then sure. I can fire one and let you do the work.”

“No need!” An Xiaoyan hurriedly answered. “I won’t go out to work. I’ll just stay here.” He didn’t want to take someone else’s job. If someone had to lose their job for him, he would rather not work.

“If you have nothing else, go back now.”

“Okay.” An Xiaoyan was about to leave when he turned back and added, “Goodnight, Mr. Gu.”

Unbeknownst to him, his words moved Gu Jun’s heart again. An Xiaoyan still cared about him. If he wanted An Xiaoyan to stay here, he could really let An Xiaoyan try some work. Staying indoors all day was probably really boring.

After An Xiaoyan returned to his room, he lay in bed but couldn’t fall asleep.

He was suddenly disappointed in everything. He didn’t know when he could make up for his sin or when he could leave here. He’d prepared to stay here for a long time, but it still hurt to be told this.

It snowed heavily that night, as if welcoming the new year.

In the morning, An Xiaoyan was woken up by chirps outside his window. The chirping birds jumped around on the branch of the Chinese parasol tree.

When he went downstairs, Guo Guo was already up and playing with toys on the ground. Other than the sound of toys crashing, the room was very quiet, just like the snow outside.

The quieter a place was, the more it reflected the storm outside.