477: Chapter 477 Will You Always Be By My Side From Now On?

The carousel turned, and melodious music flowed through the air.

Bing Lan sat on a white wooden horse, her hands gripping the golden pole. The wind caught her long hair, and her skirt fluttered gently.

Her face remained expressionless, still wearing that cold and aloof look.

But Ye Chen saw it.

Her eyes were smiling.

Ye Chen sat on the black wooden horse beside her, pulled out his phone, and secretly pressed the shutter.

"Click."

Bing Lan turned her head. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." Ye Chen tucked the phone into his pocket without changing his expression. "Just taking pictures of the scenery."

Bing Lan glanced at where he had hidden his phone, then at the dense crowd around them, and said indifferently, "The scenery here is indeed quite nice."

Ye Chen chuckled, not exposing her.

The carousel stopped, and the two of them stepped down.

Bing Lan's gaze fell on the bumper car arena not far away, lingering for a couple of seconds.

Ye Chen immediately understood. "Let's go! Let's play that!"

Bing Lan shook her head. "That's for children."

"You said the carousel was for children too, and look what happened? You had more fun than anyone."

Bing Lan pursed her lips and said nothing, but she had already started walking toward the bumper cars.

Ye Chen followed with a smile.

The two bought tickets and chose two green bumper cars.

Bing Lan sat inside and buckled her seatbelt, her hands gripping the steering wheel with an expression as serious as if she were driving a real car.

Ye Chen sat in the car next to hers and asked, "Do you know how to drive?"

Bing Lan simply uttered two words.

"Sit tight."

The next second, she floored the accelerator.

"Bang!"

Ye Chen's car was hit so hard it spun in place.

Ye Chen was completely dazed. "You..."

"It's started."

Bing Lan interrupted him expressionlessly and floored the accelerator again.

"Bang!"

This hit was even harder, sending Ye Chen's car straight into the side guardrail.

Ye Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Are these bumper cars or bumper people?"

Bing Lan didn't speak, but a hint of mischief flashed in her eyes.

But Ye Chen still caught it.

He grinned, shifted into reverse, and slammed on the gas.

"Bang!"

The two cars collided violently, sparks flying.

Bing Lan was jolted forward, and a few strands of her hair came loose.

She turned to look at Ye Chen, a competitive light flashing in her eyes.

Ye Chen raised his eyebrows at her provocatively.

The next second, they both floored it at almost the same time.

"Bang!"

"Bang!!"

"Bang!!!"

The two cars went back and forth in the arena, having a blast crashing into each other.

The surrounding parents and children watched, dumbfounded, as these two adults played even more wildly than the kids.

"Mommy, those two adults are so childish," a little girl said in a milky voice, tugging at her mother's hem.

Her mother quickly covered her daughter's mouth and lowered her voice. "Don't talk nonsense, that's adult romance."

The little girl nodded, though she didn't quite understand.

Ten minutes later, the bumper cars stopped.

Bing Lan unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Her hair was a bit messy, with a few stray strands sticking to her cheeks, and her face was slightly flushed from excitement.

But the expression on her face was still that same cold and aloof look.

Ye Chen followed behind her, watching her try to act composed when she was clearly very happy, and couldn't help but want to laugh.

"What's next?"

Bing Lan's gaze swept across the entire amusement park, finally landing on the massive Ferris wheel.

"That."

"Consider it done!"

They bought tickets, queued for over ten minutes, and finally sat in the Ferris wheel cabin.

The cabin rose slowly, and the noise from the ground gradually faded away.

The scenery of the entire amusement park spread out beneath them, with colorful lights twinkling like stars.

The distant sea shimmered, and the afterglow of the sunset dyed the sky a golden red.

Bing Lan sat by the window, looking at the scenery outside without saying a word.

Ye Chen sat opposite her, watching her.

The light of the setting sun spilled over her face, casting a warm golden glow on her cold silhouette.

Ye Chen suddenly spoke, "Is it beautiful?"

"It is."

"I was talking about you."

Hearing this, Bing Lan couldn't help but look at him. "Did you put honey on your lips today?"

Ye Chen chuckled.

"No, I just suddenly realized that my girlfriend is really beautiful."

Bing Lan turned away, continuing to look out the window.

But Ye Chen saw it.

The tips of her ears had turned red.

The Ferris wheel slowly reached the highest point and stopped.

Looking at the scenery outside, Bing Lan suddenly spoke softly, "When I was a child, I saw a Ferris wheel on TV and told myself that I had to ride it once."

"And then?"

"Then..."

Bing Lan paused. "Then I forgot."

Ye Chen didn't speak, just listened quietly.

"The day my mom left was my birthday."

"Since then, I haven't celebrated my birthday."

"Every year on this day, I go to the cemetery to see her, talk to her, and then go home and treat it like an ordinary day."

"This year..."

She looked back at Ye Chen. "It's different."

Ye Chen looked at her. "How is it different?"

Bing Lan didn't answer. She just took her phone out of her bag, opened the camera, and handed it to Ye Chen.

"Take a photo of me."

Ye Chen took the phone, slightly stunned. "I thought you didn't like taking photos?"

Bing Lan said indifferently.

"I like it today."

Ye Chen smiled, raised the phone, and aimed it at her.

In the viewfinder, Bing Lan sat by the window with the sunset spreading out behind her. The wind caught her long hair, and her skirt fluttered slightly.

Her expression was still cold and aloof, but there was a light in her eyes.

Ye Chen pressed the shutter.

"Click."

The moment was frozen.

Bing Lan took the phone, glanced at the photo, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Then, she put the phone away and looked out the window. "Let's go, it's time to head down."

The Ferris wheel slowly descended.

The two of them stepped out of the cabin, and the sky had already darkened.

All the lights in the amusement park were lit, colorful and bright, like a fairy-tale castle.

Standing under the lights, Bing Lan suddenly spoke, "Thank you."

Ye Chen was taken aback.

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for coming here with me today."

Bing Lan spoke with a serious expression, "This is the best birthday gift I've ever received."

Ye Chen laughed. "This is the best? Then you're way too easy to please!"

Bing Lan didn't respond; she simply turned around and walked toward the exit.

Sometimes.

What one person needs is different from what another person needs.

That's life.

The two walked out of the amusement park and returned to the car.

Ye Chen started the car and asked, "Where to next? Dinner?"

Bing Lan shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"Then where?"

Bing Lan was silent for a couple of seconds, then spoke softly, "Find somewhere quiet."

Ye Chen's hand on the steering wheel paused slightly.

Somewhere quiet?

Doesn't that mean...

Ahem, ahem, ahem!

He didn't say it out loud, just nodded, and the car drove out of the parking lot.

Twenty minutes later.

The car stopped in front of a hotel.

With white walls, black tiles, and hidden among green bamboo, it was as quiet as another world.

Ye Chen parked the car, and they walked into the lobby together to check into a room.

Ye Chen swiped the room card and pushed the door open.

A large bed came into view, with a bouquet of fresh lilies on the nightstand, their faint fragrance filling the air.

Bing Lan stood at the door, her steps faltering as she looked at the large bed.

Ye Chen walked in, turned on the air conditioning, then went to the balcony to pull the curtains. He looked back at her. "Come in. Why are you standing at the door?"

Bing Lan took a deep breath and walked inside.

She placed her bag on the sofa and sat on the edge of the bed, her hands on her knees, sitting perfectly upright.

Ye Chen looked at her sitting so stiffly and couldn't help but laugh. "Are you here for a meeting or to rest?"

Bing Lan glared at him. "None of your business."

Ye Chen chuckled and walked over, stopping in front of her.

Bing Lan looked up and met his eyes.

"Scared?" Ye Chen asked softly.

Bing Lan shook her head, then nodded.

Ye Chen sat down beside her and took her hand.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Bing Lan looked at him, her eyes suddenly turning a bit red.

Not because of fear, but because...

She had waited for this day for a long time.

"Ye Chen."

"Hmm?"

"Will you... always be by my side from now on?"

Ye Chen looked at her and nodded seriously. "I will."

"No matter what happens?"

"No matter what happens."

Bing Lan gave a sweet smile.

That was the first time Ye Chen had seen her smile so happily.

He couldn't help but reach out and pull her into his arms.

And then.

He lowered his head and gently kissed Bing Lan.

Bing Lan closed her eyes.

The fragrance of lilies filled the air, and the sea breeze drifted in through the gap in the window, rustling the curtains.

Moonlight spilled over the sea, shimmering like a handful of scattered silver.

In the distance, the waves crashed against the rocks, rising and falling, never-ending.