35: respectively

Not far away, Zhang Xueya, with her sharp eyes, had long spotted them. Before even getting close, she started shouting at the top of her lungs.

"Hey—Brother Jiang, Sister Yun! How was it up there? Was it romantic?"

Her shout attracted the attention of several passersby.

"The view was quite expansive."

Jiang Yuan replied calmly and earnestly, as if he had truly only spent half the time up there studying the night scenery.

Liu Zhuoyun, however, lacked such composure.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the fabric of her skirt hem, not daring to speak. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, her trembling voice would betray the momentary enchantment she had just experienced.

"Oh, Sister Yun, why is your face so red?"

Zhang Xueya leaned in, playfully pressing her face close and lowering her voice to tease, "Could it be... the wind up there was too strong and messed up your face?"

With her secret exposed, Liu Zhuoyun buried her head even lower, her earlobes almost dripping blood. She could only mumble like a buzzing mosquito, "It's... a bit stuffy in the private room."

"Oh—stuffy, huh—"

Zhang Xueya drew out her words, giving Jiang Yuan a meaningful glance, smiling without speaking.

Song Qinghan and Shen Lingke didn't think much of it, only marveling at the beautiful lights of the Ferris Wheel and clamoring to ride it at night next time.

By the time they left the amusement park, night had completely enveloped the city.

Street vendors were starting to pack up, but there were still many tourists, and the colorful neon lights illuminated the street with a dazzling glow.

The group strolled along the commercial street for a while, bought some local snacks to fill their stomachs, and then walked towards the hotel.

On the way back, Zhang Xueya and the other two walked ahead, chattering excitedly about which ride was the most thrilling today, their laughter constant.

Jiang Yuan and Liu Zhuoyun, with unspoken understanding, lagged a few steps behind, walking side by side.

They didn't deliberately hold hands, but the distance between their bodies was extremely close. As they walked, their sleeves occasionally brushed lightly against each other.

When the crowd was dense, she would subconsciously shy closer to him, her shoulder gently bumping his arm, yet not immediately pulling away, revealing an unprecedented sense of attachment.

"Has your heartbeat calmed down?"

Jiang Yuan turned his head, looking at her in the streetlight, his voice very low, with a hint of teasing that only the two of them understood.

Liu Zhuoyun's steps faltered slightly. She naturally knew he wasn't asking about her fear of heights, but rather the lingering effect of that kiss.

"...Not yet."

She responded very softly, her voice sweet and gentle, carrying a hint of lingering shyness.

After two seconds, as if to prove something, she quietly added, "But... I don't dislike this feeling."

After saying this, she felt her face flush, and her gaze drifted nervously elsewhere, not daring to meet his eyes.

Jiang Yuan looked at her shy yet brave demeanor, and his heart warmed slightly.

"Then, do you dare next time?"

He asked, knowing the answer, a smile playing on his lips.

"..."

Liu Zhuoyun bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and then her voice, as light as wind, was unusually firm: "If... it's with you, then I dare."

Though light, these words brushed Jiang Yuan's heart like a feather.

He didn't speak further, merely subtly leaned closer to her, using his tall frame to shield her from the oncoming night wind.

Back in the hotel lobby, the bright lights instantly dispelled the ambiguity of the night.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm so tired."

Zhang Xueya yawned without a care for her image, waving her hand, "Girls, let's shower and sleep, recharge our energy, and we'll fight again tomorrow."

After briefly discussing the check-out time for the next day, everyone returned to their rooms.

As they reached their room doors, the corridor suddenly fell silent.

Liu Zhuoyun stood in front of her room door, her fingertips tightly clutching the room card, but she didn't swipe it open immediately.

She hesitated, then raised her head, her clear eyes looking at Jiang Yuan, a hint of scattered light hidden within them.

"Brother Jiang."

"Hmm?"

"Just now on the Ferris Wheel..."

She trailed off mid-sentence, as if unable to find the right words to describe the feeling. Finally, she gently lowered her eyelashes, a beautiful curve forming on her lips, "I was very happy."

Not just because of the scenery, but even more so because of that kiss, and the person in front of her.

Jiang Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his gaze became exceptionally gentle.

"Me too."

The two looked at each other for a moment under the warm yellow light of the corridor, and it was as if invisible threads of sugar were stretching in the air.

Liu Zhuoyun softly "hmm"-ed, then turned to swipe her card, slipping into the room as if escaping.

The door closed with a soft "click."

She leaned her back against the door, her hand pressed to her chest, where her heart was still pounding, unable to calm down for a long time.

After a good while, she slowly moved to the bedside.

As soon as she lay down, her phone on the pillow lit up.

[Jiang Yuan: Go to bed early. You worked hard accompanying me all day today.]

[Jiang Yuan: Have a good dream. See you in my dream.]

Liu Zhuoyun stared at the words "See you in my dream" on the screen for a full ten seconds.

Her lips unconsciously curved upwards. She lightly tapped the screen with her fingertip and replied earnestly.

[Liu Zhuoyun: Okay. Good night, Brother Jiang.]

After successfully sending it, she placed her phone on her chest and couldn't help but bury her face in the soft duvet, silently laughing.

That night, she slept very late.

But for the first time in a long while, she didn't fall asleep under her parents' strictures and worries about the future. Instead, she was securely enveloped all night long by a feeling so sweet it swelled within her... The next day, early morning.

The hotel's buffet restaurant was filled with the aroma of coffee and toasted bread.

Jiang Yuan and the Girls sat around a table, eating breakfast. He was as unyielding as ever, enjoying a bowl of hot Tofu Pudding with two golden, crispy Fried Dough Sticks.

"I'll be leaving in a bit."

Jiang Yuan put down his spoon, pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth, and said casually, his tone ordinary.

The atmosphere at the table paused slightly.

"Shouldn't you all be heading back too?" he asked again.

"Yes, we also plan to go back today."

Liu Zhuoyun nodded gently.

She kept her head down, stirring her spoon in the bowl, but barely drank anything. Her movements were as quiet and well-behaved as ever, but her usually lively eyes clearly held a few more traces of reluctance and disappointment.

"There are a few mandatory classes at school tomorrow, can't skip them."

"Brother Jiang, where are you planning to go next to have fun?"

Zhang Xueya picked up a side dish with her chopsticks and asked curiously, trying to break the melancholic mood of parting.

"I'll go see the sea in Qingdao, I guess."

Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I've never really been to Qingdao, even though I've grown up."

"Qingdao is great! This season is perfect for visiting!"

Zhang Xueya's eyes lit up, and she replied with a smile, "If you stay there a bit longer, you might even catch the Beer Festival that starts mid-month. Their original beer is really good!"

She had been to Qingdao a few times before and was deeply impressed by the beer there.

"Hmm, I can consider it."

Jiang Yuan nodded, already planning his next itinerary in his mind.

After breakfast, everyone returned to their rooms to pack their luggage.

Half an hour later, after check-out procedures were completed, the group stood at the hotel entrance with their suitcases.

The morning sun was already a bit dazzling, warm on their bodies.

"Well then, we're heading back to school first."

Zhang Xueya spoke first, still in her carefree manner, "Brother Jiang, when our summer vacation starts, if you haven't gone too far, maybe we'll come crashing into Qingdao to freeload on food and drinks. Don't go back on your word then!"

"Always welcome, and plenty to go around."

Jiang Yuan smiled and agreed.

"Brother Jiang, we're leaving then."

Song Qinghan and Shen Lingke also waved goodbye.

Liu Zhuoyun pulled her suitcase, standing at the very back of the group.

Even though she was walking with her roommates, her steps always seemed half a beat slower, as if she was waiting for something.

"Zhuoyun."

Jiang Yuan called out to her.

"Hmm?"

She immediately stopped and turned to look at him, a light shining in her eyes for a moment.

"Be careful on your way."

Jiang Yuan looked at her, his tone softer than usual, with a hint of imperceptible indulgence, "Send me a WeChat message when you get to school."

Liu Zhuoyun "hmm"-ed, her fingertips lightly picking at the handle of her suitcase.

After much hesitation, she finally mustered her courage, looked up, and quietly asked, "Brother Jiang, will you... always like me?"

"Of course."

Jiang Yuan smiled, his tone firm.

Receiving the desired answer, Liu Zhuoyun bit her lower lip, a happy smile spreading across her face.

"Then... see you next time, Brother Jiang!"

She looked up, directly at Jiang Yuan, her voice not loud, but filled with an unprecedented seriousness.

"See you next time!"

Jiang Yuan solemnly promised.

A taxi pulled up at the entrance.

The Girls put their luggage into the trunk and got in one by one.

Before the car door closed, Liu Zhuoyun couldn't help but look back one last time.

Under the sunlight, that tall figure stood at the bottom of the steps, smiling and waving at her.

The car started, slowly driving out of the hotel driveway.

Her view was gradually obstructed until he was no longer visible.

Only then did Liu Zhuoyun retract her gaze, her hand gripping her phone tightly, as if holding onto a summer promise... After seeing them off, the lively hotel entrance suddenly became much quieter.

Jiang Yuan looked down at the time. He wasn't in a hurry to leave, so he turned and went back to the lounge area in the corner of the lobby, finding a sofa to sit on casually.

Since the fate (fate/connection) here had temporarily come to an end, it was time to embark on the next journey.

He took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts a few times, and stopped at a name saved as "Xinyu."

He pressed the dial button.

"Beep—beep—"

The phone rang only twice before being answered, with astonishing efficiency.

"Brother Jiang, good morning."

A gentle, clear female voice came through the receiver, carrying a well-trained professional air, respectful yet not distant.

Listening closely, within that steady voice, there seemed to be a hint of imperceptible surprise and anticipation, as if she had been waiting for this call all along.