You hidden in my heart - Chapter 53.3

Chapter 53.3

It was already nine o’clock in the morning, and Li Xining and Lu Yuling joined the long queue at the entrance of the roller coaster.

Because it was the summer vacation, the amusement park was crowded from 8:30 a.m.

They waited for half an hour in the line before they could get on the roller coaster.

Li Xining suggested they ride the roller coaster, and she was excited before they did. But when the ride was about to start, she clutched Lu Yuling’s wrist like it was the lifeline. Throughout the ride, her face twisted in fear, and her screams were loud enough to burst Lu Yuling’s eardrums nearly.

Once they got off, she looked pale with fear.

On the other hand, Lu Yuling’s wrist felt like it might snap the next moment, not to mention his ears were still ringing. After a moment of hesitation, he gently said to her, “Wife, can we skip the roller coasters from now on?”

Li Xining blinked at him, surprised. “Are you scared?”

Thinking about his nearly crushed wrist and the deafening screams, Lu Yuling nodded. “Yeah, I’m scared.” He was worried about becoming disabled at a young age or, worse, not making it to twenty.

Li Xining sighed with disappointment. “Alright, next time I’ll find someone else to join me.”

‘Don’t worry, no one else would want to ride with you again except for me.’ Lu Yuling didn’t speak aloud his thoughts. 

After that, Li Xining dragged him to the carousel.

Honestly, Lu Yuling wasn’t too keen on the merry-go-round either, which made him feel a bit like a princess. So he tried to suggest, saying, “There are so many rides; why start with the carousel?”

Li Xining looked at him and reasoned. “Aren’t you scared of heights and wild rides? This one will be a nice break.”

Lu Yuling let out a heavy sigh. “…” After a pause he admitted. “Okay, I’m scared. I’m scared.” 

He knew that if he wanted to be happy, he must make his wife happy no matter what. 

For the rest of the day, he stuck by Li Xining’s side, putting in the effort without complaint.

They played several rides, and after each ride, a staff member would ask if they wanted to take photos, but Li Xining always politely declined, saying, “Thanks, but we’re good.”

However, as they were about to leave the amusement park, a twinge of regret hit her. ‘Maybe I should have taken a picture since it is my first date with him at the park.’

All the ride photos at Xifu Amusement Park came with a special stamp, which made them way more memorable than any phone photos. So, when they passed the coaster service area, she suddenly changed her mind and tugged Lu Yuling toward the little red house. “Let’s check out the photos.”

Lu Yuling: “It’s been a whole day; do you think they still have any?”

Li Xining didn’t know whether she was lucky to get photos that were taken hours earlier by the staff, but she wanted to give it a try. If it was available, she would buy it; if not, forget it. However, she did not expect that it was really available!

But then again, after seeing them, she really didn’t want to buy it.

The roller coaster camera had captured her at the peak of excitement, and she looked absolutely terrified—pale face, eyes shut tight, and her face all scrunched up like she was about to scream. Meanwhile, Lu Yuling, sitting right next to her, looked completely unfazed. He was smiling at her, head tilted, with a look of affection in his eyes, almost like he had stars twinkling in them.

The staff might have been so touched by the photo that instead of tossing it, they decided to print it out and put it up on the promotional wall.

Li Xining had zero interest in buying it. If she did, it would just be a source of embarrassment. And she thought Lu Yuling would tease her about it forever. But she couldn’t really explain why she didn’t want to buy it; that would be too awkward. So, she tried to play it cool and told Lu Yuling, “There’s only one photo. I want to pick out more. Let’s save it for next time, okay? Just remind me to get photos next time. Now, let’s hurry home.”

But if he couldn’t understand the hidden meaning of his girlfriend’s words, he wouldn’t be Lu Yuling. So without a second thought, he pulled out the last twenty yuan from his pocket slapped it on the counter, and said, “We’re buying it.”

Li Xining: ‘…Oh man!’

As Lu Yuling strolled from the roller coaster station to the park entrance, he couldn’t stop chuckling at the photos he was looking at.

Li Xining tried to hold it in for a bit but eventually snapped. “Are you done laughing yet?!”

Lu Yuling quickly wiped the grin off his face and replied, “I’m not laughing.”

Li Xining shot back. “I saw you smile!”

Lu Yuling defended himself. “I wasn’t laughing at you, I promise.”

Li Xining pressed. “Then who were you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at myself,” Lu Yuling said, glancing at the photo and slowing his speech for effect. “I can just picture it—when I’m 28, my kid will be all grown up. I’ll show him this picture and he’ll be like, ‘Dad, why does Mom look so crazy?'”

Li Xining felt a mix of anger and amusement, her cheeks flushing as she playfully slapped him. “You’re the worst!”

Lu Yuling raised an eyebrow and muttered, “So, what’s the deal with Mom’s scary face?”

Caught off guard, Li Xining shot him a glare. “It’s all your fault!”

Lu Yuling grinned and replied, “So you admit you’re my kid’s mom? If we’re having kids by 24 or 25, we should be married by 22 or 23. Time’s ticking!”

Realising she’d been outsmarted, Li Xining’s face turned red. “You annoying brat! Dream on!” She turned to walk away.

Lu Yuling rushed after her, feigning hurt. “Look at you, getting mad again and leaving me behind! You always ditch me!”

‘That little princess!’ Li Xining didn’t hold back. “I just ditched you! I don’t want you around anymore!”

Lu Yuling panicked. “No way! Even if you’re leaving me, you have to wait until tomorrow. I’m broke—I literally have no cash. You’ve got to take me home today.”

The amusement park was located in the eastern suburbs of Xifu. It was a bit out of the way, but there were buses available.

He was in such a tight spot financially that he couldn’t even scrape together a dollar for the bus fare.

Li Xining held back a laugh and teased. “Who told you to buy those photos?”

Lu Yuling shot back confidently, “I just wanted a little keepsake for my son!”

‘How ridiculous!’ Li Xining snapped, “Then just walk home!” 

She was ready to ditch him again, but Lu Yuling quickly grabbed her hand, pleading, “I will get paid today, so you have to take me to Luyin. If you don’t, how am I supposed to get my paycheck for you?”

For the sake of the money, Li Xining decided to let it slide for now and switched her tone instantly. “Fine.”

Lu Yuling: ‘Oh, this woman!’

Have a nice day!