Reluctantly Willing

Chapter 110: Chapter 109

The last time they’d visited the amusement park was last Christmas Eve, when many stations were closed as their operation hours were over. This time, the two of them were going to play with real excitement.

Once they entered, they totally ignored the carousel and rushed towards the roller coaster.

There were a lot of people in line. An Xiaoyan pulled Gu Jun to wait in line. Many of those lined up were young couples and the two of them did not look any different from them.

“Have you ever ridden one before?”

Gu Jun looked at the winding slides of the roller coaster in front of him and answered honestly, “I haven’t ridden a roller coaster before. Nobody’s ever done this with me.”

“So we’re the same. I’ve never ridden one before either. I think I might throw up after being tossed up and down.”

This was really a problem. Just when they entered the amusement park, they saw someone vomiting into the waste bin. “How about we don’t put ourselves through this? Since we are here for pleasure, why put ourselves through this?”

An Xiaoyan blocked Gu Jun’s legs which were about to leave and said, “Let’s try it.”

“I just don’t want to see you feel uncomfortable.” It was not easy for the two of them to be out to play. If they were to feel uncomfortable later, their losses would outweigh their gains.

“It’s alright. I might just get used to it?”

Unable to withstand the unceasing coaxing and pestering, Gu Jun agreed to take the ride with him.

When the roller coaster was about to start moving, Gu Jun kept holding on to An Xiaoyan’s hand and reminded him, “If you are afraid, hold my hand tight, and if you dare not look down, close your eyes.”

While Gu Jun was still worried about whether An Xiaoyan could adapt to the rollercoaster, a sudden loud shout of “Ahhhhh” could be heard among the crowd.

“That’s so scary!” Gu Jun was shocked after being tossed and turned. He grasped An Xiaoyan’s hand and closed his eyes. On the contrary, An Xiaoyan was calm and opened his eyes to look down while enjoying the excitement.

Finally, the roller coaster stopped moving. Gu Jun felt as if his whole body had been tossed inside out. As soon as he stepped out, he ran straight to the waste bin and vomited. Only after everything in his stomach was forced out, did he feel much better.

It was so embarrassing to lose face in front of one’s own wife. Had Gu Jun known that it was so exciting, he would not have taken the ride.

“It’s not that scary. The seat is very safe anyway,” An Xiaoyan comforted him.

Gu Jun now had a fear of exciting activities like riding a roller coaster. Taking Gu Jun’s fear and health into consideration, An Xiaoyan chose the subsequent rides with care, such as bumper cars.

Their tickets were full-day tickets. Seeing that it was about time for a meal, the two of them went for lunch.

They went back to the same snack street as before. Now that it was autumn, many businesses were setting up stalls along the street. The scent of mutton kebabs could be smelled from afar.

Gu Jun smelled the fragrance and his appetite was suddenly increased. He bought a large plate of meat skewers and brought them to An Xiaoyan.

“Let’s eat. I’ll buy more after we’ve finished eating.”

“Can you finish so much of it?”

“You’re eating too.” Gu Jun picked out a piece of lean meat and handed it to An Xiaoyan.

After eating the kebab, they went to the milk tea shop next door and bought a double milk tea with two straws in it, They bent their heads close to each other and started drinking together.

“This big cup is really worth it. Sure enough, the amusement park is a good place for couples,” Gu Jun said, holding half a cup of milk tea.

“Are there boat rides at the river over there?”

After passing the milk tea to An Xiaoyan, Gu Jun went down to the small pier to inquire about the situation first.

One was allowed to row a boat on the river and the boat could be operated by two people rotating pedals. It would cost 100 dollars for two hours.

After buying the tickets, Gu Jun pulled An Xiaoyan onto a boat full of pink cartoon characters. The river was long and there were not many people. Thus, it felt as if there were only the two of them enjoying their world alone.

As An Xiaoyan was curious about this kind of boat, he tried hard to exert enough strength to make the boat go forward. Instead, he made the boat turn a full circle at the same spot.

Gu Jun looked at his wife’s hard work and could not help but laugh. “You can’t do that. If I don’t paddle hard, you can only make a turn no matter how hard you try. We need to maintain the same momentum and frequency in our paddling.”

Paddling together, the boat soon moved away from the dock and came to the middle of the river.

The river is a circular one. As the boat was within the vicinity of the amusement park, they did not have to worry about the boat rowing out of range.

Sometime between two and three in the afternoon, the sun was shining on them and An Xiaoyan lay in his chair and looked at the distant Oriental Eye. Gu Jun took a picture of the scene with his mobile phone.

This time he was not so lucky. An Xiaoyan snatched his mobile phone and looked at the photograph of his lying posture then took a picture of him too.

“Now this is the best kind of life to lead. I really don’t understand how I spent these last few decades,” Gu Jun leaned back on his chair and said.

“I also have this feeling. This kind of simple life is the best.”

“It should be said that the time without a kid around is better. If he had come today, we would be busy waiting on him. Sometimes, we have to live in a world with just the two of us.”

After tiring of paddling, they let the boat float on the river by itself, and from time to time, other boats would glide past them.

An Xiaoyan looked sideways at Gu Jun. He leaned over and kissed Gu Jun on the face.

Two hours passed quickly. When they got off the boat, Gu Jun held An Xiaoyan’s body and left the dock together.

“What else do you wish to do? Can you dance? Gu Jun asked.

An Xiaoyan shook his head. “Can you?”

“I can’t either. We’re even. Let’s go. I’ll take you to a good place.”

An Xiaoyan thought Gu Jun was behaving a little wildly today. The loud noise shook his body. “What are we doing here?”

Gu Jun did not answer and led An Xiaoyan inside. After making a turn, the noise of the music became softer and many small dance machines filled the whole hall.

After going to the front desk to exchange for a hundred coins, Gu Jun pulled An Xiaoyan into a dancing machine and inserted the coins. The music began to play.

“I don’t know how to play.”

“I haven’t played before either. We just need to step on the buttons below. The rules are simple.”

Gu Jun chose a slightly relaxed song and started to jump when prompted. An Xiaoyan’s interest was gradually piqued and he started to join in.

After dancing to two songs, Gu Jun began to choose some rock and roll music. The little beast inside An Xiaoyan broke free and he released his energy on the dancing machine.

“Gu Jun, carry on.”

Gu Jun sat on the ground, waved his hand and said no. With an older body, he could not withstand dancing for too long.

“Then I will dance by myself.”

The music sounded again. An Xiaoyan watched the tips and danced seriously. Occasionally, there were some mistakes, but he tried to keep it perfect. Under the light, An Xiaoyan could be seen perspiring, but he still danced hard.

When An Xiaoyan could not hold it any longer, he leaned against the wall and sat down. Gu Jun handed him a bottle of ice cola and wiped the sweat on his face with a paper towel.

“Tiring, but it’s quite fun to play. How did you find this fun place?”

“I came here by chance but was not interested to try it. I happen to remember it today.”

“It’s a good place to play and relax when you’re free.”

A hundred coins were spent and the sky was dark outside. A day of play and fun was over.

Having had enough rest in the dance hall, they were ready to go back.

Back at the car, Gu Jun volunteered to let An Xiaoyan take the driver’s seat. It was rush hour after work and the road was a little congested.

When they passed by the flower shop, Gu Jun asked An Xiaoyan to stop the car and took him to the flower shop.

The young girl in the flower shop had an impression of Gu Jun. She looked at him and asked, “Sir, what flowers do you need this time?” The girl noticed that Gu Jun was holding a man’s hand. They must be lovers.

“Xiaoyan, what do you like?”

“If you want to buy it for me, I think anything is good.”

Gu Jun looked around the flower shop. There were beautiful roses, pure white lilies, purple baby’s breath, pale yellow platycodon grandiflorum, and kapok like an orange fire.

“Can kapok be matched with roses?”

“Yes, kapok goes well with red roses.”

“Then match it and try to make it as bright as possible.” Gu Jun sat down with An Xiaoyan and waited. The little girl went to wrap the flowers.

An Xiaoyan sat down for a while, and a wave of fatigue overwhelmed him. From morning until now, his brain had been in a state of high excitement, once rested, he felt very tired. At first, he could still sit up and open his eyes. But after a while, he leaned on Gu Jun instead.

The flowers were wrapped and Gu Jun woke An Xiaoyan up. Gu Jun picked up a pen and wrote on the greeting card next to the flowers, “To my love: I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” After writing, the card was inserted into the center of the bouquet and placed into An Xiaoyan’s arms.

“Hold it well. This is the first time I have officially given you flowers.”

“Thank you, Gu Jun.”

“Thank you. Hold it tight. I’ll take over driving later. You must be tired out today.”

An Xiaoyan did not insist on driving and held the flowers and sat in the front passenger’s seat. The rush hour was not yet over and the road was still very congested. They had to wait for two rounds of traffic lights before they could pass through.

Leaning on the seat, An Xiaoyan buried his head in the flowers and fell asleep again.

Turning his head and looking at An Xiaoyan, who was sound asleep, Gu Jun’s heart calmed down and An Xiaoyan’s soft breathing was all that could be heard in the car.

The outside world was still a scene of feasts and revelry, but his life had become peaceful. In his opinion, An Xiaoyan was the best doctor, not by exquisite medical skills, but because of a kind and tolerant heart. An Xiaoyan’s kindness made him wake up from his stubbornness and arrogance, understand the most important thing in life, and his patience with Guo Guo had helped Guo Guo grow up healthily.

An Xiaoyan was not a doctor, but healed a family.

When the car stopped, An Xiaoyan was awakened. He asked with a confused look, “Gu Jun, have we made it home yet?”

“Yes, we’re home. Come out now.”

The flowers were still held firmly in his hand. An Xiaoyan rubbed his eyes and followed Gu Jun into the house. The fragrance of the roses which permeated the air spread the smell of love, just like the smell of lovers being together.