Chapter 21: I'm Not Afraid of Heights, I'm Afraid of You

Qiao Zhen happened to catch sight of the three photos in his hand and leaned over to take a look.

Were these snapshots taken on the roller coaster?

Everyone knew that most people utterly failed to manage their expressions on a roller coaster—their faces twisted and contorted, almost too dreadful to behold.

Qin Yichi’s lips curved with a smile as he turned slightly, displaying the photos for her to see.

Qiao Zhen immediately checked her own expression and exhaled in relief.

Thank goodness; her eyes were tightly shut, but her face hadn’t contorted in an unseemly way—though there was a definite air of “facing death with resolve.”

Her gaze shifted to Qin Yichi in the picture.

Even at the mercy of a “death shot,” the young man remained strikingly handsome and cool, full of youthful vigor. Bathed in sunlight, the sharp lines of his profile seemed as though they had been meticulously chiseled by an artist.

The background scenery paled in comparison.

And in each photo, Qin Yichi’s gaze was fixed upon her, filled with an emotion too complicated to name.

In all three shots, he was looking at her...

Qiao Zhen found herself staring, her fingers tightening around her milk tea bit by bit.

Suddenly, Niu Yifeng leaned in, full of curiosity. “Chi-ge, let me see! Come on, let me see!”

After giving Qiao Zhen one of the photos, Qin Yichi tucked away the other two and, expressionless, refused, “No.”

Niu Yifeng made a pitiful face: “QAQ”

Qiao Zhen carefully placed the photo into her white backpack.

Qin Yichi glanced nonchalantly at her movements, a smile playing on his lips. “What do you want for lunch?”

Just as Qiao Zhen was about to reply, “Anything’s fine,” Qin Yichi seemed to read her mind and immediately stated seriously, “You can’t say ‘whatever, anything, or up to you.’”

Qiao Zhen’s words caught in her throat, and she couldn’t get out a single syllable for a long moment.

She thought for a while before finally asking, “Then… what do you want to eat?”

Qin Yichi raised an eyebrow, his tone insistent. “I asked you first.”

Left with no choice, Qiao Zhen cast a pleading look at Zhang Yu and Niu Yifeng.

Zhang Yu replied, “I’ll eat grass.”

Niu Yifeng chimed in, “I’ll eat dirt.”

Qiao Zhen: “…”

She took a sip of milk tea, swallowing down the annoyance, then raised her head and pointed to a nearby restaurant. “Then I want steak!”

Qin Yichi lowered his gaze, his tone lazy. “What a coincidence, so do I.”

Lunch was on Qin Yichi, and everyone ate to their heart’s content.

Since someone else was paying, the boys all called Qin Yichi “godfather” with every bite.

Black pepper French-cut steak, cheese sticks, creamy mushroom soup, ice cream butter toast, vegetable and fruit salad—all of Qiao Zhen’s absolute favorites.

She ate very little and soon was full, but surrounded by lively chatter and laughter, she felt inexplicably happy and contented. Gradually, a sense of fulfillment settled inside her…

Meanwhile, in a top-tier VIP room at the city’s most luxurious downtown restaurant.

Light scattered dazzlingly from the European-style crystal chandelier, and even the air was steeped in opulence.

Ji Xian sat at the head of the table, his expression calm and distant, betraying nothing.

Beside him, Yu Wenjian helped himself to the buffet, speaking lazily, “By the way, where’s Qiao Zhen? She still hasn’t come to ask? She’s got more patience than I thought.”

This time last year, Qiao Zhen would have been asking around, joining in to celebrate his birthday, sitting in the farthest corner of the karaoke lounge, singing.

Back then, she’d given him a beautiful, exquisitely made card—not a love letter, but full of hand-copied love poems. The careful handwriting alone showed her sincerity.

Someone interjected, “Last time, she didn’t even know how to eat caviar and made a fool of herself. Maybe she also feels she doesn’t belong with us, at least she’s self-aware.”

Another, fiddling with the latest tablet, sneered, “She’s probably hiding under her blanket right now, crying her eyes out.”

A notification sounded.

Ji Xian looked down at his phone at once.

But it was only an irrelevant advertisement—nothing from WeChat, no messages at all.

Yet, unbidden, the image of a tearful, red-eyed, pure and pitiable girl sprang to his mind.

Qiao Zhen must be feeling awful right now, right?

His face turned cold, as if coated in a layer of icy frost.

But she brought this on herself.

If she just humbled herself and asked, it wasn’t as if they wouldn’t tell her...

Back at the amusement park.

Qiao Zhen wasn’t sad at all. On the contrary, she was bouncing along, full of energy.

She gazed at the beautiful, brightly colored balloons by the roadside, a radiant smile lighting up her face, her eyes curving sweetly, glimmering like stars dipped in honey.

After lunch, it was clear they couldn’t go on any intense rides—unless they wanted to be sick on the spot.

So, everyone began to discuss the next game.

Just then, a couple deeply in love walked past. The girl was animatedly saying,

“They say if lovers ride the Ferris wheel together, then hug and kiss at the very top, their love will be blessed forever! Isn’t that just the most romantic thing?”

The boy wrapped an arm around her waist. “Then let’s go together, I’ll do whatever you want, baby.”

Every word drifted clearly into Qin Yichi’s ears. He lifted his head slightly, a deep look in his eyes.

This Ferris wheel was huge, each carriage an ambiguously romantic heart-shaped pink—delicate and sweet.

He turned lazily, his long lashes casting a shadow like crow’s wings, and looked straight at Qiao Zhen.

“Want to ride the Ferris wheel?”

No sooner had he spoken than the boys all agreed, raising hands and feet in support, eager to survey the entire amusement park from above.

But Qiao Zhen’s mind went blank, a buzzing echoing in her head.

Fer…

Ferris wheel?!

Suddenly, a memory from a past life crashed over her, striking her like lightning from a clear sky.

—“You look so beautiful today, darling.”

—“Zhenzhen, we’ll be together forever.”

—“Baby, you’re so soft.”

Within the Ferris wheel carriage, every word, every touch, every burning, passionate kiss and feverish embrace was fiercely branded into her memory, impossible to forget…

And in the dream, she herself was delicate and bashful, sitting on someone’s lap, arms around his neck, returning his kiss with equal passion.

No, this can’t be real.

Qiao Zhen, oh Qiao Zhen, you must be losing your mind!

Her cheeks burned scarlet as she immediately took a step back, waving her hands hurriedly.

“I… I don’t want to do that.”

After a pause, she realized she’d reacted too violently and, her voice small and halting, explained, “I just don’t really feel like it. If you all want to go, I’ll wait for you here.”

With that, she stole a guilty glance at Qin Yichi, her thoughts in turmoil.

As if sensing her gaze, Qin Yichi looked at her directly, his voice low, “Are you afraid of heights?”

Qiao Zhen quickly looked away, dropping her head to stare at her toes.

Her cheeks were aflame as she shook her head lightly, whispering to herself:

I’m not afraid of heights.

I’m afraid of you!