Chapter 19

「Maybe, we’re just a little closer or maybe it’s more than just a little.」

-

This is the second time that Huo Sheng praised his eyes, Cheng Yan mused.

He couldn’t stop himself from feeling happy even though he knew that Huo Sheng didn’t have any other intention when saying that. This happiness was like a stimulant seeping into his blood, making him smile uncontrollably.

The door was pushed open and then shut again. It was a pair of father and son that came in.

The child was asking his dad if they could play on the rollercoaster early in the afternoon. They then entered the cubicle next to his as they chatted.

Cheng Yan took the opportunity to gently push open the compartment door and went out. He took a look at his reflection in the mirror which looked nothing like himself.

He dabbed some water on his face that was still red and covered his face with his hands until the heat had cooled down. He then slowly left.

When he returned to their table, Huo Xiaoman was still sleeping on her dad.

Huo Sheng was carrying her with two hands, and when he saw that Cheng Yan was back he said, “There’s still one and a half hour before the afternoon events. We can use this time to rest.”

“Okay,” Cheng Yan answered in a small voice. He paused and spoke again, “Do you want to buy anything? Since Xiaoman is sleeping, I can go and buy something.”

“Do you need any more water? If you do then buy two bottles,” Huo Sheng asked naturally. “Remember to buy one with a smaller bottle so Huo Xiaoman can carry it herself.”

Cheng Yan stood up from his seat again, this time going to a small shop nearby.

There were many things in the small shop. Other than water, there were bubble guns and other things that children loved to play with. Cheng Yan stood next to a family with a child pleading to buy it so he didn’t think anymore and bought one too.

He took a while lining up and paying for his items. By the time he was back, the little girl sitting on Huo Sheng was awake and rubbing her eyes with two little curled fists.

She was facing Cheng Yan, just in time to see what was in his hands. She was wide awake.

Huo Xiaoman stretched her little arms, signalling for him to give it to her thus he handed it to her. Huo Sheng smiled at their interaction and told Huo Xiaoman, “That’s impolite. Where’s your thank you to brother?”

Cheng Yan looked at Huo Xiaoman looking up at him with a bubble gun in one hand squirting out a bunch of bubbles. She smiled, “Thank you, brother.”

Because of the bubble gun, Huo Xiaoman was not impatient while queueing anymore. She stood in the queue for the rollercoaster with one hand grabbing onto Huo Sheng’s clothes and making bubbles using the gun with the other hand.

This was the only rollercoaster that Huo Xiaoman could ride on as the height restriction was less than one meter.

When it was their turn to go on the rollercoaster, Huo Xiaoman sat beside Cheng Yan on the front rows. She was a very daring girl but during the whole ride, her little hands were tightly clenching onto Cheng Yan’s arm.

Huo Sheng was sitting at the side behind them and caught Cheng Yan smiling: he was amused by Huo Xiaoman’s blown-up fringe and serious face.

After the ride, Huo Xiaoman’s face was stiff as she was carried down the rollercoaster by a staff member. Then, Cheng Yan had to carry her or she wouldn’t even leave.

The little girl wouldn’t even play with her bubble gun, which Cheng Yan thinks is very cute. He asked with a quiet voice, “Is she always this timid?”

“Yeah,” Huo Sheng answered without caring if it was embarrassing for her or not. He laughed as he said, “She still wants to go on the rollercoaster. From the last time she came here, she cried a lot.”

Hearing her dad laugh, Huo Xiaoman shyly put both hands around Cheng Yan’s neck and tilted her head, avoiding eye-contact at her dad.

It was Cheng Yan’s first time carrying a child and the little girl he was holding felt so soft – it was a new experience. It was a shame that he couldn’t carry her for long before his arms were feeling sore as Huo Xiaoman is a little chubby.

After that, they played on the bumper cars, then on the merry go around, and other games like riding the aeroplane. When they exited the theme park, it was already half past five.

It was time for dinner already so Huo Sheng invited Cheng Yan to eat dinner with them.

Cheng Yan rejected the invitation last time so this time he could only accept his offer.

It would take ten minutes to drive to the restaurant. When they were in the car, Huo Xiaoman was very curious about the box Cheng Yan was holding but she refrained from asking.

After they got out of the car, Huo Sheng saw that she couldn’t stop staring at the box so he helped her ask instead, “You kept carrying the box. Did you have something important to do? Did we take up your time?”

Cheng Yan finally realised that Huo Xiaoman was staring at him. He shook his head, slightly embarrassed. “N-No, I’m not busy. I made some cakes which were originally for Xiaoman. I didn’t know that she has a toothache and can’t eat sweet things.”

Huo Xiaoman immediately looked at her dad when she heard that there were cakes. She repeated like a parrot, “Dad, cakes.”

She kept repeating the words “cakes” and “dad” for more than five times, making Cheng Yan laugh. Then Huo Sheng said, “Say thank you to brother.”

Her little head swiftly turned towards Cheng Yan, “Thank you, brother.”

It was their first time eating out informally and Cheng Yan was very excited.

If they were just colleagues, they probably wouldn’t be close enough to eat dinner together. Maybe he qualifies as a friend. Cheng Yan was secretly happy.

However, Cheng Yan didn’t know that he wasn’t good at hiding his emotions. Huo Sheng was able to see the happiness on his face.

Huo Sheng smiled seeing that he was happy, then he opened the box and took a look.

There were many types of fruits placed on the cakes. Huo Xioaman laid on the table and also looked at the box. She told her dad, “Dad, I want to eat it.”

“Not right now,” Huo Sheng pulled her away from the table and made her sit down to wait for their food. He added, “You can eat it after you finish dinner.”

In response, Huo Xiaoman was happy. She held the spoon and giggled.

It was very easy for a child’s happiness to influence adults so Cheng Yan smiled as well.

They didn’t wait long before a waiter placed their food on the table. They all looked very delicious.

Cheng Yan took a bite and found out that they used different seasonings. He took the opportunity to ask the waiter while they were pouring water for them.

Huo Sheng looked at Cheng Yan, feeling that it was rare for him to take the initiative to speak.

When they finished speaking, Huo Sheng followed the flow of the topic and asked him, “Do you usually cook?”

“Huh? Yeah.” Cheng Yan nodded. “I quite like cooking.”

“If there’s a chance to, I want to try out your cooking.” Huo Sheng ate as he frankly said.

His words made Cheng Yan look forward to it. After a short moment, he answered quietly, “Okay.”

“You have to keep your words then.” Huo Sheng took some tissue and wiped his mouth before putting it by the side.

“You have to keep your words then. Keep your words.” Huo Xiaoman suddenly butted in. “Dad, what does that mean?”

“Ask brother.” Huo Sheng was amused and passed over the question to Cheng Yan.

Thus, Huo Xiaoman titled her head and asked again, “Brother, what does ‘keep your words’ mean?”

“It’s…” Cheng Yan tried to think of an explanation. “It means you have to keep your promise. Like when brother kept his promise about going to the theme park with Xiaoman.”

“Oh~” Huo Xiaoman quickly nodded, not knowing if she understood him or not. She told her dad, “Keep your words.”

Huo Sheng grinned and combed her fringe before opening the box and placing a cake in front of her. He said, “Then dad will keep his words and give you a cake.”

Cheng Yan looked at their exchange, feeling as if his heart was about to melt.

It was probably because he didn’t expect he would one day be able to sit beside Huo Sheng and see a new side of him.

It was as if he was closer to slightly closer to him now.

And maybe, it wasn’t just a bit.