Chapter 53: Will You Chase After My Mom?
Wu Yifan had agreed to tag along with Mu Xiaoyao mostly because he had nothing better to do. Staying cooped up in the security booth all afternoon would only invite more trouble—like Fu Junyao snooping around and spinning lies to Ye Xiwen about his "mischief." A walk sounded harmless enough, until Mu led him to a brightly lit amusement park.
"Really? A carnival? Don't you think I'm a bit old for this?" Wu stared at the Ferris wheel and candy floss stalls, half-tempted to backtrack. But Mu's expression had softened, her eyes fixed on the entrance with a mix of longing and sadness. "Xiao Yao? What's wrong?"
"My dad brought me here once. Ten years ago," she said, her voice wavering.
Wu remembered—Mu's father had died when she was little, leaving her to grow up wild, her mother too swamped with work to rein her in. It made sense, suddenly, why she'd dragged him here. He squeezed her hand, forcing a playful grin. "Then let's make some new memories. Last one to the roller coaster buys the cotton candy!"
Mu perked up, and for hours, they tore through the park—screaming on the roller coaster, winning stuffed bears at ring-toss games, even sharing a sticky pink cotton candy that left their fingers stained. Mu laughed more than Wu had ever seen, her tough exterior melting into something younger, lighter. This, he realized, was the real her—no walls, no attitude, just a girl who'd missed out on too much.
By sunset, only one attraction remained: the haunted house.
"Do we *have* to?" Mu asked, clutching Wu's sleeve, her bravado evaporating. "I… I don't like ghosts."
"Ghosts only bother bad people," Wu joked. "You're a saint, right?"
Mu winced. "I'm not. I've done bad things."
"Like what?"
She hesitated, then blurted out, "When I was little, men would hit on my mom. I put laxatives in one guy's water—he spent two days in the hospital. Another sent her roses? I sprayed them with something. Mom sneezed for hours, and he never came back. And once—"
Wu gaped. *This kid's a mini evil genius.* His own pranks felt tame by comparison.
Mu bit her lip. "But if *you* chased my mom? I'd help. No laxatives, I swear."
Wu nearly choked. "Your mom? Xiao Yao, I—"
"She's amazing! Thirty, runs a huge company—billions! You'd never work again. It'd be perfect!" Mu insisted, as if haggling over a deal.
"Then I'd be a kept man. No thanks." Wu rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help smiling. Her earnestness was weirdly endearing.
"Fine. Drop it." Mu grinned, clearly already plotting something else.
"Mu Xiaoyao? Is that you?"
A soft voice cut through their banter. Wu turned to find a woman in a white dress—late twenties, with a gentle smile and wire-rimmed glasses—staring at them. Her beauty was understated, like a watercolor: delicate features, creamy skin, a jade pendant resting at her throat. She exuded calm, like a teacher or a librarian.
"Miss Yi!" Mu said, surprised.
The woman's gaze flickered to Wu, curiosity evident. "Xiao Yao, who's your friend?"
"This is my brother, Wu Yifan. Fan-ge, this is my homeroom teacher, Miss Yi Xuexian. She's twenty-three… and single!" Mu added, winking at Wu.
Yi Xuexian blushed, adjusting her glasses. "Xiao Yao, really. Don't be rude."
Wu extended a hand, trying not to stare. Yi was stunning in a quiet way—no flash, just warmth. "A pleasure, Miss Yi."
Her hand was soft, her handshake brief. "Likewise, Mr. Wu."
"Cough."
A man stepped forward—late twenties, tailored suit, slicked-back hair. Handsome, but his smirk screamed arrogance. He didn't glance at Wu, instead taking Yi's hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. "Xuexian, who are these people?"
"Su Junfeng, this is my student, Mu Xiaoyao, and her… brother." Yi's tone was polite but distant.
Su's gaze finally landed on Wu, lingering on his casual clothes with disdain. "A pleasure," he said, not bothering to shake hands. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and *wiped* Yi's hand—the same hand that had touched Wu's—as if cleaning off dirt. "Some men have no shame, pawing at ladies like that. You must be careful, Xuexian."
Wu's jaw tightened. *Rude much?*
Mu's eyes narrowed. "Hey, you—"
"Xiao Yao," Yi said sharply, though her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Let's go. We're holding up the line."
Su smirked, looping his arm through Yi's. "Lead the way, darling."
As they walked toward the haunted house, Su shot Wu a得意 (triumphant) look over his shoulder.
Wu and Mu exchanged glances.
"Jerk," Mu muttered.
Wu grinned. "Want to teach him a lesson?"
Mu's eyes lit up. "What did you have in mind?"
Wu leaned in, whispering. "Ever heard of the 'haunted house curse'? They say anyone who's rude to the staff gets… *special treatment*."
Mu giggled, already mentally planning.
Inside the dark, creaky haunted house, screams echoed. But for Su Junfeng? The scares would be *personal*.
Wu followed, grinning. *Maybe this carnival visit wasn't such a bad idea after all.*