Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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It was not even 3 o’clock yet. The three of them each had an hour, so they would probably finish their dates around 6 o’clock. Around 7 o’clock, the music festival would end, and they could have dinner together and then head home.
The three of them discussed the order of events again.
They didn’t engage in any competition or rock-paper-scissors this time; all three men behaved very gentlemanly.
Being first has its advantages; the earlier you get the opportunity, the more likely you are to gain the upper hand. Being last has its advantages too; it’s evening, the music festival has started, and the atmosphere is great.
The middle player was slightly at a disadvantage, but it was only a minor one… An hour was really short, not enough to create a significant gap.
“Then let’s do it in order,” Huo Cheng said, “in the order in which we arrived here.”
Yan Zhi nodded and looked at Pei Xu.
Pei Xu nodded: “Okay.”
Zhai Xingchen watched from the side, his face behind the mask growing hotter and hotter.
The three of them seemed to have finally reached an agreement. He pursed his lips and saw Huo Cheng walking towards him.
“Let’s go,” Huo Cheng said.
Zhai Xingchen glanced at Pei Xu and Yan Zhi: “Where are they going?”
“Let them be,” Huo Cheng said with a smile.
Zhai Xingchen and Huo Cheng walked together towards the sculpture area: “How did you divide it?”
“In order of our arrival. I’m first, Pei Xu second, and Yan Zhi last,” Huo Cheng said. “When you’re on a date with me, you’re not allowed to think about anyone else.”
Huo Cheng’s directness actually made Zhai Xingchen less embarrassed. He smiled and nodded, saying, “Okay.”
“Can we stop looking at the sculptures?” Huo Cheng asked.
Zhai Xingchen asked, “Where do you want to go?”
“I heard there’s a haunted house behind the nearby commercial center. Shall we go there?”
Huo Cheng blushed slightly after he finished speaking.
The dating ideas he could think of were nothing more than the kind that the average person could think of, things like a magic trick with a starry sky or fireworks on a mountaintop— such romantic tricks he couldn’t come up with.
On his way here, he searched for fun places nearby and immediately spotted a haunted house. It was a place that many couples liked to bring their girlfriends to. As soon as he saw it, he immediately thought of many romantic scenarios.
“Are you afraid of ghosts?” he asked Zhai Xingchen.
Zhai Xingchen said, “I have never been to a haunted house.”
Huo Cheng said, “I’ve never been there either, let’s go and experience it, it’s very close to here.”
He felt that visiting a haunted house was more memorable than visiting a sculpture gallery.
It’s important to leave a lasting impression. He hopes that every moment he spends with Zhai Xingchen will be memorable and unforgettable.
Huo Cheng glanced at the time, then grabbed Zhai Xingchen’s wrist: “Time is tight, let’s hurry!”
Zhai Xingchen laughed and was pulled by Huo Cheng towards the main entrance. Their paparazzi followed closely behind. The four of them weaved through the noisy crowd, attracting the attention of Pei Xu and Yan Zhi.
Huo Cheng had his own charm; he was sincere, passionate, sometimes very manly, and sometimes like a big boy. Although he was the oldest of the three, he had the most directness and purity of a young boy.
Pei Xu and Yan Zhi exchanged a glance, both feeling a pang of jealousy.
Like Huo Cheng, Pei Xu and Yan Zhi had also planned their date on the way. Now that the date time had been shortened from an afternoon to an hour, everyone’s arrangements had changed. Yan Zhi and Pei Xu did not wait together.
They really had nothing to talk about.
Pei Xu planned to go and take a look at the ice rink he had booked.
Honestly, the sculpture park was located in the city center of the north, and there were very few attractions around it. With only a few hours, it was impossible to go too far. The only places nearby that were suitable for a date were the park, the art museum, and the ice rink.
Pei Xu chose the ice rink.
Because they had heard during their previous conversation that Zhai Xingchen was very good at ice skating.
That just so happens that he’s not very good at it.
Exit the sculpture park from the west gate, cross the road, and you’ll find a very famous indoor ice rink in the area.
Pei Xu went to the ice rink to check it out. There was a rest area next to it. It was cold, and he didn’t have anywhere else to go, so he bought a pot of tea and sat there watching others skate.
As he was looking, he saw Yan Zhi.
Yan Zhi originally planned to take Zhai Xingchen to the suburbs. He thought that the park would only take half an hour at most, and there would be plenty of time left. However, he did not expect that the date time would be compressed to an hour.
Where else could they go in an hour? They could only look around the neighborhood. They would definitely be watching the music festival when it started.
He searched on the map and immediately set his sights on the ice rink!
Ice skating was a common trope in romance variety shows and idol dramas.
And he remembered Zhai Xingchen saying he could ice skate.
As soon as he walked to the edge of the skating rink, he saw Pei Xu.
Pei Xu stood up and waved at him.
Yan Zhi’s expression hardened, and he walked towards him.
“Are you planning to come here for fun?” he asked Pei Xu directly.
Pei Xu hummed in agreement and said, “You too?”
Yan Zhi didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Then I’ll look at other ones.”
The atmosphere froze for a moment, then Pei Xu said, “Are you cold? Would you like some tea? Rose tea.”
Yan Zhi glanced at Pei Xu and then sat down in the chair.
Pei Xu poured him a cup of tea.
“Thanks.”
Pei Xu said, “There don’t seem to be many places to visit around here.”
Yan Zhi said, “The main problem is that the time is too short, and there are only a limited number of places we can go.”
They didn’t say anything more.
The ice rink was bustling. Yan Zhi continued searching on his phone while glancing into the rink. There he spotted a young couple. The girl screamed and was immediately embraced by the boy.
Looking at the others, aside from the children, almost everyone was a couple. Those who couldn’t skate were in their boyfriends’ or girlfriends’ arms, while those who could skate were all holding hands.
There was a reason why idol dramas and dating reality shows liked to film ice rinks.
“Can you ice skate?” he asked Pei Xu, looking up at him.
Pei Xu said, “Not really.”
Oh.
As expected, he’s scheming.
Yan Zhi picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Pei Xu suddenly asked, “If you had plenty of time, like a whole day, where would you like to take him?”
Yan Zhi glanced at Pei Xu, whose gaze did not waver, and answered honestly, “I might drive him around, wherever we end up.”
Pei Xu felt a chill run down his spine.
This is very different.
That’s certainly a very unique approach to dating.
Pei Xu nodded and smiled: “It’s a dating idea that no one else would have thought of. It’s impressive.”
Yan Zhi smiled and said, “You flatter me. I never thought of taking him to set off fireworks. You’re very clever.”
The two cameramen next to him held their breath, pursed their lips, and secretly glanced at each other.
They never expected that the two of them sitting together could create such a wonderful scene!
Yan Zhi stood up: “I’ll go look around elsewhere. Thank you for the tea.”
“Good.”
Pei Xu watched Yan Zhi walk away.
Yan Zhi was not as tall as him and Huo Cheng, and was also thinner. He was wearing a long down jacket, and from behind, he looked like a college student.
Very young.
He wanted to drive around with Zhai Xingchen, taking him wherever the road took them.
How romantic!
He would definitely not be just driving aimlessly; he’ll carefully choose a route that may hold countless surprises.
Yan Zhi, this rival in love, was truly formidable. He’s never had a chance; if he did, he would definitely seize it relentlessly and never let it slip away.
Pei Xu took another sip of tea; the rose petals in the glass teapot had fully steeped.
Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen had already entered the haunted house.
“How long will it take to complete this entire route?” Huo Cheng asked the staff.
“It’s hard to say. Some people come out quickly, while others may take several times longer. On average, it takes about forty minutes.”
That was the perfect timing.
“Are you here to do filming?” The staff member said, “I’m sorry, taking pictures is prohibited here.
Huo Cheng was even happier to hear that.
The opportunity to be alone had arrived.
He then said to the cameraman, “Then you guys wait outside.”
Because of the nearby music festival, the haunted house was almost deserted, and there was no need to queue. After signing the “life and death waiver,” the two of them were led by staff into a dark little house with plastic sheeting hanging everywhere.
As soon as they went in, the door behind them closed.
The room was filled with red light, and children were singing nursery rhymes, their voices a mix of crying and laughing, which was quite eerie.
Huo Cheng’s heart tightened, and he thought to himself, “This is bad.”
He came from the countryside and had heard many ghost stories from adults to scare him when he was a child. Before junior high school, he was terrified of ghosts and dared not walk at night. After entering junior high school, he suddenly stopped being afraid, but the concept of ghosts seemed to be ingrained in his bones. He pursed his lips and said to Zhai Xingchen, “Follow me and don’t be afraid.”
Zhai Xingchen’s eyes shone with excitement: “Let’s go.”
Huo Cheng’s fantasy about this trip was like this.
Screams would echo throughout the haunted house. Zhai Xingchen trembled, forgetting everything, and rushing into his arms. While he smiled and held him tightly, never letting go the rest of the way.
Finally, the two ran out of the haunted house hand in hand. He hugged Zhai Xingchen and comforted him softly, displaying his masculine prowess.
But at this moment…
Huo Cheng pursed his lips tightly, constantly reminding himself: “I can’t lose face, I can’t lose face, I absolutely mustn’t make a sound!”
Huo Cheng felt that he had maintained his dignity as a man.
He didn’t make a sound.
Even when a long-haired female ghost suddenly touched his neck in the dark, he did not flinch.
He swallowed hard, not forgetting to comfort Zhai Xingchen: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s all fake.”
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