The Swindler

“Not bad, huh?”

Alice seemed quite happy as she walked out of the theater. She even reached out and tugged on Ye Shuang’s sleeve, her little face filled with smiles as she flashed her pearly white teeth.

“Right? Right?”

“Yeah, it was good.” Ye Shuang smiled faintly as well.

After that, Ye Shuang accompanied Alice on a few more rides. Then, after they spent some time looking at the animals, dusk was drawing near.

“Mm… yawn—”

Alice sat on a bench and yawned. Although she had had an amazing time, her stamina had given out first.

Like a little animal, she leaned against Ye Shuang’s thigh. “I’m going to take a nap.”

“If you’re tired, why don’t we just go home?” Ye Shuang began, but then he realized Alice was no longer responding.

Listening closely, he could hear her steady breathing.

Huh?

Had she fallen asleep?

Seeing that Alice had practically fallen asleep in an instant, Ye Shuang found it rather unbelievable. She had still been squealing with excitement while enjoying the rides just moments ago, yet the moment she sat down, she had dozed off almost immediately.

This was the park’s rest area. Since it wasn’t a holiday, the amusement park wasn’t particularly crowded to begin with, and the rest area was even quieter. Ye Shuang and Alice were sitting beneath the shade of a tree. The evening sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering shifting patches of light across the ground like fish swimming through water.

It really was a perfect place to rest, Ye Shuang thought as he looked at the girl sleeping on his lap.

“Her stamina really is terrible. Or is my stamina just too good?”

After poking Alice’s little cheek and seeing that she still didn’t react, Ye Shuang took out his phone and snapped a picture.

“She’s pretty cute. No wonder she has so many fans.” Looking at the Alice in the photo, Ye Shuang couldn’t help thinking that she really was an adorable little thing.

The kind who was cute even when she was angry.

Just then, he noticed a message on his phone. It was from Bai Yuyou.

Bai Yuyou: Ye Shuang, are you still having fun?

Bai Yuyou knew that Ye Shuang had taken Alice out for the day, but she didn’t know whether they would be coming home for dinner. If they were, Bai Yuyou would prepare dinner in advance with Keke.

After seeing the girl’s message, Ye Shuang sent her the photo he had just taken of Alice.

Ye Shuang: She got tired and fell asleep just like that.

Bai Yuyou: Ye Shuang’s thighs must be very comfortable.

Huh? Was that really the important part?

Ye Shuang also felt that there was no need to continue playing, so he lifted Alice onto his back. She didn’t wake up during the entire process, merely making a sleepy sound.

“Mm?”

Alice was very light. She was petite to begin with, and Ye Shuang was exceptionally strong now. Carrying her on his back felt no different from carrying a simple shoulder bag.

“Such a sound sleeper.” Looking at Alice clinging to him like a koala, Ye Shuang couldn’t help shaking his head. Supporting her bottom with one hand, he stepped on the shadows of dusk and walked all the way home.

By the time Alice woke up, Ye Shuang had already driven them downstairs.

“Mm? Huh?!” Alice was completely dumbfounded. When she realized they were no longer at the amusement park, she asked, “Why are we back?”

“You looked like you were sleeping so soundly, so I carried you home.”

“There’s still a fireworks show later!” Alice immediately protested. “And you carried me on your back instead of carrying me in your arms!”

Ye Shuang froze for a moment. He hadn’t expected Alice to focus on that point.

“You should be more comfortable on my back,” Ye Shuang said.

“I’m not listening.”

Seeing Alice curled up into a ball in her seat, Ye Shuang couldn’t help feeling amused and helpless at the same time. He got out of the car and opened the passenger-side door.

“Come on, Alice. Let’s go upstairs and eat.”

“No… not unless you carry me up.”

“That’s not a problem.”

Ye Shuang picked Alice up and, with a smooth motion, shut the car door with his foot. Alice, cradled in his arms like a princess, looked delighted. Her little canine teeth showed as she grinned.

“That’s more like it. Submit yourself to the charms of Lady Alice!”

Ye Shuang: “…”

Ye Shuang had always regarded Alice as a child. But clearly, if he said that out loud, Alice would probably bite him.

When they returned home, the aroma of food was already wafting through the house.

“Ye Shuang, you’re back.” Bai Yuyou came over wearing an apron. After seeing Ye Shuang, the girl’s gaze fell on Alice.

“Did you have fun, Alice?”

“More or less. Though I missed the fireworks show.” Alice folded her arms. “I’m holding this against you. Pillow is taking me there again next time.”

“Pillow?” Ye Shuang blinked. Was that his new nickname?

“Yes!”

Forget it. Pillow was fine, as long as the girl was happy.

Actually, Ye Shuang hoped Alice could recover a little from the blow of Bobo’s disappearance. This haughty, tsundere attitude was the real Alice.

“Bobo…” Ye Shuang had no idea how long it would be before Bobo came back. In fact, he had an even more frightening guess.

He could only hope that Bobo was safe and sound.

The family was fairly complete at dinner that evening. Even Chen Qin had come home.

“Wow, that smells amazing.” Chen Qin looked delighted when she saw the sumptuous meal. After spending the whole day busy outside, nothing was more comforting than coming home to a hot meal.

“Was work busy today?” Ye Shuang asked as he served Chen Qin a bowl of rice.

“Mm, it was okay. It’s like this every day.” Chen Qin smiled brightly. She also knew that Ye Shuang had taken Alice to the amusement park that day. “Did you have fun, Little Alice?”

“More or less. It’s just that Ye Shuang has roller coaster syndrome, so he couldn’t ride the roller coaster with me.”

“Roller coaster syndrome?” Chen Qin poked a finger against her cheek. “Mm… Is that really a thing?”

“But Ye Shuang has ridden them with me several times,” Bai Yuyou added. “We’ve gone together a bunch of times, and he rode them every time.”

“That’s true. I’ve ridden them with Ye too.” Chen Qin nodded when she heard Bai Yuyou say that.

“Huh? Roller coasters? We rode them with Big Bro before, too.” The Two Fish poked their heads up from their bowls.

The next second, Ye Shuang suddenly found himself under the watchful gaze of a certain golden-haired girl.

Stare…

“Uh, actually…” Ye Shuang hadn’t expected Alice to bring that up so suddenly. Feeling the atmosphere shift, he was left awkwardly at a loss for words.

An Shiyi, meanwhile, seemed more than happy to stir up trouble. “Oh my, so there really is someone Ye Shuang has never ridden a roller coaster with. How pitiful~”

Alice puffed up angrily.

“Liar!”