As the three of them stood there, staring at each other in silence, a luxury car slowly approached them from a distance.
The trio noticed that the vehicle was heading towards them, prompting them to turn and look.
The car came to a stop, and a woman in a tailored suit stepped out. She walked over to them with a respectful bow and said, "I apologize for disturbing you three. This car has been sent by the young lady to escort you to the amusement park."
Upon hearing this, the three of them looked towards the car, hoping to catch a glimpse of the so-called young lady. Unfortunately, there was no sign of anyone inside, leaving them puzzled.
"What about President Ji?"
Su Cheng noticed the empty car and couldn't help but ask.
"The young lady had matters to attend to today and couldn't come herself, but she arranged this transportation service especially for you. She hopes you all have a wonderful time today."
As she spoke, the woman in white gloves executed a perfect bow, her movements fluid and precise, embodying the demeanor and professionalism of a household steward from a wealthy family.
"You can call me Mei. If you are willing, please allow me to be your personal driver for the day."
Upon hearing this, the two women among the trio exchanged peculiar glances.
Their eyes then simultaneously fell on Su Cheng.
This caught Su Cheng off guard, but he quickly composed himself and suggested, albeit somewhat awkwardly, "We do need a ride right now, so why not let her take us to the amusement park?"
He was a bit apprehensive as he spoke, aware that his suggestion might be somewhat inappropriate.
This young lady really is something, he thought. If she can't come, she shouldn't make things complicated, leaving everyone feeling a bit uneasy.
"Sure."
Li Guanqi remained calm, nodding with an expressionless face.
Today, her attire was quite different from usual—a light-colored gown reaching her ankles, making her look like an elegant and noble young lady, causing Su Cheng to lose himself for a moment.
Could it be that her change in style today was the reason her presence felt more pronounced?
"Since you're handling the itinerary today, it's your call."
Gu Ruoxue glanced at Su Cheng with indifference.
Her outfit was chosen for the amusement park activities, a casual ensemble.
Yet her overly beautiful face still carried a hint of aloofness and pride, like an ice-cold beauty.
Her words gave Su Cheng a way out.
"Please get in the car; I'll provide services for you throughout the journey."
Mei gestured invitingly.
Following her lead, Su Cheng sat in the front passenger seat, while the two women took their places in the back.
Between the two rear seats was a tea set, with the aroma of tea wafting through the air, soothing and delightful.
"Please enjoy."
The stewardess said as she gripped the steering wheel and slowly started the car. As the speed increased, the fragrance inside the car grew more intense, making them feel refreshed and eager for more.
Since Su Cheng was in the front seat and couldn't reach the tea, he took out his phone to browse today's amusement park activities, looking for attractions suitable for all three of them.
Considering that Li Guanqi was wearing a skirt, there were some activities they couldn't participate in.
Throughout the ride, none of the three in the car spoke until they arrived at the amusement park. Only then did Su Cheng put away his phone and take out the tickets.
But to his surprise, the driver showed no signs of stopping the car.
He turned to look at the two women and found that Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi seemed completely unsurprised.
So he looked at Mei in confusion.
Mei, however, was calmly looking ahead, seemingly unaware of Su Cheng's puzzled gaze. Nonetheless, she took the initiative to speak, "We're about to enter the park."
"Um, don’t we need to go through security checks and ticket verification?"
Su Cheng couldn't help but ask.
"No need."
The female driver shook her head slightly, "Our license plate is the pass."
While he was still pondering this statement, the vehicle drove through a special lane directly into the amusement park, with someone even guiding them.
The thing was, the park wasn't even open at this time!
Did they just come in like that?
He looked at the castles and various dreamlike buildings and crowds outside the window, suppressing his confusion, and thought calmly.
Soon, Su Cheng understood. The Ji family must be sponsors or partners of the amusement park!
Indeed, having money and power really allows you to do whatever you want!
Soon, the vehicle stopped at an internal parking lot.
The four of them got out of the car, and the female driver handed over a booklet imprinted with "Premier…" to him. Su Cheng instinctively took it, but after a glance, he was taken aback and asked, "Uh… a pass?"
What is this thing?
He already had a pass himself!
"I will come to pick you up at nine o'clock sharp. The young lady hopes you will keep your promise." The female driver gave Su Cheng a deep bow and then drove away.
Su Cheng handed the booklet to Li Guanqi beside him, "What is this?"
"This is a privilege."
Gu Ruoxue glanced around, her gaze sweeping over every corner, finally locking onto a three-story building not far away, and couldn't help but sigh.
Because that was the VIP area of the amusement park.
"This is the highest-level pass for the park."
Li Guanqi explained softly, then took the booklet, carefully flipping through it before explaining further, "You don’t have to queue, and you can even enter private lounges that aren't open to the public. Of course, with this, everything in the park is free."
Hearing this explanation, Su Cheng was shocked, and then his heart sank, because he had spent thousands of dollars on tickets and a premium card before.
Was that money wasted with this thing?
This made his face turn grim, and he fell into a strange dilemma.
Between a watermelon and its seeds, one must be discarded.
Normally, people would discard the seeds, as the watermelon itself contains them.
But the problem was, Su Cheng was thrifty!
He wanted everything!
That's why he was so conflicted!
He even considered becoming a scalper to make up for it!
"Actually, there's no need to be so conflicted."
Li Guanqi handed the booklet back to him. "We can use this for breakfast and a midday break. As for the premium card you purchased, it only covers seven attractions, and some of them aren't included. So, we can use this instead. By mixing and matching, you won't feel like it's wasted."
"It seems Li Guanqi has done her homework in advance."
Gu Ruoxue walked over, her gaze casually yet deliberately sweeping over the long skirt Li Guanqi was wearing. A subtle, intriguing glimmer appeared in her eyes.
Her comment was quite thought-provoking. Since Li Guanqi had prepared in advance, she would naturally know that wearing a skirt might be inconvenient for some activities. So why did she still choose to wear one?
Was there a purpose for the skirt beyond taking photos?
It was clear that the skirt was likely a key part of what set today apart from any other day.
It might even be Su Cheng’s doing.
Li Guanqi shifted uncomfortably at the remark, avoiding Gu Ruoxue's gaze and choosing not to respond.
If she didn’t wear a skirt to cover the stockings gifted by Su Cheng, they would draw too much attention. To put it mildly, she would become the center of everyone’s focus. So, her only option was to wear a long skirt, trying her best to avoid such a situation.
Of course, Su Cheng quickly picked up on the subtle undertone in Gu Ruoxue's words and gaze. Following her line of sight, he looked down at Li Guanqi’s skirt. At first glance, he thought nothing of it, but then he couldn’t look away.
What was this?
They were just ordinary black stockings, weren’t they?
But why did they look so exquisite, so elegant?
It was as if they were a black hole, drawing in his gaze, making it impossible to look away.
A strange sense of excitement rose in Su Cheng’s heart.
Li Guanqi noticed his intense gaze, and an inexplicable sense of embarrassment washed over her, as though her secret had been uncovered. She quickly averted her eyes and pretended to act nonchalant, continuing to walk forward.
"Let’s go!"
Gu Ruoxue, observing the reactions of the two, had mostly pieced together the hidden truth. With a knowing look, she didn’t say much and simply walked ahead.
Su Cheng, watching the backs of the two women, suddenly realized something. Li Guanqi was wearing the stockings he had given her today!
The only regret, however, was that he could only see up to her ankles. He couldn’t help but wonder what it would look like paired with a school uniform.
But even so, the mere thought was enough to make his blood boil. He quickly reined in his thoughts and followed after them.
Gu Ruoxue glanced at Li Guanqi’s somewhat awkward walking posture and let out a soft sigh.
Hearing the sigh, a shadow seemed to pass over Li Guanqi’s face. She held her beret in both hands, resting it beneath her chin. Though her expression appeared indifferent, she was clearly frustrated.
Since the amusement park had yet to officially open, the place was relatively empty apart from staff dressed as characters from fairy tales and movies.
It was worth noting that these staff members enthusiastically greeted them in character, adding to the atmosphere.
The three of them soon arrived at the exclusive restaurant for their meal.
The entire interior of the restaurant was incredibly dreamy, filled with elements from the amusement park. At the center stood a circular fountain surrounded by numerous beautiful crystal lamps, illuminating the restaurant like a fairytale world.
After a simple complimentary breakfast, the three of them headed to the souvenir shop of the VIP club, which was not open to the public.
Inside were numerous items not for sale, but those with high-level passes could choose any one item they wanted.
There were notebooks, pens, and stuffed toys with panda designs, among other things.
As soon as they entered the shop, even Gu Ruoxue, known for her meticulous and planned approach, seemed a bit overwhelmed. She held notebooks, pens, and several panda stuffed toys in her arms, looking conflicted and unsure about what to choose.
"Senior Gu seems to be having a tough time," Li Guanqi observed her and suggested to Su Cheng, "Why don't you help her decide?"
"Actually, I'm not interested in this," Su Cheng said, frowning at the various items with panda designs. "I wanted to give her my spot, but I don't think she'd agree. Besides, she's enjoying the dilemma right now, so we should give her some time alone."
"Oh, I see."
Li Guanqi nodded, then glanced at the counter filled with various pandas, finally focusing on a pink panda stuffed toy.
Su Cheng noticed his gaze and teased, "That pink panda is quite abstract. I doubt anyone would like it."
After all, where in the world would you find a pink panda?
"Not really," Li Guanqi shook his head, gesturing for him to look towards Gu Ruoxue.
Su Cheng looked up, surprised to find Gu Ruoxue clutching a pink panda, glaring at him with an icy stare, a cold aura emanating from her.
Clearly, the souvenir she wanted was this pink stuffed toy.
"This pink panda is named Xiang Xiang. In reality, its fur has a faint pink hue. It's one of the most popular characters among girls at this amusement park," Li Guanqi explained. "Xiang Xiang is very cute, and it's worth mentioning that all pandas are born with a pinkish tint."
Suddenly, Gu Ruoxue seemed appeased, closing her eyes in satisfaction at Li Guanqi's words, nodding like a pecking chick.
Seeing this, Su Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment, she abruptly opened her eyes and glared at him.
Su Cheng was so startled he almost jumped.
Gu Ruoxue ignored him and turned to Li Guanqi, asking, "Do you like Xiang Xiang too?"
"Yes, it's very cute, but my sister likes it even more, so I want to take it home as a gift for her," Li Guanqi said, picking up the pink panda and holding it in his arms, nodding.
Then, Gu Ruoxue shifted her gaze to Su Cheng, her cold stare making him shiver.
Li Guanqi also turned his gaze towards him.
"I like Xiang Xiang the most too," Su Cheng quickly said sincerely.
"Really?" Gu Ruoxue asked.
"Are you sure?" Gu Ruoxue asked in a doubtful tone.
"Uh... I'm sure."
Su Cheng nodded, then picked up a pink panda plush toy from nearby and rubbed it against his cheek with a devout expression, as if he would forever love Xiang Xiang.
Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue exchanged glances, and then the three of them left the souvenir shop, each holding their own pink plush.
But as soon as they stepped out of the shop, their steps halted.
The amusement park had somehow become overcrowded, with a sea of people filling the entire park. Various staff members had transformed into characters from movies, animations, and anime, making the whole park feel like a magical animated film.
"Ah! It's Xiang Xiang! I want a photo to remember this!"
"Quick, quick, I need to post this on Weibo to show off!"
"Wow, Xiang Xiang is so cute!"
"This is too adorable!"
"Hurry, take a picture!"
"…"
Hearing the exclamations around them, Su Cheng couldn't help but glance over and discovered a staff member wearing a 'Xiang Xiang' headpiece standing by a pavilion not far away.
Surrounding him were youthful girls, all eager to take photos with him.
It was clear that this abstract panda was truly popular!
Gu Ruoxue was also staring at the pink panda, looking somewhat hesitant, as if she wanted to take a photo.
"Why don't we go over and take a picture too?" Su Cheng suggested.
"No, the wait time is too long," Gu Ruoxue shook her head. Although they had priority access due to their project, taking a photo still required waiting in line.
Waiting might take up to an hour.
Gu Ruoxue's refusal hit Su Cheng hard, as he had planned to make everyone happy and joyful before coming here, but now he had to agree with her decision because the queue was just too slow.
Even so, he was still a bit unwilling, feeling an urge to ask the panda mascot to do a backflip to cheer up Gu Ruoxue.
But he knew that such behavior would only lead to dissatisfaction from Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi, and things might end on a sour note.
So he had to push that thought aside.
At that moment, watching the excited girls taking photos with the pink panda, he suddenly remembered receiving similar attention at school.
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and his eyes widened as he came up with a bold plan.
He abruptly spoke to the two girls, "Wait for me a few minutes, I'm going to the restroom."
Without waiting for their reactions, he dashed into the nearby restroom.
"It seems he's found a way to avoid waiting," Li Guanqi remarked, watching Su Cheng's departing figure, then softly spoke to Gu Ruoxue beside him.
Gu Ruoxue seemed to understand his plan, and said helplessly, "There's no need for him to go through all this trouble."
"You underestimate his determination to make us happy," Li Guanqi shrugged, his eyes gentle, "Right now, his greatest joy might be making you and me happy."
"But this method of achieving one's goals—I don't think it's advisable. It's too crude."
Gu Ruoxue pursed her lips, a hint of worry flickering in her eyes.
It seemed she had already anticipated the possibility of the worst-case scenario unfolding in the future. Deep in her heart, she had an intense aversion to this kind of approach.
Li Guanqi remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "If that's the case, then we don't have to do what he wants. For example..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a commotion suddenly erupted near the pink panda photo booth ahead.
The two of them looked up and saw a young man surrounded by a crowd of adoring girls, as if he were the center of their universe.
"Who is that?"
"Oh my god, Su Cheng?!"
"Can I take a photo with you? (Squeals)~"
"I want an autograph!"
"Please, let us take a photo together!"
"Su Cheng!"
"…"
The group of excited young female fans immediately shifted their focus, raising their phones as they rushed toward Su Cheng. Some of the bolder girls even darted directly up to him.
His method was simple yet effective.
It was—
To introduce a character even more popular than the pink panda!
Clearly, he had what it took. Even if his popularity wasn't higher than the panda's, he could still draw away some of the visitors.
This way, they wouldn't have to wait too long for their turn to take a photo!
Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue weren't surprised, as this was typical of Su Cheng's style.
With Su Cheng's appearance, the surrounding crowd was instantly electrified. Men, women, young, and old alike were captivated.
Even the security personnel dressed in white uniforms instinctively stepped forward to maintain order, showcasing just how influential Su Cheng was among young female fans.
If he were a singer, concert tickets might very well sell for two million yuan or more.
Su Cheng, now dressed in a new outfit, stood at the center of the crowd. Looking at the passionate girls around him, a trace of awkwardness flashed across his face, though he quickly masked it.
"Sure thing, one at a time. Please be careful, don't trip," Su Cheng said politely, smiling at the girls. As he spoke, he extended his hands in a welcoming gesture, causing the girls to erupt in excited screams.
Thus, the girls began lining up one by one to take photos with Su Cheng.
Seeing this, Su Cheng instinctively used his gaze to signal the two women to hurry over to the neglected abstract bear for a photo. However, Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi shook their heads.
Su Cheng was puzzled, but at the moment, he could only focus on handling the photo requests. Soon, the girls finished taking their photos with him, but his heart sank.
He couldn’t find the two women anywhere! They weren’t near the panda booth either, and he had no clue where they had gone.
"Sorry, I have something to attend to, so I need to leave now," Su Cheng apologized to the girl who had just taken a photo with him and prepared to leave. But as soon as he took a step, he felt someone grab him from both sides.
Frowning, he turned his head to look. What he saw left him stunned.
To his surprise, he found Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi standing on either side of him, each holding onto his sleeves.
It turned out that they didn’t choose to take a photo with the panda. Instead, at some point, the two women had already put on face masks and blended into the group of girls lining up for photos.
“Look at the camera.”
Just then, a girl they didn’t recognize, holding Gu Ruoxue’s camera, directed them, “Quick, look at the camera.”
It was obvious that Gu Ruoxue had asked someone to help take the picture.
In an instant, the three of them turned toward the camera together.
“Click~”
And so, on this day, the group photo of the three was born in the amusement park.