The amusement park was much more crowded than usual because it was the weekend. Fortunately, the weather was pleasant, neither too cold nor too hot, with bright sunshine. The lively atmosphere was infectious, making even just walking around feel incredibly relaxing and uplifting.
Mimi and Tutu, each holding a balloon and a toy machine gun, ran and jumped ahead. Quan Jiu constantly reminded them not to run too far, while Chen Ma and another bodyguard closely followed the young master and young lady, looking very anxious lest they stumble or get hurt.
Old Li pushed Mr. Chu’s wheelchair, also with a smile.
“We really came to the right place today. I haven’t seen such a lively scene in a long time,” Mr. Chu said with a chuckle, looking at the distinctive buildings and entertainment facilities around them. “Jiu’er, thanks to you, they wouldn’t bring me to places like this.”
Quan Jiu couldn’t help but laugh, “Mom and Dad just don’t want you to get hurt. Places like amusement parks, with so many people coming and going, it’s easy to get bumped.”
“There are a bit many people, but more people make it livelier. Jiu’er, you two take the children to play. I’ll have Old Li push me around, you don’t all have to follow me.”
Quan Jiu shook her head, “Two hours in line for two minutes of play, I can’t be bothered to queue.”
Mr. Chu knew Quan Jiu wanted to accompany him, so he didn’t insist further.
After running for a while, Mimi and Tutu ran back, then each pulled on their dad and mom, clamoring to buy toy hats from the roadside stalls.
Quan Jiu led Mimi to a small stall and picked out a cat-ear headband for her. Tutu also ran over, pointing at a wooden carving, “I want this, this is beautiful.”
Chu Rong picked up a wooden carving of Sun Wukong. Seeing Quan Jiu putting the headband on Mimi, he looked for a moment, then chose a rabbit-ear headband from among them and put it on Quan Jiu’s head.
Quan Jiu turned around abruptly, touching the rabbit ears on her head, a mix of laughter and helplessness on her face, “I’m this old, and I’m still wearing this thing.”
Unexpectedly, Chu Rong also chose one for himself and put it on. Then, he carefully selected and bought one for everyone in their group.
Mr. Chu repeatedly waved his hands, wanting to turn his wheelchair around, “I’m not wearing it. I’m too old, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?”
Old Li quickly pushed the wheelchair away, “I’ll pass too. My face isn’t suited for such cute things.”
Quan Jiu couldn’t help but chuckle. She grabbed a headband from Chu Rong’s hand and ran to put it on Mr. Chu.
Seeing this, Chu Rong handed a headband to a bodyguard, signaling him to put it on Old Li.
Thus, Old Li pushed the wheelchair, dodging left and right, while Quan Jiu and the bodyguard chased here and there. The two children, overjoyed, shouted and jumped, wanting to join the fray. Chen Ma dared not let them get involved, fearing they might be run over by the wheelchair. She coaxed, pulled, protected, and blocked them from the sides, creating a very lively scene.
Chu Rong looked at Quan Jiu in the crowd, his eyes involuntarily curving upwards, his gaze unconsciously following her smiling face.
That smile was as clear and carefree as in her student days. For a fleeting moment, it seemed to transport him back to that time. Back then, she would always appear before him unexpectedly, making him even suspect if he was being followed.
And every time she appeared, she would hand him something, sometimes an ice cream, sometimes a book, sometimes a handmade toy. No matter how coldly he treated her, she would just smile cheerfully, unfazed.
Come to think of it, over the years, she was the only one who had approached him so wholeheartedly.
He only had her.
…
After spending the whole day at the amusement park, accumulating thousands of photos and a pile of various trinkets, the large group finally headed home.
Mr. Chu’s luggage had been sent to Lijing Yuncheng in the morning, so they went directly there.
Chen Ma and Old Li, acting as housekeeper and nanny respectively, naturally had to follow. However, given that Quan Jiu’s room couldn’t accommodate so many people, they were arranged to sleep in the apartment opposite.
For the next period, Quan Jiu’s life revolved around commuting between the company and home. The only difference was that returning home now meant being greeted by her extended family, and the house finally felt lively.
After a week of such busy yet comfortable days, Saturday finally arrived – the day of Grandma’s embroidery exhibition.
That day, Quan Jiu arrived at Tonghua Art Museum at four in the afternoon, only to find the venue still packed. The vast art museum was filled with visitors, their flow like sticky glutinous rice paste. Quan Jiu had no choice but to go wherever the crowd took her.
However, during a brief lull, she inquired with Cheng Xuhai and learned that the number of pre-booked visitors had reached the venue’s capacity of one hundred thousand.
Quan Jiu was very pleased with this. These people had come by reputation, which made her feel that Grandma hadn’t left but was always by her side.
By the time they had viewed all the works in the museum with the crowd, it was already six in the afternoon. The art museum staff began to guide people out. Quan Jiu seized the opportunity to ask Cheng Xuhai for a staff pass, intending to admire the exhibits in detail after everyone had left.
By six-thirty, the crowd had finally dispersed, and the doors were locked. The staff, led by Cheng Xuhai, began to check the exhibits for any damage, preparing for the next day’s exhibition.
The large exhibition hall finally quieted down.
Quan Jiu leisurely wandered through the various exhibition areas. She hadn’t understood or fully appreciated her grandmother’s works when she was younger. Now, as an adult, she felt a different visual impact.
Just as she was engrossed in her viewing, a group of people in black suits suddenly appeared, shattering the tranquility.
The men in black clearly hadn’t expected there to be anyone else here. One of them said coldly, “This area is now under our management. Please leave.”
Quan Jiu was bewildered, instinctively sensing that this group of men in black meant trouble.
“You are not staff of Tonghua Art Museum. Who are you?” she questioned with a stern face.
The leading man in black frowned and said to the two beside him, “Throw her out.”
The two men in black looked tall and imposing, even similar in height and build.
With stern faces, they advanced towards Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu’s gaze turned cold. She quickly pressed the alarm beneath the anti-theft glass cover. Instantly, a piercing siren blared through the vast hall, its sound amplified by the emptiness.
At this moment, a seductive voice echoed from behind the men in black.
“Yi Dao, is your efficiency so low now? You actually let a lowly commoner sound the alarm. Aren’t you just creating more trouble for me?”
The men in black lowered their heads and turned around. The leader, Yi Dao, spoke with a hint of fear in his voice, “My apologies, Young Miss. I’ll handle it immediately.”
As he finished speaking, his hand, clad in black gloves, drew a dagger from his waist and flung it forcefully at the alarm. With a loud “ding,” the dagger pierced the alarm, severing its internal wiring, and the siren abruptly ceased.
Quan Jiu’s gaze fell upon the woman standing amidst the men in black.
The woman had a seductive figure and was undoubtedly beautiful, but her face exuded an evil aura, clearly indicating she was no benevolent soul.
“You are from the ‘New District’,” Quan Jiu stated with a cold face, her gaze firm.
The woman let out a series of giggles, embodying the word “seductive” to perfection.
“I didn’t expect you, a mere lowly commoner, to know about the New District. It seems I underestimated you.”
Quan Jiu’s lips curled into a cold smile, “I’m glad you didn’t keep me waiting.”