The amusement park in Jiangcheng was located in the East District, not far from where Yang Yi lived, and a taxi got them there quickly.
Just as they arrived at the entrance, while Yang Yi was still buying tickets, the little one had already spotted the towering Ferris wheel and excitedly shouted, "Daddy, I want to ride the Ferris wheel! Daddy, take me on the Ferris wheel!"
Perhaps infected by the little one's excitement, Yang Yi's somewhat gloomy mood gradually brightened.
With a hearty laugh, he scooped up the little one and gently lifted her, settling Xixi onto his shoulders.
This was a first!
Xixi felt like she was riding the clouds, letting out an uncharacteristic squeal, then giggled even more joyfully!
The park entrance was packed with kids—this amusement park was probably the most child-friendly spot in Jiangcheng after the zoo.
Yang Yi, tall and sturdy, with the sweet little princess Xixi perched on his shoulders, stood out in the crowd, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Of course, the other kids kept casting envious glances at Xixi, sitting high up, their longing plain to see.
Before long, not far behind Yang Yi, a little boy tugged at his father, clamoring to ride on his shoulders too!
But his dad refused, and the little boy started wailing.
The commotion was so loud that even Yang Yi, the instigator, couldn't help turning to look. Just one glance, and even the aloof Yang Yi had to suppress a smirk, barely holding back a laugh.
No wonder his dad didn't want to!
That little boy's build matched his mother's—only six or seven years old, but his arms and legs were twice as thick as an average kid's, not to mention his chubby belly!
And his dad, standing awkwardly at a loss, was as skinny as a pole. If that chubby kid actually climbed up, his dad would probably collapse first!
Well, since it was his fault, Yang Yi didn't have the heart to keep watching the spectacle. When their turn came, he quickly took Xixi through the ticket gate.
As they left, Xixi looked back curiously and asked, puzzled, "Daddy, why doesn't that big brother's daddy want to?"
Yang Yi could already feel the resentful glare boring into his back...
The first ride was, of course, the Ferris wheel Xixi had been longing for.
But when they reached it, Yang Yi was a bit disappointed. This Ferris wheel wasn't very grand—maybe only about fifty meters high.
Not fun at all!
Yang Yi had been excited to experience the amusement park with Xixi, to soak in the childlike wonder, but a Ferris wheel this low couldn't spark any interest for him, could it?
Still, he reminded himself that today was all about Xixi. After waiting in line, they stepped into a small cabin.
With a clang, the door shut.
The Ferris wheel kept moving, and inside the cabin, the creaking and groaning of the mechanism outside was especially clear.
At first, Xixi pressed her face to the window, full of excitement, but as the cabin slowly rose, she started to panic.
A fear of being suspended high in the air crept in!
The cramped, enclosed space only made it worse.
"Daddy, I'm scared," Xixi whimpered, shrinking back and turning her head tremblingly to look at her father.
Yang Yi had been peering out with interest too. Hearing her, he quickly bent down, scooped Xixi into his arms, and sat down.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared. Daddy's here," Yang Yi said softly, patting her little head. Her silky hair felt nice under his hand.
In her father's arms, Xixi's fear of heights faded a bit. Her natural curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help peeking out again.
"Everything's gotten so small!" she murmured.
"Daddy, look, look over there—that little brother from before!"
"Daddy, Daddy, look, it's a car! It looks like a little bug~"
The little one eagerly shared everything she saw with her father, and Yang Yi smiled gently, nodding patiently in response.
After getting off the Ferris wheel, Xixi wasn't satisfied and begged her father to ride it again.
This time, she didn't need to be held—she seemed to have gotten used to it.
What made Xixi especially happy was that when the Ferris wheel reached its peak, a silver-white airplane appeared on the horizon, slowly gliding across the sky.
"Airplane, Daddy, it's an airplane!" Xixi jumped up excitedly.
Luckily, her tiny weight couldn't budge the massive Ferris wheel. If Yang Yi had been jumping, there might have been an accident!
Yang Yi felt a surge of childlike playfulness. He squeezed his head next to his daughter's, laughing heartily as they jostled for a view of the plane through the window.
...
This amusement park in Jiangcheng was actually quite basic, at least in Yang Yi's eyes.
Though it had big rides like the Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and pirate ship, they were all on a small scale. Beyond those, smaller attractions like bumper cars, carousels, and the maze house left much to be desired.
But Xixi had a blast. She wasn't old enough for the roller coaster, but with her father's guidance, she enjoyed the thrilling bumper cars and carousel, her face beaming with joy.
The downside was severe. By evening, when the park was about to close, Xixi was throwing a tantrum, crying and refusing to leave.
"Can't we stay?" the little one pleaded, clinging to her father's leg with tear-filled eyes.
"It's not that Daddy doesn't want you to play, but the park's closing now. Look, the Ferris wheel has stopped," Yang Yi explained, his head aching.
"No, no, Xixi doesn't want to," she insisted, shaking her head stubbornly.
This scene wasn't unique to Yang Yi and Xixi—at the park entrance, a line of kids unwilling to leave had formed...
And Xixi wasn't the only one crying. Some were crying even harder!
Take the chubby boy they'd seen before entering—his wails were so heart-wrenching that a few younger kids stared blankly, tears still on their faces, watching him.
The crying rose and fell in waves, and Xixi joined in, her sadness and reluctance amplified by the surrounding atmosphere.
Yang Yi clutched Xixi's backpack, growing irritated.
"Damn it! Why are kids so much trouble?" he thought, feeling like his head was about to explode. Taking care of a child was more exhausting than cracking a high-security system to assassinate a dignitary!
It was completely unreasonable!
The park was closing—why cry at him? Would crying make them reopen?
In the past, with his aversion to hassle, Yang Yi would have just walked away, dusting off his hands without a second thought.
But he held back his temper now, because the little one's tiny hand was gripping his pant leg, her helpless, pitiful look melting all his frustration.
"Fine, I guess I'm stuck with this clingy little thing for life," Yang Yi thought with a wry smile, crouching down.