Chapter 92: Tang Xiaoyu, Close Your Eyes

Tang Yu loosened her clenched fingers and lifted her head. Bian Yang had already put away their belongings and was walking toward her.

"Which one do you want to try?" He raised his chin slightly. "It's your birthday—you get to decide."

Tang Yu glanced around, then pointed to the place with the shortest line. "That one."

Bian Yang followed her gesture, his Adam's apple moving ever so slightly, but he appeared calm. "That one… Don’t you think it’s too dark inside?"

"Not at all," she shook her head. "The other lines are too long. Let's start with the attractions that have fewer people. Besides, haunted houses are fun."

She looked at Bian Yang, noticing something off in his expression, and tried to phrase her words carefully. "But, if you're afraid—"

"I'm not afraid! Who said I was?" He grabbed her wrist and strode toward the haunted house. "Whoever chickens out is a coward!"

Tang Yu watched his back, pursing her lips to hide a laugh.

When they first entered the haunted house, Bian Yang was indeed full of bravado. But halfway through, a fake arm suddenly dropped from above.

Startled, he pulled her into a run so fast that Tang Yu nearly took flight.

After several meters, as if remembering something, he lifted her into his arms and kept running for the exit.

The NPCs were stunned.

Tang Yu’s cheeks burned instantly. She tugged at his shirt, wanting to get down.

"You can't run. Stay put," he explained.

Tang Yu wanted to say they didn’t have to run, but seeing how frightened he was, she kept silent.

Once outside, Bian Yang set her down. His forehead was slick with sweat, and he leaned against the wall, pretending nothing had happened.

"This place isn't fun at all. It’s just a scam for girls like you," he said.

Tang Yu suppressed her laughter, took out a tissue from her pocket, and handed it to him, blinking her bright eyes. "If you’re scared, you don’t have to pretend. I won’t laugh at you."

Bian Yang’s body stiffened, then he snorted softly.

If anyone else had said that, he would have been annoyed. But if it was Tang Yu… it didn’t bother him.

After two hours of playing, they sat beneath a tree to rest.

Tang Yu asked him to wait and then ran to the store, returning with two bottles of water. She twisted the cap open for him.

Bian Yang took the water, looking at her with a complicated expression. "Tang Xiaoyu, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Tang Yu sipped her water, tilting her head in confusion.

Bian Yang tapped the bottle with his fingertip. "Opening things like this is a guy’s job."

How was he supposed to show off?

"I can open it myself."

"Just because you can doesn’t mean I shouldn’t. Let me do it next time," Bian Yang said.

Tang Yu paused for a moment, then shook her head. "If it's something I can do, I don't like bothering others."

"Am I 'others'?"

Their gazes met. Tang Yu froze, instinctively lowering her head, clearly avoiding his eyes.

Bian Yang tilted his head to look at her, letting out a soft laugh.

He could tell the girl was treating yesterday as if nothing happened, unwilling to acknowledge it.

"Finished your water?" he asked.

Tang Yu screwed the cap back on, thinking he wanted to keep playing, so she nodded.

The next second, the boy grasped her wrist, his other hand in his pocket, leading her out of the amusement park. "I want to take you somewhere."

"Where are we going?" Bian Yang lazily lifted his eyelids. "You’ll know when we get there."

Tang Yu looked back. "But we haven’t collected our things yet."

Bian Yang’s gaze swept over, his expression unchanged. "I noticed you don’t really care for those flowers. Let’s just leave them."

"No!" Tang Yu struggled against his grip. "I like them. I want to take them home."

"You like them?" The boy’s eyes curved upward, a soft laugh escaping him as he looked down at her. "Do you like the flowers themselves, or do you like that I gave them to you?"

Tang Yu met his gaze, her palm damp with sweat.

Those simple words—I like the flowers you gave me—seemed stuck in her throat, impossible to utter.

Bian Yang didn’t force her to answer, instead turning back to retrieve their things. Afterward, they hailed a cab to their destination.

It was Echo Valley, a famous spot in the city.

Bian Yang led her into the cable car, his hand casually resting on the railing as he gazed down at the scenery.

"Lots of people online say this place is mystical—that any wish shouted into the valley will come true," he said, looking at Tang Yu.

She was peering out the window, both hands pressed against the glass, unafraid of heights, her eyes shining.

Tang Yu said, "I never believed that, but if there really is a place in this world where you can store your obsessions and wishes, where all your worries are swallowed up, it sounds pretty nice."

The cable car soon arrived. Bian Yang gathered their things, stuffing the roses into her arms. "Hold these yourself."

Tang Yu murmured a quiet assent.

She hadn’t eaten any of the snacks in their bag, which seemed heavy as he carried it. She stepped forward to take the plastic bag from him. "Let me carry some."

"No need." Bian Yang extended a finger, pressing her shoulder and gently pushing her aside.

He walked quickly, but whenever she lagged behind, he deliberately slowed his pace.

Tang Yu was surprised that such a famous place was deserted during the holiday.

They’d walked a long way, including the cable car ride, but hadn’t seen a single person.

"This is the place," Bian Yang said, turning to reach for her hand as they climbed the final step.

Tang Yu’s hand settled into his palm. She looked past his tall figure and saw the breathtaking landscape.

Mountains encircled them, forming a perfect terrain. This spot felt like the heart of the valley.

"Whatever you want, shout it out—you can make it happen," he said, holding her hand as they stood at the railing. "No one else is here; you can declare any wish you want."

Tang Yu gazed into the distance.

Bian Yang released her hand, as if demonstrating, and shouted into the valley, "Tang Xiaoyu will definitely get into Qingbei!"

Tang Yu paused, watching his profile.

The echo circled the valley, repeating: Tang Xiaoyu will definitely get into Qingbei!

Gradually, the valley swallowed his words, as if it truly received his heartfelt wish.

Bian Yang rested his wrist on the railing, his gaze distant and unfocused.

"In psychology, there's a term called the Pygmalion effect. It means when you strongly desire something, it’s more likely to happen," he said, turning slightly toward her, his eyes gentle. "Tang Xiaoyu, close your eyes."

"Hm?" She looked at him.

Her vision was covered by his palm, leaving only a dark red haze.

She heard his voice, slow and earnest. "Whether from a psychological or theological perspective, the facts show this method works. Just like I did—shout out what you want. It's only me here; you don’t need to worry about anyone else hearing."

Tang Yu took a deep breath. His voice was an invisible force, giving her enough courage to shout into Echo Valley, "I want to get into Qingbei!"

Her voice echoed, over and over.

Like pebbles cast into a tranquil lake, spreading ripples.

After the first cry, she found herself shouting effortlessly.

"I want my grandparents to live long lives!"

"I want to become braver and braver!"

Bian Yang lowered his hand. Tang Yu opened her eyes slowly, listening to the valley’s lingering echoes, breathing gently.

She lifted a pure, radiant smile.

All her pent-up emotions were released, leaving her with an indescribable clarity.

"Bian Yang, what about you? What do you wish for?" she asked.

He had just shouted her wish.

Bian Yang slipped his hand into his pocket, lazily gazing at her. "Can I shout?"

"Of course! Didn’t you say, any wish declared here will come true!"

Bian Yang raised his brows slightly. "Really?"

Tang Yu nodded. At the very least, voicing it brought relief; no need to carry it inside.

"Then I'll shout," he said, looking at her nonchalantly.

Tang Yu nodded, her expression serious.

Then she heard his voice—

"Be my girlfriend, Tang Yu."

"I like you, Tang Yu."

Tang Yu froze, her eyes widening as she stared at the boy beside her.

When he looked down at her, it felt as if her heart was suddenly hollowed out.

The world seemed to quiet all at once, leaving only his echo in the valley, repeating again and again.

Be my girlfriend, Tang Yu.

I like you, Tang Yu.

His Adam’s apple moved up and down as he watched her silently for several seconds, the dark depths of his eyes sparkling with restrained light.

She could clearly see her reflection within them.

Gradually, the echoes faded.

A gentle wind stirred, birds called somewhere unseen, and leaves rustled.

She couldn’t tell where the sounds came from, but they brushed past her ears.

Under the blazing sun, Bian Yang stood there, watching her quietly. He was more intense than the sunlight itself.

They stood just a short distance apart, looking at each other.