Chapter 12: On a Date

Since Jun Zixin confessed to him, the two of them would always be together during lunch break. They would eat in the cafeteria and then go to the library. After class ended, Jun Zixin would hold Shen Ru's bag for him while they were on their way to Tango Café. Even Gu Haoyu and Jia Hao had noticed, much less the other students.

Once, when there was a break in the class period, Gu Haoyu asked, "Boss Shen, did something happen between you and Jun xuezhang?"

Jia Hao immediately expressed his disapproval, "Even if Hua Xiu said some nonsense, Jun xuezhang wouldn't stay away from Boss Shen. They've been hanging out lately."

Gu Haoyu's eye twitched as he said, "That's not what I mean…"

"If you're trying to ruin their friendship, then I'll have to warn you that you'll have to get through to me first!"

Shen Ru smiled wryly and praised in his heart.

Suddenly, though, he could feel a threatening gaze set on him. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked around, finding no one staring at him. Although there seemed to be nothing, he would be a fool to believe that, however. He trusted his instincts, and his instincts told him that someone loathed him to the core.

It wasn't really that hard to find out who this certain someone is.

Nevertheless, Shen Ru didn't really care much for Hua Xiu. Even if she was planning something, the private investigator following her around would inform him before she gets to strike.

Today, Jun Zixin said that he couldn't tutor them with the excuse that he was busy with his schoolwork. In truth, he had invited Shen Ru to the amusement park. Shen Ru couldn't help but laugh as he saw him striding towards him with a wide smile on his face. "I can't believe that they actually believed your lie."

"What can I say? I'm a master at everything," Jun Zixin proudly said.

"I can't say the same for your running skills. That dog almost took you out that one time," Shen Ru teased, referring to their last date when they stumbled upon a dog that immediately chased after them. Shen Ru easily outran the dog, but Jun Zixin was…

Let's just say that he didn't look as handsome and proud after the owner arrived to bring their dog back.

"To be fair, I was holding a very heavy bag that time filled with the food you got for takeout. Can't you at least show some mercy for me?"

Shen Ru gave him an innocent smile. "No can do."

"Ai, Ah Ru, you really hurt me."

After some more banter, they entered Jun Zixin's car and headed to the amusement park. Before Shen Ru could open the car door on his own, Jun Zixin interrupted him, "Don't open it. I want to be a gentleman."

Shen Ru chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, you couldn't even be more subtle?"

"Then, what am I supposed to say? Don't open the door because I don't want your hand to get dirty?"

Shen Ru immediately took off the hand holding the handle of the door and questioningly looked at him. Jun Zixin laughed, ruffled his hair, and said, "I'll open it for you, alright?"

As Jun Zixin left the car to head to his side, Shen Ru couldn't help but think: he really likes playing with my hair too much.

"Aren't I so gentlemanly?" Jun Zixin asked once he had opened the car door for him.

"With how much you've been repeating the word 'gentlemen', it makes me wonder if you just want me to reassure you that you're really a gentleman.

"…You don't really mince words, do you?"

Faced with Jun Zixin's deflated expression, Shen Ru smiled happily. "I just like to call it telling the truth."

Since the time was at least over 5:00 PM and it was still bright, they chose to play some carnival games first, leaving the roller coaster and Ferris wheel for last. Shen Ru wasn't really interested much in stuffed toys but he was still on the lookout for some gems in the stalls.

"Wait, we have to get that one!" Shen Ru suddenly pointed at a stuffed toy with a laugh.

Jun Zixin turned his head and looked in the direction he was pointing. Lo and behold, it was the ugliest stuffed toy that they had ever seen. Jun Zixin could recognize that it was supposed to be the likeness of a tardigrade but Shen Ru didn't care about it at all. He already had plans on how to use it to scare Jia Hao, not Gu Haoyu though because he's not afraid of horror movies at all.

"Are you…seriously going to get that?" Jun Zixin was baffled and confused.

"Yes, if you're going to help me. I'm not good at shooting games."

Seeing that Shen Ru was beyond excited over this stuffed toy, Jun Zixin simply shrugged and went along with it. He was planning to get the biggest teddy bear to show off his skills, but this would do too.

He paid the stall owner and aimed his gun at one of the most difficult shooting targets. Then, he shot.

"Wow, you did it on the first try. Did you practice?" Shen Ru was impressed.

"Not at all, I just own a real gun," Jun Zixin replied.

"Oh yeah, I forgot that you were a mafia boss."

"I'm not."

"You are," Shen Ru insisted.

Jun Zixin sighed helplessly and told the stall owner that they wanted the tardigrade stuffed toy. The stall owner was absolutely confused and asked again to make sure that he wasn't hearing right, "Sir, do you really want the tardigrade stuffed toy?"

Jun Zixin smiled wryly and nodded. "Yes."

The stall owner scratched his head in confusion. This young man had shot the hardest shooting target and he wanted the ugliest stuffed toy. Oh well, he benefitted anyway, the large teddy bear could still attract more customers.

After receiving the tardigrade stuffed toy, Jun Zixin handed it to Shen Ru, to which Shen Ru was ecstatic. He was smiling from ear to ear as he said, "Let's go to the other stalls, I think I saw something ugly just now."

At first, Jun Zixin thought that he was just joking. It was his mistake to think that, however.

In no time, with Shen Ru's keen eye and Jun Zixin's excellent shooting skills, they were able to secure the ugliest stuffed toys. With Jun Zixin's uncanny ability to win any stuffed toy he could get, the staff would've barred him from playing further. However, because they always picked the ugliest stuffed toy that no one would get, the staff simply shrugged and feigned ignorance.

"Ah Ru, I think you should stop at five. My aesthetical sense is being ruined by you," Jun Zixin said after they had won yet another toy, this time it was a teddy bear with teeth.

Only at this point did Shen Ru notice that it would be hard for them to bring any more toys considering that they were still going to other rides.

He nodded and acquiesced, "Okay, where are we going next?"

"Let's go to the haunted house. Since it's beginning to get dark, the atmosphere will be right," Jun Zixin answered.

Shen Ru chuckled. "Are you planning to be a gentleman and comfort me if I get scared?"

"Well, that was part of the plan. I was even considering informing the staff to scare you more so I get more opportunities."

"Ugh, the life of the rich."

"Your family is rich too."

"Ugh, the life of a mafia boss."

Jun Zixin shook his head in helplessness. "Okay, I'm not even going to argue on that anymore."'

When they entered the haunted house, Shen Ru found that it was hospital-themed. The white hallway was filled with grime and dirt, which implied that it was an abandoned one. He mused, "I wonder how they did the process of dirtying this hallway. Did they just throw it around or did they have a plan?"

"I think the latter isn't true considering that doing both won't have much difference for the average eye," Jun Zixin said.

"Yeah, but it would definitely be different if they had some sort of plan beforehand, maybe a sketch of the dirt?"

"Do you think the amusement park has enough budget to even commission an artist for a dirt sketch?"

Shen Ru hummed and replied, "Told straight from a capitalist's world."

The nurse ghost hiding in the corner who was planning to scare them: ???

Although the nurse ghost was hesitant on scaring them, the same can't be said for the other ghosts. Along the way, there were other ghosts that tried to scare them, to which they both did not have any reaction. There was even a Pennywise holding a chainsaw. Upon seeing him, Shen Ru asked Jun Zixin, "Why is there a Pennywise in a hospital?"

Jun Zixin smiled and gave Pennywise a look of pity. "Maybe they use him for illegal surgeries."

"That could explain the chainsaw." Shen Ru nodded.

With their nerves of steel, the trip to the exit wouldn't really be so thrilling. However, when a female ghost suddenly appeared in front of them, Jun Zixin spoke, "Yu Ming, is that you?"

Shen Ru was confused and looked at the ghost again. Although there was some makeup, he now could recognize that it was definitely Yu Ming.

"Oh, you recognized me." Yu Ming laughed and then pointed at Shen Ru. "Is this our sister-in-law?"

Seeing that Shen Ru was completely confused, Jun Zixin explained, "We're cousins, I think you've met each other before?"

"You know, I was really excited when I first saw you! You don't know this but Jun Zixin has been fanboying over you for the past few months. I even saw a picture of you in his wallet!" Yu Ming said.

Shen Ru smirked. "Really? What did he talk about me?"

Before Yu Ming can further ruin his reputation, Jun Zixin interrupted, "Hey, don't you have a job? If you keep slacking on your job, I'll tell Uncle."

Yu Ming rolled her eyes. "Ugh, fine." Then, she turned to Shen Ru. "Since you already know that Cousin likes you, I'll add you on Weibo later. I have so many things to tell you."

"Yu Ming."

"Bye, sister-in-law!" With that, Yu Ming was running away.

"Don't listen to what Yu Ming says. They're not really true," Jun Zixin said.

Shen Ru smiled and teased, "Then, how about you show me your wallet?"

Jun Zixin was a bit stiff. "I can't show my wallet right now. I have some confidential papers in them."

"You can't even make a good excuse. How can you fit confidential papers inside a wallet?" Shen Ru tsked.

In the end, Jun Zixin had no choice but to show his wallet. As Yu Ming had said, there was really a picture of Shen Ru inside it.

"I don't think I haven't posted this picture before, did you take it secretly?" Shen Ru asked.

Jun Zixin scratched his head out of embarrassment. "It is."

"Next time you want a photo of me, just tell me. I didn't expect that our family's mafia boss would be like a shy maiden."

"I don't think the words mafia boss and shy fit together."

"I thought you weren't a mafia boss? Ha, you've been caught in a lie!"

After the haunted house, they went to eat some snacks before going to the roller coaster. The two of them were particularly noticeable during the ride considering they were the only ones to have a straight face. They even had conversations during the ride.

When the rollercoaster had reached a very high height, Shen Ru spoke, "Wow, the view from up here is really great."

"We should go to a mountain next time. You can enjoy the view longer," Jun Zixin replied.

When the rollercoaster was turning from right to left, Jun Zixin spoke, "Are you alright?"

"Bah, you want to use this excuse for a hug, don't you?" Shen Ru replied. Jun Zixin shrugged helplessly because it was the truth.

When the rollercoaster was ending, Shen Ru excitedly spoke, "Wow, that was pretty fun, we should ride the roller coaster on this other amusement park next time!"

"At that time, we'll be officially together," Jun Zixin replied with a smile.

…Their fellow riders who were scared out of their minds from the twists and turns wondered if these two bosses just came here to spread their dog food.

●○●○●○●○●○●

The last ride that they had decided on was the Ferris wheel. After the door closed, Shen Ru said, "You know, this is the first time I've been in a Ferris wheel."

"Why?" Jun Zixin was interested in his reason.

Shen Ru chuckled and explained, "I've always thought that my first ride on a Ferris wheel should be romantic. I should be with my lover and we should kiss each other when the Ferris wheel reaches the highest point. My friends would always laugh at me when I say this."

Jun Zixin smiled and ran a hand over his hair, rubbing it softly. "If so, do you think that the mood is very romantic now?"

"Well, yes, except for the fact that you're patting my head like a dog," Shen Ru said, amused.

"For some reason, I just like your hair. It's very silky, it would look good if it was longer."

"Then, I'll let it grow out once I graduate."

"I could talk to some teachers about letting you have long hair."

Shen Ru's eyes twitched. "Please, no, you've already used your connections enough."

"Then…how about the kiss that you mentioned?" Jun Zixin wondered.

Shen Ru was stunned into silence. He looked at the side, avoiding his gaze, and muttered, "Aren't we still in the courtship phase now? Wouldn't it be too fast for us to just kiss now?"

"But, do you want to kiss me now?"

Shen Ru bit his lip and nodded, not trusting himself to say anything. Jun Zixin smiled and inched forwards to him. As he was nearing, Shen Ru instinctively closed his eyes until he suddenly felt something touch his lips. He panicked and opened his eyes, only to come face to face with Jun Zixin's gleaming eyes.

Jun Zixin pointed at his eyes, signaling him to close his eyes. Shen Ru followed and did so, focusing on the warm feeling of their lips overlapping.

It was a chaste kiss, no tongue involved unlike the yaoi smuts Shen Ru had read before, but it felt like it lasted for a long time. When they separated, Shen Ru found that they were at the highest point of the Ferris wheel.

Jun Zixin held both of his hands and said, "Looks like your wish came true."

Shen Ru chuckled and said, "But, we're still in the courtship phase, alright? I still don't feel ready to do couple things…"

Jun Zixin squeezed his hand and replied, "Of course, don't worry, I won't force you into doing what you don't want."

"Then…I look forward to our future." Shen Ru moved to hug him, burying his head into his chest.

Shen Ru couldn't see it but, at this moment, Jun Zixin had the brightest smile on his face as he raked his hand across his hair. "Me too, I love you, Ah Ru."