Rebirth Begins with Rejecting my Childhood Friend - Chapter 487

Bai Yue’er was never the type to be pretentious or overly delicate.

Even in front of Xu Xiuwen, she never deliberately acted like a demure, well-mannered lady. On the contrary, her straightforward and unpretentious demeanor suited Xu Xiuwen’s taste perfectly.

After lunch, Bai Yue’er clung to Xu Xiuwen’s arm and began to pout, repeatedly blaming him for letting her eat so much, claiming she was going to gain weight.

Xu Xiuwen had no choice but to shower her with sweet words, finally earning her forgiveness.

It’s worth mentioning that when it came time to pay the bill, Xu Xiuwen had just taken out his wallet when Bai Yue’er beat him to it.

Bai Yue’er said, “This meal’s on me.”

“This meal costs over six thousand.”

Patting her chest confidently, Bai Yue’er replied, “No problem. I’ve been making money recently. I can afford a meal.”

Hearing this, Xu Xiuwen didn’t insist further. Instead, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

Bai Yue’er took out her wallet, retrieved a bank card, and paid the bill.

A meal costing over six thousand was undoubtedly extravagant, no matter the occasion. That amount of money might have once covered Bai Yue’er’s entire living expenses for a year—probably even more.

But for the current Bai Yue’er, this was clearly not a big deal.

Thanks to various commercial activities and endorsement deals, Bai Yue’er had brought in significant revenue for her company, earning a substantial share for herself.

There was no doubt that Bai Yue’er was now a little “rich lady.”

And this rich lady happened to be exceptionally beautiful.

Xu Xiuwen never thought Bai Yue’er was with him for material gain.

In fact, he had never even considered such a thing.

Given Bai Yue’er’s current status, she could easily pair up with any outstanding man.

So being liked by Bai Yue’er filled Xu Xiuwen with a subtle sense of pride—it was a testament to his charm.

After lunch, Bai Yue’er suddenly suggested going to an amusement park.

She mentioned spotting a large amusement park in Shanghai during one of her events but hadn’t had the chance to visit.

Now that she finally had the time—and someone to accompany her—she wanted to go and have some fun.

Naturally, Xu Xiuwen wouldn’t refuse Bai Yue’er’s small request.

The two took a taxi to Shanghai’s most famous and the country’s largest amusement park: Paradise Park.

Although it was a Friday, the amusement park was still packed.

It took them about ten minutes to buy tickets and get through the lines before they could finally enter.

Bai Yue’er wore the same bucket hat she had on yesterday, along with a mask that covered most of her face. Her disguise was so thorough that it would be difficult for anyone unfamiliar with her to recognize her.

Thanks to her meticulous precautions, she wasn’t worried about being recognized. Bai Yue’er casually took Xu Xiuwen’s arm as they strolled into the park.

As soon as they entered, her attention was immediately drawn to a roller coaster in the distance.

She let go of Xu Xiuwen’s arm, pointed at the roller coaster, and exclaimed excitedly, “Xu Xiuwen, I want to ride the roller coaster! Can we go now?”

Her sparkling eyes never left the sight of the roller coaster as she spoke.

Naturally, Xu Xiuwen noticed her expression.

Following the direction of her pointed finger, he looked at the distant roller coaster.

In the high skies, a speeding roller coaster was hurtling downward at an astonishing pace.

The riders on the roller coaster let out bursts of screams due to the high speed and the feeling of weightlessness.

For onlookers, it was quite entertaining.

When Xu Xiuwen didn’t respond right away, Bai Yue’er clung to his arm and gently swayed it back and forth, pouting and pleading, “Xu Xiuwen, let’s go! Please, pretty please?”

Her already sweet appearance paired with her sugary voice was enough to drown anyone with even a slight weakness for sweetness.

Xu Xiuwen nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll go with you.”

At the waiting area for the roller coaster, a long line of visitors eagerly awaited their turn.

Xu Xiuwen and Bai Yue’er joined the queue, and after waiting for about twenty minutes, it was finally their turn.

Following the staff’s instructions, they were seated in the third row, with Xu Xiuwen on the left and Bai Yue’er on the right.

Before the ride even started, Bai Yue’er excitedly grabbed Xu Xiuwen’s hand.

Once everyone was seated, the staff began checking the safety harnesses one by one. After confirming everything was secure, a staff member shouted, “The roller coaster is about to start! Hold on tight!”

The roller coaster slowly began its ascent.

The world’s tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, is located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. It’s the second fastest roller coaster globally, after Formula Rossa at Ferrari World, and holds titles like the world’s tallest complete-circuit roller coaster and the highest roller coaster drop.

The one beneath Xu Xiuwen and Bai Yue’er, however, was only about half the height of Kingda Ka.

Even so, as the roller coaster climbed to the peak, it still elicited gasps and shrieks from many of the girls onboard.

When the ride reached the top, Bai Yue’er finally started feeling a bit nervous.

She glanced at Xu Xiuwen and noticed how calm his expression was.

Before Bai Yue’er could dwell on it, the roller coaster suddenly plunged downward at lightning speed.

The intense sensation of weightlessness made Bai Yue’er let out a scream she couldn’t suppress.

Instinctively, she closed her eyes tightly and gripped Xu Xiuwen’s hand as if her life depended on it.

“Ahhh—!”

She wasn’t the only one. As the roller coaster plummeted, a chorus of screams erupted all around them, rising and falling like waves.

The roller coaster quickly reached the lowest point before climbing again—this time at a much faster speed.

It began a series of rapid ascents and descents.

By now, Bai Yue’er had gradually adapted to the weightless sensation.

She stopped screaming and instead opened her eyes, letting out excited shouts of exhilaration.

Her bucket hat and mask, which she had been wearing earlier, had been removed and safely stored in a locker before the ride.

The gentle summer breeze played with her silky hair, strands of which brushed against Xu Xiuwen’s cheek.

Xu Xiuwen took a light sniff.

So fragrant.

During the final descent, Bai Yue’er turned her head to look at Xu Xiuwen.

At that exact moment, Xu Xiuwen was also looking at her.

Their eyes met.

Xu Xiuwen smiled warmly at Bai Yue’er.

In that instant, Bai Yue’er felt as though the weightlessness had completely disappeared.

Her world was filled only with Xu Xiuwen’s warm smile.

Playing, laughing, and sharing moments with the man she loved—this was pure happiness.

Isn’t this the scene she had always dreamed of? Bai Yue’er found herself lost in the moment.

Finally, the roller coaster came to a stop.

Xu Xiuwen unbuckled his safety harness and got off the ride. Noticing Bai Yue’er still in a daze, he waved his hand in front of her.

“Yue’er? Are you okay?”

His concerned words brought Bai Yue’er back to reality.

She gave him a sweet smile. “I’m fine. Thank you for riding the roller coaster with me.”

Xu Xiuwen said nothing in response. He simply reached out and gently ruffled Bai Yue’er’s hair.

That simple little gesture made Bai Yue’er’s heart race uncontrollably.

“Yue’er, why is your face so red?”

Not wanting him to know what she was feeling, Bai Yue’er quickly changed the subject.

She suddenly pointed toward the distant Rapids Adventure ride. “Xu Xiuwen, let’s go play that one!”

“Whatever you want,” Xu Xiuwen replied indulgently.

“Hehe.”

After that, Xu Xiuwen accompanied Bai Yue’er to ride the Rapids Adventure, Sky Flyer, Drop Tower, Pirate Ship, and several other attractions.

When they stepped off the Pirate Ship, Xu Xiuwen seemed fine, but as soon as Bai Yue’er’s feet touched the ground, her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, Xu Xiuwen was right beside her and quick to react, catching her just in time to prevent a fall.

What started as a simple helping hand ended with Bai Yue’er clinging tightly to his arm, refusing to let go.

Xu Xiuwen gave her head another affectionate rub.

Bai Yue’er enjoyed this intimate gesture of his.

After playing so many adrenaline-pumping rides, Xu Xiuwen decided it was time to take a break and try something less nerve-wracking.

Before they knew it, they found themselves in the amusement park’s arcade.

The arcade was filled with all kinds of video games. Unlike the rides, the games weren’t free to play—you had to buy tokens to play.

Xu Xiuwen immediately noticed the eager excitement in Bai Yue’er’s eyes.

Without waiting for her to ask, he led her to the counter and bought 100 yuan worth of game tokens.

Xu Xiuwen then introduced Bai Yue’er to some of the games he had loved as a child, like The King of Fighters ’97 and Knights of Valour.

But Bai Yue’er didn’t seem too interested and lost enthusiasm after playing for a short while.

Perhaps it’s a universal thing for girls to love claw machines, as Bai Yue’er quickly set her sights on a row of claw machines in the arcade.

The arcade had seven or eight claw machines, ranging from large to medium and small ones.

Bai Yue’er’s eyes lit up as she spotted a plush polar bear inside one of the machines.

Excitedly, she dashed to the machine, vowing to win the toy.

Xu Xiuwen stood by, watching with amusement.

After seven or eight failed attempts, Bai Yue’er hadn’t even come close to grabbing the toy—not even a glimpse of success.

Frustrated, she blamed the machine for being uncooperative.

Determined not to give up, and with plenty of tokens to spare, she kept trying.

After watching for a while, Xu Xiuwen said, “Yue’er, you keep trying here. I’ll be back in a moment.”

Thinking he was just going to the restroom, Bai Yue’er didn’t give it much thought and simply replied, “Okay.”

After getting her response, Xu Xiuwen turned and left the arcade.

Next to the arcade was a bubble tea shop, which Xu Xiuwen had noticed earlier.

He went to the bubble tea shop and bought two cups of bubble tea—one with regular sugar and one with no sugar.

Carrying the drinks, Xu Xiuwen returned to Bai Yue’er’s side just in time to witness her failing yet again to win the plush toy from the claw machine.

Bai Yue’er was brimming with frustration, her full attention fixated on the machine. She didn’t even notice Xu Xiuwen had come back.

Watching her pout in frustration, Xu Xiuwen couldn’t help but think she looked absolutely adorable at that moment.

Bai Yue’er inserted another token into the machine.

Just as she was about to start, Xu Xiuwen suddenly leaned in from behind her, his chest naturally pressing against her back. He brought his lips close to her ear and softly said, “Let me try.”

Before she could react, he reached out and grabbed the joystick in front of her, beginning to maneuver the claw toward the plush polar bear she had been eyeing.

The sudden intimate gesture caught Bai Yue’er completely off guard. Her first reaction was to be startled.

When she recognized Xu Xiuwen’s voice, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

By this time, Xu Xiuwen was already concentrating on the claw machine. Bai Yue’er swallowed the words she had been about to say, her gaze fixed intently on the mechanical claw.

Afraid of disturbing him, she didn’t dare utter a single word and even deliberately slowed her breathing.

Under her watchful gaze, Xu Xiuwen expertly maneuvered the claw, positioning it perfectly over the polar bear plush.

As the claw descended and began to lift the toy, Bai Yue’er’s heart leapt with anticipation.

She was so worried the toy might fall—it had happened to her countless times before at this exact step.

But to her surprise, the claw remained steady, gripping the plush firmly all the way to the drop-off point above the exit chute.

The claw released, and the polar bear plush tumbled into the exit compartment, rolling down the chute to the retrieval slot.

Before Xu Xiuwen could say anything, Bai Yue’er had already bent down and grabbed the polar bear.

She turned around, her face lighting up with excitement. “Xu Xiuwen, you’re amazing! I’ve tried so many times and failed, but you got it on your first try!”

Seeing the smile on her face, Xu Xiuwen couldn’t help but smile along with her.

He then reached for the bubble teas he had placed on top of the claw machine and handed her the sugar-free one.

When Bai Yue’er saw there was bubble tea, her eyes widened in delight.

But the next second, she pouted and said, “I can’t drink bubble tea—it’ll make me gain weight.”

“It’s okay. This one’s sugar-free. Besides, you’re not fat at all. I think you’re just perfect.”

“Alright… thank you,” Bai Yue’er replied, her mood instantly lifting as she took the bubble tea and sipped it happily.

After that, Bai Yue’er didn’t try the claw machine again.

Since the remaining game tokens couldn’t be refunded, she gave them to a little boy, earning his gratitude—and his mother’s disapproving glare.

When they left the arcade, Xu Xiuwen checked the time and decided it was time to get something to eat.

Being in the amusement park, a fancy meal wasn’t an option.

Instead, they shared a simple couple’s meal at one of the park’s restaurants.

After finishing their meal, Xu Xiuwen and Bai Yue’er found themselves standing in front of the haunted house entrance.

It was Bai Yue’er who had insisted on coming to the haunted house earlier, but now that they were actually here, she was starting to regret it.

Staring at the entrance, Bai Yue’er turned to Xu Xiuwen and said, “Xu Xiuwen, maybe we shouldn’t go in. I don’t think it’s going to be that fun.”

Xu Xiuwen couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Are you scared?” he teased.

“Of course not! It’s all fake. What’s there to be scared of?” she retorted, pouting slightly.

“Really? Then let’s just go in for a quick round since we’re already here,” he said with a smile.

Hearing his response, Bai Yue’er pouted even more. “Fine, I admit I’m a little scared.”

Xu Xiuwen laughed softly and said, “It’s okay. I’ll protect you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Seeing that Xu Xiuwen really intended to go inside, Bai Yue’er quickly grabbed his arm and started shaking it gently, her tone turning sweet and pleading. “Xu Xiuwen, let’s not go in, okay? I’m really scared.”

The way she pouted and acted so adorably was simply irresistible.

Xu Xiuwen couldn’t help himself. Right then and there, without caring about the other visitors around them, he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on her rosy lips.

Bai Yue’er, startled like a frightened little rabbit, immediately took a step back. She covered her mouth with her hands and stared at Xu Xiuwen with wide eyes.

A moment later, she calmed down and realized her reaction had been a bit over the top. Blushing, she giggled nervously behind her hand.

Just then, a couple standing in line behind them caught sight of her cute and shy demeanor. The man couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Bai Yue’er, his gaze lingering on her longer than it should have…