After Failing to Reverse the Plot, I Made My Escape - Chapter 39

Falling.

“I,” Chang Tingzhi’s throat bobbed. He crouched in front of Chun Chun, his expression serious. “Papa encountered an accident. Here,” he pointed to his head. “I forgot many things, so now I am starting to relearn them.”

His palm slowly covered Chun Chun’s hand, which was covered in needle marks and bruised with purple traces. “So, I made a promise to your Mommy. He will teach me everything, and I will learn slowly. Will you wait for Papa a little longer, please?”

Chun Chun froze. He had never been treated this way, except for that one time his father spoke to him with such solemnity. He sniffled his red nose and nodded vigorously. “Yes!”

He held out his pinky finger. “Papa, whenever you made a promise to me before, we would pinky swear. You said Mommy taught you that, and now it has become our little secret.”

Chang Tingzhi extended his pinky and hooked it with Chun Chun’s.

“Hmm? Tingzhi, what are you two doing?” Yu Fuqiu’s expression was weary as the pressures from the outside world surged toward him like an overwhelming tide.

Pushing the door open, he saw the large framed Chang Tingzhi crouching in front of Chun Chun. They were interlocking their pinky fingers while Chun Chun laughed, tugging at Chang Tingzhi’s hair as if playing.

Seeing this scene, Yu Fuqiu felt dazed. It was as if he had returned to a sun-drenched afternoon. In this warm harbor, all his exhaustion dissipated. No matter how fierce the wind and rain were outside, he could reorganize his feelings and set out once more.

“Mommy! Papa said we are going to the amusement park!” Chun Chun sat in his wheelchair, waving his hands and shouting excitedly at Yu Fuqiu.

“Amusement park?” Yu Fuqiu frowned. “You are not allowed to go. You,”

“Qiuqiu.” Chang Tingzhi called his name softly.

In an instant, Yu Fuqiu’s heart skipped a beat. His hand, resting on the doorknob, froze. How long had it been? How long had it been since Chang Tingzhi called him that?

Chang Tingzhi stood up, and a familiar, warm aura enveloped Yu Fuqiu again. He looked up blankly. Chang Tingzhi pinned him between the door and his embrace. His hot breath brushed against Yu Fuqiu’s skin, making him tremble. He instinctively wanted to escape.

“I want to create new memories,” Chang Tingzhi said softly. “You said you would teach me to experience different feelings, so I want to experience more beautiful memories with you. That is all.”

His expression was calm, and his eyes reflected only Yu Fuqiu’s figure. Yu Fuqiu’s breath hitched; he felt as though he were drowning in Chang Tingzhi’s embrace.

But in the next second, the image from the video surfaced in his mind, the one where Chang Tingzhi tenderly picked up Ke Qi’an. Those eyes were exactly the same as the ones before him now.

He snapped awake. He squeezed his palms tightly and blinked his aching eyes. No, this was not his Chang Tingzhi. Everything he was doing was for the sake of finding his own Chang Tingzhi.

“Hmm?” Chang Tingzhi lowered his head, appearing somewhat disappointed.

Yu Fuqiu’s heart ached. He still could not completely let go of this face he had loved for fifteen years. His heart softened. “Alright.”

“Yay!” Chun Chun cheered.

“But, Chun Chun must stay close to Mommy. No running around, understood?” Yu Fuqiu looked at the father and son and sighed, though a long-lost smile appeared on his face. No matter how big the waves were outside, at least he had a space to breathe for now.

At the entrance of a colorful amusement park in Country R, the air was filled with the sweet scent of popcorn and the laughter of children.

Little Chun Chun, wearing brand new overalls, had one hand tightly held by Yu Fuqiu, while the other reached out timidly to tug at Chang Tingzhi’s index finger. He looked up at the fairy-tale castle spires and the zooming rides, his eyes shining like stars, though confusion was written clearly on his face.

“Mommy, Mommy,” he shook Yu Fuqiu’s hand, his voice full of puzzlement. “Why did we come to an amusement park in Country R? All the kids in my class go to the big park in the city with their parents.”

Yu Fuqiu knelt down to meet Chun Chun’s eyes. He wore a mask and a cap that covered most of his face, but his eyes curved with gentle starlight. He reached out and gently pinched his son’s soft cheek. His voice was muffled by the mask but remained exceptionally soft. “Because it is not easy to be recognized here.”

He glanced at Chang Tingzhi and continued explaining to Chun Chun, “You see, many people in our country recognize Papa and Mommy. If we went to the park in the city, many people might surround us to take photos or ask for signatures. If that happened, our Chun Chun would not be able to ride the carousel or eat ice cream in peace, right?”

His reasoning sounded logical and full of consideration for the child. Chun Chun nodded half-understandingly, and his attention was quickly drawn to a giant cotton candy stall nearby sprinkled with rainbow sugar. He temporarily forgot to ask more questions.

The sunlight today was exceptionally brilliant. Yu Fuqiu pushed the wheelchair and leaned in slightly. He pointed to the colorful park map ahead, his voice carrying a forced cheerfulness. “Chun Chun, look! This is your favorite Minion! I remember there is a special interactive zone over there where you can see their banana spaceship show. Do you want to go see it?” As he spoke, he carefully adjusted the thin blanket over Chun Chun’s legs to keep him from catching a cold.

“Hey!” A tourist running past accidentally bumped into Yu Fuqiu’s shoulder. Having worked consecutively for days without rest, his body was weak. He stumbled, lost his balance, and began to fall backward.

A hand firmly caught him by the waist. In his panic, he heard the steady and powerful heartbeat of the person behind him. The embrace carried a familiar warmth. He instinctively looked up and met Chang Tingzhi’s downward gaze.

Chang Tingzhi’s gaze fixed on the tourist who had bumped into them and was trying to run away. He said coldly, “Apologize.”

His voice was not loud, but it was incredibly clear, causing the noisy background sounds to fade instantly. The tourist looked impatient. “I did not do it on purpose. He is the one who did not look where he was going. He should apologize to me.”

Chang Tingzhi’s expression did not change, and his jawline tightened. “I said, apologize.”

People around began to watch curiously. Someone seemed to recognize them and let out a small gasp. The tourist’s face grew flushed with embarrassment. He awkwardly blurted out, “Sorry, alright!” before disappearing into the crowd.

“It is alright, Tingzhi.” Yu Fuqiu tried to pull away from his embrace, tugging at his sleeve. He whispered, “Forget it, he did not mean it.” Today was for Chun Chun; he did not want any complications, nor did he want to see Chang Tingzhi get into a conflict with others because of him.

Only then did Chang Tingzhi withdraw his gaze and look at Yu Fuqiu’s face. He stared at him for two seconds, gave a very slight cold snort, and slowly looked away.

Yu Fuqiu breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to push Chun Chun’s wheelchair forward, he felt a warm sensation in his palm. Chang Tingzhi, who had let go of his waist, slid his hand down and naturally grasped Yu Fuqiu’s cool hand. He closed his fingers, completely enveloping Yu Fuqiu’s hand in his warm, dry palm. Then, his other hand moved to the handle of Chun Chun’s wheelchair.

“Let us go,” he said briefly. His tone was still flat, devoid of emotion.

In the eyes of a fan named Xiao He, she witnessed this scene. Chang Tingzhi was steadily pushing Chun Chun’s wheelchair with one hand while tightly holding Yu Fuqiu with the other. His pace was not fast, but it was exceptionally firm, as if he were afraid Yu Fuqiu would be bumped again or stumble away from him.

She froze in place. Chun Chun, sitting in the wheelchair, stole a glance back. He saw his father’s broad back, saw his father tightly holding his mother’s hand, and saw his mother looking down with slightly reddened ears, allowing himself to be led forward. Even though they passed the Minion zone he wanted to see, Chun Chun did not speak. He thought that if only time could stop at this moment.

“Yu, Yu Fuqiu?” Yu Fuqiu heard a voice and stopped. He turned toward the sound calling his name. It was a girl with reddened eyes holding a phone. Her bag was adorned with Yu Fuqiu’s fan merchandise.

A fan?

“It really is you!” Xiao He sobbed softly. She was a die-hard fan of Yu Fuqiu. Even after the news of the marriage crisis, Chang Tingzhi entering a hotel with someone else, and Yu Fuqiu’s car accident broke, she still chose to believe in them. Chang Tingzhi’s eyes could not lie. They had truly loved each other for fifteen years. She had been a fan of their couple for fifteen years, following them from elementary school to university.

“It is so good to see that you are both okay, truly.” The girl’s makeup was smudged from her tears. She bit her lip. “I, I am sorry, am I bothering you?”

“Not at all, Sister!” Chun Chun poked his head out, his beautiful face glowing in the sunlight. Xiao He’s eyes widened. “Papa and Mommy are here to spend time with Chun Chun. You are not bothering us!”

Yu Fuqiu stepped forward and handed the girl a handkerchief, smiling gently. “We are doing well. I am sorry for making you worry.”

The girl sniffled, let out a long breath, and carefully took the tissue from him. “No! Our greatest wish is for you to be happy. As long as you are happy, we will always be behind you!”

Xiao He watched the family of three walk away and could not resist taking a photo. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, especially the sight of their ten fingers interlocked.

“Papa, Mommy, Chun Chun will wait for you down here.” Chun Chun’s wheelchair could not go on the Ferris wheel. For the final moment of the day, his greatest wish was for his parents to ride the Ferris wheel together.

“Then, you must wait here obediently for Mommy. Listen to the older brothers and sisters, okay?” Yu Fuqiu was worried and knelt down to instruct Chun Chun.

“Yes! I will!” Chun Chun agreed obediently, watching his father and mother enter the Ferris wheel car. He wondered if his parents would ever be apart again.

The door of the car closed gently, instantly cutting off most of the outside noise, leaving only the slight mechanical hum of the machine. The car began to rise steadily. The initial swaying made Yu Fuqiu instinctively grab the nearby railing. Almost at the same time, Chang Tingzhi’s arm reached over, firmly wrapping around his shoulder and drawing him closer.

Yu Fuqiu’s body stiffened slightly. Through the clothing, he could feel the other’s warmth and the pulse of his skin.

“Tingzhi, how are you feeling today?” Yu Fuqiu looked up, his face full of anticipation.

Chang Tingzhi pursed his lips. He still did not feel much emotion, aside from the extreme pain he had felt a few days prior. But facing Yu Fuqiu’s expectant eyes, he did not have the heart to break them.

“It is alright,” he said softly.

Seeing the starlike eyes fill with joy, Yu Fuqiu breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes reddening slightly. “That is good, that is so good. We rode a Ferris wheel before, but that one was old and narrow. You even had to sit on my lap, and it swayed a lot.” Yu Fuqiu laughed. His gaze drifted to the scenery as they reached the highest point. “We were very poor back then and the economy was bad, but you were so happy just because I took you out to play.”

Yu Fuqiu’s heart ached. “I am truly glad you are by my side. And I am glad that heaven sent you to me.”

“I do not know how you feel about me now. Perhaps I am a stranger, or perhaps,” Yu Fuqiu paused. He tenderly touched Chang Tingzhi’s face. “But you are still you. You are my lover.”

That fact remained unchanged. Chang Tingzhi did not move; he only stared at him intently. He wanted to ask, is your lover me, or him? Who is the Chang Tingzhi in your eyes right now? Is it me? He could almost hear the rush of his own blood and his uneven breathing. He even wanted to question, I treated you so poorly, why did you not leave? Why do you still love me? Why do you still treat me so gently? You are not after money or status, so what is it? Is it purely love?

Chang Tingzhi suddenly felt lost. He pressed his cheek into Yu Fuqiu’s palm, his breath hot and his eyes glowing. In that suspended, breathtaking moment, a whoosh sounded followed by a bang.

The first massive golden firework exploded without warning in the night sky beside them! Then a second, a third, brilliant flows of light like splashed ink instantly lit up the night. Giant flowers of light layered over each other, burning as they fell, while new ones rose, turning the sky into a grand, noisy, yet distant and surreal celebration.

The light of the fireworks flickered, casting shifting shadows over Chang Tingzhi’s face through the glass. His deep features were clear in the bright light and blurred in the shadows. His calm eyes were lit by the brilliance outside, reflecting the flowing colors. He still held Yu Fuqiu. As a massive purple firework exploded, lighting the world as bright as day, he suddenly turned his head.

His gaze was no longer on the window, but looking directly and deeply into Yu Fuqiu’s eyes.

“Yu Fuqiu.” He called his name. His voice was lower and hoarser than usual, nearly swallowed by the echoes of the fireworks, yet strangely clear. “I am trying hard to learn to become like a normal person, so wait for me.”

And then love me. Love only me.

Another cluster of silver white fireworks poured down like a waterfall, illuminating the stubborn clarity in his eyes. Yu Fuqiu was stunned. In that moment of daze, Chang Tingzhi kissed him. This kiss was different from any before; it was so gentle it was almost sacred.

Just as their lips met and their heartbeats seemed to sync between the firework blasts, a click sounded.

An incredibly faint yet terrifying metallic sound came from the top of the car, clear enough to drown out the distant boom of the fireworks. This was followed by a more obvious, ear piercing screech of metal, and the entire car tilted sharply to one side.

Chun Chun sat obediently below, holding a newly bought Minion balloon with the string wrapped around his small fingers. His little face was tilted up high, eyes unblinking as he stared at the giant, glowing wheel.

He remembered clearly. When he was looking at travel guides, the vlogger said that when the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, it would be exactly the time for the first castle firework show. Looking down from above, the fireworks would feel like they were exploding at your feet, a “magical perspective.”

He had specifically asked his parents to choose this time. He thought that when they came down from that glowing little room, he would be the first to run up and ask, “Papa! Mommy! Were the fireworks super pretty? Was it like sitting inside the stars?” He had already rehearsed his expression, intending to open his round eyes wide to show his envy and excitement.

Then, Papa might not speak but would pat his head, and Mommy would surely smile and describe the colors and shapes of the fireworks. Then he could brag to his friend Xiao Pang. He was now a kid who had gone to the amusement park with his parents, and he had a special Minion balloon! Xiao Pang would be so jealous. When he got back, he would write everything in his diary and take photos with them! Oh right! Tonight, he could ask Papa to finish the story about the little goat.

Thinking of this, Chun Chun felt warm inside, and his anxious waiting turned into sweet anticipation. He watched the car his parents were in, rising bit by bit toward the giant, glowing center. Almost there, almost,

Then, in the next second, he saw the Ferris wheel car carrying his father and mother, like a kite with a broken string, falling straight down from the highest point.

A massive crashing sound finally drowned out the noise of the fireworks, carrying clearly through the air. This was followed by the sharp sound of glass shattering across the night sky, more terrifying than any firework explosion.

Chun Chun was stunned. The crowd began to scream. Meanwhile, the Minion balloon his mother had bought for him drifted slowly into the night sky, flying toward the heavens where the brilliant fireworks were still blooming.