Hannah still felt a little uncomfortable. Even after drinking half a bottle of ice water, the flush on her face hadn’t completely faded, and her body remained warm.
She reached out and touched Arnold Simmons’ hand.
He wasn’t hot.
Upon receiving this answer, Hannah finally curved her lips into a smile, and then she contentedly rested her head on Arnold Simmons’ arm. "Why aren’t you hot at all?"
Arnold looked at her, amusent in his voice, and replied slowly, "A calm mind brings natural coolness."
Hannah thought that this statent wasn’t convincing at all.
But Arnold’s body truly felt refreshing.
A little past noon, the sun overhead began its slow journey across the sky. A soothing breeze swept through the bamboo forest, barely dispelling so of the stifling heat in the air.
Hannah didn’t even know when she fell asleep. By the ti she woke up, she was leaning into Arnold Simmons’ embrace.
They had already left the scenic area and were sitting in a small pavilion.
A short distance away, she could still see tourists taking photos to commorate their visits.
She reached out to rub her slightly flushed cheeks, her voice soft and a little raspy from having just woken up. "What ti is it now?"
Arnold glanced at his watch. "It’s almost five o’clock."
In the distance, the sun had already set in the west, and its warm, golden glow blanketed the ground.
"Are you hungry?" Arnold asked.
Hannah nodded; her head was still a little foggy from waking up.
Arnold held her hand throughout the walk, afraid she might wander off.
As night fully descended, Capital City grew even livelier and noisier, its flashing lights illuminating the endless flow of people and vehicles.
The narrow alleyways brimd with life—the tantalizing aromas of dishes wafted out from one courtyard after another. Occasionally, curling wisps of cooking smoke could be seen, as calls and chatter echoed from deep within the lanes.
Arnold took Hannah to a noodle shop.
According to students native to Capital City, this noodle shop had been around for decades, and its taste had always been superb.
Arnold didn’t usually pay attention to such things, but he wanted Hannah to try it.
Just like how Hannah loved sharing all kinds of delightful stories with him, he wanted to share everything of his own with her.
The patrons in the noodle shop were mostly local residents. None seed in a rush to finish their als. While waiting, they sat around chatting, their conversations filled with familial anecdotes and everyday matters.
Simple yet fulfilling.
The tables and chairs in the noodle shop were of old-fashioned designs. From outside, one could catch a glimpse of the kitchen. Although not large, it was kept impeccably clean.
The noodles were prepared by an elderly master, who looked about fifty-sothing but, based on nearby chatter, was already approaching seventy.
The noodle shop had been passed down through generations—from his master’s master, all the way to him.
The shop used large bowls, offered generous portions, and served flavors so exquisite that one helping would leave you yearning for the next.
On the second day of the long holiday, Arnold took Hannah to the amusent park.
They played from dayti until night. Wearing a cat-ear headband, Hannah seed to have transford back into her eight-year-old self, fascinated by everything around her and dragging Arnold from one amusent ride to another.
Even the carousel wasn’t spared.
Amidst a group of children, Hannah clutched a big tuft of cotton candy, her radiant smile as dazzling as the stars and moon shimring in the night sky.
After stepping off the carousel, Hannah pulled Arnold along to ride the roller coaster next.
While queueing, she took off the cat-ear headband, tilted her head, and blinked. "Arnold, can you bend down a little?"
Arnold glanced at the cat-ear headband in her hands and imdiately understood.
He lowered his gaze to et hers.
Bright and endearing, her look was impossible to refuse.
Reviews
All reviews (0)