On the way back, Uncle Yang received a call from Fang Lai, asking about Tang You’s recent activities. Tang You listened to their conversation, absentmindedly staring at the snacks Xie Cheng had given her, when suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.

“Uncle Yang, I have something to say to Mom.”

“Alright, hold on.” Uncle Yang handed the phone back to her from the front seat.

“Mom,” Tang You quickly greeted her sweetly.

The mother and daughter chatted for a bit. When Fang Lai heard that Tang You had ranked in the top ten in her recent exam, she was even more pleased.

Taking advantage of her good mood, Tang You cautiously asked, “Mom, I’d like to go out for a walk and get some exercise every Sunday afternoon. Is that okay?”

Fang Lai was clearly surprised, “You’re in your final year of high school. Time is money, and the foreign music schools I’ve been looking at for you have very high standards. You can’t slack off.”

Tang You had expected this response and calmly replied, “But I fainted at school a few days ago.”

“What?!!”

“The teacher said I have poor physical fitness and need more exercise.”

“…”

On the other end of the line, Fang Lai was silent for a while, considering this. 

Thinking back, it was true that her daughter didn’t seem to get much exercise.

Tang You tried to keep her tone steady, “I just want to go to the nearby gym every Sunday afternoon to do some cardio.”

As she said this, Tang You could hear her heart pounding.

This was the third time she had lied to Fang Lai.

Fang Lai was quiet for a long time, as if weighing the pros and cons.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally relented:

“Alright, but you must be home by 5 p.m., and Uncle Yang will drive you there and back. Be careful.”

“But—”

Tang You wanted to negotiate further, but Fang Lai quickly said, “Mom has another call coming in, we’ll talk later. Be good.”

The call ended reluctantly.

She could go out, but not freely.

Tang You continued to think quickly, suddenly recalling that the Tony Grilled Fish Restaurant where Cheng Xuan had hosted his birthday party last time was next to a gym.

She vaguely remembered that the shops on that street were interconnected, sharing a public restroom in the back alley.

In a place where Uncle Yang couldn’t see, Tang You discreetly took out her phone and messaged Zhou Qinyao:

“Meet me at 1:30 behind the restroom near the grilled fish restaurant.”

Zhou Qinyao: “…”

After lunch at home, Tang You changed into a set of workout clothes, taking the snacks Xie Cheng had given her, hoping to bribe Uncle Yang.

When the car pulled up in front of the gym, Tang You took out the snacks, smiling sweetly:

“Uncle Yang, these are for you.”

Uncle Yang seemed a bit surprised, reaching out, “Thank you, Miss.”

Before he could take them, Tang You quickly added:

“I can walk home by myself later, okay?”

Uncle Yang withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened, his expression serious:

“I’ll be here at 4:30 sharp to pick you up.”

Tang You: “…”

Bribery failed.

Tang You let out a soft sigh.

She reluctantly put the snacks back in her bag and entered the gym.

After asking at the front desk on the first floor, she quickly made her way through the inner hall and found the back door leading to the alley, where Zhou Qinyao was already waiting for her.

Her previously dejected mood instantly lifted at the sight of him. She ran over and playfully tapped his back.

“Hey.”

Zhou Qinyao turned around, seeing it was her, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips, “Why meet here?”

Tang You pointed at the gym next door, “I said I was going to the gym. I need to be back by 4:30. The driver’s waiting at the door.”

It was already 1:30, so they only had about two hours to play.

Zhou Qinyao frowned, pressing down on the accelerator, “Then let’s go quickly.”

After a fifteen-minute drive, Tang You realized that the place Zhou Qinyao had brought her to this time was a completely different world from last time.

The last time had been all about the adrenaline rush at the racetrack, but this time…

As far as she could see, it was full of childlike wonder.

[Kiss-Kiss Fairy Tale Castle]

It was an indoor parent-child interactive entertainment park, designed to resemble a castle from a fairy tale, filled with various attractions like slides, ball pits, swings, and carousels.

Most of the kids had bought tickets and were crowded together, having a blast. The more children there were, the happier they seemed. But the park had also considered customers with other needs and had set up three private mini-castles.

Once the door of a mini-castle was closed, it became your own little world, where you could do whatever you wanted, with no one else allowed in.

Tang You looked around curiously as they walked, “Why did you bring me here? It’s all kids.”

Zhou Qinyao glanced back at her, suddenly pushing open a cartoon-themed door:

“Aren’t you just a kid?”

Tang You: “…”

She peered inside the open door.

It was a pastel wonderland, straight out of a fairy tale.

Just as Tang You was standing at the entrance, a small figure dashed out from inside, calling, “Sister Youyou!”

Tang You was momentarily stunned when she saw the little boy in front of her. “Xiao Yang?”

Zhou Qinyao turned back and called to her, “What are you standing there for? Come in and play.”

He took off his shoes, picked up Song Xiaoyang, and tossed him into the ball pit, then jumped in himself.

Wu Zhiyu, dressed in a floral jacket, straightened up with a sigh of exhaustion when she saw Zhou Qinyao. “I can’t keep up anymore; this little rascal is all yours to handle.”

She stepped out of the bubble pit and said to Tang You, “Come on, girl, jump in and play too.”