Chapter 152: Bliss on the Ferris Wheel

"Alright," a mischievous smile crept onto Lin Fan's face as he agreed decisively. After all, he would be heading out again in a few days, so he really ought to spend more time with this little girl.

Stepping out of the hotel, Lin Fan put his arm around Zhao Ying and guided her into the car, driving toward Hongqiao District. The night view here was quite pleasant. Having been back in T City for so long, he realized he hadn't properly taken the time to explore the city.

The Yongle Bridge Ferris Wheel, known as the Eye of T City, stood by the Haihe River in Hongqiao District. It was a unique Ferris Wheel built right across a bridge, combining sightseeing and transportation functions. At its highest point, the surrounding scenery was visible in all its glory, offering views extending up to forty kilometers away. It was the only Ferris Wheel in the world built on a bridge and served as one of T City's landmarks.

"Be careful not to catch a cold," Lin Fan said after getting out of the car, taking off his own jacket and draping it over Zhao Ying's shoulders.

It was already late autumn, and a chilly evening wind was howling. In Lin Fan's estimation, a little over a month from now, T City would likely welcome its first snow of the year.

Although the night weather was somewhat cold, it did nothing to deter people out for a stroll. Lin Fan could tell that this area lacked many things, but certainly not couples. "Would you like to go up for a ride?" he asked, glancing at the glowing, twinkling Ferris Wheel.

"Mhm," Zhao Ying murmured softly, linking her arm through Lin Fan's.

Normally, each cabin of this Ferris Wheel could hold eight people, but Lin Fan simply paid double the price to rent an entire cabin for themselves. As the wheel slowly rose, the nighttime scenery spanning a radius of forty kilometers gradually unfolded before their eyes.

Hesitating for a moment, Lin Fan gently said, "Ying'er, I might have to go away on a trip again in a few days."

"Mhm, I'll wait for you to come back," Zhao Ying replied simply, her words overflowing with deep affection. Ever since she learned of Lin Fan's true identity, she knew the best way she could support him was to quietly back every decision he made from behind the scenes.

Higher and higher the Ferris Wheel climbed. In the empty cabin, there were only the two of them. Zhao Ying snuggled into Lin Fan's embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist as she gazed fixedly into the distance. After a long while, she softly asked, "Grim Reaper, why do you think people bother making a journey through this mortal world?"

Lin Fan was slightly taken aback, then chuckled warmly and said, "Why are you suddenly asking such a profound question? Since when did my Ying'er become so sentimental?"

Hearing him call her "my Ying'er" brought a wonderful wave of comfort to Zhao Ying. In truth, she would have preferred it if Lin Fan had added the word "only" before Ying'er, but she knew that was impossible—at least for now. Of course, Lin Fan was unaware of these inner thoughts.

"Just answer my question first," Zhao Ying said, casting a blissful look up at him.

Lin Fan smiled faintly and replied, "When a person makes a journey through this world, they must have dreams. Life is inherently like a dream; if one merely drifts through it in dull mediocrity, then life is far less breathtaking than a dream. When a person grows old and realizes that their entire life was ordinary, devoid of any fond memories or anything that moved them, then their life is destined to be a failure. There are far too many people in this world who live such mediocre lives."

Then, looking deeply into the eyes of the woman in his arms, Lin Fan continued, "Of course, there is one more thing of utmost importance: to find the person you love most deeply, and then protect her and cherish her for a lifetime. With that, you will have no regrets in this life, and no sorrow in eternity!"

"And what about you?" What Zhao Ying had truly wanted to know with her previous question was what lay in Lin Fan's heart.

"Me?" Lin Fan pulled Zhao Ying tightly against him, gazed out into the distance, and remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, "My world is very simple. I believe that a man's world is not just about unbridled slaughter and exhilarating bloodshed, nor is it about ruthless climbing to the top by unorthodox means, nor is it purely about conquering mountains and rivers to possess the realm. When you strip all of that away, those things are merely tools a man uses to win a single smile from the woman he loves. That is why so many people abandon their first love for the sake of so-called supremacy, only to suffer a crushing awakening of lifelong regret."

There was one more thing Lin Fan kept to himself: his burning, dream-driven desire to avenge his parents. If not for their accidental deaths, perhaps he would be just like anyone else right now—attending university, falling in love, getting married, having children, and enjoying the simple, harmonious happiness of a family...

"Hmph, choosing a beauty over an empire—if this were ancient times, you'd be the type like King Zhou of Shang or Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, a textbook example of a fatuous ruler," Zhao Ying said, a faint, blissful smile tugging at the corner of her lips, though she couldn't resist playfully teasing the slightly smug Lin Fan.

"Such magnificent rivers and mountains have driven countless heroes to bow in submission. True heroes have always loved their empire, but they love their beauty even more," Lin Fan said, a faint, wicked smile playing at the corners of his mouth as if he had anticipated her retort. "Ying'er, the truth is I don't worship limitless power, nor do I care for endless wealth, nor am I concerned with what kind of hegemony I might build in the future. What I want is the process—the heart-pounding process of experiencing the struggle for supremacy. That is what I desire most. But while I attain all of that, I want you to remain forever by my side, forever! Otherwise, even if I were to rule the world one day, I would never be truly happy."

Though she did not know what the future held, Zhao Ying smiled with pure bliss at that very moment, because Lin Fan's words had been spoken entirely to her alone. No woman would not want her man to be an unrivaled hero who conquered vast territories to offer as a bride price. Yet Zhao Ying understood better than anyone that holding onto the happiness right in front of her was what mattered most. Whether this man was penniless or ruled the world, as long as the two of them could lean on each other, holding hands as they grew old together, that was more than enough for her!

As for the feeling of striving for hegemony that Lin Fan spoke of, Zhao Ying didn't fully grasp or understand it, but she knew it was a man's pursuit.

As Lin Fan's woman, Zhao Ying knew she couldn't help him with those bloody, violent affairs. All she could do was quietly support him from behind the scenes, backing every decision he made. Because as long as Lin Fan was happy, she was happy. In Zhao Ying's eyes, that was the only thing she could do for him right now.

At that moment, the Ferris Wheel reached the zenith of its circular rotation. Looking down at the slightly misty-eyed Zhao Ying in his arms, Lin Fan felt an irrepressible impulse welling up from deep within his heart. As if reading his thoughts, Zhao Ying wore a blissful smile as she gently lifted her chin and leaned forward. Hesitating no longer, Lin Fan curved his lips into a smile, lowered his head, and pressed his lips fiercely against hers.

Between heaven and earth, it seemed as though all time had frozen. At the very peak of the Ferris Wheel, the two of them clung to one another as the autumn wind blew softly past. At that moment, the instant was etched into eternity, becoming their most beautiful memory...