Chapter 50: Amusement Park and Fluffy Dog

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Amusement Park and Fluffy Dog

Nan Zhi whipped out her phone and went on a photo frenzy!

After a moment, Nan Yi realized what was happening and reached up to feel the soft ears on his head.

His expression was a mixture of shyness and exasperation.

"Mom!"

Nan Zhi raised an eyebrow, a delighted smile spreading across her face.

"Alright, alright. I’ll get you a different one."

This time, she swapped them for a pair of long, white bunny ears.

When Nan Yi wore the cat ears, he looked like a mysterious black cat—cool, aloof, with a hint of pride.

But with the rabbit ears, he looked like a docile but secretly devious bunny—the kind who looks sweet on the outside but is full of mischief.

With a flurry of taps from her thumb, Nan Zhi saved another dozen photos.

After enduring it for a little while, Nan Yi finally asked:

"Can I take them off now?"

"Go ahead."

With a grand wave of her hand, Nan Zhi "mercifully" let him off the hook.

But she hadn’t forgotten the real reason they’d come to the shop—

She’d been careless when they left the house, forgetting that she was now something of a celebrity.

What’s more, with *Cub Observation Diary* currently under intense public scrutiny, she was easily recognized wherever she went.

To be safe, Nan Zhi picked out two bucket hats, one large and one small.

They would provide shade and help them avoid any unwanted attention.

Before paying, Nan Zhi casually grabbed a plush toy that looked like a gray sheepdog from the shelf.

Nan Yi reacted instantly.

"I-I didn’t want it!"

’I only glanced at it for a second!’

Nan Zhi asked him:

"You don’t like it?"

Nan Yi mumbled hesitantly.

"I’m a big boy now. I don’t need stuffed animals..."

Nan Zhi wouldn’t take no for an answer.

"You’re only four and a half. How does that count as grown-up?"

Nan Yi blushed, but his eyes remained glued to the stuffed animal.

’This won’t do,’ Nan Zhi thought. ’I’ll have to distract him.’

So she said nonchalantly:

"Yiyi, Mommy’s a little thirsty. Could you go to the cooler by the entrance and see what drinks they have?"

Nan Yi didn’t suspect a thing and obediently trotted off.

The moment he was gone, Nan Zhi quickly asked:

"How much is this?"

The cashier stated the price, and Nan Zhi quickly scanned the code to pay.

’I can’t let Nan Yi find out!’

Otherwise, that little penny-pincher would definitely shove this 285-yuan plush sheepdog right back on the shelf!

Nan Zhi put on her new hat and walked out of the shop to find Nan Yi still crouched by the entrance, carefully examining the drinks one by one.

Nan Yi looked up in surprise when she came out.

"Mom, you’re already done? Did you pay? How much was the fluffy doggy—"

"Ooh! They’re selling soft-serve ice cream over there! I want some!"

Nan Zhi’s eyes suddenly lit up as she pointed to a dessert truck in the distance.

Just as she’d hoped, Nan Yi was distracted. He swallowed hard.

"S-so... can we get one?"

What kid doesn’t like ice cream?

Especially Nan Yi, who had a major sweet tooth!

Nan Zhi generously bought two ice cream cones.

Busy with his ice cream, Nan Yi finally forgot to press her about the price.

Nan Zhi quietly let out a sigh of relief and took a bite of her ice cream.

’Mmm, it’s a little too sweet.’

But enjoyed in this setting, it had a special kind of sweetness.

Nan Zhi closed her eyes in contentment, enjoying the feeling of the spring breeze on her face...

"Nan Zhi?"

A voice full of surprise brought Nan Zhi back to her senses.

She turned and saw two people who had appeared out of nowhere, almost thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her.

"What are you two doing here?"

Before she got an answer, a small figure rushed over.

"Yiyi!"

A gloomy expression clouded Nan Yi’s little face.

But he still didn’t push him away, allowing Qing Xi to throw his arms around him enthusiastically.

Qing Xi’s eyes lit up.

"Wow! This is awesome, Yiyi! We can play together!"

’No,’ Nan Yi thought. ’This isn’t awesome at all.’

He pressed his lips into a thin line, unhappy that his one-on-one time with his mom had been ruined.

Nan Zhi seemed to sense his subtle shift in mood and rubbed his back reassuringly.

She waited for Fu Chao to get closer before asking curiously:

"Did you know we were here?"

"Of course not!"

Fu Chao clicked his tongue in amazement. He couldn’t believe such a coincidence was possible.

After breakfast this morning, Qing Xi had been begging to go play with Nan Yi.

It was the first time Fu Chao had ever seen Qing Xi so enthusiastic about another kid.

Since they didn’t have her phone number, the uncle and nephew duo decided to just show up at their door, only to learn from their neighbor, Granny Qian, that the mother and son had gone out.

Where did they go?

She didn’t know.

Seeing his little nephew’s disappointed face, Fu Chao had cheered him up by suggesting a trip to an amusement park.

And that’s how they ended up here, where they ran into Nan Zhi and Nan Yi.

Fu Chao beamed as he remarked:

"...I was just looking for a nearby amusement park. I never expected to see you two here. It must be fate!"

Nan Zhi also found the coincidence to be strangely wonderful.

Still, having company would certainly make things more convenient.

For some of the kiddy rides that adults couldn’t go on, Nan Yi and Qing Xi could go together, and the two of them could look out for each other.

As for Nan Yi, his displeasure only lasted for a short while at the beginning.

Before long, the fun of having a playmate with him washed away his gloom.

He quickly got lost in the park’s many attractions, having the time of his life.

An hour or two later, Nan Yi was already drenched in sweat!

Nan Zhi said, "Let’s take a break. Besides, it’s about lunchtime."

Fu Chao replied, "How about we find a restaurant here in the park?"

Nan Zhi had just nodded in agreement,

when Fu Chao eagerly proposed:

"My treat! I’ve been freeloading off you for the past two days!"

Only then did Nan Zhi remember—

Since filming was on break today, Fu Chao would have gotten his wallet back. He was no longer the "penniless little uncle" that Qing Xi had described.

She, on the other hand, had so little money in her own bank account that the break from filming hadn’t registered in the same way.

"In that case, thanks."

Nan Zhi graciously accepted his kind offer.

Having been famous for so many years, Fu Chao was certainly not lacking for money.

He decisively chose the best restaurant in the park—it had a quiet atmosphere and offered good privacy, allowing them to enjoy a meal in peace.

It was a family-friendly Western restaurant, with a menu full of kid-favorites like pizza, chicken wings, and the like.

Although Nan Zhi wasn’t an expert on the finer points of Western cuisine, she was a connoisseur of good food.

She could tell the quality of the ingredients with a single taste—

The pizza crust was fragrant with wheat. It had been kneaded by hand and perfectly proofed, making it soft yet resilient. Paired with sweet and tangy fruit and garnished with fresh buffalo mozzarella, the flavor was exceptionally fresh and delightful.

The pan-fried chicken wings were also cooked to perfection. The skin was crisp while the meat inside was tender and juicy. A faint hint of orange aroma cut through the richness of the fried chicken.

But the artisanal hamburger was the biggest surprise. It started with a base of mayonnaise, layered with tomato, a beef patty, black truffle, and foie gras. Each bite revealed a rich, progressive layering of textures. The flavors were complex but harmonious. Nan Zhi was so impressed that she ate the entire thing, leaving her too full for anything else.

...

By the end of the meal, everyone was full and happy.

This was especially true for Nan Yi. He had never had food like this before, and the novelty of it all was fascinating.

Of course, he still maintained:

"Mom’s cooking is still the best!"

Far from arguing, Fu Chao and Qing Xi nodded in deep agreement.

"Exactly!"

The waiter gave them a strange look.

Nan Zhi smiled faintly and tipped the brim of her hat down a little lower.