Chapter 390 - 289: Amusement Park

The amusement park was not unfamiliar to Han Zhan.

When he was a child, he often came to play, but as he grew up, he rarely visited.

The facilities inside the amusement park were all brand new. The animal house was on the right after entering, with no giraffes and alpacas, no tigers and lions. Instead, there were some Exotic Beasts unique to Blue Star.

They were confined within living quarters by thick, specially-made glass, while visitors could admire them through the corridors.

Next to the animal house was the circus, where robots performed magic tricks. Draped in human-like skin, they looked no different from real people.

Then there was the iconic amusement park structure, the Ferris wheel.

The tall Ferris wheel spun slowly. By the time Han Zhan and Xia Youwei entered the amusement park, a long line had already formed here.

"Didn’t expect it to be this crowded?" Xia Youwei couldn’t help but marvel at the bustling amusement park.

"Bob said he analyzed the entire Great Xia North County’s residents and found their happiness index was low. The happiness index is linked to the birth rate of the next generation, which influences the total talent pool, further affecting Great Xia’s combat strength..."

After a meticulous analysis by Bob, the conclusion he arrived at was:

The people of North County must increase their happiness index to boost the overall strength of Great Xia North County.

"Occasional relaxation isn’t a bad thing. An overly oppressive environment can indeed easily change one’s attitude."

Xia Youwei spoke up in support of Bob.

Walking and chatting, Xia Youwei was suddenly attracted by a small stall inside the amusement park.

It was a robot stall.

To be exact, all the stalls in the amusement park were managed by robots.

For Han Zhan, who had seen real amusement parks, it felt a bit eerie, but for Xia Youwei, who hadn’t been to an amusement park before, it was extremely novel.

"That’s cotton candy."

Han Zhan saw clearly where Xia Youwei was pointing, a robot was rotating a wooden stick in its hand at a fixed and stable rate.

As the stick turned, a bit of white cotton-like substance wrapped around it, gradually forming the shape of a small cloud.

"Would you like some?"

Han Zhan, seeing the rare look of anticipation on Xia Youwei’s face, stepped forward and used the park card Bob had given him to swipe for a cotton candy.

Xia Youwei happily took the cotton candy from Han Zhan’s hand, and under Han Zhan’s direction, she tentatively stuck out her tender little tongue to nimbly lick it.

The cotton candy melted at the tongue’s warmth, turning into sweet syrup that dissolved in her mouth.

After tasting the sweetness, Xia Youwei began taking small bites, looking adorably like a little white rabbit.

Han Zhan didn’t speak, just quietly watched her, a smile appearing on his face.

He reached out to rub Xia Youwei’s hair, and caught off guard, she let out a soft "mm" sound.

"How is it? Not easy being the ’Main Palace Lady’, right?" Han Zhan teased.

Unexpectedly, Xia Youwei just "mm"-ed twice and shook her head.

"Everyone is very easy to get along with, much easier than in dramas, and I’m not as tired as I imagined."

This was the truth.

"It’s just... I never had the chance to help you, and that makes me a bit sad."

Saying that, Xia Youwei lowered her head slightly, a hint of gloom in her tone.

Whether it was going to Titan City, adventuring in the Fruit World, or heading to the City of Extreme Evil, she hadn’t been able to fight alongside Han Zhan.

While each had more important duties, Xia Youwei’s heart still harbored a slight grievance about it.

"Silly girl."

Han Zhan chuckled, withdrawing his hand from Xia Youwei. Then he pulled her into his arms, "On which day, since I returned to North County, haven’t I fought by your side?"

Han Zhan’s words successfully turned Xia Youwei’s sadness into shyness.

"I heard from Second Brother that you have quite a talent for tactics and can spar evenly with him at the training ground?"

Changing the subject, Han Zhan asked.

The two continued chatting as they strolled through the amusement park.

Han Zhan’s arm around Xia Youwei never loosened, and she gently rested her head against his chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat.

Thump, thump.

"That was Second Brother going easy on me. I’m still not proficient in controlling the battle spirits, plus you’ve been out slaying many new battle spirits lately."

"I still have a long way to go." Xia Youwei said modestly.

What she didn’t know was that Second Brother Lin Jingxuan, when discussing this with Han Zhan, had four words to describe Xia Youwei:

Gifted and exceptional.

Not everyone could manage such a vast number of battle spirits, let alone make them deploy formations according to one’s intentions and engage the enemy.

Xia Youwei’s introverted personality, often detailed, was also reflected in the control of battle spirits.

If one were truly to compare Xia Youwei with others, in Lin Jingxuan’s mind, the only one who could rival her was Ye Qiu in his prime, the Legion Commander of the Fourth War Zone, a king of sieges and conquests.

The more they walked, the closer they got to the Ferris wheel at the amusement park’s center.

The surroundings grew more crowded with tourists.

Many people recognized Han Zhan and Xia Youwei.

Lifting their cameras, they started snapping away.

Clearly treating Han Zhan and Xia Youwei as major celebrities.

Given their current status, referring to them as major celebrities would be an understatement.

With so many people watching, Xia Youwei’s face flushed deeper red, shyly wanting to pull away from Han Zhan’s embrace, yet she couldn’t.

"What are you panicking for?"

"Ah Zhan!" Xia Youwei’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s.

"You’re the Main Palace Lady, you should confidently present yourself to everyone, there’s nothing to be shy about."

Han Zhan’s words made Xia Youwei feel warm inside, a sense of fulfillment from being recognized by someone she loved.

To comfort Xia Youwei, given her naturally shy nature, Han Zhan didn’t push her any further. Using Bob’s park card, they went through the VIP passage and boarded the Ferris wheel at the park’s center.

This was Xia Youwei’s first time on a Ferris wheel.

Compared to being swept by the Joyful Wind into the sky, this was an entirely different experience.

Gradually, Xia Youwei forgot her shyness, immersed in the beauty of the moment.

"Youwei." Han Zhan suddenly called her name from behind.

"Hmm?" Instinctively turning, Xia Youwei saw Han Zhan pull out a ring from his pocket.

"Xiao Jin, Nuannuan, Siteng, they’ve all had their weddings with me. As the Main Palace Lady, I can’t slight you no matter what."

At that moment, the Ferris wheel they were on reached its highest point.

Looking at the person who had accompanied him since Qingteng Academy, from a young girl to a wife, still as beautiful as a flower.

Han Zhan slipped the ring onto her finger.