C10 I Just Want You to be Happy

"Jinnian, will you ever marry me?"

"Silly girl, if I don't marry you, who else would I marry?"

If he didn't want to marry her, then who would he marry? He could marry anyone, but it seemed he would never marry her.

The black text before her felt like tiny daggers, each word stabbing into the most tender part of her heart.

The joy she held was snatched away. Dan Hengmo looked at the wedding invitation and suddenly laughed. "Look at you, getting so worked up. A man who doesn't want you isn't worth your tears." If a voice could have a flavor, Dan Hengmo's would certainly be tart.

"It was your scare that made me cry," Ruan Ruan dabbed at the corner of her eyes, only then realizing she had been crying.

"Come on, get up. I'm taking you somewhere," Dan Hengmo said, harboring a peculiar desire to cheer this woman up.

Ruan Ruan instinctively shook her head. He couldn't possibly be planning to take her somewhere frightening or to do something horrifying, could he?

Dan Hengmo effortlessly lifted Ruan Ruan from the ground. Towering over her, he carried her into the room to change her clothes.

Ruan Ruan squirmed, not wanting to be carried like a child.

Dan Hengmo gave her a playful smack on the behind, causing Ruan Ruan's face to flush with embarrassment, and she became still, not daring to move again.

Dan Hengmo enjoyed her reaction immensely; her blushing was just too adorable.

Once in the room, Dan Hengmo set her down on the bed and asked what she wanted to wear, seemingly intent on helping her change.

Ruan Ruan sprang up from the bed, insisting, "I can do it myself. Just wait outside for me."

Dan Hengmo complied and stepped out. He was only trying to lighten the mood, not wanting to see her wear a look of sorrow, not wanting her to grieve over another man.

Dressed, Ruan Ruan stepped out. Dan Hengmo observed her simple T-shirt. It was plain, without any distinctive features, yet in his eyes, she looked more beautiful than anyone else could. Perhaps this is what they mean by 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

Dan Hengmo quickly dismissed the thoughts from his mind. A lover? To Ruan Ruan, he was nothing more than a stranger living under the same roof.

"I know I'm not dressed well, but there's no need to stare," Ruan Ruan said, tugging at her clothes self-consciously. It seemed that all men preferred beauties like Shi Xuerong.

"It is pretty bad. How about I take you shopping for some new clothes?" Dan Hengmo offered.

"I don't have any money," Ruan Ruan replied.

"I could always take you to rob a bank; it's a quick way to wealth," Dan Hengmo joked, brandishing a small silver knife.

Ruan Ruan quickly shook her head. Only he would suggest robbing a bank, and he might even be crazy enough to do it. She had no intention of going on a wild spree with a madman.

Despite her reluctance, Dan Hengmo led Ruan Ruan outside. She didn't enjoy going out, especially to crowded places, which only served to highlight her solitude. She craved solitude yet feared being alone.

On the bus, Ruan Ruan chose a window seat.

"Where are we headed?" she inquired.

"Just take a nap for now. You'll find out when we get there," Dan Hengmo said softly, cradling her in his arms, his gaze filled with affection for Ruan Ruan.

Ruan Ruan pushed his hand away in annoyance. His words had taken on a sickeningly sweet tone.

Glancing around, she noticed many girls looking at her enviously. Ruan Ruan felt like telling them that even a man who could kill without flinching could be admired. What had become of people's sense of beauty?

Nevertheless, Ruan Ruan obediently fell asleep. She had a habit of dozing off in vehicles, lulled by their rocking motion, much like a cradle.

The bus came to a halt at the amusement park. Dan Hengmo watched the still-sleeping Ruan Ruan in his arms, debating whether to wake her. Her sleeping face was amusing, her lips parted slightly to reveal a hint of her pearly white teeth.

He was reminded of rabbits, though Ruan Ruan's sleeping expression lacked their softness.

Ruan Ruan hadn't been sleeping deeply and woke up as the bus stopped, but she was unaware that Dan Hengmo had brought her to this particular destination.

Ruan Ruan had always enjoyed the amusement park. She and Yuh Jinnian used to frequent this place. It had been a few months since her last visit.

Back then, Yuh Jinnian had promised to take her home to meet his family and even talked of marriage. As it turned out, a man's promises couldn't always be trusted.

"Get up," Dan Hengmo said, his voice cold as he pushed Ruan Ruan away from his shoulder.

Opening her eyes, Ruan Ruan gazed out at the amusement park, bustling with people, each face alight with joy.

Reluctantly, Ruan Ruan followed Dan Hengmo out of the car. She hadn't wanted to come, but she was too afraid to defy him, especially after the incident with Shi Xuerong, which had only intensified her fear.

Dan Hengmo was in a foul mood. He had thought Ruan Ruan was still asleep and had hesitated to wake her, but seeing the sadness etched on her face, he was struck by how deeply affected she was by leaving that man—how significant he must have been to her.

Dan Hengmo set a brisk pace, pulling Ruan Ruan along so fast she had to jog to keep up. This man was an enigma—one moment gentle, the next inexplicably angry. She couldn't help but wonder if he suffered from a split personality.

"Dan Hengmo, slow down. I can't keep up," she called out.

But Dan Hengmo didn't listen. Frustrated, Ruan Ruan let go of his hand and stopped walking, standing her ground to see what madness he would display next.

If it weren't for concern over her family's safety, would she really need to plaster a smile on her face for a madman?

When she let go, Dan Hengmo's mood, already dark, turned even stormier. He wasn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve, yet his emotions seemed to whirl chaotically around Ruan Ruan.

As Dan Hengmo raised his hand, Ruan Ruan instinctively flinched, shielding her head in anticipation of a blow.

However, Dan Hengmo's response caught her off guard. Instead of lashing out, he wrapped his arm around her waist, saying, "You don't like the amusement park."

Ruan Ruan was taken aback. She had braced herself for a fit of rage, not this. Being with someone so unpredictable meant always being on guard, for any wrong look or word might just cost her dearly.

The amusement park was bustling with joyful couples and students, each one laughing and enjoying the day.

"As a child, we didn't have the money for me to visit amusement parks. It wasn't until I was older that I got to experience them, and it was always Yuh Jinnian who took me. Most of my memories here are intertwined with his, but now I want to let those memories go," Ruan Ruan said, gazing at the Ferris wheel where Yuh Jinnian had once promised her an everlasting bond.

"You could try creating new memories to overshadow the old ones. From now on, when you come to the amusement park, you'll only recall the times with me," Dan Hengmo declared with an assertive tone.

Ruan Ruan was at a loss for words. It wasn't as simple as he made it sound—replacing memories on a whim. Besides, why would she want to remember him, a madman, every time she visited the park?

All Ruan Ruan wished for was for Dan Hengmo to swiftly exit her life. They were nothing more than acquaintances masquerading as strangers. Once he was gone, she would ignore him completely, even if they crossed paths on the street.

"Come on, I'll take you to have some fun," Dan Hengmo said, taking Ruan Ruan's hand in his, her hand seeming so small within his grasp.

"I didn't bring any money with me," Ruan Ruan admitted. She had left in such a hurry that she hadn't taken any cash with her, relying on her bus card for the ride, which was attached to her keys.

Dan Hengmo produced a white wallet from his pocket. Ruan Ruan looked at it and felt a sense of recognition.