What did he mean by saying she didn't get embarrassed? She was human too, and humans feel shy!
"Hmm, you do get shy. Alright, let's have fun now that we're inside."
Seeing the dissatisfaction in Elysia's eyes, Chang Yuan quickly soothed her.
Then he looked around. They had come out early in the morning and hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
Spotting a pastry shop, Chang Yuan immediately dragged Elysia over to buy some strawberry pastries.
"What should we do first?"
"Let me think... roller coaster?"
"Silly Chang Yuan, we just ate. If we go on that now, we might feel sick."
Hearing Chang Yuan's thoughtless suggestion, Elysia pinched his cheek in dissatisfaction.
Although they were MANTISes, with physical abilities far beyond ordinary humans, the roller coaster's stomach-churning effects had nothing to do with physical strength.
"My bad, my bad. Let me see... how about that?"
Chang Yuan looked up and saw a tire-shaped ride moving along a track in the sky.
It was a two-person ride, perfect for them.
"Hmm... that works. It'll be a good post-meal activity. Hehe, let's go."
Grabbing Chang Yuan's hand, Elysia led him to the queue.
The amusement park was quite popular, so there were many people in line.
But Elysia and Chang Yuan didn't mind the wait.
Soon, it was their turn. Unsurprisingly, Elysia chose a pink ride.
Chang Yuan, familiar with her preferences, wasn't surprised.
"Hmph, looking down at the people below from such a height is a unique experience."
While Chang Yuan, driven by male competitiveness, was busy speeding up, Elysia was more interested in the scenery.
There were children dragging their parents to the haunted house, couples feeding each other sweets, and kids playing hide-and-seek.
Everything was so beautiful, so warm.
"This is what I want to protect—humanity, everyone."
Seeing this, Elysia felt her heart, weary from fighting the Honkai, relax a little.
Thud!
"We're here! Yay! Less than 10 minutes."
While Elysia was still lost in thought, Chang Yuan, driven by his competitive spirit, had sped up and reached the end in under 10 minutes.
Elysia was still a bit dazed.
Seeing Chang Yuan get off the ride and cheer, she couldn't help but shake her head.
Boys, no matter how old, always have a childlike side.
"Next, let's try something a bit more thrilling—the pirate ship."
"Sure, I won't stop you, Chang Yuan."
"Yay!"
On the pirate ship, feeling the back-and-forth motion, Elysia remained calm.
But Chang Yuan, along with the other riders, was screaming.
This eventually got Elysia to join in.
They played until evening, and as they approached the Ferris wheel, Chang Yuan decided this would be their final ride.
According to the novels he'd read, confessing on a Ferris wheel had a 99.99% success rate.
The only exception was if some uncontrollable factor interrupted the confession.
Everyone thought he and Elysia were a couple, but only he knew that Elysia had never actually accepted his confession.
Elysia only wanted an unnamed relationship. She didn't seek the title of girlfriend or future wife. All she wanted was to stay by his side, even willing to do things only a girlfriend or wife would do.
But Chang Yuan couldn't accept that. It wasn't fair to Elysia, and it felt like a desecration of their love.
So, he planned to confess again, this time on the Ferris wheel. He would be more forceful this time, and even if he failed, he would ask why she couldn't accept him.
Seeing the Ferris wheel, Elysia recalled all the legends surrounding it.
Confessing on a Ferris wheel, if accepted, would ensure the couple's lasting happiness.
Most of the stories revolved around couples and confessions.
But they all boiled down to one word: confession.
Elysia already knew what Chang Yuan was planning.
As expected, he still wasn't willing to give up. Just like the Chang Yuan she knew, he would quietly work hard for things he couldn't openly talk about.
But the more he did this, the more anxious Elysia felt.
Because of that feeling—the feeling that they would eventually part—she didn't dare to accept.
"Elysia, Elysia!"
Seeing Elysia lost in thought, Chang Yuan tugged at her hand.
Snapping out of it, Elysia realized they had already checked their tickets and were in the Ferris wheel waiting area.
When the next cabin arrived and a couple stepped out, Chang Yuan pulled Elysia inside.
As they slowly ascended, the atmosphere in the small cabin grew quieter, to the point where even the slightest sound could be heard.
Elysia felt her heartbeat quicken.
But Chang Yuan was no different.
As they approached the peak, the perfect moment for a confession, the tension grew.
Tick tock, tick tock. Time passed slowly.
Finally, they reached the top.
Chang Yuan took a deep breath and looked into Elysia's eyes.
Then, with deep emotion, he took her hands in his.
"Elysia, this is probably my second confession. Please, accept me. Let's walk together into the future, witnessing what's to come."
"...I'm sorry, Chang Yuan. You know I can't give you an answer."
"Why? Everything is perfect. We love each other. Why can't you give me an answer?"
Hearing the same response, Chang Yuan wasn't angry, frustrated, or discouraged. Instead, he calmly looked into her eyes, seeking an answer.
Under his gaze, even Elysia felt a bit guilty and couldn't meet his eyes.
But she also knew that if she didn't give an answer, there would be a third, fourth, or even more confessions. She wasn't sure she could keep refusing.
So, she decided to tell him the truth.
"Because I have a feeling that I might die in the future. I don't want to leave that kind of regret, and I don't want to hurt you."
"..."
Hearing Elysia's explanation, Chang Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
So, even back then, Elysia had already known her fate?