「On the other side.」

Lin Feng and Zhou Cuilan were at an indoor play center with the babies.

Zhang Yuxi called to ask where they were.

Lin Feng checked the time. "Are you coming over? Are you done shopping?"

"Something came up, so we stopped for now."

"Oh, well then, come on over!"

Half an hour later, Zhang Yuxi and Han Wen arrived. Seeing the babies having a great time in the play center, Zhang Yuxi's expression softened.

Lin Feng noticed that Tang Xiufen wasn't with them and was momentarily stunned. I'll ask my wife what happened when we get back. He decided not to ask about it now.

Gazing at the children's play area, Han Wen was eager to try it.

"Yuxi, this place looks so fun! I want to play too."

Zhang Yuxi wasn't surprised by Han Wen's wish. "Then I'll buy you a ticket."

When she went to the counter, she found they only sold children's tickets, not adult ones. She had no choice but to try and buy a child's ticket.

The staff member asked, "Excuse me, miss, where is your child?"

Zhang Yuxi pointed to the quadruplets not far away and explained, "It's like this, my friend wants to go in and... play for a bit... Do you have adult tickets?"

The staff member glanced at Han Wen, who was grinning at her, and hesitated before replying, "Miss, our rules state that children under one year of age require a parent's accompaniment. Since you have four babies, you can have four adults accompany them."

Han Wen was both surprised and delighted. "Does that mean I can go in and play?"

The staff member nodded and smiled. "Yes."

A single visit to the play center wasn't expensive, but getting in for free felt like a huge windfall. No one dislikes the feeling of getting a lucky break.

"However, miss, before you enter, you'll need to sanitize your hands and wear the non-slip socks we provide."

"No problem, no problem at all."

Zhang Yuxi then asked, "By the way, do you have lockers for bags?"

"I'm sorry, miss, we don't. You'll have to watch your belongings yourself."

Just then, Zhou Cuilan came out from the play area.

"Yuxi, give your bags to me. I'll rest on this massage chair for a while."

Looking after four babies is exhausting, she thought. I have no idea how my son manages.

Han Wen leaped into the ball pit, laughing like a delighted fool. "This is so much fun!"

She had always wanted to do this but never had a child to use as an excuse. Besides, she was too self-conscious and, back in Yangcheng, was afraid of being spotted by someone she knew. But now, she could play to her heart's content.

"Yuxi, come on, join me!" Han Wen urged, trying to pull Zhang Yuxi in with her.

Zhang Yuxi waved her hands in refusal. "No, thanks!"

"Come on, come on!"

Seeing Han Wen having so much fun, Zhang Yuxi felt a flicker of temptation. She noticed her babies were watching Han Wen, giggling at her antics.

"Come on! Set a good example for your babies!" Han Wen yelled, scattering a shower of plastic balls into the air like a goddess spreading flowers.

Lin Feng smiled. "Go on and play."

Zhang Yuxi hesitated. She just couldn't bring herself to let go. The idea is just too silly; I'm too self-conscious!

"Come on," Han Wen said, grabbing her hand. "Let's go down the slide."

Zhang Yuxi gestured to one of her children. "Fourth Baby, want to ride the slide with Mommy?"

Han Wen scooped up the second baby. "Let's go! We'll each take one and see who's faster!"

They walked up the steps and then slid down, holding the babies in their arms. The fourth baby was thrilled, and the second baby was ecstatic too.

"Alright, let's take the eldest this time."

"I'll take the third baby!"

The two of them took the babies on the slide several more times.

"Yuxi, how about we race to see who can climb up the slide?" Han Wen proposed.

What kind of suggestion is that? Zhang Yuxi thought. But she was already starting to let herself go. "Alright."

Han Wen turned to the babies. "Little darlings, watch this! We're going to show you something special." To Zhang Yuxi, she said, "On three, we charge! One, two, three!"

At the count of three, they both scrambled up the plastic slope. Han Wen was agile and made it to the top, but Zhang Yuxi slipped and slid back down halfway through.

Showing off like a child, Han Wen cheered from the top, "Hahaha, I'm number one!"

She has such a childlike personality. Who would believe she's a college professor?

"Come on, round two!"

Lin Feng felt happy watching Zhang Yuxi having such a blast with Han Wen. The friends around her, like An Lan and Han Wen, were both cheerful people.

At first, Zhang Yuxi didn't mind losing, but Han Wen won every single time. This ignited Zhang Yuxi's competitive spirit; she was determined to win first place just once. Yet every time she got to the middle of the slide, she'd lose her grip and slide back down.

"Go, go!" Han Wen shouted encouragingly. "You can do it, Yuxi!"

Lin Feng found the scene both hilarious and exasperating. He turned to the babies beside him. "Let's all cheer for Mom, okay?"

At the sound of her mother's voice, the fourth baby couldn't stop laughing. When she laughed, the other babies started laughing too.

I refuse to believe I can't climb this thing today!

Finally, through her relentless efforts, she was just about to reach the top. At that moment, a staff member spoke into a megaphone, her voice directed at Zhang Yuxi's back.

"Ma'am! To the parent on the slide! Please do not climb up the slide. It sets a bad example for the children!"

Everyone laughed. That's right, every single parent in the play center laughed.

She froze, just a single step away from victory, her body stiff with embarrassment. Then, she turned around and slowly, very slowly... slid back down.

Oh my God, what was I just doing?

Han Wen slid down from the top. "Yuxi, if you cover your face fast enough, the embarrassment can't find you!"

Zhang Yuxi was speechless.

Pouting, she sat next to Lin Feng. "Honey, was that really embarrassing?"

"Not at all. As long as you're not embarrassed, they're the ones who should be."

Is that supposed to be a comfort? Zhang Yuxi thought, giving him a playful punch. "Honey, that was so humiliating, and you're still laughing at me. I'm not talking to you anymore."

Lin Feng consoled her. "What's there to be humiliated about? Every adult has an inner child. It's okay to play. Don't worry about what other people think!"

Just as Zhang Yuxi began to feel a little better, Han Wen came over to twist the knife.

"Haha! I knew it would look ridiculous if I played alone. But with two people, it just looks normal! That means I'm not the only fool."

Zhang Yuxi buried her face in Lin Feng's embrace, letting out a silent, internal scream. AHHHH!

You think it was over?

Not a chance.

Zhou Cuilan came over. "Yuxi," she began, "I accidentally recorded that moment along with the babies and sent it to the family group chat. You... you don't mind, right?"

Zhang Yuxi squeezed out a smile. "I don't mind."

Forget it. What's done is done. I've already been thoroughly embarrassed, so I'll just let it be. Then again, today really was fun!

When it was time to leave, Han Wen was still reluctant.

Zhang Yuxi had to pull her along. "Let's go. When you have a baby of your own, you can bring them here and play all you want." The more time she spent with Han Wen, the more she could let her guard down in private.

"But I don't want to get married," Han Wen sighed. "I just want a sweet romance, like the one you and Lin Feng have. Oh, and I also want a baby. How about you give one of yours to me? I'd treat him really well. I'd prefer a daughter, though. I could dress her up so beautifully."

Zhang Yuxi laughed. "In your dreams!"

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