Iris Kensington excitedly tugged on Holly Winslow's sleeve. "Your cousin is so handsome today, like a prince from a manga."
Holly Winslow: "..."
She shot Iris Kensington a mournful glare.
Mortimer Quincy strode over on his long legs, giving Holly Winslow a meaningful look.
"Cousin, this is for you. I wasn't sure what flavor you like, so I got the original."
Xavier Jennings pulled another bubble tea from the bag and handed it to him, his attitude a little ingratiating.
Another "cousin."
Mortimer Quincy's face gradually darkened. He spoke in a low voice, "Thanks, but I don't like sweets. We're about the same age. Just call me by my name, Mortimer Quincy."
'Mortimer Quincy?'
The name sounded a bit familiar to Xavier Jennings, but he couldn't immediately recall where he'd heard it. He replied readily, "I'm Xavier Jennings."
"So you don't like sweets, just like Holly Winslow? If I'd known, I would've asked the shop owner to use less sugar. Well, I'll treat you next time, Cousin."
"No need."
Mortimer Quincy's gaze fell on the bubble tea in Holly Winslow's hand. With his better-than-20/20 vision, he could see the label stuck to it: less sugar, extra boba, add coconut jelly.
The amusement park was in the county suburbs. A taxi would cost at least forty yuan, which Holly Winslow and Iris Kensington decided wasn't worth it.
The bus was only three-fifty per person.
After a brief discussion, they decided to wait for the bus at Andor Station. They waited for five or six minutes before it arrived. As usual for a Saturday, there were no empty seats, and it was packed with people.
Holly Winslow was pressed against Mortimer Quincy's chest, one hand gripping a handrail. She caught the familiar, clean scent of his vanilla body wash.
A hand reached past her ear, handing a green fifty-yuan bill to the fare collector. "For four people."
Xavier Jennings quickly pulled a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket. "Ma'am, don't take his money, take mine."
The woman glanced at it, her tone impatient. "Can't make change for that."
She then took Mortimer Quincy's fifty. "Which four?"
Mortimer Quincy pointed them out. The woman looked away, tore off the tickets, and gave him thirty-six yuan in change. Holly Winslow took it for him and, out of habit, stuffed it into his pocket.
After they got married, she never liked carrying money, finding it a hassle. So, Mortimer had always been the one to carry their cash. She even stashed her lipstick in his pocket.
She remembered one time when he was in a meeting, a lipstick had fallen out when he reached for his phone.
Xavier Jennings scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I'll treat you guys on the way back."
The buses back then were much worse than the ones ten years later. They lurched with every stop and start. Holly Winslow struggled to hold onto the overhead ring, her head occasionally bumping into Mortimer Quincy's chest.
Mortimer Quincy wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Hold on to my arm."
Iris Kensington watched them with envy. 'Oh my god, I want a handsome and caring cousin like that, too!'
After a few stops, they reached Central Plaza Station. A lot of people got off, freeing up some seats. Holly Winslow took a window seat, and Mortimer Quincy sat next to her.
Iris Kensington sat in the row behind them with an older woman, while Xavier Jennings was at the very back.
Holly Winslow was looking out the window when her hand was suddenly taken. She turned her head and met Mortimer Quincy's handsome face, her heart skipping a beat.
"Holly, look outside, quick! There's a pond, it's so pretty!" Iris Kensington's head popped forward from the window behind them.
Startled, Holly Winslow twisted her body to hide their joined hands. She then glanced distractedly out the window, but they had already passed the pond.
"I missed it. Ellie, you should sit back down. The bus could brake suddenly."
Once Iris Kensington had sat back, Holly tried to pull her hand away, but a certain someone just held it tighter.
The corners of his eyes lifted as he mouthed a word to her, "Wife," followed by, "I'm thirsty."
"Do you want some of the bubble tea?"
Holly Winslow's eyes met the fare collector's casual glance, and she suddenly felt the intense panic of being caught in a secret high school romance.
"Yes," Mortimer Quincy nodded.
"Let go of my hand so I can get it for you." Holly Winslow pulled her hand free, took the bubble tea, and shook it a few times before poking the straw in and handing it to him.
Mortimer Quincy took only a small sip before tossing it into the trash can near the bus door, before Holly Winslow could even react.
"..."
'I knew he was going to pull something.'
That was a kind gesture from Xavier Jennings. Feeling a little guilty, she glanced back and saw Xavier sleeping with his arms crossed, which made her sigh in relief.
She checked on Iris Kensington, who was also dozing against the window.
Worried that Xavier Jennings would see the bubble tea in the trash can when they got off, Holly Winslow pulled a few tissues from her pocket and threw them in to cover it up.
After doing all this, she puffed up her cheeks and pouted, whispering, "You're buying me another bubble tea later. And... a double-skin milk pudding, too."
"Okay." Mortimer Quincy's fingers itched, and he couldn't resist pinching her cheek.
After that, Holly Winslow started to feel drowsy too. She leaned against Mortimer Quincy's shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
She didn't know how much time had passed before someone nudged her shoulder. "We're here."
The four of them got off the bus. Iris Kensington took a sip of her bubble tea. "Holly, where's your drink?"
Holly Winslow guiltily avoided her gaze and changed the subject. "I finished it. Where's Anna?"
"Anna just texted saying she's already here. I'll give her a call."
Iris Kensington pulled out her phone and called Anna Willow. "Hey, Anna, we're at the main entrance. Where are you? We're near a gazebo that's selling drinks."
A moment later, Anna Willow's cheerful voice rang out. "Holly! Ellie!"
Trailing behind Anna Willow was another person—her older brother, Brian Willow.
She ran up and jumped, throwing her arms around Holly Winslow and Iris Kensington. "If you guys took any longer, my legs would've gone numb from squatting!"
Holly Winslow and Iris Kensington both staggered. Iris, feeling like she was being strangled, pushed Anna Willow away and rubbed her neck. "Anna, you really need to go on a diet."
"I agree." Holly Winslow snorted with laughter, seconding the motion in earnest.
Anna Willow was a little chubby, but in a very endearing way.
"Holly Winslow! Iris Kensington! We're not friends for two seconds!" Anna Willow immediately huffed, her cheeks puffing out.
Holly Winslow and Iris Kensington grinned and counted in unison, "One... two. And we're friends again."
Anna Willow burst out laughing. "HAHA," she waved her hand magnanimously. "You are forgiven."
"Anna, let's go buy some water. Holly, you wait here."
Iris Kensington grabbed Anna Willow and pulled her toward a drink stall not far away. Iris whispered, "I told you Xavier Jennings was going to confess to Holly today. Why'd you bring your brother?"
"My parents wouldn't let me come out alone, so they made my brother tag along. Don't worry, I already gave him a heads-up on the way here. He promised to cooperate."
After saying that, Anna Willow glanced back in Mortimer Quincy's direction. "How come the handsome cousin is here too? How are we supposed to get Holly and Xavier alone later?"
"I don't know. We'll just have to look for an opportunity." Iris Kensington shook her head.
As the two of them walked away, whispering to each other, Holly Winslow had a bad feeling.
The entrance fee for the amusement park was fifty yuan per ticket for all-access, which was considered quite expensive.
Xavier Jennings had brought plenty of money today. He pulled out three hundred yuan and handed it to the ticket seller, saying grandly, "Six tickets."
Three hundred yuan was two weeks' worth of living expenses.
"Xavier Jennings, we agreed to go Dutch," Iris Kensington said, quickly taking out fifty yuan.
Anna Willow also took out a hundred yuan, and Holly Winslow had just pulled out three hundred.
Just then, Mortimer Quincy stepped forward and handed a blue card to the ticket seller. The card had the name "Joy Larkin" printed in large letters, with "SVIP" written underneath. "Mortimer Quincy, phone number 137-7..."
Joy Larkin was the name of the amusement park.