Moses turned to leave when suddenly he heard someone shout out loud.
"The float is coming!"
People immediately cheered and surged forward, carrying him along in the flow, making it impossible to move against the current.
Cursing softly, Moses frowned and just moved forward with the crowd.
At the other end of the street, Huangfu Jue, Gan Yuan, and Gan Tang had already made their way near Central Avenue.
Despite having prepared for a crowd, Huangfu Jue hadn’t expected there to be so many people.
Just looking for a parking space took them down two streets, and in the end, they hadn’t found one, so he simply parked on the side of the road and called Will to handle it.
As they approached Central Avenue, there were more and more pedestrians. Huangfu Jue initially guarded Gan Yuan and Gan Tang, one in each hand; seeing the dense crowd ahead, he stopped.
Slipping off his backpack, he reached out to support Xiaotang’s little shoulders.
"Xiaotang, wait a second!"
The little tyke, who was moving forward, paused in confusion, just about to turn around to look at him when suddenly he felt light, hoisted into the air, then heard Huangfu Jue’s voice.
Only then did the little one realize he had been lifted high by his father, a bright light in his eyes, as he spread his little legs and sat astride his father’s shoulders.
Originally, with his height, he could only see the waists and backs of adults, but now, sitting atop his father’s shoulders, his view suddenly widened.
Huangfu Jue, already towering like a crane among chickens, made Gan Tang sitting on his shoulders feel an overwhelming sense of "looking down at all below."
Xiaotang’s heart raced with excitement. He swallowed hard, hugged his father’s head, thinking he was nervous. Huangfu Jue reached out to steady his legs.
"Don’t worry, Daddy will hold you tight!"
"Okay!" the little guy replied excitedly, "I’ll guide you."
Gan Yuan caught his expression in a sideways glance and smiled, reaching for the backpack on Huangfu Jue’s back.
"No need." The man steadied Xiaotang’s legs and lifted his left arm to her, "Hold on to me."
In such a crowd, he didn’t want them to get separated.
Gan Yuan smiled and extended her hand, grabbing his arm.
"Daddy, the float is here!"
The little guy, sitting high with sharp eyes, spotted the float in the distance.
"Three o’clock direction!"
"Great, let’s go see the float!"
The man replied with a smile and stepped forward, leading the two into the throng.
The crowd was dense, but the tall figure of the man was like a massive tree unshaken by even the fiercest waves. Xiaotang, riding on his back, didn’t have to worry about being squeezed at all. He could comfortably look around, filming a video with the small DV camera Gan Yuan had prepared for him.
Gan Yuan, meanwhile, clung to the man’s arm, following the path he cleared.
Everyone’s attention was on the float, and no one noticed that the figure who brushed past them was their future Mr. King.
Parting the crowd, Huangfu Jue pulled Gan Yuan to a spot up front for a better view. He stood with his legs apart behind her, securing Xiaotang’s waist, protecting his son and his woman.
Accompanied by music, the float drew near.
Youths in festive attire performed on the float, playing instruments, dancing, fire-breathing, doing magic shows...
Provoking a wave of gasps from the crowd, Xiaotang held the DV in his little hands. He himself was so engrossed that the camera’s lens tipped down, capturing Huangfu Jue’s affectionate upward gaze, as well as the hand he rested on Gan Yuan’s shoulder...