Just as Ariel and Xu Ke were happily chatting, a figure interrupted them by squeezing in between and bumping into them, separating the two.
Immediately, an indescribable smell flooded the air, accompanied by a series of retching sounds.
The boy who was vomiting in front of them was the same one sitting behind them earlier.
The boy knew it was embarrassing and tried hard to control himself, but he couldn’t stop the physiological reactions as easily as he wished.
The boy continued to vomit, looking like he wished he could throw up his liver, tears and snot covering his face.
The girl looked at the boy with disgust. Seeing the boy’s endless vomiting and the increasing number of curious onlookers, she finally couldn’t hold back.
"Vomit, vomit, vomit, can’t you stop? It’s just a roller coaster. Do you have to go this far? Look at others, why are they perfectly fine, but you act so precious all the time?"
The girl’s sharp words reached the boy’s ears, causing him to halt his vomiting for a moment.
With tear-filled eyes, he glanced in the direction the girl was pointing and saw Xu Ke and Ariel standing there. His gaze first froze and then turned into a sudden burst of anger.
Xu Ke and Ariel sensed the boy’s changing gaze and felt puzzled. As they were about to leave, the boy, using some unknown reserve of strength, blocked their path.
The boy knew this wasn’t right; these two people had done nothing to provoke him, but he couldn’t swallow his anger. He couldn’t bear to vent on his girlfriend, so he targeted Xu Ke instead.
"Stop, you can’t leave." The boy spread his arms to block Xu Ke’s path.
"Is there something you need?" Xu Ke asked patiently.
"Can’t I just stop you guys even if there’s nothing? Neither of you can leave," the boy said stubbornly.
"What are you doing? Move aside and let them go." The girl tugged at the boy’s sleeve.
"No, I won’t. I want to see how good this man you praise so much really is." The boy replied, glancing at the girl.
"Can you stop being crazy? When did I praise him? He has a girlfriend, don’t say things that create misunderstandings." The girl noticed Ariel’s glance, making her heart flutter, and she directed her frustration even more toward the boy.
"You know what you did or didn’t misunderstand," the boy remarked, dismissing the girl and focusing on Xu Ke again.
"Aren’t you something!" The boy pushed Xu Ke’s shoulder.
"Acting all high and mighty, huh? Do you really stand out in the whole amusement park? If you’re so tough, why don’t you have a fight with me? Let’s see whose fist lands better." The boy continued to shove Xu Ke, provoking him.
"Why would I fight you?" Xu Ke felt bewildered by the request.
"I don’t even know you, and your request is too bizarre."
Determined to prove himself superior to Xu Ke, the boy aimed to win back his girlfriend’s esteem by challenging Xu Ke, yet Xu Ke’s refusal frustrated him.
"Are you scared? Afraid you’ll lose to me and embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend?"
He barraged Xu Ke with questions, trying to provoke him.
"You’re so inexplicable!" Ariel clung to Xu Ke’s arm, looking at the boy with confusion, her eyes probing as if he were a weirdo or a fool.
The boy grew ashamed and furious under Ariel’s gaze, but because she was a girl, he swallowed his anger and redirected it all at Xu Ke.
"You’re a man, but you need a girl to defend you? Aren’t you embarrassed? If you’re a real man, don’t evade today, face me head-on."
The boy imitated movie characters, shaking his leg, one hand on his hip, his chin up toward Xu Ke, assuming an aggressive stance.
After observing the boy and girl, Xu Ke spoke: "I’m not interested in competing with you. Your provocations don’t work on me. I don’t need to use fists to prove myself. Also, whatever spat you have with your girlfriend, don’t involve others. If there’s nothing else, please let us pass, we want to try the next ride."
Embarrassed by Xu Ke’s gaze, the girl apologized, "Sorry, we didn’t mean to. He’s just messing with me. We’ll move now."
After speaking, she glanced at the boy, pinched his waist sharply with her fingers, causing his expression to twist briefly in pain.
"Did you hear me? Apologize and let them go. What’s wrong with you today, acting mad here, embarrassing me!"
"I’m embarrassing you?" The boy’s face showed a wounded expression, utterly incredulous.
"What’s so good about him? What makes you think he’s better than me—just because he’s older and taller? What do I lack compared to him?" His voice grew louder, ending in a near shout.
"How is he better? Where is he better? He doesn’t even dare accept my challenge, and you’re elevating him over me for this coward? Does that make sense?" His voice carried a barely detectable sob.
"Take a good look at me, then at him. Does he love you as I do? I was even willing to risk my life riding the roller coaster with you, yet you keep talking about him. Why do you have such great affection for someone you don’t even know, but be so harsh on me? Or maybe you’ve already fallen for him and today’s just an excuse to break up with me."
The boy scrutinized the girl’s face with the worst intentions.
"Smack!" The girl’s palm landed hard on the boy’s face.
"Do you even know what you’re saying? Is this really what you think I am? You really think that? If you do, then let me tell you, you’re right. We’ve been involved for a long time, and I want to break up with you, so what?"
The girl, now furious at the boy, grabbed Xu Ke’s other arm and clung onto him, glaring at the boy with teary eyes.