Apocalypse Forecast

”Ah, an amusement park!”

”Ah, it’s a Ferris wheel!”

”Ah, Miss Huaizhi, quick, look! It’s the legendary carousel!”

”Oh my, there are Qí qí and Nī nī too! I have to take a photo; I want a picture with them! Miss Huaizhi, come with me, together...this is a rare opportunity!”

Just like a country girl making her first trip to the city, Zhenxi remained in an excited and exhilarated state throughout her visit to the amusement park, dragging Miss Huaizhi around like a whirlwind.

The group of elementary school students on a field trip nearby were taken aback. They couldn’t understand why this plain-looking young woman was even more excited than they were.

It was as if she was a child visiting the amusement park for the first time.

Indeed, it actually was her first time.

The place where Zhenxi grew up was a border town called Dàoquán Village. It was merely a settlement the size of a small town; beyond the old and outdated town, there were tiers of cultivated farmland.

Apart from the specialty rice it produced, there was really nothing to boast about; it was the epitome of the countryside.

Zhenxi, having grown up there, had not only never been to Current Circumstances but hadn’t even visited Huangquan Slope. To learn about the outside world, she could only watch television.

Everything seemed novel to her.

In contrast, Huai Shi was rather disinterested.

If he hadn’t been worried that Zhenxi would go stir-crazy cooped up indoors all day, he wouldn’t have bothered to leave the house. Even when he did come to the amusement park, he couldn’t appreciate the thrills and excitement that regular people enjoyed.

Instead, he felt... Is that all?

The giant drop tower, with its rapidly descending tens of meters, was practically like watching stop-motion animation for Huai Shi with his dynamic vision.

The box of popcorn he took up with him was unchanged when he brought it down.

Not a single kernel was spilled.

The roller coaster, with its lightning-fast speed, ups and downs, and turns, had everyone screaming, but to Huai Shi, it simply felt like the wind was particularly boisterous that day.

He even casually took out his phone and snapped a yawning selfie, precisely capturing Zhenxi’s cheek beside him, contorted by fear and inertia. She looked rather like a hamster with its cheeks stuffed full of sunflower seeds; it was quite amusing. Regrettably, he had to delete the photo due to Zhenxi’s strong opposition.

And he was dragged around to take photos everywhere.

”If we’re going to take a photo together, then we must take a good one!” Zhenxi declared.

Using that reasoning to drag Huai Shi around most of the park, she finally managed to catch up with the popular character here—Qí qí.

The staff member, concealed in a round and finely crafted bear costume, looked adorably clumsy with every step and wave of their hand.

Upon hearing Zhenxi’s request for a photo, they promptly adopted the classic welcoming pose, standing beside them.

Another staff member picked up the camera, aimed it at them, and just as they were about to press the shutter, Miss Huaizhi’s voice was heard.

”Wait a moment.”

In front of the camera, Huai Shi turned his head to scrutinize the Qí qí bear behind him, his eyebrows gradually furrowing.

”Hey, your pose is way off, isn’t it? Qí qí’s standard pose should lean more forward, hands open, head tilted at a thirty-degree angle—idiot, you’ve tilted too much! That’s not Qí qí; that’s a head-turning horror movie pose! Lift your head, lean forward, shift your weight back!”

After such uncharacteristically strict, step-by-step correction of the staff member’s pose, he finally nodded in satisfaction. ”Alright, that’s good now.”

Clutching her melting ice cream, Zhenxi stood dumbfounded.

She had no idea there was so much attention to detail. But compared to the earlier pose, it did look much cuter! Miss Huaizhi is amazing, as expected; she even knows about this! How impressive!

Moreover, seizing the chance during the photo, Zhenxi mustered her courage, linked her arm with Miss Huaizhi’s, and surprisingly, wasn’t rejected!

Harboring a little secret desire, Zhenxi’s spirits soared even higher. She excitedly schemed in her heart: If I lay the groundwork a little more, then in two more days, I’ll pretend to casually switch from calling her ’Miss Huaizhi’ to ’SuZi’! But two days is probably too long—should I shorten it? Would it be too impolite if I’m too presumptuous? And Miss Huaizhi doesn’t seem to care much about these things; maybe I should find a chance to test the waters...?

While happy, she subtly fell into a delightful dilemma.

She let out a strange snicker, her face breaking into a goofy grin.

This is so wonderful! Visiting the amusement park with Miss Huaizhi, and I even got to hold her hand for a moment and take a photo together! And my favorite bear, Nī nī, even gave me a colorful balloon! I feel as happy as if I’m dreaming.

However, beside her, Miss Huaizhi’s expression suddenly turned stern. He scrutinized the Nī nī costumed figure in front of him, his eyebrows furrowing. ”Hey, you... Yes, you.”

Nī nī stood still in astonishment, her little short arms touching her head, clueless about what was going on.

That was until Huai Shi pointed to its waist... where the seam of the costume revealed a glimpse of a shirt.

The zipper wasn’t done up properly.

”Is this your first day on the job? It’s bad enough you didn’t pose when giving balloons to guests, but can’t you at least wear the costume properly before coming out?” Huai Shi berated, displeased. ”This isn’t just about a deduction from your performance pay anymore. Don’t you even have the basic discipline of a staff member? If you don’t have the dedication to embody the character, then don’t do this job!”

Nī nī stood frozen, overwhelmed by his sudden and strange aura of authority. She instinctively bowed in apology, then covered the opening in her costume and fled.

Huai Shi’s expression softened slightly as he turned to look beside him.