Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 175

hapter 175 A Child at Heart 

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“It’s actually my first time at an amusement park.” Ava smiled. “When I was a child, my family couldn’t afford it, so I never had the chance. When I finally became an adult, it felt as though I had become too old for such things. But just now, when I was standing at the entrance and looking inside… I suddenly realized I’ve always longed for the experience. 

“Thank you for giving me the chance to experience the fun I missed in my childhood today.” 

Taking the initiative, she reached out and hooked her fingers around two of his fingers, while glancing around curiously, wondering which ride she should try next. 

In the amusement park, young adults clearly outnumbered the children. Nervous and apprehensive, she decided to take the safer route. She didn’t dare to jump straight into the thrilling rides from the beginning. Instead, she slipped among a group of younger children and tried out the children’s rides first. 

Keith, like the other parents who had brought their children to the amusement park, leaned against the railing outside the rides, quietly watching her mingle with the children, gradually becoming their ringleader. 

At this moment, she looked very different from her usual self, with a huge smile on her face and her eyes sparkling with life. She was normally calm and composed, lacking the lively energy of a young girl. But it turned out she, too, had moments when she could completely relax and let her guard down. 

He activated his Holoband and quietly took several photos of her, wanting to capture this rarely seen side of her. 

She was a sprite who had stepped into his world–and his most precious treasure. 

After trying out more than a dozen children’s rides in a row, Ava finally returned to her senses. The hollow spot in her heart, where her missing childhood joy should’ve been, had gradually been filled by the fun of these games. She glanced at Keith, whom she had basically ignored, and apologized in embarrassment. “Sorry, I forgot about everything else once I started having fun.” 

“It’s fine,” Keith reassured. “I took a lot of photos of you. ‘ll send them to you once we get home.” 

“Let’s try something else now.” She nodded. “These children’s rides aren’t really suitable for you.” 

Catching the implication in her words, he chuckled softly. “Alright. But even if they’re children’s rides, you seemed to enjoy them quite a bit.” 

She grinned, the slight frown on her face relaxing. “I’ve always been just a little kid to you anyway!” 

Those words amused him. Feigning annoyance, he frowned deliberately and lowered his voice. “Oh? Are you saying I’m old?” 

A mischievous smile spread across her face. “I never said that. Those are your words.” 

Raising his hand, he lightly flicked her on the forehead. It’s too late to complain, even if you think I’m old. After all, we’re already bound together.” 

She shook her head vigorously. “I don’t think you’re old not at all! It’s fortunate you walked into my life on your own. How else could I have found such a young and capable man like you? It would’ve been impossible…” 

In the past, he could never have imagined such playfulanter coming from her. He distinctly sensed the 

16:57 Fri, Jan 16 G GG. 

Chapter 175 A Child at Heart 

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change in her. Before her coming–of–age party, her attitude toward them had always been polite and measured, but distant. Now, however, he could feel her king small steps toward their relationship. 

That was a very good start, and he couldn’t wait to see what would come next… 

Holding hands, they strolled down the path. Ava was no longer eager to jump on another ride. Spotting street vendors selling various goods around them, she abled over and examined each stall carefully before moving on to the next. 

Keith simply followed, not feeling bored in the slightest as she wandered through the crowd at her own pace. Seeing the various expressions that flashed across her face whenever she discovered something novel or strange, he secretly wished he could preserve this version of her forever. 

They came across a small stall run by an old man making artisan cotton candy. Ava watched as a little boy spun a wheel to determine the shape of his cotton candy. The pointer ultimately landed on the image of a cow. Seeing that it wasn’t what he wanted, the little boy egan to scream and wail, “No! I don’t want a cow! I don’t want a cow…” 

His father lightly smacked him on the head and reprimanded, “It’s what you get from spinning the wheel. There’s nothing you can do about it, even if you don’t want it.” 

Tears still clung to the corners of his eyes as he accepted the cow–shaped cotton candy. But when he placed the candy in his mouth, the taste immediately turned his frown into a smile again. They soon disappeared 

into the crowd. 

Ava walked over to the stall and eyed the wheel curiously. It was divided into thirty–six segments, each displaying the image of a different animal. Some were familiar, others were not. 

Seeing her pause in front of the stall, Keith asked, “Want to give it a try?” 

“Isn’t this meant for children?” she replied, her eyes locked on the wheel. 

“Aren’t you just a child in my eyes?” he teased, echoing her joke from earlier as he placed the order on his Holoband. “Alright, go ahead and spin the wheel. Let’s see how lucky you are–just don’t end up bawling like the little boy earlier if you don’t like what you get.” 

She shot him a sidelong look. “Just you watch. The worst I’ll get is a dragon or a phoenix!” 

Then, she spun the wheel hard. It began spinning rapidly. Her eyes followed the movement closely, watching with anticipation and nervousness. In the end however, the pointer skipped past the phoenix… and clicked to a stop on a rabbit. 

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