Julian couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Aurora talking seriously to the air. “You call me childish? The baby’s so young; there’s no way they can understand you.”
“Julian, I want some cotton candy. Could you buy me some?” Aurora looked up at him expectantly.
“Sure, just wait here and don’t go anywhere.” Julian made sure she was settled before heading off to buy the treat.
The amusement park had always been her favorite place as a child. It felt like paradise, and she wanted to preserve her happiest memories here.
Julian returned with the cotton candy in hand. “Try it.”
“Okay.” Aurora took a bite. It tasted the same as she remembered-sweet in her mouth but bitter in her heart.
“Is it good?”
“You should try it too. It’s not bad.” Aurora took another bite, then held the cotton candy out to him. Julian leaned forward and bit into the part she had left exposed.
As the sweetness melted in her mouth, she froze for a moment. Julian, however, took it a step further, wrapping an arm around her waist and deepening the kiss.
“Whoa! Daddy, Mommy, they’re kissing! I need to take a picture!” A little boy crouched in front of them, flashing a peace sign with his fingers.
Behind them, the colorful amusement park framed the scene like a fairytale. A tall, handsome man and a beautiful woman shared a kiss, the cotton candy in their hands mirroring the sweetness of her emotions.
Aurora heard the click of a camera and immediately pulled away from Julian, her face flushed. “What are you doing? If you want to eat cotton candy, eat it properly! Why sneak a kiss?” She glanced at the little boy who had just taken their picture, thoroughly embarrassed.
“Miss, you’re so pretty,” the boy said boldly, showing no shyness whatsoever.
“And you’re adorable,” Aurora replied with a smile. She had always loved children, even more so now that she was pregnant.
“Miss, Sir, I just took a picture without asking. Will you be mad?” The little boy looked sheepish as he poked his fingers together.
Aurora’s heart melted at his cuteness. “Of course not. What’s your name?”
“My name is Pikachu,” the boy said, his bright eyes sparkling.
Aurora blinked, puzzled by such a cartoonish name. But before she could say anything, a hand smacked the boy lightly on the head.
“Don’t listen to him. His name is Orion,” said a young woman who appeared behind the boy.
“Mommy, I was just joking with the pretty lady. She’s way prettier than you-a hundred times prettier!” Orion winked mischievously, his earlier shyness completely gone. This, it seemed, was his true nature.
Aurora found him amusing. He was energetic and lively, yet his name had an old-fashioned charm.
“Sorry about him. He’s been naughty ever since he was little,” the young woman apologized.
A tall man stepped forward, picking up Orion. He had striking green eyes and an air of cold detachment. The boy in his arms was like a miniature version of him-except for the stark contrast in personality. Aurora couldn’t help but wonder how such a stoic man ended up with such an energetic child.
“It’s fine. Little Orion is adorable,” Aurora said with a smile. She found it hilarious that he had just insulted his gorgeous mother, yet his parents seemed unfazed.
“Say goodbye to the lady,” the man said coldly.
“Miss, you’re beautiful. When I grow up, I’ll marry you!” Little Orion declared, his words prompting laughter all around.
Julian pulled Aurora into his arms protectively. “Kid, that’s not happening in this lifetime. This lady already has someone.”
His serious tone made him seem almost adorable, even as he competed with a child. Aurora giggled at his jealousy.
Orion, however, seemed to take the matter seriously. “Mommy says a gentleman doesn’t take what belongs to others. So, Miss, do you have a baby? Your baby must be as beautiful as you! When I grow up, I’ll marry your baby!”
Aurora played along, amused. “The baby’s still in my tummy. You’d better not forget this promise.”
“Wow! Really? Miss, you have to save your baby for me. I’m already calling dibs!” Orion’s big, sparkling eyes were impossibly cute, and Aurora couldn’t stop laughing.
“You seem to know a lot for your age. But what if you forget about this promise?”
“Hmm, then I’ll give you this.” He took off a small jade pendant from around his neck and held it out to her. “When the baby is born, give this to her and tell her that the most handsome, charming, and amazing boy in the universe is coming to marry her.”
Aurora quickly shook her head. The pendant looked like a family heirloom, probably a gift from his elders. She had only been joking and couldn’t possibly accept something so valuable.
“Little Orion, I’ll pass your message to the baby. But you should keep this and give it to her yourself when you’re older,” Aurora said gently.
She thought it was just a child’s innocent playfulness. Surely, he’d forget about it in a few days, and Aurora didn’t take it seriously.
But Orion looked genuinely upset. “Were you joking with me? Do you think I’m just a kid? Boohoo…” His eyes, bright like stars, welled up with tears.
Aurora panicked. “No, no, I wasn’t teasing you! Why would I bully you?”
“Then you have to accept my token of love. Otherwise, someone might steal the baby, and I’ll never find a wife!” Orion insisted, stubbornly trying to press the pendant into her hand.
The young woman coughed awkwardly. “Ahem, sorry about this. I’ve been letting him read too many novels lately. The poor kid’s been completely brainwashed.”
Aurora laughed. It seemed like behind every quirky kid, there was an equally quirky parent.
“How old is little Orion? He can already read?”
“I’m five and a half! I know lots of words. If I lived hundreds of years ago, I’d be considered a child prodigy. So, Miss, your baby won’t lose out by marrying me!” Orion said, seizing the opportunity to advertise himself.
“What a coincidence running into you here. This rascal usually hates kids, especially little girls. Yet he’s so fond of you. You might as well take this as fate,” the young woman said with a chuckle.