Would he think she was a lying friend?

Tangtang hoped not.

She awkwardly scratched her head.

"I don't dislike it; I just didn't want to ride that day. But today, I felt like it, " she explained.

Fang Jinglin was easily appeased and soon forgot about it.

Lilah, having overheard their conversation, raised her eyebrows at her daughter's explanation.

Seeing no resistance from the children, she tentatively proposed, "Why don't you ride it again, this time with Jinglin too?"

Tangtang gratefully glanced at her mom, relieved for the solution to the awkward situation.

Hearing Tangtang's mother speak to him gently and invite him to join, Fang Jinglin's cheeks flushed red, and he nodded shyly.

"Thank you, ma'am, " he said.

Lilah smiled, bought three more tickets, and sent the children back onto the carousel.

It might have been because they had played together for a while, but by the time they came down from the ride, Tangtang was no longer as resistant to Fang Jinglin as she had been at school.

Lilah couldn't help but smile to herself, marveling at how innocent and effortlessly children's friendships could form.

Afterward, they teamed up to try a few more attractions.

By late morning, Lilah, carrying the camera filled with photos from the day, led the three children to lunch.

During the meal, Fang Jinglin, sitting beside Tangtang and Meng Chenzhou, hesitated before asking, "“Tangtang, why did you and Meng Chenzhou come out to play together today?"

Tangtang casually took a fry from the shared plate and answered without hesitation, "Because we're good friends, of course! Good friends should play together."

"Then... can I be good friends with you too?"

Fang Jinglin wasn't as annoying today as he usually was.

Tangtang found that playing with this side of him was actually kind of fun.

She glanced at Meng Chenzhou, wanting to see his opinion. But Meng Chenzhou's attitude was completely nonchalant, as if the decision didn't matter to him at all.

"Tangtang, it's up to you. I'm fine either way."

The decision fell back into Tangtang's hands.

She tilted her small frame to one side, looked at Fang Jinglin, and thought for a moment before saying, “Alright, how about this? I'll play with you first, and we'll see how you behave. If you do well, we can be good friends in the future."