Chapter 178: Zhong Chuhong and the Mother-Daughter Pair

After parking the car, Xia Yu and Yan Shining led Xia Ming, Xia Xiaomei, and Yan Hong towards the ticketing entrance.

Although they hadn't entered the park yet, they could already see various large amusement facilities from outside the park, and the three children were brimming with excitement and anticipation.

"Let's go, let's buy the tickets first!"

Xia Yu waved his hand and led the energetic children towards the ticket counter.

At the ticket booth, Xia Yu found a window with few people in line, with only one person ahead of him.

Soon, the person in front got their tickets and left. Xia Yu took out his wallet and said to the ticket clerk, "Miss, I'd like five tickets: two adult tickets and three child tickets."

Saying this, Xia Yu handed the money to the clerk.

"Alright, sir... I mean, sir!"

The ticket clerk was a very young and pretty girl. As she looked up at Xia Yu, she realized he was clearly a young man but still addressed him as "sir" out of politeness.

When Xia Yu saw the pretty girl's face, he was somewhat taken aback. Her round face showed a youthful blush, with two noticeable dimples at the corners of her mouth. Her long, dark, and glossy hair was somewhat tousled and naturally curled. She was dressed in a lady's work suit with a white shirt, looking very pure and lovely.

Upon closer inspection, Xia Yu found her somewhat familiar and realized he might have seen her before. He thought he didn't remember clearly, but it must have been from his previous life, suggesting this young woman might be a person of some renown.

Xia Yu became curious. He noticed a name tag pinned to the girl's chest and glanced over.

"Zhong Chuhong?"

Seeing the name, Xia Yu was a bit surprised. The name and the face of Zhong Chuhong matched his memories of a well-known actress from his past life.

He didn't expect to meet her here at the ticket counter of the ocean park!

Xia Yu had watched many of her movies in his previous life and could say she was one of the few actresses he remembered well. She left a deep impression on him.

However, her appearance was quite different from how she looked in the movies, so Xia Yu didn't recognize her immediately.

"Alright, sir, here are your tickets and your change. Have a great time!"

Zhong Chuhong handed Xia Yu the five tickets and the change with a sweet smile.

"Thank you!"

Xia Yu replied with a slight smile.

"You're welcome!"

Zhong Chuhong responded politely.

"Minmin, we didn't bring enough money. Let's come back next time when mommy has enough money, okay?"

Just as Xia Yu was about to leave, he heard a mother's comforting voice from the side.

Xia Yu involuntarily looked over and saw a middle-aged woman who appeared to be struggling financially, based on her plain clothing. She was squatting down, softly talking to a girl around ten years old, who was likely her daughter. Despite her young age, the girl was very cute, wearing a pink dress, with very fair skin, resembling a porcelain doll. Xia Yu had never seen such a beautiful little girl, almost as if she had stepped out of a painting.

The little girl reluctantly took her eyes off the amusement facilities, nodded obediently, gently caressing her mother's face, and said, "Mommy, don't waste money. I don't like going to amusement parks."

Hearing her daughter's words, the middle-aged woman felt a pang in her heart. Her husband had passed away before their daughter was born, and she had worked hard to raise her daughter alone. Fortunately, her daughter was very well-behaved and understanding, never crying or asking for things despite their difficult situation. Even when she saw something she liked, she just looked at it quietly and walked away, just like now. Although she very much wanted to visit the ocean park, her daughter comforted her instead.

Feeling both relieved and deeply guilty, the mother blamed herself for not finding a stable job and being unable to provide a better life for her daughter.

Seeing this touching mother-daughter scene, Xia Yu was moved. Without thinking, he said to Zhong Chuhong, "Could you please give me two more tickets, one adult and one child ticket?"

As he spoke, Xia Yu handed more money to Zhong Chuhong.

Zhong Chuhong had also seen the scene earlier. Coming from a poor background herself and being the eldest sister, she had little entertainment in her childhood due to family reasons, so she could only quietly wish for things. Seeing this situation made her empathize deeply.

Realizing Xia Yu was buying tickets for the mother and daughter, Zhong Chuhong's impression of him greatly improved. She flashed a sweet smile and said, "Please wait a moment!"

She quickly processed the additional tickets, handed them to Xia Yu, and then began preparing the change.

"Xiaomei, take these tickets to that aunt and her sister, then come back quickly."

Xia Yu handed the tickets to his sister and instructed her.

It was best for Xia Xiaomei to deliver the tickets, as it would be less likely to make the mother and daughter suspicious.

Xia Xiaomei nodded obediently, took the two tickets, and ran towards the mother and daughter.

"Auntie, wait!"

The middle-aged woman, hearing someone call her, turned around to see the little girl running towards her. She stopped and, with a gentle smile, asked, "Little girl, are you calling me?"

"Auntie, these are tickets from my brother. Goodbye!"

Xia Xiaomei handed the tickets to the middle-aged woman, smiled, and waved goodbye, then quickly ran back.

The middle-aged woman was stunned, looking at the tickets in her hand in surprise. They were indeed tickets to the ocean park.

She gazed in the direction Xia Xiaomei had run off to with a look of disbelief.

"Sir, you're so kind!"

When Zhong Chuhong handed the change to Xia Yu again, she said with a smile.

Xia Yu smiled slightly and said, "It's just a small gesture."

"I'll be going now."

Seeing that the middle-aged woman was approaching, Xia Yu knew it was time to leave before she might return the tickets. He prepared to leave with Xia Ming and the others.

Before leaving, he said to Zhong Chuhong, "By the way, you're very pretty!"

Then, Xia Yu left with Xia Ming and the others, leaving Zhong Chuhong standing there, slightly stunned, with a blush on her cheeks.

Coming back to her senses and watching Xia Yu's retreating figure, Zhong Chuhong suddenly realized she had been flirted with. She gently brushed her hair, murmuring shyly to herself, "He looks younger than me but is acting so grown-up. Little brat..."

"But, he seems kind-hearted and quite handsome..."

As she smiled, she suddenly appeared thoughtful and slightly melancholic. She shook her head, putting her thoughts aside and returned to her work.

At that moment, the middle-aged woman ran over and handed the tickets to Zhong Chuhong, saying, "Miss, could you please return these tickets to the kind young man? We don't need them."

Seeing the middle-aged woman's anxious expression and realizing that Xia Yu's group had already entered the park, Zhong Chuhong smiled and said, "Auntie, just keep the tickets. Take your daughter inside to enjoy the park. That gentleman isn't lacking in money, and since the tickets are already bought, they can't be returned. It would be a waste if you don't use them. If you want to thank him, you can surely find them inside the park."

Zhong Chuhong told a white lie. The tickets could actually be refunded, but she chose to tell a kind lie to ensure the little girl could have a wonderful experience.

She even envied the little girl, as she had never been to the ocean park herself. As a temporary worker, she didn't have the privilege to go, and she could only envy others who could.

Hearing Zhong Chuhong's words, the middle-aged woman looked at the tickets and her daughter. She realized she had to accept Xia Yu's kindness.

Feeling grateful yet guilty for not being able to afford the tickets herself, she decided to teach her daughter gratitude instead of refusing the offer.

"Minmin, after we go inside, we must find that gentleman and the kind young lady to thank them in person, okay?"

The middle-aged woman said to her daughter.

Although she initially wanted to refuse to teach her daughter not to accept things from others, now that she couldn't refuse, she chose to teach her daughter to be grateful.

"Okay, Mommy. I will definitely thank them!"

The little girl replied earnestly, her face full of sincerity.

The middle-aged woman smiled warmly, stroked her daughter's hair, then stood up and said to Zhong Chuhong, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome, Auntie. Enjoy your time inside and have fun!"

Zhong Chuhong said with a sweet smile.

Watching the mother and daughter head towards the park's entrance, Zhong Chuhong couldn't help but smile, feeling a mix of emotions—nostalgia, envy, and longing...

---

Shortly after Xia Yu and his group entered, another luxury car drove into the ocean park's parking lot. Two girls and two bodyguards got out of the car.

If Xia Yu had been there, he would have recognized one of the girls wearing a jade Buddha pendant as He Chaokong.

He Chaokong and her friends, along with the bodyguards, arrived at the ticket counter, which happened to be Zhong Chuhong's window.

"Miss, we

'd like four tickets, please. Thank you!"

---

Back inside the park, Xia Yu and the others were looking at the map, which showed routes and locations of various attractions.

"Where do you want to go first?"

Xia Yu asked Xia Ming and the others.

"I want to ride the Ferris wheel first."

"I see bumper cars! I want to ride those first."

"I want to see the dolphins first..."

Each of the three expressed their preferences, then fell silent, staring at each other.

Xia Yu couldn't help but smile wryly. He shouldn't have asked; it only led to trouble.

"Alright, no more arguing. Let's play rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets to decide where we go first."

Before they could argue further, Xia Yu made a decision. No one would be favored, and the result was final.

"Rock-paper-scissors!"

"Yay, I won! We're going on the Ferris wheel first!"

Seeing that Xia Ming and Yan Hong had chosen rock and scissors, while Xia Xiaomei chose paper, Xia Xiaomei cheered with delight, leaving the two boys feeling resigned.

"Okay, let's go to the Ferris wheel first!"

Xia Yu smiled and led everyone towards the Ferris wheel.