After the two of them ate their fill, they lay back in their chairs, looking somewhat alike, and let out a sigh.
"Happy?"
Wen Yan'an nodded, his eyes shining as he looked at Fang Miaomiao, "I like it."
Fang Miaomiao chuckled. She remembered when she first transmigrated and met Wen Yan'an. He had been like a kitten, small and quiet, the kind of person you wouldn't notice unless you paid close attention.
Like a little waif.
The current Wen Yan'an was clearly much more active than before and could express his preferences. Good, very good. It seemed she wasn't just good at raising children virtually, but also in real life.
They paid the bill.
After putting masks and hats on Wen Yan'an and herself, she took him to get their tickets and entered the aquarium.
The aquarium was divided into two parts: the exhibits and the shows.
"An'an, where should we go first?"
"The aquarium."
"Let's go."
The aquarium was vast, and since it wasn't the weekend, there were very few people.
After a quick look, Fang Miaomiao took off her mask.
"Mom, look, dolphins," Wen Yan'an excitedly pointed at the figures behind the glass and shouted to Fang Miaomiao.
"So beautiful," Fang Miaomiao sighed softly as she looked at the large dolphins.
Wen Yan'an's eyes widened in wonder as he watched the various marine animals swimming in the water. "Mom, why didn't we see so many marine animals when we went to the island last time?"
"Is there a possibility," Fang Miaomiao leaned against the glass and smiled, "that we were on the surface of the sea, and the marine life lives at the bottom?"
"Is that so?"
Sensing the disappointment in Wen Yan'an's tone, Fang Miaomiao reached out and ruffled his hair. "When An'an grows up, you can learn to dive, and then you can go explore the underwater world yourself or with like-minded friends."
"Can I?"
"Why not?" Fang Miaomiao asked, hearing the little guy's confusion, "If you like something, why shouldn't you do it?"
"Grandma said I can't waste time on useless things."
Fang Miaomiao blinked. Good heavens, even wealthy heirs experienced pressure?
She sighed, squatted down in front of Wen Yan'an, and looked at him. "An'an, what is wasting time?"
Wen Yan'an blinked and thought for a long time before shaking his head. "I don't know. Grandma says I should study hard, learn, and everything else is a waste of time."
But he didn't like that kind of life. He liked reading, but he didn't like being forced to read. He didn't like math, he didn't like reading the news, he didn't like any of it.
He liked going out to play, he liked seeing novel things, like nature, like animals.
But Grandma didn't like it. She said that as a member of the Wen family, he should cherish his precious time and stay ahead of others.
"Are you happy now? Seeing these things, coming out to play with me."
Wen Yan'an nodded vigorously. "Very happy."
"Then do you think this is a waste of time?"
Wen Yan'an looked confused.
He didn't know.
"An'an, as long as you feel happy and joyful, it's not a waste of time."
Fang Miaomiao gently placed Wen Yan'an's hand on the glass.
At that moment, a dolphin leaped out and touched the glass with a spark of intelligence.
"An'an, look, the dolphin is greeting you."
"Dolphin."
The dolphin swam joyfully inside.
Wen Yan'an involuntarily stepped forward, his hands pressed against the glass.
The dolphin turned its body inside, as if responding to Wen Yan'an.
Seeing this, Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow slightly and instinctively took out her phone to take a few photos of the little guy and the dolphin.
Looking at the smiling face in the photos, Fang Miaomiao couldn't help but think of Wen Yan'an's fate in the book, and her heart felt heavy.
She seemed to understand why An'an had liked the original host. An'an was so suppressed by Madam Ran. The original host was like someone free-spirited passing through a mire.
An'an yearned for the original host's life and personality.
"Mom, look, the dolphin is dancing for me," Wen Yan'an's voice carried a child's innocence and liveliness.
"An'an likes dolphins, and dolphins like An'an, that's why they're dancing for you."
"Does the dolphin really like An'an?"
"Of course. See, even though I'm standing here, the dolphin isn't even giving me a glance. It's all focused on you, right?"
"It's okay."
"What?"
"The dolphin doesn't like Mom, but An'an will always like Mom."
"Then I'll thank An'an for liking me?"
Wen Yan'an shyly went to tease the dolphin.
Just then, someone who claimed to be a staff member approached them, saying there was an animal show nearby and that they could get up close with the animals for a fee.
"Mom?" Wen Yan'an tugged on Fang Miaomiao's hand.
"Let's go play with them."
In the center of the aquarium was a large seawater pool.
Children, accompanied by adults and staff, ran around the edge of the pool, their laughter like melodious chimes.
"This is truly a mood-lifting place."
Under the guidance of the staff, they disinfected themselves and put on special water shoes and raincoats.
"Mom, I see a dolphin."
"Children, you can touch the dolphins, but you must be gentle, okay?"
Wen Yan'an nodded obediently.
"Mom. Dolphin."
"Mhm."
Wen Yan'an cautiously squatted down.
A dolphin poked its head out of the pool and gave Wen Yan'an a kiss on the cheek.
Wen Yan'an looked at Fang Miaomiao, a mixture of nervousness and excitement in his eyes.
The joy in his eyes almost blinded Fang Miaomiao.
"Don't be afraid, little one. You can reach out and gently touch the dolphin."
Wen Yan'an pursed his lips, then cautiously reached out and touched the dolphin.
Seeing Wen Yan'an's outstretched hand, the dolphin stretched its body out further.
Their hands met.
Wen Yan'an's pupils contracted, and he stood there in disbelief. "It's cold."
With that, the dolphin dived back into the pool.
Before Wen Yan'an could even wonder, the dolphin poked its head out again and spat water at Wen Yan'an.
Wen Yan'an instantly became drenched.
"Hahaha."
Fang Miaomiao burst into laughter, completely oblivious to a mischievous dolphin that had already swum up to her side.
She just felt a shadow fall over her.
Splash!
The dolphin accurately sprayed the water it had in its mouth onto Fang Miaomiao.
Fang Miaomiao: "..."
What kind of willful dolphin was this? She was just standing there watching someone get soaked, and in the next second, she herself became the drenched one.
"Mom, you got sprayed by the dolphin too."
The staff member said with a smile, "The dolphins really like you two. They're like children. They usually only play spitting water games with staff members or tourists they like."
Fang Miaomiao's eye twitched. That was entirely unnecessary.