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The booming voice of an announcer can be heard coming out of speakers up ahead, cutting through the loud pop music.
“That’s it!” Shen Yuan excitedly runs past the crowds until the ride is in sight. “Wow, it’s just like in the videos!”
“Is that it?” Liu Qingge watches as two people unsuccessfully try to scramble back into their seats, always thrown off their feet at the last second by a well-timed bounce. “Seems… questionable.”
“Scared, Qingge?” Luo Binghe sneers.
“In your dreams.”
“I’ll go with A-Yuan, if you want to stay behind and take pictures.”
“No!” Shen Yuan yelps, inserting himself into the argument before they can get too far. “This is a group experience; we’re all going.”
So much work went into ensuring that his scheme went off without a hitch. He already paid off the ride operator, Airplane-bro’s friend, a small fortune in limited edition Chanyeol merch, despite knowing nothing about EXO. Even though Wolmi Theme Park was in Incheon, two hours away from Seoul by train, it would be worth the commute for this specific ride.
Okay, so he may have fibbed a little bit to get Liu Qingge to go with him, but a white lie never hurt anyone.
Even better, Liu Qingge hardly suspected him. Why would he? How was he supposed to know that Luo Binghe's plans to meet up with Sha Hualing in Hongdae would be mysteriously canceled? Shen Yuan knew that Liu Qingge wouldn't agree to come unless he thought Luo Binghe would be absent. But by the time Luo Binghe met up with them to take the Sea Train to Wolmido, it was too late.
Shen Yuan timed it perfectly.
At least it hasn’t been hard keeping the secret from his boyfriends; both still seem completely oblivious as to the true nature of the ride. Even now, they’re too busy glaring daggers at each other to notice the Tagada ride’s operator shouting something in Korean that makes the crowd laugh as he manages to unbalance a couple and sends the girl falling into her boyfriend’s lap.
Once they’re close enough to the operator’s booth, Shen Yuan knocks on the glass. The operator notices him and his face lights up in recognition. He indicates Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge standing behind, still bickering and blissfully unaware, and when Shen Yuan nods, the operator gives him a thumbs up.
After Shen Yuan's attempts to sit on the side are promptly rebuffed, he ends up sandwiched between his two boyfriends. He glances over anxiously at the ride operator, who offers him another reassuring thumbs up. A quick survey of the crowd lets him instantly spot Liu Mingyan’s lilac face mask and Sha Hualing devious grin. They're standing off to the side, where they probably won't be noticed, and Liu Mingyan already has her phone out, ready for pictures.
“A-Yuan, what's the point of this ride again?” Luo Binghe asks, his tone sweet and playful.
“Hold on. Don't look stupid.” Liu Qingge glares at the audience sitting on the chairs in front of the ride.
Luo Binghe's smile fades instantly. “Did I ask you?”
“I know it must be a challenge, since stupid is your default—”
“I will end you—”
“Binghe, don't mind him! He's just joking! You know, Qingge is always such a jokester.”Shen Yuan laughs nervously, swatting at Luo Binghe until he stops looming over him and sits back down in his seat with a huff.
Liu Qingge looks smug, and as pretty as that expression is, Shen Yuan can't wait to wipe it off his face.
“The ride operator will try to shake us out of our seats while the ride spins,” he explains to Luo Binghe. “You just hold on and try not to fall.”
“Try not to draw any attention to us while you're at it, too,” Liu Qingge cuts in.
“As if anyone would pay attention to you,” Luo Binghe retorts, which only earns him a mocking laugh in response.
Liu Qingge is a model. Even Shen Yuan knows that it's one of the many traits Luo Binghe hates him for. He pats Luo Binghe’s leg sympathetically.
The ride starts spinning, slowly at first, but increasing in speed. Shen Yuan secures his arms behind the bars to get a better hold onto the ride, the lack of restraints seeming more alarming now as he sees someone across nearly fly out of their seat. Then he feels Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge wrap their arms over his shoulders to steady him, and he relaxes, even as they momentarily shoot glares at each other.
Shen Yuan suppresses a smile. United in their goal of ensuring his comfort, they’re already holding hands—sorta.
The operator shouts, and suddenly the ride gives a massive jolt that would’ve sent Shen Yuan flying out of his seat if he hadn’t been holding on so tightly. His boyfriends barely move and help secure him for the next bounce, but it doesn’t stop him from plummeting full force into Liu Qingge.
“Sorry!” he squeaks.
“All good.” Liu Qingge looks unfazed, bored even, as the wind whips his silky hair away from his face.
Luo Binghe seems to be struggling a little more, both from trying to hold Shen Yuan back and not lose his own seat. But when the next bounce happens, he’s too busy glowering at Liu Qingge to keep his balance, instantly slamming Shen Yuan into Liu Qingge as a result.
“Watch it, fat-ass!” Liu Qingge barks. “You’ll squish A-Yuan!”
“Well, sorry!” he retorts, not sounding particularly sorry as he scoots back to his seat. “You think I wanted to lose balance?”
“What good are all those muscles if you can’t even hold on!”
“Shut up!”
Shen Yuan closes his eyes, already regretting his decision. What is that damn ride operator doing anyway? He starts looking around, but the ride is spinning too fast for him to make eye contact.
And then a worker throws something into the middle.
“Look, a panda!” Shen Yuan exclaims, drawing their attention from bickering.
The operator laughs into his microphone and it sounds like he’s encouraging someone to grab it. Glances are exchanged, but everyone looks very comfortable, safely holding onto their railings and unwilling to risk getting up to retrieve the panda plushie bouncing around in the middle.
Until Luo Binghe stands up, drawing appreciative cheers from the operator and the crowd watching.
“Luo Binghe, don’t you dare!” hisses Liu Qingge.
Shen Yuan notes with amusement that he looks like he’s half-tempted to drag Luo Binghe back himself. But Luo Binghe only rolls his eyes, carefully approaching the panda while leaning towards the center of the circular ride to stay balanced against the spinning motion. He grabs the panda, gives the crowd a little bow made awkward by the centrifugal force pulling him outward, and starts making his way back.
That’s when the operator decides to start having some fun. A light lurch from the ride almost unbalances Luo Binghe, but he steadies himself, the panda still clutched tightly in his hand.
“Shen Yuan, catch!”
But before he can throw it, Liu Qingge is yelling, “Are you stupid?! Don’t even think about—”
Anther violent jolt sends Luo Binghe careening towards them. Shen Yuan closes his eyes and braces himself for the impact.
But it never comes.
Instead, he hears the almost maniacal laughter coming from the speakers and whoops, cheers, and applause from the crowd, followed by a rapid fire monologue in Korean. Shen Yuan can only make out a word or two, but the playfully suggestive tone of the operator is unmistakable. He tentatively opens his eyes.
Luo Binghe is on top of Liu Qingge, straddling him between his legs and bracing himself on the metal rails to keep from falling face first into him. There's a stormy cloud darkening Liu Qingge's gaze, but it's not enough to hide the furious blush of red blooming over his pale cheeks. Luo Binghe looks momentarily stunned, staring down at his nemesis trapped beneath him, before a sly look lights up his face.
“My apologies, Qingge,” he says sweetly. “It was an accident; you know I would never willingly fall into you.”
“Get. Off.” Liu Qingge refuses to look at him, or Shen Yuan, eyes fixed on the empty space to his left.
“Could you be a dear and give A-Yuan his panda?”
Shen Yuan sees that Luo Binghe dropped it into Liu Qingge's lap.
Wordlessly, Liu Qingge picks up the panda, still determinedly avoiding either of their gazes, and pushes it into Shen Yuan’s free hand. But then the ride jolts again, and Shen Yuan barely manages to hold onto the rail and his panda, while Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe are nearly thrown off.
As if by instinct, Liu Qingge reacts by grabbing Luo Binghe's waist for support. But then he realizes that this hold is just as bad, if not worse, and lets go so abruptly that Luo Binghe doesn't have time to righten himself before the next bounce throws him back into Liu Qingge.
“Get off!” Liu Qingge snarls, clearly mortified but unable to do anything other than hold onto the bars with increasing desperation as the ride bounces more violently.
“I can't, I'll fall back to the middle,” Luo Binghe whines pitifully.
“Then stop crushing me!”
The ride operator chuckles and mercifully eases up on the controls, seeming to take interest in upsetting the couple directly across from them.
“Maybe if you held him to support him,” Shen Yuan suggests helpfully. “Then Binghe can focus on making sure you don't get thrown off.”
Liu Qingge is starting to look faintly nauseous, either from the spinning, the bouncing, or sheer embarrassment. But he obliges, reluctantly wrapping his arms around Luo Binghe.
Eyes meet. It's the most fleeting of moments as Liu Qingge quickly averts his gaze, but Luo Binghe continues surveying him with a thoughtful look in his eyes. Actually, Shen Yuan has never seen him look so pleasantly interested before, when usually he regards Liu Qingge with contempt or jealousy.
“You're a model; shouldn't you be used to people staring at you?” he asks quietly.
Liu Qingge flushes deeper. “That's different.”
“Oh?” He leans in closer. “Why's that?”
Shen Yuan's eyes eyes widen as Liu Qingge forces himself to meet Luo Binghe's gaze.
“Shouldn't you know?”
Liu Qingge pulls Luo Binghe in closer, and when Luo Binghe goes pink, Shen Yuan suddenly takes an interest in watching the clouds above. He doesn't hear Luo Binghe's response over the noise or drumming in his ears, but suddenly he feels as though he is trespassing. What was he thinking?
He looks back into the crowd to see Liu Mingyan with her phone blocking her face, and Sha Hualing nearly beside herself, visibly cackling.
“A-Yuan, what are you looking at?” Liu Qingge's voice is as smooth as ever, easily cutting through the music from the speakers and only betraying curiosity as he follows Shen Yuan's gaze.
“Uhh… There was a bird.”
“A bird?” Luo Binghe looks up as well. “I don't see any.”
“It flew away.”
To Shen Yuan's relief, when he looks back at them, Luo Binghe is already sitting on Liu Qingge's other side. Shen Yuan shifts down the bench to give him more space.
“Thanks for getting the panda!” he says, hoping he doesn't sound suspicious. “Are you two okay?”
Luo Binghe gives him a thumbs up before throwing his arm over Liu Qingge's shoulder and ignoring the—admittedly less pointed—glare that the other man shoots him in return. But they barely get a moment to enjoy being settled before the ride operator decides that they look too comfortable, rotating them to the bouncy side and pausing the spin.
“Hey! You two! Dating?” the operator shouts in English.
Liu Qingge looks like a deer in headlights, but when Luo Binghe enthusiastically nods, he elbows him in the side so hard that Shen Yuan winces.
“Aniyo!” Liu Qingge yells back. “No! Not dating!”
The operator laughs mischievously, and suddenly, Shen Yuan wishes he could call off the whole operation. But it's too late for that, or anything else, when the next bounce sends him and the panda in his hand flying in the air. Liu Qingge grabs his arm and pulls him back, and luckily, the panda ends up flying towards Luo Binghe due to the spin's direction.
Then the ride jostles again, and Luo Binghe loses his remaining grip on the railing, slamming full force into Liu Qingge’s side. Liu Qingge bumps into Shen Yuan but tightens his grip and manages to stop both himself from sliding further down the seat and Shen Yuan from falling off the edge.
With the assistance, Shen Yuan is able to grab back onto the rail just in time to brace for another bounce that forces Liu Qingge to let go of him in order to hold back Luo Binghe's impact.
“Fucking cow! You're going to knock off A-Yuan!”
He tries to kick Luo Binghe away, but then Luo Binghe avoids him by plopping himself over Liu Qingge's lap and securing one leg over the back of the seat.
Liu Qingge goes scarlet.
Shen Yuan can't even hear the ride operator over the uproarious cheers from the crowds as Luo Binghe blows them a kiss and waves, comfortable and secure in his new position. Then he catches Shen Yuan's eye.
“You okay?”
Shen Yuan gives him a jerky nod, unsure whether it's weird to look at Luo Binghe lounging across Liu Qingge’s legs as the ride's spin picks up speed, or if it's more suspicious to look away.
At least he's no longer at risk of falling off.
Luo Binghe stretches and looks up at Liu Qingge, plushie in one hand and resting his head on the other. He playfully knocks the panda against Liu Qingge’s face but then frowns when Liu Qingge barely reacts.
Shen Yuan registers the concern flitting across his gaze and realizes that Liu Qingge has turned slightly green. He sits rigid and and motionless, as though turned into ice, staring straight into the center of the floor with an almost painfully clenched jaw. His eyes briefly flutter closed in an attempt to relax, but when he opens them again, he doesn’t try to push Luo Binghe off of him.
“Are you okay?” asks Luo Binghe.
Liu Qingge doesn't look at him. “I'm gonna be sick.”
“…Is that your way of telling me to move?"
“If you don't, I will gladly vomit onto you.”
Luo Binghe quickly sits up. They endure the last minute of the ride in merciful silence, as the operator seems to have noticed their predicament. It gradually slows to a stop, and when it does, they’re both instantly on their feet to help Liu Qingge.
As they make their way down, Shen Yuan is relieved to see that Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualian have left the audience, hurrying off to another ride. They continue wandering the Wolmi Theme Park while Luo Binghe unsuccessfully tries to coax some food into Liu Qingge. Shen Yuan enjoys nearly falling out of his seat on the Eagle Viking ship at the top the first time it reaches to its apex, but his reliable boyfriends keep him down on subsequent swings.
Just as they are about to wander the boardwalk to find something to eat besides the bounty of Korean corn dogs, waffles, chicken skewers, and tanghulu, Shen Yuan catches a glimpse of a purple mask up ahead.
“Oh, look here!” he exclaims, trying to pull Liu Qingge away, but it’s too late; he already spotted his sister.
“Yan-er!” Liu Qingge calls out to Liu Mingyan, who is sitting on a bench. “You’re here? And with—”
“Hualing?” Luo Binghe runs up behind him. “I thought you said you had a stomach flu.”
Sha Hualing is hunched over beside her, clutching her abdomen as though trying to stop herself from puking while Liu Mingyan sympathetically rubs her back. She doesn’t respond, only looking up when Shen Yuan reluctantly joins them.
“We did it,” she croaks.
Liu Mingyan hands him her phone, and he goes to open up her camera roll, ignoring the puzzled expressions from his boyfriends and passing Luo Binghe his panda.
“What’s the matter with you?” Luo Binghe frowns more deeply as Sha Hualing proceeds to hurl into a bag. “You shouldn’t be here if you’re sick.”
Liu Qingge looks at his sister, raising an eyebrow. “And you. Why would you let her out?”
Liu Mingyan combs back Sha Hualing’s bangs. “She’s not sick. She did this ride by herself so I could video it.”
The other two join Shen Yuan in watching a video of Sha Hualing on a frankly terrifying reverse bungee ride. Suddenly, it’s no surprise that she’s in such a state.
“So this is where you wanted to be instead of shopping with me like we originally planned.” Luo Binghe folds his arms, giving Shen Yuan the chance to pull away and start scrolling through Liu Mingyan’s photos again.
Sha Hualing visibly shudders but relaxes when Liu Mingyan wraps an arm around her waist.
“There, there, Ling-er is so brave, isn’t she?” she coos, dabbing at her girlfriend’s mouth with a napkin.
Liu Qingge appraises her with newfound respect. “You couldn’t pay me to get on that one.”
“Aww, but you could pay me, Qingge,” Luo Binghe teases. “I’d do it just for your pretty smile.”
Liu Qingge doesn’t even have the chance to respond when Shen Yuan bursts out laughing, having found the photos from the Disco Pang Pang ride.
He’s too slow to stop Liu Qingge from yanking the phone out of his hand. But Shen Yuan is instantly convinced that all this hassle was worth it when he sees his boyfriend first turn stark white, then deep red, the gorgeous features of his face twisting in fury.
“Mingyan, what the f—!”
She swiftly takes her phone back before he can shatter it onto the pavement.
Luo Binghe steps forward. “Wait, let me—”
“No!” Liu Qingge blocks Luo Binghe’s path, grabbing his hand and turning to glower at Shen Yuan. “You set this up, didn’t you? What, did you bribe the ride operator, too?”
Luo Binghe’s eyes widen.
Shen Yuan raises his hands in surrender, beaming unapologetically. “And I’d do it again.”
“You—!” Even as incensed as he is, Liu Qingge can’t bring himself to call him names. Instead, he growls in frustration and storms off. “Come on, Binghe; he can find us after dinner.”
Luo Binghe waves apologetically at Shen Yuan and runs after Liu Qingge like an overeager puppy. But Shen Yuan can’t suppress his smile, nearly grinning ear to ear as he takes Liu Mingyan’s phone back and joins them on the bench to continue looking at the fruits of his labors.
“Ling-er, are you okay?” Liu Mingyan asks gently. “Do you want some tteokbokki? Maybe something spicy will distract you.”
She nods miserably, still unable to look up from where she sits, hunched over the bag of vomit.
“I’ll be right back.” Liu Mingyan kisses the top of her head before leaving.
Shen Yuan watches her go out of the corner of his eye, unsure how to comfort his co-conspirator.
But then he doesn’t have to.
As soon as Liu Mingyan is gone, Sha Hualing looks up and grins at him, any trace of nausea gone, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Mission accomplished?”
“Oh, absolutely.”