The moment Luo Zheng rejected Charlize Theron's suggestion to change clothes, she stared at him in confusion.
For a brief second, she almost suspected she had heard wrong.
A few moments ago, he had insisted on taking her somewhere mysterious late at night, refused to explain where they were going, and now wouldn't even let her change out of her dress. Yet strangely enough, despite all the warning signs in her mind, she didn't feel any real discomfort.
Because ever since entering this manor tonight, nothing about Luo Zheng had followed the usual Hollywood script.
While Charlize stood there still thinking, Luo Zheng had already disappeared upstairs.
A few minutes later, footsteps sounded.
Charlize looked up—and froze.
Gone was the wealthy young billionaire who had stirred up all of Hollywood.
Gone was the producer who had shocked the industry with Saw and shaken Marvel's future with one business move after another.
Walking down the stairs instead was a perfectly ordinary young man.
White T-shirt.
Blue jeans.
White sneakers.
Simple.
Clean.
Refreshing.
Like a college student sneaking out late at night for a date.
Under the lights, his damp hair had not completely dried yet. Combined with his smile, the whole image looked absurdly youthful.
Charlize suddenly felt dazed.
That strange feeling appeared again.
That familiar sensation from years ago.
Like the memory of a boy she once secretly liked.
Back then there had been no fame, no luxury, no Hollywood, no countless masks and hidden motives.
Just sunlight.
Just laughter.
Just youth.
Luo Zheng waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"Still standing there? Let's go."
Charlize blinked and returned to reality.
Then she looked around.
No car.
No chauffeur.
No Rolls-Royce.
Nothing.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Wait… where's the car?"
Luo Zheng didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pointed toward the side entrance of the estate.
"This way."
Charlize followed his gaze.
Then her eyes widened.
Near the entrance stood a black Motorcycle.
Luo Zheng held a helmet in one hand while standing beside it with a grin.
Charlize stared blankly.
"...You're joking."
Luo Zheng tilted his head.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"You want me to ride that?"
Charlize pointed at herself.
Then pointed at her dress.
Then at her high heels.
Finally back at the Motorcycle.
Her expression clearly read:
Have you gone insane?
She was Charlize Theron.
One of Hollywood's recognized goddesses.
She attended premieres in luxury cars.
Walked red carpets.
Sat beside stars and billionaires.
And now—
Motorcycle?
Luo Zheng looked her up and down seriously.
"Hm. I think it'll work."
Charlize almost laughed from anger.
"Work? How exactly?"
Luo Zheng casually walked over.
"Like this."
Before she reacted, an arm wrapped around her slender waist.
Then—
Her body suddenly became light.
Charlize let out a startled sound.
The next moment she was sitting sideways on the Motorcycle.
"...!"
She stared.
Her face instantly reddened.
Strong.
Too strong.
That had been effortless.
Luo Zheng acted as if nothing happened.
He reached somewhere and pulled out a men's jacket.
Then carefully wrapped it around her waist.
The jacket covered her exposed legs and prevented the dress from lifting too much.
Charlize lowered her head.
For some reason, warmth spread in her chest.
He had thought of even that.
Before she could speak, something dropped over her head.
A helmet.
Luo Zheng stood close.
Very close.
Charlize could see his eyelashes.
Could smell the faint scent of shampoo.
Could even feel his breathing.
He lowered his head carefully and adjusted the strap under her chin.
His movements were unexpectedly gentle.
Like he was afraid of hurting her.
For several seconds, Charlize forgot to speak.
After securing the helmet, Luo Zheng nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect."
Then he sat in front and started the Motorcycle.
The engine roared.
Luo Zheng looked back.
"Hold tight."
Before Charlize could ask anything—
VROOOM!
The Motorcycle shot forward.
"Ah!"
Instinctively, Charlize grabbed him.
Both arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Even through the thin T-shirt, she could feel the hard lines underneath.
Firm muscles.
Strong abdomen.
A body completely different from the appearance of a sunny young man.
Wind rushed across her face.
Streetlights blurred.
Los Angeles at midnight stretched endlessly ahead.
Charlize pressed closer unconsciously.
"...Where are we going?!"
Her voice nearly vanished in the wind.
Luo Zheng simply laughed.
No answer.
Instead—
Faster.
Charlize widened her eyes.
Then tightened her arms.
The city lights passed one after another.
Time seemed to blur.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Who knew how long later—
Screeeeech!
The Motorcycle slid sideways and finally stopped.
Charlize nearly crashed into Luo Zheng's back.
She hurriedly removed her helmet.
Then froze.
Ahead stood a familiar entrance.
A place everyone in America knew.
Disneyland.
Except—
Everything was dark.
Silent.
Closed.
No visitors.
No lights.
Nothing.
Charlize turned slowly.
"...You brought me here?"
Luo Zheng nodded seriously.
Charlize looked at the locked gates.
Then looked back at him.
"...At midnight?"
"Trust me."
Luo Zheng smiled.
Then he pulled out his phone.
A few moments later:
"Roy, I'm here."
On the other side came an explosion.
"You little bastard!"
"You woke me up again?!"
"Do you know what time it is?!"
Even from several feet away, Charlize could hear Roy Disney roaring.
Luo Zheng sighed dramatically.
"I just suddenly thought of my dear friend."
Silence.
Then:
"Get lost."
"You'll be blacklisted tomorrow."
Click.
Call ended.
Charlize covered her mouth and laughed.
For some reason, seeing Luo Zheng get scolded made her oddly happy.
Luo Zheng looked offended.
"Why are you laughing?"
Charlize shook her head.
"No reason."
Several minutes later—
Lights suddenly turned on.
One after another.
Street lamps.
Buildings.
Decorations.
Like stars awakening from darkness.
Disneyland slowly lit up.
Then—
The gates opened.
Two sleepy employees hurried over.
Their smiles looked professional.
But resentment nearly floated above their heads.
Clearly they had been dragged from bed.
Luo Zheng didn't even speak.
He casually took out two stacks of cash.
Threw them over.
The employees caught them.
Instantly—
Their expressions changed.
Smiles became sincere.
"Mr. William!"
"What a pleasant surprise!"
Charlize stared speechlessly.
Money truly solved many problems.
The employees enthusiastically followed behind.
Luo Zheng pulled Charlize forward.
The empty amusement park felt completely different.
Quiet.
Dreamlike.
As if the entire world belonged only to them.
Soon they stopped.
Charlize looked ahead.
Then immediately shook her head.
"No."
Absolutely no.
Luo Zheng looked innocent.
Ahead stood—
A Carousel.
Charlize crossed her arms.
"I'm not riding that."
With her height?
No chance.
Luo Zheng sighed regretfully.
"Fine."
Then he pointed elsewhere.
"Let's switch."
Charlize followed his direction.
Then saw it.
A giant Ferris Wheel.
Only then did Luo Zheng smile inwardly.
Carousel had never been the target.
This had been.
The cabin door opened.
Both entered.
The space was very small.
Especially for two people with long legs.
Even sitting opposite each other, knees occasionally touched.
Charlize looked outside.
"...This was your plan?"
Luo Zheng stood up.
Ignored the question.
Then pointed outside.
"You've probably never seen Hollywood from here."
Charlize paused.
Then walked over.
Below, countless lights stretched endlessly.
Cars moved like rivers.
Buildings glittered.
The city seemed smaller from here.
Higher.
Higher.
The Ferris Wheel slowly rose.
Wind brushed through the windows.
Everything became quiet.
Very quiet.
Then—
Warmth suddenly appeared around her waist.
Charlize stiffened slightly.
Luo Zheng stood behind her.
His arms gently wrapped around her.
Not tightly.
Not aggressively.
Just enough.
Very naturally.
Charlize opened her mouth slightly.
Before speaking—
A soft voice reached her ear.
"Happy birthday in advance."
She froze.
Birthday.
Early August.
Very few people remembered.
Very few cared.
Yet somehow—
He did.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then—
Boom.
Fireworks suddenly exploded across the sky.
One.
Then another.
Countless colors bloomed.
Light reflected in her eyes.
Everything below vanished.
Only the fireworks remained.
And him.
Charlize slowly turned.
Luo Zheng lowered his head.
Their eyes met.
No one spoke.
No one needed to.
At some point—
Distance disappeared naturally.
Like it had always been meant to happen.
The Ferris Wheel continued turning quietly beneath the fireworks-covered sky.
And high above the city lights of Los Angeles, time itself seemed to slow.