The Female Leads Truly Loves You - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: I am me, I haven’t hidden myself
The line was incredibly long, and the wait was indeed not short.

Even though a good number of people were allowed on each ride, the queue in front of them seemed endless, as if there was no end in sight.

Sam was okay with it; he had enough patience. His only concern was whether the girl could endure the wait.

But true to her word, Ava showed a remarkable ability to wait. Although she kept looking around and occasionally complained about the crowd, she showed no signs of giving up.

Finally, it was their turn.

With excitement and anticipation, Ava and Sam boarded the Ferris wheel. The small cabin, accompanied by the slow mechanical sounds ascending, felt like a special symphony, creating a memorable background music for the moment.

Sam looked out at the night view, which was gradually becoming more splendid. The brilliance of the lights was something to behold. The streetlights in the distance formed a continuous line, and the scattered, jumping points of light made it seem almost magical.

Sam suddenly thought that this must be how the immortals in his favorite Xianxia novels viewed the mortal world below.

What is the essence of life’s fireworks? It doesn’t need deliberate creation; just living ordinarily in this world as ordinary people do, that’s the essence of life’s fireworks.

“Brother, are you afraid of heights?” Ava asked, looking across at Sam.

“I’m okay, not particularly scared, but not fearless either,” Sam replied. He could handle roller coasters, but bungee jumping was out of the question for him.

Ava pondered for a moment and then said, “We used to train at those swimming pools with diving platforms. I’m telling you, diving from a 15-foot or 30-foot platform feels nothing like it looks on TV! Standing up there, I just couldn’t bring myself to jump—it was terrifying!”

Sam chuckled at her. “Why bring that up? Are you planning to try diving in the future?”

“No, not really. Besides, diving should start from a young age, and with my height, it’s not really suitable,” Ava replied.

That made sense. Sam looked at the girl sitting upright in front of him, who seemed almost as tall as he was, and wondered how she had grown so tall. Especially her long, white, perfectly straight legs without a single flaw—it would be a waste if she didn’t model.

After saying this, Ava’s expression became slightly reserved, not as lively as before, but rather more serene.

“I just wanted to say… it seems like the view from up high is a completely different world,” she mused.

Sam nodded in agreement. Looking down at the increasingly tiny crowd below, the massive Ferris wheel was a landmark of the amusement park. Occasionally, travel guides mentioned that a visit to this amusement park without a ride on the Ferris wheel was a visit wasted. From what they could see now, the experience was indeed worthwhile, primarily scenic rather than recreational.

Sam’s gaze then focused out the window again.

“Yes… it’s often like that with life’s matters too. Looking at them from different angles always gives you different feelings.”

“What about me?” Ava suddenly asked, making Sam turn back to face her.

Sitting upright, her hands crossed on her thighs, her cheeks slightly flushed but her gaze direct, Ava didn’t seem like the kind of girl he could just view as a child anymore.

He slightly averted his intense gaze.

“Of course, you too. Seen from different angles, you’re differently adorable,” Sam said awkwardly.

In front of her, all of Sam’s usual smooth tactics were useless. He felt as awkward as if he were back at square one.

Ava was somewhat disappointed by his response. It was too simple and too formal—not the answer she was hoping for. The Ferris wheel would eventually come to an end, so she couldn’t wait too long.

Suddenly, she stood up in the cabin, which was a bit cramped for her height, startling Sam.

“What are you doing? Planning to jump off?” Sam exclaimed.

“Bad brother! Don’t ruin the mood now!” Ava complained as she walked towards Sam, who shrank back, then watched as Ava sat down right next to him. They had been facing each other, but now their bodies were side by side, changing the atmosphere immediately.

Sam was momentarily dazed.

“What’s up? Wasn’t it comfortable over there?” he asked.

Ava shook her head, her lips firm. “Because I want to be closer to you…”

Sam gave a wry smile. “We’re already close, can’t get any closer.”

“But brother, we’re not close enough,” she countered, her straightforwardness clashing with his evasive remarks, making his words feel as light as feathers.

Ava looked at him. “Brother, I’m going back soon, you know that?” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of inevitable sadness, like the end of many stories—not a reunion, but a parting.

Sam’s heart trembled. “Yeah, I know… It’s not like we won’t see each other again. Cedarwood is also my home…”

“But it’ll be a long time, you know? If you don’t come back for the winter break… it’ll be from winter to next summer. Can you handle that?” she asked softly.

Sam tried to appear casual as he leaned back, seemingly unable to look at the scenery outside or the girl beside him anymore. His gaze and thoughts seemed to wish they could escape into nothingness.

“What’s there for me to handle… I’m not disappearing.”

“But… I can’t handle it,” she said, placing her delicate palm on Sam’s hand.

Sam was stunned, preparing to pull his hand back, but in the next moment, she gripped it tightly.

“I’ll be sad because I miss you and can’t see you,” she said, her touch conveying feelings Sam had never experienced before.

In the face of other women, Sam’s resistance and avoidance were just acts, strategies to make them fall deeper. But with Ava, he truly wanted to escape but couldn’t.

What was she doing?

He tried to remain calm as he attempted to pull his hand back, but it was like a tug-of-war, and she wouldn’t let go, only gripping tighter.

Sam couldn’t use too much force, not wanting to cause an accident in the cramped cabin, especially since his strength wasn’t just for show.

The two of them seemed oddly entangled.

“Maybe if you miss me… you could text me, or we could video call,” he suggested.

“But you’re slow to reply to texts, if you reply at all. And with calls, you either don’t pick up or hang up quickly…”

“Really?” Sam asked, feigning ignorance.

“Of course… you always make me sad,” Ava said, her expression woefully aggrieved.

Sam almost believed her! Ava was gripping his hand so tightly, it was turning red!

“Well… let’s talk this out, maybe let go first?”

“If I let go, brother, you’ll run away,” she said.

Where was he supposed to run? Jump from the high sky or just fly away?!

Sam gave a wry smile, knowing he had no choice but to clear the air at this moment.

“Ava, I get what you mean. I’m not dumb, you’ve said it so many times, I obviously understand,” he said softly.

“Yeah…”

“You’re great, adorable when you need to be, and lively and cute when it’s time.”

“Yeah…” Ava’s cheeks flushed, her heart racing, almost breathless.

“But…” Sam began, the turn coming at the least desired moment. He looked into her beautiful, lively eyes.

“I’m your brother, and you’re my sister. I can do everything for you, except for this one thing, because you’re too young now, and these are just immature thoughts…”

Sam didn’t finish his sentence, but he thought to himself: Maybe, when you’re 18 and legally an adult, if you still feel the same way, then I might consider your request…

Ava couldn’t read minds; she couldn’t hear Sam’s thoughts. She blinked, slightly dazed.

“But what if I don’t want all that, just that one thing?” she asked.

“You know that’s hard to do. You’re still a young girl, and as you grow up, you’ll understand some truths. I want you to be happy, but I also hope you don’t waste your feelings on me right now. Because I’m just a person who seems great but is actually a mess.”

Sam not wanting to demean himself to persuade her.

But it seemed there was no better way at the moment. In this confined space, he couldn’t avoid it.

Ava slowly let go of his hand, as he had expected.

His words left her with no rebuttal.

The barrier in her own heart was the best persuasion.

Sam thought so as Ava lowered her head.

Sam felt this scene was somewhat cruel. On such a Ferris wheel, at such a moment overlooking all the lights and splendor, it shouldn’t be so cruel, so sad.

But there was no other way.

He could only say softly, “Ava. When you turn 18, you’ll understand that the emotions you feel now aren’t that real. The true heart-fluttering moment hasn’t come yet…”

“Brother,” Ava suddenly spoke.

Her voice didn’t tremble; at least she wasn’t crying.

Sam hesitated as he looked at her.

“What is it?” he asked.

Ava looked at her toes and said softly, “That day, I had a dream.”

That day… was it the day Mia was there?

Sam had a bad feeling.

“What about the dream?” he asked.

Ava continued softly, “In the dream, I saw another me.”

As expected… Sam couldn’t show his panic or eagerness; he tried to remain calm.

“Ah… a dream version of yourself?”

“Yes, it was strange. She looked just like me, but her personality was the complete opposite of mine, and her tone wasn’t lively at all, even a bit cold and unpleasant.”

Just as he thought…

Sam said quietly, “That’s normal. Everyone has their subconscious, and everyone has another side to themselves. Don’t be afraid.”

“Yeah, she told me… she is the real me, a side of myself I don’t want to face. She said the real me is selfish, also brave, and would do anything to have you, to monopolize you.”

Hearing this, Sam felt as if the sky was falling.

Could this be the continuation of that dream?

Ava seemed to have fallen into the story she was telling, her voice immersed, somewhat bitter.

“She told me… I’ve always been enduring, always restraining myself, always denying these things because of past habits and our relationship. She told me, I clearly know that being sensible results in bearing the bitterness myself, and being too understanding means suffering more losses.”

The noise outside was a bit loud, as if something was being prepared.

But Sam was no longer concerned about those things. Under the endless night sky, above the brilliant lights, he was suspended in mid-air.

The Ferris wheel reached its highest point.

She turned her head and looked at Sam with an unfamiliar expression.

But Sam felt it was somewhat familiar—wasn’t that… the Ava he saw in his dream?

Could it be…

Ava smiled at Sam.

“She said she could help me, help me get you, make you mine alone. All I had to do… was give myself to her honestly.”

“…So, did you make a choice?”

Sam not pretending to inquire about the truth of this seemingly bizarre story.

Because it no longer mattered; he was more worried about other things.

He was worried that the girl had already made an irreversible choice.

More worried that the Ava in front of him was no longer Ava.

Ava pondered the vague dialogue from the dream in her mind.

What was her final answer?

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a loud noise seemed to envelop everything.

It turned out to be the burst of fireworks.

Just as they were at the highest point, the park’s grandest fireworks burst into the sky.

Colorful and splendid, like blooming flowers, vast and magnificent.

The firelight illuminated their faces, and Sam’s gaze was slightly drawn away, but the girl at this moment, amidst the vast sounds of the fireworks, didn’t shift her gaze at all.

She looked straight at Sam and said,

“I said…”

“I am me, I haven’t hidden myself.”

Sam’s eyes were completely astonished.

He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or… fall into another struggle.

He had endured all day, using his ability to detect lies at this moment, and above her head was a √ mark.

She hadn’t lied; she hadn’t been replaced.

She was still Ava.

And she smiled, her eyes gradually glistening.

“This hopelessly in-love person, it’s me, it’s Ava.”

“Willing to wait, to wait until the day you’re willing to accept me, it’s Ava.”

“Willing to do anything, but only unwilling to trouble you, to make you suffer, it’s Ava.”

Her tears spread from the corners of her eyes.

The young girl.

Her first real sadness and bitterness, not because her inner walls had been broken.

Because they had burst forth, filling her eyes.

Youth is about getting hurt, about pain.

She thought to herself.

She cried, but she cried beautifully.

Her voice trembled, but she didn’t sob uncontrollably.

She was resolute in telling her brother.

“It doesn’t matter…”

“Just to persist. Even if it’s just for one day, just for a moment… I am Ava, you are Sam. Not just family… I would feel happy… sob.”

She lowered her head, burying it in Sam’s lap.

Tears wet his trousers, flooding the entire cabin.

Sam’s hand gently rested on her back, his head raised indifferently watching the fireworks’ splendid burst.

Then they faded.

Turning into cold light.