The word “actor,” refers to a performer of a role in the performing arts.

In Qin Ao’s context, “shill” would be a more accurate description.

At the entrance of the small park amusement area, the weekend crowd flowed like a tapestry, with parents leading children and young couples jostling about.

Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa arrived at the meeting place and were instantly bewildered.

The sweet atmosphere of the autumn amusement park overflowed. The banana boat rocked up and down, with young visitors screaming continuously. Parents brought their children to draw sand art at the entrance of the amusement park, and each time the carousel played its cheerful tune, tender smiles would sweep past.

After waiting for the students for a while, Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa were already surrounded by two groups promoting children’s Go classes and elementary school Olympic math courses.

A middle-aged man stuffed an advertisement paper into Lin Wanxing’s hand.

The flyer was colorful, and as Lin Wanxing looked at the four answers about “why children should learn to Go,” she couldn’t help asking Wang Fa—”Do I look like someone who should learn children’s Go?”

“When babies first learn to Go, parents must accompany them. If you think you can’t learn it, you can bring your husband!” The class-selling uncle was experienced and said this directly.

Lin Wanxing was confused—”No… we haven’t…”

“Oh, you haven’t had a child yet, think it’s too early?” The middle-aged man promoting children’s Go classes immediately pulled out another flyer. “Our institution also offers early education classes. Since you two don’t have children yet, but probably plan to in the future, the early education class is simpler than Go—even women like you can understand it.”

The uncle’s marketing strategy was flexible, basically casting a net in all directions with comprehensive three-dimensional service—if you can think of it, he can sell it.

Lin Wanxing was already displeased by the uncle’s last comment.

Wang Fa suddenly looked at the class-selling uncle and asked—”What does ‘capture’ mean?”

The young man was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt today, with a baseball cap pulled low, revealing a clean, handsome jawline. His voice was clear, and the class-selling uncle shuddered, suddenly falling silent.

“Why do seven stones along the edge lose even if they’re alive?”

“If the stronger player takes the center, why is there the saying ‘gold in the corner, silver on the side, grass in the center’?”

After three consecutive questions, the class-selling uncle couldn’t answer any.

Wang Fa understood—”You don’t know how to play Go.”

His voice was soft, with a hint of surprise.

The uncle looked embarrassed but still defiant—”I didn’t study Go properly when I was young, so I didn’t do well in school and ended up selling classes!”

“So how well did you do in school?” Wang Fa asked Lin Wanxing this question.

“It was… decent,” Lin Wanxing answered.

“Which university did you attend?” Wang Fa asked.

“Yongchuan University.”

“What score did you get on the entrance exam?”

“720…” Lin Wanxing replied, at which point she realized that Wang Fa was standing up for her because the class-selling uncle had been belittling her.

However, hearing her answer, Wang Fa also fell silent for a moment.

But Wang Fa quickly regained his composure and calmly looked at the class-selling uncle—”It seems our child won’t need your early education classes.”

The class-selling uncle probably hadn’t encountered someone so keen on undermining him and directly blurted out—”What are you pretending? The total score is 750, and you only lost 30 points at 700?”

“Yes, my Chinese essay was slightly off-topic, so I probably lost more points there,” Lin Wanxing said, rather embarrassed.

The class-selling uncle—”…”

Seeing the class-selling uncle speechless, Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa prepared to move aside and continue waiting for the students.

Just then, Lin Wanxing felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around to see a person wearing a brown horse-face mask. The person was holding a bundle of strings, and following the strings upward, she saw various colorful and cute balloons floating in the clear autumn sky.

Lin Wanxing was startled and squinted—”What are you doing, Qin Ao!”

The masked person was also shocked—”How did you know it was me? I didn’t even speak!”

“A person selling balloons in the park who is tall and dark, deliberately greeting me, and most importantly, has a scar on his hand just like Qin Ao—what’s the probability that he’s not Qin Ao?” Lin Wanxing asked rhetorically.

The masked person yanked off the horse-face mask with a “whoosh,” and Qin Ao revealed an annoyed expression—”Damn, I just invited you to meet, and I run into you showing off again?”

Lin Wanxing felt wronged and could only look innocently at Wang Fa.

Wang Fa was even more innocent—”I think I just asked a few questions.”

The class-selling uncle nearby nearly spat blood and walked away without looking back.

Lin Wanxing turned back to look at Qin Ao—”What are you doing, inviting us here to be ‘actors’? Don’t tell me you want us to play ‘street vendors’ for a life experience?”

Qin Ao stiffened his neck, his face turning red, clearly having his intentions guessed but unwilling to admit it. He appeared to be thinking quickly, then suddenly clutched his stomach and shouted—”Teacher, I need to use the bathroom! Can you hold these balloons for me?”

With that, a large bunch of balloons was stuffed into Lin Wanxing’s hand.

Then Qin Ao put the horse-face mask back on his head and ran off without looking back.

The park still had a relaxed weekend atmosphere, with the sweet scent of cotton candy carried by the wind.

Lin Wanxing held a large bunch of balloons and looked up. In the sunlight, Minnie Mouse, Pleasant Goat, Superman, Batman… various cartoon character balloons gently collided under the tall camphor trees.

The leaves filtered coin-like spots of light as Lin Wanxing asked Wang Fa—”He’s not coming back, is he?”

“Obviously not,” said Wang Fa.

In the vast park with its flowing crowds, small hills, ponds, and gardens…

The lotus flowers were half-withered, revealing the delicate seed pods inside. Who knew which corner Qin Ao was hiding in, observing them?

Lin Wanxing took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Qin Ao.

Lin Wanxing—How long until you come back?

Qin Ao—What’s wrong with you? Someone’s taking a dump and you’re rushing them on WeChat.

Lin Wanxing—If you don’t come back in five minutes, I’ll set your balloons free.

Qin Ao—No no no each helium balloon costs 7 yuan damn expensive you need to sell them for at least 15

Lin Wanxing—I sell them?

Qin Ao—Don’t you get it this is just to get you and the coach out for a walk you two spend your days off cooped up at home what’s the fun in that

Lin Wanxing—We split the money 70-30.

Qin Ao—Why don’t you just rob me????????

Lin Wanxing—60-40, I get 60, you get 40.

Qin Ao—… Damn! Fine

Lin Wanxing put her phone back in her pocket, with Wang Fa standing nearby.

Lin Wanxing reported the negotiation results to Wang Fa—”We’ll split with Qin Ao 60-40.”

Wang Fa—”Actually, we could have negotiated 80-20.”

Lin Wanxing laughed—”Then he definitely wouldn’t agree and would rush back from the bathroom without even washing his hands.”

Lin Wanxing held a large bunch of balloons and walked along chatting with Wang Fa.

She told Wang Fa that she had always liked the balloons sold in the park when she was a child, feeling that a large cluster of floating balloons was dreamy and could inspire countless fantastic visions.

But now that her dream had come true, she instead felt…

“Holding balloons is quite tiring,” Lin Wanxing sighed.

“Your family never bought them for you?” Wang Fa asked with his hands in his pockets, head tilted back, looking at the balloons.

“Back then they were all hydrogen balloons. My grandparents thought they weren’t safe and wouldn’t buy them for me,” Lin Wanxing said, then took out her phone again to ask Qin Ao—”Are you selling helium balloons?”

Qin Ao—Of course, didn’t you already lecture us about absolutely? Not! Selling! Hydrogen! Balloons!

Lin Wanxing pressed the voice message button—”Safety issues are paramount!”

A gust of wind blew as they were walking across a wooden bridge over the pond. Lin Wanxing hurriedly put her phone back in her pocket and struggled to hold onto the balloons.

Wang Fa was behind her and reached out to steady her shoulder.

The next moment, Lin Wanxing felt Wang Fa grip her hand, his fingers brushing past her palm, and taking hold of the balloon strings.

His fingertips were rough with many calluses, completely different from his outwardly fair and slender appearance. It seemed that although he was a coach, he also engaged in various physical training and never relaxed his own standards.

As Lin Wanxing stood stunned, Wang Fa’s voice sounded in her ear.

“Let go.”

Lin Wanxing instinctively released her grip, and Wang Fa took over the large cluster of balloons.

Lin Wanxing turned to look at him.

The young man held a large bunch of colorful balloons, with green pond water and blue sky behind him.

Lin Wanxing was about to say something.

Wang Fa—”Safety issues are paramount.”

Lin Wanxing—”…”

Comrade Wang Fa’s language art was precisely this—few words but exquisite, and he would never lose out on price matters.

Just like now, with him holding a canopy of balloons, their profit-sharing changed to—

“80-20 split, I get 80, you get 20.”

Lin Wanxing was walking across the wooden bridge with him, and hearing this price immediately protested—”Aren’t you being too harsh!”

“The balloons are in my hands now,” Wang Fa said.

“But I also made a huge contribution!”

“What contribution?”

“For example, I can take you to a good place to sell things.”

Lin Wanxing led Wang Fa across the wooden bridge, around the small hill in the park, through a grove of magnolia trees, and stood at the park’s back entrance.

They faced the road, with a parking lot across the street. Compared to the bustling amusement park entrance, there were far fewer vendors here.

Wang Fa held a large canopy of balloons, with only an old grandmother selling tea eggs sitting nearby.

The fragrant aroma of tea eggs filled the air, with corn also warming on the pot, and shelled eggs bobbing in the soy sauce broth.

Lin Wanxing swallowed and squatted in front of the stall. Before her own business had even started, she was already spending money.

When she returned with tea eggs and corn, she found Wang Fa sitting on the railing outside the park, having pushed himself up with one hand.

Lin Wanxing glanced at the height of the railing, then peeled the shell of her tea egg and silently stood beside him.

Compared to the bustling park interior, it was indeed much quieter outside. Many hibiscus trees were planted around, and it was the flowering season, with large pink hibiscus blossoms looking lusciously gorgeous.

Lin Wanxing peeled her tea egg while chatting casually with Wang Fa.

She told Wang Fa that this park was designed by a French designer a hundred years ago, and like the stadium, was a work of that era.

At that time, the designer wanted to build an elegant park, but somehow, as times changed, it gradually became a playground for children.

She also told Wang Fa stories from her childhood. She said her grandfather would bring her to this park every week. Back then, they exchanged money for game tickets, and one ticket allowed a ride on the small train that circled the amusement park. She always wanted to ride four or five times, and her grandfather would always let her ride to her heart’s content.

She talked a lot, while Wang Fa sat nearby, listening attentively.

After finishing the last bite of her tea egg, Lin Wanxing licked her fingers and asked him—”Why did you come back from abroad and rent a place in Hongjing?”

Wang Fa—”My maternal grandmother told me she grew up in Hongjing as a child. She said it was beautiful and peaceful here, so I always wanted to come and see.”

This was perhaps the first time Lin Wanxing had heard Wang Fa talk about his family and why he chose to come to Hongjing.

“Did… your grandmother mention any attractions you particularly wanted to visit? We could…” Lin Wanxing was originally going to say “We could visit before you leave.” But on second thought, given Wang Fa’s typically mysterious nature, perhaps he had already explored on his own, so she stopped halfway through her sentence.

Wang Fa—”Actually, I don’t remember much. She passed away early. She mentioned the old family house, but now other people live there, and I don’t feel like going.”

“Didn’t your grandmother take you when you were little?” Lin Wanxing asked.

“She… was probably also the type who was very busy with work when she was alive. Our family relationships were rather distant, but during one summer vacation, she came to England for a holiday and taught me to play Go.”

Lin Wanxing finally understood why Wang Fa had asked the class-selling uncle questions about Go earlier. It seemed that in his maternal grandmother’s hometown, he couldn’t accept someone belittling women in their words.

Lin Wanxing—”I don’t know how to play Go. When I was little, my grandparents only taught me Olympic math and made me memorize ancient poems.”

Wang Fa—”I’m not particularly good at it either.”

His voice was soft, without any special emotional fluctuation. His expression was serene, his gaze distant, and with large clusters of hibiscus flowers behind him, he seemed about to blend into the autumn background.

Lin Wanxing suddenly didn’t know how to continue this topic, so she changed the angle of the conversation—”What about Yongchuan? I’ve lived in Yongchuan for many years. After you go there, I can write you a guide and tell you where to find good food.”

As she was saying this, Wang Fa suddenly looked at her and called her name—”Lin Wanxing.”

Lin Wanxing felt a shiver down her spine—”What is it? Don’t suddenly call my full name, it’s a bit scary.”

Wang Fa—” Ms. Lin, we’ve been here for 20 minutes. Is this a good place to sell things?”

Lin Wanxing—”Don’t be impatient, Coach. Are you tired of holding the balloons? Do you want me to take over?”

Wang Fa raised an eyebrow—”I’m not in a hurry, just a bit hungry now that I’ve watched you finish your tea egg, and corn.”

“Then the timing is about right,” Lin Wanxing said with a smile, looking toward the park exit.

It was nearly noon, and occasionally parents would walk out with children who had finished playing, with the children often reluctant to leave.

“Let me tell you, this spot is good,” Lin Wanxing explained to Wang Fa. “First, there’s very little competition, and then, the amusement park is about to close for noon, and parents will bring their children out this way. At that time, the children definitely won’t want to leave and will still want to play, right? If they also set their sights on balloons, fathers, and mothers will often agree to this request and buy balloons to coax their babies—this is called reverse thinking!”

Before she finished speaking, a chubby little boy stopped in front of her.

The little boy looked up, his arms full of flesh like lotus root segments. He stared at the balloons floating in the air in Wang Fa’s hand, refusing to move.

Lin Wanxing looked at Wang Fa and smiled.

The balloons sold faster than imagined. Lin Wanxing promoted energetically, emphasizing the safety of helium balloons. Wang Fa’s attitude was also very good, always crouching down to let children choose their favorite balloons.

Before long, they were down to just one last balloon.

A young couple stood before them.

The young man took out his phone to scan the payment QR code.

Lin Wanxing looked up at Wang Fa, and in that moment, the young man was slightly lowering his head to look at her. In the sunlight, his pupil color was like honey.

“Do you like it?” Lin Wanxing also looked up, smiling and asking Wang Fa.

Without waiting for Wang Fa to answer, Lin Wanxing put away the QR code and said to the young man who was about to pay—”We’re not selling the last one.”

After saying this, she took Wang Fa’s hand, held the balloon string, wrapped it around his palm, and carefully tied a butterfly knot, smiling—”A farewell gift.”

Wang Fa lowered his head, staring in a daze at the butterfly knot tied in his palm.

Far above his wrist, the pink Minnie Mouse balloon swayed in the wind.

The autumn memory was like a dream.

Many years later, when Lin Wanxing recalled this moment, she could still remember Wang Fa’s surprised expression. Like a green pond brushed by the wind, or camphor leaves illuminated transparent by the sunlight.