The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

Even on days when people are supposed to be going to work or school, the subway station entrance is still packed with people filing in.

With blank expressions, they walked quickly towards the security checkpoint.

The dental clinics and GG signs advertising infertility treatment on both sides were so bright they were almost blinding.

The safety reminders and arrival information playing on a loop over the loudspeaker, along with the mixed smells of disinfectant and countless people in the air, instantly transported Ye Shu back to half a year ago.

Ye Shu, holding Xiao Nuan's hand, strolled slowly into the rapidly flowing crowd, appearing somewhat out of place.

They weren't in a hurry, nor were they rushing to get somewhere. They came out to have fun, so what was the rush?

They bought two tickets to get off at the aquarium and headed towards the security checkpoint.

When Ye Shusong opened her hand during the security check, she found that she couldn't pull it out.

Xiao Nuan's hands were like tiny pliers, gripping his hand tightly, showing no intention of letting go.

Ye Shu smiled a little embarrassedly at the middle-aged woman holding the metal detector and explained:

"I'm sorry, this child is a little shy and doesn't feel comfortable."

Seeing Xiao Nuan's fixed gaze, the older woman didn't say much, but nodded to show her understanding.

This treats Xiao Nuan as a special case... But Xiao Nuan's personality is indeed quite unique.

After passing through security, I slowly descended the escalator. The further down I went, the denser the crowds became, and the stronger the smell of the subway grew.

Ye Shu could clearly feel that the little hand holding her was getting tighter and tighter.

Moreover, the distance between the two was getting closer and closer. Originally, they were just walking side by side, but now Xiao Nuan was pressed against his body, and their arms would rub together when they walked.

Ye Shu lowered his head. Xiao Nuan's face remained expressionless, showing neither nervousness nor excitement.

My eyes moved a little faster than usual, scanning the heads of people in the elevator, the passersby carrying large and small bags on both sides of the stairs, and the GG sign on the wall.

Is this your first time taking the subway?

Ye Shu lowered his head and asked in her ear.

"Um."

Xiao Nuan responded, but her eyes continued to scan back and forth.

No wonder.

For Xiaonuan, it's understandable that she felt uncomfortable taking the subway for the first time—a closed, crowded, and packed environment.

Ye Shu didn't say much, but simply held Xiao Nuan's hand tightly and moved closer to her.

After getting off the escalator, the number of people in front of me suddenly increased, and they were all standing by the glass wall outside the tracks.

The tunnel was pitch black and seemed to have no end. The platform was crowded with people. Some were expressionless, looking down at their phones, some were shaking their legs anxiously, and some were carrying large and small bags, walking back and forth.

The safety officer, holding a megaphone, stood in front of the glass door and repeatedly, without any emotion, said, "Stand behind the yellow safety line and wait. Let people go down first, then go up. Be careful."

Ye Shu led Xiao Nuan to stand in front of the glass door. Xiao Nuan looked up at the route map on it.

Ye Shu raised her finger and pointed to a station name marked with a green dot, saying:

"We're here now."

As he spoke, he pointed to a station marked with a small dolphin logo:

"Then, take the train for six stops, get off at this stop, and the aquarium will be right there."

Xiao Nuan followed his hand and looked at the map. Her eyes lingered on the little dolphin sign for a moment, then she nodded and began to study the route map again.

The announcement on the platform came on, saying that the subway was about to arrive. Faint sounds could be heard from inside the tunnel, and everyone was ready to rush in, subconsciously taking two steps forward.

"The car is coming, stay close to me, don't let go."

Ye Shu gave Xiao Nuan a few words of advice, and then prepared to pull her in and squeeze through.

Xiao Nuan didn't answer, but turned her head to look at the tunnel behind the glass door.

A point of light appeared in the pitch-black tunnel, then grew larger and larger, appearing at the glass doorway amidst the roar of the subway.

The moment the subway doors and the glass doors on the platform opened, the crowd began to push and shove as security guards shouted, "Let people get off first, then get on; be careful!"

Ye Shu had expected the subway to be crowded, but the scene before him still exceeded his expectations.

He had no choice but to move Xiao Nuan in front of him and hold her tightly in his arms to prevent her from being pushed around, squeezing through the crowd.

Once inside, it was impossible to move an inch; the carriage was packed to the brim, making it difficult to even turn around.

Ye Shu had no choice but to place Xiao Nuan in the corner between the car door and the seat armrest, while he stood in front of her, protecting her inside.

"Hold on tight, don't fall."

Although Ye Shu said that, with people crowding together like this, it would be difficult to fall down.

Xiao Nuan was trapped in this triangular space by Ye Shu, her back pressed against the carriage, with no room to move at all.

Hearing Ye Shu's words, she nodded, raised one hand and awkwardly grabbed the armrest, while her other hand gripped Ye Shu's clothes.

Her face was almost pressed against Ye Shu's chest, and she could only see Ye Shu's face by looking up.

The carriage light shone on Ye Shu's face, and Xiao Nuan saw that he was looking down slightly, his eyebrows were furrowed slightly from exertion, and his arms were firmly supported on either side of her.

The air in the carriage was terrible, a mixture of sweat, perfume, the smell of steamed buns someone had eaten, the fishy smell of seafood someone had brought, and something else someone had secretly put in there... all mixed together.

The air coming in from the ventilation openings on the subway was completely ineffective, and the surrounding area was filled with annoyingly loud voices. Because there were so many people talking, it was impossible to hear what they were saying.

There were also announcements from train stations, the sound of short videos playing aloud from mobile phones, and children crying...

But Xiao Nuan seemed to block all of that out; she just tilted her head back and quietly looked at Ye Shu.

The carriage swayed slightly and then accelerated away from the platform.

The inertia caused everyone to sway backward, and Ye Shu gripped the handrails on both sides tightly, securing Xiao Nuan inside.

Xiao Nuan's forehead bumped into Ye Shu's chest due to inertia.

Even through his clothes, I could hear his heartbeat, one beat after another, drowning out all the surrounding noise.

She blinked, smelling the familiar scent on Ye Shu, and instead of immediately retreating, she leaned against him, raised her head in his arms, and stared at Ye Shu's face, as if trying to confirm something.

Ye Shu looked down and met her upward gaze, and said to her:

"Just a little longer, we'll be there soon."

Xiao Nuan remained silent, then lowered her head again, burying her face in Ye Shu's arms, and turned her head to look out through the glass of the subway door.

It was pitch black outside, with only the tunnel lights flashing by. Xiao Nuan saw her face reflected in the glass, resting against Ye Shu's chest. She blinked, then turned away.

Ye Shu frowned as he endured an old woman behind him constantly nudging his ribs with her elbow. Suddenly, he felt something in his waist. Looking down, he saw that Xiao Nuan had let go of the handrail, wrapped her arms around his waist, and was clinging to him without moving.