Ning Wanwan rewrapped the whip around the top, standing before Si Zhan with her right hand on his arm, patiently explaining, “Don’t be anxious, Your Highness. I’ll teach you. Your force was incorrect. It should be like this…”
As Si Zhan gazed at her, his breath became heavy. Eventually, his gaze fell on her fuzzy head.
After the top was launched, Ning Wanwan darted out, shouting to Si Zhan, “Whip it, Your Highness!”
Si Zhan suddenly came to his senses, feeling his ears burning. He quickly lowered his eyes, gripped the whip, and struck the spinning top. This time, he hit it accurately, and the top spun quickly and steadily. Ning Wanwan clapped her hands, seemingly more excited than if she had played herself. Si Zhan felt this was his happiest moment.
Ning Wanwan then took Si Zhan to explore many more toys, explaining how to use them. “This is a rolling mill. I’ll be here, you’ll be there. Push lightly, or it’ll fall.” She also showed him a suspended puppet and how to play with it.
As they wandered, Ning Wanwan’s starry eyes brightened. She pointed ahead and exclaimed, “There’s actually a Guapo toy shop here!” She ran towards it while Si Zhan observed her interest, especially in a pair of golden boy and girl clay dolls holding lotus leaves.
He glanced at the wheel hanging on the wall, which displayed hundreds of tiny images of birds, fish, and other creatures. Ning Wanwan’s expression dimmed as she sighed, preparing to leave. Si Zhan, puzzled, asked, “Aren’t you going to play?” She replied, “I’ve never been good at Guapo.”
“Let’s go.”
Si Zhan stopped, grabbed her, and asked, “Which one do you want?”
Ning Wanwan was surprised, “Have you played Guapo, Your Highness?”
“No,” Si Zhan said frankly, “but I can learn.”
Recalling how Si Zhan had struggled with the top earlier, Ning Wanwan didn’t have much hope but pointed at the golden boy and girl clay dolls in the shop.
“I want that pair of Mo He Le.”
