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Psst! We're moving!
Everyone was waiting for Lin Zhan to deliver her heartfelt speech.
It didn’t matter to Lin Zhan. Since Yu Qing had already spoken, she decided to give it her all and try to turn things around.
After all, it was just a matter of one sentence.
In Shen Xi’s eyes, Lin Zhan took a deep breath at this moment, unconsciously clenching her fists on either side of her body.
...Was this her way of saying she’d beat him up if he didn’t choose her?
With a firm grip on her fists, she boldly declared: “Last night you called me ‘Sweetheart’ while stargazing and moon-gazing, and now that there’s someone new, you’re planning to abandon me?”
She then firmly stated: “No, I won’t allow it.”
...
Hmm... This act of coquetry... was effective in combining softness with toughness, sweet yet assertive...
The crowd fell into an awkward silence for a second.
Sun Hong pushed through the group, uncertainly asking: “...Zhan Zhan, what are you doing?”
Lin Zhan: “...”
Gradually, everyone began to realize what was happening.
“What the heck, Lin Zhan, what are you doing?!!”
“I’ve never seen this side of Lin Zhan! Hello? Are you our cold and aloof Zhan?”
“HahahahahaHAHAHAAhaha hiccup !”
Lin Zhan hissed softly: “Stop laughing.”
But how could they stop? Especially the boys, who were laughing so hard they were rolling on the ground, their laughter echoing through the mountains and scaring away birds flapping their wings in flight.
Was it really that funny?
After the wave of laughter subsided, Lin Zhan finally heard Zhang Ze’s voice.
“You stargazed and moon-gazed with her last night? And called her Sweetheart? When did you call her Sweetheart?”
This brought the focus back to the main point.
Someone shouted: “That move was slick!”
“Focus, people,” Qi Lijie said. “If we keep laughing, it’ll be dark soon.”
“Heroes have always struggled to pass the beauty test, especially when there are two beauties involved. Though it’s tough, President Shen, make your choice quickly.”
Shen Xi coldly said: “I’ve already made my choice.”
He sighed, looking at Lin Zhan standing there awkwardly, and said helplessly: “Lin Zhan, are you not leaving yet?”
Realizing she had been chosen, Lin Zhan quickly responded: “Oh, I’m coming right now. Let me grab my painting bag...”
After securing her painting bag, they set off to the right.
On the way, Lin Zhan said to Zheng Yi Mian: “...I think my efforts to turn things around were pretty effective. At least I got in.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...”
“I think Shen Xi was originally going to choose you, but because you said that line, it made him hesitate.”
Lin Zhan: “...Oh.”
///
The mist dissipated, and the entire mountain was enveloped in an unnamable sense of leisure.
Though they had spent a long time earlier, it was still technically early morning.
The air was filled with floating water vapor, and as Lin Zhan cupped her hands, moisture spread across her palms.
The scenery before her eyes was breathtaking—untouched trees and large rocks, masterfully crafted by nature, left her in awe.
Pale yellow fragments of light flowed like streams, scattering across the ground in flickering dots.
Step on them, and they floated at your toes.
The soil beneath their feet was soft, and as they walked, a gentle crunching sound could be heard.
This serene environment brightened and broadened everyone’s mood.
Carrying her painting bag, Lin Zhan moved through the trees and grass mounds, catching up with Shen Xi, who was leading the way.
Under the lush green trees, his figure appeared even more upright.
No matter what he did, he always seemed like a trailblazer—calm, rational, and composed.
Just this alone was enough to captivate her for a long time.
Zheng Yi Mian took photos with her camera, but Lin Zhan found cameras troublesome and used her phone’s built-in camera instead. With square framing enabled, the photos she captured were stunningly beautiful.
After nearly an hour of walking, Zheng Yi Mian began to feel exhausted.
She wasn’t as strong as Lin Zhan, and carrying the heavy painting bag for an hour was already impressive.
Lin Zhan extended her hand: “Let me carry it for you.”
Qi Lijie, who was feeling light without his painting supplies, offered: “Never mind, I’ll take it. I didn’t bring any painting gear.”
Lin Zhan smiled at Qi Lijie: “Jiejie, today you’re acting like a real man.”
Qi Lijie: “I’m always a real man.”
///
Lin Zhan quickened her pace and ran ahead.
Shen Xi preferred photographing insects.
Lin Zhan asked him: “Is your bag heavy? Do you need me to carry it for you?”
Shen Xi: “...”
Something seemed off.
Lin Zhan continued to flatter him: “Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?”
Shen Xi couldn’t hold back anymore; his expression shifted slightly, and the corner of his mouth lifted: “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”
Lin Zhan touched her nose: “If you don’t move, I’ll move myself. What else can I do?”
After saying this, she realized the ambiguity in her words and thought of something, her face suddenly flushing red.
Shen Xi felt the person beside him become a bit bashful but didn’t understand what she was thinking about.
Lin Zhan cleared her throat and changed the subject: “I’m done asking. Now it’s your turn.”
Shen Xi: “...”
Lin Zhan: “Hurry up.”
Shen Xi glanced at her, as if trying to confirm whether she had any ulterior motives, but after a moment, he still asked: “Is your bag heavy?”
Lin Zhan’s eyes sparkled mischievously: “Do you want to carry it for me?”
Shen Xi: “...”
Something about this development felt off.
However, if she really found it too heavy, he could help carry it for a while.
After all, no matter how strong she was, girls were still physically weaker than them.
Shen Xi extended his hand, curling his fingers toward her to signal her to hand it over: “Sure.”
Lin Zhan pretended to be shy, suspending her hand above his palm and quickly saying: “My bag is heavy, but I’m not.”
“How about you carry me instead?”
Shen Xi withdrew his hand.
Lin Zhan successfully teased him and laughed uncontrollably behind him. The items in her painting bag jingled as her body shook.
The girl’s laughter was delightful—clear and pure, untainted by worldly concerns or polished cynicism.
He had heard many kinds of laughter—muted, lively, sycophantic, fake.
Her voice stood out as pleasant, with a unique quality.
Shen Xi thought that perhaps he hadn’t paid attention to a girl’s laughter in a long time, which explained why he momentarily lost himself now.
Lin Zhan, proud of her successful teasing, walked with a slight bounce.
Shen Xi turned his head, his tone emotionless: “Watch your step. If you fall, I won’t help you up.”
Lin Zhan pouted: “You really won’t help me?” Shen Xi: “Really.”
Immediately afterward, he heard an “Ow!” Turning around, he saw Lin Zhan sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.
This fall looked too fake; she had even deliberately chosen a clean spot to land.
Shen Xi pretended not to notice the paper she had placed under herself.
He raised an eyebrow and asked: “What’s wrong?”
Lin Zhan mimicked his raised eyebrow, drawing out her words slowly:
“I’m faking an accident.”
The young girl stretched out her hand, her smooth, evenly proportioned fingers swaying right before his eyes, the tips forming a graceful arc.
Though there was nothing behind her, he felt as though a small fox’s tail had sprouted.
The little fox’s eyes were innocent, her expression sincere, with only her fluffy tail swaying in the air.
The little fox blinked her clear eyes and asked him: “Can you help me up?”
The light flickered.
Shen Xi thought, has the art of faking accidents reached such sophistication now?
///
Shen Xi walked up to her, slightly squatting down, his hands resting on his knees, barely meeting her gaze.
Still maintaining his composure, he asked: “What if I help you up?”
The little fox’s tongue slid over her lips and retreated. Her tone was flirtatious, but her words were proper.
“I’ll thank you.”
“No,” Shen Xi stared at her lips and said, “You’ll eat me alive.”
Lin Zhan laughed.
“Then try it. How will you know without trying? Without risk, how can there be reward?”
Perhaps she would take his money or something else. Shen Xi didn’t know, nor could he guess.
In any case, he didn’t believe she wouldn’t take anything.
Yet, driven by some unseen force, he involuntarily extended his hand.
He grasped, lifting.
The sensation under his hand was smooth, like a freshly peeled egg, still retaining its warmth.
Lin Zhan was pulled up forcefully by him, and due to inertia, her hand pressed down heavily.
Shen Xi felt a slip in his hand and ended up gripping her wrist.
It was so slender.
He didn’t know how such strength could come from her.
Because of the pull, he stayed in place while her body leaned forward, her steps shifting.
Her head happened to rest on his shoulder.
“I’ll report you,” Lin Zhan whispered. “Shen Xi, do you confess?”
Shen Xi’s gaze flickered: “You fell down on your own just now.”
“No,” she softly laughed. “It was clearly you who struck my heart.”
Before Shen Xi could react, Lin Zhan stepped back two or three paces.
Lin Zhan bit her lip, her eyes flashing.
No... She couldn’t continue...
The intensely embarrassing lines left her unable to utter another word. Inexperienced with such matters, she was now so nervous she felt like she was floating.
Before Shen Xi could make a move, her legs went weak, and her face flushed red.
A surge of heat rushed to her head, and Lin Zhan felt as if she were burning. Her ears and cheeks burned fiercely with intense heat.
...Could teasing Shen Xi be this thrilling and overwhelming?
It was too embarrassing.
She fled with her painting bag in disarray, her steps chaotic, her short hair swaying in the air.
Like a young deer colliding everywhere.
Shen Xi watched her retreating figure and felt confusion rise in his heart for the second time.
He simply couldn’t understand the workings of Lin Zhan’s mind.
What troubled him even more was why those clichéd lines, which he could easily predict, still gave him a jolt when he heard them.
Damn it.
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