Song Cheng volunteered to go first. He felt confident he’d memorized the correct path. Qin Wunian followed behind, his expression growing increasingly perplexed.
Mischievous?
Likes causing trouble?
Wanders the streets?
Does nothing?
How had Song Cheng attached all those labels to himself? Did he really have this epic misunderstanding of who Qin Wunian was?
He glanced at the cameraman who had been following them all along.
Could this be a persona Song Cheng was creating for the cameras? A bad boy turned good…?
But that kind of image wasn’t trendy anymore. Now, positivity was in—good kids from childhood were the most admired.
Shaking his head silently, Qin Wunian still couldn’t figure out what Song Cheng was thinking. He quickened his pace to catch up.
From a distant corner, a scream pierced the air.
Judging by the voice, it sounded like Lv Ruosi.
Song Cheng and Qin Wunian both froze, staring toward the source in shock. Song Cheng even asked the cameraman, “What happened?”
The cameraman clearly knew, but he just stifled a laugh and shook his head at them.
Song Cheng: “Forgetting the pain as soon as it’s healed! You just had gastroenteritis yesterday, and today you want seafood? With me watching, forget it.”
Qin Wunian: “…So I just watch while you eat?”
Song Cheng found the question absurd. “Yeah. You made the mistake, I don’t need to pay for it too.”
Qin Wunian was momentarily speechless at his brazen confidence. “Being sick is a mistake? I didn’t get sick on purpose.”
Song Cheng pointed at a crab. The chef across immediately grabbed it, and Song Cheng’s gaze followed the crab as he spoke to Qin Wunian.
He said with a meaning glinting in his eyes, “You know what I mean.”
Su Yu, holding two drinks he’d just made, watched Qin Wunian’s expressions shift like a spectrum. When Song Cheng wasn’t looking, his face showed every emotion imaginable, as if he was about to clash with Song Cheng. But the moment Song Cheng accepted the prepared crab and looked back, Qin Wunian’s expression instantly calmed, as if the earlier defiance hadn’t existed.
Putting down his sushi chopsticks, Qin Wunian replied sensibly, “Then I’ll just eat some vegetables.”
…
Su Yu couldn’t help but smile. So obvious—only Yue Yuran seemed oblivious to the atmosphere between the two.
Qin Wunian wanted to eat alone with Song Cheng, but in front of the cameras, that was impossible. Su Yu found a semi-open four-person table, with the restaurant on the left and the boundless sea on the right.
This tourist city was naturally coastal, and the theme park was built on a small island at the city’s edge, which gave it the nickname “Dream Island.”
Not all seas are the same. Some are perfect for swimming, with soft sandy beaches blending with the sky, soothing to the eyes. Others are less picturesque, a little gray despite their grandeur. The park’s beach fell into the latter category. From afar, it looked okay; up close, not so much.
Su Yu and Yue Yuran sat on one side. Qin Wunian and Song Cheng on the other.
Yue Yuran fussed over Su Yu, peeling shrimp and slicing steak, and Su Yu accepted it all calmly. No wonder online critics sometimes maliciously said Su Yu was meticulous to the extreme—like a Chinese version of Twelve Years a Slave if paired with Yue Yuran.
Those critics didn’t understand the reality. They only saw snippets of photos and drew wild conclusions. Su Yu hardly explained—he had been in and out of relationships with Yue Yuran many times, but he only responded publicly a few times. Most of it was paparazzi photos sensationalized by gossip accounts. He believed life was his own to live; outsiders watching was irrelevant. Even if he explained, few would believe.
At their table, the atmosphere was calm and pleasant. At Song Cheng’s table, it was like a live stakeout.
He gnawed on a crab leg, eyes following every move of Qin Wunian. Qin Wunian picked up fruit—Song Cheng watched. Qin Wunian grabbed chicken—Song Cheng watched. Qin Wunian stood to refill a drink—Song Cheng quickly wiped his hands and got up too.
Qin Wunian: “……”
He wanted to snap, but Song Cheng’s clean, intent gaze made all anger vanish.
Silently, he walked out of his seat, followed by a persistent little shadow.
When the couples and friends arrived, they saw this scene. Qin Wunian paused to greet everyone, then asked, “Who was the last to leave?”
Yang Qing had been holding back, but now that someone asked, she said, “It was these two hahaha—a directionally challenged person and a dog-phobic one. If they hadn’t seen me and Zhao Feifei, they could have been lost inside all night, and nobody would have gotten the treasure chest. Teacher Liu said he didn’t ask for much—just that we get them out safely.”
Song Cheng looked at Lv Ruosi. Along the way out, she had mostly calmed down, back to her usual self. But in the maze, when they had a close encounter, Lv Ruosi had seemed a bit off.
Turns out she was afraid of dogs~
So when Liu Yanchu grabbed the treasure chest, he probably just wanted to get Lv Ruosi out quickly. Unexpectedly, he got the chest but still got lost.
Song Cheng had been angry when the chest was taken, but it passed quickly. Especially after realizing Liu Yanchu had such a legitimate reason, he not only stopped being mad, he looked at him with a loving, encouraging expression.
As someone who had also been divorced, he admired Liu Yanchu’s ability to let go of grudges and protect his ex-wife. Truly a good man!
Liu Yanchu: “……”
With the buffet coupons, they could eat freely; without them, they had to buy a few dishes, like at a resort.
After eating, everyone dispersed—some walked along the beach, some continued exploring the park, and some, like Lv Ruosi, returned to their rooms to rest.
By nine o’clock, everyone had gradually returned, tidied up, and prepared for bed.
The new room was much larger than the previous one, with a view of the sea. At night, they could hear the waves hitting the shore. Two 1.5-meter beds were placed at opposite ends, nearly three meters apart. Qin Wunian chose the one closer to the door, and Song Cheng the one nearer the window.
At 9:50, Song Cheng said to Qin Wunian, “Good night.”
Qin Wunian: “Good night.”
Click—the main switch was turned off, and the room went completely dark.
After a long day of activity, Song Cheng was ready to sleep. He rolled onto his side, resting on his pillow with his hand under his head, letting himself drift off.
But halfway through, a sudden click—the lights blazed back on.
Standing like Death itself, Qin Wunian loomed over Song Cheng’s bed. From above, he looked down and said, “It’s ten o’clock. Get up. Tell me clearly before sleeping again.”
Song Cheng: “……”
He sat up, completely bewildered. “What else haven’t I made clear?”
Qin Wunian sat at the edge of the bed with his arms crossed. “Too much. That tattooed guy—how did he get in here? Was he following you? I know he’s nineteen, but nineteen-year-olds are capable of a lot. Not to mention you—what did you do at nineteen? I don’t need to repeat it, right?”
Song Cheng paused. Nineteen… that was four years ago. In today’s world, eighteen is already the legal age for marriage. He had just turned nineteen when he and Qin Wunian hurriedly got their marriage certificate.
…So yes, at nineteen, one could do pretty much anything.
Rubbing his hair, Song Cheng answered softly, “The tattooed guy’s name is Zheng Yi. He got in here because his dad owns this park. Your brother has shares here too; maybe your brother knows him.”
Qin Wunian’s smile was strained, almost sarcastic. “What a coincidence.”
Song Cheng: “……”
He went on, “And Zheng Yi isn’t following me. He just wanted to check if I was okay.”
Qin Wunian frowned. “What do you mean?”
Song Cheng tapped his head. “Remember the car accident? He hit me. Apparently, he was so startled at the time that he developed a psychological shadow. He’s just checking on me so he doesn’t have to keep thinking about it.”
Qin Wunian stared at him.
When Song Cheng finished, he looked up, noticing Qin Wunian’s blank expression. Just as he felt something was off, Qin Wunian suddenly stood: “He hit you, and he has a psychological shadow?!?!”
Song Cheng: “…………”
He froze. “Don’t get so worked up—”
Qin Wunian: “Why can’t I be worked up?! I’ve never heard of something this ridiculous in my life. The driver runs into the victim, not to apologize, but just to ease his own conscience? How dare he! I should call the Antarctic station and cut off his face—then the ozone hole above the South Pole wouldn’t exist anymore!”
Song Cheng: “……”
When it came to verbal sparring, Song Cheng was clearly outmatched. He stammered before trying to explain, “B-b-but… he didn’t do it on purpose. And he apologized, okay? His attitude was good. The kid isn’t bad.”
Qin Wunian’s face still radiated fury. “I thought you said it was already taken care of. I thought the driver was caught! How is he still walking around alive?!”
Song Cheng: “Because I’m fine. And the accident wasn’t entirely his fault this time. They paid for the medical bills, the traffic police revoked his license, and the little girl’s mother was determined to sue. To me, this matter is already well settled…”
Qin Wunian suddenly fell silent, staring out the door. Song Cheng felt a bad premonition. “What are you thinking? You’re not planning to go cause trouble, are you?”
Two seconds passed before Qin Wunian turned back, his face still cold. “Relax. I’m not that stupid.”
Song Cheng finally breathed easier. A moment of heroics solves nothing. Especially since Qin Wunian was a public figure, just emerging from a domestic violence scandal—he couldn’t afford another violent incident.
Song Cheng gently tried to calm him: “Honestly, I don’t care about this anymore. What you saw was me getting into a car accident, but what I saw was saving a child. The probability of a person encountering such a situation in a lifetime is extremely low, as you know. This was the only highlight of my life—there won’t be another one.”
Qin Wunian looked at him. “And if it happens again?”
Song Cheng opened his mouth: “I don’t know.”
He truly didn’t. People react instinctively in emergencies; even if he promised now, it wouldn’t guarantee calm if it happened again. But as Song Cheng said, statistically, he was unlikely to face such a situation again.
Qin Wunian fell silent. He knew he was overthinking and forcing the matter. He didn’t demand Song Cheng promise anything. Instead, he looked at his hair.
He reached out and gently brushed away the section covering the stitches. The scar remained. He didn’t touch it, just looked for a long while.
Long enough that Song Cheng, obediently bowing his head, felt a little neck strain. Finally, Qin Wunian withdrew his hand and met Song Cheng’s gaze. “Does it still hurt?”
Song Cheng smiled. “It’s fine. Haven’t hurt for a while.”
Qin Wunian nodded, then asked, “And those scratches…”
The ones on his body? Song Cheng didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled softly, tilting his head, and called his name:
“Qin Wunian.”
Qin Wunian paused, silently watching him.
Song Cheng leaned closer, his eyes sparkling like stars. “Aren’t you worried about me?”
Qin Wunian’s curled fingers twitched. After a moment, he said, “A little.”
Song Cheng drew a long, satisfied breath. Then he asked, “Did you start worrying today, or did you already feel it when I first showed you the wound?”
He was so close that even if Qin Wunian turned away, it was useless. His expression was a little flustered. After two tense seconds, Qin Wunian suddenly stood and shoved Song Cheng back under the covers.
“Sleep. I’m going out for some fresh air. This room’s air quality is terrible.”
Song Cheng lay back, watching Qin Wunian almost bolt out the door, his heart lightly tugged.
Coward.
Despite that, his mood was light and blissful. He closed his eyes, ready to sleep. Half a minute later, he suddenly opened them, a delayed realization dawning on him.
Wait a minute, Qin Wunian should have just slipped out, not sneaked off to find Zheng Yi, right?
Probably not. He didn’t even know where Zheng Yi was—how could he find him?
Song Cheng smirked to himself, thinking he was overanalyzing, and shrank down a little, letting out a soft sigh. This time, he really lay down to sleep.
Meanwhile, Qin Wunian stepped out of the room. He stood in the corridor for a moment, letting his mind cool down automatically, then turned and headed outside.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, Qin Wunian opened the dial pad and quickly punched in a string of numbers. After making the call, he waited quietly.
For some, ten o’clock at night was just the start of their nightlife; for others, it was the beginning of yet another day-to-day nightmare.
“Daddy, tell me a story.”
“Daddy, I want to hear a story about giraffes!”
“I’ve already heard about giraffes. I want to hear about baby rabbits! Daddy, tell me about baby rabbits.”
“Daddy, listen to me!”
“Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy—”
Amid the chaotic commotion, Qin Wunian first heard a door close, then a faint, breathless male voice spoke: “Qin Wunian? I thought you were off filming a variety show. How do you still have time to call me?”
Qin Wunian replied, “I need your help finding someone. His name is Zheng Yi, the son of a theme park shareholder. He should be in the park now. Can you find out which room he’s in?”
The man asked in confusion, “What do you want to find him for?”
“Nothing, just want to have a chat with him.”
On the other end of the line, Qin Wunian smiled wickedly. “I have a feeling this conversation will be very… enjoyable.”