Summer Night Elopement

Chu Yiqi stared at Meng Yike and joked, half-jokingly, "I have a problem, a copyright issue!"

"I only sang one line, sorry, I haven't reached the standard yet."

"Terrible review!"

Xi Ai didn't let Chu Yiqi off the hook either: "Then I know the answer to this question—the sun-dried tea from the year before last."

Chu Yiqi was completely petrified.

How can someone be sentimental one minute and then suddenly want to switch sides?

However, Xi Ai's singing is actually very beautiful. Hearing Xi Ai sing a cappella in this environment evokes a special kind of excitement, like the reeds by the roadside suddenly sweeping by, bringing a tingling sensation.

Question: What's it like to hear your beloved sing your song?

Chu Yiqi didn't know and couldn't explain.

So Chu Yiqi made a quick decision and chose one of Xi Ai's songs: "A butterfly's wing shakes off a speck of dust, and the city wall gradually tilts."

Xi Ai paused, then turned away as her skirt swept over Chu Yiqi. She looked up at him, her eyes full of laughter: "What? Are you going to turn to the pages filled with 'what ifs' too?"

Chu Yiqi was momentarily lost in thought, then let her gaze sink into Xi Ai's eyes. She knew this was the second half of that song, which sounded like a work created after their breakup, but it was during their ambiguous period.

The lyrics all sound like a test.

Chu Yiqi belatedly realized the inconsistency of when this song appeared, but then he remembered that the song sung by Xi Ai was actually written after the breakup, and suddenly he felt it was nothing.

Two people talking to themselves, their timelines overlapping and chaotic, like a cycle of love and separation.

When it came to Shi Yunshan and Meng Yike, it was an even more blatant display of their wealth, but with the groundwork laid by the previous three, it seemed both reasonable and funny.

This way, the focus won't be entirely on the two of them, but it will still allow us to publicize their passionate relationship.

This is the most high-profile couple they've ever been, being slow to warm up and keeping their relationship subtle.

"Chuiying, it's been so long since I've heard you sing this kind of love song. Can we have an encore this time?"

"I think it's possible. Yunshan could cross-dress as someone who's a bit more energetic."

"That's good."

The two people at the center of the discussion didn't dare to speak out—because their words hit the nail on the head.

"Then let it be."

The group exchanged a few lines of lyrics casually, and then began chatting.

Nie Chuiying: "Can someone tell me something very important?"

After a moment of silence, Shi Yunshan slapped Nie Chuiying on the forehead: "Why don't you just ask? People who only give half the answer are the most annoying."

"That's what I mean. If you've been holding it in for so long, you'd better have something to ask."

"Exactly, who would give me five million out of nowhere?"

"..."

Shi Yunshan looked up and met Xi Ai's meaningful gaze with her own helplessness. Then, she turned her head and saw Chu Yiqi, who had her back to the camera, looking at her with a half-smile.

"..." What for? I can really give it to you.

Chu Yiqi withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes and rummaged around in the coat draped over his arm for a while, then looked at Xi Ai, whose eyebrows were slightly raised as if inquiring.

Chu Yiqi extended his hand, and Xi Ai was a little confused, but she still subconsciously reached out her hand and received the chocolate from Chu Yiqi.

It was like a tacit test. After the test, they each took a half step forward and pretended to be normal friends.

Or perhaps it's a gesture of goodwill. After that, she won't deliberately avoid suspicion anymore, and Xi Ai won't allow herself to hold a grudge.

Regardless of the reason, Xi Ai agreed.

"Is something wrong?" Yu Nianxi choked for a long time, her voice filled with helplessness.

Shi Yunshan, on the other hand, was determined to be a lover who wouldn't spoil the mood: "If I really gave it to you, would you dare to accept it without knowing why?"

"Next time, ask for a higher price." Xi Ai teased with a grin, happily stuffing the chocolate she had just smuggled from Chu Yiqi into her mouth.

Chu Yiqi glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, before continuing Xi Ai's words: "If you open it too low, Miss Shi will really give it to you."

"I suggest ten million directly," Yu Nianxi said casually, "and then I can have half of it."

Su Luojian finally broke the formation: "So why are you all discussing this issue so seriously?"

Xi Ai: "Because it's inexplicable."

Chu Yiqi spoke almost simultaneously, saying, "Because it's a very important matter for the saplings."

"Because it's a bit cold right now, I wanted to put my hands in my friend's bag." Nie Chuiying said with a smile, dragging out her words without any seriousness.

At this moment, they had a rare moment of tacit understanding, and their responses to each other's jokes were exceptionally smooth. Yu Nianxi also leisurely followed the second half of the plot: "Then I accidentally touched a card, and then I accidentally dropped it on the ground. I very kindly picked it up and gave it to her, so that my good friend would be very grateful and give me ten million."

"Shall we shout out the name of Chuiying's good friend?" Meng Yike wouldn't let a single word fall to the ground.

"She is..."

“It’s me, but you’re all so confused.” Shi Yunshan listened for a long time, smiling the whole time, then lowered her gaze and kept pace with Nie Chuiying, keeping up with the same demands Nie Chuiying had been pestering her for so long.

Some pointless conversations come and go quickly, but other things quickly grab people's attention.

"Look over there!" Yu Nianxi raised her hand and pointed to a bridge that was still some distance away. There was a faint outline of something on it, not very clear, but it was clear that the area was a night market.

Chu Yiqi looked at Xi Ai, who also became clearly interested, glancing at the bridge in the distance.

Nie Chuiying glanced at it, her voice sounding lazy: "I want to eat grilled squid."

"I want to eat takoyaki," Shi Yunshan casually replied, starting to list the dishes.

Yu Nianxi said, "You have no taste. I'm going to eat yellow croaker."

Fortunately, Su Luojian was a reliable person. She glanced at her phone and said, "Okay, I ordered some drunken shrimp. I'll pick it up on the way."

"Sister Luo, you're the best."

"There's also a matcha cake." Su Luojian remembered that Xi Ai was allergic to seafood and didn't want to eat river fish either, so she ordered two other snacks.

Xi Ai noticed this perfectly, and happily exclaimed, "Wow, thank you, Sister Luo!"

Chu Yiqi nudged Xi Ai's arm, silently asking, "Shall we sneak over for a bit first?"

Xi Ai tilted her head to observe Chu Yiqi's expression.

Chu Yiqi's eyes always held a mix of emotions, such as a little unease, mixed with an inexplicable expectation, and the bright, dazzling light of the gentle lights on the river.

Completely different from a few years ago, in a similar setting, with similar questions, Chu Yiqi back then had no worries at all. She was just being mischievous and playful, like a beautiful butterfly perched on a fingertip, its wings fluttering. She looked very obedient, yet she was leading people away from her.

A moment later, Xi Ai suddenly smiled, her beautiful eyes filled with wicked excitement, mixed with some other kind of expectation.

It's like...

Wanting to fulfill another dream through this, she happily dreamt of Zhuangzi.

Chu Yiqi received an affirmative answer, and their eyes met. They both instinctively reached out to pull each other up and embark on a secret elopement on a late summer night.

Their fingers touched and then moved away from each other in perfect unison. Chu Yiqi grabbed a section of Xi Ai's white dress that was loose at the waist, while Xi Ai pulled on Chu Yiqi's wrist through a layer of knitted sweater.

"See you later!"

Meng Yike deliberately asked, "Where are you two going?"

Chu Yiqi glanced back at them, but the people beside her jumped down the steps without looking back and shouted, "Let's go see the acrobatics!"

Chu Yiqi corrected herself: "Xi Ai ordered milk tea, go get it!"

"Okay, I hope you run slower," Nie Chuiying said with a knowing look, but when the camera panned over, her expression turned bright and cheerful again. "I promise I'm not worried about milk tea."

"Bye-Bye!"

After running a short distance, Xi Ai reached out and brushed aside the reeds by the roadside, getting her hand covered in downy fluff. Chu Yiqi glanced at her and laughed. They eloped hand in hand, fleeing into another summer night.

*

Chu Yiqi released Xi Ai, and the two ran along a small path, where they found themselves alone.

"Is it really necessary, Teacher Chu?" Xi Ai was breathing heavily, but she could still manage to smile, so she didn't seem too tired.

Chu Yiqi stood opposite Xi Ai, her mask already pulled down to her chin. She looked at Xi Ai with a gaze of dependence and intimacy that she herself didn't realize. Chu Yiqi said, "If we were to elope, I hope it would be as soon as possible."

Look at this person, always like this. They seem to be on the passive side, but they're actually more skilled at seducing people than anyone else, yet it all seems unconscious. So, some sweet nothings that sound like they've been carefully crafted when spoken by others just sound like genuine improvisations when Chu Yiqi speaks them.

Xi Ai leaned against the railing, slicking her hair back, letting the evening breeze blow as it pleased.

Perhaps it's because the person is so beautiful that even a random scene looks like it was specially built.

Chu Yiqi was slightly lost in thought, completely unaware that with her hair tied to the side and her eyes focused on only one person, once their eyes met, she felt an urge to immerse herself in those eyes, as if drowning in a dream from which she had never awakened.

Xi Ai heard Chu Yiqi calling her from the sea: "Xi Ai, happy birthday."

"Sister, did you bring me all this way just to say happy birthday to me alone?" Xi Ai blinked and looked at Chu Yiqi with a gentle, affectionate yet cunning expression.

Chu Yiqi smiled, her eyes curving in a way that was incredibly endearing, and said, "Of course not."

Xi Ai's heart softened, and she felt that this was the most suitable curve, and any exception would only come from Chu Yiqi at another moment.

"Would you mind if I changed my plans?" Xi Ai pressed.

"I'll think about it."

Would you mind going on a date with the birthday person first?

Chu Yiqi's smile brightened even more: "Perhaps it's not exactly a change of plans."

"That's truly a meeting of minds."

So the two of them walked slowly hand in hand for a while until a bell rang.

One consequence of two people simultaneously searching for their phones with the same ringtone is that their actions upon hearing the call will be synchronized, like a task-triggered mechanism.

This time it's Xi Ai, and it's obvious she's there for work.

Chu Yiqi let go of her hand, took two steps to stand in front of Xi Ai and looked at her. Hearing Xi Ai mention Silin Bay, Chu Yiqi didn't ask any further questions, nor did she intend to listen.

Xi Ai felt a little apologetic, tilted her head to look at Chu Yiqi, and obediently placed her chin in Chu Yiqi's palm. However, Chu Yiqi had a mischievous mind, and his hand kept falling down. Xi Ai chased after it a couple of times, then squatted down.

"You're so cute!" Chu Yiqi immediately hallucinated a cat, which was a beautiful white cat.

Chu Yiqi smiled silently for a while, then straightened up, extended his hand to Xi Ai, and said softly, "I promise this time it's for real."

Xi Ai smiled, used the momentum to stand up, and while the person opposite her was talking, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Teacher Chu."

"It's alright, I'll just go for a walk first. Anyway, our teacher Xi can't eat seafood, so I'll sneak in a bite before coming back."

"Then I'll come find you."

Chu Yiqi shook his head: "Wait for me here."

"Really?" Xi Ai still felt a little guilty, so she took Chu Yiqi's hand, held his fingertips tightly, and shook it gently.

Chu Yiqi deliberately adopted a fierce expression, brooking no argument: "Absolutely."

"I guarantee the mission will be accomplished, Commander Chu." This time, Xi Ai smiled noticeably and even raised her hand in a salute with great ceremony.

When Chu Yiqi returned, Xi Ai had just hung up the phone, her coat draped over her wrist, leaning against the railing as she looked at Chu Yiqi.

Chu Yiqi's eyes seemed to hold a shattered crescent moon. Xi Ai ran towards her, and Chu Yiqi opened her arms and walked a few steps with a smile.

Because he was holding the coconut, Chu Yiqi couldn't actually hug Xi Ai. He had to stand behind Xi Ai again, rest his chin on her shoulder, and hand the coconut to her.

"Want to try some?"

Xi Ai took a sip from Chu Yiqi's hand.