Gambling is a great way to ignite passion, and good loot is even more effective.

Gu Li put his arm around Jiang Xu's shoulder, leaning lazily against him as he stood. "It's not challenging enough for the winner to get the spoils. How about we devise some punishments for the losers?"

Jiang Xu felt the pressure from Gu Li, so he stood more firmly on Gu Li's side, making sure Gu Li could lean on him properly. "You're quite confident, aren't you?" He turned his head to look at Gu Li, whose expression was unusually relaxed.

“Hmm,” Gu Li raised an eyebrow, the corner of her eye curving upwards, “It’s not just confidence in myself, it’s also confidence in you.”

Lu Chao and Xu Lang exchanged a glance, and Lu Chao spoke first, "Wait until we charge you."

Xu Lang also raised his head, "I'll charge at you."

Xie Tao and Ji Hai exchanged a glance, and Ji Hai sighed, "We definitely have to go into the water now."

Xie Tao remained calm, saying, "The course of events was set the moment it was brought up; it's just a matter of how far they can go."

Ji Hai nodded, "That's true, things are alright now."

Xie Tao: "Well, it's just one unlucky group."

Gu Li said provocatively, "Are you ready for trouble, my dear brothers?"

Lu Chao: "We'll show you who the older brother really is."

"That's right!"

The boys, full of vigor, ran towards the stream, splashing high water droplets that felt cool and refreshing as they dripped onto them, making them feel that this summer should be enjoyed even more.

The wind, sunlight, and temperature all remember every aspect of their playful antics.

Catching fish was much harder than they had imagined. The water slowly soaked their rolled-up sleeves and trouser legs, and then came another splash of water as they missed their target.

Gu Li's profile was splashed with water. "Xu Lang, you really live up to the 'Lang' in your name." He reached out and wiped the water off his cheek.

Xu Lang: "Hehe, wasn't this an accident?"

Gu Li looked down and suddenly seemed to see a fish, so he rushed into the water.

Now Xu Lang, who was standing to the side, was soaked all over. "Damn, is this revenge, Li?" Water dripped from his hair.

Looking at the failed attempt, Gu Li's eyes were full of disappointment. "Am I that bored?"

Xu Lang thought for a moment and said, "Others may not have it, but you really might."

Just as they were both disappointed, a gasp came from one side, followed by smug laughter. "Hehehe, look what I have in my hand!" Lu Chao waded over through the water, holding a fish in his hand and smugly waving it in front of everyone.

Jiang Xu spoke calmly, "I think we know each other, Yu."

Xie Tao: "It's just a small fish."

Xu Lang nodded, "That's right."

Gu Li pointed to the water's surface, "It's impressive that you managed to catch the youngest one."

Lu Chao raised his chin, still wearing a smug smile, "I can tell you're all jealous, An," he said, waving a hand at the group, "You guys need to keep working hard, unlike me..."

Before he could finish speaking, the fish in his hand seemed to realize that one hand was no longer restraining it, and began to struggle violently, slippery as an eel, and leaped out of Lü Chao's hand. "Sigh!"

Lu Chao suddenly became flustered. His fingertips touched the fish, and for a moment there was hope, but it was too slippery. The fish broke free again, and with a soft splash, it was free.

Lu Chao simply spread his hands, staring at the water in disbelief, and suddenly the surroundings became very quiet.

After a moment of silence, a burst of loud laughter erupted, the laughter of several people mingling together, almost startling a whole forest of birds.

Lu Chao withdrew his gaze from the water and turned to look at the group of people who were bursting into laughter. He was speechless for a moment, then said, "You guys are really mean."

Xu Lang laughed until tears welled up in his eyes. He raised his hand and pointed to the water, then to Lü Chao, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything because of his laughter.

Gu Li's laughter softened a bit, and his voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Look at the situation in front of us!" He mimicked Lü Chao's boastful tone.

Jiang Xu chuckled and chimed in, "Lu Chao, and besides, your good teammate Ji Hai is smiling too."

Now Lu Chao looked at Ji Hai with a pained expression, "I can let them go, but Ji Hai, aren't we in cahoots?"

Ji Hai smiled and said gently, "What a contrast! It makes you look very handsome."

Lu Chao, "..." His lips twitched. "Do you see any logic in this? But you said I'm handsome, so forget it."

Gu Li and Xu Lang exchanged a smile, then said together to Lü Chao, "You're so handsome!"

Lu Chao looked at the two of them and said, "Alright, alright, then forget it."

Gu Li turned her head to look at Jiang Xu and whispered, "The starting line is the same again, we will definitely win."

Jiang Xu looked at the small flame in Gu Li's eyes and said, "Okay, we will win."

Unfortunately, they ended up with the opposite of winning: they lost.

Lu Chao said, "Oh, I've already given someone a fish, how come there are still people who can't catch a single fish?" His tone was incredibly arrogant.

Gu Li laughed and tossed her hair. "Oh? Who are you talking about?" Her red hair was now slicked back, and water droplets streamed down her forehead and cheeks. "I'm going to stand up for Jiang Xu, you know."

Xu Lang: "You've already come up with this reason, aren't you going to ask Jiang Xu's opinion?"

Jiang Xu's eyes were wet with tears, and his hair was slightly damp, giving him a disheveled and unruly look. "Indeed, how can you say that about Gu Li? I disagree."

The two exchanged a glance, both harboring ill intentions. Gu Li made his move, bending down as if to catch more fish, but instead quickly whipped up a curtain of water that swept towards Lü Chao.

His movements were so sudden that it was too late for Lü Chao to react and dodge. His clothes were soaked even more in an instant. As he felt the water sliding down his body, he looked up at Gu Li and said, "Well done."

Lu Chao also bent down and scooped water towards Gu Li, but Gu Li was prepared and dodged it. The water splashed onto a lucky bystander.

"Ah!" Xu Lang, who had been watching intently, was suddenly drenched in water. "Lü Chao!"

Seeing that Gu Li had dodged the water, but Xu Lang had been affected, Lü Chao smiled, trying to reassure Xu Lang. But just as he smiled, another handful of water hit him.

He looked in that direction and saw only Jiang Xu standing there innocently, smiling at him with an expression of complete ignorance, but the water stains on his hands were all too clear and obvious.

Lü Chao: "Well done, Jiang Xu!"

The scene quickly descended into chaos as several people splashed water on each other. The cool water cooled them down, and he was splashed by someone else while he was laughing.

Looking at this joyous and lively scene, Jiang Xu felt that his connection with this world was becoming deeper and deeper, and his relationship with them was becoming closer and closer. He felt a little unreal.