As they took the elevator upstairs, Gao Lecheng winked at Fu Xuanliao from the back row. When they were walking in the aisle, he deliberately lagged behind and whispered, "I told you, he would cut your hair."

Mentioning this, Fu Xuanliao recalled the so-called "intelligence" he had exchanged with Gao Lecheng before, and felt extremely bored: "What's so strange about getting a haircut? How dare you make a deal with me for that?"

"Didn't I tell you? I deliberately told him that you like boys with short hair."

Fu Xuanliao didn't take it seriously: "Maybe he just thinks his hair is too long and gets in the way."

"What a coincidence that I told him the moment before he cut his hair?"

"Do I have to pick a day just to get a haircut?"

"Forget it." Gao Lecheng was exhausted. He shook his head and sighed, "Even God can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep."

Besides accompanying her, Fu Xuanliao also had another mission: to help his friend.

Although deep down he felt that Jiang Xue and Gao Lecheng were not a good match. Mainly because their intelligence levels were not comparable, Jiang Xue seemed very shrewd, and Gao Lecheng, that idiot, would definitely be bullied by her to no end.

After putting down their luggage and having lunch together, Gao Lecheng asked what the plans were for the afternoon. Jiang Xue stirred the yogurt in her cup and said listlessly, "It's a rare holiday, of course I'm going to sleep."

“It’s not worth coming all this way just to sleep,” Gao Lecheng suggested. “Why don’t we go boating? There’s a beautiful lake nearby, perfect for taking pictures.”

Jiang Xue gave Shi Meng a look, and Shi Meng nodded. Jiang Xue then replied, "Okay, I'm just killing time anyway."

After having dinner and resting for a while, the group took the resort's shuttle bus towards the lakeside.

The mountains along the way were lush and green, and the sunshine neutralized the chill of the wind. Fu Xuanliao took a deep breath of fresh air and turned his head to see Shi Meng take out his notebook and pencil, which he always carried with him, and put them on his knees.

"Isn't the scenery constantly changing?" Fu Xuanliao asked curiously. "You can even paint this?"

Shi Meng didn't look up, only saying, "Yes."

A mountain-like outline quickly appeared on the paper, with a few strokes added at the boundary between light and shadow, and then it slowly stopped.

Fu Xuanliao, who had been watching, waited for a long time before asking, "Why did you stop drawing?"

Uncomfortable drawing in front of others, Shi Meng turned her face away, saying, "Don't look at me."

"Then don't look at me."

"I wasn't looking at you."

How do you know I'm looking at you if you're not looking at me?

"..."

Unable to argue with him, Shi Meng turned to the side and leaned to the side.

Fu Xuanliao's rebellious spirit rose, and he insisted on watching, stretching his neck to get closer, squeezing Shi Meng so tightly that she couldn't move.

Fearing that the two of them might start arguing and then fight, Gao Lecheng, who was sitting in the front row, turned around and acted as a peacemaker, taking down the tourist logbook hanging next to the car door and handing it to Fu Xuanliao: "You draw too, but don't let him see it."

Fu Xuanliao took it in a huff, bit off the cap with his teeth, and started writing furiously on the blank space on the back of the notebook.

He finished the drawing in less than five minutes. Fu Xuanliao proudly handed the notebook to the front row for everyone to read, and pointed at Shi Meng with his chin: "Doesn't it look like him?"

Gao Lecheng took the notebook and looked at it closely. It was a round mushroom with a small nose and face, and the corners of its mouth turned down slightly. It really did look a bit like one.

“I didn’t quite believe you when you said you studied painting as a child,” Gao Lecheng said first, “but now I believe you.”

Jiang Xue, who had been keeping a straight face for a while, glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Upon hearing the sound, Meng stopped writing and was about to look when his view was blocked.

Fu Xuanliao covered his eyes with one hand and quickly tore out the drawing from the notebook with the other: "I'm not showing it to you."

Gao Lecheng turned back and smiled awkwardly at Jiang Xue beside him: "My brother is a bit naive, but don't worry, I'm not like him."

When they arrived at their destination, Fu Xuanliao realized that the boat was man-made and required oars.

He was stunned on the spot and asked Shi Meng, "Can you do it?"

Shi Meng shook his head.

The two people's boat had already been launched, and Jiang Xue waved to the shore: "Mengmeng, come here!"

Shi Meng looked at the sign on the shore that read "Three people per boat" and said to Fu Xuanliao, "Go."

“I have no interest in boating.” Fu Xuanliao sat down on a bench nearby. “This will give me some peace and quiet.”

Jiang Xue was still waiting over there, while Gao Lecheng was spinning around in place with the oar in hand. Shi Meng hesitated for only a moment before saying to Jiang Xue, "I'm afraid of water, you guys play."

In broad daylight, even if Gao Lecheng had the desire to steal, he wouldn't have the guts. Letting the two of them talk alone shouldn't be a problem. After confirming that there was a rescue team on standby by the lake, Shi Meng sat down at the other end of the bench, took out his notebook, and continued drawing.

Before I'd made more than a few strokes, I heard the person next to me ask, "Are you afraid of water?"

Shi Meng gave a vague "hmm".

Then Fu Xuanliao let out a cryptic laugh: "I think you're afraid I'll run away, aren't you?"

Before the pen stops, it draws an uncontrollable, twisted line on the paper.

Shi Meng placed the pen between the pages of the notebook and turned to look at Fu Xuanliao: "You want to run away?"

His tone was certain, and his voice trailed off at the end. It was less of a question and more of a statement that both of them knew the truth.

Fu Xuanliao suddenly wondered what kind of expression Shi Meng would have if he knew that the ridiculous contract was about to be terminated.

Would she pounce on him and bite him like a mad dog, or run to Shi Huaiyi and beg him to intervene again, or... would she cry, and beg him not to leave with tears in her eyes?

Thinking about it carefully, aside from the tears she shed when she was in great pleasure or pain during sex, Shi Meng had never cried in front of him.

The rebellious nature that had been suppressed for so long transformed into a violent impulse, throbbing and churning within his body. Fu Xuanliao suddenly wanted to see Shi Meng cry, so he replied, "Yes, of course I want to, I dream about it."

He leaned closer and asked Shi Meng in a low, almost seductive voice, "Will you let me go?"

Almost immediately, Shi Meng grabbed Fu Xuanliao's arm, which was propped up on the chair, and then reached out with his other hand to restrain him firmly.

"No." Even though her voice was trembling, Shi Meng gritted her teeth and tried her best to remain calm, saying in a commanding tone, "You are not allowed to leave, you are not allowed to go anywhere."

We had dinner at a restaurant by the lake.

The resort is very large, with a wide variety of delicious food available, and the hotels are all built in a style that reflects local characteristics.

Since they had a heavy meal at noon, Jiang Xue decided to order a few light, home-style dishes this time. One of them was squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, which was said to be made with very fresh ingredients, caught and killed on the spot. Jiang Xue guessed, "Could it have been caught from the lake next door?"

"I'll ask the kitchen staff when I get back," Gao Lecheng said solicitously. "If we can fish, we'll go tomorrow."

Jiang Xue readily agreed.

After an afternoon of rowing, the relationship between the two progressed rapidly, indicating that Gao Lecheng's rowing skills were quite good.

Fu Xuanliao was still thinking this, his face dark. He didn't eat much of the food. When he put down his chopsticks, he hissed. Gao Lecheng asked what was wrong, and he rubbed his wrist and said, "I got scratched by a poisonous mushroom."

Jiang Xue looked at him, then at the silent Shi Meng, and felt even better: "You should tickle him a few more times, tickle him until he's half paralyzed or something, then he won't dare to disobey you in the future."

Fu Xuanliao almost stood up and overturned the table.

Caught in the middle, Gao Lecheng trembled as he used serving chopsticks to put food on everyone's plates: "Come on, eat it while it's hot, the fish won't taste good when it's cold."

They split into two groups to return to their lodgings. Jiang Xue and Shi Meng went first, while Gao Lecheng made an excuse to stay behind. He then led Fu Xuanliao furtively to a tastefully decorated glass house behind the hotel, gave his name, and received a wooden box from the shop owner.

When you open it, you'll find a necklace inside, with a delicate platinum chain and a sparkling ruby.

Gao Lecheng proudly showed off: "This is a gift for Jiang Xue. I figured it's not appropriate to be too extravagant when you're just starting to pursue someone. A ruby ​​like this is just right. What do you think?"

Fu Xuanliao chuckled: "You came all this way just to buy a broken necklace?"

The shop owner behind the counter frowned and coughed twice to show his displeasure.

Gao Lecheng explained, "The jewelry in this store is all made by famous European designers. My dad went to great lengths to persuade them to open a store here, and now this store is one of the signature items of our resort."

After staring at it for a while, Fu Xuanliao had to admit that the necklace was indeed quite well-designed, with delicate and beautiful cutting techniques. Whether under bright light or in backlight, it could refract different layers of deep light from every angle.

Suddenly remembering the Klein blue coat he had worn at the Oriental Hotel, Fu Xuanliao had a sudden thought and tapped his finger on the counter: "Do you have sapphire jewelry here?"

About an hour later, the two boarded the last shuttle bus. Gao Lecheng looked at the box in Fu Xuanliao's hand and asked in confusion, "Aren't you already annoyed with him to death? Why did you buy him a gift?"

In fact, Fu Xuanliao regretted the purchase as soon as it was made, but since he had already paid the money, it would seem stingy to return it. He simply considered it a moment of folly and a contribution to the resort's revenue.

“You didn’t say that during the day,” Fu Xuanliao said, making an excuse. “You said we were ‘very close.’”

Gao Lecheng frankly said, "Anyway, I advise reconciliation rather than separation. If you two can get back together, then it will be easier for me and Jiang Xue to get together too."

"Are you serious this time?"

"When have I ever not been genuine? When it comes to love, it's all about enjoying the process and giving it your all."

"In that respect, you and that woman are quite compatible. I think she's also someone who enjoys playing the field."

"Tsk, everyone says I'm serious."

...

After chatting for a few rounds, Fu Xuanliao had already found an excuse for his strange behavior—consider it compensation for his birthday gift. He has never missed my birthday and always prepares a gift for me every year. What goes around comes around, and even if the contract is terminated in the future, I won't owe him anything.

Thinking this, Fu Xuanliao lowered his head again, opened the box in his hand, and carefully lifted the deep sea blue pendant with his fingers together. As he turned his wrist, a sudden sharp pain suddenly shot through him.

Damn, just how much effort did that guy put in this afternoon?

His face, which had just calmed down, instantly darkened again. Fu Xuanliao slammed the box shut, cursing inwardly that buying a gift for the guy who had injured him was utterly brainless.

After pondering it over the whole way, Fu Xuanliao decided before getting out of the car to wait until Shi Meng apologized for "hurting someone without cause" before giving him the gift.

Feeling a bit better, Fu Xuanliao stuffed the jewelry box into his pocket as he walked into the hotel, while considering whether he should go fishing with Gao Lecheng and the others the next day.

Not knowing how to row is secondary; the main problem is the cold and windy weather. Shi Meng is very weak and always catches a cold when the seasons change. What if he catches a cold here and it gets blamed on me...

My wandering thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the opening of the elevator doors and the people rushing in.

Upon seeing the two people standing in the elevator, Jiang Xue quickly asked, "Have you seen Mengmeng?"

Gao Lecheng: "Didn't he come back with you first?"

Jiang Xue picked up her phone and dialed, but after listening to the long busy tone, she stamped her feet anxiously: "He arrived at the hotel entrance but didn't go upstairs. He said he was going for a walk nearby... What's going on? He's not answering his phone."

Fu Xuanliao strode forward, swiped his room card to open the door, and the lights in the suite came on. The suite was empty, with only a cell phone sitting alone on the bedside table.

After quickly checking each room, Fu Xuanliao came out and asked Jiang Xue, "How long has he been gone?"

"More than an hour."

"Could it be that they went back first?" Gao Lecheng interjected.

“Impossible.” Fu Xuanliao quickly analyzed, “There are no shuttle buses to the city center at this time, and I still have the car keys with me.”

Gao Lecheng was also a little panicked: "Where did he go? There are mountains all around, and the roads are interconnected. It's easy to get lost..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fu Xuanliao decisively assigned the task: "Old Gao, go and mobilize the security personnel around here, and have them search outwards from the hotel. Miss Jiang, please stay here and wait; he might come back when he gets tired."

Now that things had come to this, Jiang Xue had no choice but to accept the arrangement. In her panic, she asked, "Then... what about you?"

Fu Xuanliao tossed the troublesome box, which he had been trying to stuff into his pocket for ages, to Jiang Xue, then ran towards the stairwell without looking back: "I'm going to find him."