Chapter 29: True and False

“Shao Yan and Chen Ziyi are together?” Qin Yun rubbed his nose. “What does that have to do with me?”

Su Huan said: “They’re engaged, so they’re planning to take a few classmates in Hangzhou out for dinner. I want you to come with me.”

Qin Yun hesitated: “When?”

“This Saturday.”

“That’s tomorrow!” Qin Yun thought for a moment, then agreed. “Fine. Should I buy them a gift?”

“No need. It’s not a holiday—just classmates getting together.”

“Alright.” Qin Yun didn’t really care whether to go or not. Anyone who’d been to college knew that if you stopped contacting someone after graduation, they were basically a stranger—no need to keep up the connection.

Life is just a constant process of meeting new people and letting old ones drift away.

Those you get along with stay in touch; those you don’t find worthwhile naturally fade out. Everyone’s the same.

On the other end of the line, Su Huan’s tone suddenly grew hesitant: “Uh… I need one more favor.”

“What favor? Say it.” Qin Yun was surprised. “That’s not like you. You, Miss Class President, always act decisively.”

“Shut up.” Su Huan laughed and scolded.

Then she spoke slowly: “Last time we had dinner, Fei Kai brought a friend. We introduced ourselves, and he’s been chasing me ever since.”

Qin Yun wasn’t surprised. Su Huan’s looks, figure, and charm—no one chasing her would be strange.

“And then?”

“And then I don’t like him,” Su Huan said. “But he’s being persistent. It’s annoying.”

“Just block him. You’re perfectly capable of it.”

Su Huan sighed: “If I could block him, would I be asking you? His company works with ours, and we have direct project coordination.”

“So what do you want me to do?” Qin Yun replied, then suddenly let out a long “Oh…” with a sly smile. “You’re not asking me to pretend to be your boyfriend, are you?”

“….”

Su Huan stayed silent—but Qin Yun was stunned.

“Holy shit, you’re not seriously pulling this cliché plot? Readers will flee.”

Su Huan snapped: “Just tell me if you’ll do it or not!”

Qin Yun moved the phone away, waited for her to pause, then said: “Fine, fine, whatever you say. But Fei Kai and the others know you’re married—how could you possibly… oh, wait, I get it. You’re using me as an excuse to reject him—so he gives up without you hurting his feelings.”

“Enough talking. Come pick me up tomorrow. I’ll send you the location.”

The call ended. Qin Yun shook his head and continued shopping for outdoor gear.

Folding chairs and tables, a butane stove, cookware, a canopy—things he could use anytime he drove out for a trip. He even bought an inflatable tent designed for the Land Rover Defender, so he could sleep outside whenever he wanted.

After finishing his shopping and getting back in the car, he discovered he’d been added to a group called 【Beijing Information Science and Technology University 2018 in Hangzhou】. Only a few people were in it—the ones Su Huan mentioned.

When he joined, Shao Yan was messaging him.

“It’s rare to see you, Qin the Handsome, in Hangzhou. Don’t flake tomorrow, okay?”

Qin Yun smiled and replied: “No one’s handsomer than your boyfriend. The top campus hunk of Beijing Information Science and Technology’s Computer Engineering department isn’t just talk.”

Chen Ziyi popped up: “Keep it down. Don’t say that out loud.”

Everyone fell silent, sending vomiting emojis.

Qin Yun watched them chat for a bit, then put his phone away, drove out of the mall, and headed to a nearby gas station.

“Sir, how much?” the attendant asked, leaning in.

Qin Yun checked the fuel gauge, then turned off the engine: “Fill it up with 98 octane.”

“Got it!”

As the car filled, Qin Yun watched the meter. It jumped from 500 to 600, then kept climbing until—*click*—the pump shut off at 824.5.

The attendant asked: “Round it up?”

Qin Yun stared at the number and felt another blow. From Beijing here, he’d refueled again and again—each time hearing laughter in the sound.

You don’t know the cost of rice and oil till you manage a household; you don’t know how expensive gas is till you drive a luxury car. Damn it—this 90-liter tank costs eight or nine hundred to fill.

Qin Yun said: “Round it up.”

The attendant topped off the tank. Qin Yun paid via Alipay, then started the car.

Listening to the engine’s satisfied roar, he sighed and patted the steering wheel: “Can’t afford it, can’t afford it. No wonder people say even giving someone a luxury car doesn’t mean they can afford to run it.”

Feeling the sting of his spending, Qin Yun once again felt the urge to make money. Otherwise, with only outflows and no inflows, this was going to be hard.

…

The next day, Qin Yun arrived at Su Huan’s neighborhood before eight.

He glanced at the complex—it was old, with parking spots on the ground.

He called Su Huan, but the phone rang until the voicemail prompt played—no answer.

“Sleeping that soundly?”

Qin Yun didn’t believe it. He called again. After six attempts, the line finally connected.

“Hello? What do you want? It’s barely morning, bro.”

Su Huan’s voice was thick with sleep. Qin Yun said: “It’s almost nine. Sister, didn’t you say yesterday you’d come with me to Xixi Wetland? How could you forget after one nap?”

Su Huan: “….”

After a pause, she snapped: “I’m coming down now,” and hung up.

That “coming down now” turned into a full hour wait. Just before nine, Su Huan finally stepped out of the building in casual clothes.

Seeing Qin Yun’s reproachful look, she opened the door and got in: “Sorry. Work was busy yesterday. I forgot.”

What could Qin Yun say? He forgave her.

But today Su Huan looked different—less gentle, more lively. Even her makeup was altered, giving her a fresh, striking appearance.

Jeans, a white T-shirt, a ponytail—this look reminded him of college.

“Hey, buckle up? Once you’re secured, we’re off…”

As Xiao Tuantuan’s voice chimed, the car smoothly merged onto the elevated road. He pointed below the dashboard: “I brought you baozi and soy milk. Just eat it.”

Su Huan picked it up—it was pan-fried baozi, but cold now.

“Thanks.”

Following the navigation, the car climbed onto the elevated road, then descended, soon arriving at the north gate of Xixi Wetland. There, they spotted a hot air balloon.

Qin Yun asked curiously: “Can you ride that?”

Su Huan leaned out to look, then shook her head: “Dunno. I’ve never been here much.”

They drove further along the road, reached Jiangcun Slow Life Street, parked, and loaded a canopy and two chairs onto a cart. He paused, then added his camera.

“Let’s go!”

No sooner had Qin Yun spoken than the system’s voice sounded again.

【Task posted: Visit Xixi Wetland and photograph ten bird species to complete check-in.】

Ten bird species?

Qin Yun frowned. Not easy. Ten species in an ecosystem isn’t rare—but photographing them? Hard. His two lenses weren’t suited for birds, and capturing them mid-flight? Nearly impossible.

They walked along the stone path. Shops vanished on either side; rivers and forests appeared. The air changed drastically—cleaner, fresher.

Soon, they heard water. A few black-canopied rowboats glided past, ripples spreading, wind carrying the scent of grass and trees—making them feel lighter.

At that moment, several white egrets flew in and landed in the reeds. Qin Yun handed the cart to Su Huan, picked up his camera, and stepped forward. As he pressed the shutter, the system prompt appeared.

“Not bad. First one already.”

They walked further, reached Shentan Mouth, and discovered a sign: “Filming location of ‘If You Are the One’.”

“Want to check it out?”

Su Huan nodded: “Sure. Let’s go in.”

They paid 160 yuan, grabbed the cart, and walked inside.

Inside, they saw a vast square shaded by trees—ancient camphor trees, over a thousand years old. A stage stood beneath one, but no performance was happening.

…

Shao Yan patted Chen Ziyi beside her and suddenly asked: “Honey, do you think Su Huan’s rekindling feelings for Qin Yun?”

Chen Ziyi’s head was still under the covers. Muffled, he replied: “Rekindle? Did they ever date? I didn’t know that.”

“No,” Shao Yan said, eyes gleaming with gossip. “You didn’t know, but half the girls in our class did. Su Huan used to like Qin Yun—but back then, Qin Yun was obsessed with Song Ya, so it fizzled out.”

“I thought they actually dated. Just a crush, right? What’s so special?”

“Hmph. So you never had a crush on someone else in college?”

Chen Ziyi, half-asleep, snapped awake, threw off the covers, and declared solemnly: “No. Absolutely not. I’ve only ever loved you, Shao Yan.”

“Hmph, you’re such a liar,” Shao Yan huffed, then added: “Now Qin Yun’s divorced. I’m wondering—if Su Huan won’t date anyone, not even that rich guy Fei Kai introduced—could she still have feelings for him?”

“Whether real or fake, if they end up together, it’s fine. But Su Huan’s high-income, beautiful, and picky. I doubt she’d go for Qin Yun—a second-time husband.”

“True,” Shao Yan nodded. “I still don’t get why Qin Yun divorced. Song Ya’s family was well-off.”

“Marriage isn’t just about money. Maybe they clashed emotionally, or someone cheated.”

“Honey, would you ever cheat?”

“Of course…” Chen Ziyi mumbled, then jolted awake. “Of course not! All other women are just pretty skeletons. Only you, Shao Yan, are a goddess.”

“Hmph, smooth talker.”

…

“Let’s set up the canopy here,” Qin Yun and Su Huan reached the outer edge of the Lotus Beach Birdwatching Zone. A wide waterside lawn stretched before them, unobstructed, with many tourists already pitching tents and canopies.

They quickly set up the canopy. No sooner had they sat down than a scream rang out. Qin Yun reacted instantly, grabbing a child running toward them and preventing a fall.

A man in his forties or fifties rushed over: “Sorry, sorry! My kid ran off.”

Qin Yun smiled and said, “It’s fine.”

The uncle looked at Qin Yun and Su Huan, then pointed to two tents not far away: “Young brother, young sister, I see you didn’t bring any food—why not come over and have something to eat?”

Qin Yun and Su Huan turned to look; beneath the tents, many people were gathered, looking lively.

“No thanks.”

The man didn’t take offense; after a few more words, he returned with his child.

Qin Yun unfolded the folding chair and placed one behind Su Huan’s buttocks: “Sit down, Miss Su, you gorgeous thing.”

Su Huan’s gaze flickered from Qin Yun’s face to the lake surface.

She was about to say something when Qin Yun suddenly grabbed his camera and ran off, snapping furiously at the birds flying over the lake: “Click, click.”

Just as Qin Yun finally returned and sat down, before Su Huan could speak, he stood up and ran off again.

This left Su Huan thoroughly frustrated.

When Qin Yun came back and was about to leave again, Su Huan grabbed his clothes and yanked him back: “Sit down, right now.”