Chapter 85

Late October night finally brought a touch of chill.

The stream bubbled past her ears, and Xia Xing vowed this was the first time she’d found her own cooking truly delicious.

She realized she’d wasted these delicacies before—she’d been squandering heaven’s gifts.

After a few casual chats, her wariness toward Qin Yun faded considerably. Especially after tasting his food, Xia Xing had quietly decided: a man who could cook so well couldn’t possibly be evil.

Watching her eat with eager haste, Qin Yun chuckled softly: “Xia Xing, you’re just a girl—why did you come all the way out here to camp alone? Aren’t you afraid of bad people?”

Xia Xing puffed out her slightly rounded chest, grinning confidently: “I’m not afraid of bad people—I’ve got weapons.”

She pulled from her pocket a device resembling a spray can and a folding knife.

Qin Yun watched her smug expression and sighed inwardly—she’d clearly never encountered real danger. What use were these two items? And more importantly, at just one meter fifty tall, if trouble came, she couldn’t even reach high enough to swing the knife.

He didn’t call her out, only gave a thumbs-up: “Impressive.”

“Big Brother Qin, what about you? Are you local, or just visiting?”

Xia Xing blushed, stowing the items back in her pocket.

“I’m from Zhoushan. Today I’m just passing through Quzhou—I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Xia Xing nodded slightly, curious: “Zhoushan? I’ve heard of it—they say people row boats to visit neighbors—is that true?”

At this, Qin Yun nearly choked on his tea.

“Zhoushan has over a thousand islands—what do you think?”

Xia Xing instantly realized she’d asked a foolish question and laughed sheepishly, her ears turning faintly red.

The night grew deeper; somewhere, insects began chirping, blending with the stream’s murmur—every hill and valley hummed with quiet bustle.

“I’ve got an extra tent—borrow it. Sleep on your air mattress tonight; we’ll pack up your tent at dawn.”

Qin Yun stood, retrieving the tent from the trunk.

His tent, of course, couldn’t compare to Xia Xing’s—it was just a manual frame tent—but it was more than enough for him, let alone for her.

“Big Brother Qin, thank you.”

Xia Xing offered her sincere thanks.

Qin Yun nodded, helping her pitch the tent beside the G-Wagon, then pulled out the air mattress, blanket, and pad from her leaking tent. After finishing, he waved goodbye, unfolded his recliner, and lay down.

Xia Xing, hugging her puppy and yawning, crawled into the tent.

Qin Yun draped a blanket over himself, left the camping light on, and listened to the insects, the stream, the rustling wind through leaves—until he drifted off without realizing it.

He didn’t know how long he’d slept when a thunderclap exploded violently, yanking him awake.

The lightning’s crack split the air like someone hurling a bucket of glass shards onto the ground. Qin Yun’s eyes snapped open—the first thought in his mind: the wind’s picked up.

“Crack—!”

Another thunderclap detonated overhead, shaking his very soul. Then, sudden heavy raindrops hammered down—pattering violently against the tarp, terrifying in their force.

For a moment, the sky seemed on the verge of collapsing under the deluge, but his stakes held firm—for now.

He rose from the recliner, gazing past the tarp toward the heavens. Though blurred by rain, he could faintly make out unnaturally thick clouds gathering.

The wind grew fiercer!

He turned to the nearby stream—and his heart lurched. Without hesitation, he began packing up.

Glancing at the tent nearby, he noticed no movement inside. Despite the deafening thunder and lightning, Xia Xing hadn’t stirred—remarkable sleep.

But as the storm intensified, the tent began to shake violently, as if ready to be ripped away.

“Boom—!”

A deep, guttural thunder roared like a beast, terrifying in its fury.

“Ah—!”

Qin Yun heard a cry from the tent, followed by a dog’s bark. A faint light flickered, casting a frantic shadow on the tent fabric.

Clearly, Xia Xing had woken.

Qin Yun shouted loudly: “Xia Xing! Get everything back in the car—it’s about to pour. If the upstream water overflows, it’ll flood. We must leave now!”

Hearing Qin Yun’s voice, Xia Xing panicked.

She pulled back the tent flap, glanced outside, and her face paled—fear flashed in her eyes.

“What are you standing there for? Hurry!”

Xia Xing swallowed hard, dashed out into the rain, scrambled to the car trunk, pulled on a raincoat, then hurried to gather the outdoor gear scattered outside.

Qin Yun watched, thinking: she even brought a raincoat—well-prepared.

He took little from the trunk; soon, all chairs, tables, and stove were stuffed back inside. Since the tarp was attached to the car, he didn’t get wet at all.

The stream nearby visibly rose, creeping outward.

Qin Yun swiftly packed the tarp, sprinted back through the rain to the driver’s seat, started the car, and drove toward Xia Xing’s vehicle.

Once stopped, he jumped out, shoved Xia Xing into her driver’s seat: “Get in. I’ll help you.”

Xia Xing was pushed in almost mechanically, then remembered: “Big Brother Qin, Coco’s still in the tent!”

Qin Yun waved: “Got it. Start the car.”

He dashed into the rain, grabbed the dog from the tent, and tossed it into the trunk—it must have sensed danger, lying limp in his hands.

Wind scattered gear across the ground. Qin Yun didn’t bother picking up everything—swiftly tossed what he could into the trunk. In minutes, everything except the inflatable tent was stowed in the G-Wagon.

He slapped the car body: “Xia Xing, drive onto the main road. Wait for me—I’ll go ahead first, then you follow.”

Xia Xing nodded. She’d taken off her raincoat, but her clothes were still damp, clinging uncomfortably. Her fear had lessened—alone, she’d have been paralyzed.

Gripping the wheel, she gently pressed the accelerator. The car crawled over pebbles toward the main road.

Qin Yun saw this and immediately began folding the tent—he couldn’t bear to abandon it. It wasn’t cheap; he’d take it back if he could.

“Boom—!”

A deafening roar split the sky—lightning tore through the darkness, turning night into blinding day.

In that flash, Qin Yun’s gaze locked—upstream, a vast flood surged down, roaring.

Qin Yun sped up, hastily folded the tent, didn’t bother bagging it, just hurled it into the trunk.

“Vrrr—!”

He stomped the accelerator—the car shot forward. Instantly, muddy water surged over the spot where they’d stood. The inflatable tent was swept away by the current.

Once on the main road, Qin Yun checked the rearview mirror at the G-Wagon, then slowly drove back the way they’d come.

Seeing Qin Yun’s Land Rover move, Xia Xing followed immediately.

As they distanced themselves, the road widened. Soon, they reached the Lingyu Island scenic area parking lot. Though lightning still cracked and rain poured, leaving the desolate zone brought Xia Xing instant safety.

They parked side by side. Qin Yun rolled down his window: “Stay in the car tonight. We’ll sort everything else tomorrow.”

“Okay, Big Brother Qin. You’re soaked—change clothes quickly.”

After brief instructions, Qin Yun crawled to the back seat, pulled out clean clothes from the trunk, dried himself, and changed.

He checked his phone—it was past three a.m.

Damn it—the forecast said clear skies. Why did it suddenly pour?

Qin Yun sighed, glanced at the G-Wagon beside him, and lay down.

Xia Xing was soaked too, huddled in the back seat, skin sticky and cold—chill creeping through her body.

After sitting a while, she couldn’t bear it. She restarted the car—the heater’s warmth slowly drifted from the vents.

Hearing the noise, Qin Yun sat up. Seeing the car didn’t move, he instantly understood.

He retrieved another T-shirt and a blanket from the trunk, opened his door, and knocked.

“Xia Xing!”

The rear window lowered slightly. Xia Xing’s voice came through: “Big Brother Qin, what is it?”

“Here’s a T-shirt and a blanket. Change your clothes—don’t catch a cold.”

Xia Xing’s face flushed crimson. She hesitated, then lowered the window fully.

Qin Yun tossed the clothes and blanket into the car—they landed on her head.

Her heart pounded. The T-shirt carried a strange, pleasant scent that made her dizzy.

She quickly rolled up the window, took a long breath, and calmed herself.

She peeled off her wet clothes, hung them on the air vent, slipped on Qin Yun’s T-shirt, wrapped herself in the blanket—and it felt like being held in someone’s arms. Her thoughts spiraled again.

Qin Yun didn’t care. The torrential rain couldn’t touch them inside—the car felt safe. But for his height, the back seat was cramped.

For Xia Xing, it probably felt cozy enough.

Still, sleep was necessary. Qin Yun adjusted his posture, and soon his breathing steadied into slumber.