Chapter 160: I'm on Yinyin's side

(1)

Da Fu's muzzle was firmly covered when it was about ten centimeters away from Shu Shu.

No.

Pei Du cast a lightly warning glance over.

The fluffy dog seemed to realize its behavior was wrong, immediately sat back obediently, then looked up at Pei Du expectantly.

Until Pei Du handed over a beef stick.

This is its reward for obedience.

Yinyin, sit anywhere.

Pei Du brought Shu Shu into the living room, poured her a cup of juice, then went to the kitchen.

Da Fu held the beef stick in its mouth, squinting and wagging its tail obsequiously as it shuffled over to Shu Shu's leg, swaying.

Shu Shu asked, 'What are you doing? Are you going to give me the snack to eat?'

No.

Pei Du came out while tying his apron and told Shu Shu.

It's showing off to Yinyin.

Huh?

As expected.

Shu Shu reached for the beef stick, but just as she was about to touch it, the dog flicked its head away, preventing her from touching it; seeing Shu Shu miss, the dog, pleased with its successful prank, bounced happily in place twice.

Well then, you.

Shu Shu laughed angrily, thinking Pei Du had predicted it so accurately.

You've been fooled by it many times?

Hmm.

Shu Shu looked at Da Fu and teased, 'You've changed; you're no longer that pure dog from before.'

The dog responded by wagging its tail even more happily.

Arrogant, Zhang.

Shu Shu narrowed her eyes, picked up a toy from the ground, and threw it away.

—Da Fu loves the stick-throwing game the most.

The smug dog lunged forward excitedly the next second; when it trotted back to retrieve the toy, it discovered that the beef jerky that had just been in its mouth was now in Shu Shu's hand.

Hmph, I'm not giving it to you.

In the kitchen.

Da Fu sat beside Pei Du's feet, wagging its tail pitifully; one could tell what it was begging for without looking.

The young man's movements as he sliced vegetables with a knife were slow and deliberate; he didn't turn back, only speaking softly:

I won't help you get it.

I'm on Yinyin's side.

The dog's tail immediately stopped wagging; it felt like the sky had fallen.

When you're out in the world, you always have to pay back; even a dog is no exception.

Shu Shu originally just wanted to tease Da Fu, but seeing it run to the kitchen looking wronged, even knowing to ask Pei Du for help, it soon ran out again.

All that could be seen was it stopping in front of her, then raising its two front paws, moving up and down, bowing to her.

……?

Shu Shu was stunned.

Instinctively, she looked toward the clear and handsome figure in the kitchen.

This is, what kind of shape have you turned the child into?

…

Shu Shu stayed in Jing Shi for over ten days.

She felt that her earlier comment calling Pei Du a cook god was a bit conservative; he should at least be a cook sage.

This person always has time for lunch or dinner, and constantly varies his dishes, making one suspect his brain has an automatically updating recipe system.

Shu Shu wondered, didn't Pei Du say he'd gone to work at the family company? Isn't he busy?

Pei Du's answer was: 'Yinyin calls me young master; a young master doesn't need to work, only needs to supervise others working.'

Shu Shu: ……

She actually had no words to respond.

Although that's what he said, Shu Shu could feel that the fact was not as he claimed.

Pei Du.

Hmm.

I have a flight in two hours.

Pei Du's motion of ladling soup paused, then resumed; after finishing, he placed the bowl beside Shu Shu's hand and asked softly, 'Yinyin, where are you going?'

Shu Shu nodded, saying she wanted to go climb a mountain: 'The sunrise sea of clouds at Bathed-in-Rosy-Clouds Ridge is very spectacular; I want to go see it.'

She added: 'About four or five days like that.'

Okay." Pei Du: "I'll send you to the airport."

…

Bathed-in-Rosy-Clouds Ridge was one of Shu Shu's plans made long ago.

This wasn't her first time going; she packed everything up familiarly, checked the weather and made a guide, then set off alone.

Bathing Rosy Ridge is considered a relatively famous scenic spot.

At this time, coinciding with a holiday, many out-of-town visitors came here to check in.

On the way, Shu Shu happened upon a spontaneously formed travel group consisting of lively young people around twenty, both male and female. Seeing Shu Shu as a little girl, they friendly asked if she wanted to join so they could look out for each other.

Shu Shu politely declined.

She didn't need looking after; her plan was to descend the mountain after watching the sunrise the next day, and after a brief rest, Shu Shu shouldered her pack and continued on.

Bathing Rosy Ridge is famous because no matter how many sunrise cloud seas you've seen, you will always be stunned by the next one.

The crimson sunlight peeked out quietly, layer upon layer of cloud surging like ocean waves seemed infused with some living consciousness, rolling and surging in the mountains, close enough to touch.

Shu Shu gazed at the scene before her, curled her lips, and gave an easy smile: 'Grandfather, you said the cloud sea was very beautiful; I've already seen it twice for you and Grandmother.'

The answer to Shu Shu was silence.

The dazzling sunlight fell on the girl's face, and her smile gradually faded and collapsed.

Just then, her phone vibrated in her hand—

Pei Du: 'Yinyin, is the sunrise beautiful.'

Shu Shu opened her camera, aimed at the mountain ahead, took a photo, and sent it over: 'Look.'

The other side instantly replied: 'Indeed very beautiful.'

Shu Shu: 'You got up really early.'

Pei Du: 'Mm, because I have to supervise others working.'

Pfft.

Shu Shu: 'Don't be like those TV drama young masters who arbitrarily order people to buy coffee and then deduct money from them.'

Pei Du: 'Oh, I was going to deduct it, but Yinyin said not to, so I won't.'

（2）

Many tourists had come specifically to see the sunrise, most likely first-time visitors wanting to stay longer and see more.

Shu Shu was amused by Pei Du's message, gave a silent chuckle, then put away her phone, weaved through wave after wave of people, and prepared to descend the mountain.

At that time, the sunlight only managed to illuminate the mountaintop, while the mountain path hidden by dense foliage remained dim.

Shu Shu held a flashlight and returned alone along the original route.

Around her, aside from the sound of her athletic shoes on the ground, all was silent.

Thus, the several cries for help heard a minute later were extraordinarily clear.

Shu Shu's steps halted, she tilted her ear to listen closely.

"\"...... Help. \""

"\"...... Help, is anyone there! \""

It wasn't just one person's voice; listening to the movement, the sounds were coming from far down the slope.

Shu Shu walked over, waved her flashlight toward the dark below, and tentatively called out: 'Hello, is anyone there?'

Hearing Shu Shu's response, the several cries for help seemed to grasp at a lifeline, excitedly rising and falling as they shouted.

"\"Yes! \""

"\"Yes yes yes! \""

"\"We accidentally got lost and ended up unable to climb up! \""

Shu Shu heard one of the tearful female voices sound somewhat familiar; it seemed to be the girl from the student group she had met yesterday afternoon who had asked if she wanted to team up.

"\"I'm now lowering the climbing rope, which has a fluorescent marker; you yourselves watch for it, and if you see it, climb up along the rope. \""

"\"Okay okay, thank you so much! \""

Shu Shu opened one side of her backpack, pulled out the climbing rope, tied a secure knot around a sturdy tree, and was about to throw it down when she heard a commotion below.

"\"Xiao Shuang, Xiao Shuang, what's wrong?! \""

"\"Xiao Shuang has coronary heart disease! She fainted! What do we do?! \""

Someone with coronary heart disease came to climb the mountain?

Are they crazy?

Shu Shu frowned, stopped throwing the rope, took out her phone to call emergency services, reported the specific location to medical personnel while pulling out a safety harness, figure-eight loop, main lock, etc. from her backpack.

After putting on the equipment in order and clipping the rope, she slid quickly down the slope.

Upon landing, she indeed saw several people in a chaotic mess.

"\"Take off her backpack and outerwear, spread out, don't stand together. \""

Shu Shu swiftly unbuckled the clasp, quickly walked over, and laid the unconscious girl flat on the ground.

"\"Xiao Shuang, don't scare me, waa waa waa. \""

Shu Shu: 'Quiet.'

"\"Hello, can you hear me?! \""

Shu Shu leaned close to the girl's ear and shouted, got no response, then felt the girl's neck, without hesitation she immediately knelt, sat upright, placed her palms one over the other, and began chest compressions.

Only then did the crowd realize Shu Shu was performing first aid, and no one dared to make a sound.

After a long four minutes passed, the girl called Xiao Shuang gradually regained consciousness, recognized Shu Shu, and spoke with difficulty: '...... Miss, it's you.'

Being able to speak, a group of people suddenly exhaled in relief, gathered around to ask after her warmth.

Shu Shu stood up, walked to the side, and shook her hands, which were sore and nearly numb.

Xiao Shuang, face pale, said gratefully: 'Miss, thank you for saving me.'

Shu Shu solemnly told her: 'I called 120; you'd better go to the hospital for a check-up, and besides, don't climb mountains again.'

Bathing Rosy Ridge has a dedicated path from foot to summit; this group appearing here certainly didn't stray from the designated path and get lost.

Shu Shu pointed to the rope with the fluorescent marker over there, reminding everyone to grab the rope and climb up.

Patients first.

Xiao Shuang was the first to climb up, while the others were also young and inexperienced, frightened by Xiao Shuang's sudden faint, they all eagerly wanted to go up quickly, not wanting to be last.

But Shu Shu, after all, was the one who had helped them and was a girl; when they hesitated, Shu Shu gestured for them to go ahead, which she could do.

In the end, fear still defeated reason.

Shu Shu found a clean large stone to sit and rest, relieving the fatigue from mobilizing her whole body earlier, blankly staring at a tree, waiting for everyone to go up before she did.

Just then, a beam of light flashed past her.

Yinyin.

A familiar deep male voice came.

Shu Shu froze, thinking she had misheard, and turned her head in great surprise.

In the not-so-bright light, she saw a male student in a black tactical jacket, his brows calm, loosen another rope, hold a flashlight, and walk steadily toward her.

Pei, Pei Du?

How did you get here?

Pei Du approached, brows furrowed, first giving Shu Shu a head-to-toe glance to confirm her condition.

He didn't answer Shu Shu's question, only saying: 'Leave this place first.'

Okay.

Pei Du carefully fastened the buckle onto Shu Shu's waist belt, letting her go up first.

After Shu Shu arrived, she stood waiting for Pei Du; beside her were Xiao Shuang and her friends, who were still waiting for the others coming up behind.

Xiao Shuang was about to walk over to thank Shu Shu again when a tall figure blocked her; the person lowered their eyes, gaze contemptuous, expressionlessly glanced at her, and Xiao Shuang felt as if frozen in place, unable to move.

That guy's gaze was terrifying...

Pei Du walked to the climbing rope attached to Shu Shu, extended his distinct-knuckled hand, and directly undid the knot.

Just then, someone who had just started climbing up fell straight onto his butt, landing face-up with legs in the air.

Ouch!

That person shouted: 'What are you doing?! Someone hasn't come up yet! Who just undid the rope?!'

Pei Du turned a deaf ear, completely uncaring about the people below's life or death, calmly and neatly coiling Shu Shu's climbing rope section by section, then putting it together with her other scattered gear back into her pack.

Then he bent his knees and squatted in front of Shu Shu.

Shu Shu wondered: 'What are you doing?'

Pei Du didn't turn back: 'Yinyin twisted her ankle.'

Shu Shu froze.

She had accidentally twisted her foot while sliding down to rescue someone earlier, and her ankle was sore and swollen.

However, her pants were so loose she hadn't mentioned it; how did this person know?

Pei Du maintained his squatting position without moving; there was still a long way down the mountain, and Shu Shu, not being pretentious, leaned on his shoulder.

Pei Du hoisted Shu Shu onto his back and walked off.

Xiao Shuang and her friends watched the whole time as Pei Du withdrew the rope, not daring to speak; after that glance, they instinctively felt he was not to be provoked, didn't dare to inquire, and only after Pei Du and Shu Shu left did they have a friend pull up the rope he left behind.

…

The sky gradually brightened completely.

Pei Du's hand placement while carrying Shu Shu was gentlemanly, only his wrist touching the back of her knee; after walking a long stretch, his breathing remained normal.

But his mood seemed not normal.

From his appearance to now, he had only spoken three sentences to Shu Shu, after which came prolonged silence.

This is a bit... off.

Shu Shu then asked: 'Pei Du, you haven't said yet—how did you end up here?'

Quiet.

?

Shu Shu couldn't help but look at Pei Du, seeing him press his lips, expression cold.

Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, he said: 'Why did Yinyin let them?'

Pei Du was referring to Shu Shu agreeing to go last.

Regarding that, Shu Shu calmly replied: 'Oh, I saw how scared they were, thought I'd done my good deed, it's fine, just coming up a bit later.'

Pei Du suddenly stopped, voice tense: 'Then, what about that time at the ski field?'

In 'wild snow,' the 'wild' signifies unknown danger; after meeting that couple, she still had at least half the journey left, yet she gave away her only signal flare just like that.

Humans are born with an instinct to fear danger and death; if there is an exception, it can only mean that person has lost that instinct.

Yinyin is very kind and brave, no doubt, but more so... she doesn't care about herself.

Girls like to flit between cities, seeking food, experiencing different things.

This seems to fully match the six words 'love an active life,' but breaking that facade reveals the underlying truth: she has no set destination, going wherever she ends up—a self-abandonment.

Pei Du guessed that if there were a flood or ferocious beast below that small slope, stepping late would risk her life, yet Yinyin would readily agree to give up the rope.

Behaviors like giving away the signal flare or the climbing rope, disregarding her own safety, she definitely, definitely has done more than once.

Pei Du was a little angry.

No.

He was very angry.

Then came a flood of heartache.

He didn't know what she had gone through to become like this.

…

Smart people never need to lay everything out when they speak; a single sentence is enough to understand the other's meaning.

Shu Shu laughed and wanted to say that Pei Du was overthinking; she opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Finally.

The girl's amused retort came from behind: "You little brat, go tell fortunes—you'll definitely get rich."