From below, Su Ci could only see his sharp, defined jawline. “Lu Zhe, how are you so attentive?”

The boy smiled faintly.

“You’re as attentive as a dad. Are you taking care of me like I’m your daughter?”

Her words froze his smile instantly. He looked at her deeply, then lowered his head and bit her rosy lips. “What do you think?”

Su Ci laughed brightly. “We’re going up the mountain tomorrow morning.”

“Mm.” He remembered she wanted to watch the sunrise.

“We have to reach the top around five. Then… do we have to leave at three or four?” Just thinking about waking up before dawn made Su Ci feel miserable.

For a girl who loved beauty this much, not sleeping well was practically sabotaging her looks—utterly sinful.

“Can you wake up?” Lu Zhe knew she loved to sleep in. “We can watch it next time.”

“No. Only this time.” Su Ci blinked, looking up at him pitifully. “Remember to wake me. Even if I can’t wake up, you must wake me. We have to go up the mountain.”

“Mm.”

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

The pre-dawn night was thick and silent, with only occasional insects sounding from the courtyard, making everything feel even quieter.

When Lu Zhe woke, it was still pitch black outside the courtyard.

He pressed his fingers to his brow, his eyes clearing.

He nudged the girl in his arms. “Tuan Tuan, wake up.”

Su Ci did not move at all.

He nudged her again, and the girl only rubbed her head against his chest, showing no sign of opening her eyes.

Lu Zhe lowered his head, speaking softly by her ear. “If you don’t wake up, we won’t go see the sunrise.”

Su Ci stirred slightly like a little worm.

A smile hid in Lu Zhe’s eyes. He pulled her straight out of the blankets, then carried her into the bathroom.

In the pre-dawn mountain air, the temperature was low. Su Ci wore a short-sleeved top, long pants, and over them, Lu Zhe’s white shirt. Half-asleep, she let Lu Zhe pull her along the mountain path.

“Very sleepy?” Lu Zhe stopped, seeing her eyes almost closed. “Why don’t we skip the sunrise?”

Su Ci shook her head instinctively. “I want to see it.”

She leaned weakly against him, looking at him pitifully. “I’m doing all this for you. You have to treat me better usually. When it’s time to kiss me, kiss me more.”

Lu Zhe didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. The girl always had her nonsense ready. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to see the sunrise?”

Su Ci felt her heart tighten—she didn’t want to see the sunrise at all.

There was only one path up the mountain, man-made, paved with layers of stone steps and lined with handrails—clearly built with a lot of effort and money.

But at dawn, the sky was still pitch black. There was no light at all. They could only rely on the flashlight from Lu Zhe’s phone as they walked up step by step.

Knowing they were climbing a mountain, Su Ci had purposely worn comfortable sneakers. But halfway up, her delicate body could no longer hold up. Her legs turned weak, and she couldn’t move.

Lu Zhe unscrewed a bottle of water, letting her drink two sips before taking a large drink himself from the same spot.

“Hold the phone and shine the light. I’ll carry you.” He put the phone in her hand and bent down in front of her.

This time, Su Ci was surprisingly sensible. “If you kiss me, I’ll have the strength to walk myself.”

Lu Zhe insisted, “Get on.”

Su Ci moved over and climbed onto his back. “You’re the one who wants to carry me. You can’t say I’m heavy.”

“Mm.”

Lu Zhe didn’t walk fast—he walked steadily, one step at a time.

The higher they climbed, the steeper the path became.

No one knew how long it took, but eventually, with Su Ci on his back, Lu Zhe reached the mountaintop.

The morning wind blew past, carrying a sharp chill. The horizon gradually began to brighten.

Su Ci looked around and pointed at a pile of rocks. “Let’s hide over there.”

“Weren’t you here to watch the sunrise?” Lu Zhe asked.

“We’ll watch from behind the rocks.” Su Ci jumped down from his back.

She hadn’t heard anything behind them earlier, so she didn’t know if Li Chenyu had arrived yet. But since there was only one way up the mountain, she and Lu Zhe could just wait here.

Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe behind the large rocks to hide.

Lu Zhe looked at the girl huddling close beside him, sneaky and secretive. He suddenly realized—she hadn’t come up the mountain to see the sunrise.

Of course. For someone who hated waking early this much, how could she possibly like sunrises?

But Lu Zhe didn’t hurry to ask. He quietly sat with her behind the rocks, his eyes full of indulgence.

Su Ci checked the time. It was almost five. Had Li Chenyu still not come?

The sky was brighter than before. Behind the clouds, a bit of golden light began to appear.

Su Ci waited, bored. It was already past five. Was Li Chenyu coming or not? She should fall off the mountain at around six.

Suddenly, Su Ci thought of a serious problem.

Fugui had only said that Li Chenyu fell from the mountain and died. Su Ci had instinctively assumed it happened at the summit.

But what if Li Chenyu collapsed halfway up due to exhaustion and rolled down the mountain?

That would also count as falling to her death.

Su Ci was stunned.

Had she done all this for nothing?

Just as Su Ci was tangled in frustration, a girl’s complaining voice came from nearby.

Su Ci’s expression sharpened instantly—she snapped to attention.

Was Li Chenyu here?

Beside her, Lu Zhe watched the change in Su Ci’s expression. He was now certain she hadn’t come up the mountain to watch the sunrise at all. She had been waiting for someone—and now, that person had arrived.

Not far away, Li Chenyu was so exhausted her legs felt like jelly. She panted heavily and said in a delicate voice, “I must have been crazy to listen to you. This is pure torture.”

The girl beside Li Chenyu was also breathing fast, but clearly in much better shape. She comforted her, “Xiao Yu, all your hard work is worth it.”

Li Chenyu thought of the person in her heart, and only then did her expression look a little better.

“Let’s watch from over there. The sun’s about to rise,” the girl said with a smile.

Li Chenyu followed her gaze. The spot she pointed to was indeed good, so she walked toward it.

Behind the big rock, Su Ci quietly peeked out her little head. She unlocked her phone and switched to video recording. She hit start, then shoved the phone into Lu Zhe’s hand, letting him film Li Chenyu.

Even though she knew Li Chenyu was about to die, she would never be stupid enough to rush out and stop her. Not only did Li Chenyu dislike her, but nothing had happened yet—who would believe such a warning? They might even think she was insane.

Whether they could save Li Chenyu later or not, at least they would record the accident to prove she and Lu Zhe were innocent.

Now, she only needed to wait.

Su Ci asked Fugui, “There are two minutes left before Li Chenyu falls off the mountain, right?”

Fugui: 【Yes, Master.】

Su Ci suddenly became nervous. She watched as Li Chenyu walked toward the edge, and the other girl followed.

The girl stood diagonally behind Li Chenyu on her right, and suddenly—she reached out her hand.

Su Ci’s heart jumped violently.

Was Li Chenyu going to be pushed?

One minute left.

Just then, Li Chenyu turned her head impatiently. “Why isn’t the sun coming out yet?”

Who could answer such an unreasonable question?

The girl had a good temper. She calmly withdrew her hand. “Just wait a little longer. When the sun rises, remember to make a wish.”

Li Chenyu didn’t look at her. “Do you need to tell me that?”

The girl behind her smiled even more brightly, and she reached out her hand again.

A strong sense of danger surged through Su Ci. She stepped out from behind the rock and said coldly, “What are you doing?”

Neither Li Chenyu nor the girl expected someone to suddenly appear on the mountaintop.

They looked at Su Ci in shock, their faces draining of color.

Especially the girl—she was so frightened she instinctively withdrew her hand.

“Su Ci? Why are you here?” Li Chenyu’s voice nearly cracked from shock.

Su Ci replied righteously, “The whole villa belongs to my family. Why can’t I be here?”

Her cold gaze swept over the girl, finally landing on Li Chenyu’s wrist. Under the hand pressing down her wind-blown hair, her life bar had turned into seven yellow squares.

Li Chenyu choked, unable to refute.

“And you, what are you doing up here?” Su Ci asked her.

Li Chenyu had been startled once already and didn’t dare act up at Su Ci. She said irritably, “I’m here to watch the sunrise.”

“Oh? To watch the sunrise, you almost paid with your life.” Su Ci’s eyes lifted slightly. “Truly admirable.”

“What paying with my life?” Li Chenyu had no idea what Su Ci was talking about.

Su Ci reminded her, “You can ask the friend standing next to you.”

“You understand what she’s saying?” Li Chenyu asked Li Xiaoli.

Li Xiaoli didn’t know what this suddenly-appearing girl had seen—or how much. But the meaning in Su Ci’s words was clear: she knew her intention.

Li Xiaoli steadied herself and shook her head at Li Chenyu. “I don’t understand either.”

The golden light on the horizon grew brighter. The sun was about to rise. Li Chenyu didn’t dare provoke Su Ci. She still had important things to do and didn’t want to waste time talking to her. “Su Ci, if you have something to say, say it. I’m waiting for the sunrise.”

Su Ci didn’t bother beating around the bush. “Sunrise? If not for me, you’d already be lying at the bottom of the mountain, dead. Still want to watch the sunrise? The friend beside you, she just reached out to push you down.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Li Xiaoli immediately defended herself. “It was so dark just now, how could you see me trying to push her?”

Li Chenyu was stunned. She quickly stepped away from the dangerous edge. “You were going to push me?”

Li Xiaoli was about to cry. “Xiao Yu, how could I possibly push you? You can’t believe something she just made up!”

“It’s not made up. I saw you reach out your right hand just now.” Su Ci said lazily.

Li Xiaoli questioned Su Ci, “I don’t even know you. Why would you frame me?”

Li Chenyu’s eyes were full of confusion. She didn’t know who to believe.

“You reached out your right hand twice.” Su Ci spoke calmly. “I saw everything.”

Li Xiaoli froze. Eyes red, she shook her head. “This isn’t a joke. Please don’t accuse people carelessly. I can’t bear a crime like murder.”

Looking at Li Xiaoli’s wronged expression, Li Chenyu bit her lip and asked Su Ci, “Did you really see her reach out to push me?”

“You think I have that much free time? Playing pranks on you two for fun?” Su Ci glanced at Li Xiaoli, who was rubbing her eyes pitifully, and curled her lips.

Tsk, trying to cry in front of her?

Su Ci sincerely suggested, “Rubbing your eyes won’t squeeze out tears. I recommend pinching your thigh. Pinch your arm if you want. Wherever’s sensitive, pinch there.”

Back when she didn’t know how to cry on cue, she used to pinch her thigh hard enough to cry from the pain. As for why she didn’t use eyedrops? To let the director think she was hardworking, of course.

Li Xiaoli froze, pressing down her fury. How could someone be this infuriating?

Su Ci felt she had played enough. Seeing she had nearly pushed them to collapse, she smiled. “Alright, I’m done teasing you.”

Li Xiaoli was completely stunned.

So… she was joking just now? She actually hadn’t seen anything?

Li Chenyu was also dumbfounded. In front of Su Ci, she always felt not only overshadowed but also lacking in intelligence.

Which was precisely why she didn’t like Su Ci.

Su Ci turned and jogged back behind the big rock. She lowered her head and kissed the boy’s cool thin lips, then pulled him up.

Li Chenyu and Li Xiaoli saw there were other people on the mountaintop and were shocked again. Just how many people were up here?

“Who is he?” Li Chenyu felt utterly exhausted. She had struggled all the way up the mountain to see the sunrise, only to run into Su Ci, then hear Su Ci claim Li Xiaoli tried to push her off a cliff. Her mind was in complete chaos.

“You don’t need to know who he is.” Su Ci took the phone from Lu Zhe’s hand and shook it lightly at Li Xiaoli. “The evidence is right here.”

Then Su Ci opened the video Lu Zhe had recorded and played it for Li Chenyu.

Beside her, Li Xiaoli’s face turned ashen.

When Li Chenyu saw Li Xiaoli reach out a hand toward her the first time, her heart began pounding violently. Fortunately, she had turned around then. The second time Li Xiaoli reached out her hand, Su Ci had come out just in time.

If Su Ci hadn’t appeared, that meant she truly would have been pushed down the mountain.

Thinking about rolling all the way down from here, cold sweat rose from the bottom of Li Chenyu’s feet.

“Why did you try to kill me?” Li Chenyu slapped Li Xiaoli across the face, her hand trembling.

“I didn’t…” Li Xiaoli still denied it.

“This is attempted murder. I’m calling the police.” Thinking about how she had almost died just now, Li Chenyu was both frightened and furious. She glared fiercely at Li Xiaoli, wishing she could bite her to death.

Li Xiaoli grabbed Li Chenyu’s hand. “You can’t call the police. I didn’t try to kill you.”

Su Ci lightly delivered the finishing blow. “I can give you the video as evidence.”

Li Xiaoli shot Su Ci a vicious glare. She had almost succeeded.

“Don’t glare at me, I’m so scared.” Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, her voice soft. “Lu Zhe, she scared me.”

Lu Zhe naturally wrapped his arms around the girl, pinching her cheek with his fingers. Only she ever scared others, who here could possibly scare this little troublemaker?

Li Xiaoli’s breath caught.

How could there be someone this shameless in the world!