The mist in the mountains had dispersed, and the golden sunlight fell onto the trees, making the branches look as if they were hung with golden leaves.

Climbing up the mountain had been difficult, but going down was much easier.

Su Ci didn’t let Lu Zhe carry her anymore. Holding onto Lu Zhe’s hand, she slowly made her way down.

Li Chengyu left earlier than Su Ci. She had already called Father Li and told him everything, and Father Li had arranged for a car to pick her up.

Su Ci didn’t care about the Li family’s matters. Thinking of how she had worked so hard and finally obtained the golden cotton candy, her mood finally improved.

She was getting a bit tired as she walked, so she stopped and leaned against a large stone. With Li Chengyu gone and no one else around, it was truly the perfect time for a kiss.

“Drink some water.” Lu Zhe twisted open the cap of a bottle of mineral water and handed it to the girl.

Su Ci leaned against the smooth stone. She took a few sips, then pushed the bottle back into Lu Zhe’s hand. Reaching out, she tugged on the hem of his clothes. “Come a little closer.”

In the girl’s eyes was that familiar bright sparkle. Lu Zhe curved his lips and stepped toward her.

His fingertips brushed against her warm, flushed cheek as he asked, “What is it?”

“Something good for you.” Su Ci’s hands climbed directly onto Lu Zhe’s shoulders.

Lu Zhe already knew that whenever the girl said she had something good for him, it meant she wanted to kiss him.

The coldness in his eyes faded, replaced by a hidden smile. Lu Zhe lowered his head to look at her. “You want a kiss?”

Su Ci blinked. She felt that the previously wooden and aloof boy seemed to have changed—he actually asked her if she wanted a kiss.

“Kiss. Hurry.” Su Ci hoped that after eating the golden cotton candy, Lu Zhe would recover quickly.

“Mm.”

The boy’s cool, thin lips landed on the girl’s soft little mouth, bit by bit tasting her sweet fragrance.

A morning breeze swept past, and the surrounding green trees seemed to sway shyly.

Lu Zhe was overly gentle, slowly occupying every corner of her. Her little tongue retreated until it could retreat no more, forced to yield helplessly to his teasing. Su Ci felt her legs grow weak. She leaned softly into Lu Zhe’s embrace, letting him steal her breath.

By the time they returned down the mountain, it was already past seven.

“After we rest, let’s go horseback riding this afternoon. I heard from Dad that there’s a riding field here at the villa.” Su Ci was exhausted, but her breathing was steady. Her little face was flushed pink, her eyes shimmering with moisture, and even her lips were a tempting red.

“Mm, I’ll watch you ride.” Lu Zhe didn’t know how to ride horses.

“I can teach you.” Su Ci looked at him with a bright smile, deliberately teasing him. “We can also ride together—I’ll sit in front, and you hold me from behind.”

Lu Zhe curved his lips and was just about to nod.

Beside them, the room door opened.

Mother Su saw her daughter with a face full of smiles, and Lu Zhe standing beside her. Her expression did not look good. “Cici, where did you go?”

Su Ci hadn’t expected to be caught on the spot by her mother. She didn’t panic, instead smiling as she said to her, “I was just about to go eat breakfast, and I happened to run into Lu Zhe. I was asking him what activities there are this afternoon.”

The smile at Lu Zhe’s lips faded a bit. He politely greeted Mother Su, “Good morning, Auntie Su.”

Mother Su nodded. She reached out and touched her daughter’s hair. “Your father and I have just washed up and are about to eat breakfast too. Wait for us.”

Su Ci nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Seeing Mother Su turn and go back into the room, Su Ci secretly winked at Lu Zhe.

Lu Zhe’s hand hanging by his side felt slightly numb, and the smile in his eyes faded.

After breakfast, Father Su suddenly said he had something to do and proposed that they leave.

The Lu family left not long after.

They had originally come to the villa because of the Su family. Now that the Su family was leaving, there was no point in them staying either.

On the way back, Lu Chen rubbed his chin and said, “Yesterday Su Shengguo even asked me to continue our fishing contest today. How come he suddenly said he needs to leave? That fellow really doesn’t keep his word.”

Wen Ya ignored her husband. She looked toward her son sitting by the window, silent all the way. Thinking he was unhappy because he couldn’t see Su Ci anymore, she said, “It’s okay. In a few days, I’ll host a tea party and invite little Cici over. You two can see each other then.”

Lu Zhe looked at his parents. “No need. You don’t have to work hard to help me and Su Ci be together.”

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Wen Ya asked worriedly.

“Auntie Su knows. She won’t be happy about it.”

The reason the Su family suddenly decided to leave was because Auntie Su had seen him together with Su Ci that morning. Auntie Su hadn’t said anything to him, nor scolded him for not keeping his promise, yet her attitude had already been made clear.

Wen Ya was also a mother, so of course she understood what Mother Su was thinking.

Every mother was selfish. Since her son liked Su Ci, she and her husband naturally wanted to find ways to bring their son and Su Ci together.

Wen Ya froze for a moment before speaking. “If Tong Xin doesn’t agree, I can go beg her.”

Her child had suffered so much since he was young, and now he didn’t have much time left. She selfishly wanted to bring everything he liked right to him.

Lu Zhe shook his head. He looked seriously at his parents. “Dad, Mom, we can’t force Uncle Su and Auntie Su to let their precious daughter be with someone who has a terminal illness.”

Every day he lived now was borrowed time.

Su Ci didn’t belong to him.

Wen Ya’s eyes instantly grew hot. Her son was so obedient, so good—why did he have to endure such suffering?

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Big Brother’s Life Value still had two weeks left. After Su Ci saved Xie Yumin and Li Chengyu, the golden cotton candy she received was not only given to Lu Zhe, she also set aside a bit for Fugui. However, the amount was not enough, and that fellow hadn’t leveled up yet.

She could only wait until the remaining three days to see Big Brother’s cause of death.

“Cici, alright, let’s go.” Mother Su finished her phone call and came over, instructing the store’s salesperson to send all the clothes she had picked earlier to the Su residence.

“Are we going home now?” These past few days, Mother Su had taken Su Ci shopping, to get beauty treatments, to drink afternoon tea—she practically wanted to keep her daughter tied to her side.

Mother Su smiled. “Just now, I got a call from an old college friend. Her son was accepted into B University. He came early to get used to the environment. Before the semester begins, he’ll stay at our house for a while.”

Mother Su had been very close to this friend in college, but the friend married far away, so they hadn’t kept in frequent contact.

Now that her friend’s son was coming to B City to study, she could help out a little.

The Su family not only had plenty of money—there were many rooms in their villa. Even two or three dozen guests wouldn’t be a problem, let alone just one.

“I was college friends with Fang Qin. I didn’t expect that you and her son would become schoolmates later.” Mother Su felt it was quite fated. “That child has already arrived at the airport. We’ll stop by to pick him up.”

Su Ci nodded casually.

It took some time to drive from the mall to the airport.

Mother Su stayed on a voice call with her friend the whole way. Su Ci rested her cheek on her hand, feeling bored as she listened to her mother and Auntie Fang talk about their past. She felt that her mother must have been very close with that friend during college.

Su Ci glanced at Mother Su, who was absorbed in conversation, then secretly sent a message to Lu Zhe: What are you doing?

Lu Zhe had been busy these past few days. Even during their evening video calls, she saw piles of documents on his desk. She knew that his and Uncle Fang’s company had just been established and there was a lot to handle, so she sensibly didn’t disturb him.

Lu Zhe replied very quickly: In a meeting.

Although he said “in a meeting,” he was actually discussing company matters with President Fang and a few newly hired employees.

Su Ci, very thoughtful, wrote: Oh, then go be busy.

Lu Zhe then asked her: And you?

Su Ci peeked sideways at Mother Su, then replied to him: Going with Mom to pick someone up. A guest will be staying at my house for a while.

At that moment, the car stopped outside the airport.

“Madam, Miss, we’ve arrived,” the driver reported.

Mother Su rolled down the window, and at a glance she saw the child from the photo her friend had sent.

Su Ci quickly typed: We’ve picked him up.

Before Mother Su could look over, she exited the chat.

Mother Su asked the driver to go call her friend’s child over.

Su Ci put away her phone and looked out the window. She saw a lean boy wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of faded, washed-out pants. A black backpack was slung over his shoulder. His expression was cold as he followed behind the driver, walking toward them.

“Hello, Auntie Su,” the boy said. His voice was low and pleasant.

“You’re Ji Chi, right?” Mother Su looked at him. His appearance didn’t resemble her friend much—his sharp, cool features probably took after his father.

Ji Chi nodded. “I am.”

Mother Su smiled and said, “You don’t need to be too restrained. Your mother and I are good friends. Even without her asking, I would take good care of you. This is my daughter, Su Ci. She also got into B University. You two will be schoolmates in the future.”

Ji Chi looked toward the side where Mother Su indicated. The girl had delicate features, and the small tear mole beneath her eye was striking. She lazily lifted her eyelids. “Hi.”

Ji Chi politely withdrew his gaze. “Hello.”