On the way there, Luo Jianan chatted excitedly without stopping. Li Wenshui propped his chin against the window, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. Liang Jin, with his sunglasses covering half his face, was unreadable. The sedan drove out of the city outskirts and headed north, and the view gradually opened up. The shabby bungalow neighborhoods, the desolate fields, the vast horizon of the sea, and the distant mountain ranges spread out on both sides of the road. This was the most barren area of the city, but also the quietest and most pristine. Li Wenshui’s home was here, and the scenery that the wealthy would need to drive for two hours to see, he could view from his rooftop. This view had been his only comfort during the years he lived in the old, rundown apartment.

The sedan stopped on the vast grassland. As the car door opened, the fresh air mixed with the scent of grass hit them. It was the end of May, with the grass growing tall and the birds flying. It was full of life. Luo Jianan spread his arms, basking in the wind: “So refreshing! I’m tired of staring at skyscrapers and neon lights every day.” Li Wenshui thought to himself that Luo Jianan, unaware of his blessings, was tired of things that he could never obtain.

A voice called from the distance. Li Liyan was standing by the riverbank, waving at them. Li Wenshui’s face immediately fell as he grabbed the excited Luo Jianan: “Why is he here?”

“This land belongs to Li Liyan’s family. It wouldn’t make sense not to bring him. We’re all friends,” Luo Jianan said, sizing up Li Wenshui’s expression. “What’s wrong? Do you not like him?”

Li Wenshui replied coldly, “Not really.”

Li Liyan didn’t recognize Li Wenshui at first, who had dyed his hair back to black. When he got closer and saw him clearly, he was taken aback. Li Wenshui looked even more beautiful with black hair, beautiful enough to make everything around him seem dull. Li Liyan glanced at the car where Liang Jin was sitting, his eyes showing a hint of concern. He smiled and said, “I didn’t know you’d be here. I didn’t prepare a tent for you.”

Luo Jianan hooked his arm around Li Wenshui’s shoulder: “It’s fine, I’ll give my tent to Wenshui. I’ll share with my cousin.”

The two were standing close together, and Luo Jianan smelled the fresh fragrance coming from Li Wenshui’s hair. He was momentarily distracted, thinking to himself that men were supposed to be tough, yet why was Wenshui so soft and fragrant?

Li Liyan, not knowing what else to say, simply added, “Let’s go, set up the tent.”

The campsite was by the riverbank. Liang Jin expertly set up the tent, clearly someone who frequently camped. Li Liyan and Luo Jianan also set up their tents, but as someone who always wanted to be the best, Li Wenshui didn’t compete this time.

Luo Jianan struggled for a long time, panting and exhausted, and then waved to Li Wenshui, who had just been watching: “Come help me! I forgot how to do this.”

Li Wenshui stood still, clearly not intending to help: “How could you forget something like this?”

Liang Jin casually walked over to them, looking at Li Wenshui: “As my cousin’s good friend, you should lend a hand, right?”

Li Wenshui subconsciously pinched the corner of his shirt and said to Luo Jianan with a serious tone: “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but if I help you now, what will you do the next time I’m not around? It’s better to teach you how to do it, rather than just giving you the fish.”

Luo Jianan nodded: “You always think of me! I’ll think it through carefully.”

Liang Jin smiled, “Even a high achiever like you doesn’t know how to do this?”

“Who said I don’t know?” Li Wenshui picked up a pole from the ground. “This is a hundred times easier than writing a paper.”

“Yeah, Wenshui can do everything, cousin, don’t always doubt him!”

Li Wenshui stared at the complicated connectors, unsure of where to start. He really didn’t know how to set up a tent—he had never gone camping, nor had he had the chance to learn. Not wanting to admit he couldn’t do it, he was stuck. Just then, Luo Jianan suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!” and snatched the support pole from Li Wenshui’s hands. “I remember now! It goes here!” Luo Jianan positioned one of the connectors and pressed it down forcefully. The process wasn’t smooth, and he mumbled in confusion, “I’m sure it’s right,” while pushing down with both hands and feet.

It was too late for Liang Jin to stop him. There was a sharp “crack,” and the support pole broke. Li Wenshui reacted quickly, pulling Luo Jianan out of the way. The tent, which hadn’t been assembled securely, collapsed like a row of dominoes. The tent’s fabric was torn in several places by the broken pole, now just a pile of useless cloth. Everyone fell silent.

There were four people, but now only two tents remained. Luo Jianan awkwardly broke the silence, laughing nervously: “It’s okay, we can share a tent. I’ll sleep with my cousin, and Wenshui, you can sleep with Li Liyan.”

Li Wenshui refused: “I’m not sharing with him.”

“Then, you and my cousin share one, and I’ll share with Li Liyan?”

“No!” This time, it was Li Liyan who spoke up, his selfishness making him not want Li Wenshui alone with Liang Jin. It didn’t matter if Liang Jin didn’t like him, but he definitely didn’t want Liang Jin to like Li Wenshui.

“Well,” Li Liyan realized he had overreacted and smiled softly, “You and Li Wenshui are good friends, so you should share a tent.”

“I can’t, I snore, and Wenshui doesn’t like it.”

Li Liyan: “…”

Li Wenshui didn’t like snoring either! He didn’t want to be with him!

“I think we should draw lots,” Li Wenshui suggested. This was indeed the best solution, and no one objected.

Li Wenshui took out a notepad and pen from his bag, wrote numbers on the paper, and then crumpled it into four equally sized paper balls. He opened his hand and presented them to Luo Jianan: “Whoever draws the same number will share a tent.”

Luo Jianan hesitated for a moment before picking a paper ball and opening it: “Number 1.”

Li Wenshui moved to Li Liyan, who secretly wished for the same number as Liang Jin. When he opened the paper ball, it was also “1.”

Li Liyan was greatly disappointed, and Luo Jianan comforted him: “It’s okay, I brought earplugs for you.”

Li Wenshui didn’t even look at Liang Jin. He put the remaining paper balls back into his pocket and casually went to the trunk to get other items. Liang Jin’s dark eyes stayed fixed on Li Wenshui.

By the stream, the aroma of barbecue wafted through the air.

Li Liyan eagerly volunteered to barbecue, while Liang Jin lounged like a nobleman, wearing sunglasses and lying on a lounge chair, with an automatic fishing rod at his feet. Luo Jianan was fishing in the river, but after a long time, he hadn’t caught a single fish and even fell down. Li Wenshui waved at him: “Come out already, if you can’t catch anything, don’t bother.”

As soon as Luo Jianan climbed onto the shore, Liang Jin’s fishing rod moved. The rod automatically reeled in, bringing up a large, lively carp. Li Liyan walked over with the skewers: “The barbecue’s ready, try it.”

When the skewers were handed to Li Wenshui, he didn’t take them and instead went straight to the grill to cook his own. Soon, the delicious aroma filled the air. Before he could take a bite, Luo Jianan grabbed one. His eyes lit up: “Wenshui, how did you do this? The same meat, but yours tastes better!” It was just a matter of cooking it right, but for someone used to a life of luxury, getting it cooked right was already an accomplishment, how could it possibly taste better?

“I’ll eat what you cooked! And that fish my cousin caught, I want to drink fish soup.”

Li Wenshui: “…”

Luo Jianan couldn’t get enough of expensive delicacies at home, but now he treated a cheap carp like treasure once he was out in the wild.

“Not for nothing, there’s money to be made!”

“Deal.”

Luo Jianan took the skewers Li Wenshui had cooked and went over to Liang Jin with sugar-coated cherry tomatoes covered in colorful sugar grains: “Cousin, try this, Wenshui made it.”

Liang Jin wasn’t interested in such sweet foods and took a bite of the meat skewer. Without changing his expression, he glanced at Li Wenshui.

By the creek, Li Wenshui crouched on the ground, using a small knife to clean the fish scales. His movements were quick as he gut the fish, cleaned it, and cut the fish into evenly sized pieces, the knife hitting the cutting board with a “tap-tap-tap” sound. He then stood up, picked up some dry twigs, and broke them with his hands, setting up an iron pot and lighting a fire. The smoke rose, and Li Wenshui rolled up his sleeves, his arms shining white. His face was partly hidden in the smoke, missing its usual sharpness, now as soft and hazy as the clear stream.

Luo Jianan looked at him with admiration: “How’s that? Wenshui is amazing, right? He can do anything.”

Liang Jin withdrew his gaze and asked with a smile: “Are you saying this so I’ll praise him? Or to agree with him?”

“I just hope you don’t always make things difficult for Wenshui, he’s not the way you think.”

“Which way?”

Not long ago, Li Wenshui was using their friendship as leverage to ask him for favors.

Love-struck brains can’t be persuaded, Liang Jin couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath. In his view, he couldn’t understand these creatures who got sold out and still helped count the money. The fish soup in the pot bubbled with a “gurgling” sound, and the smell of fish filled the air. Luo Jianan scooped a bowl of it, took a sip, and winced from the heat: “So good! Better than what my aunt makes!”

Li Liyan, who was overshadowed, looked on with an unhappy expression. Li Wenshui poured a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Liang Jin, who smiled: “Thanks.” He continued playing his game, not intending to drink it. Liang Jin was extremely picky about food, only eating vegetables and fresh meat from his own farm, never touching wild food. Fishing was a hobby, but he didn’t eat the catch.

The sunset slowly sank, with red clouds spreading across the sky. The last rays of the sun cast a serene and peaceful glow over everything. Li Wenshui finally seized the opportunity to be alone with Liang Jin and spoke, breaking the calm: “Liang, I want to ask you something.” Liang Jin, knowing what he was going to ask, responded indifferently.

“I…” As he started to speak, Li Liyan interrupted him: “The view here is really nice.” Luo Jianan followed quickly: “Cousin, you really know how to pick a place. I can’t see such a beautiful sunset at my place.” He admired the scene for a while before asking, “Cousin, why didn’t you bring your boyfriend?”

Li Liyan perked up his ears, and Liang Jin replied flatly: “We broke up.”

“Huh? When?”

“Last night.”

“Oh.”

Luo Jianan didn’t ask further, as breakups were routine for his cousin; he probably was the one who ended it. Li Wenshui thought to himself, was it Liang Jin who referred to “baby” last night, or was it the little star Ji Xingzhou?

The group silently watched the sunset, but Luo Jianan, like someone with ADHD, kept fidgeting: “Why are there so many mosquitoes? I even used floral water.” Once the sun set, the mosquitoes increased in the wild. Not only Luo Jianan, but they all got bitten in such a short time.

Li Wenshui said: “I’ll go into the woods to gather some firewood. We can light it to keep the mosquitoes away.”

Li Liyan thought for a moment and then spoke: “I’ll go with you.”

Luo Jianan added: “I’ll go too.”

“Thanks, guys.” Liang Jin, used to luxury, never participated in such rough work.

The three of them entered the woods. Luo Jianan went off to one side to gather firewood, while Li Liyan caught up with Li Wenshui: “Ge, what are you thinking about Dad? We tried calling, but you didn’t answer. If it’s money, tell me how much you need.”

There were many dry twigs on the dirt slope ahead, and Li Wenshui stepped forward: “Let me get enough for fifteen days first to vent my anger.”

“Do you really have to do this?” Li Liyan looked at Li Wenshui with confusion. “Even if Dad wronged you, he raised you this far. What about me and Mom? Didn’t we never wrong you? You came to our house when you were ten, didn’t we provide you with food and clothes? When you were fifteen, you moved out with Wenqing, didn’t I secretly help you out?”

Li Wenshui paused, and then replied coldly: “So, should I be grateful to you all? Should I kneel down and thank you?”

What Li Liyan referred to as “raising” them was nothing more than Li Qun using the money his mother worked hard to save, handing out a little like charity for them to spend.

When the money ran out, he turned to his former affair partner, Wu Dongya, to become a live-in son-in-law and continue living off her. He and Li Wenqing lived in Wu Dongya’s house for five years, eating and sleeping in a storage room, constantly enduring her cold stares. Once, when Li Wenqing touched her skirt, she raised her hand and pushed Li Wenqing away, her face full of disgust as she cursed her for being dirty. In that moment, he only had one thought: to take his sister and leave.

After they left, Li Liyan came looking for him, bringing some old toys, clothes he no longer wore, and snacks he didn’t like, which he offered them as charity—more like a way to get rid of things than actually helping.

“Li Wenshui, why are you so stubborn?” Li Liyan angrily grabbed him. “Can’t you solve this like an adult? Just tell me what you want!”

Li Wenshui shook him off, and Li Liyan stumbled back a few steps, taking a long breath: “Or do you want to get back at me? Because I took your first boyfriend?”

“Is your mind full of men?” Li Wenshui thought of his distant first boyfriend, feeling disgusted. “If you like picking up garbage, then go ahead.”

Li Liyan was momentarily stunned. When it came to words, he truly couldn’t beat the sharp-tongued Li Wenshui. There was a dry twig by the edge of the dirt slope, and in his anger, Li Liyan bent down to grab it without thinking. His foot slipped, and he fell.

Li Wenshui was nearby, and almost instinctively reached out to grab him, but missed. The twig scratched his arm.

“Li Liyan?” He walked closer, brushing away the branches blocking his view. Li Liyan was standing below, waving his hand. “So annoying! How is there a big hole here?”

The hole wasn’t deep, about five or six meters, and the slope wasn’t steep, so it was easy to climb out. Li Wenshui crossed his arms and laughed at Li Liyan’s dirty face. “Serves you right. Climb up by yourself.”

“Li Wenshui! How can you be like this? Don’t leave!”

Luo Jianan rushed over at the sound: “Wenshui, what happened?”

“Li Liyan fell into a ditch, but it’s fine.”

“Huh?” Li Wenshui was about to pull Luo Jianan away when he suddenly changed his mind. “You go check on Li Liyan. I’ll go back to get a flashlight.”

“Okay, you go.”

Li Wenshui quickly returned to the campsite, but instead of finding a flashlight, he went straight to Liang Jin’s tent. Liang Jin was watching a movie, and when he heard the noise and looked up, Li Wenshui was already standing in front of him, his big eyes innocently staring at him.

Liang Jin didn’t show any emotion, and Li Wenshui sat beside him, leaning over. “Liang, what are you watching?”

Liang Jin didn’t like being interrupted, so he turned off the movie. Outside the tent, it was unusually quiet, and it was easy to guess that Li Wenshui had deliberately gotten rid of everyone just to find him.

“What is it?”

Li Wenshui smiled. “The thing you promised me…”

Liang Jin lay back, and Li Wenshui sat down, looking down at him. His soft black hair fell, partially covering his eyes, which were full of hidden thoughts. Liang Jin reached out, pushed his hair aside, and looked directly into his eyes, smiling: “Did I promise you anything? I only said I would consider it.”

Li Wenshui’s smile froze, and the hope in his eyes vanished. He suddenly understood. No wonder Liang Jin had agreed so readily that day—it was all intentional. He had purposely let him hope, only to have that hope crushed.