Chapter 39

“Why did you go to Shu Wei for?”

When the girl asked softly, Shang Yan never expected her to ask such a question.

He was so taken aback that he rarely paused for a few seconds before coming back to his senses and smiling.

“Who told you that? That I went to see Shu Wei.”

Su Miao Miao fiddled with the thermos cup in her hand and replied softly, “I just… overheard someone passing by.”

Shang Yan didn’t show whether he believed her or not, but his voice carried a hint of amused laughter.

“Yes, I did go to see her.”

“……”

Su Miao Miao didn’t say anything, quietly waiting for an explanation.

“As for why I went to see her…”

“?”

After waiting for a long time without hearing the second half of the sentence, Su Miao Miao looked up in confusion.

She saw Shang Yan leaning sideways, his left shoulder against the soft seat of the bus. Black strands of hair fell over his pale forehead, and the fine tips outlined his dark eyes.

His eyes seemed to sparkle like stardust, bright and clear.

He looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

“Why do you want to know the answer?”

Su Miao Miao felt a bit guilty under his gaze. She lowered her head, lightly furrowing her fair brows. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally found a flimsy excuse.

“I was just… curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“That day in the library, I saw you being… very harsh to her. I thought you wouldn’t see her again.”

“You don’t like her?”

“She didn’t like me first.”

The girl whispered in defense.

“You don’t want me to see her?”

“……….”

Shang Yan finally couldn’t help but laugh, turning his face slightly as he chuckled softly.

His handsome profile lost its sharpness, softened by his smile and the morning light streaming through the window.

Su Miao Miao followed the sound and looked over, staring in a daze.

A few seconds later, she finally realized that the laugh seemed to be directed at her.

A light blush appeared on her cheeks, and she became annoyed.

“You… why are you laughing?”

“I’m not laughing.”

He covered the corner of his mouth with one hand and gave a light cough.

“……”

The teasing and amusement faded from his eyes as Shang Yan looked back at the girl.

“I went to see her that day because of you.”

“……”

Su Miao Miao had considered many possibilities, but she had never thought of this answer. So, upon hearing it, she was stunned in her seat.

A moment later, she widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Why because of me?”

Shang Yan pondered for a moment.

By nature, he didn’t want to tell Su Miao Miao the details of this matter. In his heart, the kid should be as pure and unblemished as a blank sheet of paper, untouched by the world’s filth and deceit.

On the other hand, he feared that if she remained too pure, as clear and fragile as a crystal, she might easily be shattered by something unexpected during a moment of his distraction.

Shang Yan’s gaze turned cold.

An angry glint flickered in his eyes, but he suppressed it.

“Did she threaten you?”

“No,” Su Miao Miao shook her head earnestly, “I threatened her.”

Shang Yan was taken aback for two seconds before breaking into a smile.

“Really.”

“……”

“Well, you must be quite impressive, kid.”

“……”

It was clear he didn’t believe her.

Su Miao Miao secretly pouted.

Shang Yan noticed the subtle change in her expression but didn’t expose her. He chuckled softly.

“How did you threaten her?”

Su Miao Miao replied, “She said she would investigate my background, and I told her she wouldn’t find anything.”

Shang Yan: “……”

Not long ago, he seemed to have called Bo Yi, and the purpose was…”Why can’t she find anything?” Shang Yan paused, deep in thought. “Because of the Wen family?”

Su Miao Miao nodded, then shook her head.

A few seconds later, she hesitantly lowered her eyes and asked softly, “Can I not say?”

After saying this, the girl neither spoke nor looked up again, as if certain that Shang Yan wouldn’t force her to say what she didn’t want to.

Shang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He suddenly had a feeling that this child might have seen through him and had him completely figured out.In this unprecedented feeling, Shang Yan quietly savored the moment for a few seconds.

A few seconds later, having long given up on maintaining his guard, Shang Yan readily accepted.

“Then don’t say.”

Hearing this, Su Miao Miao finally moved.

She lifted her face and turned her gaze to the side.

“So… did you go to senior high to find Shu Wei because of this matter?”

“Yeah,” Shang Yan lazily replied, leaning back in his seat with a hoarse chuckle. “Otherwise, what did you think?”

Su Miao Miao guiltily returned her gaze.

“I didn’t think anything…”

“Kid,” the suppressed laughter rolled in his chest, escaping from his throat as he leaned closer, “you know, lying to me would be considered deceiving your mentor.”

Su Miao Miao: “……”

She didn’t listen.She didn’t know anything.

Seeing the girl with her head down, Shang Yan’s teasing smile became even more pronounced.

He leaned in even closer—”Do you know why you wouldn’t want me to see Shu Wei?”

“……”

Like a snail lured out of its shell by bait, the little snail cautiously extended its soft antennae, curiously peering at him.

“This is called ‘possessiveness’,” Shang Yan said, his eyes lowered as he looked at the petite girl with her dark eyes on the seat, laughing in a rather improper manner.

“You want to possess your mentor, to have him all to yourself, don’t you?”

“……….!”

“Your ambitions are getting bigger and bigger, kid.”

Seeing Su Miao Miao’s cheeks almost blush into a rosy hue from his words, Shang Yan chuckled softly and leaned back.

“But the mentor is very satisfied, and also looking forward to…”

The echo lingered, filling the silence.

At this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Su Miao Miao couldn’t think of anything else; all she wanted to do now was find a crack to hide in.

*

Considering safety, transportation, and various other factors, the autumn outing organized by Sanzhong this time was kept very simple. It was a one-day and one-night camping trip to the nearby Pofu Mountain in the outskirts of City C.Pofu Mountain, although not a well-known attraction in City C, was a gentle slope on its sunny side, suitable for camping activities.

On its halfway up, there were large areas of grassland suitable for tourists to pitch tents and camp.

Two days in advance, the school had coordinated with the scenic area, booking a week-long autumn outing plan. On the first day of the week, the classes from the second year to the sixth year of high school arrived at the foot of Pofu Mountain by bus.

Even though they were all high school students now, and outdoor activities like this were rare, they were all excited. However, the situation remained fully under the control of the teacher.

The tent frames, canvases, and other camping necessities had already been sent up the mountain by the school in advance.

Therefore, the teachers only needed to count the number of students, remind them of the rules one last time, and then arrange for all students to head towards the halfway point together.

Naturally, the first group to arrive, on the first bus, led the way.

The slope was gentle, and Su Miao Miao walked empty-handed, glancing anxiously back every few steps.

After being stared at countless times, Shang Yan couldn’t help it anymore. He stopped his conversation with Li Zhe and the others, and turned to Su Miao Miao with a half-smile.

“Is the mentor handsome?”

“……”

Su Miao Miao felt her face flush from his teasing tone. She wanted to turn her head away and ignore him, but halfway through, she couldn’t bear it and turned back.

“I’ll carry my backpack myself, it’s a bit heavy…”

Weighing the blue backpack in her hand, Shang Yan chuckled softly.

“Is this considered heavy?”

Su Miao Miao frowned, looking at him disapprovingly.

“Not heavy?”

Shang Yan was amused by the girl’s serious expression.

“Well,” he cooperated, “it’s heavy.”

The flower-like crease between Su Miao Miao’s eyebrows softened, and her slender white hand reached out.

…

Her voice was soft, with a hint of unconscious satisfaction in her tone.

“So let me carry it.”

Shang Yan extended his left hand as if to hand her the bag. Seeing the girl actually reach out to take it, he couldn’t help but smile.

With a flick of his right hand in the air, he effortlessly changed positions, lifting the blue backpack onto his shoulder with one hand.

Seeing the girl still extending her hand and looking at him blankly, Shang Yan chuckled softly.

“It is indeed heavy. So how about you carry the bag, and I carry you?”

“……….”

At this point, Su Miao Miao was no longer clueless about being teased.

She glared angrily at Shang Yan and then turned her head to walk ahead.

Shang Yan stood still, smiling softly.

Li Zhe, who had been observing the whole time, walked over with a sly smile. “Brother Yan, why do you always tease little Su and make her angry?

“……”

Shang Yan glanced at him, disdainfully laughing.

Carrying the two backpacks, he walked towards the petite figure, leaving behind his lazy and flirtatious tone—

“This is called having a sense of humor, you wouldn’t understand.

“Li Zhe: “……….”

Beast!

….

The school had prepared small tents, each for two people.

Furthermore, with the class teacher Li Shijie’s instruction, the only person who knew about Su Miao Miao’s illness, Wen Susu, was assigned to take care of her. So, when the groups were announced, Su Miao Miao found out that she was grouped with Wen Susu.

Originally, Su Miao Miao had hoped to share a tent with Qi Wenyue and Liao Lanxin. Disappointed with the outcome, she lowered her eyes.Shang Yan, who was standing not far from her, caught sight of this. He smiled and stepped closer, bending down beside the girl.

“What’s wrong? Disappointed you’re not in the same group as your mentor?”

Su Miao Miao was taken aback, then turned to look at the much taller boy beside her.

“Can boys and girls be in the same group?”

This offbeat question made Shang Yan sigh inwardly.

“No, they can’t.”

Su Miao Miao: “……”

She belatedly realized: this person was teasing her again.

Pouting for several seconds, the girl gave Shang Yan a disdainful glance.

“Shang Yan Luo.”

With that, she didn’t dare to linger for another second and turned to slip away.

Shang Yan remained in that bent posture for a moment, then smiled.

Beside him, Li Zhe, who was grouped with Shang Yan, listened in astonishment for a while before turning to look at Shang Yan.

“Little Su acts like that, and you’re not angry, Brother Yan?… Aren’t you the one who hates being called that the most?”

“She’s different.”

Li Zhe: “……….”

Wasn’t he just asking for it?

After staring at the petite figure for a while, Shang Yan stifled a chuckle in his throat and lowered his eyes.

“When she calls me ‘Shang Yan Luo,’ she’s actually expressing something similar to ‘bastard’.”

Li Zhe: “……….”

Li Zhe: “???”

Shang Yan, can you still laugh at this?

Unable to comprehend, Li Zhe sighed, “Brother Yan, I’ll go find another group to share a tent with. I’ll leave this one for you here.”

“Okay.”

Shang Yan replied absentmindedly, staying in place for a few seconds before following his heart’s guidance and walking towards where the girl had left.

Li Zhe sighed and went back to the new tent he had found to share with another group.

Two boys were setting up the tent, and one of them, squatting down, looked up as Li Zhe approached.

“Li Zhe, what’s wrong? You look so downcast.”

Li Zhe: “My feelings are complicated, hard to put into words.”

“Why don’t you speak out a bit more then?”

After hesitating for a while, Li Zhe still felt the need to vent. He squatted down next to the tent, helping to fasten the canvas, while feeling helpless.

“I’ve known Brother Yan for so long, I’ve only seen others fawning over him, when have I ever seen Brother Yan fawn over someone else.”

The person beside him choked, realizing this was an answer he shouldn’t have known.

But he couldn’t resist his curiosity and whispered,

“What about now, have you seen it?”

Li Zhe rubbed his forehead, “I damn near see Da Bao every day now.”

“…”

When Su Miao Miao arrived at the camping site for her group, according to the number she had been given, she found that at position 18, there were only scattered tent frames and canvases that hadn’t been touched yet.

Su Miao Miao was puzzled by these unfamiliar items when a figure walked up behind her.

Wen Susu stopped in her tracks, looking at Su Miao Miao with a complex expression.

“I still need to check on the lunch preparations for our class later. You can start setting up the tent here for now.”

Before Su Miao Miao could speak, Wen Susu frowned and added, “Don’t accuse me of bullying you— you set up half of the tent, and I’ll do the rest when I come back.”

As rumors spread about Shang Yan and Su Miao Miao’s master-disciple relationship, Su Miao Miao had grown accustomed to Wen Susu’s now openly indifferent attitude. Upon hearing Wen Susu’s words, she simply nodded lightly and lowered her eyes to start setting up the tent frames.

However, just as she picked up one of the metal poles, she heard Wen Susu, who was standing behind her, call out softly, “Shang Yan!”

Su Miao Miao instinctively stopped her movement and was about to turn her head back to look. But before she could, Shang Yan, who was facing the direction of the light, had already squatted down beside her.

Shang Yan gently pried open the girl’s slender fingers and took out the cold metal pole.

He furrowed his brow slightly.

“Is being a master like being dead?”

“Huh?”

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t you let me come over and help you set up?”

“……”

Su Miao Miao felt a bit embarrassed by his attentiveness and lowered her head.

“I can figure it out by myself.”

Shang Yan chuckled softly, teasing her.

“With your physics score of 48?”

Su Miao Miao: “…………….”

Today, the relationship between master and disciple comes to an end here, with gratitude and loyalty broken!

Seeing the sulky expression on the girl’s face, Shang Yan’s eyes flickered mischievously. He reached out and lightly pinched the girl’s cheek.

The soft and delicate touch seeped into his fingertips, sending a tingling sensation that spread all the way to the depths of his heart.

They both froze for a moment, the pincher and the pinched.

Meanwhile, standing a meter away, Wen Susu’s expression became even more unpleasant.

With a resentful glare at Su Miao Miao’s back, she angrily walked over and forcefully grabbed one of the canvas pieces on the ground.

“I’ll help you guys.”

She said expressionlessly.

“……”

Shang Yan turned around, a momentary hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

He glanced at Wen Susu and smirked lightly, his smile tinged with mockery.

“Captain Wen is busy with a thousand tasks a day, I dare not trouble her.”

“……”

Wen Susu’s face turned pale.

Her hand, reaching out for the canvas, stayed frozen for a long time as she stared at Shang Yan.

However, the boy seemed to have completely ignored her existence after speaking, not even glancing at her from start to finish, not even with his peripheral vision.

Not even a glance.

Wen Susu tightly bit her lip, the color draining from her face. After a while, feeling embarrassed, she stood up abruptly and walked away briskly.

Only the two of them remained in place.

The air fell into a silent stillness, with the wind blowing gently through the wilderness.

Su Miao Miao, head bowed, suddenly heard a casual question from the opposite side, delivered in an equally indifferent tone:

“Would you think I’m being too much?”

Su Miao Miao: “?”

“Just now, with Wen Susu, and before that with Shu Wei.” Shang Yan paused his movements, staring unwaveringly into the girl’s eyes.

“Would you think I’m too much, so you want to avoid me?”

Su Miao Miao lowered her head, whispering softly: “I know.”

“Know what?”

“…It’s because of me that you acted that way, even during that P.E. class,” Su Miao Miao repeated quietly, “I know it all.”

Shang Yan froze.

His gaze slowly became complex, with some buried emotions surfacing within. After a moment, he lowered his eyelids, veiling the gleam in his eyes.

On his clear and assertive profile, the smile returned, careless and mischievous.

“What would you do to repay me?”

Su Miao Miao: ?

This time it was Su Miao Miao’s turn to be stunned.

Shang Yan patiently “explained” to her, “Since you know I did everything for you, how will you repay me?”

Su Miao Miao: “…It’s not right to repay kindness with ulterior motives.”

“I don’t understand.”

Shang Yan remained unabashed, asking with a clear conscience.

Su Miao Miao: “…”

Unable to contend with his shamelessness, Su Miao Miao could only lower her head and softly ask, “Then how should I repay you?”

“…”

Shang Yan chuckled.His tongue swept over his palate, a low chuckle escaping his throat.

“It’s chilly tonight, and I’m lacking a warm bed.”

“…”

Su Miao Miao looked at him blankly and bewilderedly.

After a few seconds, it seemed that the girl finally slowly comprehended something from his words. A rosy blush, like pink petals, climbed from her white neck to her charming and beautiful cheeks.

“Shang Yan, you—you…”

The rest of her words just couldn’t come out, Su Miao Miao was extremely annoyed.

Without thinking, she grabbed the hand of the boy hanging in front of his knees, wanting to bite down hard on the fair and slender wrist bone.

But just as she was about to bite down, she hesitated.

What if, what if she bites too hard and breaks the skin…In that instant, Shang Yan had already understood what the girl wanted to do.

He didn’t dodge, nor did he pull his hand back.

He just raised the corner of his mouth, looking at Su Miao Miao from the side—

“Go ahead, bite.”

“…”

“Bite harder.”

“…”

Seeing the girl still silent, not making any move, just flushing her lovely face.

Shang Yan lowered his voice, leaned closer, and chuckled softly.

“If you can leave a scar with your bite, consider it a seal.”

“With the seal, your master will belong only to you in the future… isn’t that nice?”