Chapter 52: Temporary Babysitter

The twins were crammed into a jeep, exchanging nervous glances. Shen Yu hadn’t said a word, letting the situation unfold without a fight.

The convoy descended the mountain, the other vehicles heading back towards the city. The jeep veered right at a fork in the road, separating from the group.

The twins, realizing something was amiss, grew anxious. “What are you doing? Where are you taking us?”

The vehicle navigated a winding mountain road, deeper into the mountains. The path narrowed and grew rougher, eventually turning into a bumpy dirt track.

This mountain was wilder than Dongyu Mountain, untouched by development. Dense forests blocked out the sun, and there wasn’t even a flat patch of ground, let alone a campsite. Only the most adventurous backpackers ventured here.

The jeep stopped in a completely unfamiliar part of the forest. Yue Zifeng tossed the twins and their luggage out, clapping his hands.

“Never been here, have you? I haven’t either. Time to test your sense of direction.”

The twins immediately understood his intentions. “You can’t leave us here!”

“We’ve never been here, who knows what kind of snakes or wolves are lurking around? This deep forest is dangerous. We’re two girls, how can we spend the night in the mountains?”

Shen Yu, clad in hiking gear, remained as refined and elegant as ever, but his voice was icy. “Xiao Jiu can spend the night in the mountains, why can’t you?”

The twins were close to tears. “It was all Manman’s fault we got in this situation. We really don’t dare do it again. Please! I’ll be respectful to Ms. Song from now on, I won’t say anything bad anymore!”

Shen Yu remained unmoved. “Why did she hit you last time? What did you say to her?”

The twins’ eyes flickered, their hearts pounding with guilt, unable to answer.

Shen Yu said, “Do I need to pry it out of your mouths?”

Seeing Yue Zifeng pick up a stick, the two girls quickly confessed. “We just, said a few things… “

Then, trembling with fear, they repeated what they had said about Song Leyan, carefully omitting the most offensive parts, in front of Shen Yu.

The wind rustled the leaves, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. Shen Yu’s face, shrouded in the forest’s shadows, was cold as Shuangxu.

Yue Zifeng was furious. “They’re not real siblings, but they might as well be. Don’t use your disgusting, filthy eyes to insult them! Damn it, I should have ripped your mouths apart!”

“The mountain road will be closed for three days. No one will come here. After three days, you can try to see if you can make it back to Yancheng.”

Shen Yu didn’t waste any more time on them, turning and getting back into the car.

This place was almost 70 kilometers from the city, with a winding mountain road. They were truly in the middle of nowhere. The girls cried, pounding on the car door. “We have no food or water. You’re leaving us here, we’ll die!”

“Three days, you won’t die!” Yue Zifeng said viciously. “There’s plenty of water on this mountain, drink whenever you’re thirsty. If you’re hungry, go into the bamboo forest and look around, maybe you’ll find a bamboo snake. String it up and roast it. You’re even more poisonous than it, eat it and use poison to fight poison, maybe you’ll be cured.”

He slammed the car window shut and sped off.

As they drove down the mountain, Yue Zifeng grumbled. “It’s all that idiot Song Leyan’s fault, spreading rumors like a crazy person! The Song family doesn’t know how to raise kids, they raised a moron. If she were my sister, I’d slap her silly!”

Shen Yu remained silent. Yue Zifeng, seeing him rub his temples, shut his mouth.

He Tingzhou, still sick, leaned back in his seat, eyes closed. Left Zhong was driving.

Shuangxu was playing on her phone. After a while, she heard He Tingzhou’s hoarse voice ask, “Do you have any water?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Left Zhong, while driving, handed him a bottle of purified water.

He Tingzhou didn’t take it. “I want hot water.”

“I forgot you had a fever.” Left Zhong wasn’t the type to always keep a thermos handy, and He Tingzhou wasn’t the kind of person who drank hot water. He hadn’t brought one when he got in the car.

“Then hold on a bit, we’ll be there in less than an hour.”

He Tingzhou didn’t respond. Shuangxu felt a pair of eyes on her, turned, and met his gaze for a few seconds.

Silently, she handed him the thermos from her bag. It was the one Shen Yu had packed for her.

The young master still didn’t take it, saying with a straight face, “It’s hot.”

Such a pain. Shuangxu had no choice but to pour the hot water into the lid, blew on it a few times, and when it felt lukewarm, handed it to him.

He Tingzhou finally lifted his delicate hand, took the lid, and sipped it slowly. It was probably still a bit hot, he frowned, but didn’t complain further, and continued to drink leisurely.

After finishing the cup, he returned the lid to Shuangxu. “I’m hungry.”

Left Zhong said, “I have energy bars here, do you want some?”

He Tingzhou: “Too dry.”

“Bread?”

“Not fresh.”

“Bananas, apples, oranges?”

“No.”

Left Zhong sighed. “What do you want to eat then, my lord?”

That pair of eyes landed on Shuangxu again. Staring.

She was helpless. “I don’t have anything to eat.”

He Tingzhou condescended. “Then peel me an orange.”

“…”

Shuangxu had no choice but to take the orange and peel it for him.

She had always been the one taken care of by Shen Yu, but now she was his temporary babysitter, forced to serve him dutifully for half an hour.

When they reached the toll booth, Lu Manman came over from another car, tapped on the window, and got into the passenger seat.

“Where did Shen Yu take them?”

“Don’t worry.” Left Zhong, with his usual good-natured tone, said, “No killing, no dumping bodies. We’re a society ruled by law.”

She knew Shen Yu would give them a lesson, Lu Manman remained silent for a moment. “Should I have been in that car?”

Left Zhong saw that she was in a bad mood and tried to comfort her. “What are you thinking? That incident –>>

“It doesn’t matter to you, we have so many people here, how could they frame you?”

“Zifeng didn’t tell me you were going to give me the ring,” Lu Manman said to Shuangxu, “I didn’t know you had it.”

Zuo Zhong, who was driving, looked at her in surprise, “Then what did your sister and Zifeng say just now…”

He understood halfway through, they were helping her save face.

Shuangxu remained impassive, “Take the stairs when they’re offered, what are you talking about?”

“Why do you believe me?” Lu Manman was like a stubborn little girl, “Your brother doesn’t believe me.”

“I didn’t say I believed you. I’m just giving your cousin face.”

After Shuangxu finished speaking, He Tingzhou lifted his eyelids and glanced at her.

She didn’t notice and continued, “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to save face, my brother would be caught in the middle, and Tingzhou would be in a difficult position. It’s not good for anyone if it gets so ugly.”

“Why am I in a difficult position?” He Tingzhou asked.

“She’s your cousin, if it gets out of hand, you’ll definitely have to protect her.”

“Why would I protect her?” He Tingzhou’s cold and ruthless tone didn’t reveal any brotherly affection, “I’m weak and frail, unable to fight, I can’t protect such a big blind person.”

“…”

You can’t fight a chicken, but you can fight a poisonous snake.

Lu Manman puffed out her cheeks and sulked for a while, but she knew he was right.

“Alright, I’m responsible for the friends I make.” She turned to Shuangxu, “But I really didn’t tell them to bully you. Do you believe me?”

Shuangxu looked at her for a moment, Lu Manman’s eyes were sincere and honest.

She had interacted with Lu Manman a few times and could tell what kind of person she was. She was well protected by her family, innocent and cheerful, she knew the world but was not worldly.

She did have some jealousy towards Shuangxu, but she always spoke her mind.

Shuangxu said, “I never suspected you.”

Lu Manman immediately pouted, looking like she was about to cry.

“Don’t cry,” Shuangxu said again, “I don’t believe in your character, I just think you’re not that stupid.”

Even if she stayed out overnight, what good would it do? Shen Yu would definitely be heartbroken if he found out, or he would discover she was missing that night, even if it wasn’t raining, he would still affect the proposal ceremony to find her.

For Lu Manman, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Compared to these petty tricks, Lu Manman should want to witness the happiness of Shen Yu and her with her own eyes.

“It’s the same, anyway you believe me.” Lu Manman understood.

The car drove to Songming Road, when Shuangxu got out of the car, Lu Manman followed and hugged her.

The highly anticipated proposal was ruined, and she was almost framed. Although Shen Yu didn’t blame her, his attitude made her very sad.

When she was being doubted, the person she loved the most didn’t stand by her side and support her. The only person who believed her was Shuangxu.

She sniffed and said in a choked voice, “Xiao Jiu, thank you.”