Chapter 100: At the Height of Fashion

Qin Yiren’s slight smile faded, quickly replaced by a dazzling grin. “Let go of what? Or should I ask, what have I ever done? Xue’er, while my methods may be unscrupulous at times, I do have principles.”

Ah, morality and law—are they truly the same?

Qin Yiren brushed her tresses behind her ear in a lithe, graceful motion. Diamond studs glittered on her lobes, matching the dazzling bracelet on her wrist as they caught the fading sunrays.

Mi Xue’er’s gaze was transfixed by the diamonds, a flicker of envy crossing her eyes.

Qin Yiren scoffed derisively and retracted her bejeweled hand. “Why would I stoop to covet another woman’s sloppy seconds when I can have my pick of men?” she asked coldly.

With that scathing remark, she sashayed off to rejoin the group, leaving Mi Xue’er to sulk alone in the corner.

The barbecue stretched from afternoon into dusk. Bi Qiao’an mentally counted her grilled indulgences: eggplant, string beans, meat skewers, lamb, ribs, fish, and shrimp. She felt content and grateful. Thankfully, their ample supply of grills and charcoal in the space made planning another gathering easy.

After their feast, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an packed away their supplies and headed to the parking lot.

A quick glance at the time showed it was 8 PM. Shen Yanming took her to the supermarket for a few beers and sodas, then rented a lounge chair from the management office.

By the time they returned to the campsite, their friends were seated in a circle, engrossed in a game of “Truth or Dare” on their phones.

Shen Yanming set up the lounge chair beside their tent, and he and Bi Qiao’an found a spot to join the next round. This simple yet entertaining game could be enjoyed by all, and often revealed interesting secrets.

Bi Qiao’an found herself playfully interrogated about her relationship with Shen Yanming, her laughter echoing alongside Yu Shui and Li Zhaozhao’s teasing.

A cool evening breeze swept in, raising goosebumps on Bi Qiao’an’s arms. Shen Yanming instinctively retrieved a jacket from their tent and draped it over her shoulders.

Bi Qiao’an thanked him with a smile, snuggling closer.

Their affectionate display made everyone else suddenly realize how chilly the night had become. They quickly returned to their tents to change into long sleeves and pants. Ha, Director Zhu’s reminder had certainly been timely!

Seeing the once tightly-clustered group disperse, Bi Qiao’an whispered to Shen Yanming, “Do you think they grew taller too?”

Shen Yanming shook his head with an amused smile. “Whether they grew or not, I think we’re quite lucky that the oversized clothes we bought abroad have come in so handy!”

Bi Qiao’an gave Shen Yanming a finger heart gesture. “My little brother is truly a reincarnated golden son!”

A few minutes later, Bi Qiao’an noticed everyone emerging from their tents, all looking rather sheepish. She and Shen Yanming couldn’t help but burst into laughter when they saw the sea of cropped pants, making the capri crew even more embarrassed.

“What’s so funny? Is there something hilarious here that would make you cackle like a shrimp, Old Shen?” Li Zhaozhao feigned nonchalance, seeing they were all in the same predicament. After all, who could be more awkward than the other?

Yu Shui didn’t seem bothered either, laughing as he shook his legs and wiggled his ankles. “Look at us! We’ve unintentionally reached the height of fashion!^[1]Yes, this double pun. Awesome, my fellow trendsetters!”

“You’re right! You all look super trendy and fashionable!” Bi Qiao’an laughed, giving them a double finger-heart gesture above her head.

As everyone resettled, Li Zhaozhao slung an arm around Shen Yanming. “Spill it. Why aren’t you rocking the capri look too?”

Indeed, ever since arriving at Qingli Mountain, Shen Yanming had been wearing long pants. The temperature at Qingli Mountain was quite high during the day, almost like summer, so everyone else was in shorts and short sleeves. Now, the secret of the pants was revealed.

Seeing Shen Yanming’s surly expression, Bi Qiao’an piped up, “He modeled them for me at home. Hehe, he looked so handsome! But they weren’t his style, so I could only find him a pair that was the right length.”

Shen Yanming shot Li Zhaozhao a disdainful glance, shrugging off his buddy’s arm. “So, just how much did you grow?”

“Who knows? Maybe three or four centimeters? If everyone’s pants weren’t so short, you probably wouldn’t even notice.”

“Heh, shorty!” Shen Yanming teased Li Zhaozhao.

But Li Zhaozhao puffed out his chest proudly. “Have you ever seen a shorty like me? I’m at least 182 cm tall!”

Bi Qiao’an shook with suppressed laughter in Shen Yanming’s embrace, and even he couldn’t help but smile. Of their friend group, Li Zhaozhao had always been the most compact and endured endless teasing about it. This sudden growth spurt clearly delighted him.

Only after everyone shared their experiences did they learn the men had all grown three to five centimeters taller, while the women’s heights remained largely unchanged. However, married men felt their wives’ figures had become more slender and shapely.

Li Zhaozhao mumbled, “What kind of apocalyptic paradise is this? It feels like the heavens are showering us with gifts!”

Shen Yanming’s smile vanished, and he shot Li Zhaozhao a cold look. “Idiot!”

Indeed, the thought was foolish. Didn’t he realize there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Didn’t he wonder what price they might pay for this unexpected windfall?

At 9:30 PM, the field loudspeaker crackled to life.

“Attention, guests preparing to watch the meteor shower. To enhance your experience, Qingli Mountain Scenic Area will turn off the field lights at 10 PM sharp. Please prepare accordingly, secure your valuables, and be cautious when moving around. Security personnel will patrol the field overnight. Guests in need of assistance may call the logistics service center.”

After the broadcast, everyone hurried to gather their belongings. The charcoal in the grills had long since burned out, leaving piles of bamboo skewers, watermelon rinds, and drink bottles from the group’s gathering.

Director Zhu called over a few people to dispose of the garbage and return the grills to the management office. By the time they returned, it was almost lights out.

Shen Yanming led Bi Qiao’an to a lounger and covered her with a light blanket.

“Old Shen is truly impressive! Look at his thorough preparations and attentive service. Tsk tsk tsk, Qiao’an, you’re so lucky!” Seeing this, Li Zhaozhao couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy.

“Hehe, my Old Shen is just average. He’s a bit taller, a bit more handsome, and a bit wealthier. But to me, he’s simply more obedient, more thoughtful, more gentle, and most importantly, he loves me a little bit more!” Qiao’an deliberately flaunted her happiness in front of Li Zhaozhao, acting like a smug little kitten.

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