Chapter 82

Yan Qingqiu liked both of them but was too shy to say so, which was why she was letting Song Qingre pick now. In a way, she thought she was pretty clever for handing the decision over to Song Qingre.

Yan Qingqiu loved teasing Song Qingre. She wasn't afraid of the cold, wearing only a pink leather jacket over her swimsuit. She sat on the bed with her long legs crossed, while Song Qingre dangled a small white garment from her finger, swinging it back and forth. It accidentally fell to the floor, so she leaned over to fix Yan Qingqiu's band-aid.

The band-aid had indeed gotten a bit damp. Song Qingre asked, "Did it rub off?"

"Guess?" Yan Qingqiu raised an eyebrow at her.

She lifted her leg, knowing full well Song Qingre was kneeling on the bed to tend to her, and deliberately pressed her foot against Song Qingre's lower belly before pinching her thigh with her toes. The band-aid she'd applied that morning wobbled.

Song Qingre pushed her leg away to stop her interference, but Yan Qingqiu braced herself on her hands, lifted her chin, and the pink down jacket began to slip off her body.

Song Qingre narrowed her eyes. Without any gentleness, she yanked the band-aid off in one swift motion.

"Ow... Can't you be more careful? What if you tear it off?"

When Song Qingre had applied it, one strip was horizontal and the other vertical. The pink one she'd put on earlier had strawberry prints on it. The other strip was still firmly applied vertically.

Yan Qingqiu said, "Do you smell medicine?"

Song Qingre tossed the band-aid into the trash, then leaned in close, looking down as she carefully peeled off the second one.

Just as Yan Qingqiu was about to ask again, Song Qingre wiped the area with a wet wipe, then bit her—her tongue swirling around like a snake. She tasted it and said, "It's that kind that's really popular right now... creamy strawberry."

Yan Qingqiu didn't dare mess around anymore. She sat up straight and pushed Song Qingre away first, but Song Qingre didn't let go. Yan Qingqiu gritted her teeth.

Yan Qingqiu winced, knowing she'd stirred up trouble. She returned to her earlier question, "The color—hurry up and choose."

Yan Qingqiu was indecisive by nature, but Song Qingre didn't respond. She bit her lower lip and, through her breathing, kept urging Song Qingre to hurry, hurry, hurry and pick. She lifted her upper body, repeatedly pressing for an answer.

Song Qingre's teeth nearly clacked against her lips. The injury Yan Qingqiu had suffered earlier definitely wasn't solely Song Qingre's fault—Yan Qingqiu bore some responsibility too, because she never knew when to hold back.

Song Qingre's lips were wet as she gently pressed them against Yan Qingqiu's mouth, while her hand heavily wiped away the remaining strawberry scent from the band-aid. Yan Qingqiu let out a muffled moan from the kiss and asked, "What color do you actually like?"

Song Qingre asked, "Are you telling me to take both?"

"That's not what I meant." Yan Qingqiu let out a low whimper, covering Song Qingre's hand with her fingers. "You haven't been talking to me all day—just calls. I didn't get a chance to tell you: it's really itchy. I wanted to change the band-aid."

Song Qingre said, "I didn't see it."

She parted Yan Qingqiu's lips, checked the earlier wound, which had mostly healed, and kissed her while saying, "And I didn't see you scratching either."

Yan Qingqiu didn't argue. She pushed Song Qingre away, leaned over her, and pattered her hands against Song Qingre's face. Song Qingre exhaled, and Yan Qingqiu's hair swayed with her movements. Song Qingre grabbed her waist and begged for mercy: "Black."

"Knew you'd like that one."

Yan Qingqiu looked down at her, said she was going to change, but Song Qingre was biting her. Yan Qingqiu reminded her, "I don't want a band-aid tomorrow."

"And I don't want you changing colors either."

The ambiguous atmosphere grew thicker. The firewood in the fireplace crackled, and the two of them fell silent, leaving only the white noise of the flames. The tension between them was so tight it felt like the wind sweeping over snow-covered fields, fingers threading through the dark forest, stirring a clear pool of moonlight.

"Cold?"

"Mm..."

··

The next day, everyone was switching islands for more fun.

They all woke up naturally and packed their things. Yan Qingqiu also stayed in bed for a while after waking up, then sat up to get dressed. She'd had a lot of physical activity these past few nights, so she'd slept well and felt full of energy.

Since they probably wouldn't return to this island, they packed up all their clothes.

Yan Qingqiu got dressed and saw Song Qingre packing away her black swimsuit, pinching it between her fingers, rubbing the fabric with her thumb. Her eyes darkened slightly, as if lost in thought.

Yan Qingqiu felt her expression was up to no good, and a tingle went through her.

Song Qingre glanced at her—of course, she was recalling how Yan Qingqiu had bounced around in that swimsuit—and said, "Let's see if we can return it. Isn't there a seven-day no-reason return?"

"..."

Yan Qingqiu reminded Song Qingre, "Later, make sure you throw it away."

Song Qingre said, "No problem. I think it can still be worn. No rush to toss it."

Yan Qingqiu initially thought about snatching it back, but then decided that wouldn't be smart. She said softly, "If you don't throw it away for me, I'll wear this one for the rest of my life."

"...Are you threatening me now?" Song Qingre looked down at her and asked in return.

Yan Qingqiu stood up directly, towering over Song Qingre from the bed, and said with her head lowered, "No, I'm just stating the facts, trying to fix your bad habit of being overly frugal."

Song Qingre sighed—after all, a swimsuit couldn't be worn forever—and continued folding the other clothes. Yan Qingqiu scooted over to her again, stepping on the bed with her feet, her toes pressing into the quilt, and said, "Get my shoes for me."

Her feet were really mischievous. She hadn't learned her lesson even after the hot spring incident; she'd take any chance to step on Song Qingre, leaving a few wrinkles in Song Qingre's perfectly ironed pants.

Yan Qingqiu sat on the edge of the bed, and Song Qingre brought out her combat boots. "You might be hot when we get there, so just wear a down jacket over your swimsuit."

Yan Qingqiu took off the sweater she'd just put on and changed into the other swimsuit. Fortunately, that one wasn't torn. After changing, she got off the bed and slipped the down jacket over it.

Song Qingre was about to help her put on her shoes, but Yan Qingqiu bent down, took the shoes from her, and put them on herself. She looked up and saw Song Qingre staring blankly.

"What now?" Yan Qingqiu asked.

Song Qingre looked at her for a moment without speaking, her gaze slipping through the opening of Yan Qingqiu's collar, thinking to herself: pink suits her too.

Yan Qingqiu went to the bathroom to wash up, and Song Qingre zipped up the suitcase.

Yan Qingqiu brushed her teeth first, holding the toothbrush in her mouth as she reminded Song Qingre, who came in after her: "Don't forget to throw away that black one for me."

Afraid she wouldn't listen, she gave her a fierce glare.

She mumbled through the toothbrush, "I'll buy those sexy lingerie pieces for you later, even better than that one."

"Yesterday's was already nice."

Yan Qingqiu was very fair, and the black swimsuit hugged her body closely, even though it was new, the fabric clung softly from all directions.

The edges were black lace with petal patterns, the barely-there fabric transparent like wings, and if you poked at it lightly, the butterfly's antennae would detach from the flower.

"You bought that swimsuit... for me on purpose," Song Qingre said. "Both of them?"

"Mm..." Yan Qingqiu nodded, whispering, "I felt like you'd like it, so I bought them secretly." She added in a hushed voice, "There are butterflies."

Butterflies.

Song Qingre's fingers brushed her down jacket.

She tugged at the thin strap on her shoulder inside, tied in a little bow, pulling it repeatedly without letting go.

Song Qingre pinched the butterfly's wings. The butterfly was well-behaved, not fluttering away suddenly, not struggling much either.

Song Qingre kissed the gland on the back of her neck, kneading her "wings" over and over.

Yan Qingqiu was glad she was just wearing the down jacket—it made things convenient. She had no choice but to hurry up and finish brushing, then kiss her back. They kissed several times in the bathroom.

Ye Sichun called to tell them to come out. Song Qingre held her phone, glanced at Yan Qingqiu sitting on the sink. Yan Qingqiu narrowed her eyes. "Pass me a tissue, and I'll clean up."

Yan Qingqiu wiped the toothpaste foam stains on her collar herself, but Song Qingre still helped her, dabbing at the damp spots. Yan Qingqiu slid off the counter, picked up her clothes from the sink, and put them on. She bent over, frowning at Song Qingre, feeling a bit annoyed—how could this woman look like a refined scoundrel, her own pink swimsuit already undone while Song Qingre remained neat and tidy?

"You can't do this anymore. You need to be more involved," Yan Qingqiu said.

"Mm, makes sense." Song Qingre smoothed her hair in the mirror. "I'll listen to you."

Yan Qingqiu got her promise and quickly got herself together.

Song Qingre tilted her head and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

"A little, but much better now." Yan Qingqiu said seriously, "Anyway, I'm not wearing a band-aid today. We're definitely going swimming today, and it would be so embarrassing if someone saw it."

With that, she left the bathroom, waited for Song Qingre to come out, and helped carry the suitcase. Su Xingjie was staying on the second floor, and she had a lot of stuff—two suitcases.

Su Xingjie wasn't as quick at packing as they were.

After finishing her own, Yan Qingqiu went over to help carry Su Xingjie's suitcases to the door. The three from next door also came out. Xia Chunnong and Luo Xi were pinching at each other's clothes, as if admiring each other's swimsuits.

"Ready?" Song Qingre asked.

Ye Sichun closed the trunk and hummed in response.

The two islands were a fair distance apart. As they drove away, the snow on the ground thinned rapidly, gradually revealing sparse vegetation underneath. The car drove on, and roadside flowers and plants grew more abundant. Passing through a green tree-lined path, the temperature inside the car rose, and when the car stopped, they changed inside.

Yan Qingqiu felt hot, so she stripped down to just her swimsuit, then felt cold again.

Song Qingre watched from the rearview mirror as Yan Qingqiu hugged her arms.

After that, she drove fast—almost racing—and reached the other island in ten minutes.

Yan Qingqiu didn't get out. She looked out the window and saw a few tall trees by the roadside, with three or four coconuts hanging high from the branches.

Su Xingjie arrived first. Being wise, she'd worn a thin shirt, buttoned neatly, revealing a blue swimsuit underneath.

"Tsk, tempting," Yan Qingqiu commented as she opened the car door.

Su Xingjie was rolling up her sleeves. At the comment, she raised her eyes and extended her wrist. When Yan Qingqiu came over, she poked her forehead with her finger. "Shameless. You're even sizing up your own best friend." She squinted, put on her sunglasses, and said, "You look pretty sexy in that swimsuit."

Yan Qingqiu felt a bit shy at the compliment. "I was just complimenting you. I'm not being perverted right now—I'll save that for the water later."

Su Xingjie laughed, clicked her tongue softly, knowing she meant to check out the girls in the water. After a while, the others who'd been taking photos arrived. Everyone else wore shirts underneath, and only Yan Qingqiu was in just her swimsuit.

Luo Xi exclaimed in surprise, "You're that wild? You just stripped off? Aren't we going to eat first?"

"Ah..." Yan Qingqiu looked around, a bit embarrassed, but when she saw Luo Xi, she put on a brave front. "It's fine. I've got big boobs, and I think I look super sexy like this. Look at my swimsuit—there's a little bow in the middle. Pretty, right? My chest is nice and round, and..."

Before she could finish, a black coat was draped over her.

Yan Qingqiu tugged at the black coat, smoothing it down with her fingers pressing on the black buttons.

"Mine are big too, but I'm not a model. What do I need that size for?" Luo Xi gritted her teeth and turned her back, thinking: You're truly shameless. Yesterday when you cried, I even handed you a tissue, and now this. It's infuriating.

Yan Qingqiu, wearing Song Qingre's black coat, sauntered over again to Luo Xi, who didn't even want to talk to her. But Yan Qingqiu still squeezed in next to her. "Did you get a massage yesterday?"

Luo Xi was stunned by her audacity—how could she just ask that straight out?

Yan Qingqiu added, "Honestly, I think you've changed today."

Luo Xi was doubtful but couldn't help asking, "Really?"

"You really got Ye Sichun to help you?" Yan Qingqiu asked.

Luo Xi was silent for a few seconds, then shouted toward Song Qingre, "Sis, Yan Qingqiu says she's lonely, cold, and empty. She says you're useless and she wants to find eighteen women to mess around with in the pool."

"..." Yan Qingqiu was dumbfounded. What the hell was she spouting?

She was about to retort when someone grabbed her by the scruff of the neck. Song Qingre pinched the back of her neck and dragged her away. Yan Qingqiu was indignant and wanted to say more, but Song Qingre said, "That's enough. You're all bark and no bite. You can't outdo Luo Xi in teasing."

"How am I not better?"

Song Qingre asked, "What does she call me now?"

"Sis," Yan Qingqiu said, thinking she was being taken advantage of.

Song Qingre gave her a meaningful look, and Yan Qingqiu finally caught on. Luo Xi's shamelessness knew no bounds. Even when their relationship was so strained, she could still call her "Sis" without batting an eye.

Song Qingre said, "With that one call of 'Sis,' my negative feelings toward her dropped to zero. I don't dislike her anymore, and sometimes I even find her a bit cute."

Yan Qingqiu felt a twinge of jealousy at the word "cute."

"Besides, she dared to throw dog shit at Fu Ye's face. Would you?" Listening to her, you'd think Luo Xi had fed Fu Ye dog shit.

Yan Qingqiu had to admit it.

In some ways, she really wasn't as tough as Luo Xi.

She really was a vicious supporting character—full of schemes, either her brain wasn't turning or it was spinning at full speed. If it were her, she wouldn't have Luo Xi's ability.

Yan Qingqiu said, "I'll try not to clash with her, but if she provokes me, I'll definitely retaliate."

Song Qingre said helplessly, "Usually, it's you who does the provoking."

Yan Qingqiu pretended not to hear. She also found Luo Xi a bit cute and couldn't resist teasing her.

Wait, stop. Luo Xi cute, my ass.

Song Qingre took them to the hotel. This time, they'd booked a sea-view hotel, a five-star one here. The surroundings were beautiful. As they checked in, Yan Qingqiu was restless, glancing at Luo Xi. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt Luo Xi really had filled out more.

She whispered, "I'm telling you, those two—Luo Xi actually got Ye Sichun to massage her. She's really blown my mind."

Song Qingre grabbed her room key. The two of them shared a room, and Su Xingjie was next door.

Ye Sichun and the others were across the hall, each with their own room.

Yan Qingqiu stared at them, and Song Qingre leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Well, I've tasted you, and you fed it to me yourself."

Yan Qingqiu silently turned her head back and pushed her luggage into the room. Su Xingjie called a bellboy to help. Yan Qingqiu asked her, "Are you scared staying alone?"

"Not really," Su Xingjie said.

Xia Chunnong, who was in the room next to her, said, "If you're scared, I'll cancel my room later, and we can share. There's a suite with two bedrooms."

Su Xingjie was used to staying alone, but now that she was traveling, staying in a big suite with an empty space next door felt lonely. In the past, she'd always traveled with Qiang Wei. But after the last incident, she was wary and hadn't mentioned her itinerary.

And Xia Chunnong seemed genuinely afraid, so Su Xingjie didn't refuse. "Come over later. We'll share the suite."

Xia Chunnong hadn't checked in yet. She put her things by Su Xingjie's door, ready to go downstairs. Luo Xi noticed Yan Qingqiu had gone into her room and quickly followed Xia Chunnong.

Xia Chunnong immediately understood her intention—she too wanted to cancel her room. "Wow, sneaking around—how exciting! You girls are so good at this. You make living together feel like a secret affair."

··

Yan Qingqiu didn't need to change into her swimsuit again. She went inside and helped tidy up, waiting for Song Qingre to change. But the others called, saying they were hungry and would head out to eat first. Yan Qingqiu was too lazy to change into her swimsuit, so she grabbed a thin trench coat to wear over what she had.

Song Qingre sat on the sofa in the living room, looking at her tablet. Lately, she'd been observing Fu Sang unusually often, like a hunter watching her prey, checking which part of its flesh was thick and which was rich.

At first, Yan Qingqiu was a bit afraid of her, her instincts rejecting Song Qingre's presence. But now, she'd sneak up behind Song Qingre without thinking, placing her hands on her shoulders to startle her.

She wrapped her arms around Song Qingre's neck and asked, "How's it going?"

"Fu Sang's been trying to contact Su Xingjie recently. She wants to call her, but Su Xingjie changed her number, so she can't get through," Song Qingre said. "I'm waiting for my chance."

On the video, Fu Sang was sitting on a desk, talking to the System.

"Do you know where Su Xingjie is? How come she's disappeared?"

The System said, 【She's dead.】

【Are you kidding?】 Fu Sang was stunned.

The System said, 【Do you think, if she went out with Yan Qingqiu and Yan Qingqiu died, she'd be fine? There's no trace of her now.】

Fu Sang didn't believe it. The System said, 【I warned Yan Qingqiu before—if you provoke Song Qingre, your parents, friends, everyone around you will be killed. But she went her own way. Now I can't scan Su Xingjie's location, so most likely, she's met with misfortune.】

Fu Sang was furious. 【Are you kidding? Impossible!】

"She can't die!"

The System said, 【Yan Qingqiu completed the first stage earlier and got a reward but hasn't redeemed it yet. If you finish the ① of the second stage, I can use the rules to help you redeem a Su Xingjie. Earlier, Yan Qingqiu redeemed 365 Song Qingres.】

"365?" Fu Sang frowned. "What does she need that many for?"

The System said, 【For excitement. She messed around with those 365 wives every day, having eighteen people accompany her in one night. It's also because she didn't know how to hold back that she crashed our erotic game.】

Fu Sang's expression turned complicated. "In just a few months, she had 365? And she... crashed your system?"

【Why else do you think our system malfunctioned?】

There really was no other explanation. Fu Sang said, "Well, she must have a strong body. With all that, she still didn't die."

The video went silent after that. Yan Qingqiu hadn't heard anything important. She thought for a long time, came up with an answer, and looked at Song Qingre uncertainly. "Is the System spreading rumors about me?"

Song Qingre chuckled. "Don't know. Maybe."

The System and Fu Sang continued talking, but there was no audio.

Song Qingre said, "They're spreading rumors about you. Want to get back at them?"

"How?" Yan Qingqiu watched them.

Song Qingre said, "Go borrow Su Xingjie's phone and post a picture on her Weibo."

Yan Qingqiu got up and knocked on the door next door. She quickly returned with Su Xingjie's phone, with Su Xingjie following behind.

Su Xingjie asked, "Post what?"

Song Qingre said, "Post a scenery picture with a caption."

Song Qingre looked at Su Xingjie, and Su Xingjie generously handed her the phone. "You can write the caption directly."

Song Qingre took her phone and typed, pausing between phrases. Yan Qingqiu could guess what she was up to: creating conflict between the System and Fu Sang. The System was probably lying to Fu Sang to make her do the tasks.

Yan Qingqiu knew the System well. Its way of tempting people was to use the Host's deepest desires. So, was the System's reward to Fu Sang related to Xing Xing?

Fu Sang definitely wanted to have Su Xingjie.

That bitch. Shameless. A toad lusting after swan meat.

Yan Qingqiu looked at what Song Qingre had typed and said, "Maybe Xing Xing should post it herself. Your tone is a bit different from hers."

Song Qingre typed the final period: 【Out sightseeing, heard a mysterious story from the people of West Island. West Island was originally one island, warm all year round, until a visitor from outer space came. The visitor said: This world is too monotonous. I'll turn it into two faces. So the north became Snow Island, the south became Heat Island. This visitor is very mysterious. She can not only reshape the landscape but also change her appearance and take over others' identities. Since then, West Island has been split into two peninsulas to avoid her. Sometimes, rumors spread on this island about family members' personalities changing drastically. Who knows who she's silently replaced.】

Su Xingjie wasn't one for telling stories online. She was known for her cold, aloof persona, snapping at whoever annoyed her.

Posting that Weibo would make people suspect it wasn't her, wondering if she was hinting at something.

Fu Sang also saw the message and cursed angrily, throwing things around in her room.

"So you're lying to me, right? So you knew she wasn't dead, didn't you? At this rate, how can we trust each other?"

"You'll do anything for the mission, won't you?"

"Fine, fine! I don't want to do the mission! Stop forcing me!"

It was a mess—dog biting dog, indistinguishable who started it first, fur flying everywhere. Finally, the System said, 【Don't you want a Su Xingjie who obeys you? One who'll make you the center of her world like before? Host, don't try to test my limits.】

The group packed up and went out to eat, then headed to the nearby beach for fun. There were quite a few tourists, and the beach was crowded. They brought their own loungers and set them up right on the sand.

Yan Qingqiu actually wasn't a good swimmer. She'd never tried it in her previous world either.

She got into the water first, recalling what the Butler had told her—Miss Yan could swim.

She tried a couple of strokes in the water and immediately got it. It was like muscle memory. Yan Qingqiu soaked in the water, watching Song Qingre over there. She'd been swimming earlier and hadn't seen Song Qingre in her swimsuit. Now Song Qingre was standing in the water. Yan Qingqiu swam over slowly to Song Qingre's side without saying anything.

Yan Qingqiu stared at the water's surface. Song Qingre's swimsuit was the one Yan Qingqiu had bought—simple in style, nothing complicated. Her figure was great, and beneath the surface, the waves rippled over her body, very sexy.

Song Qingre was about to stand up, but Yan Qingqiu pushed her back down.

She wasn't willing to let someone else see such a beautiful Song Qingre.

Yan Qingqiu moved behind her and looked. At the base of her spine, there was an openwork design of black thread.

Really beautiful.

She reached out and touched it. "So sexy."

"Sexier than a model like you?" Song Qingre asked.

Since becoming a model, Yan Qingqiu hadn't paid much attention to her figure, but maybe because she got plenty of exercise in bed, her body was still in good shape. She swam around in the water for a while, droplets clinging to her skin, pressing up close to Song Qingre.

Song Qingre leaned back and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Yan Qingqiu knew what she meant. She pinched her butt and asked, "Does it hurt?"

"Ouch..." Song Qingre said, "It hurts. So does it hurt for darling's boobs?"

Yan Qingqiu called her shameless in a low voice and swam elsewhere. She saw Luo Xi tossing a few float rings over, so she casually paddled over, grabbed a red flamingo float, and lay on top of it. Suddenly, her butt was slapped. She turned and saw it was Song Qingre. "You're sticking it up so high."

Her waist was below the water. How was she sticking it up?

"Are you the one in heat?"

Yan Qingqiu kept swimming, using her flamingo to bump into Su Xingjie.

Su Xingjie had grabbed a Patrick Star float and was looking at her phone, completely absorbed. Yan Qingqiu paddled over to peek.

"Look," Su Xingjie said. "Fu Sang's trending."

Yan Qingqiu looked over her shoulder. The headline read: "Fu Sang: Alien."

Scanning the comments, everyone was discussing what was going on with Fu Sang's face—it was changing so obviously, faster than a mask-changing act.

"My god..."

"Song Qingre probably bought the trending topic. My Weibo following couldn't reach that level." Su Xingjie showed her the views.

She thought for a moment and said, "'Alien' is just a hook. She wants everyone to know Fu Sang isn't normal."

"Mm-hmm. The internet's been talking about Fu Sang's face lately. Either she admits she got plastic surgery and shows her records, or she claims she's an alien. Otherwise, how does she explain her face changing every day?" Yan Qingqiu probably understood the reason. After the jellyfish incident, everyone's thoughts had been altered overnight. Song Qingre was probably using gossip to keep reminding people that Fu Sang was Fu Sang, forcing everyone to make her explain her face.

If Fu Sang slipped up even once, she'd be hunted worldwide.

People—whether blue-collar or white-collar—had a gossip instinct. They'd forget to eat but never forget to gossip.

The System could repair and alter data, but with such a massive workload, it would exhaust itself before even starting.

If only the System would crash.

She turned to look at Song Qingre and saw her standing up. She immediately thought: No way.

The swimsuit was too sexy—the butt cutout was showing!

Yan Qingqiu handed the phone to Su Xingjie and plunged into the water, positioning herself behind Song Qingre. She whispered, "Maybe you should change into a different swimsuit. This one's too sexy."

"Didn't you buy it?" Song Qingre said, twisting to look. "Tsk, really revealing."

Back then, she'd been overcome with lust. But for now, she could keep the sexy to herself. "Go change."

"Did you buy me another one?"

"...No."

Song Qingre ignored her and just smiled. She went to grab a ball, and a group of people asked if they wanted to play water volleyball.

Yan Qingqiu gritted her teeth in the water.

So annoying.

When Song Qingre played, she joined in too. The six of them all had nice figures, spiking and receiving, playing pretty hot.

There were several onlookers, and two beautiful women joined in. After an hour, everyone rested on their floats.

Yan Qingqiu stayed close behind Song Qingre the whole time.

Soaking in the water for so long wasn't comfortable, so they got out, drying off with towels. Yan Qingqiu pressed up tightly against Song Qingre, shielding her from view.

The afternoon sun grew stronger.

Song Qingre's body was burning hot. Yan Qingqiu gritted her teeth and pressed closer.

Song Qingre said, "People might say you're... molesting me."

Yan Qingqiu didn't care. She stuck to her until Song Qingre sat on a lounger and put on her sunglasses, so no one would recognize her.

Luo Xi and the others came back dripping wet too. They all asked when they'd head back—there were only three days until the New Year.

Luo Xi lay face down on a lounger, swaying slightly.

She said, "My dad said those two are getting their marriage certificate on the ninth day of the New Year."

"My dad said so too. I told him our family isn't going. He said those two families aren't holding a banquet, just a casual meal."

Song Qingre looked at her phone and said, "They'll still have to hold one."

"Why?" Yan Qingqiu looked at her. With everyone online mocking Fu Sang, would she dare to hold a big event?

If Song Qingre explained, she'd have to mention the System's mission. But she'd already thought of a story; it just depended on whether Yan Qingqiu remembered.

Yan Qingqiu said nothing, lying there playing for a while until she heard the conversation again. She turned her head and said, "I still kind of want to attend their wedding. I want to offer my sincerest blessings."

"What are you planning to do about Fu Sang and the System?" Yan Qingqiu turned to look at Song Qingre.

Song Qingre was holding a local magazine, sunbathing and reading intently. Yan Qingqiu thought she hadn't heard and repeated herself.

Song Qingre pressed a finger to her lips, meaning she couldn't say. Yan Qingqiu leaned in and kissed her on the lips, sitting on the armrest of her lounger.

"Alright, I kissed you. Can you tell me now?" Yan Qingqiu looked at her and clicked her tongue. "Just talk properly and answer the question. Why make me kiss you?"

"Do you remember that I haven't cancelled your ID yet..." Song Qingre started, but then the phone in Yan Qingqiu's coat pocket rang. Yan Qingqiu had her trench coat draped over the chair, now on her lap, and she took out the phone. She was about to hang up, but froze at the caller ID.

Yan Qingqiu said, "My dad."

Song Qingre lifted her chin slightly. Yan Qingqiu held the phone, leaning closer so Song Qingre could hear too. She paused to compose herself before answering, "Hello?"

"Are you coming home for the New Year?" Yan Fu asked gently, like he missed her.

Song Qingre pulled out her tablet and brought up the surveillance feed. Fu Sang was standing at her own door, staring downstairs, eavesdropping.

Yan Qingqiu's heart easily softened. She hadn't spoken to Yan Fu in a long time since moving out.

Fu Sang was probably listening in on Yan Fu's call to see if Yan Qingqiu was dead.

Just as Yan Qingqiu was about to speak, Yan Fu said, "Little Re, bring Qiuqiu back. It's just in time for Fu Sang's wedding."

Yan Qingqiu turned around and carefully handed the phone to Song Qingre. Song Qingre put it on speaker and said, "Sure, but Fu Sang is using Qiuqiu's identity, so Qiuqiu won't have an identity to use anymore. I'm planning to get her foreign citizenship. I'll come back after that."

"No need. Fu Sang uses her identity; she can use Fu Sang's instead. It's the same." Yan Fu said.

"Qiuqiu won't agree."

"Just change Fu Sang's name and give it to her." Yan Fu insisted. "Call her Yan Fu Sang."

Before Song Qingre could agree, Fu Sang came down from upstairs and raised her voice, "Did you even ask my permission before giving my name to Yan Qingqiu?"

Yan Fu hadn't hung up, but Fu Sang came down the stairs with a smug tone, "If only Song Qingre could bring Yan Qingqiu back. But can she?"

"What have you done? What harmful thing did you do again?" Yan Fu said. "You're truly vicious."

Fu Sang's face stiffened at his words. She tried to retort, but Yan Fu didn't give her a chance, convinced she was that kind of person.

Song Qingre said over the phone, "Uncle, give the phone to Fu Sang. I want to say a few words."

Yan Fu walked a few steps to the staircase, handed the phone coldly to Fu Sang. The moment her fingers touched it, the person on the other end said, "I really don't dare bring her back to see you. How about I bring you to see her instead?"

Fu Sang's fingers trembled. She jerked her hand, and the phone fell to the floor.

The call hadn't ended. Song Qingre said helplessly, "I wasn't finished yet."

Yan Fu went to pick up the phone, but Fu Sang kicked it away.

Soon, Fu Sang and Yan Fu were arguing, not like father and daughter but like enemies. Every word they exchanged was incompatible. Fu Sang said she wouldn't give her identity to Yan Qingqiu—she'd destroy it before she'd give it up.

Fu Sang said, "You just want to bring Yan Qingqiu back and make her your daughter, right?"

Yan Fu picked up the phone from the floor. The screen wasn't cracked. He wiped it and gave Fu Sang a cold glance, no longer pretending to be kind. "That's right. I was planning to marry you off and bring Qiuqiu back. Why else would I have you marry into the Fu family? Why else would I suck up and ask you to negotiate with the Fus?"

Fu Sang was stunned. "Weren't you trying to compensate me?"

Yan Fu laughed. "That nonsense? You believed it?"

Yan Fu pushed up his glasses. "My Qiuqiu—when she came back that day, I didn't even know it was her, and I gave her a cold shoulder. I haven't settled that score with you yet."

Fu Sang was dumbfounded. What did that mean?

She looked downstairs, calling Yan Fu's name, but he turned his back to her, his back rigid. He walked out into the courtyard and said, "If you don't want to stay, or don't want to marry, then get out."

Fu Sang obviously couldn't leave now. She'd lost or spent all her money—her savings were as bare as her face. She immediately tried to call the System, but it didn't respond. She was about to ask Yan Fu for clarification.

A sharp pain shot through her head.

The System warned her not to act rashly, to focus on the mission and avoid any disturbances.

Fu Sang took a deep breath, telling herself over and over: Yan Fu is an idiot.

Yan Qingqiu is dead, dead. She just needed to complete the mission...

Her phone rang.

She received a text: 【Miss Fu Sang, I asked Su Xingjie. She said that if you don't marry Fu Ye, she'd consider continuing to be friends with you. The condition is that you swear to never love Fu Ye again and never marry a man. If you can do that, you'll still be her good friend. Otherwise, leave her sight and be a pervert she'll always find disgusting.】

Swearing an oath—that was all too familiar.

Wasn't she the one who once made Su Xingjie swear to never like women or have any improper thoughts about her?

The System kept urging her to get on with the mission.

【Host, don't hesitate. We're at the final step. They're just interfering to stop you from completing the mission on time. Please follow the storyline. If the mission fails, your life ends here.】

Fu Sang was annoyed too. "If I fail, what good is it for you? Don't think I don't know—when you bound to me again, you brought a bunch of bugs. Now I have to speak out loud just to talk to you. You can't control our secret brain communication anymore. It's not that I'm using my mouth; you can't encrypt it! If I fail, you're finished too!"

The System started stimulating her brain.

Some voices forced her to do the mission; others threatened her not to.

She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Mission, mission. Why was the mission so disgusting? Marry Fu Ye? Hold a wedding? Why did she have to do all this?

Fu Sang kicked the wall.

She just wanted to live in peace, have friends, have a family.

What was happening? Why did she feel like her life was being thrown into chaos?

And that persistent feeling of being watched—no, it wasn't just her. Even the System's every move was being monitored by that freak Song Qingre.

So uncomfortable.