Shura Field

Nan Xingyu hadn't expected Xi Jin to come.

The moment she saw him, her first instinct was to hide.

Her deliberate avoidance made Xi Jin's already cold face darken further.

The other two greeted him warmly, but Nan Xingyu hid behind Li Ziyan without a word.

"I hope I haven't disturbed you... all."

When he said "you," his gaze drifted over one person.

Nan Xingyu shivered from the chill.

She knew he wouldn't change.

He wormed his way into every corner of her life.

Lin Piaopiao said, "Yuexi, so Great God Xi Jin was the person you were picking up? Be honest, what exactly is your relationship now?"

Nan Xingyu poked her head out.

She glanced at the two of them, then ducked back again.

"..."

Jiang Yuexi's face warmed, and she hurriedly gave Lin Piaopiao a look.

She had only just reminded her not to say anything she shouldn't.

And now look.

Li Ziyan cut in just in time. "I'm hungry. What are we having for dinner?"

Jiang Yuexi quickly picked up on it. "My uncle has arranged everything. Everyone, follow me."

She led the way.

Li Ziyan took Lin Piaopiao by the arm and gave her a look that said, "Watch what you say."

Lin Piaopiao belatedly stuck out her tongue.

She didn't notice the two people left behind at all.

Nan Xingyu wanted to catch up, but someone had already grabbed her hand.

Startled, she looked toward the others walking ahead, terrified they would turn around and see.

Sensing that Lin Piaopiao was about to turn around, she sucked in a sharp breath and yanked her hand free.

"Great God Xi Jin, who exactly is your girlfriend?"

Lin Piaopiao came back and asked curiously, "That childhood sweetheart you mentioned before—you weren't just teasing us, were you?"

Xi Jin slipped his empty hand back into his pocket, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Take a guess."

Jiang Yuexi brought the group to the campsite.

Some people were already there, apparently Jiang Yuexi's friends.

Nan Xingyu found a seat in a corner. When she looked up, she saw Xi Jin staring at her. He walked straight toward her in plain sight and sat down beside her.

Nan Xingyu hurriedly scooted to the side.

Jiang Yuexi suddenly ushered someone over. "Uncle, you don't drink, so sit here."

Nan Xingyu turned her head and watched as Song Shuchen sat down on her other side.

This was deadly.

A Shura Field.

She dodged left and right, not daring to get close to either of them.

Jiang Yuexi sat down beside Xi Jin and asked, "Would you like a drink?"

Xi Jin leaned back in his lounge chair, his expression as cold and distant as ever. "No, thank you."

Yet out of the corner of his eye, he watched the person beside him.

Nan Xingyu cupped her cheeks in both hands, deliberately using her fingers to shield herself from the two men on either side.

Then Song Shuchen spoke first. "Xiaoyu, would you like water or juice?"

"..."

Nan Xingyu's throat tightened.

A bad feeling.

Sure enough, the man on her right spoke next. "Mr. Song, this classmate..."

Xi Jin paused and looked past Nan Xingyu, his gaze cold and grave as he turned to the side.

"Are you very close to her?"

Song Shuchen instinctively glanced at the girl and said gently, "We've met a few times."

"Met a few times?"

Xi Jin gave a cold laugh. "And you address her so intimately, Mr. Song. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was someone special to you."

"..."

Song Shuchen had never dealt with Xi Jin, but he knew something of his reputation.

As Jiang Yuexi's uncle, he was quite pleased that she was with such an outstanding young man.

But he was somewhat surprised.

Xi Jin seemed a far cry from the courteous man he was rumored to be.

The gaze he directed at Song Shuchen now was icy and sharp, full of aggression.

"Nan Xingyu is my niece's classmate. Surely there's nothing wrong with me calling her that?"

Song Shuchen's voice remained gentle.

Xi Jin chuckled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You're so close even to your niece's classmate, Mr. Song. No wonder Miss Jiang is so close to you."

"..."

Nan Xingyu sat between them. The air seemed to have frozen, and she felt as though she were about to suffocate.

Song Shuchen met his gaze with composure, and Xi Jin's lips curved in an inscrutable smile.

After that little interlude,

Song Shuchen looked at the person beside him again. "Is juice all right?"

Nan Xingyu nodded stiffly.

"I'll go get it."

Song Shuchen had just risen when Xi Jin stood up ahead of him.

"I'll go. Please stay seated, Mr. Song."

Xi Jin's tone was impeccably polite. As he turned, he gave Nan Xingyu a meaningful look.

Song Shuchen watched Xi Jin go to the buffet table for juice and asked,

"Have you and Xi Jin known each other for a long time?"

"It's... it's been a while."

Nan Xingyu answered perfunctorily, her gaze drifting elsewhere.

Song Shuchen looked thoughtful but didn't ask any more questions.

A moment later,

Xi Jin returned with a glass of orange juice and set it on the table in front of Nan Xingyu.

"Thank you."

Nan Xingyu thanked him in a low voice.

Xi Jin gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You're welcome, classmate."

The night grew deeper.

The bonfire was lit.

Someone suggested playing a game, and Lin Piaopiao gathered everyone into a circle.

"Let's play truth or dare!"

"Yes, yes!"

Everyone eagerly agreed.

Nan Xingyu quietly tried to slip away, but Xi Jin fixed his gaze on her. "Classmate, we're about to play a game. Where are you going?"

"..."

She sat down again without a word.

She silently prayed she wouldn't be picked.

However,

fate seemed especially fond of playing tricks.

In the first round, Lin Piaopiao picked Nan Xingyu.

"Truth or dare?"

Lin Piaopiao asked with a mischievous grin.

"Truth."

Nan Xingyu chose the relatively safe option.

"Then let me ask you,"

Lin Piaopiao deliberately drew out her words, "is there someone you like?"

The moment the question was asked,

the surroundings fell silent.

Several gazes landed on Nan Xingyu at once.

She felt Xi Jin's gaze was especially scorching, as if it would see right through her.

Song Shuchen, meanwhile, studied her without betraying his thoughts.

Nan Xingyu pursed her lips and forced herself to say, "No."

Hearing her answer,

a trace of mocking amusement showed in Xi Jin's eyes.

He was mocking himself.

What on earth had he been expecting?

The game continued.

Perhaps heaven didn't think things were lively enough, because she was picked again the second time.

Nan Xingyu blushed and chose differently. "Dare."

Lin Piaopiao drew a card, excitement shining in her eyes.

"Here we go, here we go!"

She cleared her throat. "Say to the person sitting on your left, 'Do you love me?' They have to answer, 'I do!'"

As soon as she said it,

the friends sitting around them erupted into cheers.

Jiang Yuexi grew excited too. "Isn't the person to Xingyu's left my uncle?!"

"..."

Nan Xingyu wanted to die.

Some people came over and pulled the two of them to their feet, facing each other.

Lin Piaopiao urged her on. "Oh, don't be shy. It's just a game."

Nan Xingyu dug her nails into her fingers, her eyes darting around helplessly.

Everyone couldn't wait to see the show.

They urged her on.

A languid, mild voice sounded from the crowd. "Classmate, you're so shy. Could it be that you've really fallen in love?"

"..."

Nan Xingyu heard his voice. Even though his tone seemed casual,

she could hear the anger and suffocating feeling suppressed beneath it.

The others joined in the teasing.

Nan Xingyu just wanted the mortifying scene to end. With her head lowered, she struggled to say, "Do... do you love me?"

The crowd cheered, and every gaze turned to the other person.

Song Shuchen had been watching the girl's crimson face the entire time. He answered softly, "I do."