Falling Down

Following the rice paddies and vegetable fields eastward, a small hill soon came into view.

The hill was not large, but it was lush with foliage. Before they had even reached it, Yimo had already spotted many fruit trees.

At the foot of the hill and beside the village fence ran a stream less than three meters wide.

The water murmured as it flowed, and the stones inside seemed incredibly smooth from being immersed for so long.

Dieyu released Yimo's hand, then slipped off her sandals. Holding them in her right hand, she carefully stepped into the stream. The trickling water flowed over her delicate skin, and several small fish swam over.

She suddenly looked back, bent down, and said to Yimo, "Why are you just standing there? Come on!"

"Hehe, can't you walk by yourself without me holding your hand?"

"You really are such a child!"

Yimo looked at Dieyu. "Why are you going to the back of the hill? It's deserted out there. You're not planning to do something to me, are you?"

Because Dieyu was bent over, that glimpse of spring scenery was perfectly clear to Yimo.

For an inexperienced shut-in like Yimo, the stimulation was nothing any movie could compare to.

He did not look away.

Dieyu naturally noticed his gaze. She raised her brows. "What, are you scared?"

At that, Yimo crouched down, took off his shoes, and rolled his track pants halfway up his thighs. Then he waved his hand. "I'm a manly man, at least. What's there to be afraid of?"

Dieyu looked at his legs and frowned slightly. "I don't know why, but I feel a little discouraged..."

"Forget it... Let's go~"

She blinked at Yimo, then extended her hand, inviting him to move through the stream with her.

The two of them proceeded cautiously through the stream, one in front and one behind.

After they had gone some distance, the water gradually grew deeper.

There were more and more trees at the foot of the hill. Their shadows swayed, and specks of light trembled on the water, reflecting off the little stones beneath in a riot of color.

It was not really a riot of color. Perhaps Dieyu was simply too dazzling, making everything around her seem more beautiful as well.

After they had gone farther, the water grew deeper still, reaching Yimo's thighs.

Dieyu's denim miniskirt had already been splashed through by the murmuring stream.

The streambed was covered with stones, so Yimo moved very slowly, taking great care with every step.

Dieyu, on the other hand, hummed a tune and gently bobbed her head, looking delighted. She was not nearly as cautious, and even turned back to urge Yimo on. "You don't have to be so careful. It's not deep enough to drown anyone!"

"The lake farther ahead is beautiful!"

Yimo smiled bitterly. "You're not a child anymore. Why are you so excited?"

Yimo actually wanted to explore the village on his own, but since he had become the center of attention right from the start, he had not found a chance to go out by himself yesterday afternoon.

Now was the perfect opportunity. With Dieyu as an excuse, he could take a look around.

He was still very interested in the ancestral hall behind the hill.

Yimo always felt that something like that would not appear in a game for no reason. It might trigger some plot or contain some clue.

Hearing that, Dieyu turned her head and said with a grin, "How am I not a child? Girls are forever sixteen!"

Yimo said, "Sixteen isn't that young."

Dieyu pouted. "Your words weren't as sweet as before."

Yimo merely shook his head and said nothing more.

Instead, Dieyu smiled. "Oh, right. I'm twenty. How old are you, Mr. Siba Jungler?"

"Twenty. We're the same age."

At that, Dieyu suddenly leaned her upper body toward him, startling Yimo.

The two of them were in a fairly deep stream, and Yimo had nowhere to dodge. All he could do was watch Dieyu's large eyes blink repeatedly right in front of him, like a butterfly!

"I'm a Gemini. What's your sign?"

Yimo did not want to answer, but after Dieyu urged him again and again, refusing to move on unless he did, he answered honestly. "Capricorn."

Dieyu frowned slightly. "So Mr. Siba Jungler is actually younger than me..."

"Capricorn and Gemini don't seem very compatible, either."

A trace of worry appeared on her face.

Yimo could not help laughing.

His face remained expressionless, of course, but his voice gave him away.

"Hahaha... What, are you planning to be my girlfriend?"

Yimo sounded casual, but he was actually testing Dieyu once again.

Was Dieyu really his girlfriend?

Dieyu's face flushed at his words, and she revealed a shy, girlish smile. "Hehe."

That single smile made her look extremely happy.

But she did not give him any answer.

She immediately turned around and began leading Yimo onward faster, toward the area behind the hill.

"Come on, let's speed up. The scenery at the little lake ahead is really nice!"

Yimo muttered, "Why does this feel like a date..."

Just then, Dieyu was walking a little too quickly. Her footing slipped, and with a cry of surprise, she fell toward the water!

"Ow!"

Yimo's footing was steady. He had already guessed something like this might happen, so he reacted swiftly and pulled hard.

Then—

Dieyu tumbled straight into Yimo's arms.

He caught her neatly.

Both of their clothes had been soaked by the splashing water. Through his short sleeves, Yimo could feel the considerable softness against his chest. His face immediately reddened, and he hurriedly said, "Hey! I told you to be careful!"

After saying that, he frowned and lowered his head to look at Dieyu in his arms.

She was looking up at him secretly, her eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of her mouth faintly raised.

Several droplets of water clung to her slender brows. On top of that, her white chiffon camisole had become completely soaked, revealing a scene of spring and dazzling allure.

She was bewitching—intoxicatingly so.

Yimo frowned slightly. "You did that on purpose."

Dieyu wore a sly, mischievous smile. "How could I? Don't make things up. I didn't do it~"

Yimo wanted to rub his aching head, but he did not have a spare hand, so he could only give up and urge her on. "All right, that's enough. If you're done playing, let's get moving."

Seriously, this really was like a date!

No, ordinary dates definitely did not usually involve scenes like this.

That was what he thought, but when Yimo recalled it carefully, a scene like this really had happened before...

It had also been in the water. A girl had slipped, fallen toward him, and been caught in his arms.

A childhood sweetheart?

Not exactly. He had only met that girl five years ago.

Compared to Dieyu before him, she had been much more inexperienced.

Besides, Dieyu had done it on purpose. That girl had genuinely lost her footing—it had been an accident.

Probably...

"While you're holding me, you're thinking about someone else. That's not very nice!" Dieyu's eyes were bright, and she saw through Yimo's thoughts at once, bringing him back to his senses.

Yimo said, "All right, big sis, stop seducing me. I'm young. I can't take it!"

At that, Dieyu wrapped the arm holding her sandals and a small storage box around Yimo, ensuring that she would not fall again. She placed all her weight on him, then patted him on the chest with her other hand. "Mr. Siba Jungler, people have to grow up eventually."

"Look at me. I've gone from being a child to being a big sis."

For some reason, Yimo felt that Dieyu was a little angry.

It seemed she was not happy about being called "big sis."

After saying that, Dieyu finally moved away from Yimo and continued leading him through the water.

She muttered, "It really does feel like a date."

"Pretty nice, too~"

Yimo wanted to say, You little minx, you're muttering way too loudly.

But after thinking it over, he figured Dieyu might be doing it on purpose. He obediently kept his mouth shut and said nothing more.

About fifteen minutes later, the water gradually grew shallower. They were almost at the back of the hill.

A while later, at the end of the stream, a small lake finally came into view.

The sky was a clear blue, and the surface of the lake was calm. Fish occasionally came up for air, sending ripples spreading across the water.

Many smooth boulders surrounded the lake. A sizable forest stood to the left, while the village fence ran right along the lakeshore on the right.

Several birds circled overhead, making the place seem like a secluded paradise.

After reaching the bank, Dieyu excitedly ran barefoot toward the little lake.

Yimo's attention, however, was drawn to the ancestral hall at the foot of the hill in the direction he was facing, and he decided to go take a look.

But before he could reach it, he heard Dieyu calling for him.

Yimo turned at the sound, and happened to see that scene.

Dieyu stood barefoot on a large white rock by the lake, looking at him with a sly expression. One hand rested beside her denim miniskirt, while the other had just pulled down the zipper of the denim skirt.

Then...

The denim miniskirt simply... slid down along Dieyu's smooth, fair legs, coming to rest beside her petite feet...