Outdoor Life

Ding-dong. Tang Wulin had just finished his morning training and returned to the dorm when he heard his phone's message alert. He picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then unlocked the screen to find a message from Gu Yue: "Wulin, the weather's nice today. Let's go on a picnic. You promised me last time, but we couldn't go because of the rain." Sunlight streamed through the window glass onto the floor. It really was a rare beautiful day. The corners of Tang Wulin's lips rose unconsciously as his fingers quickly typed on the screen: "Sure. Let's get ready first, then go buy some things." "Okay!" Gu Yue replied almost instantly.

Tang Wulin put away his phone and turned toward the inner side of the dorm. Xie Xie was still wrapped in his blanket, sleeping like the dead with half his face buried in his pillow and his messy hair sticking up everywhere. Tang Wulin reached out and patted his shoulder. "Get up." "Boss... what are you doing..." Xie Xie groggily opened his eyes, his voice muffled. "Gu Yue wants to go on a picnic today. We're going to buy some things to bring." As he spoke, Tang Wulin pulled a clean jacket from the wardrobe.

At the mention of Gu Yue's name, Xie Xie immediately woke up halfway and buried his face back into the pillow in misery. "Gu Yue again. Boss, spare me. I get mad just seeing her now." During their sparring session last week, Gu Yue had drenched him with water element powers until he looked like a drowned rat, and Xie Xie still hadn't gotten over it. Tang Wulin put on his jacket and glanced back at him. "Are you coming or not? If not, don't expect me to forge anything for you again." The words were like a shot of adrenaline. Xie Xie sprang out of bed. "No! Boss! I'm coming!" He frantically grabbed the clothes beside his bed, muttering, "You always use forging to threaten me..."

Ten minutes later, the two had finished getting ready and walked out of the dorm building. As soon as they reached the entrance to the dorm area, they saw Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan waiting there. Gu Yue wore a light blue casual jacket and carried a bulging black backpack over her shoulder. Xu Xiaoyan stood beside her, standing on tiptoe as she looked toward the dorm building.

"You two are so slow." Xu Xiaoyan smiled and waved when she saw them. Sunlight shone on her pale blue hair, giving it a soft sheen. "Guys always need some time to get ready," Xie Xie said before Tang Wulin could speak, yawning as he did. Gu Yue ignored him and merely looked at Tang Wulin. "Let's go. The supermarket first."

The four walked side by side toward the academy supermarket. Tang Wulin's gaze fell on the backpack over Gu Yue's shoulder. It looked stuffed full, with half a package of cookies sticking out from one side pocket. "What's in the bag..." he asked curiously. "Sister Gu Yue took them from her snack box and said she wanted you guys to try them," Xu Xiaoyan eagerly answered, her eyes curving into crescents. Gu Yue lightly patted the backpack, her tone calm. "Just things I usually stock up on. I figured I'd bring them along." Xie Xie's eyes widened as he leaned closer to inspect the bulging backpack. "Oh? How rare. Since when has Gu Yue been so generous?" He remembered clearly how she had refused to let him mooch even a bag of chips off her last time.

Gu Yue glanced at him indifferently. "If you don't want to eat, then don't." "I do, I do. Of course I do." Xie Xie immediately changed his tune and even reached out to help carry the bag, only for Gu Yue to sidestep him. Xu Xiaoyan covered her mouth and laughed softly nearby. Watching them bicker, Tang Wulin smiled helplessly.

The academy supermarket was not far from the dorm area, and five minutes later they were standing before shelves packed with goods. There were quite a few people in the supermarket that weekend, most of them students buying daily necessities. A thin layer of mist covered the glass doors of the refrigerated cases, behind which all kinds of drinks and boxed meals were neatly arranged. "I'll pick the drinks," Xu Xiaoyan volunteered. She had already crouched in front of the refrigerated case, carefully reading the labels. Xie Xie pushed the shopping cart behind her, muttering about what flavor of chips they should buy. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue walked slightly behind, naturally heading toward the bread and prepared food section.

"Should we buy a few extra sandwiches?" Tang Wulin picked up a packaged ham sandwich. "Mm. Xie Xie can eat a lot." Gu Yue nodded and took a box of vegetable salad from the shelf beside her. Her movements were practiced, and she had clearly decided what to buy before coming. Looking at her focused profile as she selected their food, Tang Wulin suddenly remembered that he had promised to take her on a picnic half a month ago. Everything had been ready that day, but a sudden downpour had started just before they left, forcing them to cancel their plans. Gu Yue had said nothing at the time, but Tang Wulin remembered how she had stood by the window watching the rain, quiet and somewhat disappointed.

"By the way, where do you want to have the picnic?" Tang Wulin asked, placing the chosen food into the shopping cart. Gu Yue thought for a moment. "There's a grassy field on the back mountain. There usually aren't many people there, and you can see half the academy from it." There was a trace of barely perceptible anticipation in her voice. "Okay, we'll go there." Tang Wulin smiled. The shopping cart gradually filled up. Besides staples and snacks, Xie Xie insisted on buying a grill and charcoal, but Tang Wulin rejected the idea as "too troublesome." In the end, they chose a bag of apples, several bottles of juice, and the dark chocolate Gu Yue had specifically picked out.

After wandering around the supermarket a few more times and making sure they had everything, they walked to the back mountain.

Gu Yue took a large folding mat from her bag. It was made of thick dark blue canvas. Squatting down, she carefully smoothed its corners and laid it perfectly flat across the grass.

The other three quickly took out the food. Tang Wulin removed sandwiches and rice balls from the shopping bags, Xu Xiaoyan arranged washed strawberries and cherry tomatoes, while Xie Xie opened the chips and cookies and poured them into plastic trays.

Once they were done, Gu Yue kicked off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the edge of the mat. She patted the spot beside her, signaling for Tang Wulin to sit there. Tang Wulin froze for a moment, his ears turning slightly red as he silently sat down on her left. Xu Xiaoyan settled on Tang Wulin's other side, while Xie Xie sat cross-legged opposite Gu Yue, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the pile of snacks.

Once the four were seated, Gu Yue took out the four drinks they had just bought from the side pocket of her backpack. She pulled out three bottles of orange juice and handed them in turn to Tang Wulin, Xu Xiaoyan, and herself, unhurriedly. When it was Xie Xie's turn, however, she fished out a can of cola, lightly tossed it in her hand, and a faint smile curled her lips.

"Here. Yours." Gu Yue flicked her wrist, sending the can of cola arcing through the air.

Xie Xie's eyes lit up. Thinking it was some special treatment, he happily caught it. "Gu Yue really gets me!" he said smugly, hooking a finger through the pull tab. With a soft pop—

Foam erupted, and the brown liquid burst out like an uncontrollable fountain, splashing over his head and body. Caught completely off guard, Xie Xie froze in place, his face still holding the smile he had not had time to retract as cola dripped from his bangs.

"Gu Yue! Are you trying to murder me?!" A few seconds later, he leaped to his feet and shouted, his voice full of fury.

Gu Yue had already collapsed laughing onto the mat, her shoulders trembling. "Idiot Xie Xie," she said after finally managing to stop laughing, though her voice still shook, "you can't shake soda, or it'll spray everywhere. Didn't you know that?" She lifted her head, her face full of triumphant smugness, her eyes curved into crescents.

Xu Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. She laughed so hard that she rocked back and forth, tears gathering in her eyes. "Hahaha... Xie Xie, the way you look right now... you look like a soaked puppy!" She pointed at him, her finger trembling.

"You're the dog!" Xie Xie wiped at his face wildly, getting sticky cola all over his hand. He glared furiously at Gu Yue. "You little brat, Gu Yue! I'm not done with you!"

Tang Wulin could not hold back his laughter. He lowered his head and gave a light cough to hide his amusement, then handed him a pack of tissues. "Wipe yourself off."

Xie Xie accepted the tissues and viciously wiped his hair and cheeks. After Gu Yue had laughed enough, she took another can of cola from her bag and handed it over steadily this time. "Here. This one hasn't been shaken."

Xie Xie eyed her suspiciously. He took the cola and cautiously pulled it open—this time, it was completely normal, releasing only a faint hiss. He glared at Gu Yue, tipped back his head, and took a huge gulp. Only then did some of his anger fade.

Xu Xiaoyan was still laughing as she pulled out her phone. "Xie Xie, we have to commemorate such a classic look!" Xie Xie hurriedly raised a hand to block her. "Don't take pictures! Xu Xiaoyan, just try it!"

The four kept fooling around until afternoon. Gu Yue leaned against Tang Wulin's shoulder for a short nap, Xu Xiaoyan looked through the photos she had secretly taken and covered her mouth as she laughed, while Xie Xie hugged a pile of snacks and ate heartily, occasionally shooting Gu Yue a glare. He was plotting how to "get revenge" on Gu Yue next time.