Mountain climbing

That night, Yan Wen lay in bed, playing games and gossiping with Xiao Qi.

"Xiao Qi, why can't my third sister go out tomorrow? And why can't she go mountain climbing?"

"If she agrees to go mountain climbing tomorrow, the next time you see her will be three days later, when you're called to the police station to identify her body."

In another room, Mu Xu Xi, who had been lying in bed with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Someone wanted to hurt her!

Yan Wen turned off his phone and walked into the bathroom. "Then who's inviting her out?"

"Lu Shengjun, an upperclassman who's liked her for years, and her best friend, Xu Qingyan. Lu Shengjun has always been in love with Mu Xu Xi. After several failed confessions, his feelings have started to turn twisted. He paid Xu Qingyan a hundred thousand yuan to invite Mu Xu Xi out for a hike. Along the way, Xu Qingyan makes an excuse to leave, giving the two of them some time alone, and Lu Shengjun confesses to Mu Xu Xi again."

Yan Wen nodded and guessed, "Don't tell me she turns him down, and then Lu Shengjun attacks her because he can't have her?"

"More or less. After Mu Xu Xi rejects him again, Lu Shengjun loses control and tries to force himself on her. While resisting, she misses her footing and tumbles down the steps. She could have been saved, but Lu Shengjun and Xu Qingyan are afraid of being held responsible, so they throw her down the mountain."

"Were there no passersby?"

"They deliberately take a deserted path, so no one sees any of it."

Yan Wen shuddered. "Ugh! Poor Sis. Thank goodness none of this has happened yet."

Mu Xu Xi clenched her blanket so tightly that it bunched into ugly creases in her hands. She had met Xu Qingyan in high school, and they had known each other for seven years now. This best friend, who kept swearing she would never betray her and would stay by her side forever, would actually help someone kill her for a hundred thousand yuan!

She would make them pay!

Fried dough sticks and soy milk were laid out on the dining table. Mu Xu Ci and Xie Yunshu were eating breakfast when Yan Wen came downstairs, yawning. He casually said good morning and sat down to eat.

It was quite a while before Mu Xu Xi came downstairs. She had only just finished a bowl of soy milk when her phone rang.

The caller ID read "Qingqing." Mu Xu Xi answered and deliberately turned on the speakerphone.

"Xixi, let's go mountain climbing today. I haven't gone in ages."

"Why the sudden interest in hiking? Haven't you always disliked that sort of exercise?"

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with trying it once in a while. Besides, the air on the mountain is great. It'll be nice to get some fresh air. Xixi, please say yes! Aren't we best friends?"

Mu Xu Xi frowned slightly, wondering how to refuse. Seeing this, Yan Wen thought she was wavering and gently shook his head. "Seven years of friendship wasn't all fake, but don't go soft on her, Sis. If you really go, you'll end up a ghost at the bottom of the mountain."

Xie Yunshu's hand shook, spilling most of her soy milk. She looked at Mu Xu Xi anxiously, terrified that she would say yes.

Sure enough, her worst fear came true. Mu Xu Xi agreed, and Xie Yunshu nearly had a heart attack. But when Mu Xu Xi said she would bring her younger brother along, Xie Yunshu came back to life.

Xu Qingyan readily agreed. "Sure! The more the merrier. Let me know when you head out."

"Okay." Mu Xu Xi hung up and looked at Yan Wen. "Come out with me in a bit."

Yan Wen froze. "Huh? I'm going with you?"

Mu Xu Xi nodded. "Yes. Why don't we just deal with the problem directly? So you're coming with me. You're so capable, I'm sure you'll think of something."

Yan Wen forced a smile. "You really think highly of me."

Mu Xu Xi dangled some bait. "Once this is over, I'll take you out for crayfish. Stir-fried, steamed, braised, garlic, spicy."

At the mention of crayfish, Yan Wen's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.

"Host, I have a plan," Xiao Qi said. "Just do as I say."

"Okay, what should I do?"

"Host, get a pinhole camera and have Mu Xu Xi wear it on her collar. That way, you can record Lu Shengjun harassing her. Also, Xu Qingyan agreed to help Lu Shengjun because her mother urgently needs surgery, and she's a hundred thousand yuan short of the fee. That's why she agreed."

Yan Wen was puzzled. "Why didn't she just ask Sis for help? There's no way Sis would refuse to lend her the money."

"People get jealous. Xu Qingyan has been feeling resentful for a long time. Mu Xu Xi is a wealthy young lady who gets fawned over wherever she goes, while Xu Qingyan comes from an ordinary family. Unlike Mu Xu Xi, she doesn't get tens of millions in pocket money every month. Xu Qingyan did genuinely care about Mu Xu Xi, but her jealousy gradually got the upper hand. This time, her mother suddenly fell ill and urgently needed an expensive operation. Their family's small business happened to run into trouble too, leaving them short of the surgery fee. She had intended to ask Mu Xu Xi for help, but then Lu Shengjun approached her."

Yan Wen sighed. "Wouldn't it be easier to ask a good friend than an outsider? What was Xu Qingyan thinking?"

Xiao Qi sighed too. "Jealousy can change a person beyond recognition. Xu Qingyan would have felt that Mu Xu Xi was giving her charity. Besides, she thought Lu Shengjun only wanted to invite Mu Xu Xi out to confess his feelings and that nothing would happen. So she took his money and agreed to help him."

Mu Xu Xi put down her chopsticks. "I'll go back to my room and get ready. Xiao Wen, we'll leave in an hour."

It was two in the afternoon when the two of them arrived at the foot of Cloudmist Mountain. Mu Xu Xi spotted Xu Qingyan, who had been waiting for quite a while, at once. This time, however, she did not run over as she usually did. Instead, she walked over at an unhurried pace.

Xu Qingyan took Mu Xu Xi's arm. "Xixi, you're finally here!"

Lu Shengjun's eyes were practically glued to Mu Xu Xi. "Xixi, long time no see."

Mu Xu Xi frowned slightly. "Lu Shengjun, I don't like other people calling me Xixi. Please call me Mu Xu Xi."

"Then I'll call you Xu Xi. Your full name sounds too distant."

Yan Wen cut in. "Hi, Lu Shengjun. I'm Yan Wen, her younger brother."

Xu Qingyan looked utterly confused. "Isn't your younger brother Mu Huai'an? How come you've got a different one?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain another time," Mu Xu Xi said evasively. "Aren't we here to hike? Let's go."

As expected, Lu Shengjun led them onto the little-used path.

Yan Wen asked Xiao Qi, "Has Xu Qingyan ever done anything to betray Sis before?"

"No. Although Xu Qingyan feels resentful, she's only unhappy about the difference in their social standing. After what happens to Mu Xu Xi, Xu Qingyan is overcome with guilt. Before long, she writes a suicide note at home and kills herself by taking sleeping pills. It's also because of that note that the police eventually arrest Lu Shengjun."

Mu Xu Xi looked at Xu Qingyan in surprise. She had assumed Xu Qingyan hated her and had helped Lu Shengjun deceive her for that reason. If that had been the case, getting revenge would not have hurt.

Xu Qingyan did not notice Mu Xu Xi's expression. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Xixi, Lu Shengjun has liked you for so long and confessed so many times. Why don't you say yes and try dating him for a while?"

Mu Xu Xi looked at the ground. "I really don't have feelings for him. Stop trying to persuade me."

Xu Qingyan pouted. "Fine, then. I think my bra strap slipped. I'll go over there and fix it. Take your time."

Without waiting for Mu Xu Xi to respond, Xu Qingyan hurried off. Yan Wen followed her.

Seeing that he and Mu Xu Xi were now alone, Lu Shengjun began thinking about how to confess to her again.

Yan Wen appeared behind Xu Qingyan. She was hiding behind a banyan tree, watching everything happening over there. She had already received the hundred thousand yuan, and Lu Shengjun had promised her another twenty thousand if Mu Xu Xi agreed.

"Aren't you afraid you'll break my sister's heart by doing this?" Yan Wen asked.

Xu Qingyan turned around warily. Seeing it was Yan Wen, she turned her gaze back toward Mu Xu Xi. "I'm just giving Lu Shengjun a chance to confess to Xixi. I haven't done anything else."

"Really? Are you sure Lu Shengjun won't do anything to my sister?"

"He said he would only confess. Even if Xixi turns him down, it'll be fine. He likes her so much. What could he possibly do to her?"

Yan Wen folded his arms and jerked his chin in that direction. "See for yourself."

Mu Xu Xi was struggling desperately to break free of Lu Shengjun, but he was simply too strong. From Xu Qingyan's position, she could clearly see him trying to force a kiss on Mu Xu Xi.

"So much for his promise not to do anything."

Xu Qingyan gripped the tree trunk, her face torn with indecision. When Mu Xu Xi cried for help again, Xu Qingyan rushed over, shoved Lu Shengjun away, and pulled Mu Xu Xi protectively into her arms.

"Lu Shengjun, didn't you say you were only going to confess and wouldn't do anything else?"