Stay by my side forever and ever

Looking into Shen Siyi's eyes, bright with hope, Song Nianxing lowered his gaze guiltily. "I, I haven't decided yet. The reward and the punishment... I, I don't want either."

As he finished speaking, he caught Shen Siyi's expression sinking into dejection and sorrow almost instantly out of the corner of his eye.

"Is that so?" Shen Siyi asked, even his tone steeped in sadness. "It seems Nianxing really doesn't like me much. Then I'll respect your choice, but we still have to do the task. You said you didn't want the punishment either, so consider this... the last time."

As he spoke, he lowered his head slightly and leaned toward Song Nianxing, then pressed an especially reverent kiss to his forehead.

Song Nianxing desperately wanted to say that it wasn't that he didn't like him, but when the words rose from his heart, they stuck in his throat. He could only watch Shen Siyi lift the flap and leave the tent.

And with his departure, the space that had been so warm moments earlier rapidly cooled, as though several blocks of ice had been stuffed inside.

Song Nianxing never imagined that this chill would last the entire night, or even longer.

By the time Song Nianxing had composed himself a little and left the tent, night had already fallen.

The two pairs still pitching their tents nearby had very different styles. Qi Huan and Ji Yu argued nonstop, while Si Bonian and Xu Sui remained silent, with zero communication the entire time.

A bonfire had been lit on the beach not far away, and Chen Mingyi, Du Yuesi, Yu Xinyan, and Yuan Man were already figuring out how to barbecue.

Amid all this bustle, Song Nianxing kept feeling that something was missing. Only when Chen Mingyi called everyone over to eat did he realize what it was.

Shen Siyi wasn't there.

Song Nianxing looked at everyone, whose expressions were as normal as ever, then scanned his surroundings again. Once he had truly confirmed that Shen Siyi wasn't there, he felt a part of his heart empty out in an instant.

He wanted to ask, but couldn't bring himself to.

In everyone's eyes, he was the closest to Shen Siyi. If he asked, they would definitely find it strange, and then he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.

Maybe Shen Siyi would come back in a little while?

Song Nianxing thought this and waited.

But even after everyone had returned to their own tents, Song Nianxing still hadn't seen Shen Siyi return.

He suddenly remembered Shen Siyi saying, "Nianxing, I can't wait too long." Then he recalled Shen Siyi's hurt expression when he had turned him down earlier, along with those words, "the last time." Panic immediately stirred in Song Nianxing's heart.

No, no. The PD said they still had to tally the intimacy tasks tonight. The livestream hadn't ended yet. Shen Siyi would definitely have to come back.

Just as he was thinking this, he noticed the livestream equipment being switched off. The PD's voice sounded outside the tent. "Considering that everyone only arrived on the island today and is rather tired, we'll tally the completion of the intimacy tasks tomorrow evening and carry out the punishments together then. Today's livestream ends here. Thank you all for your hard work. You can rest now."

Outside, the staff's departure and the sounds of equipment being moved created a brief bustle, before everything fell into dead silence again.

There was some distance between the guests' tents, too. Song Nianxing felt as though the entire world had gone quiet, and quiet often made him uneasy, especially since, over these past few days, he could practically say he had never been apart from Shen Siyi.

Even when they slept separately, he knew very clearly that Shen Siyi was next door, right beside him. It was all right. He was safe.

But now Shen Siyi wasn't there, and all he could do was hug that star plushie again.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the tent again. Joy immediately rose in Song Nianxing's heart, and his eyes couldn't help lighting up.

Was it Shen Siyi?

He got up from the bed, hesitating over whether to go greet him.

But the footsteps only paused outside briefly before moving away again.

Thinking Shen Siyi was still upset, Song Nianxing decided to take the initiative, give in, and apologize. But when he opened the tent, there was still no one outside.

Then he looked down. There was a box outside the tent!

A box he knew all too well!

Song Nianxing's pupils trembled instantly, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet to his scalp.

He didn't even need to look to know what would be inside that box!!

That pervert had just come right up to his tent!

Song Nianxing hurriedly closed the tent flap and curled up beneath the covers again. He picked up his phone, wanting to call Shen Siyi.

But the first thing he saw when he picked it up was a string of messages full of lust and madness.

[I saw that baby is all alone again~ does that mean baby is mine now]

[I brought baby a new present. Does baby like it? I really want to see baby trembling in fear. You're not crying, are you? How beautiful that would be]

[If only baby could cry for me in bed. I'd definitely * until I exploded]

Tears kept welling in Song Nianxing's eyes as his trembling fingers tapped Shen Siyi's name in his contacts.

His entire heart and mind were pleading for Shen Siyi to save him.

But he called several times, and Shen Siyi didn't answer any of them.

On the last call, Shen Siyi even hung up on him outright.

Now Song Nianxing could no longer stop his tears from falling.

It was all his own fault for being so indecisive.

It was all his own fault for turning Shen Siyi down.

Shen Siyi... was ignoring him.

Even Shen Siyi, who had been so good to him, so gentle with him, didn't want him anymore.

Who was left in his world?

No wonder no one had liked him since he was little. He was the one at fault, always greedily taking and refusing to give.

Otherwise, why would even someone as good as Shen Siyi stop wanting him?

Just then, another noise came from outside the tent. Song Nianxing's nerves instantly tightened. He clutched the covers in a death grip, his tightly bitten lips turning white, and his whole body began trembling uncontrollably.

He frantically fumbled around beside him, trying to find something he could use to defend himself. But even when the tent flap was lifted and the wind poured in from outside, he still hadn't found anything.

He stared over with eyes full of wariness. The instant Shen Siyi's figure appeared in them, he was like a river bursting its banks. Unable to bear it any longer, he ran toward him.

All he could think was that he would be safe if he could just get into Shen Siyi's arms quickly, more quickly.

But as soon as he drew close, Shen Siyi made as if to step back, his tone more distant and indifferent than usual. "Nianxing, I made myself very clear, and I understand what you meant, too. I've only just managed to settle my feelings. You're making things very difficult for me by doing this."

Song Nianxing threw all caution aside, crying and shaking his head as he tried to cling to him. "Don't... don't push me away. I... I can do it. I can take the punishment and the reward. As long as it's you, I can do anything. Don't stop wanting me. Please..."

He had no one now.

He stood in darkness, surrounded by emptiness and silence. Only Shen Siyi was the Gleaming Starlight within his reach.

Only Shen Siyi could give him this feeling. He had never felt it even when he lost Jiang Jingzhe, as though he had already lost him once a very, very long time ago, a loss branded into his very bones.

And most importantly of all, he had discovered that as long as Shen Siyi was beside him, that pervert didn't dare come harass him. The moment Shen Siyi left, that pervert would see him alone and come!

"Are you sure you've thought it through? You won't regret it?" Shen Siyi's voice regained its usual tenderness and affection.

Song Nianxing buried his entire face in his embrace and nodded, his voice muffled. "I've thought it through. I won't regret it."

Only when he finally felt Shen Siyi's arms encircle him did Song Nianxing's heart settle a little.

And along with that movement came Shen Siyi's words. "All right. Ah Xing said that himself~ such a good boy. From now on, keep being this good and stay by my side."

Forever and ever.