The Sunken River's Ke

"Wherever Ye Shuang goes, I go," Bai Yuyou said. For her, it didn’t matter where they went—as long as she was by Ye Shuang’s side, that was enough.

"So, where should we go? Aren’t there a few visa-free countries we can visit lately?" Ye Shuang asked Chen Qin.

"Hmm… how about our family’s private island?" Chen Qin suggested after a moment’s thought. After all, she had traveled to so many countries for business that she was a bit tired of them.

Besides, the food wasn’t all that great either.

"Chen Qin-jie, your family owns an island?!" Tang Keke was stunned.

She knew Chen Qin was wealthy, but she never imagined she was that wealthy.

"A foreign business associate gifted it to my dad. Apparently, he bought it in the 90s for just over a million dollars," Chen Qin explained, though she wasn’t sure what its current value was. The island usually generated income by offering vacation rentals.

"Just over a million dollars…" Tang Keke tried to imagine the purchasing power in the 90s… but then again, she hadn’t even been born back then.

"Come to think of it… Ye Shuang, you’ve never been there, have you?" Chen Qin smiled playfully at him.

"With all your family’s properties, I only vaguely knew about it. Plus, I’m not much of a traveler," Ye Shuang said.

He was the quintessential homebody.

Still…

Taking Yuyou out for a trip was necessary. Emotional fulfillment was important, and while photos of scenic places could be found online, the experience of actually being there was entirely different.

"Where’s the island? Hawaii?" Ye Shuang asked.

"It’s in the Bahamas. I’ll just contact the management company to arrange the flight route, and we can take the private jet there," Chen Qin said.

"You have a private jet too?!" Tang Keke’s mind was blown.

"It’s just more convenient, though we can’t fly it wherever we want," Chen Qin replied.

Just more convenient…

"How much does one of those cost?" Tang Keke suddenly felt like she was face-to-face with a rich young mistress straight out of a novel… Wait, hadn’t she just called Chen Qin the "Dark Cuisine Overlord"? Would Chen Qin-jie hire an assassin to silence her later?

In her imagination, Chen Qin sat regally on a throne in a red leather outfit, cracking a whip against her butt.

"Crack!"

"Tie this brat into a sack and toss her into the Pearl River!"

"Yes, ma’am!" Several burly men in sunglasses immediately stuffed her into a burlap sack.

"HELP—"

……

"Chen Qin-jie, please forgive my ignorance!" Tang Keke trembled and immediately prostrated herself in apology.

Chen Qin blinked. "…?"

"A private jet would definitely cost several million," Ye Shuang answered Tang Keke’s earlier question.

"Several million…" Tang Keke’s family didn’t own one, but it didn’t seem that expensive—maybe comparable to a high-end sports car?

"Dollars," Ye Shuang added.

Tang Keke: "…"

Okay, yeah, that was insanely expensive.

"Right?" Ye Shuang asked.

"I dunno, maybe six or seven million?" Chen Qin wasn’t entirely sure. Hers was a fairly standard business jet—aside from important occasions, she usually just flew commercial.

Besides, the private jet was a money pit. Just keeping it parked at the airport cost a fortune every day.

Not that it came out of her allowance or dowry savings, though.

"Oh, it’s getting late. I should head out." Chen Qin checked her watch and quickly finished her sandwich, washing it down with a large glass of iced soy milk.

"Ye Shuang, feel free to invite more people for the trip. I’ll get going now."

"Alright, be safe," Ye Shuang said.

"Heh."

After slipping on her heels, Chen Qin was out the door.

"Brother…" Tang Keke stared at the closed door and suddenly spoke up. "I’m not gonna end up in the Pearl River tonight, am I?"

Ye Shuang: "…?"

"Anyway, we’ll discuss the trip later. Keke, you should also talk to your family about it tonight."

"T-talk about what? My last words?!"

Ye Shuang flicked her forehead. "What nonsense are you thinking? I mean the trip. Since we’re going abroad, you’ll need your parents’ permission, right?"

"Wait, I’m going too?" Tang Keke rubbed her forehead, surprised.

"Didn’t Chen Qin just say we could invite more people?" Ye Shuang replied. "Unless you already have summer plans?"

"Well, I was supposed to visit my grandpa in the countryside… but it’s not like I have to go…"

"Are you sure?" she asked tentatively. "I don’t have much pocket money left, though."

"You don’t need to pay."

"Hehe."

"Alright, it’s about time to leave." Ye Shuang cleared the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. Because of the stalker incident, he had been driving the two girls to and from school lately.

When they arrived, Ye Shuang smoothly parked in his usual spot—sandwiched between two brightly colored microcars.

"…" After getting out, he stared at the two tiny cars, lost in thought. "Two…"

"Ye Shuang, what are you thinking about?" Bai Yuyou tugged at his sleeve.

"Oh, nothing." He snapped out of it and smiled.

"Hurry up. Isn’t today when grades are posted? Give me some good news later."

"Mm!" Bai Yuyou nodded.

Tang Keke, however, was less confident. "Ugh… Am I gonna get held back?"

"If that happens, Yuyou will be my senior!"

"It’s okay," Bai Yuyou reassured her softly.

"Next year, you’ll pass…"

"Waaah, that’s not comforting at all!" Tang Keke wailed. Bai Yuyou’s words made it sound like she was doomed to fail this time, instantly ruining her mood.

"Go on, now," Ye Shuang urged.

"Fine. Bye, brother!"

"Mm."

After absorbing some more energy from Ye Shuang’s hug, Bai Yuyou finally let Tang Keke pull her away.

……

The grade rankings were posted on the bulletin board on the first floor. When the two girls stepped out of the elevator, they saw a crowd gathered around it.

"So many people!"

"Keke, let’s go…"

"Okay!"

"Excuse me, excuse me!" Tang Keke tried to pull Bai Yuyou through the crowd.

But her strength was no match for the packed students, and she got shoved back!

"Oof!"

"Keke, I’ll do it." Bai Yuyou took Tang Keke’s hand and pushed forward instead. Yuyou was surprisingly strong, effortlessly making her way through—her expression calm beneath her bangs, her gaze steady. For some reason, Tang Keke felt a strange sense of security.

Yuyou…

She’s kinda cool.