I Don't Look Down on You

After showering and changing into fresh clothes, the group prepared to head out.

Meng Wenzhou lay on the bed, pulling out his phone to message in the group chat.

Lonely Like Me: @everyone, you guys ready yet? Can we go?

Night Crawler: All set, good to go whenever.

Army Crusher: Just finished showering, wait for me to put on something stylish.

......

In Su Yang and Pan Ning’s room, the two had showered one after the other.

Pan Ning changed into a fresh beige-checkered maxi dress, wearing a pink hairband and white sandals, looking both sexy and adorable.

Su Yang, as usual, wore a loose black-and-white T-shirt and shorts, though he’d also switched to sandals.

“Done?”

“Yeah, you hold onto the room key.” Pan Ning stood in front of the mirror fixing her hair.

“Got it. Guess I’m the responsible one in this household.”

After finishing her hair, Pan Ning turned around and spread her hands, asking Su Yang, “Well?”

“I wasn’t gonna compliment you—didn’t want you getting cocky—but I can’t help it. Two words: heavenly beauty!”

“Pfft, smooth talker.”

“Seriously, those celebrities and influencers can’t hold a candle to you.”

“Living under the same roof as a goddess like you? My life’s complete~”

Pan Ning rolled her eyes again. “Enough nonsense, let’s go.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tonight’s the night I get you drunk.”

......

One by one, the group changed and gathered in the hotel lounge to wait.

It was 9:30 PM, and the spacious, luxurious lounge was filled with tourists, all seemingly prepped for a night out.

The appearance of Su Yang’s crew caused a noticeable stir among the lounge guests.

The reason? Aside from Liu Bo, who was average-looking, the rest of the group were exceptionally good-looking.

A crowd of attractive young men and women together was bound to draw stares.

Su Yang, Pan Ning, Zhang Ziming, Shen Yixue, and Liu Bo sat on the sofa sipping coffee while waiting for Meng Wenzhou.

Seven or eight minutes later, Meng Wenzhou finally made his grand entrance like the protagonist of some drama.

“One more minute and we’d have left without you,” Pan Ning said, glaring at him.

Meng Wenzhou grinned. “Hey, nature calls, cut me some slack. I was ready to go, but my stomach had other plans.”

He wore a loud, colorful short-sleeved shirt and equally flashy board shorts as he strutted over.

“Seriously, old Meng, wearing sunglasses at night? Can you even see?” Su Yang teased.

“If I can’t, you’ll just have to guide me. Sunglasses on—no distractions.”

“Fine, fine. So, where are we headed?”

“Follow me! I’ve already arranged things with the venue. Hey, Liu Bo, did you call the car?”

Liu Bo stood up. “The driver’s been outside smoking two cigarettes already.”

“Perfect, then let’s move!” Meng Wenzhou seemed like a whole new person since arriving in Lucheng.

Refreshed and energized, he led the way toward the hotel entrance.

The others followed, stepping outside where a black Alphard had been waiting.

Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at Lucheng’s famous Qinghai Bay.

This was the most tourist-packed spot in the city, the liveliest of all its bays.

Meng Wenzhou hadn’t booked their hotel here precisely because the crowds made for a less comfortable stay.

After getting out, they were met with bustling streets. Even off-season, the area was packed with people—handsome guys, beautiful girls, and foreigners all dressed lightly for the warm night.

Street vendors sold refreshing coconuts, chilled desserts, and other Lucheng specialty drinks.

The group followed Meng Wenzhou through the crowd, naturally splitting into three pairs:

Meng Wenzhou and Liu Bo took the lead, Zhang Ziming and Shen Yixue walked hand-in-hand in the middle, while Su Yang and Pan Ning trailed at the back.

At a coconut stand, Su Yang noticed nearly everyone on the street holding one. Never having tried fresh coconut water, he felt tempted.

“You want one?”

“Yeah, it’s boiling out here!”

“Alright. Boss, two chilled coconuts, please.”

The vendor, busy peeling another customer’s coconut, glanced up and grinned. “Coming right up!”

A few minutes later, their coconuts were ready.

“Here you go, handsome, beautiful.” The vendor handed them over.

“How much?”

“Fifteen each, thirty total.”

“Got it.” Su Yang scanned the payment.

Beep.

By then, the others had already vanished into the crowd.

“Whoa, where’d they go?”

“No clue. I’ll ask for their location.” Pan Ning pulled out her phone to message them.

Su Yang took a sip of his coconut, expecting the sweet, creamy taste of the packaged coconut milk he’d grown up with.

Instead, it was a clear, nearly flavorless liquid.

Huh? Just water? Damn, how clueless can I be? Thinking coconuts had milk inside… he mocked himself inwardly.

Pan Ning checked her phone. “They sent the location. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

The two strolled leisurely, sipping their coconuts.

After a couple of sips, Pan Ning frowned at hers, then suddenly snatched Su Yang’s coconut—ignoring whether he’d drunk from it—and took a sip.

Her expression brightened. “Mmm, yours is better. We’re swapping.”

Without waiting for his approval, she shoved her coconut into his hands and happily clung to his, drinking eagerly.

Su Yang froze, his heartbeat picking up. But knowing Pan Ning’s personality, he didn’t comment.

He watched her with amused fondness as she walked ahead.

The scene was so couple-like that passersby couldn’t help but stare. A few young guys shot Su Yang envious glares.

Unbothered, Su Yang caught up to Pan Ning and teased,

“Why’d you steal mine? I already drank from it—my saliva’s on that straw.”

“Yours tastes better. And so what if you drank from it? I don’t mind.”

Su Yang couldn’t help grinning. What’s her deal? Wait, let me check the system.

—System, show Pan Ning’s favorability.

[Pan Ning’s favorability toward host: 25]

—Huh? No increase? No way. There’s no freaking way this is 25-favorability behavior.

[System detection is normal. Host has no reason to doubt.]

—Not doubting you, just… confused about Pan Ning.

Su Yang glanced at her, baffled. He noticed she only acted this way with him.

Which made the 25 favorability even weirder. If Pan Ning liked him, the number should’ve gone up.

But Su Yang had tested it several times, and the result remained at 25—still stuck at the initial increase.

Su Yang couldn’t figure it out, so he decided to stop overthinking and test Pan Ning through action instead.

“How much longer?”

“Let me check.” Pan Ning picked up her phone and glanced at it. “Almost there. Just another five hundred meters. Looks like it’s by the beach.”

Su Yang nodded, thinking to himself, Should I try holding her hand over these last few hundred meters? If she pulls away, then the affection level really is just 25. But if she doesn’t, there must be some other reason she’s suppressing her feelings.

Lost in thought, he kept walking without noticing Pan Ning beside him.

Pan Ning quickly finished her coconut water and tossed the empty shell into a nearby trash bin.

When she looked up, she saw Su Yang walking ahead alone. She hurried to catch up, complaining, “Why are you walking so fast? Couldn’t you wait for me?”

“Huh?” Su Yang blinked, completely unaware that she had stepped away to throw something out.

Pan Ning shot him a glare—then did something he never expected.

Without hesitation, she reached out and looped her arm through his right one, pressing her side snugly against him.

It was the kind of intimate gesture only couples would make.

Su Yang’s heart skipped a beat, and his steps faltered.

“What’s wrong?” Pan Ning tilted her head up to ask.

“Uh… n-nothing. Let’s go.”

And so, the two of them walked closely pressed together toward their destination.

What the hell?! There’s no way this is just 25 affection points!

—System, confirm it again.

[Pan Ning's favorability toward Host: 25]

—Holy crap, is she trying to harvest my kidneys or something?

......