Su Cheng is the kindest~

In a certain valley.

Su Cheng arrived at the central area with two beautiful women in tow.

The surroundings were elegant, with lush trees and sunlight filtering through the branches, casting a serene and warm ambiance over the mountainside.

Perhaps due to the presence of the two "tigresses," they didn’t encounter any snakes or other wild animals along the way.

This disappointed Su Cheng greatly—he had been hoping to showcase his masculine bravery, but within a hundred-mile radius, not a single creature dared to show itself!

"Truly worthy of being called the kings of beasts," Su Cheng muttered under his breath as he walked ahead, using a stick to clear the path. He couldn’t help but glance back at the two women and sigh.

"That look in your eyes feels insulting," Gu Ruoxue frowned, as if she had read his mind, her voice icy.

Su Cheng’s expression turned sheepish, and he quickly waved his hands in denial. "No, no! I was just admiring the scenery—it’s breathtaking here."

"Indeed. How could we leave without capturing such beauty?"

Ji Qingyi, holding Su Cheng’s instant camera, adjusted the lens as she walked before letting out a sigh of admiration.

Su Cheng had taught her how to use the camera earlier, and she had picked it up quickly, mastering the basics in no time.

For some reason, though, she seemed to prefer Su Cheng’s instant camera over Gu Ruoxue’s professional DSLR.

Maybe she found the instant print-out more convenient—just shake the photo and it develops. But this also revealed her lack of expertise in photography.

Gu Ruoxue made no comment.

The difference between a high-end DSLR worth thousands and a cheap instant camera couldn’t even be measured in magnitude.

"Still, you were lying just now," Ji Qingyi said, pulling out a freshly developed photo and shaking it as she walked beside him. She handed it to him. "You always make that face when you’re being insincere. I may not know exactly what you’re thinking, but I can guess well enough. So, were you just badmouthing me?"

Su Cheng felt a pang of embarrassment. He was realizing that these two women could see right through him—his thoughts, his lies, everything.

Who could understand this feeling?

In response, he quickly changed his approach. "I was just thinking… even though we’re deep in the mountains, we haven’t seen so much as a large hare. It must be because your auras are so overwhelming that they don’t dare come near. That’s why it’s like this."

Ji Qingyi ignored his nonsense. Instead, she glanced at the photo in Su Cheng’s hand and asked, "This was my first attempt at taking a portrait. Why is it so shaky and blurry?"

Su Cheng looked down at the photo.

"Is that… me?"

The photo showed him from behind—carrying a backpack and holding a stick as he led the way through the forest. But because he had been walking so quickly, only a blurred silhouette remained.

"I’m not really an expert when it comes to photography," Su Cheng admitted, shaking his head. Then, he pulled out Gu Ruoxue’s DSLR. "Maybe you should try this one instead?"

"Hmm."

Instead of taking the camera, Ji Qingyi turned her gaze toward Gu Ruoxue ahead of them and said, "Since this is your camera, Director Gu, I assume you’re well-versed in its use. Would you mind taking a photo for me? As a memento of this trip."

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of scrutiny and curiosity as she looked at Gu Ruoxue, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Gu Ruoxue could easily discern the intention behind that look.

But as the person in charge of this outing, she had no choice but to comply.

So, without hesitation, she agreed.

Ji Qingyi handed her the camera and added, "The sound ahead—like the shattering of a silver vase and the rush of water—must be a waterfall, if the records are correct. Let’s take the photo there."

She pointed forward.

Gu Ruoxue nodded and led the way.

Su Cheng followed closely behind.

The three of them made their way through the ancient, secluded forest.

Before long, Gu Ruoxue stopped beside a river.

A waterfall cascaded gently, its spray shimmering in the light. The sound wasn’t particularly loud, yet Ji Qingyi had been able to hear it clearly from miles away.

Was this some kind of superhuman hearing?

Ji Qingyi stood before the waterfall, her hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, her hands clasped naturally in front of her. She exuded an air of nobility and grace.

Gone was her usual cold, aloof, and domineering demeanor—instead, she seemed almost tranquil.

Su Cheng, standing beside Gu Ruoxue, found himself momentarily dazed. He had never seen Ji Qingyi like this before.

Had this trip somehow softened her?

He stole a glance at Gu Ruoxue.

She was handling the camera with utmost professionalism—adjusting the focus, framing the shot, fine-tuning the settings.

It was textbook perfection.

But then, Ji Qingyi, standing before the waterfall, reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A faint smile touched her lips as she murmured, "Standing alone feels a bit too lonely."

Without waiting for a response, she gestured for Su Cheng to join her.

Su Cheng froze, then glanced at Gu Ruoxue, who showed no reaction. He looked back at Ji Qingyi, hesitated, then reluctantly walked over and took his place beside her, standing to her left.

"You can take the photo now."

Ji Qingyi's voice rang out, but Gu Ruoxue acted as if she hadn't heard it. She set down her bag, pulled out a collapsible tripod, and secured her camera in place.

Under Ji Qingyi's puzzled gaze, Gu Ruoxue positioned herself beside Su Cheng, standing tall and straight, with each of them maintaining a two-fist distance apart.

As they waited for the camera to snap the photo, Su Cheng suddenly felt an inexplicable urge. The thought of the three of them standing so rigidly for the picture struck him as unappealing.

So… he inexplicably wanted to reach out, wrap his arms around both women, and pull them closer to his sides.

All it takes is a little courage…

No!

What would the consequences of that be?

And most crucially, he didn’t even have the strength to grab both women by the shoulders and pull them toward him.

After all, he hadn’t been able to budge Gu Ruoxue with both hands earlier.

Forget about trying to manage one in each hand now!

So, Su Cheng could only suppress the impulse and stand stiffly in place.

Click!

The shutter sounded. Gu Ruoxue was the first to return to the camera, picking it up to review the shot. Her expression turned slightly odd as she remarked, "Not bad."

She noticed that Su Cheng in the middle looked extremely tense, his fists clenched as if wrestling with some bold decision.

But she said nothing more, simply handing the camera to Ji Qingyi.

Ji Qingyi took one look, her expression flickering through a range of emotions before settling back into her usual aloof detachment. She gave Su Cheng a meaningful glance. "Minister Gu’s photography skills are truly impressive."

"You flatter me."

Gu Ruoxue gave a faint nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Su Cheng, oblivious to the fact that his subtle reactions had been noticed by both women, also picked up the camera and praised, "Nice, very nice! Really good!"

………………

After the photo session, the trio resumed their journey.

Su Cheng led the way, Ji Qingyi fiddled with the camera behind him, and Gu Ruoxue observed their surroundings, jotting down notes in a notebook. Their figures moved in a loose procession, strolling leisurely while taking in the scenery. Occasionally, birds flew overhead, their calls adding to the serene atmosphere.

After a long while…

They crossed the mountain and arrived at a small town.

The town was called "Shangfu Town," not too remote, as it was a necessary stop on the way to the Peach Blossom Spring. Consequently, it was bustling with tourists and served as a scenic spot, with buses from Guping District making stops here.

Since they planned to fish at a nearby reservoir around noon, they checked into a hotel for a short stay.

After Su Cheng completed the check-in formalities at the front desk and handed the room key to Gu Ruoxue, she took Ji Qingyi upstairs.

Meanwhile, Su Cheng used the public restroom in the lobby and then waited for the two women.

Will they end up fighting if left alone together?

As he sat in the lobby, his mind wandered into wild speculations.

Soon, the two women descended, and he quickly stood up to join them.

After checking out, the three of them, now wearing masks, headed toward the nearby reservoir.

The town was located northwest of the Peach Blossom Spring.

Of course, fishing here wasn’t free—it cost 200 yuan per person for the day, which included a boxed lunch.

At least accompanying guests didn’t have to pay.

Prices in tourist spots were always exorbitant, and Su Cheng could understand that. What else could you expect in a scenic area?

After paying, the three stepped into the vast reservoir area—only to freeze in surprise. The place was packed, rows of umbrellas and lounge chairs stretching out before them.

"Are there even any fish left here?"

Su Cheng, completely inexperienced, looked utterly bewildered as he voiced his confusion.

"How about that bend near the dam? Fewer people there, and it’s a good spot for fishing," Ji Qingyi suggested.

Su Cheng nodded and was about to head over when he realized Gu Ruoxue was missing.

"Huh?"

He glanced around but saw no sign of her. "Where’d she go?"

"She stopped by the fishing gear stall," Ji Qingyi said, pointing at a small vendor stand not far away.

Following her direction, Su Cheng spotted Gu Ruoxue crouched in front of the stall, interacting with a tabby cat.

"Is she a cat person?"

Su Cheng blinked, unable to resist the quip.

"That’s a rather fitting term," Ji Qingyi agreed, approving of the description.

As the two approached, Gu Ruoxue retrieved a can of cat food from her backpack, opened it, and began feeding the tabby.

She carries cat food with her?!

Su Cheng was stunned, but the real shock came next.

The tabby meowed—

"Meow~ Meow~"

—and Gu Ruoxue, cheeks slightly flushed, actually meowed back, gently stroking its head.

Was this some kind of feline duet?

The contrast, the sheer absurdity of the scene—

My heart can’t take this.

"Meow~ Meow~"

The tabby responded in kind.

Then, as if sensing something, Gu Ruoxue looked up at Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi. She straightened up, her usual cool demeanor instantly restored, and asked impassively, "Have you picked a fishing spot yet?"

Her demeanor made it seem as though nothing had happened at all—as if the gentle way Gu Ruoxue had just stroked the cat’s head and meowed had been nothing but a figment of their imagination.

"Meow."

Ji Qingyi uttered the word with a completely blank expression and zero emotion. Beside her, Su Cheng startled for a moment before realizing what was happening and mimicking Ji Qingyi’s icy tone, also spitting out a single word: "Meow."

In an instant, Gu Ruoxue’s expression froze.

Unexpectedly, a faint flush of embarrassment crept onto her face. She lowered her head slightly, glancing at the cat by her feet, her voice stiffening as she asked, "Have you two made your choice?"

"Yes. Though I have no experience, I trust my luck."

With that, the three of them headed toward their chosen fishing spot.

Coincidentally, a middle-aged man was nearby. Seeing the trio wearing masks and hiding their appearances—coupled with the two girls’ particularly striking auras—he couldn’t help but stare a little longer.

"Is this your first time fishing here?"

"Yeah, it’s our first time. First time fishing, actually," Su Cheng nodded and replied.

Hearing this, the man immediately adopted the tone of a seasoned veteran. "If it’s your first time, you should’ve done some research first. Look at you—anyone would think you’re here on a date! Bringing two young ladies along? No way you’ll catch anything. Fishing requires absolute focus!"

As if to emphasize his point, he nudged his own haul with his foot and added, "Here, if you can’t catch anything, just pick one of mine. I’ll give you a discount."

His bragging couldn’t have been more obvious.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ruoxue immediately spoke up. "Sir, please mind your words."

Ji Qingyi remained silent, her expression unreadable, not even sparing the man a glance as she stood quietly beside Su Cheng.

Worried that this bold man might end up being fed to the fish in the reservoir, Su Cheng quickly waved his hands. "No, no, that won’t be necessary."

He took off his backpack, pulled out a few small stools, and handed one to each of the girls. After sitting down, he smiled at the man and said, "Thank you, we appreciate the offer."

But internally, he had already decided to play a little prank on this clueless man to appease the two girls. Otherwise, if Ji Qingyi made a single phone call later, this guy might never fish again in his life.

"Hah."

The man chuckled dismissively and went back to his fishing, completely ignoring Gu Ruoxue’s warning.

The reservoir was quite spacious, and the trio sat in a triangular formation. Ji Qingyi stared at the water, lost in thought, while Gu Ruoxue noticed the cat had followed them and began petting it.

"I’ll make this quick—aiming for a few plump fish," Su Cheng declared, pulling out a cheap collapsible fishing rod from his bag and casting the line without hesitation.

The man beside them watched Su Cheng’s clumsy casting technique—and the fact that he hadn’t even bothered with bait—and couldn’t hold back his laughter.

After a hearty laugh, he turned to Su Cheng and said, "Kid, slow down. Forget about chumming—you’re not even using bait! What, are you trying to imitate Jiang Taigong, fishing without a hook? This is hilarious."

Su Cheng shook his head, reeled in his line, and gestured for everyone to take a closer look.

It wasn’t a hook anymore—it was a needle.

Gu Ruoxue and Ji Qingyi stared at the "hook," noting not only the absence of bait but also the fact that it was completely straight. Their expressions turned odd, as they both guessed Su Cheng was about to employ some bizarre ability.

Gu Ruoxue, however, seemed slightly displeased.

Ji Qingyi, on the other hand, looked thoughtful, a hint of interest in her eyes.

"Straight?!"

The man beside them gasped in shock before blurting out, "Are you out of your mind?"

Instead of getting angry, Su Cheng laughed, shaking his head as if pitying the man’s ignorance. "Hooks are too cruel. I know the pain of a fishbone stuck in the throat all too well. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you—or in this case, unto fish. So I’ve chosen a straight needle! Old man, I hope you’ll put down your rod too."

As Su Cheng spoke these words, it was as if a golden light enveloped him—his fishing rod transformed into Buddhist prayer beads, the reservoir became the Great Thunder Monastery, and the two girls beside him turned into acolyte attendants.

Su Cheng, the living Buddha, preaching enlightenment to the masses!

The man was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality and cursing, "You’re insane."

A vein throbbed on Gu Ruoxue’s forehead.

Ji Qingyi narrowed her eyes at the fishing rod and murmured, "Truly remarkable."

Su Cheng grinned, feigning humility as he turned to Ji Qingyi. "I just don’t want the fish to suffer."

"If you’re not here to fish, then get lost. Don’t ruin my mood," the man grumbled, clearly irritated by the group’s antics disrupting his peace.

"I am here to fish."

"If you can catch anything with that, I’ll jump in and bite your hook myself—let you reel me in for fun!" the man snapped before refocusing on his own fishing.

"I believe my words just now, if heard by the fish in this reservoir, would move them to tears of gratitude," Su Cheng said with a sly smile, his tone dripping with mischief.

Today, he was all about redemption.

"You're out of your mind."

The middle-aged man next to him stared at Su Cheng in disbelief.

Suddenly, Su Cheng stood up, empty-handed, and walked to the water's edge, pretending to rinse his hook. Then, straight from his system space, he conjured a fish out of thin air.

And then—

"How did it end up in my hand before I even cast the line?"

Su Cheng exclaimed in mock surprise, holding up a massive fish weighing over ten pounds.

The uncle nearby was utterly stunned, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. Pointing a trembling finger at Su Cheng, he stammered, "Y-you... you... you..."