Senior, please carry me up.

Two hours later.

At the foot of the familiar mountain.

Screech!

The pink microcar slammed to a halt!

The tires left two shallow gray marks on the asphalt.

The driver's door opened first.

A fair, slender leg stepped out elegantly, a white short skirt swaying gently in the mountain breeze.

The silver-haired girl stood still, her delicate hands casually tidying her long ponytail that had been messed up by the wind, a satisfied faint smile hanging on the corners of her mouth...

She looked entirely refreshed and composed!

The passenger door also opened, and Fang Qi squeezed out of the car.

He stood up straight and stretched his somewhat stiff shoulders.

He glanced at the tightly closed rear windows of the pink car, listening to the sobbing and hoarse voice coming from inside...

"Senior... help me... I'm going to die..."

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

...Why was Liguang driving?

The reason for this was a bit complicated.

It was...

Something that happened about an hour and a half ago.

...

Fang Qi had one hand on the steering wheel, the other elbow resting on the car window frame, the corners of his mouth turned up, exuding an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

Thrilling.

...So freaking thrilling!

Although he wasn't exactly a street racer, this little car was simply too fun to drive!

What man doesn't have a street racing dream!

Of course, in principle, he was still a law-abiding citizen who didn't want to attract attention!

But sitting in his passenger seat was a super AI wife!

In principle, it was a no-go, but Liguang would constantly tell him... whether the principles were present or not.

"Master, there is a speed camera five hundred meters ahead, speed limit is sixty."

"Master, there are no cameras at this intersection."

"Master, you can drive as fast as you want on this stretch of road."

...And then Fang Qi would just slam the accelerator all the way to the floor!

This pink hot hatch, heavily modified by Lin Xiaoyou, would let out a deep electric motor roar!

The car would turn into a pink flash of lightning, speeding up to two hundred kilometers per hour even on empty country roads!

Although he didn't dare to push it to four or five hundred like Lin Xiaoyou, two hundred was exhilarating enough!

The push-back feeling pinned him firmly into the seat, his adrenaline soaring, making him feel like he was about to take off!

Yet the chassis remained as stable as if it were glued to the ground!

It felt so good he wanted to roar out loud!

Although Lin Xiaoyou's character wasn't the best...

Her taste in car modification was just as excellent as her brain!

But his speeding caused Lin Xiaoyou to not dare lie down on the back seat.

She knelt backward on the back seat, her knees pressing against the seat gap, her hands tightly gripping the rear headrests...

Leaving the spot that had endured three rounds of spankings completely suspended in the air.

Those almond eyes were looking out through the rear window.

"Wow, Senior, you're actually pretty smart!"

Lin Xiaoyou had even given him a rare compliment back then.

"Knowing that the people from Dawn and Twilight have sensitive identities and wouldn't dare to cause trouble on the streets, you actually thought of using traffic lights to shake them off?"

"Alright, I admit, Senior, you're not a stupid pig!"

"As expected... I still like you, Senior!"

As soon as Fang Qi heard that, he knew things were about to go south.

Sure enough, Liguang spoke up gently right on the spot!

What did his wife say at the time?

"Master, driving fast all the time must be very tiring, right?"

"Master has already shaken off the people behind us, you are amazing."

"Let Liguang drive now, Master can take a good rest."

Her tone was incredibly gentle!

Her expression was also extremely obedient.

But Fang Qi knew his wife was definitely up to no good.

However, having driven the passionate fast car for so long, he was indeed a bit tired, so he switched seats with Liguang.

And after that...

Lin Xiaoyou's miserable screams became the background music for the rest of the journey!

"Awoo!"

"Ah!"

"Yah!"

Fang Qi sat in the passenger seat, silently gripping the seatbelt and the handle.

Silently watching the speedometer needle on the dashboard soar wildly!

He swore, his crazy wife was definitely doing it on purpose!

Because Liguang would choose the perfect moment to accelerate based on Lin Xiaoyou's posture in the back seat!

Whenever Lin Xiaoyou finally managed to adjust to a less painful position, the car's speed would suddenly spike!

That spot which had suffered three rounds of beatings would solidly crash into something!

And when Lin Xiaoyou placed cushions at the very bottom and lay down steadily...

Liguang would start slamming on the brakes!

As for overtaking, sharp turns, running over speed bumps...

Those were just basic operations!

And so...

Lin Xiaoyou screamed until her voice went hoarse.

...

Click.

A sound brought Fang Qi back to reality.

The rear door finally opened.

A small foot wearing a canvas shoe extended out from the door first, stepping tremblingly onto the ground...

Then came the other one.

And then, a pair of small hands desperately grabbed the car door frame...

Lin Xiaoyou practically crawled out of the car!

Her hair was completely disheveled, her almond eyes were red, and her two pale little legs were trembling violently as she stood on the ground!

As soon as she found her footing, she stumbled, almost falling flat on her face!

Holding onto the car door, her small round face was filled with utter despair...

"Senior..."

"I'm really... going to die...!"

"Help...!"

Her voice was hoarse.

The silver-haired girl just smiled, even gently stroking a strand of silver hair at her temples.

Fang Qi leaned against the car, arms crossed, looking at her speechlessly.

...Didn't you bring this entirely upon yourself!

He glanced at the genius young lady and said in an exasperated tone:

"You just had to provoke Liguang? Where did your high emotional intelligence go?"

Lin Xiaoyou sniffled, and then tears just fell straight down!

"High emotional intelligence... what high emotional intelligence!"

Her almond eyes glared at Fang Qi, her tone indignant and sorrowful:

"That high emotional intelligence, I learned it from Aunt Su, from your mom!"

She raised a hand and haphazardly wiped the tear tracks off her face!

"That was all fake!"

"It's not like I really have high emotional intelligence!"

She complained while crying!

"I've always been a quiet loner! Since I was a kid, all I knew was reading books and doing test papers! Those were all an act! An act!"

"I, I, I... Waaah!"

She burst into tears again!

Fang Qi: "..."

You know what, she actually...

Actually made a lot of sense!

If this girl really had high emotional intelligence, how could she repeatedly seek death and offend Liguang so thoroughly!

In the previous loops, she even used such an offensive way to test the waters!

Lin Xiaoyou gritted her teeth and tremblingly straightened her body!

One hand holding the car door, the other wiping her tears, she sniffled and looked at the lush green mountain in front of her.

That winding path upward was faintly visible among the dense woods...

Her eyes instantly went dead!

"Boohoo... I can't climb the mountain..."

Both of her legs were shaking!

Then she turned her head, her almond eyes looking straight at Fang Qi, her small round face full of pleading.

"Senior, how about... you carry me up?"

She even tremblingly reached out both hands toward Fang Qi!

Fang Qi: "?"

He looked at those outstretched hands...

And was shocked!

No, what was this girl talking about?

He stared at the shivering round-faced girl!

You just got beaten for three rounds!

Your butt is swollen!

Your voice is hoarse from screaming!

And now, you still dare to seek death?!

This, this, this...

Is this right?!

This is no longer just low emotional intelligence, is it?!

...Huh?!

On purpose...?

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes and stared at her.

Lin Xiaoyou, you're not scheming something again, are you?!

But the next second...

"Miss Lin."

Fang Qi didn't even see how Liguang appeared beside Lin Xiaoyou!

It was as if she had teleported!

She reached out and firmly grabbed Lin Xiaoyou's arm!

The pleading expression on Lin Xiaoyou's small round face froze instantly!

"Wait, wait, wait! Sister Liguang!"

"I misspoke! I misspoke..."

Liguang straightened her waist, thrust her shoulder, and cleanly hoisted Lin Xiaoyou's entire body onto her shoulder!

That's right, hoisted!

The movement was as smooth as flowing water, done in one breath, just like carrying a sack of rice!

"Awoo—!"

A hoarse howl!

Lin Xiaoyou was slung upside down over Liguang's frail shoulder, her two fair little legs kicking helplessly in front of Liguang!

Her head hung backward, her black hair dangling in the air, swaying wildly!

Tears streamed from her eyes from the pain, and she begged desperately with her hoarse voice:

"Sister Liguang! Change positions! Please, change positions! Carry me on your back, okay?! It really hurts to death like this—!"

Fang Qi watched the scene before him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

A delicate, silver-haired little beauty, valiantly carrying another round-faced little beauty on her shoulder...

This image repeatedly bounced between being an eyesore and pleasing to the eye!

And Lin Xiaoyou, what on earth was she...!

He tilted his head slightly, looking down at Lin Xiaoyou on Liguang's shoulder.

"Lin Xiaoyou."

Fang Qi's voice suddenly deepened as he glared down at her!

A fake smile curled at the corners of his mouth!

"This time, if you try any more of your tricks..."

He glanced at a certain someone's noticeably swollen area...

Liguang also understood and lightly slapped the exposed half of Lin Xiaoyou's fair thigh resting on her shoulder.

"Smack!"

Lin Xiaoyou shuddered instantly!

Her small round face immediately squeezed out a flattering smile, and her hands waved desperately!

"H-how could I! How could there be any tricks! Absolutely no problems! I promise! I swear! I swear on my driver's license—"

Fang Qi: "?"

Wasn't your driver's license revoked ages ago?!

He glared at her. "What driver's license do you even have!"

"...Then I swear on Xiaoqing's driver's license!"

Lin Xiaoyou tried hard to raise her head, cheekily holding up a finger, then her almond eyes curved as she returned to her playful self:

"Besides, Senior, I still have so many things I want to ask you! Really! So, so many!"

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a few seconds.

He found it a bit hard to believe.

He couldn't help it; she had been too troublesome in the previous loops...

He had to be on guard!

However...

Forget it.

As long as his wife was happy.

Maybe Lin Xiaoyou just had some special little fetish?

Getting a thrill out of being bullied by Liguang?

Tsk...

Lin Xiaoyou, you'd better not cause trouble for me!

"...Let's go, Liguang. Carry her, we're heading up."

"Yes, Master."

The three of them began to climb up the winding mountain path.

The afternoon sunlight spilled through the gaps in the tree canopy.

Occasional bird calls came from the forest, mixed with Lin Xiaoyou's groans and whimpers on Liguang's shoulder.

"Ouch... Liguang, walk a bit steadier...!"

Fang Qi, on the other hand, looked at the scenery before him, slightly distracted.

This was the third time walking this path.

This time, it was a different experience again.

He walked beside Liguang, with Lin Xiaoyou slung over her other shoulder, while Liguang's small hand on this side...

Was still holding his hand!

The small hand in his palm was soft and warm.

Fang Qi glanced at Lin Xiaoyou, whose hair was hanging upside down, and suddenly felt...

Quietly climbing the mountain like this, listening to Lin Xiaoyou howl from time to time...

It was truly a rare moment of peace!

Although they encountered some minor troubles on the road, they should have shaken them off, right?

However...

He looked up the mountain path toward the direction of the cabin.

...Gu Xi.

This time, would Gu Xi still be waiting for him there?

And...

He turned his head again to look at Lin Xiaoyou on Liguang's shoulder.

"...Xiaoyou."

He suddenly spoke up.

"There's something I'm a bit curious about."

Lin Xiaoyou was being bounced around until she was dizzy. Hearing this, she reluctantly raised her head, her almond eyes full of mist:

"Wh-what...?"

"Earlier in the car, and when we were at your house..."

Fang Qi looked into her eyes.

"Why didn't you proactively ask about your father?"

Her previous display of deep concern regarding news of her father was definitely not an act.

But from then until now, she hadn't asked a single question!

"You should be very concerned about it, right?"

Fang Qi stared at her and asked.

Lin Xiaoyou's expression froze slightly.

She was silent for a moment, and the mist in her almond eyes seemed to grow heavier.

Then she turned her face away, burying it in the long silver hair on Liguang's shoulder, her voice muffled.

"There are some things that can't be clearly explained right now."

Her tone became uncharacteristically serious, devoid of her usual playfulness.

"Wait until you go to the underground research institute, wait until you've seen everything you need to see and know everything you need to know... then I'll ask."

"When that time comes, I have a lot of questions I want to ask you."

Her voice became even more muffled:

"In fact, I probably won't even need to ask; you'll definitely tell me...!"

Fang Qi raised an eyebrow slightly.

...So confident?

"But right now... Awoo!!"

She suddenly tilted her head, her almond eyes widening!

"Awoo! Liguang, change positions!"

"It hurts so much poking my stomach like this!! Switch shoulders! Switch to the other side!!"

Her two legs started kicking wildly again!

The corner of Fang Qi's eye twitched.

...Fine!

Fang Qi looked at Lin Xiaoyou's exaggerated reaction, which was obviously a deliberate attempt to change the subject, and shook his head...

Then he retracted his gaze.

It didn't really matter anyway!

Since they were already here.

Since she was in Liguang's hands now anyway.

Later, there would be plenty of time to make her talk!

He raised his head and looked toward the top of the mountain.

That winding path, that lush forest, and...

That faintly visible cabin.

Back here again.