105. Gan Yi’s Night Tale

Chen Ruowen was too weary to engage with Geng Jiajiao’s bizarre train of thought. She pointed toward Guo Jingyuan and, as usual, introduced them to each other. When Kang Wenbo saw Guo Jingyuan, he seemed momentarily stunned, a subtle, strange expression flickering in his eyes—a nuance that Chen Ruowen, who had been closely watching his face, caught immediately.

Meanwhile, Geng Jiajiao paid no attention to Kang Wenbo’s change in expression; her gaze was fixed entirely on Guo Jingyuan. She first stared at her face, then, with a hint of frustration, lowered her eyes, glanced at herself, and finally puffed out her chest defiantly, clutching Chen Ruowen’s arm.

“Although you’re quite pretty, Ruowen is still mine.”

Chen Ruowen: …

Guo Jingyuan: …

Geng Jiajiao continued, “How long have you known Ruowen? We’ve been friends for nearly ten years!”

“We’ve been classmates since elementary school and stayed together in middle school. I even followed Ruowen through five school transfers—you definitely can’t compare with me.”

“And besides, I and Ruowen…”

Chen Ruowen was at her wit’s end. “Jiajiao, why do you have to pick on Yuan Yuan?”

“Yuan Yuan?” Geng Jiajiao echoed Chen Ruowen’s way of addressing Guo Jingyuan, her face wounded. “Ruowen, you only use reduplication to call people you really like. Before, only I and Bai Jinyan got to be called that way. And now you call her ‘Yuan Yuan’?”

Chen Ruowen felt utterly exasperated.

Fortunately, footsteps echoed outside the door, and Bai Jinyan finally arrived, fashionably late.

Catching sight of the familiar figure, Chen Ruowen’s eyes lit up. She quickly disengaged from the scene and ran to the hall entrance, throwing herself at Bai Jinyan.

“Finally, you’re here!”

Bai Jinyan smiled, stroking Chen Ruowen’s long hair. “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve just seen a savior.”

“Geng Jiajiao’s petty jealousy is acting up again. Come steady the situation and tell her I’m yours.”

“Better not,” Bai Jinyan joked. “If Jiajiao gets too mad, she’ll bite me, and I can’t hold a grudge against her.”

On the sofa, watching Chen Ruowen’s proactive behavior, Geng Jiajiao’s lips curled into a smug smile. She glared gloomily at Guo Jingyuan, losing the will to keep competing.

“Ruowen’s heart belongs to Bai Jinyan. We can only take the back seat.”

Guo Jingyuan didn’t know how to respond. Just then, Man Hao also arrived in the hall, and the group was finally reunited.

“Xiao Bing didn’t pass the SAT and was sent to tutoring by her mother, so she can’t come today,” Geng Jiajiao added belatedly.

Her seat had already been taken by Bai Jinyan—or rather, after Bai Jinyan arrived, Chen Ruowen had dragged him to sit elsewhere. Now, Geng Jiajiao sat between Guo Jingyuan and Kang Wenbo, clutching Kang Wenbo’s arm, but her expression was far from happy.

Song Yunhui was no longer making a fuss. He and Man Hao sat side by side in a corner, quietly playing finger games.

“Shall we eat first?” Chen Ruowen asked, counting heads.

It was just past one in the afternoon, and everyone was nearly starving. The suggestion met unanimous approval. Chen Ruowen called the administration office to order several dishes. The group headed to the dining hall together, excitedly discussing the afternoon’s plans as they happily enjoyed their lunch.

After a short rest, they went to the northern mountains, where several sports fields were nearby. Song Yunhui took Man Hao to play outdoor bowling, while Bai Jinyan and Kang Wenbo quietly played golf like two old men. Chen Ruowen pulled Guo Jingyuan along, determined to teach her horseback riding, with Geng Jiajiao chattering behind them.

“Sit up straight. Keep a straight line from your upper body down to your ankles. Your forearm and the reins should align. Use your legs to grip the horse’s belly and let it walk forward slowly.”

Leading the way on horseback, Chen Ruowen rode confidently ahead. Geng Jiajiao wobbled clumsily behind her, while Guo Jingyuan seemed uneasy, eyeing her little horse beneath her, trying hard to follow Chen Ruowen’s instructions.

“Don’t be so timid. I’m here; nothing will hurt you.”

With Chen Ruowen’s reassurance, Guo Jingyuan’s courage grew significantly, and her learning progressed quickly.

After some exercise and a bit of sweat, the women greeted the men and headed to the therapy area for hot springs and spa treatments. Guo Jingyuan was initially a bit reserved but gradually relaxed under the skilled hands of the masseuse.

Seeing Guo Jingyuan slowly blend into the trio of girls, Chen Ruowen proposed a group activity at the mountain villa that evening.

“How about board games?” Man Hao suggested first.

Geng Jiajiao immediately protested, “No! We always play that; it’s so boring!”

“Then the four of us guys can play mahjong?”

“No! Ruowen said everyone should play together!”

“You can play Landlord Poker on the side!”

If not for Kang Wenbo holding her back, Geng Jiajiao might have snapped at Man Hao.

“The scenery at Ganyi is so beautiful; staying indoors would be a shame,” Kang Wenbo said fairly.

Everyone agreed, but since they had already visited the hot springs on the east and the nearby southern hills during the day, going too far at night wasn’t feasible.

“Let’s go to the beach on the west side,” Bai Jinyan suggested after reviewing the Ganyi map in his mind.

“Beach… does that mean we have to wear swimsuits?” Geng Jiajiao suddenly asked.

Guo Jingyuan’s expression froze for a moment. She tightly gripped her skirt under the table, her whole body radiating refusal.

“Swimsuits?” Song Yunhui’s eyes brightened. “I want to see Ruowen in a swimsuit!”

Chen Ruowen sneered coldly. “Do you want to die?”

Song Yunhui instantly wilted, shaking his head sheepishly.

“I want… to live…”

Guo Jingyuan sighed in relief. The boys looked a bit disappointed. Geng Jiajiao quietly tugged Kang Wenbo’s sleeve, pouting.

“I want to see Ruowen in a swimsuit too.”

Kang Wenbo quickly covered her mouth, shooting apologetic looks at Chen Ruowen.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be swimsuits,” Kang Wenbo said. “At the beach, we can swim, play beach volleyball, or just sit by the shore and enjoy the sea breeze.”

Bai Jinyan liked swimming and nodded in agreement.

“It’ll get dark soon; even if we swim, it won’t be for long. After some exercise, we can have a bonfire party on the beach.”

A bonfire party?

Chen Ruowen thought that sounded quite nice.

Seeing Chen Ruowen nod, Geng Jiajiao immediately cheered and ran back to fetch her swimsuit.

Chen Ruowen didn’t plan to swim. She only changed into a beach-style dress in the evening—a sky-blue, semi-transparent flowing gown that fluttered like moving moonlight in the sea breeze.

Geng Jiajiao, Chen Ruowen’s number one fan, immediately crawled out of the sea and rolled over to Chen Ruowen’s beach chair, hugging her waist with a lovestruck expression.

“I’m a bit hungry. Who’ll go back to the dining hall to get something to eat?”

Chen Ruowen lazily sipped a glass of juice, reclining in the chair. Though she said she was hungry, she showed no intention of getting up.

“I’ll go,” Guo Jingyuan promptly volunteered.

Having done nothing all day at Ganyi Mountain Villa, she was already restless and gladly took on the errand.

“How much can you carry alone? I’ll go with you,” Song Yunhui shook his head and glanced at Chen Ruowen. “Ruowen, what do you want to eat?”

“Anything.”

“And drinks?”

“Red wine,” Chen Ruowen replied.

Without asking anyone else, Song Yunhui nodded and, with Guo Jingyuan, rode back on a small electric scooter.

After they left, Chen Ruowen set down her glass and patted Geng Jiajiao beside her.

“Call your Kang Wenbo over. I need to talk to him.”