Chapter 163
Shen Yiqing seemed to be holding a necklace in his hand, strung on a black cord. He grasped the pendant in his palm, revealing only a faint trace of green.
Xie Mi recalled.
She remembered that Shen Yiqing often wore shirts or casual sweatshirts, and perhaps because the necklines weren’t low, she had never noticed a necklace on him.
But once, during a tug-of-war game at the beach, the physical movements were vigorous enough that she had caught a glimpse of a black cord around his neck.
Could that have been this very necklace?
She didn’t dwell on it. Wealthy people liked wearing small accessories—it was normal.
“So… did you hear the question I just asked?”
Xie Mi leaned over the bamboo wall with both hands, legs swinging leisurely, showing no intention of getting down.
The man in the water paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up to meet her gaze.
His peach-blossom eyes shimmered like water, breathtakingly beautiful, radiating an intoxicating glow.
“Yes. I saw you when I was eight.”
Unexpectedly candid.
It was the answer she had anticipated, yet it still made her pause and reflect briefly.
Under the moonlight, the hot spring water emitted a misty steam around the man. His black wet hair dripped with water, giving him an almost enchanting, spirit-like allure.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
Xie Mi looked at him. “You saw me at eight, and I look exactly the same now. Aren’t you afraid?”
Over a dozen years had passed, yet she showed no sign of aging, clearly surpassing the normal bounds of human growth. Was he really not afraid?
She stared directly into his eyes, unwilling to miss any emotion in them.
“I was afraid.”
He said.
“When you suddenly disappeared, I was afraid.”
“Afraid I would never see you again.”
Xie Mi’s expression froze.
She suddenly remembered that she had indeed left without saying goodbye. Though it had been unavoidable due to urgent circumstances, to little Shen Yiqing, her disappearance must have seemed abrupt.
“So…”
Shen Yiqing stared at her, his beautiful eyes overflowing with deep, unspoken affection.
“Every day I see Teacher Xie again…”
“I’m happy.”
Xie Mi leaned on the bamboo wall, staring back.
“Then why didn’t you tell me from the beginning? Why did you hide it every time I tried to probe?”
“Because from the first moment I saw you, I knew you hadn’t experienced the story of our first encounter yet.”
“So you didn’t tell me, afraid it was too absurd and I wouldn’t believe it?”
“Not at all.”
He smiled lightly, warmth spreading in his eyes.
“I believe that with Teacher Xie’s unique mind, no matter how ridiculous the story, you would listen carefully and think it through.”
“Then why not tell me?” Xie Mi asked in confusion.
“I didn’t want Teacher Xie to go through our first encounter knowing everything in advance.”
…
Xie Mi was silent for two seconds, then suddenly understood.
Got it.
Shen Yiqing was exactly the type of person who hated spoilers when watching TV.
“You really know how to keep things hidden, making me guess so hard,” Xie Mi said, teeth tingling with frustration, but the fog in her heart had completely lifted.
This sense of sudden clarity felt quite good.
Except…
“I remember back then I asked you to call me Sixth Sister, right?” She smiled faintly, her eyes narrowing into a dangerous glint.
“But last time at the beach filming, what did you call me? Six-Six?”
Shen Yiqing smiled beautifully and turned to look at the bright moon, naturally changing the subject.
“Teacher Xie, isn’t the moonlight beautiful tonight?”
“Stop changing the topic! Back then you obediently called me ‘Sister,’ and now you’re so bold, calling me Six-Six? You’re outrageous!”
“Hiss… this fruit slice is good, very sweet. Teacher Xie, do you want some?”
“Ah really? I’ll get some too… I said, stop changing the topic!!”
“The watermelon is really sweet.”
“Oh right, when I left so suddenly at age eight, I forgot to tell you something. Back then, I saved you, right? I wanted to make a contract with you, that when you grow up you’d give me twenty million in gratitude for saving your life…”
“These grapes are good too.”
“OK, wait, I’ll climb over and get you!”
…
For the next while, the surrounding hot spring guests heard splashing water, a girl’s shouts, and a man’s laughing submission.
“Alright, alright, I was wrong, I was wrong.”
…
The guests couldn’t help but smile knowingly.
So sweet~
…
The next morning, the highly anticipated first-phase final party of Love Observation started on schedule.
The production team extravagantly booked the entire southern side of the resort, decorating it lavishly and rolling out red carpets. Even the staff were in suits and gowns.
Xie Mi stood at the red carpet entrance, wearing SpongeBob pajamas and flip-flops, holding a half-bitten apple, utterly shocked.
“Director Niu and the assistant director are getting married? A banquet today?”
Director Niu, almost losing his composure, shouted: “It’s the final party! The final party!!”
The assistant director hurried to explain: “Teacher Xie! I’m innocent! I’m innocent with him!!”
Now it sounded even stranger.
Director Niu was furious: “Just shut up!”
[I knew the Tomahawk Steak CP was real]
[Tomahawk Steak, hahahaha Tomahawk Steak]
[Now I understand what this show is about—it’s in love with the production team]
[Hahaha, killing me!]
[But why am I, Teacher Xie, in pajamas and flip-flops at such a grand event? Where’s the stylist? Did my stylist pass the expiration date already?]
[No, no, no, no]
The audience saying “no” clearly noticed Shen Yiqing entering behind Xie Mi.
He wore a black home outfit, walking lazily, with black slippers.
[Damn it, here we go again]
[What are you doing to your perfect bodies!!]
[No, still wrong]
Behind Shen Yiqing entered Liu Woxing, in a pale green ankle-length nightgown, long hair down, and a completely bare face.
Seeing this, Xie Mi was slightly stunned, standing awkwardly. “Ah? This is…”
The remaining guests followed: Qiu Chengye in golden dragon-embroidered pajamas, Lai Bingxuan in exquisite silk robes, Yu Jinzhe in dark blue striped pajamas, Xiao Jingxi in black pajamas with gold trim, Xu Shuangrong in simple white nightgown.
It was essentially a full-fledged pajama party.
Yet this group of plain-faced, pajama-clad guests stood on the luxurious red carpet, as extravagant as a gala.
[Damn it, Director Niu, you dare trick me!!]
