Chapter Seventy-Seven: Xiaoqing's Hope? (First update of the day; asking for monthly votes.)

The first update of the day.

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Xiao Qing's Hope?

On Thursday night, Gong Gong's strange behavior left Chen Xiao deeply worried. He even regretted agreeing to his request, and for a moment he was tempted to quietly tell Old Tian or Zhu Rong about it.

And yet the next day, when he saw Gong Gong, there was not the slightest sign of anything amiss. He was still as he had always been, gently keeping Zhu Rong company, a broad-shouldered, rough-hewn man still wearing that obedient, delicate expression of his. Well, for Gong Gong, that counted as normal.

Saturday was Xu the Second's birthday. From the looks of it, Young Master Xu had poured a great deal of thought into this birthday party.

Hundred Isles Lake lay about a hundred kilometers from K City, a forty-minute drive. It was a southern freshwater lake famed for the excellence of its water, with beautiful scenery and crystal-clear waves. Best of all were the low rolling hills and slopes characteristic of the south, ringed around the great central lake, while on the water itself countless little islands dotted the surface like pearls scattered across a silver plate.

The islands on the lake were of all sizes. It was said that at the year's lowest water level, more than two hundred islands could be seen above the surface, and thus it had earned the name Hundred Isles Lake.

Such a blessed and beautiful place had been won two years earlier by the Xu family at a high price, acquiring the right to develop the land. After surveying the area, they chose several of the islands with the best geographic conditions and built a resort there. It had not yet officially opened to the public, so it was being used as a private treat first for the Xu family's young heir.

Foshou Island was the largest island on Hundred Isles Lake. The highest point on the island was a not-very-tall hill, and on its summit stood satellite and mobile signal towers. Below it was a small grove of trees. On the southern side of the island the land leveled out, where a row of vacation villas had been built, equipped with service facilities modeled after those of a luxury hotel. A dock had also been constructed on the lakeshore, with yachts moored there.

It could be said that this was absolutely the perfect getaway for the wealthy. The old man of the Xu family had indeed shown a remarkable eye in choosing this place in the first place.

Since the company's young prince had arrived with a crowd in tow, the resort staff on the island naturally did their utmost to receive them properly.

On Saturday afternoon, when Xu the Second and Chen Xiao's group arrived by yacht and disembarked on the island, all the staff had lined up neatly at the dock to welcome them.

Looking at the two rows of employees standing on the dock, lined up to greet them with bows and nods, Chen Xiao could not help sighing. "No need for such a grand display, Young Xu."

Xu the Second also felt a little awkward. Lowering his head, he said, "My old man agreed to let me use this place for a party, but he set conditions. The resort is officially opening next month, so this trip also counts as my coming to inspect the preparations here. Er... business and pleasure, both at once."

The people on the island this time were Chen Xiao, Xu the Second, Yaya, Bai Cai, Xiao Qing, Lu Xiao Xiao, and one more member: Jin Bu Huan, the karate club president, nicknamed Golden Never-Changes.

President Jin was also one of the few classmates Chen Xiao had at the Kide Academy with whom he could actually hold a decent conversation. He was a fairly straightforward young man; his family ran several car dealerships. His temperament was somewhat like Old Tian's, a kind and honest sort.

Jin Bu Huan and Xu the Second were on good terms. After Xu the Second and Chen Xiao withdrew from the karate club, he had even considered disbanding it. After all, most of the female members had signed up because of Chen Xiao and Xu the Second, the two great handsome men of Kide; once they left, the club's popularity sank badly.

The resort's largest villa was the one they occupied. The comfort and luxury of the place need not be mentioned. And since it was not yet open to outsiders, the group simply took over the best rooms in the villa, each balcony facing directly onto the lake, with an exceptionally open and refreshing view.

After everyone returned to their rooms to freshen up, they gathered again in the courtyard below. By then the sun was already tilting westward. At Xu the Second's orders, the resort staff had set up several barbecue grills in the yard, and the barbecue party officially began.

Since it was a barbecue party, Xu the Second simply dismissed all the staff. In his words, doing the grilling oneself was what made it fun.

Unfortunately, among them, Xu the Second and Jin Bu Huan were both young masters from wealthy families who, in daily life, did not even set foot in their own kitchens, much less know how to grill meat. As for Xiao Qing, the great expert, she spent most of her time devoted to martial training and naturally had no time to learn kitchen matters.

As for Teacher Monica... she did not mind helping. But after she turned the first chicken wing into a lump of charcoal...

Then there was Yaya. Her cooking was now good enough for fried rice. Barbecue, however, still required study.

In the end, only Chen Xiao and Bai Cai were left to shoulder the work of the cooks.

In front of the two grills, Chen Xiao and Bai Cai wore aprons and gloves, each holding a handful of chicken wings, bacon skewers, and other foods, busy to the point of delight. On the grills, tongues of flame licked and swallowed the meat, sending up wave after wave of fragrant aroma. Xu the Second then produced several bottles of premium champagne as if by magic, having people carry them out from the resort. With a bang, he opened one first, let out a howl, and began spraying champagne wildly at the others.

At first everyone laughed and dodged while cursing him, but then seeing that there were still more bottles on the table nearby, they simply rushed over, each grabbing one, popping them open, and spraying one another in return. In no time there was laughter and shouting all around, the atmosphere quite warm and cheerful. Even Xiao Qing, who was usually rather quiet, had more smiles on her face than usual.

The only one who was not entirely happy was probably Bai Cai. She had taken on half the cooking duties, and watching Xu the Second and the stunningly beautiful Teacher Monica each holding a bottle of champagne and spraying each other in childish little hops and skips, Bai Cai's face darkened. Gripping a small knife, she chopped viciously into a piece of beef.

Slice, slice, slice!

Chen Xiao, standing close by, saw it all and could not help but smile wryly in his heart. Young Xu had indeed calculated this rather well...

What also displeased Bai Cai was that while Chen Xiao was grilling, Yaya stood neatly beside him, quiet as a mouse, watching attentively. Now and then she would take a handkerchief and gently wipe away the soot that had drifted onto Chen Xiao's face, her expression full of sweet smiles.

Chen Xiao, for his part, would always take one skewer of the cooked food first and let Yaya taste it before anyone else. After watching for a while, Yaya even tried picking up raw meat and learning to grill it the way Chen Xiao did. At first she naturally could not grasp the heat well, but after some time, and with Chen Xiao teaching her hand in hand, she learned in a decent fashion. When Yaya finally grilled her first skewer of beef without burning it, and happily held it up to Chen Xiao's mouth for him to eat...

Bai Cai was already grinding her teeth!

Xu the Second was busy spraying champagne with Monica in return. Hmph! They were obviously flirting!

Lu Xiao Xiao and Xiao Qing were discussing martial arts, and Jin Bu Huan had joined them. After all, even if he was only the president of a karate club, he still knew a little theory, despite being a bit weak in actual skill. Besides, with the excited look on his face and his eyes constantly drifting toward Xiao Qing, even the blind could tell what he had in mind.

Only she herself was alone, all by herself...

While she was feeling wronged, footsteps suddenly ran up behind her. Turning around, she saw Xu the Second had set down his champagne and was standing by her side with a grin. Somehow he had produced a flower in his hand.

"Don't move."

Xu the Second stood very close, his voice especially gentle. He reached out, and before Bai Cai could even react, he had swiftly tucked the flower into her hair. Narrowing his eyes, he smiled and spoke in a low, tender voice. "I saw it by the woods just now. I thought it was blooming very beautifully, and it suits you perfectly."

Bai Cai's heart softened at once, but she still kept a straight face. "What about your pretty teacher? You don't need to keep her company?"

Xu the Second smiled slyly and leaned a little closer. "Can I take that to mean you're jealous?"

"Go to hell!" Bai Cai immediately spat and glared at him. "Dream on!"

"About you," Xu the Second said, his skin evidently thicker than most people's, pointing to his own chest. "I'm thinking about you. And you really are beautiful."

Before Bai Cai even realized it, her face had already gone red. She was just about to say something when she suddenly noticed Xu the Second standing ever closer and quickly stepped back, frowning. "Why are you standing so close? Move aside!"

By evening, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill. Every person's clothes carried the scent of champagne. A whole box of it had mostly been spilled onto their bodies; only a small part had actually gone into anyone's stomach. In the air, the aroma of barbecue mingled with champagne and smelled quite pleasant.

Xu the Second had drunk quite a bit. Though his tolerance for alcohol was good, tonight he had truly drunk two bottles of champagne, and now with the evening breeze blowing over him, he felt a little tipsy. Laughing, he said, "Such a lovely night and such a beautiful view. Why don't we play a game?"

They were all young people, and they had all come here to relax and have fun. Naturally, no one objected.

"What do you want to play?" Chen Xiao already knew this friend's flirtatious mind, but still asked politely for appearance's sake.

"Let's play hide-and-seek," Xu the Second said shamelessly, proposing such an old-fashioned game, instantly earning everyone's contempt.

He hurried to explain. "It's not that simple. Look, there are eight of us in total now. We can divide into four teams. We'll draw lots and form groups, two per team. Then we take turns being the seekers while the other teams hide somewhere on this island. One thing first: no hiding in the villa. Anywhere else on the island is fine. As long as you don't leave the island, that's all that matters. And finally, if the seekers win, there will be a reward!"

"What reward?" Lu Xiao Xiao asked.

"For the boys, they can demand a kiss from any lady present."

The reward Xu the Second announced immediately drew fierce opposition from all the women present.

"I am the birthday boy today," Xu the Second said thickly skinned. "Fine, then add one more rule. If the girl asked refuses, then she doesn't have to kiss, but she must accept a punishment instead. As for the punishment... put on a performance. Singing, dancing, whatever. Even breaking a stone slab on the chest is fine. How about it? Oke?"

Chen Xiao rolled his eyes directly. What a shameless thing to say, making a girl perform chest-breaking stone?

But the atmosphere was high, and the proposal barely passed.

However, when it came to drawing lots and forming teams, there was a small surprise.

Originally, Chen Xiao had hoped to be grouped with Yaya. After all, Yaya was too innocent and unfamiliar with many common things, so it felt safer to keep her close. As for Xu the Second, of course he hoped to be on a team with Bai Cai. Classmate Jin Bu Huan, meanwhile, was staring longingly at Xiao Qing...

Yet the draw produced this result: Chen Xiao and Xiao Qing in one team. Lu Xiao Xiao and Monica in one team. Xu the Second and Jin Bu Huan in one team. Bai Cai and Yaya in one team.

At this result, Xu the Second immediately stamped his feet and beat his chest in great regret. But none of the girls objected, so he could only let it be. As for Chen Xiao, with Yaya following Bai Cai, he could also feel at ease.

When dividing the teams into seekers and hiders, Chen Xiao and Xiao Qing drew the seeker lot first.

"The first round lasts forty minutes," Xu the Second announced the rules. "You wait here. Ten minutes later you may set out to look for us. If you cannot find everyone within forty minutes, you lose. Understand?"

The group scattered in all directions.

But Chen Xiao first tugged Bai Cai aside and chuckled, "Bai Cai, no cheating."

Meaning she was not allowed to use her invisibility ability. Otherwise, if Bai Cai really went invisible, then unless Chen Xiao used a detector, he would absolutely never find her.

Bai Cai harrumphed, took Yaya's hand, and quickly slipped into the woods.

"Ten minutes, huh." Seeing that only he and Xiao Qing remained, Chen Xiao smiled and handed her a glass. "What are you thinking about? If we lose, what will you perform? Are you going to do a set of boxing forms?"

Xiao Qing had drunk a little wine that evening, and a blush had spread across her fair face. She glanced at Chen Xiao and smiled calmly. "Do you think we will definitely lose?"

Having said that, Xiao Qing suddenly sat down on the spot, closed her eyes, and withdrew her smile, listening with rapt attention.

Her lips moved quickly. "One hundred paces due north... hmm, from the footsteps, two boys. Xu the Second and Jin the Fourth. Northwest, it sounds like two girls. And northeast..."

Chen Xiao cried out in exaggerated astonishment. "No way?"

"This is called hearing the wind to identify position," Xiao Qing said, opening her eyes with a faint smile. "I've trained it since I was little. I can hit flies with hidden weapons even with my eyes closed."

After a pause, she smiled again. "It just can't be too far away. If it's too far, I can't hear it. Anyway, this island isn't big. We'll just make a little noise on purpose later. As long as we startle them, I'll definitely be able to find them."

Chen Xiao sighed. "An expert. Truly an expert."

Xiao Qing stood up, her gaze falling on Chen Xiao...

The surroundings had already fallen quiet. The two faced each other for a moment, and Xiao Qing spoke softly. "Chen Xiao, let me ask you a question..."

"Hm?"

"Back then, you said you knew a girl who looked very much like me. Was... was she the one you loved?"

By the last few words, Xiao Qing's voice had become even softer, and her eyes seemed to avert themselves a little.

Chen Xiao froze. Xiao Qing's slightly shy gaze fell into his eyes, and in an instant his heartbeat began to race.

"Is it hard to answer?" A faint trace of disappointment flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes, and then she seemed to smile. "If it's difficult, then you don't have to say it."

Chen Xiao opened his mouth, but Xiao Qing spoke first. "Ah, ten minutes are up. Let's go look for them."

With that, she was the first to walk toward the woods, but after only two steps she turned back and looked at Chen Xiao.

Under the night sky, her cheeks were flushed with color, and her eyes were also filled with a faint mist and a hazy softness. It was impossible to tell whether it came from emotion or from the effects of alcohol.

"I... really hope we can win."

Hope we can win?

The winning team gives the boys the right to ask the girls for a kiss...

Did Xiao Qing mean that?

Chen Xiao stood there in a daze, but Xiao Qing did not wait for him to speak. She had already quickly entered the woods.

Taking a hard breath, Chen Xiao hurried after her.

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