After he spat twice, Song Wangzhuo and Lin Sui’s expressions finally improved.
Though it was called a practical activity, everyone seemed more like they were on a spring outing—no, a summer outing.
Shen Yuqing felt that by the time they returned, he would have lost at least five or six pounds.
This level of physical exertion was unbearable for anyone.
They walked intermittently, and by the time the sky began to darken, they finally reached the entrance of the checkpoint.
“Why is there a sign here?”
Someone muttered under their breath.
Everyone crowded around it. The sign was quite clear: to pass the checkpoint, they needed to obtain a clearance permit 200 in total, limited in quantity, first come, first served.
It even helpfully pointed the way just to the left.
“There wasn’t anything like this in previous years. Why so flashy this time?”
Another person muttered.
However, the leader of Team 5A spoke up: “Let’s leave a few people here to keep watch. If anyone comes, notify the rest. The others, let’s go get the clearance permits first.”
No one objected. Among those who stayed behind, Song Lejin took one of the spots. He was already physically exhausted, and no one even considered bringing him along.
So, each team decided to use rock-paper-scissors to choose three people to stay.
Their team left behind Song Wangzhuo, Song Lejin, and a follower.
Shen Yuqing, Lin Sui, and another follower went to get the clearance permits.
Song Wangzhuo said, “I’ll go.”
Shen Yuqing privately didn’t want Song Wangzhuo and Song Lejin to stay together either. But on the way down the mountain, Song Wangzhuo had been helping carry his things, and by now, he was probably also feeling the strain.
He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the other team. They had left behind a beta and an alpha, while the alpha with allergies was in the group going for the permits.
None of those left behind posed any threat to Song Wangzhuo.
Shen Yuqing said, “I’ll go.”
But before leaving, he looked around and found a prime spot. He beckoned Song Wangzhuo over and placed his belongings on the ground. “Stay right here. Keep an eye on my stuff, and don’t move around unless necessary.”
This spot happened to be directly in view of a live-streaming camera high-definition, no less. He refused to believe Song Lejin would be reckless enough to act out in front of so many people.
Song Wangzhuo nodded. “Okay.”
Only then did Shen Yuqing follow Lin Sui in the direction indicated by the sign.
With six people gone, the scene grew quiet again.
Song Wangzhuo wasn’t much of a talker to begin with. The follower had been sternly instructed by Lin Sui to take care of Song Lejin, so naturally, he stuck close to Song Lejin and didn’t approach.
As for the other two teams, they weren’t familiar, so there was no interaction to be had.
Song Wangzhuo neatly organized their belongings, then looked up and met Song Lejin’s gaze.
The intense emotion in his eyes hadn’t yet faded, and he made no effort to hide it when Song Wangzhuo glanced his way. Song Wangzhuo calmly lowered his gaze, then, as if remembering something, looked up again. By then, Song Lejin had returned to normal, as if that earlier look had been nothing but a figment of Song Wangzhuo’s imagination.
But he knew it wasn’t.
Shen Yuqing followed the group to the left. Before long, they came across another sign.
It bore a single sentence, essentially boiling down to one word: “Search.”
Lin Sui said, “While there’s still light, let’s hurry up and search. Once we’re done, we can go back and rest.”
Without him saying anything, the others quickly scattered to both sides and began searching. Fortunately, they were lucky it took them only about ten minutes to find all the travel permits.
After everything was done, everyone relaxed considerably.
Lin Sui pulled Shen Yuqing to the back. “What’s up?” Shen Yuqing asked, puzzled.
Lin Sui hesitated before speaking. “Well… there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Shen Yuqing glanced at the others walking ahead and slowed his pace. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Lin Sui lowered his voice. “It’s nothing major, really. I just… I want to confess to Le Jin. What do you think?”
Shen Yuqing looked at him. “Huh? Didn’t you always say you were fine with just being friends? What changed today?”
“Who said I was fine with it?” Lin Sui sighed. “Listen, Le Jin mentioned he’s about to enter the matching pool soon. After thinking it over, even if nothing comes of it, I want to tell him how I feel before he finds his destined partner.”
He slung an arm over Shen Yuqing’s shoulder. “You know how unreliable my other friends are. That’s why I wanted your opinion.”
Shen Yuqing, unusually, fell silent.
Lin Sui didn’t miss his reaction. “You don’t approve?” he asked hesitantly.
Shen Yuqing snapped out of it and shook his head. “No, that’s not it.”
Lin Sui brightened. “So, you do support me confessing to Le Jin?”
Shen Yuqing shook his head again. “That’s not what I meant either.”
Lin Sui was confused. “Then what are you saying?”
Shen Yuqing grew serious. “This is something you need to decide for yourself. Others’ opinions will only cloud your judgment. If I tell you not to confess, you might regret it later, wondering ‘what if I had?’ And if I encourage you, but things go wrong and you lose even your friendship, you might resent me for supporting you.”
He met Lin Sui’s gaze. “So, I can’t give you an answer. It’s up to you.”
Truthfully, Shen Yuqing knew Song Lejin would never reciprocate Lin Sui’s feelings he knew exactly who Song Lejin liked: Pei Yiyan. The way Song Lejin looked at Pei Yiyan was completely different from how he looked at anyone else. But this wasn’t something he could just say outright.
Lin Sui fell silent, sighing. “This is really hard.”
Deep down, he knew confessing would likely end their friendship. Yet he still wanted to cross that line. He’d been agonizing over this alone for a long time.
But Shen Yuqing had a point this was a decision only he could make. To take the risk or maintain the status quo.
Shen Yuqing patted his shoulder. “There’s still time. No need to rush.”
Lin Sui nodded, then suddenly remembered something else. “I’ve been meaning to ask aren’t you and Song Wangzhuo a little too close?”
He glanced around and lowered his voice. “Did you sleep with him? Is that why you’re so protective?”
Shen Yuqing stumbled mid-step at those words, nearly face-planting onto the ground if not for Lin Sui’s quick reflexes catching him. “Why so flustered? Did I hit the mark?” Lin Sui teased.
“Can you stop thinking in such vulgar terms? Can’t people just be friends? You and I are close too should we tell everyone we’ve slept together?” Shen Yuqing swatted his hand away.
Lin Sui turned pale with shock: “Don’t talk nonsense! There’s nothing between us!”
If anyone heard this, he’d be done for!
Shen Yuqing rolled his eyes: “Then why were you spouting nonsense earlier? Now suddenly we’re innocent?”
Lin Sui pouted: “I just noticed that guy always sticking to you. Every time I turned around this whole trip, he was right next to you helping carry your things, doing this and that for you. It’s hard not to get the wrong idea.”
“Would you help carry my things if I asked?” Shen Yuqing questioned.
Lin Sui nodded immediately: “Of course.”
“Then what’s the difference? When you do it, it’s innocent, but when others do it, there must be something going on. What kind of double standard logic is that?” Shen Yuqing retorted. “Enough, worry less about my business and more about your own.”
After a moment’s thought, he lowered his voice and added: “Though from what I’ve observed, there seems to be an alpha in their team who’s also interested in Song Lejin.”
With that, Shen Yuqing patted Lin Sui’s shoulder and quickly walked away.
Lin Sui let out a frustrated sigh, his anxiety rising.
At least tell him who it is! Why run off like that!
