Chapter 74: Confessions on the Mountainside

The next morning, on the other side of the city.

Saint Cherry Academy’s summer camp was all about sightseeing. Today’s destination was Qingling Peak, a 4A-level scenic area. Gu Qianqian, Xia Xingyan, and Lin Xiaolu followed the class group, trudging up the mountain trail under the scorching sun.

Three hours later.

Gu Qianqian dragged a large bag of food, squeezed out of the souvenir shop crowd with sweat dripping, and plopped onto a stone bench halfway up the mountain.

“I’m dead tired. Climbing a mountain is more exhausting than going on a mission.”

She grumbled while pulling things out of the bag. Two bowls of cold noodles, two hot dogs smothered in ketchup, and a bowl of spicy potato wedges. Finally, she popped open a soda can and slid it in front of Xia Xingyan.

“Eat up. If we don’t recharge, we’ll have to roll down the mountain.”

Xia Xingyan sat in the shade, holding a wooden chopstick, staring blankly at the cold noodles. Hearing the voice, she slowly responded and picked up a couple of noodles to eat.

“This scenic spot is a total ripoff.” Gu Qianqian angrily stabbed a potato wedge. “For this little amount, they charged me almost two hundred.”

Xia Xingyan chewed the noodles, silent for a moment, then spoke quietly.

“Sorry, I made you spend money this time. When the GSA salary comes next month, I’ll pay you back double.”

Gu Qianqian waved her hand dismissively.

“Don’t be so polite with me. I’m poor, but I can still afford to treat you to a meal. Besides, keep your salary for yourself. Your family situation…”

She paused, then asked, “I heard from Commander Qin that your parents took people to apologize to you? With the Xia family’s huge fortune, they shouldn’t be shortchanging your allowance now, right?”

“I didn’t take their money.” Xia Xingyan’s voice was cold. “I hate that place, and I don’t want any financial ties with them anymore. Even a single cent feels disgusting to hold.”

Gu Qianqian pursed her lips. She didn’t fully understand the grudges of the wealthy, but she could feel Xia Xingyan’s resoluteness.

“Alright, you’ve got spirit. From now on, I’ll take care of you. You won’t starve.”

She patted Xia Xingyan’s shoulder. But she noticed Xia Xingyan was still distracted.

Since they started climbing, Xia Xingyan had been frowning. Earlier, when they passed the monkey area, a few wild monkeys rushed to grab their bags. Normally, Xia Xingyan would have kicked them away. But today, she froze and almost got scratched. Lin Xiaolu had to chase the monkeys off.

“Xingyan, what’s wrong with you today?” Gu Qianqian put down her hot dog and looked at her face. “You’re a million miles away. Are you still worried about your family’s mess?”

Xia Xingyan took a sip of soda but couldn’t suppress her inner irritation.

“It’s not about family.” She looked toward the distant peaks.

“Then what? Don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on some handsome guy?” Gu Qianqian joked.

Xia Xingyan was silent for three seconds, then said in a low voice, “I’m annoyed at Shen Tinglan.”

“Huh?” Gu Qianqian froze. “Deputy Captain Shen? What about her? She’s pretty professional, bringing equipment and monitoring. I think she’s really dedicated to the captain.”

“That’s exactly the problem.” Xia Xingyan grew anxious. “That wicked woman has ill intentions toward the captain. While I’m away these days, she’ll definitely take advantage and harbor bad thoughts about the captain.”

Gu Qianqian almost choked on a potato wedge. She coughed violently, eyes wide.

“Ill intentions? Xingyan, isn’t that a bit serious? Deputy Captain Shen is a Tianxing-level big shot sent by headquarters. What bad intentions could she have? Does she want to usurp the captain’s position?”

Xia Xingyan shook her head, expression extremely serious. “Not that kind of ill intentions.”

“Then what kind?”

“She likes the captain.”

Gu Qianqian relaxed and burst into laughter.

“I thought it was something serious. Isn’t that obvious? The captain is so cute and strong, who wouldn’t like her? Lin Xiaolu has always wanted to pinch her soft cheeks, and I think her tsundere act is funny. That’s called charisma, understand?”

“No, you still don’t get it.” Xia Xingyan explained. “The kind of like I’m talking about is wanting to possess the captain, wanting to kiss her, hug her, even do more things.”

“Pfft!”

Gu Qianqian sprayed the soda she just drank.

She didn’t bother wiping her mouth. “Really? A romance? But they’re both girls! Is Deputy Captain Shen a…”

Xia Xingyan snorted coldly. “I trust my instincts. The way that woman looks at the captain is like a hunter staring at prey, with an aggressiveness. Plus the determined look on her face when she moved into the apartment, I’m absolutely sure.”

Gu Qianqian was dumbfounded. In her mind, she pictured Shen Tinglan’s elegant, mature face, then compared it to Hua Mu’ai’s pink-haired loli.

The image was too shocking. Could those two really be together?

“No way, I think you’re overthinking…” Gu Qianqian still found it hard to believe.

“The captain is very innocent.” Xia Xingyan clenched her small fist. “She can’t see through Shen Tinglan’s disguise. That wicked woman is deeply scheming. She’ll deliberately act gentle to bewitch the captain. I’m afraid by the time we get back from camp, the captain’s purity will be ruined.”

Gu Qianqian looked at the angry girl. Where was the ice queen now? Xia Xingyan’s brows were twisted, her tone sour enough to dip dumplings in, like a lioness whose territory had been invaded.

Something was off.

She used to think Xia Xingyan was just aloof, with a fan-like admiration for Tian Lanxing. But now, this level of attention was clearly excessive.

Why was Xia Xingyan so furious about Shen Tinglan liking the captain?

A bold idea suddenly popped into Gu Qianqian’s head. It grew like wild grass, instantly taking over her thoughts.

“Xingyan…” Gu Qianqian probed. “You’re so nervous about Deputy Captain Shen. Could it be that you also have feelings for the captain?”

Dead silence enveloped the stone table.

Xia Xingyan froze. She hadn’t expected Gu Qianqian to ask so directly. She opened her mouth to refute, but the words got stuck.

Images kept flashing through her mind: the captain riding a bicycle from behind, holding her hand tightly at the engagement banquet, and that smile like salvation in the aquarium.

Xia Xingyan’s cheeks turned bright red.

She lowered her head, stirring the cold noodles, her voice barely audible.

“I just… just… don’t want her to be fooled by that wicked woman.”

Gu Qianqian gasped.

This was solid proof!

She watched Xia Xingyan’s bashful demeanor, and a storm raged in her heart.

Oh my god, Xia Xingyan actually likes Tian Lanxing!

And it’s a love that transcends gender!

Gu Qianqian felt her worldview crumbling.

That tsundere loli captain, what would she think if she knew two women were jealous over her?

After digesting the information for a while, Gu Qianqian half-joked.

“Xingyan, you really kept that hidden deep. If that’s the case, Deputy Captain Shen is indeed a formidable opponent. You might lose.”

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