“This brat, he can’t be thinking about reuniting with Shen Xi in the Underworld, can he?”
Staring intently at that attached photo, Song Qiuyu’s heart began to beat faster and faster.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became of her guess. Her eyes darted about in a panic, hands lost and restless, until at last she jumped up from her chair in fright.
She couldn’t sit still any longer.
“Little Keqing, what’s wrong?” The Store Manager was startled by her sudden movement.
“Sorry, Store Manager, something urgent came up. I have to go out for a bit. I don’t have time to change clothes. I’ll be back as soon as I handle it!”
Song Qiuyu didn’t care about anything else, bolting out of the store.
Fortunately, her workplace wasn’t far from Moon Viewing Cliff.
She sprinted the entire way, but before long, her left foot twisted badly.
She’d really sprained it!
It hurt so much.
“Damn it!”
While running, she kicked off her black high heels.
Since the heels belonged to the Store Manager, she couldn’t just leave them behind, so she gripped them in both hands and kept running.
“Jiang Xiao, you’d better not be in trouble!”
Song Qiuyu gritted her teeth and pressed on, ignoring the pain.
She limped up the long staircase, her face etched with pain and anxiety as she looked desperately towards the mountain peak.
The night wind was cool, blowing her long purple hair behind her, swaying like seaweed on water.
“If you really jump, I…”
She bit her lip, clenched her fists, tears blurring her eyes.
Her feet, clad only in sheer stockings, pounded up the steps. Before long, her soles began to ache.
But she seemed oblivious, running even faster toward the top.
Though it was late, the tourist area was even more crowded. On her way up, she passed many tourists descending, and just as many ascending.
Everyone stared at her in surprise and curiosity. Some even snapped pictures of her.
But she was like a gust of wind, brushing past them without sparing a glance.
She didn’t know how long she ran, but finally, she reached the summit.
She stopped, gasping for breath, sweat soaking through her black stockings.
“Where is he…that guy…huff, huff…”
Panting, her face flushed, she lifted her phone and checked her surroundings, confirming Jiang Xiao’s location. Slowing for a moment, she sped up again, hurrying toward him.
Soon, she spotted Jiang Xiao’s slim figure standing at the edge of the cliff.
On the chair behind him, a bag lay open, with dozens of empty beer cans scattered inside. Roughly counting, he’d drunk at least ten.
At that dinner the other day, he’d said he didn’t like alcohol, and now he’d downed so many at once.
What’s more, both hands gripped the railing, as if he meant to climb over.
“Jiang Xiao, don’t—!”
Song Qiuyu’s suspicions were confirmed; her pupils dilated.
Without a second thought, she dashed over.
Though drunk, Jiang Xiao clearly heard the hurried footsteps behind him, so he turned slightly.
His black hair whipped by the wind, his vision blurred. He could vaguely make out a figure running toward him.
That figure looked so familiar.
“Jiang Xiao! You have to live—don’t you dare jump!”
Song Qiuyu threw her arms around Jiang Xiao from behind, dragging him away from the cliff’s edge.
The moment that unfamiliar softness pressed against his back, Jiang Xiao’s body stiffened. He didn’t resist, letting her pull him along.
Lowering his eyes, he recognized her. Wasn’t this the coser from this morning?
Did this girl know him?
But his mind, dulled by alcohol, couldn’t process what to say.
Song Qiuyu didn’t care what Jiang Xiao was thinking. Her only thought was to get him away from this dangerous summit.
She wasn’t strong; if Jiang Xiao insisted, trying to stop him might just let him have his wish and reunite in the Underworld.
On the same year, same month, same day.
Song Qiuyu wouldn’t allow that to happen.
Once they were far from the edge, she wiped the sweat from her face and let go of Jiang Xiao’s waist, quickly saying, “Jiang Xiao, pull yourself together!”
But Jiang Xiao was far too drunk.
She moved to his front, took one of his arms, draped it over her shoulder, and supported his waist with her other hand. “I’m taking you away from here!”
The smell of alcohol clung to Jiang Xiao, making her uncomfortable, but his weight pressing down on her shoulders was even worse.
“Ugh, you’re so heavy!” Song Qiuyu muttered in annoyance.
She was supporting a drunkard, carrying black high heels, walking barefoot on the hard ground, and after that frantic dash, her vision was starting to go black.
Was this karma?
Song Qiuyu could only accept it.
For now, the only option was to get Jiang Xiao to a hotel.
After catching her breath by the roadside with Jiang Xiao, she steadied herself and moved on.
The two black high heels dangled in front of Jiang Xiao’s eyes. Drunk and groggy, he squinted slightly.
The girl’s shoes, her hair, and her whole body gave off a faint warmth and fragrance.
Blended with the night wind, the scent lingered at the tip of his nose.
Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes.
His companion was nervously supporting him, step by step, down the mountain path, lips pressed tightly together.
Her actions showed no attempt to hide her concern for him.
This person had come for him. She thought he was going to jump, so she’d rushed to save him?
Jiang Xiao felt dazed for a moment, fragments of memory surfacing in his mind.
He didn’t play games much. Every game he played, it was Shen Xi who got him into it—including Genshin Impact.
Of all the game characters, Keqing left the deepest impression on him, because for a while, Shen Xi really liked her.
He’d once thought about gifting her a Keqing cosplay outfit, but felt too embarrassed to bring it up.
In the end, he never did…
The night wind carried the scent of alcohol, making it stronger.
He gazed out at the city lights below. The loneliness and sorrow he’d felt earlier seemed to fade—because now, someone was with him.
And for some reason, this person felt very familiar.
“Xi’er…have you come back?”
Jiang Xiao’s muffled mumble sounded by her ear.
Of course, Song Qiuyu wouldn’t answer yes. She had no idea what was running through Jiang Xiao’s head. All her nerves were focused on being careful with every step.
Such a long staircase—one wrong step, and the two of them could tumble all the way down.
And that would be the end.
After using up almost all her energy, Song Qiuyu finally helped Jiang Xiao safely to the foot of Moon Viewing Cliff. She was utterly exhausted and could hardly walk any farther.
Her feet were sore and aching, and the soles of her stockings seemed to have holes in them.
She had no choice but to find a nearby hotel and go in to check in.
“You just said how much for one night?”
After hearing the hotel attendant’s quote, Song Qiuyu’s poor wallet trembled in fear.
“You heard right, miss. It’s one thousand five hundred yuan,” the hotel attendant replied with a straight face.
“Hiss…”
The way these scenic area hotels extorted people was truly worthy of their reputation!
Song Qiuyu turned to leave.
But as soon as her foot hit the floor, the pain made her gasp. With tears in her eyes, she had no choice but to accept this hotel.
She couldn’t make it to any other hotel, and even if she could, all the hotels in the area were overpriced.
But her poor wallet simply couldn’t cough up that much money.
Maybe she had one last option.
“Store Manager, help me, please!” Song Qiuyu promptly called the Store Manager.
Since this was an official job, they’d signed a contract beforehand, with copies of her student ID and identity card on file.
The Store Manager wasn’t worried she’d run off. Hearing her request for an advance on half her wages, and recalling her anxious look earlier, he agreed right away.
That meant half of her total seven-day pay.
She’d be working part-time at the tourist spot all through the National Day Holiday.
As soon as the money arrived, she spent it without even having time to warm it in her hands.
The hotel room was about the same as the one they’d stayed in after the rainstorm before, only five times the price.
After experiencing such pain, Song Qiuyu swore never to spend another cent in the tourist area. If she did, she’d be a dog.
“Jiang Xiao, be careful!”
After closing the door, Song Qiuyu bent down and set the black high heels on the floor.
With her hands free, she helped Jiang Xiao towards the big bed.
“Xi’er…”
As she struggled to ignore the pain in her feet, Jiang Xiao suddenly grabbed her hand—the one supporting his waist—with his free hand, leaned his head close to her ear, and whispered.
The words made Song Qiuyu freeze. All the blood in her body seemed to flow backwards, leaving her icy cold.
No, calm down. Jiang Xiao was just drunk and babbling nonsense. She hadn’t slipped up and revealed anything!
She kept her composure and continued helping him toward the bed.
But as she tried to lay Jiang Xiao down, he grabbed her smooth, soft hand with a grip like iron, then suddenly twisted, pinning her beneath him on the bed.
“Jiang…Jiang Xiao?”
Feeling the soft mattress at her back, Song Qiuyu looked up at Jiang Xiao hovering over her, eyes widening in shock.
Her mind went completely blank with fear.
For a moment, she had no idea what he wanted.
Jiang Xiao’s other hand rested on her shoulder, as if he’d finally gotten a long-awaited toy, but cherished it more than a mere toy.
His fingers traced the line of her exposed shoulder, gently kneading it.
“Mm…”
Song Qiuyu shuddered, realizing the situation was going very wrong. Then Jiang Xiao drew even closer, pressing his handsome face down until their breaths mingled. His body lowered atop hers.
“Xi’er, please don’t go again…stay with me, accompany me.”
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