Wang Qiqi listened to the birdsong outside the window and was about to roll over and go back to sleep. She was utterly exhausted, more tired than pulling an all-nighter to make money. Wang Qiqi felt that what she had said yesterday must have excited someone too much, nearly pushing her past her limit. However, the man finally reassured her, “Qiqi, don't worry, I won't let that happen.”

Wang Qiqi was too tired even to speak; she just instinctively reached out and touched Han Tao’s face. “I know, I know. If it really happens, we’ll just let nature take its course.”

Wang Qiqi fell asleep after saying this. She didn’t know that her last sentence kept Han Tao awake for a long time. If she had said that at the beginning, Han Tao might have thought she was trying to comfort him, but this last remark before she drifted off to sleep—he knew that came from Qiqi’s true heart. He held her tightly all night, which was one of the reasons Wang Qiqi felt so worn out.

Wang Qiqi emerged from the room, her eyes still hazy. She expected Shi Man to tease her, but after a brief exchange, she realized Shi Man and Feng Xuanxiang were in an even worse state. “Did you guys... have too much of that certain thing?” A certain someone looked decidedly unsatisfied, cough, no, she supposed she was overthinking it. It must be that the previous night’s conversation with Wang Qiqi had prevented the other two from sleeping well.

Shi Man weakly shook her head at Wang Qiqi. “We didn’t rest well. The moment I close my eyes, I dream that I’m heavily pregnant.”

Shi Man truly couldn't sleep; she felt her miserable days were imminent. Although Feng Xuanxiang had said that if a child did result and it wasn't suitable, they should consider terminating it, the reluctance in his tone made Shi Man unwilling to lose the potential child. Yet, she knew it was impossible for her to actually carry the baby to term; she was a student, even if she was willing to abandon her studies.

She could perfectly imagine the faces her relatives would make.

“It’s a phase we have to go through eventually. Besides, maybe it’s just delayed. It hasn’t been unprecedented before.”

Wang Qiqi offered comfort. Though Manman hadn't said it aloud, Wang Qiqi knew their choice would definitely be termination. Manman was different from her; once Wang Qiqi made a decision, Wang Damei and the others couldn't do anything about it. But Shi Man had parents to consider, many things to weigh.

“I hope so,” Shi Man murmured low. What was supposed to be a pleasant outing had turned into this.

“Let’s eat. Oh, by the way, let’s eat dinner before we go back. My Old Feng and I need to catch up on sleep later.”

Shi Man hadn't slept well all night, and she knew Feng Xuanxiang hadn't either. Even though he had held her tight, the way his hand kept patting her stomach showed he hadn't actually slept. He couldn’t drive in that condition; neither of them had rested properly.

“You two go have fun,” Shi Man looked so depleted that Wang Qiqi lost any appetite for going out.

She brewed a pot of tea and settled onto the balcony, watching the scenery below. “The people below are watching the scenery. We are sitting on the balcony watching their scenery.”

Everyone was scenery in someone else’s eyes. Although Wang Qiqi felt a bit regretful that she couldn't go out and enjoy herself properly—especially since the sun felt so wonderfully warm on her skin outside, coupled with the gentle breeze—Shi Man was in no mood. If she and Han Tao went out to have fun, Shi Man might feel even worse. Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi sighed.

Han Tao sipped his tea very leisurely, gazing at the view. Sitting and appreciating the scenery wasn’t bad at all. He realized how long it had been since he last felt this relaxed, without having to worry about this or that. Since childhood, he had too many things to consider; once he grew up, his days were spent thinking only of making money, his mind never able to settle.

“What’s wrong?” Han Tao wondered why she suddenly sighed when everything was fine. “Be careful, sighing too much makes you age faster.”

“Such beauty before me, yet I can only... alas,” Wang Qiqi looked mournfully at the vibrant, blooming scenery below, filled with sorrow.

Han Tao recalled Wang Qiqi excitedly planning during their walk on the small path yesterday: they would rent a boat and row on the lake, capturing all the beautiful views. Now, she was confined to the balcony. “Let’s go boating. The weather is too nice to waste it by sitting on the balcony drinking tea like an old couple.” Such an activity could be done at home; why travel so far for it?

“Manman probably wouldn’t want to see us having fun while she’s unhappy either.”

Wang Qiqi glanced at the boats on the lake, then at herself confined in this small room. After a long pause, she felt the lake’s pull growing stronger. “It is a bit of a waste. Let’s go down and row.”

Fearing they might upset Shi Man and the others, the two carefully went downstairs and took a long detour. It felt a bit like when she was a child and her parents wouldn’t let her go out, and she’d sneak out with the help of her playmates. “It feels just like being in school again.”

“When you were little, you were a quiet child; you rarely went out.” Han Tao hadn’t learned much about Wang Qiqi, despite being neighbors for so long. He only knew she didn't romp around during holidays like many kids but often stayed home. Many people in the neighborhood first thought of Wang Qiqi as a quiet, shy girl. Those who looked deeper considered her too introverted. Of course, after some of Wang Qiqi’s later actions, they secretly muttered that the girl was quite wicked, not expecting her to be lurking below.

“I wasn't very healthy as a child; my mother worried I’d be bullied by other kids...” Wang Qiqi recalled having complained about her parents as a child and sneaking out with friends, only for things to turn bad every time. “Now, I want my parents to supervise me, but I can’t even find them.”

Seeing Wang Qiqi’s expression darken, Han Tao knew she had stumbled upon unhappy memories. “Should we rent a motorized or a manual boat?”

“Motorized. I worry that neither of us can row the boat back.” While a manual boat had character, Wang Qiqi doubted Han Tao possessed the skill to get them out and back safely.

Han Tao had actually wanted to try rowing manually to get a picture of him rowing for Qiqi, but he hadn't expected his girlfriend to undermine him so quickly. “I’ve rowed before; my technique is quite good.”

Wang Qiqi was surprised that the man knew how to do that, but the question remained: “When and where did you row?” Don't force it, Wang Qiqi thought. If something went wrong, there would be no one to call for help; it wasn't summer for them to just jump in and swim back.

“Third grade. Don't you remember the lake at Zhongshan Park where we could rent boats?” Han Tao stated very seriously. “We went there often for spring and autumn outings, didn't we? I rowed every time.”

Boating wasn't expensive then, and the cost was split among eight people. Elementary school? And on that artificial lake? My heavens, from the shore, you could clearly see the clothes people on the other side were wearing; you could tell how small that lake was. Rumor had it the deepest part was barely two meters. “An artificial lake versus a naturally expanded and modified lake—do you think they compare?” Wang Qiqi said with utter disdain. The deepest part of this lake was reportedly over twenty meters. Wang Qiqi had no desire to die during the best time of her life.

Han Tao looked miserably at Wang Qiqi. Could it be that his capability was really so lacking? “Then I insist on trying the manual boat!” Deeply provoked, Han Tao felt he absolutely had to show Wang Qiqi some capability today, to let her know her man was still quite competent. Han Tao genuinely didn’t care which boat they got, but now that he was challenged, rowing manually became a necessity.

Wang Qiqi was stunned, watching Han Tao stride toward the rental booth. “Oh my god, no way.” Wang Qiqi wondered if a man’s pride was really that important. Sighing, Wang Qiqi could only pray to the heavens to keep her safe getting on and off the boat.

Whether Wang Qiqi’s prayers worked, or the man’s skills were genuinely decent, the result was that after a brief flurry of activity and some slight instruction from the staff, Han Tao managed to operate the boat quite smoothly. Although he was a bit clumsy, he had officially pushed off from the dock. “My man still has some talent, right?” Han Tao boasted smugly.

Wang Qiqi was genuinely surprised. Her man was quite versatile, relying on a couple of moves from his childhood antics and the on-site guidance he just received, yet he managed quite well. Compared to the other groups who had rented boats around the same time and weren't handling them smoothly—some boats were even spinning in circles—Wang Qiqi was about to praise Han Tao when she noticed their own boat starting to turn in circles. “Han Tao, oh Han Tao. I was just about to praise you a few words, but look...” People really shouldn't be praised, and sure enough, danger immediately arose.

Han Tao was startled too, but he quickly stabilized the situation and then mocked himself. “Heaven wants me to perform more, rather than receive others’ compliments.”

Wang Qiqi nodded emphatically from the side. “Exactly, exactly. People should stay humble. We know how capable you are, regardless.”

The two spent the entire afternoon nestled in the boat. Wang Qiqi had brought some food and drinks when they left. She photographed the beautiful scenery, and Han Tao occasionally raised his camera too, though he mostly took pictures of Qiqi. In his heart, the most beautiful scenery was Wang Qiqi; wherever she was, even the most desolate landscape became beautiful. Excited by their fun, the pair completely forgot that they hadn't informed Shi Man and the others, who must be frantically worried.

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