Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

Before long, Jiang Linyuan saw Shen Wanyu.

She wore a black fleece jacket on top with wide-leg pants in the same color, and carried a black backpack.

All in black, combined with her cold, aloof face, gave her the sharp, clean look of an assassin.

Shen Wanyu first stared at Jiang Linyuan, then shifted her gaze to Su Muzhi, who stood beside him beaming with a full smile.

"Right on time."

Su Muzhi deliberately grabbed Jiang Linyuan's hand and shook it, saying with a laugh:

"Yeah, both Jiang-classmate and I are very punctual."

Shen Wanyu's gaze dropped to their hands, paused for a moment, then said flatly:

"Truly as low-class as ever."

Not seeing the reaction she'd expected, Su Muzhi grew bored and slowly let go.

"You're the one who told me to come, and now you're talking like that?"

Shen Wanyu ignored her, turned to Jiang Linyuan, and furrowed her brow.

"You're wearing that?"

Huh? What's wrong?

Jiang Linyuan looked down at himself. A gray wool sweater coat. Was it that ugly?

Did the Department Head think he'd make her lose face?!"

"It'll get cold at night."

Shen Wanyu said calmly:

"Deputy Minister Jiang, only uncivilized apes rely on their own body heat to keep warm. Humans generally choose to wear more layers."

Department Head, you might understand apes, and you might understand humans, but you don't understand me!

I have a [Superhero Robust Physique]!

Jiang Linyuan didn't care at all, grinning:

"Department Head, don't underestimate a grown man's constitution!"

Shen Wanyu's expression was utterly cold.

"If you get cold, I'm not lending you my jacket."

Oh? So there was actually a benefit to this?

"Department Head, you know what, maybe you should underestimate me a little."

Jiang Linyuan said cheerfully.

Shen Wanyu pointed at Su Muzhi beside them.

"If you get cold, you can strip her clothes off."

Out of the three, Su Muzhi was definitely the most bundled up—she was already wearing a padded jacket.

"Hehe, she's a total thief like that, Jiang-classmate."

Su Muzhi smiled carelessly, then leaned close to Jiang Linyuan's ear and whispered: 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Didn't you plan anything for this mountain climb?"

"Like, making Shen Wanyu twist her ankle, and you carrying her up the mountain?"

Jiang Linyuan looked at her like she was an idiot.

"If her ankle's twisted, why the hell would she keep climbing? Are you out of your mind?"

The smile on Su Muzhi's face twitched.

"Then you could carry her down the mountain."

Jiang Linyuan thought about it and decided Xiao Su had a point.

"Fine! Later you crouch in the bushes, pretend to be a wild boar running out, and see if you can scare the Department Head."

Purple Mountain's specialty was wild boars.

They especially liked to come out at night. Almost every path had warning signs that said, "Watch for Wild Boars."

Having Xiao Su play the part shouldn't be a problem either.

"Hehe, pretending to be a wild boar is something I'll leave to Jiang-classmate himself."

Su Muzhi gave a cold laugh.

"Xiao Su, what's wrong with you! Aren't we accomplices?!"

"Hehe."

Su Muzhi just laughed.

The two of them started climbing the mountain as they talked.

There were quite a few people out for a weekend night climb. Flashlights lit the path everywhere, mostly young people. The night didn't feel cold or lonely at all—instead, there was a lively, bustling atmosphere.

Shen Wanyu watched their interaction without saying a word, as if she'd really just come to hike.

Jiang Linyuan noticed she hadn't spoken a word and quickened his pace to catch up.

"Department Head, are you feeling lonely by yourself?"

Shen Wanyu shot him a glance.

"I suggest you pay more attention to Su Muzhi."

Huh? What does that mean?

Jealous, right! She's starting with the passive-aggressive remarks!

"I mean it literally."

Shen Wanyu turned her head and said:

"Su Muzhi has very poor stamina. I reckon she'll be dead tired by the halfway point."

Huh? Xiao Su has poor stamina?

Jiang Linyuan turned back to look at Su Muzhi.

He remembered how fiercely she played badminton. She was also someone who exercised regularly, so how could she be out of shape?

Had she been mining too much lately? Was her body weak?

"You'll find out soon enough."

Shen Wanyu's usual mind-reading ability—Jiang Linyuan was already desensitized to it.

Even if one day she suddenly blurted out what color his underwear was, he probably wouldn't be surprised.

After walking for a while, Xiao Su really did start to flag.

Her breathing was a little rapid, but her face still carried a smile as she stared intently at Shen Wanyu walking ahead.

"Want to take a break?"

Jiang Linyuan looked at Su Muzhi and asked.

Su Muzhi did feel like she couldn't hold out much longer. Resting a bit should be okay...

"I'm not waiting for you two. If you want to rest, go ahead."

Shen Wanyu glanced at Su Muzhi and said flatly.

"Hehe, you really look down on people."

Su Muzhi had a sweet smile on her face, but the thought of resting was completely wiped from her mind as she strode forward.

Shen Wanyu had surprisingly good stamina. After walking this far, she hadn't stopped once—instead, she kept picking up the pace.

Su Muzhi naturally refused to be outdone, chasing after her with all her might.

Come to think of it, Xiao Su was the same when she played badminton with him. She never admitted defeat.

Watching her panting, Jiang Linyuan shook his head, walked beside her, and asked:

"Need some help?"

"Not... right now..."

Su Muzhi said, but her foot slipped, and she lost her balance, instinctively grabbing onto Jiang Linyuan's arm beside her.

Jiang Linyuan naturally caught her. Due to inertia, the two of them ended up almost pressed together, bumping lightly.

"Still don't need it?"

Jiang Linyuan looked at Su Muzhi, holding back a laugh.

Her words had backfired way too fast.

Su Muzhi's expression was very sour, but she had to admit that she really couldn't climb anymore.

"Carry me."

Huh?

Jiang Linyuan was stunned.

"What did you say?"

"Carry me."

Su Muzhi said expressionlessly.

"Can't we just rest for a bit?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

"Are you carrying me or not?"

Su Muzhi stared into his eyes, deadly serious.

"Xiao Su, I can carry you, but you need to remember this: we can be friends who'd go through thick and thin together, but don't get any crooked ideas about being 'carried' by that kind of fate."

Jiang Linyuan warned with a very serious expression.

This guy...

Su Muzhi was nearly amused to anger. What on earth did Shen Wanyu see in him...

"Mmph..."

Just as she was thinking that, she suddenly felt a force lift her up.

"Don't move around. Hold the flashlight and help me light the way."

Jiang Linyuan supported Su Muzhi's legs with both hands and carried her on his back.

Su Muzhi was stunned for a moment, then started to laugh softly.

"Hehehe~"

A crisp, mischievous, triumphant, and joyful laugh echoed in Jiang Linyuan's ears.

"What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Linyuan asked, puzzled.

"At running into something funny, of course."

Su Muzhi said lazily, waving the flashlight around randomly.

"Don't move around! The light's blinding!"

Jiang Linyuan shook his body, signaling for Su Muzhi to settle down.

Su Muzhi rested her hands on Jiang Linyuan's shoulders and aimed the flashlight at Shen Wanyu's back ahead.

"Hurry up and catch up, Jiang-classmate, or else it won't just be me who gets left behind."

"Xiao Su, if you keep talking, I'll throw you on the ground right now."

"Hehe, then I'll just have to cling tightly to Jiang-classmate."

The two bantered back and forth. Jiang Linyuan's pace didn't slow down because he was carrying Xiao Su, nor did it speed up to catch Shen Wanyu. He just walked steadily and unhurriedly toward the mountain top.

Shen Wanyu, walking ahead, glanced sideways and revealed a faint smile, then slowed her steps.