Pu Quanhuan and his two companions departed.
Chen Jinzhao withdrew his gaze, harboring a lingering suspicion about the three. He couldn't shake the feeling they might be up to no good.
Luo Feng, after a sigh of relief, grew excited again. "Brother, how should I address you?"
"My name is Chen Jinzhao, and this is my girlfriend, Yu Mengzhi." Chen Jinzhao's thoughts snapped back to the present. Luo Feng and Cai Xiaojing quickly chimed in, "Brother Chen, Sister Yu."
"We're truly grateful, Brother Chen. If you hadn't intervened so righteously, we might have suffered further losses," Luo Feng said, adjusting his cap and still feeling a pang of regret over his own helplessness. Chen Jinzhao replied, "It's my duty. There's no need for thanks."
"Huh, you don't look very old either?" Yu Mengzhi remarked with surprise.
She hadn't gotten a good look at them before.
Only now did Yu Mengzhi notice the lingering trace of youth on both Luo Feng and Cai Xiaojing's faces.
They appeared to be even younger than eighteen.
Cai Xiaojing shyly lowered her head. Luo Feng instinctively took her hand and said to the couple, "Don't laugh at us, Brother Chen and Sister Yu, but Xiaojing and I are both high school seniors. We have half a year left until the college entrance examination."
Chen Jinzhao frowned upon hearing this. "Then why are you wandering around? If I recall correctly, high school seniors should be attending cram classes at this hour. Your current priority is your studies. While the college entrance examination is a fierce competition, it's one of the few avenues for upward mobility."
Yu Mengzhi chimed in with her own persuasion.
"Actually, I was being selfish and asked Luo Feng to come out with me. Tomorrow, I'll tell Luo Feng to go back to studying," Cai Xiaojing murmured, her tone laced with deep self-reproach.
Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi exchanged a look, feeling that something was amiss.
Luo Feng was about to say something, but Cai Xiaojing tugged his arm. Luo Feng then swallowed his words and told them, "Regardless, we still want to thank Brother Chen and Sister Yu. We hope our paths will cross again."
"Xiaojing and I will take our leave now."
"Alright, be careful on your way." Chen Jinzhao watched them descend the mountain.
Yu Mengzhi's gaze lingered, and she hesitated, "Don't you think Luo Feng and Cai Xiaojing are a bit strange?"
Chen Jinzhao nodded. "I noticed."
"But if they don't tell us, there's nothing we can do."
"True." Yu Mengzhi finally looked away.
The couple quickly forgot about the matter and continued to wander through the scenic mountain area.
Meanwhile, Cai Xiaojing and Luo Feng, who were already heading down the mountain, fell into a disagreement. Cai Xiaojing said softly, "Luo Feng, Brother Chen and Sister Yu are right. You should prioritize your studies right now. Don't let me hold back your future."
Luo Feng, though only seventeen, possessed an unusual determination in his eyes. He patted Cai Xiaojing's head and said, "Xiaojing, what are you talking about? You can retake the college entrance exam, but our youth is a one-time thing."
"Can you stop worrying so much?"
Cai Xiaojing wanted to say more.
Luo Feng kissed her cheek, and only then did Cai Xiaojing weakly ask, "Am I really not going to drag down your future?"
"How could you?" Luo Feng chuckled.
Cai Xiaojing's heart warmed at his words, and her guilt lessened.
The two continued their descent.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they deliberately avoided Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi's route, fearing another encounter.
It was the couple's overwhelming kindness that made them uncomfortable.
Little did they know that as they reached the mountain's base, they were once again being watched by Pu Quanhuan and his companions.
The young man beside Pu Quanhuan scanned the surroundings, not seeing Chen Jinzhao. He whispered to Pu Quanhuan, "Brother, why don't we take the girl? She's pretty, and looks like an unopened treasure."
"What's on your mind?" Pu Quanhuan scolded.
In truth, he was more attracted to women like Yu Mengzhi and wasn't particularly interested in Cai Xiaojing.
Jin Taixing persisted, "Brother, even if you're not interested in that girl, you can't stop us. We are interested in her. Besides, that guy isn't here, so we can act now."
"Brother, just indulge us this once," Zheng Caijun also pleaded.
Pu Quanhuan, unable to refuse them, finally relented.
As the two cheered excitedly, Pu Quanhuan murmured, "Try not to act during the day. It's best to wait until nightfall to avoid attracting too much attention. Also, one of you needs to keep an eye on that guy on the mountain. If he notices anything unusual, the other must abort."
"Understood, Brother!"
Jin Taixing and Zheng Caijun smirked, their minds filled with anticipation for what the night would bring.
Luo Feng and Cai Xiaojing were unaware of the approaching danger.
By seven in the evening, darkness had fallen.
Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi were strolling through the tourist town at the foot of the mountain, enjoying the rare moment of tranquility.
Hmm?
Chen Jinzhao sensed a subtle anomaly.
Yu Mengzhi noticed Chen Jinzhao slow his pace and turned to ask, "What's wrong?"
Chen Jinzhao hesitated. "I have a feeling someone is following us."
"Ah?"
Yu Mengzhi instinctively started to look around, trying to locate the follower. Chen Jinzhao quickly warned, "Don't look around yet, we don't want to alert them. Just act normal. We'll draw them out."
"Okay, got it." Yu Mengzhi immediately played along.
The couple appeared unfazed, continuing their stroll until they turned into a secluded path in the town. Shortly after, a dark figure followed them.
The shadow entered the path only to find Chen Jinzhao had vanished.
This startled him, and he had a dreadful premonition.
Just as he was about to call Jin Taixing to abort, a chill ran down his spine, prompting Zheng Caijun to whip his head around to look behind him.
He saw—
A tall, slender figure stood behind him, the dim light casting a long, elongated shadow.
Upon recognizing the face, Zheng Caijun's expression changed dramatically.
"You—"
"When did you get behind me?"
Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi walked slowly towards Zheng Caijun. As they closed the distance, Zheng Caijun felt an increasing pressure, causing cold sweat to break out on his brow despite the harsh climate he hailed from.
Zheng Caijun instinctively tried to flee, but Chen Jinzhao said softly, "If you dare to run, I guarantee your head will be severed in an instant."
In that moment.
Zheng Caijun's body became utterly rigid, rendering him incapable of movement. He stood frozen as Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi approached.
It wasn't a lack of will, but a lack of ability!