40. In the End, Who Truly Lost Out?

Qin Baike was awakened by the tugging of the belt around his hand. He opened his eyes to find the sun was about to rise, the sky already tinged with crimson by the dawn. Beside him, Tang Yiyi was raising her wrist and looking curiously at the belt connecting them. Upon seeing him awake, she asked, "Why did you tie us together?"

Qin Baike sat up, unfastening the belt as he replied, "I was afraid that if I fell asleep, some wild beast from the mountain might drag you away."

Tang Yiyi glanced at the bamboo forest outside. "A wild beast?"

"Yes."

"If pandas count as wild beasts, then I'd really like to see one."

Tang Yiyi opened the car door and ran to the viewing platform, shouting into the direction of the sun a few times, then taking deep breaths of the mountain air, fresh and cool, the morning mist still lingering. She turned to Qin Baike, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Let's go to the summit and watch the sunrise!"

Qin Baike picked up the bottle of water left over from yesterday. "Alright, but let’s wash our faces first." He poured out some water, and Tang Yiyi cupped it in her hands, hurriedly washing her face before drying it with a tissue.

They headed toward the mountain peak. As they ran, Tang Yiyi finally seemed to regain her senses. "Did I get drunk yesterday?"

"You finally remembered."

"My eyes feel really uncomfortable. Did someone hit me? Or did I fall and bump myself?"

"You really dare to imagine things."

"So what happened? I mean, I didn’t do anything outrageous, did I?"

"Not really, just cried a lot."

"I cried?"

Qin Baike snorted. "Otherwise, why do you think we ended up here, sleeping in the car?"

"Alright, I cried. My eyes must be swollen, right?" She turned her head for Qin Baike to inspect her face.

"Yes, they’re swollen."

Tang Yiyi let out a wail. "What else did I do? Why can’t I remember?"

"There’s a term for this—blackout drinking. Ever heard of it?"

"I have," Tang Yiyi admitted, lowering her head in shame.

"Girls should drink in moderation. Never let yourself get drunk, ever."

"Okay."

"Remember, from now on, no more than one bottle of beer."

"Got it."

"Better yet, don’t drink any at all."

"Mm."

They soon reached the summit and watched the sun climb, glowing red and strong. Because of her embarrassment, it was the bleakest sunrise Tang Yiyi had ever seen.

She stole a glance at Qin Baike. His handsome profile was sharp and uncompromising, but clearly he wasn’t pleased with her now. She swallowed and edged two steps away, putting some distance between them.

Below, the bamboo sea stretched for dozens of kilometers. The wind swept through, waves rippling and surging, clouds and mist swirling in the morning light, beauty beyond words.

Unable to resist, she walked out a little further, took out her phone, and considered asking Qin Baike to take a photo of her—but thought better of it and decided to do it herself. She flipped the camera, only to find Qin Baike’s face behind hers. When had he come so close? She turned to him. "Why are you standing so near?"

Qin Baike blinked. "The view is better on your side."

Tang Yiyi eyed him, suspicious of his fib, but blurted out, "Last night, it was just the two of us in the car. You didn’t..." She pointed at him and stepped back, leaving less than a meter between herself and the cliff.

Qin Baike was so exasperated he nearly coughed up blood and died on the spot. He grabbed her hand and yanked her back from the edge, fixing her with a stare. "What do you think I’d do? What do you think I would do to you? Huh? Tell me!"

Terrified by his expression, Tang Yiyi retreated step by step, and he pressed forward until her back thudded against a tree.

He lifted his right hand and braced it against the trunk above her head, leaning closer. "Didn’t you say I was handsome? If something really happened between us, would you be at a loss, or would I?"

Tang Yiyi blinked, and the handsome face so close conjured a memory. "Yesterday you buckled my seatbelt and even gave me water to drink."

Qin Baike paused, the flash of anger in his eyes draining away. He stepped back, glanced at her wordlessly, and went to stand by the cliff.

Tang Yiyi watched his back, then cautiously crept over. "I just speak without thinking. Don’t be angry. Baike, you’re a true gentleman, not a beast."

Qin Baike took a deep breath and turned to look her in the eye. "I've responded to calls about five people trying to commit suicide after heartbreak—two jumped from buildings, two from bridges, and one tried charcoal burning. Four survived, one died. You cried so much last night. You wouldn’t do anything foolish, would you?"

"Why would I?" Tang Yiyi blinked, finally connecting with yesterday’s memories. "Oh right, I broke up."

"You..." Qin Baike felt that blood rising to his throat again.

"Don’t worry, I’d never commit suicide. I’ve been preparing for the breakup for a while, we’ve been fighting for ages." Tang Yiyi raised her hand in promise.

"Really."

"Absolutely. When I’m sad I just eat more, and I’ll be fine soon. Trust me."

Qin Baike looked at her earnest little face. "Alright, as long as you can move on by yourself. Let’s go down and get breakfast."

As they ran down the mountain, Tang Yiyi spotted a small stream in the bamboo forest. She went over and asked, "Is this water clean?"

"It’s spring water, clean."

She squatted and splashed some on her eyelids, wetting a couple of tissues and pinching them between her fingers.

Back in the car, she pressed the damp tissues to her eyes. "Last night was so embarrassing. Will everyone laugh at me?"

"No, I took you away before anyone noticed."

"I remember watching you do pull-ups on the bars, even counted for you. Then, while counting, I just fell asleep."

"...Yeah, you fell asleep," Qin Baike said, forcing a smile.

"I didn’t do anything outrageous, did I?"

"Heh, you didn’t," Qin Baike gritted out.

"That’s a relief." Tang Yiyi removed the tissues, flipped down the mirror above, and checked herself. The swelling in her eyes was nearly gone. She put the mirror back up, sighing. "I must have looked terrible when I cried."

"I’ve never seen anyone look good while crying, anyway."

Tang Yiyi edged closer to Qin Baike. "Baike, did I really say you were handsome?"

Qin Baike shot her a sideways look, speechless. Tang Yiyi buried her head in frustration, hands raking through her hair. "How could I be so unrestrained?"

Compared to wanting to see his abs, that comment was nothing. Qin Baike finally couldn’t help but laugh aloud. "Have you always thought I was handsome?"

"Not just me, even my aunt says you’re the Daniel Wu of Magnolia Lane," Tang Yiyi whispered defensively.

"Daniel Wu?" Clearly, this was the first time Qin Baike had heard the comparison. He gave her a meaningful look.

Tang Yiyi suddenly recalled what she’d told Li Huan on the phone yesterday: I like the Daniel Wu type.

Her face flushed crimson and she turned to stare out the window, wishing lightning would strike her unconscious then and there.

She sat quietly in her seat, not daring to say another word. After this outing with him, she felt she had lost all her dignity.