69. Persuasion

The men were drinking with great enthusiasm, their conversation just as lively, trading stories of embarrassing mishaps from their army days, sharing the pleasures of present life, a never-ending stream of topics. The women ate quietly and quickly, and after finishing, Mrs. Fan led them to the rooms set aside for rest. Since there were so many guests, and the number of rooms was limited, those who had traveled from afar were given the vacant rooms, while the locals were shown by Mrs. Fan to several tents set up in the front yard. Tang Yiyi exclaimed excitedly, “I’ve never slept in a tent before!”

Mrs. Fan replied, “Baike said you could sleep on the sofa in her mother’s living room. There’s air conditioning, it’s more comfortable, and the mats in the tents aren’t that soft anyway.”

“No need, I want to sleep in a tent! Sis, tell him to sleep on the sofa, I want the tent, okay?”

“Alright, I’ll tell him. It’s the tent right in front of his mother’s house—you see it? You can wash up and use the bathroom inside, it’s convenient.”

“Okay, great.”

“Take this flashlight and keep it in the tent.”

“Sure.” Tang Yiyi took the flashlight and ran toward the tent, brimming with excitement.

How much fun this was! She took out her phone and snapped a couple of photos of the tent, slipped inside, and took a few more. She carefully examined the clever design—mosquito-proof yet well-ventilated, rainproof and moisture-resistant—and couldn’t help but admire the designer’s ingenuity.

Lying down on the mat, she gauged the width—about 130 centimeters—nodded in satisfaction, and posted about it on her social media.

Immediately, comments and likes poured in: Wow, camping! Awesome!

Li Huan commented: Where have you gone off to this time?

Er Tong commented: You dare show off a tent like that? Clearly, you’ve never seen anything better.

Liu Xin commented: Can you see a sky full of stars?

Tang Yiyi crawled out of the tent, raised her phone towards the sky, but though the stars were bright, her camera couldn’t capture them. She replied to Liu Xin: You can see them, it’s beautiful.

After playing for a while, Tang Yiyi went inside to quickly wash up, then returned to the tent, rolling around comfortably. She scrolled through her feed for a bit, then turned off the flashlight and went to sleep.

The men’s gathering lasted until after one o’clock; the wine had flowed freely, the conversation had been satisfying. Qin Baike’s mind was clear, but his footsteps were unsteady.

Entering the house, he rinsed off quickly in the bathroom. Emerging, he saw the sofa unoccupied and remembered Mrs. Fan telling him Tang Yiyi wanted to sleep in the tent. He shook his head helplessly; it was so hot outside, how could she bear it?

He lay down on the sofa but couldn’t fall asleep. His head buzzed from the alcohol and his temples throbbed painfully.

Cradling his head, he sat for a while, then got up and headed out to Tang Yiyi’s tent. He opened the zipper and slipped inside.

Tang Yiyi was sleeping on her stomach again. As he lay down beside her, she woke, startled at finding someone next to her, but her instincts told her it was Qin Baike. She shone her flashlight at him—sure enough, it was him.

“Yiyi, my head hurts.” He wasn’t really drunk, but couldn’t help but show weakness in front of her.

She caught the heavy scent of alcohol on him and reached to feel his forehead, but he immediately grasped her hand. “Your hand is so soft,” he murmured.

Tang Yiyi pulled her hand back in fright—he was quite drunk tonight.

“I’ll make you some honey water, wait here,” she said.

“There’s honey in my mother’s room.”

“Then let’s go inside and drink it.” She tried to pull him up.

“No, lying here is comfortable. I’m not getting up.” As he spoke, Qin Baike pulled her pillow under his own head, grabbed her thin quilt, hugged it to his chest, and wouldn’t move.

“Alright, wait here.” Tang Yiyi went inside to prepare the honey water. On her way back, she saw Mr. Fan coming around with a flashlight. Seeing her carrying a large glass of water, he said, “Baike drank a bit much. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s nothing, Mr. Fan. Aren’t you going to rest yet?”

“I’ll turn in after one last round to check. I’m mainly worried about snakes coming out,” he said, shining his flashlight around on the ground.

“Snakes?” Tang Yiyi was startled.

Mr. Fan replied solemnly, “Yes. Just zip up the tent; snakes can’t get in.”

“Oh.” Tang Yiyi nodded quickly.

She brought the water into the tent and tried to get Qin Baike to sit up and drink. She didn’t know if he was really thirsty, but he downed the whole glass in one go, then immediately lay back down. “Yiyi, my head hurts.”

“I’ll massage it for you, relax.”

Tang Yiyi placed her hands gently on his temples and began to massage. He opened his eyes and smiled at her softly. “That feels nice.”

“Close your eyes, no talking, just relax.” She moved her hands to the acupoint at the back of his neck, and gradually felt his shoulders relax. She then pressed the sleep point behind his ear, and his breathing grew slow and deep.

She took his hand and pressed the acupoint at his wrist. As she did, she found herself distracted—his hand was so large, with long, well-shaped fingers and clearly defined joints. When she placed her own hand against his, hers was only two-thirds the size.

Sleeping, Qin Baike looked like a child. She leaned over to study his eyelashes—not as thick as Er Tong’s, but very long, with a tiny mole near his nostril.

No matter how she looked, he was handsome. Satisfied, Tang Yiyi smiled, preparing to go back to sleep in the house. But as she opened the tent zipper and poked her head out, she suddenly remembered the mention of snakes. Glancing around nervously, every rustle in the grass seemed like a snake about to strike. Terrified, she ducked back inside and zipped up the tent.

Looking at the soundly sleeping Qin Baike, she thought, Usually when I want to take advantage of him, I never get the chance. Now that I do, why leave?

She lay down on her side, facing him. Though she wanted to snuggle into his arms, in the end, she left a gap between them and soon fell asleep with her back to him.

At dawn, the birdsong woke Tang Yiyi. Opening her eyes, she saw the morning light filtering into the tent. Looking down, she realized she was cradled in Qin Baike’s arms; she hadn’t moved, so clearly he had come over to hold her.

She thought to herself, This isn’t me taking advantage of you—it’s you who came to me.

Gently, she slipped his arm off, got up quietly, and left the tent. No one else was up yet. Checking the time—5:40 a.m.—she realized it was still early. She washed her face in the house, then found a low wall outside, climbed over, and headed up the mountain to watch the sunrise as she had before.

Qin Baike didn’t wake until 7:30. Sitting up, he looked around, remembering how Tang Yiyi had massaged his head the night before. He’d slept so well, she must have gone back to the house later.

He went inside to look for her, but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t in the dining room, either. When he asked around, no one had seen her. He tried calling her, but her phone was off.

The young man at the gate said he hadn’t seen anyone leave—he’d been up since six.

Qin Baike started to worry. Searching for someone in the mountains wasn’t easy.

Mr. Fan inspected the wall on either side of the gate. “Are these her footprints?” he asked.

Qin Baike took a look, then climbed over the wall himself and saw footprints leading up the mountain. He said to Mr. Fan, “I know where she’s gone. Go on, I’ll find her.”

Qin Baike hurried up toward the summit. Halfway up, he saw Tang Yiyi descending, a bunch of wildflowers in her hand. His heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled.

“Baike, you’re up! Does your head still hurt?” Tang Yiyi ran up to him.

He shook his head. “Not anymore.”

She held out the flowers. “Aren’t these pretty? Last time we didn’t see them, but there are so many up there!”

“They’re beautiful.”

“Are you going to the top?”

“No, I came to pick you up. It’s time for breakfast.”

“Oh.” They walked down together.

Qin Baike asked, “Why is your phone off?”

“Is it?” Tang Yiyi checked her phone. “The battery died.”

“Next time, if you go out, use the front gate—don’t climb the wall.”

“…Alright.” She stuck out her tongue playfully.

He explained, “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

But she was still in high spirits. “Next time, let’s climb it together.”

He glanced down at her. “You’re such a troublemaker.”

She laughed happily, seeing that familiar look of indulgence in his eyes.

After breakfast, the two of them set out for home. Tang Yiyi hadn’t slept well the night before and had woken early, so she fell asleep soon after they set off and only woke when they were near Yicheng.

Seeing that she was awake, Qin Baike asked, “You schemed to have my old comrades push me into the competition. After the contest, what if some girl confesses her feelings to me? Am I really supposed to go traveling with her?”

Tang Yiyi was stunned. “Just tell them… you have a girlfriend!”

He looked at her. “But I don’t.”

“Or…” Tang Yiyi bit her lip. “I’ll make a sacrifice and act a little more affectionate with you. I won’t say anything, but if they see it, they’ll back off on their own.”

“What do you mean, affectionate?” he pressed.

Tang Yiyi grabbed his arm and, in a nasal voice, drawled, “Baike, take me to the movies!”

He shuddered, goosebumps all over. “Sit properly. No one would believe such a dramatic performance.”

“I’ll improvise when the time comes,” she said earnestly.

“You’re not an actress. Don’t scare people. If I don’t compete, there won’t be any trouble.”

“But your comrades are all looking forward to it.”

“I’m short a helper.”

“Master said he’d find you a good one.”

Qin Baike frowned. “Your master is as sly as a fox. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Tang Yiyi glared at him. “Don’t talk about my master like that.”

As they turned into Magnolias Lane, someone burst from Xu Mingjie’s grocery store and blocked their car.

Qin Baike saw who it was and called out, “Uncle Wu?”

“Pull over, I need a word with you,” Wu Moping said.

Qin Baike parked. Rolling down the window, he heard Wu Moping ask, “Baike, what’s going on with you and Xueqian?”

Qin Baike glanced at Tang Yiyi, who looked at him in surprise, eyes wide.

He replied, “There’s nothing going on between us.”

“She told me she wants to marry you.”

“…Uncle Wu, she’s like a little sister to me,” Qin Baike replied with a wry smile.

“Brother and sister? That’s perfect, isn’t it?”

“Uncle Wu…” Qin Baike was at a loss.

“Yesterday, I saw her with a scrawny, short fellow—laughing and chatting. Guess who? The young man from your shop—I’ve seen him before, shy as a chick.”

“Liu Xin?”

“I don’t know his name. Anyway, he’s not suitable.”

Tang Yiyi leaned forward. “Uncle Wu, what’s wrong with Liu Xin?”

“He’s just a noodle shop assistant—how could he possibly match my daughter?”

“Are you sure they’re dating?” Qin Baike asked.

Wu Moping said angrily, “I asked Xueqian yesterday—she said no.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Wu Moping snorted. “She said it blushing, all shy. Baike, I may be a rough man, but I know when a woman blushes and acts coy talking about a man, it means something. I’d agree if you were my son-in-law, but him—not a chance.”

“He’s no longer working for me. He’s now an editor for a new media news site—he’s a very talented young man.”

“…Really?”

“Would I lie to you?”

“Still, he’s small and weak—couldn’t take a punch from Xueqian.”

Qin Baike said seriously, “Uncle Wu, Liu Xin is upright, quiet, reliable, and steady, with no bad habits. Xueqian is straightforward and lively—a careful boy like him is just what she needs. He’d never bully her. I think they’re a good match.”

Wu Moping hesitated. “Is he really as good as you say?”

Tang Yiyi chimed in, “He really is.”

“Uncle Wu, get to know him better.”

“What about his family?”

“They’re not well off, just getting by. But Uncle Wu, don’t look down on a young man just because he’s poor.”

“You’ll understand when you’re a father,” Uncle Wu sighed and left.

Qin Baike parked the car under the magnolia tree. Tang Yiyi said nothing, just got out, her head low. Wu Xueqian had already turned her heart to Liu Xin, but Tang Yiyi still felt strangely unsettled, not knowing how to face these feelings.

Qin Baike watched her return to the clinic, calm and composed, not the least bit upset or jealous. He felt a pang of disappointment—perhaps she truly didn’t care how many women liked him.

He headed to the market and didn’t return to Magnolias Lane until nearly noon. Xu Mingtang called him over and said, “Yiyi told me you’ve decided to enter the competition.”

“Yes.” He scratched his head and nodded. “Uncle Xu, who’s the assistant you found for me?”

“He’s already agreed. He said as long as you compete, he’ll give you his full support.”

“Who is it?”

Xu Mingtang replied, “Your father, Xiang Shengli.”