55 Do you want to be my partner?

"We're here." Xiao Yu said as she hopped off the van.

All of them followed her out of the van and what welcomed them was something they've never expected.

"What the fuck?" Wang Shu said out loud

Not just him, all of them has the same reaction as Wang Shu.

Well, who wouldn't?

They are in the middle of a fucking forest! In the middle of the night at that!

"This... Is where well stay?" Feng Qiao asked with uncertainty in his voice. This was not he was expecting ah.

"Surely not." Zhao Lin furrowed his brows. "Hey, Xiao Yu, whats the meaning of this?"

"Did we made a mistake? We're not going on a retreat in a dark and creepy forest right?" Wang Shu asked.

"Nope, I'm not mistaken. We've really arrived." Xiao Yu reassured.

"Ah!!" A member shouts out in surprise."Don't tell me, this is the Tian Ji Forest?"

Xiao Yu clicked her fingers, "Ping pong, you've got it right."

"Tian Ji Forest?" others asked confused.

"You don't know Tian Ji forest? It's really popular nowadays ah!" the member said excitedly as she continued, "Tian Ji Forest is not just your ordinary forest, once you've traveled from here, you'll arrive at a magnificent beach hidden by this forest which means.."

"Which means, we have to cross this forest to arrive there." Feng Qiao finished her sentence.

"Exactly!"

Feng Qiao didn't really fear this forest. In fact, he loved it. He loves nature, the smell, the sounds, everything. It makes him calm and relaxes.

Feng Qiao didn't really mind crossing this forest by that didn't apply for everyone.

Especially,

Wang Shu.

Upon hearing that they have to travel through this dark, creepy forest to arrive at the beach, Wang Shu swallowed hard.

"Ah, haha, you don't that don't you? For sure, there another way to go there... Right?" Wang Shu said as brands of sweat started forming on his forehead.

"No, there isn't. This unique way of going there is actually the reason why this beach is popular. This forest is actually rumored to be haunted that's why many adventurous people liked to cross this forest at night. But if you can't take that kind of thing, you could always cross this forest in the morning." Xiao Yu explained.

"Then why did we came here at night?" Wang Shu asked, frustrated. It's not like he was afraid of ghosts ah? He just doesn't like it!!

"Because it's more fun that way. Why? You're afraid?" Xiao Yu teased.

"A-Afraid!? What! Who's afraid? Come one, let's go!" Wang Shu replied, however, contrary to his confident tone was his body who is subconsciously scooting closer to Shao Wei beside him.

All of them just looked at Wang Shu with an I-don't-believe-you expression. They already knew of Wang Shu's fear of ghost or any creepy places, but since Wang Shu don't want to admit it, they just let it be.

Xiao Yu ignored Wang Shu as she turned to others before saying, "As I've said before, we have to cross this forest to reach the beach. Don't worry about being lost inside the forest because there's a lot of directions placed in there. Only an idiot would get lost inside this forest."

"Upon reaching the end of the forest, you'll immediately see an inn and I've already booked our rooms. However, I only managed to book 4 rooms because they are already fully booked..."

"Eh? We have 10 people here, so if there are two people in one room, it'll only be 8 people for those 4 rooms, where would the other two sleep?"

With this question, Xiao Yu grinned, "That's why I arranged for us to travel here at night. We will have a mini competition. Each of us will get a partner of our own. So there'll be 5 pairs and we will compete on how fast could we get out of this forest. The fastest pair will get the best room while the last pair... Well, I've prepared a tent and they could set it up outside the inn."

"What!!! That's unfair!" Wang Shu protests.

"What? You just need to be faster than anyone here and you'll be safe. It is not unfair at all. Unless... You're afraid?" Xiao Yu taunted.

"B-but.."

"Okay, now get your partner!" Xiao Yu shouted as she hooked her arms with the girl beside her, indicating that she will be her partner.

The other member also partnered themselves up, they don't really mind Xiao Yu's arrangement. A retreat should be full of adventures and excitement!!

Feng Qiao blinked, thinking about getting a partner, a face popped up in his mind.

He turned to look at Zhao Lin and was caught off guard when he also saw him looking back at him.

Feng Qiao's cheeks flushed at the sudden eye contact, good thing that it is dark in here, Zhao Lin couldn't see his blush.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask Zhao Lin if he could be his partner, Zhao Lin beat him to it.

"Do you want to be my partner?"