Chapter 71:

This was the first activity on their itinerary—they would follow the trail up the mountain.

As they climbed, Ye Bai took out his phone and began taking photos. Deng Xiaoqi and Lin Miaomiao posed now and then as Ye Bai enjoyed capturing the moments.

Lin Miaomiao moved beside Ye Bai, panting slightly. "Xiaobai, I'm so tired. I don't think I can climb any further."

"You've been using up all your energy posing for photos," Ye Bai remarked. Every time Ye Bai aimed his camera at the scenery, Lin Miaomiao would dash around in front of it.

Ye Bai grabbed a water bottle and handed it to Miaomiao. "Here, drink some water." Miaomiao took a big gulp, feeling a little refreshed. "Good, I have some energy again. Do you have any snacks?" she asked playfully. Ye Bai reached into his bag and passed her some bread.

"Thanks, Xiaobai," Miaomiao said happily, taking the snack and tearing it open.

After 40 minutes, they finally reached the summit of the mountain.

When they reached the top, Lin Miaomiao hurriedly ran to the railing. "Wow, we made it to the top!"

Ye Bai followed her and walked to her side. They all moved to the railing to admire the scenery below.

"It's so beautiful," Lin Miaomiao couldn't help but react, amazed by the view.

"Yes, it is," Ye Bai agreed, looking at her with affection.

Lin Miaomiao blushed at his gaze, and Ye Bai held her hand as they admired the beautiful scenery from the top. They both wished that this day wouldn't end.

.....

"Okay, students, follow your class's head teacher to the hotel. We'll arrange your accommodations first before heading out to enjoy the scenery," Zhang Rongbao instructed the students around him.

"For those who brought a tent, follow me. There's a specific spot for you," Zhang Rongbao added, as he also brought a tent for himself.

Deng Xiaoqi followed Tang Yuanming to arrange their accommodations, knowing they would share a bed with Lin Miaomiao.

Miaomiao followed Ye Bai, curious to see the difference between staying in a hotel and camping.

Ye Bai quickly found a spot facing east, eager to wake up and watch the sunrise.

With most of the school having reserved the hotels, there were only a few tourists at Suzhou Mountain, mostly students. Since not many students brought tents, the camping area wasn't too crowded. Some students who brought tents waved to each other, noticing their shared love for camping.

Ye Bai swiftly assembled his tent, having watched some online tutorials and relying on his memory to set it up. Lin Miaomiao was amazed by the tent Ye Bai had built; she hadn't realized it could look so beautiful when unfolded. She observed other students with tents also admiring Ye Bai's craftsmanship.

"Wow, your tent is of great quality," a student remarked as he inspected it. "Where did you buy it?"

"I ordered it online," Ye Bai replied, satisfied with its appearance.

Unable to resist, Lin Miaomiao slipped off her shoes and entered the tent. "Ye Bai, I want to camp too," she declared.

Ye Bai shook his head. "I only have one tent, Miaomiao," he explained.

"It's too big for just yourself," Miaomiao expressed her dissatisfaction before lying down on the bed.

Suddenly, Qian Sanyi and Jiang Tianhao approached, intrigued by Ye Bai's tent.

"Ye Bai, I think I want to camp too," Jiang Tianhao said as he inspected the tent from the outside.

Qian Sanyi nodded in agreement, eager for the experience.

Seeing their classmates' interest in camping, Ye Bai approached Teacher Zhang Rongbao, who was setting up his own tent. "Teacher Zhang, does the hotel offer camping equipment?" Ye Bai inquired.

Teacher Zhang turned around and nodded. "They sell camping equipment such as tents, but it's a bit pricey. You know prices tend to be higher up in the mountains," he explained.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang," Ye Bai expressed his gratitude for the information.

Afterward, Ye Bai returned to his tent, now surrounded by Xiaoqi, Yunshu, and Xindi.

"Wow, everyone's here," Ye Bai remarked upon seeing them all.

Jiang Tianhao and Qian Sanyi also noticed what Ye Bai brought.

"Here, take this," Ye Bai said, dropping three large bags in front of them.

Lin Miaomiao quickly moved. "Wow, these are tents."

Haozi swiftly grabbed a bag and opened it. "Three tents. Thank you, brother."

"Okay, build them yourselves," Ye Bai instructed the two of them, then walked over to help Miaomiao set up the tent.

The girls sat down on the picnic mat in front of Ye Bai's tent, watching the chaos happening in front of them.

After 20 minutes, the three tents Ye Bai bought were built.

Lin Miaomiao announced that she would sleep in one of the tents for the night. She glanced at Xiaoqi, suggesting they sleep together, but Xiaoqi declined, needing a comfortable sleep to avoid getting pimples.

Liang Yunshu also wanted to camp, but Wei Xindi was scared to at the hotel alone, so she declined.

Thus, the four boys would camp for the night. Miaomiao was always one of the boys.

After finishing their tasks, they decided to explore the surroundings of the mountain.

...

There was a designated spot where various food items were being sold for tourists, so the students hurriedly made their way there.

Upon arrival, Lin Miaomiao dashed to the food stalls to select her meal. She was exhausted from cheering on Ye Bai while he set up the tent she would be using later that night.

"Wait for me, I'll come and eat you all one by one," Miaomiao declared playfully, casting a peek at each stall. "So good," she added, inhaling deeply, reveling in the enticing scents wafting from the food stalls.

Jiang Tianhao also ran while pulling Liang Yunshu towards one of the stores. He grabbed some fish cake in a cup and gave it to Yunshu. "Here, this looks delicious."

Liang Yunshu happily accepted it and took a bite. "Hmm! It's good," she said, then brought it to Jiang Tianhao's lips for him to taste as well.

Jiang Tianhao smiled and took a bite.

Observing this scene, Lin Miaomiao wasted no time in selecting her own treat. "Delicious!" she exclaimed after her first bite.

Qian Sanyi, Deng Xiaoqi, Ye Bai, and Wei Xindi followed suit.

Wei Xindi stood beside Yunshu and also took a stick of fish cake.

"Ye Bai, come taste this," Lin Miaomiao suggested as she took another stick and passed it to him.

Ye Bai happily accepted it.

"Xiaoqi, Sanyi, come on, try this," Miaomiao encouraged, extending the invitation to the both of them.

I'm not particularly hungry," Deng Xiaoqi responded, standing alongside Qian Sanyi, her gaze drifting towards Yunshu and Tianhao.

"Are you afraid your fans will be disgusted with you because of your gluttony?" Sanyi teased, observing Miaomiao and Ye Bai eating.

"They wouldn't mind. Do you know that I really hate food?" Deng Xiaoqi retorted, taking a big bite. "Therefore, every time I see them, I want to eat them up."

Ye Bai chuckled at her antics, reaching for a tissue to wipe away a smudge of sauce from her cheek.

Miaomiao didn't mind; they looked like a father taking care of his child.

Xiaoqi couldn't help but giggle as she looked at them.

...

Ye Bai embraced his newfound role as the group's photographer, finding joy in capturing their moments together. With a warm smile, he trailed behind Lin Miaomiao as she darted around the temple grounds.

"Ye Bai, follow me! Let's make a wish," Lin Miaomiao beckoned to him, her excitement palpable.

Following her lead, Ye Bai joined Lin Miaomiao as she knelt in front of a statue, her lips moving in silent prayer. "I'm Lin Miaomiao, and I wish for Ye Bai's eternal happiness," she murmured softly.

Standing beside her, Ye Bai offered his own wish. "I'm Ye Bai, and I wish for Lin Miaomiao's eternal happiness," he stated, his voice filled with sincerity.

Lin Miaomiao couldn't help but smile, though she playfully nudged him. "Why did you say it out loud? What if it doesn't come true?" she teased.

Chuckling, Ye Bai replied, "I thought we were making birthday wishes."

Pulling out his phone, Ye Bai urged, "Come on, Miaomiao, let's take a photo." Lin Miaomiao stood beside him, and he wrapped an arm around her before capturing the moment. They glanced at the photo and shared a smile, pleased with how cute they looked together.

"Miaomiao, Ye Bai, you've been there for ages! Come on, let's explore some more," Jiang Tianhao called out, breaking their reverie.

...

They all sat around the two dining tables that had been pushed together. They all watched in amazement as they saw Lin Miaomiao still eating while all of them had already finished.

"This is for you, your dessert," the waiter said, presenting a slice of chocolate cake to Lin Miaomiao.

"It's mine, it's mine!" she exclaimed, accepting it with a little dance. Before the waiter could leave, she stopped him. "Wait," she looked around the table, "Does anyone else want to order anything?"

They all looked at her, amused by her enthusiasm.

"I'll treat you. There may not be another chance if you miss this," Miaomiao said.

Yunshu and Xindi shook their heads.

"What about you, Ye Bai?" Lin Miaomiao asked, noticing him scrolling through his phone.

Ye Bai looked up. "Iced coffee to go," he said to the waiter.

"Iced coffee to go, and please bring the bill. Thank you," Lin Miaomiao instructed.

Lin Miaomiao scooped some cake and savored it with delight. "Mmm! Your willpower is too weak," she teased the others.

"It's you who is too powerful," they replied in unison, sharing a laugh. "We all think the same thing about Miaomiao," Deng Xiaoqi remarked.

"Miaomiao, you're too strong. Where do you put all that food?" Wei Xindi asked.

"Don't worry about her. She has four stomachs," Qian Sanyi quipped.

Lin Miaomiao laughed, chocolate still clinging to her teeth, as she pointed at Qian Sanyi. "You're right. One stomach for meat, one for vegetables, one for main dishes, and the last one for sweets and drinks." Then she took another big bite of cake. "All done! So delicious. Do you want some?" she asked, offering a spoonful to Ye Bai.

Ye Bai took a bite, nodding as he continued to edit photos on his phone.

All eyes were on the pair. Yunshu smiled knowingly; Tianhao had already informed her about Ye Bai and Lin Miaomiao's secret relationship.

Meanwhile, Deng Xiaoqi and Wei Xindi were shocked by what they were witnessing. "Miaomiao, that's your spoon," Deng Xiaoqi pointed out.

"What? I already used my chopsticks before, remember? It's a small matter," Miaomiao replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Tianhao found the situation amusing and decided to keep their secret, pretending not to know anything.

Qian Sanyi looked on bitterly, but he kept his composure.

Suddenly, the waiter approached Miaomiao and handed her the bill. "Hi, this is your bill. The total is 487, including the iced coffee," he said. Seeing the bill, she felt that the cake was not that delicious anymore.

They leaned in, watching Miaomiao closely, sensing her dilemma. Her expression betrayed her thoughts: 'Not enough cash.'

Lin Miaomiao swallowed hard. "I will meet—"

"Swipe it," Ye Bai interrupted, passing his card to the waiter, who gladly accepted it and swiped it.

"Ye Bai, you spoiled the fun! We wanted to see how Miaomiao would react," Jiang Tianhao protested.

Lin Miaomiao shot Jiang Tianhao a playful glare. "You wanted to see me embarrassed, Haozi? I thought you were my brother," she teased before turning to Ye Bai. "Xiaobai, you're the only one who cares for me. Haozi is making fun of me; attack him! Go, Pikachu!" she exclaimed, pointing at Tianhao.

Ye Bai slowly raised his head, his expression indicating he was ready to strike. Jiang Tianhao instinctively moved his chair back, anticipating a punch. But Ye Bai quickly lifted his hand, phone in hand, and snapped a photo.

They all reacted swiftly, bracing for what they thought was a physical altercation.

Ye Bai chuckled as he inspected the photo, passing it around for everyone to see. A wave of relief washed over the group, followed by a collective chuckle at their own overreaction.

"What? Did you think I was really going to punch Haozi? You guys don't see me as a friend, and that makes me sad," Ye Bai teased, and they all laughed at his playful act of innocence.

Lin Miaomiao patted Ye Bai's back. "You scared them, Xiaobai. You'll make a great actor in the future."

"You want to be an actor?" Deng Xiaoqi exclaimed, surprised by the revelation. She, too, harbored dreams of becoming a celebrity. "I knew it! The first time I saw you on the first day of class, you seemed like a star just standing there."

Wei Xindi and Liang Yunshu nodded in agreement, recognizing a certain aura of celebrity around Ye Bai from the very beginning.

"I noticed it too," Wei Xindi added, admiration coloring her voice.

Seeing the attention Ye Bai was getting from the two girls, Lin Miaomiao stood up abruptly. "Okay, I'm full. Let's go," she declared, pulling Ye Bai from his seat, pocketing his phone, and grabbing the iced coffee he had ordered.

Jiang Tianhao and Liang Yunshu exchanged knowing looks, recognizing Miaomiao's jealousy.

One by one, the rest of the group stood up and followed Lin Miaomiao and Ye Bai.