“I actually caught one!” Zhou Qianqian exclaimed excitedly, carefully holding a little Crab between her fingers.
Su Nuannuan immediately trotted over, her eyes wide with amazement. “Wow, Qianqian, you’re amazing!”
Qianqian held the crab out toward Su Nuannuan, who startled and stepped back. Her reaction made Qianqian laugh even harder.
Wu Duola leaned in to take a look at the crab, which was hardly “big” by any means, and couldn’t help but rub her nose.
“Quick, take a photo for me!” Qianqian held up the crab with one hand and flashed a victory sign with the other.
Su Nuannuan quickly pulled out her Mobile Phone, carefully finding the right angle to snap a picture of Qianqian and the crab together.
Qianqian gently placed the crab into a small water bucket, then eagerly ran over to the Chair. “Lin Wei! Look!” She proudly handed the bucket to Lin Wei, who was resting with her eyes closed.
Lin Wei was startled awake by the shout. Opening her eyes, she saw three pairs of eyes all staring straight at her.
The Chair was just too comfortable, allowing her a rare moment of relaxation.
“What’s going on?” she asked, trying to sound calm.
“I caught a crab,” Qianqian said seriously, while Su Nuannuan absentmindedly scratched her head beside her.
Lin Wei looked at the pitifully small crab in the bucket and raised an eyebrow.
That’s probably a baby crab, huh?
“Lin Wei, why are you sleeping? Come play with us!” Qianqian invited.
Lin Wei rubbed her temples and sighed. Well, she had to keep an eye on these three after all.
She got up and followed them to the Lake but just crossed her arms and stood aside, watching the three girls enthusiastically digging through Shells and looking for crabs.
She told herself she wouldn’t join in such childish games.
But watching Su Nuannuan’s eyes light up when she found a beautiful Shell, her mood involuntarily brightened.
When the three grew tired of collecting Shells and returned to camp to check their loot, Qianqian suddenly had another idea. “Let’s go into the Forest to find Mushrooms!”
Lin Wei sighed, resigned to follow them—had to keep these troublemakers in check.
But she wasn’t without her own discovery; Su Nuannuan even carefully avoided Ants while walking through the Forest.
Su Nuannuan was curious about everything in the Forest, and Lin Wei always quietly followed behind her.
As the afternoon grew darker, the four returned to the campsite.
Not far off, several Tents had already been set up, with smoke lazily rising.
Lin Wei clapped her hands. “Let’s get the Tents out, it’s almost dark.” Saying this, she was the first to open her Tent bag, moving with practiced ease.
Wu Duola also went to get her bag.
Su Nuannuan nodded and turned to dig through her Backpack, but the more she searched, the paler her face became… Huh? Where’s my Tent?
Her heart sank. Suddenly, she remembered how she’d rushed out in the morning in a flurry, only thinking about snacks, completely forgetting the Tent.
“What’s wrong, Nuannuan?”
Qianqian had been pretending to look for her Tent but froze when she saw Su Nuannuan’s expression.
“Don’t tell me you forgot the Tent…” She silently prayed that wasn’t the case, or her perfect plan would be ruined.
Su Nuannuan’s eyes reddened with anxiety as she whispered, “I…I think I left it on the bed…” She didn’t dare look up, filled with guilt.
Qianqian instantly froze solid…
She had purposely not brought her Tent to pretend she forgot, so she could squeeze closer to Su Nuannuan—but now a genuine forgetful idiot had spoiled her plan. She was petrified…
Lin Wei walked over, looking at the two stunned girls and immediately understanding what happened.
Suppressing a smile, she put on a stern face. “You two? Where are your Tents?”
Su Nuannuan lowered her head and mumbled quietly, “Forgot…” Tugging at her shirt, she was ready for a scolding.
Qianqian forced a laugh, trying to cover it up. “Heh heh, I forgot too…”
Wu Duola glanced at Lin Wei’s Tent, then at her own, and said helplessly, “Looks like we only have two Tents…” She sneaked a glance at Su Nuannuan, somewhat hopeful.
Su Nuannuan looked up at Lin Wei with red-rimmed eyes, pitiful and pleading.
Lin Wei felt a strange softness in her heart at that look.
She had wanted to tease her, make her beg because she didn’t bring a Tent, but stopped herself.
With a sigh, she instinctively ruffled Su Nuannuan’s hair—this gesture was becoming more natural. “Then you can squeeze in with me, and you and Duola share one.”
Qianqian immediately protested, “Huh? I want to be with Nuannuan!”
She still had hope.
Lin Wei gave her a sharp glare. “You forgot your own Tent, and now you’re being picky?” She had long seen through Qianqian’s little scheme.
Wu Duola pouted too. She wanted to be with Su Nuannuan as well but had to tell Qianqian, “You… don’t snore and keep me up at night…”
Qianqian looked pitiful. “President, even you don’t like me…”
Lin Wei cut them off. “Stop fooling around. Go help Duola set up the Tent.”
Turning to the still self-reproachful Su Nuannuan, her tone softened, “You… come help me.”
Su Nuannuan wiped her tears and obediently started setting up the Tent with Lin Wei.
She was very focused, afraid of making any more mistakes.
Watching her serious profile, Lin Wei suddenly wanted to tease her. “You…”
“Didn’t bring the Tent on purpose, did you?”
Su Nuannuan’s hand trembled, and her face flushed. “Sister, I’m sorry, I really forgot…”
The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became. She blamed herself—she only remembered the snacks. Lin Wei must think she did it on purpose to force her to share a Tent.
Would Lin Wei use some excuse later to keep her out of the Tent?
Seeing Su Nuannuan’s silly expression and wondering what she was thinking, Lin Wei couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Actually, she had noticed Su Nuannuan forgot her Tent back when they got on the car that morning, and she just wanted to see how her silly little sister would handle it.
But Su Nuannuan was even clumsier than she expected… that realization made her quietly pleased.
She also knew Qianqian had purposely not brought hers, trying to play a little trick on her.
Qianqian sneezed nearby and gave Lin Wei a suspicious look, feeling like someone was talking behind her back.
But Lin Wei was focused on setting up the Tent, her expression calm and serene—just that faint, sly smile that made Qianqian more certain of her suspicion.
Stinky Lin Wei, she must be secretly insulting me!
Once the Tent was set up, the four began preparing dinner.
Lin Wei expertly started a Fire, its glow casting a warm light on everyone’s faces.
Qianqian volunteered to roast marshmallows but ended up burning several, prompting Su Nuannuan and Wu Duola to giggle continuously.
Lin Wei quietly watched Su Nuannuan carefully turn the Corn.
“Nuannuan, the Corn you roasted is really delicious!” Wu Duola took a bite and praised.
Su Nuannuan lowered her head shyly, her ears quietly reddening.
Night had fully fallen, and the stars slowly drifted across the sky. The four girls pulled out Foldable Stools and sat around the Fire. Qianqian started telling funny stories from school, causing bursts of laughter.
Lin Wei, unusually relaxed, quietly watched the dancing flames and listened to the trio’s chatter.
Waiting for the Meteor shower felt longer than expected. Qianqian began yawning, and Wu Duola leaned back on her Chair, sleepy.
Just as Su Nuannuan was about to doze off, the first Meteor streaked across the night sky.
“Look!” Lin Wei whispered.
In an instant, countless Meteors followed, painting silver trails against the deep blue canvas.
The four girls held their breath in awe at the magnificent sight.
Wu Duola hurriedly took out her Mobile Phone to snap pictures, her face full of shock, never having expected the Meteors to be so beautiful.
Qianqian clenched her fists excitedly. “Quick! Make a wish!”
Su Nuannuan unconsciously clasped her hands, staring unblinkingly at the sky before closing her eyes.
Dear Meteor Lord, please help Nuannuan get through each day smoothly at the Su family…
And also… I hope… someday I can return to the Reality World…
Lin Wei also closed her eyes but had no particular wish. She felt that things were fine just as they were.
When Lin Wei opened her eyes, her gaze quietly shifted from the starry sky to Su Nuannuan beside her.
The Meteor’s glow illuminated the girl’s pale face, making it impossible to look away.
What wish are you making?
The Meteor shower lasted over ten minutes before gradually thinning out. None of them had expected such a grand scale—it would probably make the news tomorrow.
Night was deep, and Qianqian reluctantly got up, looking back at Su Nuannuan every few steps, before finally being pulled into the Tent by Wu Duola.
Now, only Lin Wei and Su Nuannuan remained standing under the stars.
Lin Wei rubbed her nose and glanced away. “I’m going in first…” She was the first to slip inside the Tent.
Outside, Su Nuannuan took several deep breaths, never imagining she’d one day share a Tent with Lin Wei.
She dawdled for a long time before carefully pulling open the Tent door.
Inside, Lin Wei had already tidied up the bed and was leaning against the Sleeping Bag, scrolling on her Mobile Phone.
A Flashlight hung from the Tent’s ceiling, casting warm light.
Seeing Su Nuannuan enter, Lin Wei just gave a faint glance and returned to her screen, though her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Su Nuannuan.
Su Nuannuan nervously curled up at the very edge, not even taking off her Sweatshirt, tightly closing her eyes as if pretending to sleep.
Lin Wei swallowed and feigned casualness. “Aren’t you going to take off your Sweatshirt?”
“Huh? Sister… I’m not really hot…” Su Nuannuan answered softly.
Lin Wei scooted a little closer. “Come over here, the blanket won’t cover you.”
“No, no, it’s okay… Sister, I’m not cold.” Su Nuannuan shrank even tighter.
Lin Wei had no choice but to lie back. The distance between them felt like the length of the entire Milky Way.
The Tent was so quiet you could hear each other’s breathing, filled with Su Nuannuan’s scent.
“Sister?” After a while, Su Nuannuan whispered. Getting no response, she quietly opened her eyes and saw Lin Wei motionless with eyes closed.
She must have fallen asleep, right? Su Nuannuan felt too hot and uncomfortable and finally couldn’t help sitting up.
After hesitating, she took off her Sweatshirt, revealing the small vest underneath, then quickly slipped back under the blanket and sighed with relief.
Heh heh, as long as I get up early tomorrow, Lin Wei won’t know.
After a while, Lin Wei quietly opened her eyes and stared at the Tent ceiling in a daze.
Listening to the even breathing beside her, she whispered, “You actually… don’t have to be so afraid of me.”
I don’t hate you, really…
Lin Wei’s gaze darkened as she suddenly spoke her heart, a bit nervous about how Su Nuannuan might react, her heartbeat quickening. She waited a long time but got no response.
“You…”
Lin Wei leaned over, only to find Su Nuannuan already asleep, her peaceful face soft and pure in the dim light.
Kids really do sleep soundly… Lin Wei chuckled helplessly, her tone unconsciously tender.
She gently leaned in, wiping the sweat off Su Nuannuan’s forehead and lightly pinching her soft cheek.
On impulse, she moved even closer, quietly watching Su Nuannuan’s sleeping face.
Then she softly called out.
“Little sister…”
Carefully scooting Su Nuannuan closer, Lin Wei lay down beside her, her arm resting lightly outside the blanket.
After hesitating, she slid her hand under the cover, gently pulling Su Nuannuan into an embrace.
Through the thin vest, she could feel the warm heat of her body.
Looking at the vest patterned with little Bears, Lin Wei chuckled softly. “Such a childish little thing.”
Both childish and timid, not only careless but also quite silly…
Lin Wei buried her head in Su Nuannuan’s neck, her breath making the sleeping girl twitch slightly. Thinking Su Nuannuan had woken, her heart raced, but Su Nuannuan merely shifted position, turning away from Lin Wei.
Lin Wei snuggled closer again, holding her tight. The comfortable position made drowsiness wash over her.
If she were asked when it all started…
It was probably the moment she first saw her.