As soon as I took off the blindfold, besides feeling uncomfortable under the intense sunlight, I subconsciously shielded my eyes with my hand. My hand was trembling slightly, and my breath was slightly rapid. The image in my mind just now was that the watermelon was cut in half, but Zhiye was fine. That's what I thought, but I was a bit afraid to face reality. After taking a deep breath, I looked towards the direction where Zhiye was standing.

"Sister...this joke is really not funny at all!"

"I also...think so," I replied.

What were Xi and Yuan Muxi talking about? I felt like they were blaming each other.

"???" I sat on the ground, still confused. I tried to stand up, but my legs were weak. They seemed to have time to chat, so why not help me? What were they arguing about? And where was Zhiye?

With these doubts in my mind, Yuan Muxi noticed me and ran over, offering her support. "Sorry..."

"Thank you," I replied.

"Are you okay?" Yuan Muxi asked concernedly.

"I'm fine...just my legs feel a bit disobedient."

"Then let's find a place to rest for a while," Yuan Muxi suggested, leading me towards a chair.

"Wait...did I mess up?" It was a strange way of asking, as if I could still be standing here if it had resulted in something bad. I looked at Xi and Zhiye, who seemed to be discussing something. How did I feel like I missed something?

"No, Youjie, Zhiye is fine," Yuan Muxi reassured me.

"Fine!?" I asked, confused.

"Yes..."

"?" I sighed in relief, although I couldn't explain why. "Youjie looks tired," Yuan Muxi commented.

"After that experience...my heart was about to jump out," I replied. But fortunately, everything is fine. I thanked the heavens silently.

While I was expressing my gratitude to the heavens, Yuan Muxi's expression became complicated. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Well...there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you," Yuan Muxi hesitated.

"Tell me..."

"In fact, Zhiye lied to you just now..."

"Zhiye lied to me?" I was a bit stunned. The experience just now was indeed too real to be considered a lie.

"Maybe...you should ask Zhiye yourself. You'll find the answer," Yuan Muxi suggested, not intending to reveal the whole truth.

"I feel much better now. I can walk on my own. You can let go," I told Yuan Muxi.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then be careful and don't push yourself."

After hearing my response, Yuan Muxi let go of me. Although my legs still felt a bit tingly, I could still walk.

"In Xi's heart, Sister's image seems to have become smaller. Xi thought Sister wouldn't play such pranks...Xi won't let Sister take care of You like this..." Xi complained, seemingly venting her dissatisfaction.

"Sister..." Zhiye ignored Xi's complaining and turned her gaze towards me. In her arms was a watermelon mold made of translucent plastic foam, which looked quite realistic. If you don't look closely, you might be fooled.

"Y-"

"Alright, let's put aside the scolding for now,"

"Xi... I'm really worried that You will suddenly collapse and won't be able to get up," I didn't expect Xi to actually start crying, I didn't expect her to worry about me like this,

"I'm fine..."

"Xi won't let go of You..."

"Um... Stop talking while holding onto my arm so tightly,"

I broke free from Xi's suction-like embrace and faced Zhiye again,

"Jie... Angry?"

(nods)

"Very angry?"

(nods *2)

"Very, very, very angry?"

"Are you done yet..."

"Ah!"

"Oh... I'm sorry for shouting at you unintentionally," seeing Zhiye being scared, I panicked,

"What did you just do... Tell the truth, you have the right to remain silent, but the cost is that I will never speak to you again!"

"Don't... Jie," Zhiye showed a slightly pained expression,

"So tell me the truth."

"Um... I took a non-sharp knife and a watermelon mold..."

Zhiye muttered with her head down,

"..." I was a bit speechless, I wanted to complain, you're already 18, grow up, will you?

"I just wanted to hear Jie say that she cares about me... even if it means dying," Zhiye said as if gathering her courage,

"You're already an adult, stop saying those things. It's not setting a good example. And besides, can you value your life a little more?"

"As long as I can be with Jie, nothing else matters,"

"..." I was momentarily speechless, feeling a surge of heat on my face,

"Jie... Is your face turning red?"

"Turning red?... No... it's not... What are you talking about?"

"Hehe..."

"Don't you 'hehe' me!"

I immediately gave Zhiye a chop on the head,

"Ouch... That hurts," Zhiye covered her head, as if it really hurt,

"It was just a reflex, and I didn't hit you that hard..."

"Rub it..."

"Why are you giving me that pitiful look? You're not really asking me to rub it, right?"

Zhiye leaned closer, and I couldn't help but want to stroke her soft hair. No, wait, my thoughts were becoming impure,

Suppressing my impure thoughts, I cleared my throat and said, "Even if you act like a child, it won't work,"

"But it really hurts... You hurt me, Jie,"

"I didn't hit you that hard, did I?"

"It's swollen,"

"Really?" I was half-doubting,

"You'll know if you touch it..."

Curiosity got the better of me, and I touched it,

"I touched Jie's hand. It's a bit rough but very warm,"

"Hey hey hey..."

"Um?" Zhiye still seemed oblivious to what had just happened,

"It really is warm..." Zhiye pressed my hand against her cheek, looking intoxicated,

"Zhiye, you're a bit strange, are you suffering from heat stroke?"

"No, not at all..."

"It's really hot, you know,"

"I don't feel it at all,"

Why did it feel like I was being entangled by Zhiye? There were still other people around. Just as I was about to ask for Xi's help, Xi ran away, taking Yuan Muxi with her... Did they abandon me?

"Help me, please..." My voice echoed hollowly.

"Jie said he cares about me... I am important to him..."

And then there's Zhiye, intoxicated and muttering to himself, but I can't make sense of what he's saying.

But I don't want to bother with all that; I just want to break free from it all.