"Who is it?"

Zhan Mengxi felt like she was about to lose her mind.

At this crucial moment, someone dared to interrupt her. She’d been so close to snuggling up with Yun Mingxin. Damn it.

"Hurry, Brother Mingxin is here!"

A soft, feminine voice reached their ears.

Yun Mingxin’s eye twitched slightly.

Wasn’t that Bai Ziyi’s voice? Hadn’t she promised on the phone not to come?

Not only had she come, but she’d followed them deep into the wilderness. How absurd!

Was she afraid this pawn of hers would escape?

Soon, a stunning figure in white appeared before them.

Bai Ziyi wore a custom white dress today.

She really seemed obsessed with the color white.

Still, wearing such an outfit in the mountains was bizarre.

"Brother Mingxin, thank goodness! I finally found you."

Bai Ziyi’s face lit up with delight.

But spotting Zhan Mengxi behind him, her eyes flashed with hostility.

A business-suited woman trailed her, clearly out of breath.

Bai Ziyi rushed forward, eager to check Yun Mingxin for injuries.

Her hand reached out—only to be blocked.

She looked up. Zhan Mengxi glared like an angry cat with fur on end.

"Tch!"

Unable to get closer, Bai Ziyi stepped back.

She turned to Yun Mingxin, voice laced with worry.

"Brother Mingxin, I’m so relieved you’re safe. I texted you at noon—no reply. I called over a dozen times, not one answered."

"I’m truly sorry. I was so worried about your safety, I rushed to Purple Mountain myself."

Hmm.

Yun Mingxin had suspected she came intentionally.

But he couldn’t find a single reason.

She was clearly a wealthy heiress.

Even his imagination couldn’t explain why someone like her would cling to him.

Only two possibilities existed.

First: she liked him.

He dismissed that instantly.

Impossible.

Just a bump and a couple of games making a goddess fall for him?

That’d be absurd. He was a faithful materialist.

Her casual outfit eased his suspicion slightly.

It wasn’t travel-ready—she hadn’t planned to follow right after the call.

Otherwise, she’d have prepared properly.

Unbeknownst to him, this was Bai Ziyi’s careful plan to avoid suspicion.

She’d called; he hadn’t answered. Panicked, she’d rushed over.

He’d been asleep then, Zhan Mengxi too—no wonder they missed the calls.

And all those calls drained his phone battery.

Everything made sense.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask how she found them, a strong pull yanked him backward.

He turned. Zhan Mengxi glared furiously, gripping his clothes tightly.

"Xiao Xin, who is she?"

Zhan Mengxi pointed bluntly, no courtesy.

Bai Ziyi’s gentle facade vanished, her face tightening.

"She? She’s—"

"I’m Brother Mingxin’s girlfriend!"

Bai Ziyi cut in before Yun Mingxin could speak.

"What?"

Both Zhan Mengxi and Yun Mingxin froze in shock.

The unnoticed assistant nearby flinched, sensing danger.

Yun Mingxin’s confusion deepened—utterly bewildered.

He was just a tool; when did he become a boyfriend?

Could his first guess be right? Was she after his body?

Yun Mingxin hadn’t reacted yet.

Zhan Mengxi exploded. Drenched as she was, her hair seemed to bristle like a cat’s.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Don’t I know if Xiao Xin has a girlfriend?"

Bai Ziyi glared back, unyielding.

Both thought the same:

This white-haired girl feels like my natural enemy.

This cow is my ultimate rival!

One intuition was inexplicable; the other hatred spanned lifetimes.

Thunder and lightning crackled between them.

To Bai Ziyi, this girl was just a scheming homewrecker.

She longed to mock Zhan Mengxi’s messy state—but that’d ruin her image with Yun Mingxin. She held back.

"Stop it!"

"What kind of spectacle is this?"

Yun Mingxin stepped between them as their glares sparked.

He gestured to Zhan Mengxi.

"This is my good friend, Zhan Mengxi. She hurt her leg, and I’m exhausted. Could you help us down?"

He felt helpless. He could barely manage alone; adding a hundred-pound girl might mean returning as ashes.

"No, Xiao Xin! I won’t let this woman help me!"

Zhan Mengxi tugged his sleeve, pouting.

"No way!"

"If you want to attend my funeral, refuse!"

Yun Mingxin’s eyes glinted, a scheming edge to his tone.

Zhan Mengxi fell silent.

"And you, Ziyi? Any issue?"

"No problem at all~ Of course I can!"

"Pleased to meet you... Sister Mengxi. I’m Bai Ziyi."

Bai Ziyi offered a fake smile.

"Hmph!"

Bai Ziyi turned to her daydreaming assistant.

The girl looked seventeen, baby-faced and bespectacled—but she was an adult.

Her gaze drifted, dazed and unfocused.

Only Bai Ziyi’s stare snapped her awake.

She scanned the empty area, pointed at herself, confused.

No way, Miss. I’m just here for the drama.

Bai Ziyi nodded—a demon’s smile.

The assistant pinched her soft arm, near tears.

She’d bear it all again.

At the mountain base, searchers scanned the area with flashlights. Dusk was falling.

Spotting the group, they sighed in relief.

If they’d failed, Bai Ziyi might have had them flatten the mountain.

But her face stayed icy, no gratitude for their diligence.

Bai Ziyi bit her finger, grinding her teeth.

That cow escaped this time. Damn it.

He reeked of that fat cow’s scent—like some wet, suggestive wilderness encounter.

To her, it was a betrayal fantasy, soaked edition.

The image formed.

A green tint colored her thoughts.

"M...Miss..."

"Who’s disturbing my thoughts?"

Bai Ziyi frowned at the voice.

Her assistant stood soaked, glasses crooked, tears dripping. Helpless.

Zhan Mengxi clung to her back, scowling.

Carrying her down, the assistant’s arms felt lifeless.

Her eyes had lost their spark.