After the meal, Su Qing and Su Shui returned the borrowed swimsuits and inflatable rings.

"Where to next?" Su Shui asked Su Qing beside him. She shot him a glare.

"You decide, obviously. Where did you go on dates with Lin Ning?"

"Uh, she always picked the spots..."

"...Right. That’s my Su Shui."

Giving up, Su Qing grabbed his hand and shoved him toward a bus.

"Hey, why not take a cab? We’re finally out having fun!" Su Shui had wanted to splurge, but Su Qing yanked him aboard.

"Ever heard of green travel? Protecting the environment is everyone’s duty!"

"But that other bus has fewer people—and seats..."

"Nope. I’ve got bad vibes about that one."

Su Qing dragged him onto the crowded bus. All Su Qing could see were heads packed tight.

She’d dreamed of this scene: Su Shui shielding her in the crush, carving out a tiny space by the window. Their bodies pressed close, breaths mingling, faces drifting nearer... nearer...

Reality? Su Shui face-planted the moment he stepped on.

The crowd instantly parted, clearing a wide circle around him.

No one caught him. Su Shui’s face smacked the floor.

Su Qing covered her eyes, then slowly helped him up. Blood trickled from his nose. She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed it away.

People huddled at the edges, avoiding his blood.

Now, the bus was jam-packed everywhere—except around Su Shui and Su Qing, standing awkwardly in open space.

No romantic bus moment. Just hoping no one filmed this for the internet.

Su Qing sighed, watching Su Shui sway weakly with the bus’s motion.

"Sigh. All the right conditions for romance... but your body just won’t cooperate."

...

"You... really wanna watch this?" Su Shui eyed the horror movie Su Qing had picked.

He knew she hated ghosts and monsters.

"Yes! This one!"

With the bus plan ruined, Su Qing was pulling out the big guns.

Horror movies were the ultimate date hack. At scary scenes, she’d dive into his arms—and stay there the whole film.

She’d even chosen the longest runtime.

They entered the theater with popcorn and cola.

"Qing, it’s not too late to switch to Happy Sheep!"

"I’m not a kid! This is fine!"

Su Qing pulled him to their seats—only to find their tickets mismatched.

She sat alone in an aisle seat; Su Shui was on the other side, next to a stranger in a cap, huge sunglasses, and a mask covering half their face.

"Excuse me, could we swap seats? We bought the wrong tickets..." Su Qing whispered to the stranger.

No response. The figure sat motionless, like asleep.

Before she could try again, the movie started.

Su Qing trudged back to her seat, staring lifelessly at the screen.

The opening scene hit hard.

Gasps rippled through the theater. Su Qing trembled.

"Ahhh!"

A woman’s scream came from Su Shui’s side. Su Qing forced herself to look.

The stranger had woken up—and lunged into Su Shui’s arms, shrieking.

"What the—!" Su Qing nearly exploded. Who was this person clinging to him?!

Push her away! she screamed mentally. Instead, Su Shui gently patted the stranger’s back, comforting them.

That was it. Su Qing ducked low and crept over.

"Hey! Who are you? What are you doing?!" she hissed at the figure in Su Shui’s arms.

The stranger lifted their head, pulling off the sunglasses and mask to reveal a delicate, familiar face.

"What? You can sneak off on dates, but I can’t tag along?" the girl taunted. Su Qing gritted her teeth.

"Lin Ning! Why are you always haunting us?!"

...

...

That morning, Lin Ning hung up the phone, still uneasy about Su Shui and Su Qing going out alone.

"If something happens to them... it’s definitely not because I’m scared he’ll get stolen!"

She grabbed her jacket and dashed for the door.

"Sis, how will you even find them?" Lin Feng called from the couch, rubbing his stomach.

"I’ve got Su Shui’s GPS tracker! Find him, find her!" Lin Ning waved her phone proudly.

"Then let’s go!" Lin Feng was already at the door, fully dressed and shod.

Seeing his hat, mask, and sunglasses, Lin Ning plucked them off his head.

"I’ll go alone. You stay and guard the house." She put on his gear herself.

"But what if Su Qing’s in danger? I can help!"

"Oh ho! So you’ve got a crush on her?" Lin Ning beamed at her blushing brother.

Lin Feng turned crimson, twisting his body shyly.

"I mean... it’s not like that yet..."

"Go for it! I support you!" Lin Ning clapped his shoulder.

Inside, she cheered: If Lin Feng wins Su Qing over, she’s no threat to me anymore. Plan successful!

"Let’s go, bro. Time to protect them!"

Lin Ning slung an arm around him, heading downstairs to her sports car. She activated the tracker.

"They went to the beach? That ungrateful guy never took me there..." she muttered, starting the engine.

"Sis..." Lin Feng’s face was ghostly pale beside her.

"Feeling sick?"

Lin Feng flung the door open and bolted out.

He clutched a roadside tree, vomiting violently.

*Gurgle*

His stomach churned. He sprinted to a public restroom.

"Just go alone... I think I ate something bad."