Liu Yiyi returned to her dorm for a short nap, and at 2:40 PM, she grabbed her camera, put on a baseball cap, slung a bag over her shoulder, and headed out. She hopped on her bicycle and rode over to the University T cafeteria.
Seeing Shao Qi standing next to Tongtong, Liu Yiyi asked, "Who is this?"
"Sister Yiyi, I invited Brother Qi to come with us. Is that okay?" Tongtong asked in a pleading voice.
"Tongtong told me you all wanted to go hiking, and I don't have anything going on, so I can drive you there," Shao Qi explained from the side.
"Yeah, Sister Yiyi, we can ride in Brother Qi's car."
"Then we'll see each other at the bottom of the mountain. I'll cycle there." Liu Yiyi turned to leave.
"Wait a minute, Sister Yiyi, why not take the car? You can leave your bicycle at school and come with us," Tongtong blinked her innocent eyes.
Liu Yiyi didn't want too much contact with Shao Qi. The gossip surrounding celebrities was always impossible to untangle. Stopping her gaze on Tongtong, she spoke her mind directly, "I want to ride my bike, and the distance isn't very far. See you at the bottom of the mountain."
"Is my arrival making you uncomfortable? It's fine, I can stay home." Shao Qi, do you really have to spell it out like that?
"Sister Yiyi," Tongtong looked a bit disappointed. Why didn't Sister Yiyi want to spend more time with her?
"Fine, let's go."
"Yay, off we go!" Tongtong cheered, grabbing one of them with each hand and heading straight for Qingsong Mountain. Along the way up the mountain, Liu Yiyi kept taking pictures of the surrounding scenery, while Tongtong chatted happily with Shao Qi. After climbing for about an hour and a half, they reached the summit.
Tongtong was panting heavily. "Sister Yiyi, you're amazing! You walked this whole way without changing your expression at all, and Brother Qi is the same. Only I am dying of exhaustion. The scenery up here is so nice!"
Indeed, the summit was vast, offering a bird's-eye view of all of Yiqier in Country T. There were also many benches for people to rest on. Tongtong sat down on a white stone bench to rest, while Liu Yiyi held her camera to capture the city views.
At that moment, Tongtong came up behind Liu Yiyi and said, "Sister Yiyi, can you take a picture of me?"
"Stand right there, I'll take it." Tongtong stood at the summit, and Liu Yiyi captured her smiling face.
"Brother Qi, come over here too, and Sister Yiyi." Shao Qi walked over toward Tongtong.
Holding up her camera, Liu Yiyi said, "I'll take a picture for you two."
"Come over here, Sister Yiyi! Why don't we just ask a passerby?" Tongtong disagreed. Without waiting for a response, she found a passerby and asked him to take a group photo of the three of them. Liu Yiyi handed the camera to the stranger, who snapped their group photo.
Tongtong snatched the camera back and walked a short distance away. "Sister Yiyi, I'll take one of you and Brother Qi."
"No need, I'll take pictures of you guys."
"Alright." Shao Qi's bright red lips curved up slightly into a smirk. Liu Yiyi was stunned.
"Hurry, hurry, get closer! One, two, smile!" The moment the shutter clicked, Shao Qi pulled Liu Yiyi tightly into his arms. Liu Yiyi naturally leaned against Shao Qi's chest and looked up at him as the camera flashed. *Click.*
"All done, it looks so good! Sister Yiyi, can you give me a copy of this photo?" Tongtong stared intently at the picture.
"I'll print it out and give it to you." Liu Yiyi suddenly figured out what to give Tongtong for her birthday.
"Drink some water." Shao Qi handed her a water bottle.
"Thanks." Liu Yiyi took the water handed to her by Shao Qi.
"You asked for my chat contact last time, but how come I never saw your request? I only received one from someone named Zhang Lin." Shao Qi's handsome face wore an inquiring look.
Liu Yiyi felt a bit guilty. "Oh, that was for a friend."
"Let's add each other again, then." Shao Qi raised his phone, and they added each other as contacts.
"Sister Yiyi, I'm hungry. Let's go eat." Tongtong walked over, rubbing her stomach.
Liu Yiyi glanced at her watch—it was almost 6 PM. She looked at Tongtong again; there was no way they could shoot night scenery today. Since there was no food on the mountain, they had no choice but to head down. "Let's take the cable car down."
They arrived at the snack street at the foot of the mountain and found a quaint restaurant. Tongtong was starving; before the snacks were even fully served, she started digging in voraciously.
Shao Qi went to get drinks for them. Liu Yiyi took a small sip; it tasted pretty good, with a refreshing fruity flavor. The dishes were all served, and they began to eat in a rare moment of harmony. "Sister Yiyi, is it good? I ordered extra just in case you didn't have enough," Tongtong mumbled with her mouth full as she sat opposite them.
"It tastes good," Liu Yiyi replied.
"What's wrong with your arm? Why are there so many red spots?" Sitting beside Liu Yiyi, Shao Qi put down his cutlery and pointed at her arm.
Liu Yiyi looked at her arm, and her throat began to feel tight and swollen. She hurriedly picked up the beverage bottle and checked the ingredient list: alcohol content 8%. Liu Yiyi managed to say the word "alcohol" before her head spun and she collapsed.
Shao Qi caught her in his arms, pulled out some money and left it on the table. "Tongtong, I'm taking her to the hospital. Finish eating here and take a taxi back by yourself." With that, he picked up Liu Yiyi and walked outside.
Tongtong chased after them. "I'm going too!" Tongtong hurriedly opened the car door, and Shao Qi put Yiyi inside and drove straight to the hospital.
"Doctor, how is she?" Shao Qi asked the doctor who was examining Liu Yiyi.
"She is having an allergic reaction caused by alcohol. She has just been given medicine; after observing her a little longer, you can take her back."
"Alright, thank you, Doctor, and sorry to trouble Second Uncle." When Shao Qi arrived, he hadn't expected his Second Uncle to still be at the hospital, so he had asked him for a favor.
"Xiao Qi, who is this girl? Your girlfriend?"
"No, a junior." Shao Qi looked worriedly at Liu Yiyi lying on the hospital bed.
"Oh." The doctor gave Shao Qi a skeptical look. "She's fine now, Second Uncle has to get back to work." He patted Shao Qi's shoulder.
"Alright." Shao Qi walked over to Tongtong and explained the general situation to her. "Tongtong, you should head back first. I'll watch over things here."
"What about Sister Yiyi?"
"Don't worry, I'll send Sister Yiyi back. If you don't go back now, your parents will worry. Call me when you get home."
"Okay, then I'll leave first. Call me if anything happens, Brother Qi." Tongtong hailed a cab and went home.
Shao Qi sat at the head of Liu Yiyi's bed, looking at her flushed face. Just what kind of girl was she? She had stories, knew martial arts, had a cold personality, and remained indifferent to everything.
"Xiao Qi, how is it? Is your classmate awake yet?" Shao Qi's Second Uncle pulled back the curtain.
"Not yet."
"Let me see. The rashes have faded, she should be fine. Xiao Qi, hospital beds are tight right now, you should take your classmate back first. Call me if any issues come up."
"Alright, then Second Uncle, go ahead and get busy." Shao Qi picked up Liu Yiyi and walked out. "Tongtong, do you know where Sister Yiyi lives?" Shao Qi asked, standing by the car door while talking to Tongtong on the phone.
"Sister Yiyi, is she awake?"
"Not yet," Shao Qi stated the current situation.
"I only know Sister Yiyi lives in Jinxi Apartment, but I don't know her room number. Brother Qi, why don't you bring Sister Yiyi to my place?"
"What if issues come up later?" Hit the nail on the head.
"This?" Tongtong pondered, realizing she really couldn't help.
Shao Qi thought of a solution. "I'll take her to my place instead." After all, it was because of him that his junior ended up in a hospital bed.
"That works too. Brother Qi, you have to take good care of Sister Yiyi. Let me know as soon as she wakes up."
"Got it."