The villagers had a certain image in their minds that wealthy people like them always looked down upon poor people. But last night, they never felt for a single moment that they were some rich heirs. That just said how down to earth they were despite being so wealthy.
Caihong smiled. "Yes. So you don't have to worry. We wholeheartedly want you to live a good life."
The villagers could only dazedly nod their heads.
Just like that, after sorting out some stuff, promising them a better future and thanking them again for all their help, Zhiyuan-Xinyi and Xiaosi-Caihong left with Liang and the rescue team back towards the camp where their children fearfully awaited the confrontation.
---
Yunru raised his voice. "What!?"
"Ssshhh!" Zizi urgently whispered. "Uncle will hear you."
Yunru quietened down. He grimly asked, "Wait. So let me make this very clear. Nothing happened between us right?"
Zizi stared at him and strangely enough, she felt pricked at that question. His need to ask for confirmation made her feel glum. Hiding the pain beneath her eyes, she said, "No. Nothing happened between us. You can...rest assured."
Yunru shut his eyes and silently heaved a sigh of relief. If he had really slept with her, he would have betrayed Shuang's trust. Though even sleeping next to each other wasn't any minor issue either.
I am so stupid! How can I drink that badly? The worst part is that I don't even remember!
Zizi obviously noticed how he felt relieved. Anger surged in her chest and she said, "D-Don't look like that! It's not as if I was dying to sleep with you! I should be the most relieved here. I brought you back home in your drunken state in my lavish car and what do I get? I had to spend an entire night in this small house and your small room! I, Han Zizi, have suffered too much."
Yunru patted her head. "I am sorry. You took care of me last night. Thank you. And sorry for all the trouble."
The feeling of his hand on her head felt nice so nice that it quenched her anger a little bit. Her mood turned a little better.
"Hmph! Anyway! So like I said your Dad s-saw us like that so he misunderstood us…"
"Don't worry about that. I will take care of it."
They headed back and heard Soo Enlai talking to someone on the phone. "It is absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! Yunru and Zizi spent the night together, Elder Han."
Zizi froze. Her eyes slowly widened in horror as she looked at him in disbelief.
Grandpa! He is talking to Grandpa!?
Yunru snatched the phone from Soo Enlai's hand. "Hey! Give me my phone back!"
He grimaced. "What are you doing, spreading rumors?"
Soo Enlai smacked him on his head. "I am not spreading any rumors! Do you mean what I saw was a lie?"
"Ugh...not exactly a lie but-"
"Shut up!" Soo Enlai glared at his son. "Are you trying to run away from taking responsibility? I haven't raised you like this!"
He brushed him off and held Zizi's hand who was still recovering from her shock.
He told Grandpa…
"Zizi, dear," he warmly smiled. "You ignore this idiot. Come, let's have breakfast. You must be hungry after *cough*..."
"Dad!" Yunru pressed his brows.
Ah, what is this trouble I have fallen into…
"I am not talking to you!"
Soo Enlai pulled her to sit at the table. "Eat up dear. You need to replenish your energy."
Zizi coughed hard.
He glared at Yunru. "Join us, young man. We need to talk."
Yunru took a seat. "Okay. Dad I-"
Instead of hearing his son out, Soo Enlai glowered at him. "Why did you lie to me at that time? You said you feel you two aren't suited for each other, but then what is this? If you two like each other, then why hide it? Elder Han and I were always in favor of you two."
Yunru sighed.
"And the worst part is that you don't even remember! Just how drunk were you! Wait a minute. You didn't force yourself on her in that state, did you?" His face darkened.
"What? No!" Yunru was speechless. "I am not a jerk!"
"Everyone becomes a jerk when they get drunk. Why would you be any different?"
"..."
Zizi almost choked on her food.
"Oh, dear! Don't eat so quickly," Soo Enlai offered her a glass of water. "Take it slowly."
"Th-thank you."
Soo Enlai sternly said, "So now tell me. Since how long have you two been dating?"
Zizi stiffened. When he had asked her that question, she couldn't answer truthfully that she wasn't his girlfriend.
"Dad. We are not dating."
Her eyelashes slightly trembled, but she didn't let the disappointment show on her face.
"Soo Yunru! Stop lying or I will slap you hard."
Yunru got a headache.
He couldn't tell him that he was dating Shuang. He really didn't want to let him know about his relationship because he knew how his father was. He would keep harping on introducing her to him until Yunru was forced to.
"If you are not dating Zizi, then why would you sleep with her? Don't you dare be a despicable man!"
"It was an accident, Dad. Princess will tell you the truth."
She stiffened and stammered. "Huh? Um...I-I…That..."
"See? You are making her confused and afraid. What is the harm in admitting your relationship? I talked to Elder Han and even he couldn't believe it! Haha! He was asking again and again if I was dreaming or not."
Cannot blame him, Yunru thought.
"If things have progressed this far then why should we wait? Hmph. I don't know why you would hide your relationship from us, but isn't this the time to make it official?"
"Huh?" Yunru watched him, dumbfounded. "Official what?"
"Of course your engagement, silly. What else?"
Her eyes widened as his words rang in her ears.
E-engagement?
---
Ah Cy was continuously pacing back and forth at the campsite, feeling anxious about everyone's return. A while later from a distance, she finally saw Liang and the others coming towards the camp.
"Xinyi! Caihong!" She waved her hand and jumped like a little child. She rushed towards them and hugged them tightly. She wailed as she burst into tears. "Waaa...I am so glad you are back in one piece! You scared the hell out of me!"
Xinyi and Caihong smiled and tightly hugged her back. "Sorry for making you worry, Ah Cy."
She wiped her tears. "Oh gosh! You both are injured!"
Caihong shook her head. "We are fine now, Ah Cy. Some kind villagers helped us a lot last night."
Xinyi nodded. "En. We are much better now."
Zhiyuan quickly said, "It's cold here. Let's go inside or you will catch a cold, Xinyi."
Ah Cy raised a brow and her womanly instincts said that something had changed between them, especially with Zhiyuan. He was always caring but today somehow he seemed extra caring?
Hmm…
When she looked at Caihong and Xiaosi, she was even more dumbfounded.
Hmmmm!???
It's not like they said anything, but the atmosphere between them didn't feel as prickly and thorny as before.
Huh? Huh? Huh? This is news! At first, Caihong used to look at him as if she despised him the most. But what is this faint softness I feel?
She narrowed her eyes.
I have to grill them later with all the juicy details.
Xinyi urgently asked, "I will rest later but first tell me where is Siying? Is he fine? I hope he didn't cry without us…"
Xiaosi coldly said, "You took good care of Chyou, right? If not, I will make you suffer."
Liang glowered at him. "Don't you dare threaten my wife!"
Ah Cy's mouth twitched. She smiled. "Well...your kids are eagerly waiting for you to confess something."
Xinyi blinked her eyes. "Confess?"
Xiaosi tilted his head. Caihong and Zhiyuan frowned as well.
"They are inside that tent."
In the tent, Siying, Leina and Chyou stay huddled together for the entire time. They had cried so much that now they were too tired to shed any more tears. Siying was in the worst state out of all. Ever since he saw Xinyi falling and Zhiyuan jumping to save her, he had not said a word. Even when Ah Cy had asked them about their plans, it was Leina and Chyou who confessed everything.
The zipper opened and their parents finally stepped inside. The kids froze.
Siying fearfully raised his small head and turned pale when he saw Xinyi hurt on her head. Chyou was in a similar state as him when she saw Caihong limping on her right foot and Xiaosi was hurt on his head too. They trembled and tears pooled in their eyes.
"Siying!" Xinyi brightened and rushed towards him. But Siying suddenly hid behind Leina. She blinked her eyes in confusion and said, "Siying. Mama is here! Won't you hug me?"