Hey there, I've got an extra chapter!
Chapter 33
A gentle breeze stirred up ripples.
As dusk approached, the sunlight dyed the emerald green lake surface red.
What Rossi once saw as lush green grass is now just withered yellow leaves. What he once saw as towering trees are now just crooked, twisted branches. What he once saw as gentle, honest carp is now just a lonely shadow.
The bustling Aiqing Lake, if you listen carefully, the sound actually comes from the distant shore.
The island seemed to have been abandoned here, and the world in Losi's eyes suddenly became a little dimmer.
Cheng Qing across from him had a serious expression, and his slightly furrowed brows showed his displeasure.
Losi felt wronged, and she forcefully pulled her hand back, trying to shove the card back at her.
"Lossie".
Cheng Qing called her name in her gentle voice as always, a voice that always stirred her heart, but now the more she heard it, the more aggrieved she felt.
“Lossie, you found this yourself.”
“No.” Losi looked up, her eyes unusually sharp: “You’re the one who led me to the place where only werewolves know where the card is.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qing smiled helplessly, "But Losi picked up all these cards herself, one by one."
Lossie's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled slightly: "But you gave it to me!"
Cheng Qing was stunned. A gust of wind blew by, causing Cheng Qing's straight black hair to dance in the wind and the leaves behind her to rustle.
“I don’t want you to give them to me. You’re so smart, you’ll definitely find a way to collect all the cards…” As she said this, Losi stuffed more cards into Cheng Qing’s pocket.
Cheng Qing naturally wouldn't let her wrist be grabbed, and seeing that she was still struggling, Cheng Qing was actually very happy.
Of course she was happy. Giving it to Rossi was a favor she had done, and Rossi returning it was a response to her!
Such a response is enough.
Cheng Qing grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, causing Luo Xi to stumble and fall into Cheng Qing's arms.
Cheng Qing wrapped his arms around her, a smile on his face, and spoke gently, "Luo Xi, swimming back from here... won't be difficult for me."
Losi hesitated for a moment: "That's your problem. Even if I can't swim back from here, I'll find a way."
But Cheng Qing's embrace was so warm that she couldn't bear to break free.
Cheng Qing chuckled softly and slowly closed her eyes: "I know, but the only way I can think of is to swim back in your place!"
Lossie finally fell silent. "What right do you have to replace me? Who are you to me?" Lossie wanted to question her, but she knew that every question would hurt, so in the end she could only hold back her tears.
She broke free from Cheng Qing's embrace and stood there, head bowed, saying, "I don't need you to replace me." Strands of hair fell from both sides, obscuring her aggrieved face.
Cheng Qing didn't say much, but pushed her towards the boat on the shore: "Luo Xi, let's get on the boat!"
Losi stomped her foot. "I said I don't want them." She threw all the cards on the ground, her face showing more reluctance than dissatisfaction.
Cheng Qing looked at her, sighed, and squatted down to pick up the cards she had thrown down one by one.
But there was no sound from the loudspeaker. After picking up all seven cards, Cheng Qing smiled and told her, "Did you hear that?"
Losi: "???"
Cheng Qing: "There's no sound coming from the loudspeaker, so even though I have the card, it's useless. Since you've already been declared the winner, this card... you're not coming back."
Losi was immediately shocked and furious. She reached out and slapped the card out of Cheng Qing's hand: "This is not fair! Why can you give it to me, but I can't? I'm going to find the director. I want the card back."
Cheng Qing didn't stop her. Seeing Luo Xi turn to leave, she stood there and called out to her, "Luo Xi." Seeing that Luo Xi seemed really sad, she could only try a different approach to comfort her: "Luo Xi, didn't you tell me that you signed the contract?"
“You signed a contract for this game. You can’t decide for the other 10 people whether they have to swim back! There are still 10 people behind you. This victory isn’t something you can just give up…”
These words finally calmed Losi down.
This lake is so big, it wouldn't be easy for anyone to swim back. Besides, it's so chilly on an autumn evening...
Cheng Qing: "Okay? Let's go on the boat before it gets colder!"
Losi finally looked up at her, hesitated for a moment, and then weakly said, "I'll swim back with you."
Cheng Qing laughed loudly: "Then why should I give up the card?"
The implication was profound, yet Luo Xi understood it perfectly. Her face flushed, and her heart raced. Cheng Qing's words still echoed in her ears: "What I want is for you to reach the other side easily, which I traded by swimming back. Are you trying to trick me?"
Cheng Qing's exaggerated tone finally made Luo Xi burst out laughing. She reached out and touched her face, which was a little hot.
Seeing that she finally smiled, Cheng Qing dared to step forward and take the life jacket from the staff member to put on her.
"Alright, let's go up!" Cheng Qing's voice was a little more relaxed as she smiled and said, "Remember, this is just a game."
"It's just a game," Losi finally nodded.
The staff on the side all twitched their lips: Holy crap! You guys finally realized this is a game! I thought this was some kind of life-or-death scene!
After Luo Xi put on her life jacket, Cheng Qing smiled brightly and handed her over to the staff waiting nearby. Luo Xi turned to look at her, and Cheng Qing waved, "Go wait for me over there."
Losi said no more: "Okay."
Losi finally boarded the ship, and everyone else returned one after another. Each person took a life jacket from the work team, and then looked around as they put it on.
"Teacher? Why aren't you dressed?" Lin Shandie noticed Cheng Qing standing to the side as she prepared to board the ship.
Cheng Qing chuckled, covering her mouth with her fist: "Ahem, look how many people aren't wearing any clothes?"
Lin Shandie didn't react at first, but after looking around, she realized that only Cheng Qing was not wearing any clothes.
She was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed, "You're a werewolf?!"
Cheng Qing raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a smile.
Lin Shandie cried out, her mouth agape, "Teacher!!! You've lied to us so badly!!!"
Liu Suoyu grabbed her head and pulled her onto the boat, saying, "What's so terrible about it! If she weren't a werewolf, we'd all have to swim back."
Lin Shandie immediately realized what was happening and looked at Losi on the ship, only to see that she had her back to everyone. Clearly, she was still angry.
Lin Shandie: "..." It seems that Luo Xi was the one who was deceived the most.
Liu Suoyu shushed her, saying, "She's probably in a bad mood right now, don't go up there and get yelled at."
After everyone boarded the ship, they all thanked Cheng Qing, and then only three staff members and a cameraman stayed with Cheng Qing.
When Cheng Qing saw the boat sail away from the shore, Luo Xi still didn't turn back, and just smiled helplessly.
Then he turned to the cameraman next to him and asked, "Director, you're so inhumane! Didn't you really prepare any swimsuits?"
Cameraman: "...They've prepared new clothes for you on the other side."
Cheng Qing turned back and gave the cameraman a long, thoughtful look: "Do you know?"
Cameraman: "???"
Cheng Qing: "Ordinary pants are very easy to... be washed away."
Cameraman: "...Huh?" So that's why you're wearing professional swim trunks?
While warming up, Cheng Qing asked, "Didn't you do any research before playing this game?"
The cameraman could only weakly say, "It was changed at the last minute."
"I knew it." Cheng Qing glanced back at him. This game seemed tailor-made for her from the very beginning. Besides, the cabin on the island had the "Aces Go Places" logo, so it must have served some purpose from the start.
Yes, there's no werewolf game segment at all. It's just a group of friends spending a whole day and night there!
Just like Lossie said, the director might do something like putting the card inside a carp's belly. Changing the activity at the last minute really shows how imaginative and resourceful they are!
Although she couldn't remember the details, she was absolutely certain that there was no Werewolf game!
This is a total rip-off!!!
***
Losi remained seated motionless at the bow of the boat, and none of the ten people on board dared to speak.
Because Losi's aura was too strong at this moment, she seemed to be ready to fight anyone who bothered her.
So everyone simply turned to look at the scenery outside.
"Teacher Cheng is swimming over."
Suddenly, Lin Shandie's voice came, and Luo Xi finally moved. She turned to look at her with a pained expression, then gazed towards the island and asked, "Really?"
Losi then stood up and moved to the stern. The boat that had come to pick them up had been replaced by a small cruise ship, but it wasn't traveling very fast.
Lossie went to the stern, and everyone made room for her.
Losi leaned half her body out: "Where is it?"
Liu Suoyu pointed to a small black dot bobbing up and down in the water, with a small boat following behind her.
Losi's eyes immediately welled up with tears: "It's so far?"
Liu Suoyu: "..." No need for that, the boat is following! There are three lifeguards! -_-||
Losi turned to him and asked, "Isn't it cold?"
The crew member at the front of the boat smiled and said, "Don't worry, the colder the weather, the warmer the water will be."
Lin Shandie could only comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, the teacher is so amazing."
Losi frowned, turned around and glared at her: "Even someone as powerful as you gets cold! Why don't you go down and try it?"
Lin Shandie: "...Yeah, it'll probably be cold." She learned it from Cheng Qing, so she just went along with it.
Lin Shandie ignored him and went along with him, causing Luo Xi's pent-up emotions to choke and get stuck in her chest.
Losi: "..."
She turned to look at Li Mingyao and Ye Lingyun, but to her surprise, the two who usually loved to tease her quickly turned their heads away and refused to look at her.
Once on the ship, anyone with a brain could guess what was going on. These seven cards were given to Luo Xi by Cheng Qing. After all, having received this benefit, the others weren't going to argue with Luo Xi.
Losi: "..."
This is probably the biggest protective charm Cheng Qing gave to Luo Xi!