The street vendor, frustrated and helpless with their coordinated act, couldn't stand the pitiful look in the Omega woman's eyes. The people around them began to chime in:
"Never seen someone trying to force a sale like this. It's ruining the reputation of our Qianshui Island!"
"What a big guy acting so clueless—what could those two girls possibly do to you?"
"This guy is always causing trouble. Last time, he made a mistake carving something for me and then blamed me for not being clear, even though the characters he carved made no sense!"
Under the crowd's criticism, the vendor tried to slink away, but given his earlier rude attitude, Pei Yujang wasn't going to let him go that easily. With a long stride, she blocked his path.
The vendor glared fiercely at Pei Yujang, but she stared back unflinchingly, showing no fear despite the significant height difference between them. With so many people around, he couldn't just lash out and hit her.
A few minutes later, the local city management arrived. Although they didn't have concrete evidence of price gouging, the witnesses were enough to get him taken away. Before leaving, the vendor shot a hateful glare at Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan, but Pei Yujang, unfazed, flipped him off.
After the crowd dispersed, the two of them didn't rush back. Instead, they decided to wander around and enjoy their rare, relaxed time together.
Pei Yujang carried a bag of golden pomelos while Yu Zhiwan held the pomelo lantern. They strolled leisurely along the cobblestone path, the white streetlights casting a frosty glow, making it hard to tell whether it was moonlight or the streetlights illuminating the ground.
Noticing a discarded carved number on the ground, Pei Yujang suddenly remembered something and turned to Yu Zhiwan:
"What about the photo you took of his ID? Maybe you should delete it—it's kind of bad luck."
"ID photo?" Yu Zhiwan couldn't help but chuckle, "I didn't actually take a picture. My screen was black."
Pei Yujang froze for two seconds before bursting into laughter.
Her girlfriend really was a clever one.
"Zhiwan," Pei Yujang held her hand, her fingers gently rubbing the Omega's knuckles, gripping her entire hand tightly. Given that they were both women, the size difference wasn't too great. Yu Zhiwan's fingers were long and slender, and Pei Yujang had to spread her hand wide to wrap it around hers. "Tell me more about your past."
Since she had shared her own past with Yu Zhiwan, she was naturally curious about Yu Zhiwan's history.
Even if those stories weren't happy, Pei Yujang was driven by an indescribable desire to share more with the person she liked.
Although Yu Zhiwan hadn't been a part of her past, talking about it made Pei Yujang feel like they were having a conversation across time.
Yu Zhiwan hesitated, "There's not much to tell…"
But Pei Yujang persisted, coaxing and wheedling until Yu Zhiwan, no longer resistant, began to recount some of the more pleasant memories she still had.
When she was very young, she had moved out with her parents for a time. It was the happiest period of her childhood, carefree and joyful. She had visited many places in Yicheng, including Yihu Park, which didn't look the way it did now. It had been renovated later, and Yu Zhiwan had been fortunate enough to witness its transformation.
"I once had two little parrots, which I kept outside in the yard. Unfortunately, one was eaten by a cat in the middle of the night, and the other flew away. I cried for a long time. Later, my dad wanted to take me to buy new parakeets, but I refused."
Recalling her determination back then, a smile spread across Yu Zhiwan's face. "I was so stubborn at the time. I thought the parrot that died would be watching me from the sky, and that it would be jealous if I got another one. I used to cry for a long time whenever I saw a dead animal, but then I became like this. It's strange, isn't it?"
Yu Zhiwan didn't care what others thought of her—whether they considered her cold-blooded or heartless, or a beautiful but deadly woman. None of that mattered to her. Good or bad, it was all her. If it weren't for her parents' expectations, she wouldn't have felt the need to fulfill her "mission."
Pei Yujang shook her head, "People change as they grow—it's normal."
As they spoke, they found themselves wandering aimlessly to the sandy shore of the lake. The sand here was fine and soft, known as "Golden Sand." Pei Yujang joked that the island should be called "Golden Island," with all the golden things everywhere.
Though it was a freshwater lake, it was still deep enough to be dangerous. Pei Yujang, a strong swimmer, ventured a little closer to the water, but not too far. She scouted the area with a flashlight, ensuring there were no hazards, before inviting Yu Zhiwan to join her.
Yu Zhiwan's recovery period would be long, so she couldn't run, jump, or exert herself too much. Pei Yujang carefully supported her, letting her dip her toes in the water.
Though she had felt the water temperature in the shower before, this was Yu Zhiwan's first time playing in the water. She cautiously held onto Pei Yujang's arm.
Standing on one leg, she tried to lift her foot to take off her socks, but Pei Yujang scooped her up, making it easier.
Pei Yujang had strong arms, something Yu Zhiwan had experienced before. Lying in her arms, her cheeks flushed slightly as she quickly took off her socks.
"Into the water we go!"
Before Yu Zhiwan could brace herself, she was suddenly tossed forward, making her scream in surprise. Pei Yujang, rarely playing pranks on her, caught her back in her arms the next second. The soft sand ensured no injuries, so Pei Yujang knelt down, half-submerging them both in the cool water.
Yu Zhiwan's pale, jade-like feet touched the water, cool and smooth. They were near a breeding area, so there were many fish around, and they weren't afraid of people. The lake water was rising, and a small fish brushed against her ankle, making her giggle.
A few years ago, fish therapy was popular. It involved putting small fish in footbaths to nibble at dead skin. Yu Zhiwan had seen videos of it but didn't think she could handle it.
However, playing in the water and accidentally encountering a small fish was quite fun. Yu Zhiwan splashed water at the fish with her foot, making it dart away in fright, which made her laugh.
After a few seconds, Pei Yujang felt something wrap around her foot—a piece of waterweed, which she shook off after a few tries. She heard Yu Zhiwan ask:
"When do you plan to take them for a barbecue?"
"How about tomorrow night? If the school doesn't have any activities."
"Do all the schools here do fun things like this? Taking students to a resort?" She knew schools usually had spring and autumn outings, but she hadn't known they could take trips to islands.
Yu Zhiwan shook her head, "Not really. Usually, it's just zoos, botanical gardens, or, if they're lucky, amusement parks or museums. This is the first time I've seen an autumn trip to an island."
And the trip lasted several days. She didn't think it was about spoiling the students—it was more likely a way for the school to make money. The school and the resort probably had some sort of partnership. After all, a four-day, three-night trip cost 5,000 yuan per person, and any extras had to be paid for out of pocket. That's equivalent to a month's salary for an average person—not something every family could afford.
She wanted to say that while the island looked beautiful, it also had safety risks—more so than an amusement park or zoo.
They played by the lake for a while longer until they were a bit tired, then headed back. By the time they returned, the night market was almost over, with only a few vendors left, eagerly waving them over to buy the remaining goods.
Pei Yujang bought a grilled pomelo skewer, only to find it tasted different from what she expected—slightly bitter and sour. The pomelo skin, dried out from grilling, wasn't very appetizing, proving that not all fruits could be grilled.
Still, Pei Yujang finished it, not one to waste food.
The villa area was lit up, with students moving about. Some had forgotten to close their curtains and were secretly singing and dancing with their smuggled-in speakers, their antics clearly visible. Pei Yujang laughed aloud. When they reached the stairs, she carried Yu Zhiwan up.
As they approached their villa's entrance, Pei Yujang entered from the front, only to hear the sounds of an argument. Pei Yujang listened closely and realized Jiang Wenxiu was the one ranting.
She was standing, while Shen Jiayu sat by the water, holding an iPad. Under the bright lights, Jiang Wenxiu's face was flushed as she questioned Shen Jiayu:
"Can't you stop avoiding the topic? I'm not joking with you!"
Shen Jiayu replied calmly, "Then you can pretend I'm joking. Is that okay?"
"Fine, you keep playing your games. I'm done. If you like someone, stop pretending to be all about 'I love studying' to fool people. Are you a celebrity trying to maintain an image? My time is valuable too, you know—I'm not here to waste it on you!"
Jiang Wenxiu seemed furious but surprisingly didn't curse. From what Pei Yujang knew of her, the fact that she wasn't swearing and spoke relatively "calmly" meant one of two things: either she wasn't really angry, or she liked this person too much to say anything harsh.
Pei Yujang suspected it was the latter.
Sensing some juicy gossip, Pei Yujang paused, unsure if she should intervene. Until Yu Zhiwan nudged her, signaling for Pei Yujang to take the lead.
Pei Yujang remembered when they had gone to the KTV and overheard the gossip about the long-time wife in Xiangcheng. Yu Zhiwan had followed her with the same mischievous, curious look. Whether it was listening in on a high school argument or eavesdropping on someone's dealings, it was always a morally questionable yet enjoyable activity.
In comparison, avoiding being seen by two high schoolers was much easier. Pei Yujang quickly found a good spot. Worried that Yu Zhiwan might get tired from standing too long, she leaned against the wall, lifted a leg for support, and pulled the Omega onto her lap.
Now they had their own exclusive VIP gossip-watching spot, didn't they?