Chapter 4: The Flower Protector

  Although Ping Cheng University's summer semester is a bit long, it's not a big deal for graduating students. So after spending a few peaceful weeks, three native Northeasterners embarked on their journey southward.

  The Jiang family is wealthy, and Su You and Jing Sheng have also been working for many years, with a lot of savings. Naturally, they all agree to take the plane. But according to Su You's words, it's like this: when people are well-fed and warm, they think about lust, but if you change the word "lust" to "how to make him unhappy", then...

  It was Jiang Sizhi and Jing Sheng who made him so angry.

  These two men had already ridiculed each other in the waiting room, causing people around them to frequently glance over. Su You quietly shifted one position after another, really wanting to say that he didn't know these two embarrassing men.

  Wait until boarding the plane, Su You sat in the middle, without turning his head, he could feel the gaze like a small knife cutting through both sides, making his face skin hurt.

  "Are you still teaching in elementary school, Teacher Jing? Is this how you set an example for your students?" Jiang Siqi pressed on.

  "Thanks for your concern, Jiang classmate, I've already asked someone to substitute for me. But let's get back to the topic, you who don't even deign to show up for a casual dinner gathering, do you have any right to criticize me? It seems like no one likes you!" Yin Sheng's smile seemed to hide a needle in the haystack. "Someone's heart is already broken!"

  "Do you still need to take a stand with your classmates? The logic of engineering students has been eaten by you?" Jiang Siqi sneered. What's the point of having a crush on him, it's too unreliable to confess after graduation? As for Jing Sheng, even if it's just in school, once we graduate, watch me take care of you in no time!

  Jing Sheng's reaction was again a standard push-glasses smile.

  Listen to this couple! It's not easy to go out and have fun, why can't they just stop arguing? Su Yu didn't want to say anything anymore, she directly put on her new earbuds, turned up the volume to the max, closed her eyes and dozed off. Anyway, no matter what, it's all just empty talk, out of sight, out of mind!

  Jiang Siqi and Jing Sheng probably sensed Su You's emotions too. Anyway, by the time they got off the plane, the atmosphere had returned to normal - still cold, but at least they weren't fighting anymore?

  Bamboo City is located on a peninsula, with three sides facing the sea, and its most famous natural scenery is also the sea view. The vast expanse of the sea seems to have tempered the two people as well, and for the entire next week, Jiang Siqi and Jin Sheng didn't blush again. The most intuitive proof was that the three of them actually took their first group photo together, with none of them looking awkward.

  Because at that time they were all busy dealing with the scalding and fragrant shark fin balls in their bowls!

  Su Yu was overjoyed and thought to himself that Zhucheng was indeed a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and they should have come here earlier. Then he thought again, since he had taken three months off this time, maybe he could make the most of this good start and at least prevent Xiao Qi and Jing Sheng from turning into red-faced roosters every time they met?

  Have to say, this idea is just a one-sided wish of Soo-young's.

  It can be seen from Jing Sheng's arrangement that his real intention for this trip is to eliminate the excuse of rolling into one bed from the source.

  Jiang Siqi could naturally see what Jing Sheng was doing, but he didn't make a sound. This was entirely because he felt the timing wasn't right, and also thought that Jing Sheng wasn't his opponent at all —

  Joking, how many years has he known Su Yu, and how many more years will Jing Sheng take? Doesn't he understand his brother yet?

  In short, this attitude of being on guard against each other is completely unreliable, and the surface harmony may break down at any time. However, since Su Yu is happy, Jiang Siqi and Jin Sheng reluctantly pretend not to notice, trying to prolong this facade for as long as possible.

  Su Youping is usually a good-tempered person, but if you really provoke him, congratulations, you have obtained a free ticket to witness the whole process of Husky transforming into Tyrannosaurus Rex at close range. Guaranteed high-definition 3D experience, guaranteed absolutely immersive...

  Who will stay behind to face the storm when it comes? Of course, it's better to slip away quietly and escape!

  As arch-rivals in a sense, Jiang Sizhi and Jing Sheng rarely see eye-to-eye on anything.

  Taking Su You's performance on the field as an example, in general, he plays as a winger; but if provoked, he directly transforms into a fierce and powerful center forward over 2 meters tall that even big men can't handle, with combat power soaring by at least three times. This contrast between before and after makes Su You's opponents have to play cleanly, or else the consequences will be even more severe!

  This is probably the secret to why Su You has always been able to make his brothers obey him with a single call, despite being careless and rough around the edges. Some people even joke that if Su You were placed in ancient times, he would be the kind of person who could guard a pass alone, killing anyone who dared to approach, without leaving any survivors. Many people agree with this assessment.

  But Su didn't take it to heart. His only reaction was that he felt like a big roughneck, and should be more careful when finding a girlfriend, or else he would end up hurting some delicate girl when he lost his temper, how terrible?

  However, this overprotective attitude only makes Su You more popular, and he's simply irresistible to both men and women. If Su You hadn't always been so strong-willed, Jiang Siqi would have already had a sister-in-law by now, leaving no room for him to covet.

  To get back to the point, when Jiang Siqi provoked him with this, he verbally did not admit it, but in his heart, he was also feeling apprehensive.

  If Su Yu hadn't insisted that only when one graduates from university and can support oneself is one considered a true adult, responsible for one's words and actions, he would have been too afraid to say anything, pretending to be obedient. Otherwise, why would he still indulge in unrequited love? It's not like it has any prospects, and it doesn't suit his style at all.

  But there are also benefits. Su You firmly believes that dating without the goal of marriage is just fooling around, so at least he doesn't have to worry about Su You being perfunctory with him! All these years he has been waiting, as long as he continues to be patient and quietly advances...

  Jiang Siqi's abacus was clicking away, but Jing Sheng couldn't stand the way he was acting. Unfortunately, this kid was really cunning and didn't reveal anything, so telling Su You would be pointless. He could only reluctantly play the role of a protective guardian for the sake of being a good brother.

  If Su You knew that Jing Sheng thought this way - the ghostly guardian of the flower - he would definitely repay Jing Sheng with two punches first. It's just that he doesn't know yet, so he is still immersed in his great dream of building a harmonious society... Cough cough.

  But Jiang Siqi and Jing Shengxin are tacitly aware of this, such days have rapidly decreased with Jiang Siqi's graduation, the intense PK between bamboo horses and Jiyou is about to arrive!

  From this perspective, Su You's celebration of the brief peace is also reasonable.

  Anyway, the three big men spent a pretty good two weeks by the sea, playing all they should play. The next itinerary is a newly developed hillside scenic spot on the outskirts of Bamboo City, which is a combination of outdoor survival and farmhouse fun, with the highest peak called Paiyun Mountain.

  The scenery of Paiyun Mountain is beautiful, with layered terraces and tea gardens shrouded in mist at dawn, like a fairyland. The Jiuxi Creek winds its way through the mountain crevices for 18 bends, with clear water and sky, adding to its beauty.

  Most people who play farmhouse music are attracted to picking jasmine and bayberry, which has no appeal to a group of three men.

  The location for wilderness survival is further into the mountains. From the main road, it's just a common dirt path in rural areas, and eventually, there's only one barely visible line on the ground that can be walked. The scenery on both sides also changed from fields to dense forests, with tree shadows covering the sky, and insects chirping and birds calling back and forth.

  "I'm going to be stuck here, this place is really hard to walk!" Su You complained as he trudged through the muddy road. Before he even finished speaking, another large drop of water fell from a leaf above and landed on his head with a splat, sending a chill down his spine. "So cool!" He involuntarily shrunk his neck.

  "It's usually fine, but we're not very lucky. Last night just happened to have a big rain." Jing Sheng had a large bag on his back, and his pale face didn't change at all. "Actually, this is the first stop for wilderness survival now. If you can't even make it through this section of road to the starting point, then it's better to pack up and go home early."

  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Jing Sheng's eyes glanced over at Jiang Siqi when he said his last sentence.

  Jiang Siqi was already panting slightly and grinding his teeth silently in his heart.

  Don't look at Jing Sheng's innocent face, he was the president of Pingcheng University's Green Wild Association back then, and his physical fitness is top-notch. He's a versatile talent, otherwise how could he have dominated the school for so long, with all his junior brothers and sisters still obediently following him?

  Don't listen to Su You's complaints, this guy was invincible in the basketball team back then, from the start of the game to overtime, there was no problem at all. His almost abnormal physical strength earned him the title of "Dousheng Foshen", and his physical abilities were all top-notch.

  And what about Jiang Sizhi?

  Growing up in the city, except for traveling, he had never climbed a mountain before. Playing basketball and football was just occasional. Long-distance training or wilderness survival? If it were just him alone, he would definitely collapse within the first tenth of the entire journey.

  So it's clear that Jing Sheng is hinting that he knows it's impossible to win!

  Jiang Siqi gritted his teeth and tried to control his breathing. It wasn't like he couldn't take the cable car or stone steps on the south slope, but instead chose to climb up Paiyun Mountain from the north slope directly. With an altitude of only over 2,000 meters, it was not Mount Everest, so shouldn't he be able to make it with just a bit of perseverance?

  Three people set off early in the morning, rushing along the way. Along the way, Su You noticed that Jiang Siqi was physically exhausted and intentionally found excuses to stop and rest several times. They finally arrived at the first and largest supply station, Shouyang Village, before sunset.

  At this time, Jiang Siqi's legs were about to go soft, and his face was covered in sweat. Jing Sheng deliberately teased Jiang Siqi's physical strength, but was stared back by Su You with a single glance, and could only sulkily rub his nose and leave for the tourist reception center. Su You, on the other hand, stayed where he was, helping Jiang Siqi take off his backpack first.

  Shouyang Village is a small mountain village, apart from the tea gardens and scattered rice fields on the edge, all other income basically comes from backpackers. The village is not big, the houses are all old-style tile-roofed houses, with yellow mud walls bearing the marks of time, and genuine wooden doors and barking dogs. The most modern house is a two-story brick tourist reception center, which sells some dry rations and is also responsible for finding guides for hikers.

  "Right, the three of us will stay overnight and then one person will take us up the mountain tomorrow morning!"

  Su You heard this and looked up to find that Jing Sheng had already come out, talking to an elderly-looking old woman.

  The old woman was a bit hard of hearing, as Jing Sheng was almost shouting. Fortunately, she swept her eyes over Su You and Jiang Siqi, who were already sitting on the ground, and finally understood what they wanted, nodding and going back inside.

  Ten minutes later, Jing Sheng finally came out, with a look of relief on his face. "I basically couldn't understand the local dialect here, and was just guessing," he told Su You, "It seems like everyone in the village who can work has gone to work, we need to wait a bit longer."

  Normally, Jiang Siqi would have retorted with a joke, "Is there anything that Teacher Jing can't do?" But first, he was out of spirits, and secondly, a voice had already cut in, "Are you guys here to climb the mountain?"

  The three of them turned their heads together and saw that the young man who was speaking was carrying a bamboo basket on his back, walking towards them with a smile.