Chapter 255: Chapter 255

Liu Zhiyuan’s action might not have been much, but it still surprised everyone. Ye Qian’s eyes carried a happy smile, thinking Brother Zhiyuan listened to her. Sun Mingjie and Dong Haoyu, however, were amazed that Liu Zhiyuan really took the first step to talk to Zhao Guodong.

As for Xiang Weilai, who showed no reaction, he just sat there with a faint smile, looking like he was enjoying the show. Meanwhile, Liu Rui wasn’t surprised, knowing that her father’s main reason for this picnic was to help the kids on both sides get along. With her father speaking in front of so many people, her always sensible big brother naturally wouldn’t hold a grudge against Zhao Guodong.

Thinking of this, Liu Rui raised her head to look at Zhao Guodong and felt annoyed. She lowered her head, biting her lip. Zhao Guodong was still sitting in his usual posture, gazing out the window, as if he hadn’t heard Liu Zhiyuan’s words at all. It’s impossible not to hear him from such a short distance; it must be deliberate.

"Brother Guodong?" Ye Qian seized the opportunity to speak up.

Although the two sides never got along, everyone was friendly with Ye Qian, and she understood this. So, she wanted to highlight herself at this time. When Zhao Guodong turned his head after hearing her, she sighed in relief.

"Isn’t the swimming place outdoors? Why bother with swim trunks?" Zhao Guodong eyed Liu Zhiyuan slantingly.

Wang Ping turned his head when Liu Zhiyuan spoke, looking both forward and backward, as if he couldn’t get enough with his eyes. Only Zhang Linong and Ye Ling remained unaffected, staring out the window.

Compared to usual, Zhao Guodong’s words today were not as harsh, showing that he had indeed softened. However, Sun Mingjie couldn’t stand it.

Glancing at Ye Ling, Sun Mingjie mocked, "You dare strip naked, no one would stop you." This text is hosted at novel※fire.net

They were headed to a spot ten kilometers outside the city, at the foot of a mountain. There was a creek below, chest-deep in places, where many people came to picnic in the summer. You could eat, play, and enjoy the scenery.

Ordinarily, Zhao Guodong would have exploded at such words. But today, he just snorted with laughter, "I don’t dare, but if you do, I will. Do you dare?"

Wang Ping widened his eyes.

Having known Zhao Guodong for so many years, it was the first time seeing him use words instead of fists.

Not only those familiar with Zhao Guodong, but even Dong Haoyu looked at him with new eyes. Liu Rui also widened her eyes and raised her head, staring at Zhao Guodong in shock, unable to close her mouth.

Ye Qian’s attention was entirely on Liu Zhiyuan. She wouldn’t allow Liu Zhiyuan to lose face, so she coyly bit her lip, "Brother Guodong, we’re still here. Aren’t you afraid my sister will get angry when you say things like that?"

Zhao Guodong shrugged, "Why would I get angry? I didn’t say anything wrong."

Then he provocatively glanced at Sun Mingjie.

Sun Mingjie was indeed taken aback by Zhao Guodong’s words and couldn’t respond for a while. But facing Zhao Guodong’s challenging gaze, he casually turned around, "Can’t be bothered to argue with you."

His voice was just loud enough for the nearby people to hear.

Zhao Guodong had the upper hand, smiling smugly, "It’s just that you’re not as good as others. Don’t act so magnanimous; it’s disgusting."

Then he glanced at Liu Zhiyuan, "I wasn’t always trying to oppose you. You asked the wrong question. If you knew we could swim, why didn’t you tell us earlier? Saying it now when we’re about to arrive, I wonder what you’re up to."

"My brother was just kindly asking a question. How come it’s insincere when it reaches you?" Liu Rui muttered discontentedly.

Ye Qian also furrowed her brows slightly, "Brother Guodong, you misunderstood Brother Zhiyuan. He’s not like that."

The accused Liu Zhiyuan didn’t rush to explain.

But Zhao Guodong impatiently waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re just doing what your dad said and putting on a show. We aren’t fools."

Ye Qian’s expression stiffened.

It was only then that Liu Zhiyuan spoke, his voice calm without any ripples, "You’re right, it was my dad’s idea. But using this as a stepping stone, I think we should bury the hatchet. We’ve been living in the same compound for years, divided into two groups. Now we’re going to study abroad. Even though we won’t be taking care of each other, nothing will happen. But we are going out from the same place; wouldn’t it be a joke to others? No matter whose joke it is, the other side won’t be spoken of well, right?"

The adults in the front were talking happily, not caring about the kids in the back. Besides, they were all high school students, some about to go to college. Liu Zhiyuan didn’t speak loudly, so it didn’t reach the front.

But his action, nonetheless, was a gesture of goodwill, a sign of conceding.

Zhao Guodong was such a person. If you were tough on him, he’d fight to the end. But when you came at him soft, he softened too. A flash of embarrassment crossed his face, "I’m not a kid. I know even if you don’t remind me."

With that awkward look, he seemed like a child.

Liu Zhiyuan’s face broke into a smile, "Then, when we get there, let’s have a race. The one who swims the farthest gets my newly acquired set of children’s books, the entire ’Water Margin’ series. The first place gets it."

Wang Ping loved those books. He jumped up immediately, "Nobody fight me for it. I’m definitely taking first place."

Ye Qian and Liu Rui both laughed at this. Liu Zhiyuan looked back at them, "You can join too."

"Can we really?" Liu Rui was surprised.

Ye Qian blushed slightly.

Liu Zhiyuan nodded, glancing at Ye Ling, who sat by the window, "Just wondering if you brought swimsuits."

"Don’t worry. If we’re coming out here to play, of course, we brought them." Liu Rui, for once, didn’t seem timid, "But even if we race, we won’t beat you guys."

"We’ll give you a minute’s head start," Wang Ping shouted from the back.

Zhao Guodong wasn’t interested in children’s books, but he was interested in beating Liu Zhiyuan and the others. Although he didn’t find Liu Zhiyuan as disagreeable now, it wasn’t the same for Xiang Weilai and Sun Mingjie. Zhao Guodong remembered Sun Mingjie’s earlier mockery and the incident where Xiang Weilai hugged Ye Ling in the park.

Winning today would regain face for him.

At least a topic had brought everyone together, preventing any ’conflict’ from erupting for the time being. As for Ye Ling, she never intended to participate.

They soon arrived, and once off the bus, the kids mingled more, chatting together, except for the quiet Ye Ling and the reserved Zhang Linong, Xiang Weilai, and Liu Zhiyuan. Amongst the group, they didn’t seem awkward at all.

The men found a spot to lay out the tablecloth, and the women unpacked the food they’d brought from home. Wang Ping couldn’t wait any longer, already clamoring for the race. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider voting for it on qidian.com with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)