As the "heroes" of this academic victory, Zhan Yuxi and Meng Chenzhou were required to participate.

However, on the eve of the outing, Meng Chenzhou received news from overseas. He booked a plane ticket and informed his teacher that he would be leaving the day after the trip started.

This matter was kept quiet, not causing much of a stir.

But trouble began on the very first day of the outing.

A girl from their class—the same one Zhan Yuxi had once escorted to the infirmary—had gone missing.

As the class president, Zhan Yuxi helped the teachers organize a search party.

Not long after they started searching nearby, Meng Chenzhou appeared, cradling a girl in his arms.

Zhan Yuxi's first reaction was relief, a weight lifted from her chest. But almost immediately, a sharp pang of jealousy mixed with an ache of longing tugged at her heart.

Meng Chenzhou had never carried her like that.

That girl. she had once claimed that Meng Chenzhou liked her.

And now, she was the first girl he had ever held in his arms.

"She fainted, " Meng Chenzhou said as he approached the teacher, carefully setting the girl down.

The medical staff quickly began administering first aid.

Meng Chenzhou's gaze shifted back to where Zhan Yuxi had been standing earlier, but she was gone.

His brows furrowed. He wanted to find her, to tell her about his impending departure.

He had hesitated to bring it up earlier because of a promise he had made—to travel together once the holidays began.

For months, he had been trying to make it work, but now he had no choice but to go in person.

Following his instincts, Meng Chenzhou soon spotted Zhan Yuxi sitting on a large rock, with Fang Jinglin crouching beside her.

A trace of warmth softened his expression as he walked toward them.

But just as he was about to get closer, he overheard Zhan Yuxi snapping at Fang Jinglin, "Don't you dare mention Meng Chenzhou to me again! I never want to see him!"

Meng Chenzhou's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

At that moment, Fang Jinglin suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if someone were glaring daggers at him.

He stiffened, then slowly turned his head.

One glance was all it took to spot the tall, imposing figure standing nearby. Startled, Fang Jinglin jumped to his feet with a yelp.