Chapter 274: A Kind Of Fate
Changqing froze. Why does that sound so much like Robben?
Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but how could Robben be on this mountain?
“Why’s there barking now?” Lin Yueli was confused.
The barking got closer and closer and the group wasn’t in the mood to play cards anymore. Lin Yueli and James went out of the tent first. A beige figure and a black-and-white striped silhouette suddenly started running in their direction from where they came up.
Lin Yueli really got a fright and thought they were wolves. However, when the animals came closer, he realized they were just a large labrador and a husky. The husky, which was a few months old, stared and barked fiercely at him.
“Robben, Lolita, slow down.” From the direction the two dogs ran over came the sound of a man’s footsteps and huffing.
Changqing, who was hiding in the tent, blanked out. She walked out in disbelief and the two dogs suddenly pounced on her passionately.
“Changqing...” Lin Yueli got a bad scare initially; however, he was stunned when he saw the two dogs kissing and licking her little face and hands.
“Howl, howl...” Robben was huge and wanted to sprawl all over her.
Changqing couldn’t withstand their warm welcome and just when she was about to be pushed to the ground, a familiar, cold voice chided the dogs from the darkness.
“Robben, Lolita, come here.”
The two dogs froze and so did Changqing. She looked over in the direction of the voice and saw Song Chuyi, Li Shaobin and another person she hadn’t seen before walking over.
“You guys... what are you doing here?” She felt as though she had a splitting headache, especially when she sensed that gloomy gaze from Song Chuyi hidden in the dark. She actually felt a little guilty subconsciously. However, it was also only for a very short while. She didn’t need to feel guilty; she was just hiking with friends. Could he, on the other hand, be tailing her?
“Hiking,” Song Chuyi said lightly. “It’s the weekend and I’ve had nothing to do lately. Since there’s a mountain that’s been developed recently, we came to hike and brought Robben and Lolita out to let loose. We didn’t expect the mountain to be so big and that it would take so long to reach the top.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Li Shaobin glanced at Song Chuyi’s calm expression and dissed him inside: How shameless. He was plainly so anxious on the way up and even got lost. Towards the end, his face was so cold it looked as though it was about to freeze up. “Do you have any food? We didn’t expect our hike to take so long so we didn’t have lunch or dinner. Look, Robben and Lolita are already starving.”
Ruan Yang’s red lips curled into a meaningful smile. “Oh, it seems like you came up into the mountains so anxiously that you even skipped lunch. Not only that, but you came hiking without even preparing any necessities at all. How impressive.”
Li Shaobin snorted shamelessly. “We had breakfast late so we didn’t eat lunch. Men wouldn’t need to carry this and that like you women when we hike.”
Lin Yueli frowned subconsciously. However, he still offered them food from the tent, saying, “It’s okay if two men were to hike like that, but I’m afraid women wouldn’t dare to hike with you. Look—even your dogs are starving with you.”
He opened a pack of beef jerky and threw it over. Robben and Lolita fought over it.
Song Chuyi’s face sank. These two useless dogs.
He raised his head, and as expected, saw Changqing glaring at him with a pout. That gaze seemed to be reproaching him for starving Robben and Lolita.
He was slightly glum. This woman wasn’t even concerned about him going hungry but instead whether the two dogs had their fill.
He let out a soft cough and explained: “Robben and Lolita have gained quite a lot of weight recently. I brought them out to lose weight.”
“I think there’s no need to lose weight.” Lin Yueli’s lips curled upwards. “I find them pretty cute like this. There’s nothing bad about a little baby fat.”
After saying that, he walked towards Changqing, wanting to stroke Lolita. This little husky was simply too cute and adorable.
Who knew that the moment he touched her, Lolita would start barking fiercely at him.
Seeing Lolita being so fierce, Robben also stared at Lin Yueli with caution.
Song Chuyi nodded. He didn’t raise these two fellows for nothing.
He walked over and said lightly, “They don’t like being touched by strangers. For your safety, you’d better stay far away from them.”
Changqing lifted her head and glared at him with bewilderment. Although Lolita was mischievous, she wasn’t this fierce usually. Besides, Robben had always been pretty mild.
Just then, Guan Ying came out from the tent. Upon seeing her, Robben wagged his tail and ran over to her, barking.
Song Chuyi’s face darkened. Robben, this idiot.
Changqing glared at him and lowered her head coldly as she hugged Lolita. Robben was simply as unreliable as his owner.
Guan Ying was stunned. When she saw Robben, she had mixed emotions. Song Chuyi coughed awkwardly and called out, “Robben, come here.”
Robben barked in reply and ran back to his side with his head hanging low.
Song Chuyi gave Li Shaobin, who was eating biscuits, a meaningful glance. Li Shaobin quickly swallowed his food and stretched lazily. “It’s already almost nine. It’s unsafe to go down the mountains now. To be able to run into each other in the mountains seems somewhat fated. Besides, Changqing and Chuyi are husband and wife, while I’m pretty familiar with Ruan Yang and Guan Ying. Why don’t we squeeze in and sleep together for the night?”
The same thought surfaced in Ruan Yang and Guan Ying’s minds. Who’s familiar with you? How shameless.
However, thinking back to how he saved them before, they didn’t say anything.
Lin Yueli’s expression changed. “I don’t think we’ll fit.”
Song Chuyi glanced at the two tents and said lightly, “The three women can share a tent. You two men can still fit two more people in your tent, right?”
“Yeah,” Li Shaobin agreed. “When a person is out in this world, there will be times when things get rough. Friends are made when we help each other out. A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Changqing was speechless. At this moment, she could really see the shadows of Li Shaobin in the underworld. That tone—what a ruffian.
Lin Yueli and James exchanged glances with a headache. These two were so thick-skinned. Who wanted to be friends with them? However, since they already put it that way, they had to give them some face. Otherwise, they would be the ones who would seem petty. “Alright then, but we can only fit two more. What’s your arrangement?”
Hu Zhi was prepared to volunteer to sleep outside when Song Chuyi suddenly patted his shoulder and said, “You and Shaobin can sleep in the tent. I’ll sleep outside.”
Everyone was stunned. Changqing was also bewildered. Shaobin usually behaved like a henchman in front of Song Chuyi; why did Song Chuyi suddenly volunteer to sleep outside today? He would definitely be bitten to death by mosquitoes sleeping outside on such a night. Could it be that the other person was no simpleton either?
She started to make guesses about Hu Zhi. He was thin and looked just like a little henchman; he really didn’t look like any important person.
Li Shaobin was also stunned and quickly said, “It’s okay; you can sleep inside with me and make Hu Zhi sleep outside.”
Song Chuyi didn’t say anything, only looking deeply into Hu Zhi’s eyes. Hu Zhi was quick-witted and quickly understood. He pleaded, “I’m afraid of the dark; please let me sleep inside. Dr. Song can keep guard outside. He’s bold. It definitely won’t be a problem.”
Li Shaobin really felt like whipping him. This punk must be tired of living. How dare he go against him. Afraid of the dark? Who was the one who beat people up in the dark with him every day? Just as he was about to say something, Hu Zhi suddenly knocked him on the back with his shoulder quietly. This was a secret code they often used.
Although he didn’t understand, he still quickly changed track. “Fine, then the two of us will sleep inside while Old Song sleeps outside.”
That was how they settled the matter. Everyone was at a loss for words for a moment and the place quieted down suddenly.
“I’ll go in first.” Guan Ying lowered her head and entered the tent.
“Let’s play cards together.” James went in as well.
Changqing glanced at them one last time before going in with Ruan Yang and Lin Yueli.
Song Chuyi stared at the red tent and a shadow loomed over his brows. Could it be that the five of them were huddling in this tent playing cards earlier? How squished would that be? Even if the three of them were to squeeze in, they probably wouldn’t have a space to sit.
“What should we do?” Li Shaobin asked softly.
Song Chuyi frowned as well. Just then, Ruan Yang came out and handed them a picnic mat, a bag of food, a box of cards and a bottle of insect repellant. “We don’t have much; make do with these.”
“Thank you,” Song Chuyi said lightly as he accepted the things.
“Aiya, you do have a bit of a conscience.” Li Shaobin grabbed the things impolitely. He opened the picnic mat and sat on it. He was about to die of exhaustion from a whole day’s hike.
“Have fun on your own. There might be mosquitoes around but you’re to blame for coming without any preparations.” Ruan Yang smiled brightly and turned to re-enter the tent.
Li Shaobin opened a vacuum-packed cake and Robben and Lolita rushed over immediately upon smelling it.
Song Chuyi pinched off a little cake for the two dogs and they finished it in a bite.
Li Shaobin was stunned. “Your dogs aren’t picky at all but we only have these few things. You’re just going to feed the dogs and not eat yourself?”
“Robben would be very noisy if he skipped a meal.” Song Chuyi sighed. “If he’s hungry, he would definitely be so noisy that no one could sleep.”
“You’ve spoiled him too much.” Li Shaobin shared half of his cake with him. “If I’d known earlier, I would’ve bought some food at the halfway point. The shop must be closed at this time. Forget it; we’ll wait till tomorrow morning to look for a place to have a good meal.”
The three ate a little and started playing cards. They weren’t really in the mood to play cards mainly because there were too many mosquitoes and they weren’t like the small ones at home. They were simply abnormally huge. They still got bitten despite using the insect repellent.
They played until 10 pm, when they decided to call it a day on Changqing’s side. Everyone came out from the tent and the three women went to the bushes by the side with a flashlight.
“It might be dangerous at night and I’m afraid there’ll be snakes. Why don’t I go with you?” Lin Yueli asked gently.
“I doubt it’s a good idea for you, a man, to go with them,” Song Chuyi said to Changqing lightly with cards in his hands. “Take Robben and Lolita with you; they’re very sensitive.”
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