I'll wait for you amidst the romance of nature.

At the edge of the cliff, I was breathing heavily, still shaken. Yang Sisi, who had been fearless just moments before, was now leaning against me, staring in terror at the branch I was still clinging to. Meanwhile, Coach Ma, Tie Nan, and the others opposite us were also terrified, their faces ashen as they stared at Yang Sisi and me…

I let out another heavy sigh of relief before releasing Yang Sisi. Then, looking at the tree branch, I said, "See that? This is our savior. If we hadn't grabbed it, can you imagine what would have happened?... I really want to burn some incense right here. This was too damn dangerous! Just for this life-saving act, we should kowtow to this tree and call it 'Dad,' it wouldn't be too much to ask!"

Yang Sisi remained silent, her previous arrogant demeanor gone. At this moment, Tie Nan and the others finally reacted, rushing over and pulling Yang Sisi and me to a safe place.

I lay exhausted on the grass, but I was even more terrified than before. This was a life-or-death experience I had never had before. I thought about the consequences if I had died just now...

The next moment, I was filled with loss again. Even if I really died, I was afraid that only my parents would be sad. Others would at most feel sympathy. After a while, I, as a person, and everything I did while I was alive, would be completely forgotten.

What about Lu Jia? Will she genuinely feel sad for me again?

I thought about it for a long time and realized that her attitude was what I cared about most! So I felt even more disappointed because she would have a new boyfriend, a new life, and even start a new family. What weight could I, her ex-boyfriend, have in the face of her new life?

So the answer is obvious: I am just a man she will eventually forget!

……

A full twenty minutes passed before everyone recovered from the shock. The most amazing person was Coach Ma; out of professional instinct, he captured the entire scene of our perilous ordeal with his camera. He said that photos like this would definitely win an award at a photography exhibition because they are so incredibly rare!

We unanimously condemned him as a "profit-driven, treacherous beast."

After this near-miss, everyone became more cautious. So, for the next few sets of photos, they chose locations with absolutely no danger. Although the effect was greatly reduced, it was a very rational choice considering personal safety.

……

The morning flew by, and by the time we finished taking all the photos, it was already 11 o'clock. I found a suitable moment to slip away from Yang Sisi and said to Tie Nan and Coach Ma, "When Yang Sisi asks you where you're going for lunch later, just say you're going to the Golf Garden Hotel."

Tie Nan replied with a puzzled look, "This job was taken by Coach Ma and me. It's only right that we treat you to a meal, but is it really necessary to go to such lengths? ... We're all on the same side, and I'll be frank, even though we've been working hard all day, we haven't earned enough to afford a proper meal there..."

"Don't worry, you won't have to pay for this; someone else has already done it."

Who is it?

I glanced at Yang Sisi, who was changing clothes in the car, and replied after a moment: "Her parents... they came to Dali this time to take her away. They hope that she can choose to study abroad at the right time."

Seemingly touched by my words, Tetsuo remained silent for a long time before replying, "Most people in this world still live in a highly uniform reality...!"

I nodded, lit a cigarette, and then stopped talking.

……

A moment later, Yang Sisi changed her clothes, and I was ready too. Then Tie Nan drove us to the "Golf Garden Hotel". Not long after we drove off, Lao Huang sent me a message saying that they had gotten off the plane and were on their way to the hotel.

I calculated the distance, and they'll probably arrive first. That's fine; once I drop Yang Sisi off, my task will be complete, saving me the agony of waiting with her there.

I took out my phone, found a restaurant on Meituan, and ordered a meal for four. Of course, I didn't include Yang Sisi in the order, and comforted myself not to blame myself too much, because a woman like Yang Sisi is simply not suited for Dali. She's a woman with her own aura; she should have a grander perspective on life. Once she's grown up, she should understand the choice I made for her at this moment.

As I was thinking, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I didn't want to talk to anyone anymore. This was probably the first time I felt tired since I came to Dali. This kind of tiredness came from my heart and had nothing to do with my body.

"Hey, are you really asleep?"

As Yang Sisi asked, she nudged me with her hand, but I ignored her. She then pinched my waist, and I realized I couldn't keep up the act any longer. I opened my eyes and looked at her, asking in a less than pleasant tone, "What?"

"I just wanted to thank you... I shouldn't have been so stubborn. We almost died just now, it's really scary to think about!"

"Good people don't live long, but bad people live a thousand years... Don't worry, you won't die that easily." I said, shifting my position and looking out the car window.

Yang Sisi pinched me again, wanting me to look at her, and then said, "I really want to thank you, but I don't know how."

I glared at her, then looked at the spot where she had pinched me...

She quickly reached out and rubbed it for me, then squinted her eyes and smiled at me in a cute way.

Then I said to her, "If you really want to thank me, give me all the money you earned this morning. I really like this stuff."

"Tsk... No way, I like this stuff even more than you do now, because I plan to stay in Dali for a long time. If I get swindled out of all my money by you, I might as well have just fallen and died."

Her words upset me, and my tone became impatient as I replied, "Can you please stop talking to me? I got up so early this morning, and now I really want to take a nap... I really don't need you to thank me; I'd be grateful if you just let me have some peace and quiet."

"Sleep well, I'll grant you sweet dreams, and then we're even...hehe!"

I glanced at her again, but saw a good mood in her eyes. This was truly torture for me, so I quickly closed my eyes again. When everything went black, I told myself, in a very idealistic way: it's all fake, I'm fake, Tie Nan and Coach Ma are fake, Yang Sisi is even more fake, we never experienced such a morning, and there is no such person as Lao Huang in this world.

After an hour's drive, Tie Nan's car finally brought us to the "Golf Garden Hotel." I, who had been pretending to be asleep, woke up Yang Sisi, who was actually asleep. She rubbed her eyes and asked, "Are we here?"

"We've arrived. A Manchu Han Imperial Feast awaits you. Hurry up and go down."

Yang Sisi rallied her spirits and got out of the car before we did. I then took the opportunity to say to Coach Ma and Tie Nan, "I've already ordered a four-person meal at Legendary Crayfish on Yeyu Road. You guys go ahead, I'll catch up after I've finished things here."

The only one who knew the truth, Tie Nan, patted me on the shoulder, gave me an understanding look, and then said to Coach Ma and the makeup artist, "Things are a bit complicated. I'll tell you more when we get to the restaurant."

……

I got out of the car, and Tie Nan drove off with the others. Yang Sisi asked me in surprise, "Why did they leave?"

"The car dealership called and said a customer urgently needed the car, so Tie Nan delivered it to him."

"Oh, why did Coach Ma and the makeup artist go along too? Aren't they hungry? It would be better if they ate first."

"Director Ma, could you also show the footage we shot today to the person in charge of the car dealership?"

"The makeup artist doesn't need to come along, so why did she leave too?"

"She said she'd come back after you've eaten your fill, because she was worried you have a big appetite and there wouldn't be enough food for you."

Yang Sisi looked around warily and replied, "You're just talking nonsense. Where did they go?" After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "Are you sabotaging your teammates again? I haven't fully forgiven you for the awful things you did to me in Wuhan last time!"

I was speechless. The next moment, a minivan stopped beside us. I only recognized Lao Huang among the people sitting inside. The other two middle-aged men, who looked very wealthy, were Yang Sisi's parents without me even having to think about it.

They must have been stuck in traffic. Even though their journey was shorter than ours, they arrived after us. Yang Sisi noticed the car the next moment, her face immediately darkened, and she glared at me with extreme hatred...

……

After the car came to a stop, the shrewd Old Huang got out first. As soon as he saw Yang Sisi, he said with a fawning smile, "Sisi, your parents, Xiao Bao, and I came all the way from Shanghai to see you."

Yang Sisi ignored Lao Huang, but stared at me with wide eyes. After a moment, her face turned bright red, and she yelled at me, "You scumbag, you lied to me again... Get out of here!"