"You saved me twice, how can I repay you?" Qing Muye rarely owed favors, but this time he owed He Kaliannuo two great favors, and didn't know how to repay her.
"Haha, actually..."
He Kaliannuo grinned, scratching her head with the hand holding the flashlight. "That... the time on the mountain, that green snake never bit you. I did it on purpose, just to make you owe me a favor."
"Pfft... Miss Liannuo, you were really hard on yourself." Tang Si couldn't help but laugh.
The truth made Qing Muye both amused and speechless, but he wasn't angry. "Regardless, thank you for your help. In the future, if you ever need me, Qing Muye, just ask, and I will do my best."
"Then I want..."
He Kaliannuo's eyes lit up and she immediately stated her condition, only to be interrupted by Qing Muye halfway through. "Except to marry you."
He Kaliannuo pouted, rolling her eyes. "Other than that, I don't need anything. Hurry up and leave, seeing you brings bad luck."
She said with a playful scolding.
Qing Muye turned and got onto the dinghy, his obsidian-like gaze fixed on her, a curve playing on his lips. He felt a growing admiration for He Kaliannuo.
He Kaliannuo untied the rope and watched them, waving goodbye. "Bye bye."
"Miss Liannuo, thank you. Be careful yourself," Tang Si said with a smile.
Qing Muye said nothing further.
The dinghy drifted with the current, heading into darkness, with no sight of what lay ahead.
Tang Si idly fumbled on the dinghy and found a flashlight. "Second Brother, there's a flashlight."
As he was about to turn it on, Qing Muye stopped him. "There are likely bats in the cave, you'd better not turn it on."
"Oh, oh, oh, you're right."
Tang Si suddenly came to his senses and obediently put the flashlight down.
Sitting on the dinghy, Tang Si quietly recounted everything that had happened yesterday and today to Qing Muye.
An hour later, the current picked up speed, and the two could clearly feel the wind rushing past their ears increasing.
Just then, the distant cave entrance appeared, a patch of light illuminating the opening.
"We're finally out," Tang Si exclaimed.
Outside the cave was a steep slope. The two gripped the handrails and slid down rapidly with the current, finally landing steadily in a body of water.
Once out of the secret cave, their phones regained signal. Tang Si immediately called Meng Jingwei.
Ring, ring, ring—
After a few rings, the person on the other end finally answered, "Who is this?"
"It's me, didn't you save my number?" Tang Si grumbled.
Hearing Tang Si's voice, Meng Jingwei immediately became anxious. "Tang Si, where are you? Where's Ye? Did you find him? Where is he now?"
She asked a barrage of questions. Just as Tang Si was about to answer, the phone was snatched away by the man beside him. "Ah Wei, it's me."
Hearing Qing Muye's voice, Meng Jingwei's mouth parted, wanting to speak but choking back her tears.
Tears suddenly welled up.
She raised her hand to cover her face, almost breaking down into sobs. "Ye, you..."
Meng Jingwei wanted to speak, but all her words caught in her throat. She wanted to say them but couldn't.
"Tang Si and I are at the Luosang River in the northern ring. We are safe now." Qing Muye comforted Meng Jingwei. "Silly girl, don't be sad, I'm fine."
"Okay, okay, I'll come pick you up now."
Meng Jingwei hung up the phone directly and tossed the shattered phone onto the passenger seat.
Because the phone screen was broken and half of it was black, Meng Jingwei couldn't see who was calling and just pressed the side button to answer.
But who would have known it would be Tang Si calling with the good news.
Overjoyed, Meng Jingwei immediately turned the car around and headed for the Luosang River.