What should I do if my pet loves watching anime?

Five minutes later, the silver-gray sedan stopped again at the farm gate.

Su Wenya rolled down the car window and looked at Gu Beiri, who had changed into casual clothes and was carrying a backpack: "So, Tour Guide Gu, what's the itinerary for tonight?"

Gu Beiri opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat: "Drive south first, to the Qingzhu River."

"Qingzhu River? Going to the riverbank so late?"

You'll see when you get there.

The car drove through the night, leaving the brightly lit city center and heading towards the suburbs.

The scenery outside the car window gradually became simple and expansive, the streetlights became sparse, and the moonlight and starlight once again took center stage.

Su Wenya opened the car window, and the cool breeze of the early summer night flowed into the car, carrying the scent of grass and earth, a stark contrast to the stuffy air in the party hall, which was filled with the aroma of perfume, food, and the warmth of the crowd.

She took a deep breath, feeling her tense nerves relax a little.

"How did you find this place?" Su Wenya asked.

"I used to come here often when I was a child." Gu Beiri looked at the fields rushing past outside the window. "When I was in a bad mood, when I was happy, when I was confused... I would come to sit by the river."

Nobody here knows me, nobody expects me to become anything, I am just myself.

Su Wenya glanced at him; in the moonlight, the boy's profile was clearly defined, and his eyes were bright.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped beside a section of the flood control embankment along the Qingzhu River.

This place is far from villages and towns, with only a narrow asphalt road stretching along the river.

The embankment is lined with neat flood control walls, and below it is a wide river surface, shimmering in the moonlight.

Across the river, the silhouettes of rolling hills stretched out, occasionally punctuated by the long, drawn-out calls of night birds.

"We've arrived." Gu Beiri got out of the car first and took a flashlight out of his backpack.

Su Wenya followed, her high heels clicking on the gravel pavement, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night.

She looked around; the river breeze brushed her face, carrying a cool, misty feeling.

In the distance, there are scattered fishing lights, and further away, the city's halo is blurred.

"It's very quiet," she said.

"It's very clean." Gu Beiri walked to the flood control wall and leaned on the cement railing.

"The air here is free, the scenery is free, but it's far more precious than the expensive champagne and insincere compliments at the party."

Su Wenya walked to his side and leaned against the railing, just like him.

Standing in high heels for a long time can actually make your feet hurt a lot.

The evening gown was also somewhat restrictive, preventing her from fully relaxing.

She looked down at her outfit, which seemed completely out of place with her surroundings, and suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong?" Gu Beiri asked.

"I was wondering what kind of expressions my dad's business partners would have if they saw the eldest daughter of the Su family out in the middle of the night by the river in the middle of nowhere."

"Who cares about them?" Gu Beiri rarely showed a hint of youthful rebellion. "This is your time, not Miss Su's time."

Su Wenya was taken aback for a moment, then her smile became even more genuine.

"you're right."

She suddenly bent down, reached her hands to her ankles, and fumbled to untie the straps of her high heels.

"You..." Gu Beiri was somewhat surprised.

"I wore them all night, and my feet are about to break."

Su Wenya straightened up, carrying two exquisite but torturous high heels in one hand and holding onto the railing with the other, trying to step barefoot on the rough cement ground.

The cool touch made her twitch her toes, but then came a liberating feeling of comfort.

"Let's go, let's walk along the embankment," she said.

"You're going to walk barefoot like that? There might be pebbles on the ground..."

"Why don't I just go up there?"

Su Wenya pointed to the low wall beside her and said.

"Huh? The other side is the river!"

Gu Beiri was quite surprised. The low wall was a traditional flood control wall used to judge the water level, and it was neither very high nor very wide.

"Will you watch the road for me?" Su Wenya turned to look at him, a sly glint in her eyes.

Gu Beiri smiled helplessly, took the pair of high heels from her, and naturally reached out his other hand to her.

Give me your hand, I'll help you.

Su Wenya looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently placed her hand in his palm.

His hands were larger than she had imagined, and his palms had thin calluses.

Those are the marks left by years of farm work and training.

But it's warm, and the pressure when holding her is just right—it won't make her feel offended, yet it gives her a sense of security and stability.

The two of them walked slowly along the flood control wall.

Gu Beiri carried his high heels in one hand and held Su Wenya's hand in the other.

Su Wenya walked barefoot, carefully stepping on the wall. Occasionally, she would make a soft "hiss" sound when she bumped into a small stone, but she would quickly continue walking.

The moonlight cast long shadows of them, which swayed slightly on the surface of the river.

"Do you often do this?" Su Wenya asked, "Running out in the middle of the night."

"I did when I was a child, but later I was busy with studying and training, so I came less often." Gu Beiri walked slowly.

"But every time I come here, my mood improves."

Look at this river. No matter how many boats pass by or how many people watch it during the day, at night it remains the same.

"Very philosophical."

"It's true." Gu Beiri pointed to the middle of the river. "There's a sandbar there that's exposed when the water level is low in the summer and it's covered with reeds."

When I was a child, I often swam over there, lay in the reeds and watched the clouds, and would lie there for an entire afternoon.

However, because of this, he was often beaten.

Su Wenya covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her mind gradually becoming more active.

"It sounds very liberating."

"Yes. Although my family was poor, when I was by the river, I felt like I had everything."

Su Wenya was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "So what do you think I have?"

Gu Beiri turned his head to look at her.

Under the moonlight, her profile was soft, and without makeup and a forced smile, she looked a few years younger than her actual age.

"You have a family background, education, and abilities that others envy," Gu Beiri said, "but I think... you may not have afternoons by the river."

Su Wenya laughed, her laughter echoing in the river breeze.

"You're right, I spend my afternoons in the lab, library, and conference room."

During my occasional holidays, I either accompany my parents to various events or stay home reading.

"Aren't you bored?"

"I'm used to it...and..." she paused, "the research itself is actually quite interesting."

The sense of accomplishment from solving a puzzle and discovering something new is real.

"Then why go to places like parties?"

"Because some relationships need to be maintained, and some situations need to be dealt with." Su Wenya's voice lowered.

"I am not the only one in the Su family, and my position as a father also requires various forms of support."

As a daughter, I have a responsibility to share the burden.

Gu Beiri didn't know how to respond.

This was beyond his life experience.

The two walked for a while longer, chatting intermittently.

They talked about the researcher's exam, Mare the Sheep's training progress, the mysteries left in the summer notes, and even which breakfast in Green Bamboo Town was the best.

The topics jumped around randomly, without purpose or burden.

Su Wenya completely relaxed and walked barefoot with increasing ease. She would even playfully step on some small, protruding pebbles to feel the slight pain.

Gu Beiri tilted his head, watching Su Wenya's movements.

Su Wenya's feet are beautiful. Her ankles are slender, her joints are thin but not bony, and when she stands on her tiptoes, the insteps stretch out beautiful lines. Her toenails have a faint pink hue.

It's hard to believe that such a perfect pair of feet would appear on a dilapidated low wall.

Just like Su Wenya now.

"By the way, about the auction," Su Wenya suddenly said, "I've already made contact. It's next Wednesday night at a private club in the south of the city. It's not a formal auction, just an exchange among a few collectors, and they'll occasionally put up some good items."

What do I need to prepare?

"I've brought enough money. You just need to show up and see if there's anything else you need. Those kinds of places are a mixed bag, and some things might not be from a very reputable source, so be careful."

"clear."

Another silence.

(Old book friend, 2 yesterday, 3 today)