He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

Afterwards, the group created a group chat, sent a message to gather, and went together to the buffet restaurant on the first floor of the resort.

The moment Sang Jiuning pushed open the restaurant door, she was completely stunned.

As expected of a top-tier buffet at a wealthy family's private estate, it's absolutely top-notch.

Freshly caught king crab, plump and succulent Antarctic sweet shrimp, sashimi platters, and unlimited abalone and oysters are available, along with carefully stewed North American sea cucumber porridge, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, high-end desserts, imported fruit wines, and exquisite Western pastries.

The ingredients are fresh and top-quality, and the presentation is exquisite and luxurious, a high-end standard that is only seen at banquets of the elite.

The joy of being a foodie is that simple.

She completely let go of her inhibitions, carrying her plate and moving between the tables, picking out her favorite seafood and dishes, and enjoying her meal immensely.

The crab roe was sweet and fresh, the shrimp meat was bouncy and chewy, the beef brisket was tender and soft, and the desserts were creamy and smooth. Everything suited her taste.

One bite after another, her cheeks bulged out, she was bursting with satisfaction, completely immersed in the delicious food, leaving all her worries behind.

Before I knew it, the plates were stacked one layer after another. By the time I realized it, my stomach was already bulging and slightly bloated, and I even felt uncomfortable standing up straight.

Wen Zhaoci sat quietly across from her the whole time, taking small bites slowly, with most of his attention on her. He watched the little girl's adorable, unladylike manner as she buried herself in her rice, his eyes full of indulgent smiles.

Seeing her put down her chopsticks, clutching her stomach with a look of utter bloating, he chuckled helplessly, got up, and walked to her side: "Are you stuffed? Don't go to the hot spring for now, you might feel uncomfortable."

Sang Jiuning nodded with a bitter face, gently rubbing her lower abdomen and humming softly, "It was so delicious, I couldn't resist and ate too much at once."

"Perfect," Wen Zhaoci said gently, raising his hand to pat her head. "I'll take you for a walk around the villa to help you digest your food and relax in the evening breeze."

No need for rote memorization or vocabulary building; escape the torment of English and enjoy beautiful scenery and a gentle evening breeze.

Sang Jiuning obediently got up and followed him. The two walked out of the restaurant side by side and disappeared into the gentle twilight of the mountains and forests.

The night was peaceful and uneventful.

The following afternoon, the mountains were warm and the hot spring area was shrouded in mist. The warm water vapor filled the air and dispelled the fatigue accumulated from days of studying.

After soaking in the women's bath, Sang Jiuning slowly walked out of the hot spring pool.

She was loosely wrapped in a light apricot-colored, loose silk bathrobe; the soft, smooth fabric clung to her slender figure.

The bathrobe's neckline was wide and loose, slipping unintentionally down to one shoulder, revealing a small patch of fair and delicate skin, exuding an unintentional languor and allure.

Her long, dark, damp hair was casually draped over her shoulders, with tiny water droplets still clinging to the ends. Her cheeks, flushed from the steam of the hot spring, had a faint blush. Her eyes were gentle and bright, and she exuded a soft, languid aura.

She wore delicate, simple, cool silver jewelry around her neck, which accentuated the slender and graceful lines of her neck. She raised her hand and gently brushed aside her slightly damp hair, her eyebrows curving into a smile, her whole body relaxed, exuding a carefree yet captivating charm.

Wen Zhaoci was already waiting under a tree not far away.

He was waiting casually when his peripheral vision inadvertently swept over the approaching girl, and his gaze instantly froze, unable to look away for even a moment.

The swirling mist made her skin appear almost translucent white, her rosy cheeks soft and alluring, the loose shoulder of her bathrobe, her damp hair, her languid and gentle eyes—every detail struck him precisely at the heart.

A sudden surge of intense heat welled up in my chest, and an uncontrollable, fervent excitement churned within me; my blood seemed to be slowly heating up.

He was always patient and restrained, and had always kept his emotions well hidden. But at this moment, all his rationality was crumbling little by little.

Sang Jiuning didn't notice his strangeness. She slowly walked up to him, her eyes crinkling into a sweet smile, and her tone light and relaxed: "Soaking in the hot spring is so comfortable. All the fatigue in my body has dissipated. It's really relaxing."

Her tone was light and cheerful, filled with the ease of relaxation, completely unaware of the deep, intense gaze of the young man before her.

Wen Zhaoci's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and his fingers tightened slightly as he gripped his phone. It took him a while to suppress the rising heat, and his voice was low and slightly hoarse: "Yeah, it gets stuffy after soaking for a while. Let's go sit in the rest area over there and I'll get you an iced drink to cool you down."

He stepped aside to make way, his gaze instinctively avoiding her exposed shoulder, a faint blush creeping up his ears.

Sang Jiuning didn't notice his unusual behavior. She skipped and hopped along beside him toward the rest area, her fingertips gently tugging at the collar of her bathrobe and pulling it up over her shoulder. She kept muttering to herself which of the different medicinal baths in the hot spring smelled better.

Walking under the parasol in the rest area, Wen Zhaoci pushed the pre-chilled lime sparkling water in front of her. Watching her sip the water from the cup, her eyes curving into crescents, Wen Zhaoci's heart melted, and the flutter he had just suppressed slowly resurfaced.

He looked at her quietly, his tone tentative as he asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Sang Jiuning nodded, biting her straw, "I slept very well. Oh, I forgot my sunscreen. I'll go get it."

Wen Zhaoci: "I'll go with you."

Sang Jiuning: "Mm."

As she walked, Sang Jiuning slipped and lost her balance, falling backward. Before she could even cry out, a large, cool hand firmly caught her waist.

The familiar scent of pine instantly enveloped her, and the next moment she bumped into the boy's warm embrace.

Wen Zhaoci tightened his arms, holding her firmly in his embrace. His palms pressed against her soft waist, the burning heat almost seeping through her clothes. His heart skipped a beat, and his voice tightened: "Be careful."

Sang Jiuning broke free from the man's embrace: "Yeah, the ground is slippery because it's wet."

Because of the little incident just now, Sang Jiuning's bathrobe neckline was opened even wider, revealing half of her small breasts.

Sang Jiuning continued walking forward on her own. She turned back and saw Wen Zhaoci standing there blankly, his eyes glazed over, looking lost in thought. Sang Jiuning couldn't help but chuckle. She raised her small, fair hand and gently waved it in front of his eyes, softly calling to him, "Wen Zhaoci? Hello, why aren't you saying anything? When did you learn to daydream like this?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Wen Zhaoci snapped back to reality.

The next instant, he suddenly stretched out his long arm and firmly embraced her slender and soft waist. His strength was gentle yet unyielding, holding her tightly in his arms.

Before Sang Jiuning could react, his cool, thin lips suddenly leaned down and fiercely covered her soft lips.

Unlike the usual light, gentle, and restrained kisses that were merely rewards, this kiss was forceful and passionate, carrying a long-suppressed possessiveness that was intense and unexpected.

Sang Jiuning froze instantly, her pupils contracted sharply, and her mind went blank.