I was approached by a cat-eared girl.

"Is that right?"

"Yes." Chen Shuo took a bite himself and felt it was pretty good, almost as good as the ones grilled at a barbecue restaurant. "What else do you want to eat? I'll grill it for you."

"Chicken wings." Bai Xiaoqi pointed to the chicken wings next to her with a skewer, then grabbed a handful of roasted chicken wings from the charcoal grill and continued eating.

"Wait here, it'll be ready soon."

Chen Shuo picked up another handful of chicken wings and placed them on the charcoal stove. A sizzling sound rang out, and wisps of smoke rose from the stove.

He was already enjoying the barbecue, fanning the charcoal grill with a fan.

The meat skewers changed color from red to dark, and the oil dripping from them fell onto the charcoal with a soft hissing sound. The aroma of the charcoal fire wafted far and wide, and the cat girl next to her was eating with great relish, her cheeks stuffed full.

The various scenes intertwined together gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

The two grilled and ate at the same time. Chen Shuo had already eaten about half full, and after eating a dozen more skewers, he felt that he was about full.

But considering that the meat skewers had already thawed and would hardly stay for another day, he put all the remaining meat skewers on the charcoal grill to roast. Bai Xiaoqi couldn't possibly eat them all; her two little hands were stuffed full, each holding a large handful.

"Come on, the last few skewers."

Seeing another skewer of meat being handed to her, Bai Xiaoqi immediately got up and ran to the side to prevent this guy from stuffing it into her hand again.

Seeing this, Chen Shuo could only eat by himself while his stomach was full. Afterwards, he squatted by the river to wash his hands, extinguished the charcoal stove, and the two of them moved away from the riverbank to find a flat place to sit on the ground in the cool night breeze.

The night was deep, and countless stars hung in the sky, surrounding the bright moon, yet each radiating its own unique light.

Such a scene is absolutely rare to see in the city. Bai Xiaoqi still had a few skewers of chicken wings left in her hand. She took small bites, slowly leaned into Chen Shuo's arms, and looked up at the starry sky.

She had seen this night scene countless times, but she felt that the moonlight tonight was the most beautiful.

"The night sky is as cool as water, I lie watching the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl stars." Chen Shuo suddenly uttered a line from Du Mu's poem, then turned to ask, "What do you think of this line?"

“Very good.” Bai Xiaoqi replied casually. She did know the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, but where are the stars Altair and Vega? Are they far away?

"What's so good about it?"

"Fortunately, fortunately... I didn't know."

"In just fourteen characters, the time and place are described, making people feel as if they are there, feeling the cool night, and seeing the Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars looking at each other across the Milky Way in the sky."

Moreover, this line of poetry can perfectly describe the scenery we see right now. That's the charm of poetry. Do you understand?

"I see."

"Do you really understand?" Chen Shuo felt that this girl was just brushing him off. "Then if you were to describe the scenery we're seeing now, what would you say?"

“…”

A long silence followed.

Bai Xiaoqi thought she could escape studying by going out, but she didn't expect that she still couldn't escape it.

She wanted to poke the bad guy with the bamboo skewer in her hand, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I can't write poetry."

"I didn't ask you to write a poem, just to describe the scenery you see now in simple language."

"..."

“…”

Another silence followed.

Bai Xiaoqi hesitated several times before finally speaking, "It's a bit cold in the mountains at night, so Chen Shuo and I are looking at the stars."

"Good."

"Where is it good?"

"You've got the time, place, and people all covered; you're even better than Du Mu."

"Really?"

"It's fake. I was just flattering you a bit. You think you can compare to Du Mu? You've had too much fake wine, haven't you?"

Ignoring Bai Xiaoqi's pouting lips, Chen Shuo went back to the tent to get a blanket and draped it over her.

"Is it still cold now?"

"It wasn't cold to begin with."

"What did you mean when you said it was a bit cold in the mountains at night?"

"...I want you to kiss me."

Under the twinkling starry sky, a cool evening breeze swept through the valley as the two embraced and kissed. In the quiet night, only the chirping of cicadas and birdsong accompanied them, along with the soft sound of the wind.

Chapter 174 I'm Going to Bully You

Night was falling.

The two stopped looking at the stars and moved to the riverbank, intending to wash up and then go back to their tent to sleep.

Bai Xiaoqi first squatted down by the river to wash her arms and face, then sat down on the rocks on the riverbank, took off her shoes and socks, rolled up her trouser legs, and stretched her tender little feet into the river.

The river water was icy cold, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath. Only after gradually getting used to the water temperature did she relax her slightly furrowed brows.

Chen Shuo took off his shirt and squatted down next to her, splashing water and washing himself thoroughly. The temperature difference between day and night was huge, and the icy river water was refreshing. If the river water hadn't been so cold, he would have even planned to go for a swim.

"You used my foot bath water."

"is it?"

Chen Shuo glanced at her sideways, seemingly as a show of defiance, and then plunged his head into the water to wash his hair. Bai Xiaoqi's expression froze for a moment, forgetting that this guy was a pervert who didn't care about such things at all.

She wrinkled her little nose and reached out her little hand to retaliate by groping Chen Shuo all over.

Chen Shuo ignored her and finished washing himself. He hesitated for a moment when he saw the shirt he had taken off, but instead of putting it back on, he took off his shoes and socks, sat down on the bank like she did, and put his feet into the river.

Feeling the cool sensation of his pores contracting, he couldn't help but take a breath.

Bai Xiaoqi hooked her toes around his calves and rubbed them together, then moved her body forward so that her small feet were next to Chen Shuo's big feet, comparing their sizes.

Finally, he noticed that his feet were much bigger than his own, and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are your feet so big?"

But to Chen Shuo, those words sounded like she was being silly again. He quickly placed his hand on her head, then moved it to his shoulder.

"Look, I'm so much taller than you, and my feet are definitely much bigger than yours, isn't that reasonable?"

"Yes, that makes sense."

"Then don't ask such silly questions."

"I was just asking."

The moonlight was bright, and the water rippled. Bai Xiaoqi stopped comparing sizes with him and started splashing around in the river with her little feet. Remembering something, she turned around and pointed to the distance, "I used to sleep in that big tree."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shuo turned his head in the direction she pointed and saw a huge elm tree. He had noticed it when he first entered the valley, and it was definitely the king of trees in this valley.

It is about 20 meters tall, and it takes seven or eight adults to hug it. Its huge, lush canopy can support a three-bedroom apartment.

"No wonder you're such a blockhead." Chen Shuo felt like he had solved the case. Little A Miao used to sleep on the elm tree every day, which is why she became so simple-minded over time.

That makes perfect sense.

"You're the blockhead." Bai Xiaoqi splashed a handful of water on his face. This guy took every opportunity to say he was stupid.

Chen Shuo wiped his face with his hand, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You don't sleep in trees on rainy days, do you?"

"It's okay, I made a hole in the tree and I sleep in it, so I won't get wet in the rain."

"..."

Chen Shuo didn't know what to say. Was it a problem with getting caught in the rain?

It's common knowledge that you're likely to get struck by lightning if you take shelter under a tree during a rainstorm, let alone sleep inside a tree, especially a big and tall one—you'd be a sitting duck.

At that moment, he couldn't help but feel a little scared and emotional, wondering if it was the elm tree's good luck or the little cat's unique silliness that saved her.

Fools are often blessed with good fortune; cats are probably the same.

After a moment of reflection, Chen Shuo reached out and rubbed her little head, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions: relief, helplessness, and lingering fear.

Meeting that gaze, Bai Xiaoqi was somewhat confused. What was wrong with this guy? Why was he looking at her like that?

"From now on, when it rains, stay far away from trees. Don't take shelter under trees, and definitely don't sleep in trees. It's better to get wet than to do that, understand?"

"why?"

"Because trees are more likely to be struck by lightning on rainy days, and the taller and bigger the tree, the more likely it is to be struck. If you are standing under a tree or in a tree hole at this time, and lightning strikes down, crack, boom!"

Chen Shuo uttered an onomatopoeic word, "Understand?"

"..." Bai Xiaoqi stared wide-eyed for a moment, then turned back to look at the big elm tree where she had slept for decades. As she looked, the cat ears on her head suddenly popped up, as if what this guy said was true.

When I lived in the mountains, I did see trees that had been struck by lightning after it rained.

I didn't think much of it back then, but now... I'm a little scared.

Chen Shuo noticed her emotions and reminded her again, "So remember what I said, never take shelter under a tree when it rains, understand?"

"Yes, yes, I've got it." Bai Xiaoqi nodded vigorously.

"Good that you've remembered it."

Just then, a night breeze suddenly rose, bringing endless coolness. Chen Shuo, who was shirtless, felt goosebumps all over his body as the wind blew.

He rubbed his arms, pulled his feet out of the water, dried them with his socks, then casually stuffed them into his pocket, slipped on his shoes, and picked up her shoes and socks.

"You wait here, I'll go to the tent to get you your slippers, then we'll go back to sleep."

"I don't want slippers, I want you to carry me back."

Why are you so lazy?

"I'm just lazy."

Bai Xiaoqi gently jumped onto Chen Shuo's back, skillfully using her legs to clamp around his waist, then wrapped her arms around his neck, and her little hands began to wander restlessly.

"I've seen through your true nature." Chen Shuo lifted her little bottom up with his wrist, but unfortunately, he was holding her shoes and couldn't touch her bottom.

I've lost out.

"what?"