"You seem very excited."
Seeing Lin Shen's curious expression as he looked around, Qin Yuenan suddenly felt a sense of joy, like her own hobby was being validated by someone else. The corners of her mouth subconsciously curled up slightly.
"Hiking is pretty fun, isn't it?"
"It's definitely nice."
Lin Shen let out a hearty laugh.
"Quitting my job was definitely the right decision!"
"You're still young."
Qin Yuenan said, lecturing him in the tone of an elder.
"When you get to my age, you'll understand. There's no right or wrong, only things you love to do and things you have to convince yourself to do."
"Actually, Nan, you're not that old."
Lin Shen's tone was sincere.
"Twenty-eight is a woman's most beautiful age."
"Where did you learn to say things like that?"
"You were my boss, after all. Hehe."
Lin Shen said with a grin.
"Am I wrong?"
"Completely wrong."
It seemed like Qin Yuenan had a bellyful of grievances she wanted to pour out.
"I'm getting old, and my family keeps nagging me to find someone and get married. I get it, but when it comes to those so-called 'successful men'…"
"Come on, Nan, give me a smile!"
Lin Shen deliberately changed the subject, leaning his head close to Qin Yuenan's and raising his phone for a selfie.
SNAP—!
In the photo, the two of them were one behind the other. One was a handsome boy with a sunny, brilliant smile; the other, an unsmiling, cool beauty.
They didn't seem to match, but they were surprisingly harmonious together.
"Isn't hiking all about forgetting your troubles?"
Lin Shen chuckled.
"No need to get hung up on the present or worry about the future. No experience in life is useless. So we just keep walking, and the sky will always brighten."
"…"
"That's something Haruki Murakami said. The context doesn't quite fit our situation, but the meaning is good."
Lin Shen continued walking forward. Qin Yuenan stood stunned for a moment before catching up to him, her previously melancholic expression gradually softening.
"You seem to know a lot."
"I just read a lot of random stuff."
With Lin Shen's guidance, Qin Yuenan stopped thinking about her troubles.
The two of them continued along the mountain loop road. Sometimes they'd be captivated by a towering ancient tree, discussing its species and age.
Other times they'd find a lucky four-leaf clover and pick it to press later.
Amidst the overlapping peaks, the distance between them grew closer.
And that didn't just refer to their hearts.
Shoulders brushing, the backs of their hands lightly touching.
As the physical contact became more frequent, Qin Yuenan felt an unfamiliar, strange emotion gradually building in the bottom of her heart.
It made her subconsciously steal glances at Lin Shen beside her.
His goofy, clownish antics, his carefree and hearty smile.
All of it made Qin Yuenan's cold eyes sparkle with an unusually brilliant, surprised light.
She saw in Lin Shen a love for life that was unique to the young,
and a positive, healthy mindset.
Especially after Lin Shen had successfully lost weight, this unique, sunny disposition became more and more pronounced, even infecting those around him and filling them with vitality.
'Maybe this is his true self?'
Qin Yuenan bit her lip, her eyelids lowered as her thoughts stirred.
However, in the moment she was lost in thought, Lin Shen had already fallen several paces behind. He seemed to be getting hit on by two female university students.
"Excuse me, handsome, can you help us take a picture?"
"No problem!"
Lin Shen took the iPhone 16 and deliberately squatted down to take the photo for the two students, even helping to direct their poses.
SNAP—!
"What do you think?"
"It's great! Can I add…"
One of the students, seeing that Lin Shen was quite handsome, was just about to ask for his WeChat when her friend suddenly dragged her away.
"Thanks, handsome! Your girlfriend is really pretty!"
'Girlfriend?'
Lin Shen suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately whipped his head around and found that Qin Yuenan had appeared beside him at some point.
Her arms were crossed, her cold eyes narrowed, and she was faintly emitting an arrogant, unapproachable aura.
For a moment, Lin Shen felt like he was back in the office giving a report.
'Terrifying!'
"Nan."
Lin Shen had no idea why this ice queen was suddenly upset again. All he could do was scratch his head with an awkward laugh.
"Just helping them take a picture, hehe."
"That's nice. So warm-hearted."
Qin Yuenan snorted coldly, then walked over to the ancient tree where the two students had been standing.
"Take one for me, too."
"Okay."
Lin Shen pressed the shutter button on his phone, capturing Qin Yuenan's graceful figure in his photo album.
This was the advantage of being a beauty.
No need for special lighting or professional equipment; just standing there was enough to be photogenic.
"Nan looks great."
"You took a good picture. Send it to me on WeChat."
The little interlude ended, and the two continued walking side by side.
As time passed, the sun gradually climbed higher in the blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Although the trees in the forest absorbed a lot of the heat, the temperature still gradually rose.
"Let's sit for a bit."
Seeing that it was already twelve noon, Lin Shen pointed to a stone bench not far away.
Qin Yuenan nodded, taking off her sun-protective jacket and tying it around her waist.
She sat on the cool stone bench and took out two wet wipes from her fanny pack. She used one to wipe the sweat from her neck and handed the other to Lin Shen beside her.
She also casually lifted the hem of her tank top, fanning air underneath it to cool down.
This made Lin Shen, who was stealing a glance, stare with wide eyes.
Qin Yuenan's graceful figure wasn't just evident in her perfect waist-to-hip ratio and long, slender legs; her ample chest was definitely a lethal weapon!
A monster with such innate stats, combined with diligent post-natal training… even if her face were covered, she could probably make most men forget to go home.
'Not bad at all!'
"GULP—!"
After taking a small sip of water to replenish his electrolytes, Lin Shen took two boxes of fruit and vegetable salad from his bag to share with Qin Yuenan.
"Here, Nan."
"Thanks."
Qin Yuenan speared a cherry tomato, popped it into her mouth, and asked quietly as she chewed.
"Looks like you've been eating well. Losing weight must have been tough, huh?"
"Definitely."
Lin Shen was filled with emotion.
"But the rewards are pretty sweet too."
"You've really changed a lot."
Qin Yuenan asked tentatively.
"Was it because of what happened with your ex-girlfriend? Did that spur you on?"
"Not entirely."
Lin Shen met Qin Yuenan's curious gaze, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Nan, why are you suddenly so interested in my love life?"
"You were my assistant. What's wrong with showing a little concern?"
Qin Yuenan huffed lightly.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
'That makes it pretty hard *not* to get the wrong idea!'
Lin Shen grumbled inwardly, then took out his phone.
[Upgrade Mission: Check in at Modu's famous scenic spot—Sheshan (Completed).]
[Reward: GoGo Maps Lv. 2 → Lv. 3]
[Industrial funds accumulated per Red Point passed increased from 15,000 → 20,000. Current accumulation: 90,000]
[Reward Item: Random Scratch-Off Ticket x1]
[Upgrade Mission: Check in at Modu's famous roadscape—Wukang Road]
'The mission's complete, just as I thought.'
Lin Shen tapped on the scratch-off ticket, but his luck wasn't as good as yesterday's.
[Thanks for playing! Kidney Power cap +1! Congratulations on unlocking the Personal Attributes Panel!]
[Constitution: 60/70 (Healthy+)]
[Spirit: 53/70 (Calm)]
[Kidney Power: 57/70 (Deficient-)]
[Note: Current Attribute/Attribute Cap. The average for a normal person is 60.]