The Lu Family suddenly appeared. Su Ci looked at the tall young man standing beside Lu's father and Lu's mother, her sleepy eyes brightening.
Su Ci winked at Lu Zhe.
"We're going on vacation. Are you traveling somewhere too?" Su's father was in high spirits with his wife by his side.
Lu Chen narrowed his eyes, smiling like a cunning fox, "I heard your holiday resort is complete and open for business. I'm bringing my wife and child to support your business. How's that? Touched?"
Su's father was taken aback, "You're going to the resort too?"
Lu Chen raised his eyebrows, smiling, "Is there any reason I shouldn't?"
Su's father didn't think much of it, "Since you're willing to bring business to my door, I have no reason to turn away money. Though we're also going there for vacation."
Lu Chen snapped his fingers, "Oh, that's great! The more the merrier."
On the side, Su's mother found it too coincidental that the Lu family was also going to the holiday resort.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the cool-mannered Lu Zhe. She trusted the young man's character, but this seemed too convenient.
Wen Ya took the initiative to chat with Su's mother, "Those two always have endless topics when they meet. Sometimes I feel like I'm just a third wheel."
Su's mother's thoughts were interrupted, and she laughed, "Indeed..."
Su Ci knew the Lu family was also going to the resort and taking the same flight as them. She secretly shot a triumphant look at Lu Zhe.
How could there be so many coincidences?
It was clearly premeditated.
Along the way, Su's father and Lu Chen kept bantering back and forth, while Su's mother was drawn into a conversation with Wen Ya about recent fashion trends.
The two little ones held hands walking in the middle, occasionally stealing glances back at their sister and brother-in-law.
Su Ci and Lu Zhe walked side by side, maintaining a meter's distance.
She turned to look at the expressionless young man beside her, who truly appeared unfamiliar with her, and said with a smile, "Didn't you say you were very busy lately?"
Lu Zhe's dark eyes turned to her, "Yes, Uncle Fang will have to work hard these few days I'm away."
Su Ci blinked, her dark eyes brimming with mischief, "Lu Zhe, admit it, you just wanted to see me."
The young man kept his eyes forward, ignoring the girl's teasing, but the tips of his ears turned red beneath his black hair.
Su Ci noticed Lu Zhe's reddened ears and resisted the urge to go over and bite them.
This reserved boy, why couldn't he just say he wanted to see her? If she was in a good mood, she might even reward him with a kiss.
Mindful of their parents ahead, Su Ci didn't dare to openly flirt with Lu Zhe.
Only after boarding the plane did Su Ci realize that Lu Zhe's family's seats were right in front and behind them. Su's mother and father each sat with one child in front, while Lu Chen and Wen Ya sat across the aisle.
Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe sitting beside her, her eyes curved in a smile as she asked in a low voice, "Did you deliberately buy tickets to sit next to me?"
Lu Zhe shook his head, "My father arranged it."
Lu Chen had more experience in matters of the heart than his son Lu Zhe. After learning about the Su family's vacation plans, he eagerly reported to his wife and had someone investigate their flight details, then booked all the remaining first-class seats.
Now there were no other passengers in first class besides the Su and Lu families.
Su Ci was surprised to discover that Lu Zhe and his father only shared similar features, but their personalities were completely opposite.
She felt fortunate that Lu Zhe was more aloof and quiet, rather than outgoing like his father.
The flight from City B to the resort would take two hours.
Su Ci was bored sitting there, but with her parents in front, she didn't dare to openly get close to Lu Zhe.
Instead, she reached out her hand, deliberately using her fingertips to hook onto Lu Zhe's hand resting on the armrest.
The girl was being naughty, her fingertips like little insects burrowing into his palm, her fingertips teasing his palm one stroke at a time.
It made his heart itch.
Lu Zhe's hand tightened, gripping the girl's mischievous hand. He gave her a helpless look and said in a low, indulgent voice, "Stop teasing."
When had Su Ci ever obediently listened to him?
She continued to tease him with her fingertips, wanting to see Lu Zhe's helpless yet losing-control expression.
At that moment, Su's mother suddenly turned around, and Su Ci immediately looked out the window with a serious expression, though her hand remained firmly in Lu Zhe's grip. Fortunately, the seats blocked the view, and Su's mother couldn't see.
After Su's mother turned back, Su Ci turned her head back, smiling at Lu Zhe like a fox who had successfully stolen something.
In the bright light, Su Ci's smiling eyes were filled with starlight.
Such a beautiful and charming girl, yet full of mischief, it was enough to make one's teeth itch with frustration, yet there was nothing to be done about it.
Lu Zhe gripped her small hand tightly, bringing her teasing fingertips to his lips. Watching the girl's widening eyes, Lu Zhe opened his mouth and directly bit her fingertip.
When they got off the plane, Su Ci's face was flushed red. She obediently followed behind her parents, no longer teasing Lu Zhe.
Thinking about her finger that had been bitten and then sucked on, her black eyes sparkled brightly, her cheeks warm.
She realized Lu Zhe had learned to be naughty, even more so than her!
Outside the airport, cars were already waiting.
The Su family got into their car, while on the Lu family's side, Lu Chen had clearly arranged for transportation as well.
In the car, Su's mother asked her husband, "Why did the Lu family suddenly decide to vacation at the resort? And on the same day as us?"
Not just the same day, but the same flight too. Too many coincidences to be mere chance.
Su's father smiled, "Lu Chen, that cunning fox, always has to compete with me in everything. I casually mentioned taking you all on a trip, and this guy brings his wife and son along, clearly just to challenge me."
Su's father was used to Lu Chen's competitive behavior of trying to outdo him in everything, "That cunning fox is so childish, wanting to compete even over going on vacation."
Su's mother knew her husband hadn't made any connection to their daughter and Lu Zhe.
"But how can he compete? We have three children, he only has one son." On this point, Lu Chen could never win against him.
Su's mother was speechless, whenever her husband and Lu Chen got together, they became more childish than elementary school students.
In another car, Su Ci was in a great mood, completely unaware that Su's mother was suspicious about the Lu family's sudden appearance.
The holiday resort was built in a village nestled against mountains and waters. Not only was it spacious, but its decorative style was also classically elegant. Combined with the peaceful surroundings and fresh air, it put everyone in a pleasant mood.
The Su family's holiday resort had done good preliminary promotion, and lately, since its opening, there had been quite a few tourists coming to visit.
However, the place was expensive, and the visitors were either wealthy or came out of respect for the Su family.
When the cars arrived at the resort's parking lot, after everyone from both families got out, the resort manager was already waiting at the entrance to welcome them.
"Mr. Su, the rooms are ready," the manager said with a respectful smile.
The staff took care of everyone's luggage while the manager led Su's father and the others inside.
It happened to be Saturday, and there were quite a few tourists around.
The manager gave introductions while reporting to Su's father about the business situation since opening.
Lu Chen, thick-skinned as ever, directly asked Su's father for two rooms next to theirs, claiming it would be convenient for everyone to spend time together.
Finally, Su's father and mother, along with their two young ones, stayed in the luxury suite. Su Ci's room was next to her parents, Lu Chen and Wen Ya's couple's room was next to Su Ci's, and Lu Zhe's room was opposite his parents'.
The resort, nestled between mountains and waters, was cooler than the outside temperature during the hot summer, with occasional pleasant breezes.
When Su Ci got to her room, she discovered it not only had a courtyard but also a private outdoor hot spring.
However, Su Ci hadn't brought a swimsuit, and she wasn't in the habit of soaking in hot springs under the sun.
She was extremely protective of her skin, so if she was going to use the hot spring, she planned to wait until sunset.
After unpacking, Su Ci came out and happened to meet Lu Zhe coming out of his room across the way. She went over to ask him, "Do you have a hot spring in your room?"
Lu Zhe responded, "Yes, in the courtyard."
Hearing this, Su Ci seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up with a hint of mischief, "After dinner, let's go to the hot springs together."
"No." Lu Zhe rejected without hesitation.
Su Ci glared at him with widened eyes.
Hot springs were such a romantic and intimate activity for couples, how could Lu Zhe reject her?
Su Ci wasn't ready to give up. She lowered her voice and said to Lu Zhe, "Don't you want to see how I look in a swimsuit?"
Although she hadn't brought one, she could ask the resort staff for one later. The resort had hot springs, so they must provide swimsuits for guests. Otherwise, she had a tank top and ultra-short shorts in her suitcase that she could wear for the hot springs.
Lu Zhe gave the girl a helpless look, "Not interested."
Su Ci pursed her lips in displeasure. Her figure was so good it made even herself blush; if she wore a swimsuit, it would definitely be worth seeing. How could Lu Zhe show zero interest in her?
She glared at the young man, then scanned his body up and down, "If you don't want to see mine, I want to see yours."
Lu Zhe was dressed casually today, wearing a white shirt and black pants, simple yet handsome. Though the young man appeared slim, she knew he had an excellent physique underneath. She still remembered the firm feeling when she touched his abs last time.
Lu Zhe gave her a meaningful look and pinched her delicate cheek with his cool fingers, "Don't even think about it." He saw right through the girl's naughty intentions - couldn't she behave herself?
Su Ci was about to say something when the door to Lu Zhe's parents' room opened beside them.
Lu Chen instinctively looked at his son, "Oh, you're both here. Ready for dinner?"
Wen Ya also came out of the room. Seeing Su Ci, she warmly held the girl's small hand and took the opportunity to say, "Auntie has always wanted a beautiful and well-behaved daughter like you."
Wen Ya found Su Ci's small hand soft and tender, with slender white fingers that felt pleasant to hold.
Up close, Wen Ya couldn't help but marvel at how Su Ci was indeed the treasured daughter of the Su family. Her skin was snow-white and smooth, so delicate it seemed you could pinch water from it, and her black eyes were bright and clear - truly a fresh and lovely girl.
The more Wen Ya looked, the more she liked Su Ci. She thought Su Ci and her son made a very pleasing couple, "I've always envied your mother. If I had even half a daughter like you, I would be content."
Hearing this, Su Ci's eyes sparkled. So, Lu Zhe's mother really liked her?
Su Ci wanted to be with Lu Zhe, so naturally she was happy that his family liked her.
Meanwhile, Su Ci's mother and father also came out. Her mother saw her daughter's hand being held by Wen Ya, and the two seemed to be getting along well.
Inexplicably, Su Ci's mother felt her heart skip a beat, "Ci Ci, go check why your brother and the others haven't come out yet."
Su Ci obediently responded and withdrew her hand from Wen Ya's.
Wen Ya smiled and said to Su Ci's mother, "Little Ci is so well-behaved. Daughters really are like little cotton-padded jackets, so warm and considerate. Tong Xin, I wish I had a daughter as sweet as Little Ci every day."
Su Ci's mother's eyes flickered with an odd expression. She smiled and shook her head, "Don't be fooled by her pretty appearance. She can be quite stubborn. Sometimes raising a daughter is even more challenging than raising a son."
Wen Ya smiled and agreed, not daring to probe further.
Lunch was served upstairs in the resort. The dining hall was separated from the mountain by a glass wall, offering a panoramic view of the mountainside. Enjoying delicious food while taking in the beautiful scenery put everyone in a pleasant mood.
Su Ci and Lu Zhe were separated by little Su Ning.
The little one had been reminded several times by Su Ci that when others were present, he couldn't call Lu Zhe "brother-in-law" and could only call him "big brother." The little one remembered Su Ci's words and didn't slip up throughout the meal.
"I heard your resort offers boating?" Lu Chen asked Su Ci's father.
"Yes, we do have that activity. Are you interested?" Su Ci's father was serving food to his wife.
"Indeed, we should all go play. Isn't there fishing too?" Lu Chen also served food to Wen Ya, his attentiveness no less than Su Ci's father across the table. "Let's have a competition, with the land in the West District as the stake."
He had recently heard that Su Corporation wanted that piece of land in the West District, and coincidentally, he was also interested in acquiring it.
The Su Corporation and Lu Group were evenly matched in strength. If they competed for it, it would only waste time and money. It would be better if one side yielded.
But neither he nor Su Ci's father would back down, so a competition was the perfect way to decide.
The business world would never know that this billion-yuan piece of land was decided by a fishing competition between Lu Chen and Su Ci's father.
Beside them, Wen Ya said to Su Ci's mother, "While the men go fishing in this hot weather, we shouldn't join them. I heard from the staff that the resort has a large natural hot spring. It would be more suitable for us to enjoy the hot springs together."
Su Ci's mother indeed had no interest in fishing. She smiled and agreed, then turned to ask her daughter, "What about you, Ci Ci?"
"I'll go boating," Su Ci was more interested in that.
"Yes, let the young ones go together. No need to join us older folks," Wen Ya smiled and said to Su Ci's mother, "My son can look after them, so Ci Ci can enjoy herself without worry."
Su Ci immediately agreed.
Su Ci's mother looked at her daughter worriedly, swallowing her objections. She could only hope that Lu Zhe would remember his promise.
After the meal, Su Ci's mother had wanted to make a last attempt by having little Su Ning and the other child accompany her daughter's group boating. With the two children present, at least it would prevent any romance between her daughter and Lu Zhe.
Wen Ya was clearly more astute than Su Ci's mother. She reminded her that the children were too young and it would be dangerous near the water, which dispelled Su Ci's mother's intentions.
The lake at the resort was artificial, created with considerable manpower and resources, and stocked with fish.
Under the sunlight, the lake's surface sparkled with ripples. Along with the gentle breeze, Su Ci glanced at the ethereal young man in white beside her, and her heart began to flutter.
With no one else around, Su Ci let Lu Zhe hold her small hand tightly.
Su Ci asked Lu Zhe, "Do your parents know about our relationship?"
The girl had always been clever. She could see what was happening when Wen Ya and Lu Chen kept creating opportunities for her and Lu Zhe to be together.
"Yes, they know," Lu Zhe didn't approve of his parents' actions, but he knew they were doing it for him.
Su Ci gave Lu Zhe a proud look, "When Auntie Wen Ya said she wanted a daughter like me, she meant she wants me as her daughter-in-law, right?"
Lu Zhe thought that if the girl were to turn back into a rabbit now, her tail would definitely be pointing proudly to the sky.
"My parents really like you," Lu Zhe felt very selfish.
Knowing that Su Ci could never become his wife or the Lu family's daughter-in-law, he selfishly didn't want to break the illusion.
Several new boats were moored by the lake, with staff in charge of watching them.
Su Ci and Lu Zhe boarded one of them. The canopied boat perfectly blocked the sun while allowing ventilation on both sides and views of the scenery, which suited Su Ci's preferences.
Su Ci sat close to Lu Zhe while a staff member handled the rowing outside.
After a while, as their boat passed under a bridge and turned, another small boat brushed against their hull, nearly colliding.
"Don't you know how to row a boat?" a girl from the other boat angrily questioned their staff member.
The rowing staff member was quite innocent. He had been rowing in a straight line, and his boat was in front while the other was behind - the other boat had come at them.
The staff member had received professional training and knew that the resort's guests were either wealthy or noble, not people he could afford to offend. He politely and diplomatically explained, "Miss, my boat was in front. I apologize for not paying attention to the situation behind us earlier."
However, the girl was used to being spoiled and wouldn't let it go. "The Su family spent so much money, and this is the kind of useless people they hire?"
Su Ci was already annoyed by the sudden incident, and now hearing the other party mention the Su family, she frowned and lifted the curtain with one hand.
She looked at the small boat beside them, which had several young people aboard. The girl sitting in the middle with a pouty expression and dissatisfied look was clearly the one harassing the staff member.
Su Ci propped her chin on one hand against the railing, her eyes narrowing with an arrogant expression, "How the Su family spends their money is none of your concern."
When the curtain lifted to reveal such a beautiful face, the young people on the other boat were stunned, including the girl in the middle who had been berating the staff member.
With bright eyes, white teeth, snow-like skin, black hair, and an alluring beauty mark beneath the corner of her eye - who else could this be but the young lady of the Su family?
The group of young people had all seen Su Ci at previous banquets and recognized her immediately.
They hadn't expected to crash into Su Ci's boat.
The girl in the middle widened her eyes, surprised and somewhat displeased, "Su Ci, is that you?"
Su Ci raised an eyebrow - they knew her?
"So what if it is?" Su Ci thought for a moment but couldn't remember who these people were.
Well, it didn't matter anyway. They weren't important.
Li Chenyu, the girl in the middle, looked shocked, "You don't recognize me?"
"I previously lost my memory and don't remember anyone. You can introduce yourself," Su Ci's attention was drawn to the life value on the other's wrist, where a thin red line showed only 15 hours remaining.
Oh, someone with a short life ahead.
Li Chenyu knew Su Ci had gone missing for a while but hadn't expected her to lose her memory. She felt somewhat gleeful about it, "I'm Li Chenyu, the young lady of the Li family."
Though her family couldn't compare to the Su Family, Lu Family, or He family, they were still quite powerful.
Plus, she was beautiful too. If it weren't for Su Ci, she would have been the most outstanding young lady among City B's elite families.
"Chenyu?" Su Ci wanted to laugh - was it meant to mean 'beauty that could sink fish'?
Su Ci was perceptive and easily noticed Li Chenyu's dislike for her. "Earlier was your fault. If you want to pursue this matter, take any complaints to the manager. I'll give instructions accordingly, so don't bother me about it."
Hearing this, Li Chenyu glared. Why had Su Ci become even more detestable after losing her memory?
"Is there anything else?" Su Ci asked them.
How could any of them dare to provoke Su Ci? The Su Family was powerful, and they were on Su Family territory. They all shook their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Although Li Chenyu disliked Su Ci, she couldn't do anything about it. She could only swallow her frustration.
"If there's nothing else, enjoy yourselves," Su Ci said with a smile.
Guests were guests, and they were here spending money on Su Family property. Su Ci had no grudge against them and wouldn't deliberately give them attitude.
"Wait," Li Chenyu saw Su Ci about to lower the curtain and quickly spoke up: "Su Ci, has your older brother come to the resort?"
Su Ci raised an eyebrow, "No."
"Oh." Li Chenyu looked disappointed.
Su Ci lowered the curtain and clicked her tongue. This person couldn't be hoping to become her sister-in-law, could she?
Su Ci called Fu Gui out, "How does Li Chenyu die?"
Fu Gui got most excited when encountering people close to death. Its tiny voice was excited, [She falls down the mountain and dies.]
Su Ci was startled.
Falls down the mountain? She dies at the resort?
With 15 hours left, Su Ci calculated - that would be around five or six tomorrow morning. Why would Li Chenyu be climbing mountains instead of sleeping at such an early hour?
Su Ci frowned. She draped herself over Lu Zhe like a boneless creature and looked at him pleadingly, "Can I go mountain climbing with you tomorrow to watch the sunrise?"
She hated getting up early, hated climbing mountains, and hated watching the sunrise even more.
Wasn't it more comfortable to sleep in a soft, warm bed?
Lu Zhe was a bit surprised, "Mountain climbing?"
He knew how delicate she was - even ill-fitting shoes could make her feet red and sore, let alone climbing a mountain.
"Yes." Su Ci nestled in Lu Zhe's arms, reluctantly and insincerely saying: "I want to watch the sunrise with you. It must be very romantic."
She thought sleeping together with Lu Zhe would be more romantic than watching the sunrise.
If it weren't for wanting to save up golden cotton candy for Lu Zhe, if it weren't for not wanting him to die at the resort, Su Ci definitely wouldn't be willing to endure such hardship.
Whimper, she was too good to Lu Zhe.
Lu Zhe chuckled, his tone full of indulgence as he held her tight, "Alright."
