Since the grade trip was mandatory, Song Yi naturally couldn't be an exception.
As school ended in the evening, Lu Qingqing came by again.
Thinking about how she was the mastermind behind Wang Qi's incident a few days ago, Song Yi found it difficult to even force a fake smile.
How annoying, but she couldn't openly show hostility yet.
Lu Qingqing enthusiastically linked arms with Song Yi and said, "Yi Yi, we're going on the trip the day after tomorrow. I'll come find you in Class A to hang out!"
Song Yi: "Sure, sure."
Lu Qingqing looked at her with concern and reminded her, "By the way, we'll be exploring in the jungle. Although the school must have checked the geographical environment, you should still take precautions and be careful."
Song Yi: "Sure, sure."
Lu Qingqing: "..."
Although Lu Qingqing could tell that Song Yi wasn't really listening to her, just like that day in the cafeteria, she had to continue: "By the way, Yi Yi, I want to room with you during the trip. Is that okay?"
Song Yi: "Sure, su..."
Oh wait, that probably wouldn't work.
So Song Yi corrected herself, "That might not be convenient."
Lu Qingqing frowned slightly, her pretty face showing confusion, "Why not?"
"Why do you need so many reasons? Because she's rooming with me! Is that reason enough?"
An impatient voice rang out as Murong Huan strode over, directly putting her arm around Song Yi's shoulders, displaying clear hostility toward Lu Qingqing.
Lu Qingqing's face showed a hurt expression as she looked at Song Yi, "Yi Yi, is that true? I'm sorry, I didn't know. I didn't mean to intrude."
Murong Huan rolled her eyes, "If you know you're intruding, why are you still here? Don't you think you're being enough of a nuisance?"
Song Yi: "..."
Something felt oddly strange about these two's dialogue.
But she still had to speak up and say to Lu Qingqing: "Sorry about that, definitely next time."
Murong Huan snorted, "There won't be a next time."
Murong Huan's targeted attitude made Lu Qingqing very uncomfortable. She forced a smile, exchanged a few pleasantries with Song Yi, and left.
Song Yi asked Murong Huan curiously, "You don't like her?"
"Of course not." Murong Huan looked at Song Yi with exasperation, "Everyone at Saint Slee knows about her special relationship with Shen Yujing. You need to be careful around her - she's your number one love rival!"
Song Yi's lips twitched slightly, feeling that letting Murong Huan continue misunderstanding wasn't the right approach.
So Song Yi tried to explain: "Actually, I think my feelings for Shen Yujing might not be romantic."
Murong Huan's eyes widened as she looked at Song Yi in disbelief, "No way, in such a short time, you already...?"
Murong Huan didn't finish her sentence, but Song Yi nodded gravely.
That's right, although only a short time had passed, she changed her mind quickly - she no longer liked Shen Yujing!
Murong Huan covered her mouth with one hand and exclaimed, "I can't believe you've fallen in love with him already! Your feelings are so passionate, intense, and quick!"
Song Yi: "...?"
These words nearly made Song Yi trip over nothing - was that what she meant? Murong Huan's enterprise-level comprehension ability was really getting out of hand!
So Song Yi had to say directly: "No, I meant I don't like him anymore."
But Murong Huan just snickered, "Are you trying to fool me? Don't worry, I can keep a secret. If I say I won't tell Shen Yujing, I absolutely won't!"
Song Yi: "..."
Murong Huan's unwavering conviction made Song Yi feel that any further explanation would be futile and not worth voicing.
In that moment, she suddenly understood Hang Feng's earlier frustration of having things to say but being unable to express them. No wonder Hang Feng had walked away when she became too annoying.
Got it, this method really works well, she'll use it again next time.
*
The night before departing for the grade trip, at the Song residence.
While eating dinner, Song Yi mentioned to her father about the school organizing a grade trip, meaning she wouldn't be home for a few days.
Song's Father had always worried that his daughter's personality might make her vulnerable to bullying, so he naturally supported such group activities with both hands and feet.
So Song's Father said: "Studying and taking tests every day is so tiring. Go out and have fun, relax a bit, okay?"
As he spoke, he stood up to get money from his room, asking, "This requires payment, right? Take more money with you then. Buy whatever you want to eat or play with, don't worry about the cost. If your classmates have something, you should have it too. Don't shortchange yourself."
"Dad!" Song Yi called out helplessly, "The school is covering everyone's expenses. We're not going anywhere expensive - we're going jungle exploring."
Jungle exploring - those words sounded a bit dangerous.
So instead of getting money, Song's Father went to find various self-defense items and potentially useful medicines for his daughter.
Looking at an entire backpack full of band-aids, medical alcohol, bandages, and mosquito repellent, Song Yi fell silent.
She wanted to tell her father that all these preparations weren't necessary - a prestigious academy like Saint Slee wouldn't choose dangerous jungle environments for exploration. But faced with her father's earnestness, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Never mind, let him pack whatever he wants - she could carry it anyway.
Finally, besides all the supplies her father had gathered, Song Yi also went to the kitchen and packed the newly bought hammer.
Better safe than sorry.
Song Yi packed a few changes of clothes, managed to stuff all her father's prepared items into her suitcase, and then went to bed early.
To avoid traffic congestion, the third-year students had to gather at school at seven o'clock the next morning.
Meanwhile, at the Shen residence.
Shen Yujing stood face-to-face with his five suitcases, while a row of servants stood nearby with their heads bowed low.
Unable to understand why there was so much luggage, Shen Yujing looked at the servants, "Didn't I ask you to pack only useful things? Why is there so much?"
"Of course it's because mom is worried about you." A gentle female voice sounded from the doorway as an elegantly dressed lady walked in, "These are all equipment that mom carefully selected after consulting experts. This way, you can overcome any danger you might encounter!"
Shen Yujing naturally couldn't accept this explanation, "But it still shouldn't be this much, right?"
"Why not? Whether it's earthquakes, tsunamis, or mudslides, there are different tools here to deal with each situation. Even if Mars crashes into Earth, you'll definitely be the last one surviving!"
Shen Yujing: "..."
He was just going on a grade trip - was all this really necessary? None of these scenarios would possibly happen.
The person Shen Yujing found most incomprehensible in his life was his own mother, because her personality was like a child's, always acting on whatever whim struck her.
Sometimes she seemed to love him very much, thinking ahead and preparing everything for him, but other times she seemed completely indifferent to him.
Like during his last birthday, such an important day, and he only recently learned why his mother had gone abroad... it was because a gorilla she had adopted overseas shared the same birthday!
What nonsense! Who was her actual child here?!
Seeing Shen Yujing's silence, Shen's Mother's beautiful brows furrowed slightly, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you still upset that I wasn't there for your birthday? That was so long ago - aren't you being too petty?"
"I'm not." Shen Yujing denied, though his heart said otherwise, "I just think nobody else will bring this much stuff. I'll look stupid being the only one with so much."
His words made Shen's Mother pause in thought, "You have a point."
She then instructed the servants beside her, "Contact Saint Slee's trip coordinator and have four of young master's suitcases sent directly to his hotel room."
The servant immediately responded, "Yes, madam."
Shen Yujing: "..."
At seven o'clock the next morning, at Saint Slee Academy.
Every two classes shared one bus, so naturally Class A and Class B were assigned together.
As soon as Song Yi got on the bus, she saw Murong Huan waving from the back, "Song Yi! Over here!"
Song Yi sat down next to Murong Huan and asked, "Why are we sitting so far back?"
Murong Huan pointed to the seats in front and said, "Because Jiang Yiheng usually sits by the back door."
Alright then, Song Yi nodded to show she understood.
"We're here for a trip, after all," Murong Huan said as she took out a blanket from the bag beside her and covered Song Yi's legs. She also placed a small pillow behind Song Yi's lower back and asked, "Do you want to change into slippers?"
Song Yi replied, "...No need."
She had thought Song's Father's preparations were thorough enough, but she hadn't expected Murong Huan to treat this so much like a vacation.
Soon after, their classmates began boarding the bus one after another.
As expected, when Jiang Yiheng got on the bus, he hesitated upon seeing Song Yi and Murong Huan but still chose to sit in the seat in front of them.
Song Yi closed her eyes; she had woken up far too early this morning and wanted to take advantage of this time to rest.
Until—
"Shen Yujing! Wait for me! This damn suitcase is too heavy!"
Song Yi was startled awake by the shout, and in her drowsy state, she only heard footsteps beside her.
She rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the aisle seat, but some intense sunlight from somewhere made her unable to open her eyes properly.
Suddenly, a cool hand covered Song Yi's eyes, and an awkward voice said, "Stop looking, just sleep."
The next moment, something was placed over Song Yi's face, blocking out the sunlight.
Drowsiness ultimately won out, and Song Yi couldn't be bothered to look, so she went back to sleep.
Soon most people had arrived, and the person in charge was taking attendance, calling out names one by one.
Song Yi hadn't slept long before being awakened by the voice. She instinctively reached up to pull at whatever was covering her face—
Huh? What's this?
Song Yi opened her eyes in confusion and focused her gaze to find herself holding a black plastic bag???
Damn.
Realizing this thing had been tied over her eyes the whole time, Song Yi felt utterly speechless.
In this world, the only person who would do something like this was...
Song Yi turned her head toward the other side of the aisle, holding the plastic bag with an expressionless face. Sure enough, it was Shen Yujing.
Feeling Song Yi's gaze, Shen Yujing smiled at her and said, "You're welcome."
Song Yi stared at Shen Yujing, holding up one hand and crumpling the plastic bag into a ball, then mouthed: "Do this again, and you're dead."
After that, she threw the garbage bag into the trash bag in front of her.
At this moment, a head popped out from Shen Yujing's other side, and Quan Le asked curiously, "What did she just say?"
Shen Yujing thought seriously for three seconds, then confidently answered, "She said 'Thank you very much, sorry for the trouble.'"
Song Yi: "..."
Stay calm, don't get angry, don't get angry.
Soon the headcount was complete, and someone came to report to Jiang Yiheng, "Department head, we should have sixty people, but only fifty-nine are here. Hang Feng from Class A hasn't arrived."
Jiang Yiheng frowned, "Never mind him, let's go."
"Says who?" A cold voice rang out as a young man in black clothes carrying a shoulder bag climbed up the stairs at the back door of the bus.
Seeing Hang Feng, the person quickly smoothed things over, saying, "It's good that you're here, it's good that you're here. Now everyone's present. I'll go tell the driver."
Hang Feng got on the bus and scanned the interior.
The next second, the driver's voice called out, "Everyone please be seated! We're departing!"
Hang Feng: "..."
At this moment, his gaze fell on the only empty seat remaining.
After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Yiheng still moved aside to make room next to him.
At this point, Murong Huan stared intently at the back of Hang Feng's head, her eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
She lowered her voice and said, "How is this fair? Every time we go out for any activity, Jiang Yiheng always sits alone. Why does Hang Feng get to sit next to him!"
Song Yi held Murong Huan's hand, trying to comfort her while reasoning with her, "You saw the situation just now. The bus was about to leave; he couldn't just let him stand, could he?"
Murong Huan: "What about now?"
Song Yi: "Huh?"
Murong Huan called out, "Hang Feng!"
Hang Feng turned his head, only to hear Murong Huan say in a commanding tone, "Let's switch seats!"
Song Yi: "...?"
Song Yi quickly looked at Hang Feng and mouthed again: "You don't have a secret crush on me, do you?"
Hang Feng: "..."
He was a bit smarter than Shen Yujing, so he understood what Song Yi was saying.
And precisely because of this, Hang Feng remembered the terror of being completely manipulated by Song Yi that afternoon.
Faced with Hang Feng's silence, Song Yi shook her head meaningfully, showing an expression that suggested she had him all figured out.
She even beckoned to Hang Feng, inviting him to sit beside her.
Although Song Yi didn't speak, Hang Feng seemed to hear her saying—
"I admit, I'm intrigued by your little game. Come sit here, isn't this what you wanted?"
