Xiang Bingbing’s invitation to Shennongjia was mainly extended to the “Mei You Yuan” trio (Mei Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi), but she also invited other close friends like Liu Xiaoyu, Guo Yun, Wan Chaoxiong, and Zhu Nainai.

However, in the end, only Liu Xiaoyu and Guo Yun were willing to go.

Zhu Nainai really wanted to join, but she had to focus on studying to follow in her senior Mei Fang’s footsteps.

Even though Jiangcheng Shiyi High was full of top-tier students, getting into Pengcheng University in this world was no easy feat.

Since taking a taxi to Shennongjia would be too long and flying wasn’t feasible, they decided to take a soft-sleeper train instead.

With the “Mei You Yuan” trio plus “Bing Yu Yun” (Xiang Bingbing, Liu Xiaoyu, and Guo Yun), that made six people. Boss Mei bought eight tickets, effectively booking two soft-sleeper compartments. Since it wasn’t peak season yet, there weren’t many tourists heading to Shennongjia, so they wouldn’t be bothering anyone.

On the night before departure, Xia Yuan was busy packing, and Mei Fang, finding it amusing, helped her out.

“Do we really need to bring this much stuff?”

“Of course! We’re going to explore Shennongjia—the most mysterious place in Hubei Province! Look, I packed a compass, maps, compressed biscuits, a Swiss Army knife, a high-powered flashlight…”

“We’re just going as guests to Bingbing’s place, not surviving in the wild. At most, we’ll probably just camp. Just bring normal camping gear—if we forget anything, we can buy it there.”

Mei Fang glanced at Lin Youxi, who was fiddling with her laptop on the sofa as if working. “Youxi, aren’t you packing?”

“I’m busy with C Station stuff today. Yuan Yuan can pack for me. If worse comes to worst, I can just wear her clothes.”

“Where did you learn that… And wouldn’t Yuan Yuan’s clothes be too loose on you?”

“So you’re saying my chest is small?” Lin Youxi closed her laptop and frowned at Mei Fang.

“Ah Fang, you’re totally calling me fat, aren’t you?” Xia Yuan also closed her suitcase and tugged at Mei Fang’s sleeve, pouting.

“Hey, hey, I wasn’t trying to attack both of you at once!”

Mei Fang raised his hands in surrender, looking innocent.

In the end, Mei Fang was sentenced to the punishment of packing Lin Youxi’s suitcase, picking out her travel outfits and underwear as a warning to others.

The train to Shennongjia departed in the evening. Since only express trains were available, they wouldn’t arrive until early the next morning. Before meeting up, the six of them stored their luggage at the station and spent the whole day hanging out at a nearby mall.

Xiang Bingbing, who had been cheerful all day, suddenly sighed as they took the elevator back to the station.

“After today, I wonder if we’ll ever get to come back here again…”

“Bingbing, are you feeling sentimental?”

Xiang Bingbing nodded. “A little… Especially about Jiangcheng Shiyi High’s cafeteria. I don’t know if Pengcheng University’s food will be as good.”

“Oh, so it’s the cafeteria you’re sad about?”

Mei Fang rubbed his forehead helplessly. “But then again, that’s just Bingbing for you.”

“What’s wrong with loving food? Geez!”

Xiang Bingbing stuck her tongue out at Mei Fang. “Ah Fang has no sense of romance. He just doesn’t understand the joy of eating!”

“You shouldn’t say that, Bingbing.”

Lin Youxi smiled. “When it comes to ‘eating,’ our Ah Fang is actually quite the connoisseur.”

“Wow, really? I kinda don’t believe it…”

“Though, it’s not the conventional kind of ‘eating.’”

“Not conventional? Then what—”

Though Lin Youxi’s words were vague, Xia Yuan and Liu Xiaoyu immediately thought of something inappropriate. Liu Xiaoyu blushed and lowered her head nervously, while Guo Yun looked confused. Xia Yuan quickly tugged at Lin Youxi and laughed it off.

“Hahaha, Youxi’s just joking! It’s getting late—let’s hurry through security!”

Xia Yuan pushed Mei Fang toward the security checkpoint. Like her elementary school teacher mother, she reminded everyone to keep track of their bags and documents, nervously waiting for their luggage to come out after Mei Fang helped her put it through the scanner.

“You seem really nervous?”

“Uh…”

Xia Yuan scratched her head. “It’s my first time taking a train.”

“Wait, really?”

“I usually travel by car with my dad, or take a plane for long trips. I’ve never been on a train before.” She grinned at Mei Fang. “I’m kinda excited.”

“No wonder you’re so hyped…”

“I’m also a first-timer.”

Lin Youxi chimed in. “As a kid, I hardly ever left Hubei because my dad was always busy.”

“Ah… I’m sorry, Youxi.”

Xia Yuan suddenly apologized, leaving Lin Youxi puzzled. “Why are you apologizing?”

“My childhood was way happier than yours, and here I am bragging about it. I should apologize…”

“Who says my childhood wasn’t happy?”

Lin Youxi put her hands on her hips, adopting a playful stance. “While you were off traveling, Ah Fang and I grew closer. We ate together, played games, coded together, slept together, and did lots of other things you don’t know about.”

“W-Wait, really?!”

Xia Yuan turned to Mei Fang. “You never told me!”

Mei Fang shrugged helplessly. “Youxi thought it’d upset you, so she asked me not to mention it. And later, there was never a good time to bring it up. But it was all completely innocent, so don’t overthink it.”

“You were already sleeping together back then… How is that innocent?!”

“It was just napping on a bamboo bed! We didn’t even touch! Right, Youxi?”

Lin Youxi held Xia Yuan’s hand and smiled. “Ah Fang’s right—at least, that’s how it was before I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was hugging him.”

“Ugh…”

Xia Yuan forced herself to stay composed. “I-It’s fine… We were just kids. I’ve hugged Ah Fang too—like during the ‘Super Energy’ phase…”

Now Xia Yuan finally understood why Lin Youxi never minded their physical affection.

So I wasn’t the first one, huh…

Xiang Bingbing watched the trio’s playful banter with confusion.

The six of them boarded the train in a hurry, swiped their tickets, found their soft-sleeper compartments, and helped each other with their luggage. Xia Yuan immediately flopped onto the lower bunk to rest.

“So, how do you like the train so far?”

Mei Fang sat beside her and patted her butt. Xia Yuan just lay there, swinging her legs.

“Way more crowded than I imagined… Good thing we got soft sleepers with doors. The hard sleepers looked so cramped—I’d never sleep well there.”

Watching her legs sway, Mei Fang’s mind wandered, and he started teasing her—

“Hmph, as if I’d let my wife suffer. Right? Hmm…”

“Ahaha, stop it! You’re so annoying—”

Xia Yuan giggled uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Lin Youxi, now done organizing her things, tugged at Mei Fang’s sleeve.

“If you’re having fun with Yuan Yuan now, you’re sleeping with me tonight.”

“Wha—no fair! Ah Fang just started playing with me—”

Just as Xia Yuan protested, the compartment door slid open, and Mei Fang instantly retracted his hand.

“Heyyy! Just checking in on you guys!”

“Bingbing, next time, knock first. It’s impolite to barge in like this.”

Lin Youxi’s tone was calm, but Xiang Bingbing immediately scratched her head apologetically.

“Sorry, sorry! I got too excited—it’s my first time in a soft sleeper. I’ll remember next time.”

“It’s fine! Just keep it in mind, Bingbing.”

Xia Yuan sat up, leaning on Mei Fang’s shoulder. “How are you guys splitting the bunks?”

“Xiaoyu and Yun Yun are on one side, and I’m on the other.”

“With your height, will you be comfortable?”

“I’ll manage! Hahaha, I’m used to it.”

As Xiang Bingbing chatted with Xia Yuan, Mei Fang got up to give her his seat and moved next to Lin Youxi, whispering:

“Should we tell Bingbing about the three of us now? I forgot she doesn’t know.”

“Let’s wait until we’re camping in Shennongjia. No rush.”

While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were murmuring to each other, another knock came at the door.

“Hey there.”

Guo Yun and Liu Xiaoyu had also come to visit the “Mei You Yuan” trio.

The five girls chatted animatedly, while Mei Fang played waiter, serving tea and snacks. A flustered Liu Xiaoyu quickly took over, then texted Mei Fang:

[Are we interrupting your alone time?]

[Nah, you guys keep talking.]

Mei Fang smiled at her and climbed up to the top bunk to lie down.

He found it amusing.

Every time we go on a trip, there’s never another guy around to hang out with.

That bastard Wan Chaoxiong never joins us.

Oh well. My bros from my past life were way more reliable.

He texted Zhang Ming:

[Mei You Xi Bao: Son, what are you up to?]

[Ye Ao Nai Wo He: Aren’t you in Shennongjia?]

[Mei: Bored on the train.]

[Zhang: So you come bother your dad?]

[Mei: You little—.jpg]

[Zhang: Be careful in Shennongjia. Don’t get eaten by a wild man.]

[Mei: We’ve got a big wild girl protecting us.]

[Zhang: Wait, what? Big wild girl?]

[Mei: You’ve never met her? Last time you should’ve—]

As Mei Fang chatted with Zhang Ming, Lin Youxi rubbed her eyes from the lower bunk.

“I’m kinda sleepy. You guys keep talking.”

Sensing the mood, Liu Xiaoyu and Guo Yun stood up to leave. “Then we should—”

Lin Youxi waved them off. “Stay. It’s fine.”

Then she climbed up to Mei Fang’s bunk, leaving Xiang Bingbing and the others stunned.

“Who are you texting? You’re smiling so much.”

“Huh? Oh, no one…”

“Mm, okay.”

Lin Youxi didn’t press further, showing absolute trust in Mei Fang. She just nestled into his arms and closed her eyes.

The atmosphere made the other three feel awkward, so after a few more words, they excused themselves and left.

Xia Yuan stood on the lower bunk, gripping the edge of the upper bunk.

“Why are you two so lovey-dovey in front of others? You scared Bingbing.”

“Just reaffirming my claim. Don’t want someone like Peng Xue getting ideas about Ah Fang.”

Lin Youxi opened her eyes slightly, a sly smile on her lips. “Our Ah Fang is too popular. Lots of girls have their eyes on him.”

“We already talked about Yun Yun and Xiaoyu, though… Are you seriously worried about Bingbing? Hahaha…”

Xia Yuan’s laughter faded when she saw Lin Youxi’s expression. “Wait… You actually are?”

“Not really… But if Bingbing ever did have feelings for Ah Fang, he wouldn’t be able to push her away.”

“She’s just a kid. She wouldn’t be interested in that stuff…”

Xia Yuan shook Lin Youxi’s bunk. “More importantly, Youxi… Are you just making excuses to hog Ah Fang?”

“So… Yuan Yuan wants to join us tonight?” Lin Youxi tapped her chin. “Though it might be a tight fit.”

“We’re on a train! That’s way too… too much! People would complain!”

Lin Youxi frowned at Xia Yuan’s flushed face. “I meant just sleeping together. Why is your mind always in the gutter? You need to control yourself. Think about Ah Fang’s health—he’s not your toy. You can’t just—”

“Okay, okay! I get it! Stop lecturing me!”

Xia Yuan ended up scolded for no reason.

Back in their own compartment, Xiang Bingbing sat down and voiced her confusion.

“Lately, I’ve noticed something weird about Ah Fang and the others. Have you guys seen it too?”

Liu Xiaoyu and Guo Yun exchanged glances. Though they both knew about the trio’s relationship, they’d never discussed it, so neither knew if the other was an ally or not.

“Uh… What do you mean?”

“Well, even though Ah Fang and Yuan Yuan broke up, they’re still super close. Like during the ‘Adult Gate’ photos, or when they took group pics… And today was even more obvious.”

“W-Well, they’ve been childhood friends for years! It’s normal to be close, right?”

Liu Xiaoyu scratched her head. Guo Yun nodded quietly.

“Y-Yeah… I sat next to Ah Fang in middle school, before they were dating, and they were like this back then too.”

“Ohhh, I see… At first, I thought Ah Fang wasn’t careful about boundaries, but I guess it makes sense for childhood friends.”

Xiang Bingbing rested her chin on her hands. “Do you guys have childhood friends? Someone you grew up with?”

“Nope…” Guo Yun shook her head. She used to be overweight, so no one liked her.

Liu Xiaoyu smiled. “I told you before—I had one in middle school, but we had a falling out and stopped talking.”

“Oh, right! I forgot. You mentioned that during camping, didn’t you?”

Xiang Bingbing grinned. “I actually have a childhood friend too! We grew up together, just like Yuan Yuan and Youxi. We’re super close! I’ll introduce her to you guys later. We’ll take you exploring in Shennongjia!”

“Mm, sounds great!”

Liu Xiaoyu and Guo Yun smiled and nodded.