45: Chapter 45 Camping

After breakfast, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the living room, feeling warm and cozy.

Lin Yu wiped his mouth and looked at Su Manqin, who was sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine. "Auntie, please contact the building manager and have my license plate registered in the access control system. Keeping the Cullinan in the temporary parking space outside is neither convenient nor safe."

Su Manqin acknowledged and immediately picked up her phone to call the property management office.

Beside her, the nanny, Sister Zhang, efficiently cleared the breakfast dishes. The crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking came from the kitchen, and in no time, everything was cleaned up.

Mu Wan curiously circled the living room, occasionally touching the exquisite ornaments with eyes full of fondness; she had bought these herself.

Once everyone was ready, Lin Yu took Su Manqin, Mu Wan, and Sister Zhang toward the community gatehouse.

From afar, they could see the young female building manager standing at the entrance, waiting with a polite smile.

"Please wait here for a moment; I'll go bring the car around," Lin Yu said, turning and walking quickly toward the temporary parking space by the roadside.

Before long, a majestic Cullinan drove over slowly, its steady and imposing body gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Lin Yu parked the car steadily. The moment he locked the doors, the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament slowly retracted, looking exquisite and high-end.

Mu Wan was instantly captivated, leaning toward the front of the car with wide eyes. "Wow, this little statue can move!"

Lin Yu unlocked the vehicle, the lights flashed, and the Spirit of Ecstasy slowly rose again.

"This is so beautiful! Brother Lin Yu, how much is this? I want to buy one to display at home."

Lin Yu smiled and reached out to brush a speck of dust off the ornament. "This gold-plated version costs 188,800, and if it's a custom crystal one, it's about 300,000."

At these words, Sister Zhang and the property staff nearby secretly clicked their tongues in amazement. They marveled that such a small object was worth several years of an average person's income, making their awe of Lin Yu even more concrete.

Sister Zhang couldn't help but mutter softly, "My goodness, this little thing is more expensive than the down payment for a house in my hometown..."

Lin Yu didn't pay attention to the others' reactions and ruffled Mu Wan's hair. "Once you get your driver's license, I'll just buy you a car. It's much more practical than an ornament."

Mu Wan stuck out her tongue and shook her head. "I still prefer small, cute cars. I wouldn't dare drive such a big car; if I scratched or dented it, I'd be so heartbroken I wouldn't be able to sleep."

The young building manager couldn't help but giggle while entering the license plate. Looking up, she said softly, "Alright, Mr. Lin, the gate will automatically lift for this car when it enters or exits the garage from now on."

Lin Yu thanked her, opened the car door, and signaled for everyone to get in.

It was Sister Zhang's first time riding in such a luxurious car. Sitting in the soft leather seat, she felt a bit awkward, placing her hands neatly on her knees and even breathing a little more lightly.

Mu Wan shifted to the side and touched the seat in amazement. "This chair is so soft, it's like sitting on a cloud!"

Su Manqin teased with a smile, "Just don't refuse to get out of the car later."

The Cullinan drove steadily out of the community and headed toward a supermarket in the city. After parking, they pushed a shopping cart and began browsing through the supermarket.

Mu Wan was like a happy little bird, flitting through the snack aisle, filling the cart with potato chips, candies, jellies, and chocolates. Lin Yu headed straight for the beverage section, sweeping up baijiu, red wine, craft beer, fruit wine, and various juices, dumping them all into the cart until it was piled into a small mountain by the time they reached the checkout.

Looking at the cart full of items, the cashier couldn't help but smile and ask, "Are you throwing a party? You have everything here."

Mu Wan held a bag of gummy candies and asked curiously, "Brother Lin Yu, with all this stuff, where are we going?"

Lin Yu curled his lips in a mock mysterious way and reached out to flick her nose. "It's a secret. You'll know when we get there. I guarantee it'll be fun."

Seeing he wouldn't tell her, Mu Wan puffed out her cheeks. "Fine, don't tell me then. As long as there's good food, it's fine!"

The car gradually drove away from the bustling city center, the high-rises on both sides of the road replaced by lush trees, and the air became fresher.

After driving for another stretch, the Cullinan slowly pulled into the parking lot of the Qili River cruise terminal.

Just as they parked, they saw Fatty running over, waving with a face full of smiles.

"You're finally here! I've been waiting for ages! If you hadn't come, I would have eaten all the snacks already!"

His gaze swept over the snacks and drinks in the car, and he immediately rolled up his sleeves. "Good heavens! You bought so much too. Come on, let me move it. I brought a trolley, I'll get everything sorted out perfectly for you."

Everyone worked together to move the items from the car onto the trolley and followed Fatty toward the nearby campsite.

As soon as they arrived, they saw a woman with a gentle demeanor setting up a tent with a little girl around four years old. Beside them, a girl with a delicate aura was helping by handing over tent poles.

The little girl looked like an exquisite Barbie doll, with fair skin, big round eyes, and her hair tied in a small bun; she was extremely cute.

Seeing Lin Yu and his group, the woman smiled and walked up to greet them. It was Tang Man, and her daughter, Tangtang, who wasn't shy at all, called out in a milky voice, "Uncle Yu!"

Chen Huihui, standing to the side, smiled shyly. She was the girl Fatty was pursuing.

Lin Yu smiled and introduced everyone: "This is Tang Man and her daughter, Tangtang. This is my brother, Fatty. This is Chen Huihui. These two are Su Manqin and Mu Wan, and this is Sister Zhang, our nanny at home."

Tangtang was very sweet-mouthed, greeting everyone one by one: "Hello, Auntie Manqin, Hello, Sister Mu Wan, Hello, Auntie Zhang!" Her soft, milky voice made everyone's hearts melt.

Mu Wan immediately crouched down, took out the gummy candies from her pocket, and handed them over. "What a good girl. Sister will treat you to some candy."

Everyone felt completely at ease and rolled up their sleeves to get to work.

Fatty put his hands on his hips and directed, "Old Lin, you set up the tent. I'll handle the barbecue grill. Huihui, you just help me pass the tools!"

Chen Huihui rolled her eyes at him. "You talk too much. Get to work."

Lin Yu and Fatty set up the tent and assembled the barbecue grill with deft movements. Su Manqin, Mu Wan, Tang Man, and Chen Huihui took out the pre-prepared ingredients—pork belly, chicken wings, shrimp, sausages, and various seasonal vegetables—and laid them out in organized categories. They carefully marinated the meats that needed it and skewered the rest directly.

Mu Wan crouched on the ground, occasionally teasing Tangtang, who was exceptionally clingy to her, holding Mu Wan's hand and chattering non-stop. "Sister, I want to eat grilled sausage later, and I want to drink juice!"

Mu Wan smiled and agreed, "No problem, Sister will grill the most delicious one for you."

Crisp laughter echoed throughout the campsite. Watching the two figures, one big and one small, Lin Yu kept a gentle smile on his lips. The entire campsite was filled with a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

After a busy morning, the tent was set up, the grill was ready, and all the ingredients were prepared. Everyone excitedly boarded the cruise boat and drifted along the Qili River. The river water was clear, a gentle breeze brushed their faces, and both banks were lined with lush trees.

Tangtang leaned over the side of the boat to watch the small fish in the water, clapping her hands excitedly. "So many little fish! They're swimming!"

Fatty teased her on purpose, "Tangtang, do you want to catch one and take it home to keep?"

Tangtang shook her head earnestly. "No, no, the little fish will die if they leave the water."

Everyone chatted and laughed, taking photos to commemorate the day, having a great time. Su Manqin pulled Mu Wan in for a photo; Tang Man held her daughter to capture the scenery; and Fatty kept taking unflattering photos of Chen Huihui, causing her to hit him.

Before they knew it, it was lunchtime. The group returned to the campsite and gathered around the grill to start roasting meat.

Fatty placed a few skewers of pork belly on the grill. The fat sizzled upon hitting the heat, and the aroma instantly filled the air. "Watch closely now. Grilling meat is all about the heat. Too much fire and it burns easily; too little and it won't be fragrant. Just keep flipping it often. This is my ancestral barbecue technique!"

Fatty had been a good cook since he was a child. Back when Lin Yu's family was struggling, he often tagged along to get free meals from him, and Fatty was always generous and never stingy.

Lin Yu smiled and exposed him. "Give it a rest. Last time you grilled chicken wings, they turned into charcoal. You have the nerve to call that an ancestral technique."

Fatty's face turned red. "That was an accident! I'll definitely perform consistently today!"

At first, the meat Su Manqin and Mu Wan grilled was either undercooked or burnt black, drawing laughter from everyone.

Mu Wan held up a blackened skewer of meat, aggrieved. "What's going on? It turned black on its own, it's not my fault!"

Su Manqin also shrugged helplessly. "It seems I'm only fit for eating, not cooking."

But no one minded. Everyone helped each other out—one person flipped a skewer, another sprinkled some spices—and they slowly mastered the technique. The grilled skewers were fragrant; although their appearance was uneven, they tasted exceptionally delicious.

Su Manqin and Mu Wan usually ate light meals, but today they were infected by the lively atmosphere, eating the barbecue heartily without any restraint. Fearing they might get overheated from eating too much, Lin Yu specially handed them two bottles of herbal tea. "Eat slowly, it'll help with the greasiness. Don't overeat."

In the afternoon, everyone switched to different activities. Fatty and Lin Yu found a shady spot to fish. Not long after the hooks were cast, a fish took the bait, drawing cheers from Tangtang, who was watching from the side. "It's hooked, it's hooked! Uncle is so amazing!"

Fatty said smugly, "Of course! Your Uncle Fatty is a real pro at fishing!"

Mu Wan and Tangtang played with the fish in the bucket, their giggles ringing out one after another.

When they got bored of fishing, they brought out badminton rackets. They played singles and mixed doubles in turns, with the losing side rotating out. Fatty and Chen Huihui were a team, but Fatty kept making mistakes. Chen Huihui couldn't help but complain, "Are you even capable? You can't even return a serve."

Fatty grinned cheekily. "It's mainly because I was too mesmerized watching you, so I got distracted."

Sweat soaked their clothes, but everyone was laughing happily.

After a light breeze picked up, Lin Yu took out a kite and ran across the grass holding Tangtang's little hand. The colorful kite flew higher and higher, and Tangtang's laughter drifted far away. Mu Wan and Su Manqin cheered from the side, while Tang Man and Sister Zhang sat nearby, watching everyone with smiles, looking completely content.

Tired from playing, they sat around the tent playing cards. Fatty lost a hand and was required to bark like a puppy, which made everyone roar with laughter. Lin Yu had excellent luck and won every round. Mu Wan couldn't help but act spoiled. "Brother Lin Yu, let me win, I've lost several rounds already."

The laughter never stopped.

Ding! Su Manqin Intimacy +5. Current Intimacy: 85.

Ding! Mu Wan Intimacy +10. Current Intimacy: 75.

Ding! Tang Man Intimacy +10. Current Intimacy: 87.

In the evening, the barbecue grill was lit again, roasting some steamed bun slices, vegetables, and seafood. After a day of playing to their hearts' content, everyone had drunk quite a bit. Beer bottles and red wine glasses covered the table, except for Tang Man, who had to look after her daughter, and Sister Zhang, who had to take a taxi back later; the two of them only had a few sips.

Halfway through the meal, Tangtang, who had played too hard during the day, started bobbing her head, too sleepy to keep her eyes open, mumbling that she wanted to sleep. Tang Man gently carried her into the tent, laid out a blanket, and let her sleep soundly. In the distance, the bodyguards arranged by Lin Yu kept a hidden watch, so there was no need to worry about safety at all.

Fatty was a social butterfly and a comedian by nature. Throughout the meal, he kept telling funny stories from their school days—like falling asleep in class and getting caught by the teacher, or sneaking over the wall to go to an internet cafe and getting nabbed—making everyone laugh until they couldn't straighten their backs.

Chen Huihui wiped away tears of laughter. "You guys were so naughty back then, no wonder your grades were bad."

Su Manqin also smiled and said, "No wonder you're so eloquent now."

Slowly, as a few glasses of wine went down, everyone was seven or eight parts tipsy. Their faces flushed, and their speech became a bit more casual. Emboldened by the alcohol, Fatty said to Chen Huihui, "Huihui, are you happy today? I'll bring you here to play often in the future!"

Chen Huihui's cheeks turned slightly red, and she nodded gently. "Yeah, I'm quite happy."

As the night deepened, the evening breeze carried the scent of grass and trees. Feeling dizzy and seeing it was getting late, everyone had had their fill of fun and returned to their respective tents.

The air in the tent carried a hint of grass and soil, still lingering with the faint smoky smell from the barbecue during the day. Lin Yu, Su Manqin, and Mu Wan squeezed into the not-so-spacious tent. All three were a bit dizzy from the alcohol, maintaining a last shred of sobriety as they lay down and covered themselves with blankets. Lin Yu slept in the middle, with the sound of Mu Wan's steady breathing on his left and the faint rose scent of Su Manqin on his right. Drowsily thinking about the fun events of the camping trip, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he soon fell into a deep, sweet sleep.

In the middle of the night, Lin Yu was woken up by a dull sense of pressure. He felt as if a stone were pressing on his stomach, making it somewhat difficult to breathe. He instinctively frowned, turned over, and tried to push the "heavy object" off his body. As he moved, his arm naturally rested to one side, and a woman's fragrance suddenly drifted into his nose. Drowsily, he thought, "It must be my woman," and his body subconsciously leaned forward, seeking that warmth.

Su Manqin was gently nudged in her sleep. She felt herself turn over, and then she was gently hugged from behind. Her mind regained a bit of clarity, but she was very dizzy and her limbs felt weak. She could only struggle to turn her head and look through the moonlight filtering in through the gap in the tent—it was Lin Yu. She felt relieved, thinking, "We're both drunk," and didn't think much more of it, allowing herself to sink back into sleep.

In her hazy state, she felt her clothes being gently tugged, and then, it felt as if something had intruded. The sensation didn't make her feel repulsed; on the contrary, it brought a familiar sense of security, making her, in her drunkenness and drowsiness, lean gently toward that source of warmth.