Lin Can was surprised at how popular his underwear was, but on the surface, he kept his cool, putting on a look of regret as he patted Chu Qingning on the shoulder.
"Don't be discouraged, Qingning-jie. If you really want to wash it, I can talk to Ayire. She can wash it today, and you can wash it tomorrow. If it comes to it, I'll wear two pairs—then it's fair."
Chu Qingning looked at Lin Can's expression—trying hard to suppress his glee, but the corners of his mouth were still curling upward—and felt both annoyed and amused.
"Go find your precious Ayire. She's scrambling to wash your underwear, and I, your girlfriend, am useless."
Jealousy written all over her face, Chu Qingning shook off Lin Can's big hand, grabbed Miao Youxi's little one, and hopped out of the RV to buy groceries.
"I don't want to be around Qiao Meina! Wait for me—I'm coming too!" Ayire shot a provocative glance at Qiao Meina, then quickly ran off. At the RV door, Chu Qingning twisted her perky hips and bumped Ayire straight into the door. "I don't want to be with you either! Youxi, let's go!"
Rubbing her sore butt, Ayire chased after them. "Jeez, Qingning, why so petty? If you wanna blame someone, blame Qiao Meina—she's the worst. Always acting tough around her own people."
"You bastard, Ayire!"
Qiao Meina's sharp ears caught that. She grabbed a slipper and, with perfect aim, smacked it right on Ayire's backside. Ayire yelped, "Ow~" and bolted, dragging Chu Qingning and Miao Youxi with her to hail a cab and head to the nearby market.
"What an idiot."
Qiao Meina picked up the slipper, glared at the taxi fading into the distance, and cursed with a smile. Turning back, she saw Lin Can leaning against the RV door, smiling at her.
"Get in here!"
Qiao Meina stormed back, yanked Lin Can into the RV, slammed the door shut, and shoved him down onto the sofa. When Lin Can tried to get up, she raised her long leg wrapped in black stockings and pressed it against his chest.
"Don't move. And don't touch my stockings, or I'll crush you."
"What are you so mad about? I didn't even do anything."
"Didn't do anything? Hah! Lin Can, I've been wanting to talk to you alone for ages. You stayed in Modu for a day, then just bailed. Do you have any idea how miserable I've been?"
Qiao Meina looked down at Lin Can from atop her black-silked legs.
"How miserable?"
As he spoke, Lin Can subtly tilted his head, sneaking a peek toward the end of those black stockings.
"Stop peeking. I'm wearing leggings under—can't see a thing."
"No wonder it looks so dark down there."
"You're the one who's dark! I'm pink…"
"Pink what?"
"You jerk, trying to trick me!"
Qiao Meina stomped on his stomach a few times with her foot.
Hoo~
She let out a long sigh—finally venting a little.
"Back to the point—ever since you left, my mom's been talking about you every day."
"Really? Then I'll go visit her next time."
"No no no—please don't go to my house again."
"Why not?"
"My mom totally fell for your sweet talk. Thinks you're some amazing guy and wants me to pursue you."
"Wow, your mom's got taste. I am amazing."
"You shameless narcissist." Qiao Meina slapped him playfully. "Anyway, it's a mess. What if next time Qingning visits and my mom brings you up—what will she think? What about Ayire and Miao Youxi? I really regret letting you visit in the first place. It's just trouble."
To Qiao Meina, friendship with her girls meant everything. She was terrified their little group would fall apart over some dumb guy.
"How about this—next time I'll go to Modu myself and explain everything to your mom. Clear things up once and for all."
"Still want to go?"
"How else am I gonna explain?"
Qiao Meina studied Lin Can's expression, wondering if she should trust him.
"You sure I don't know what kind of person you are?"
"Fine. I just really don't want some ridiculous misunderstanding blowing up. It'd be so embarrassing."
She let out another sigh, then complained, "Are you done touching yet? If so, get your hand off my thigh."
"I was just checking where your stocking tore—your smooth, fair leg is sticking out."
"Got scraped earlier."
Qiao Meina pulled her leg back and went to the rear of the RV, closing the curtain to take off her stockings.
Lin Can rubbed his chest, chuckled, then got up, started cooking rice, grabbed his camera, and went out to the lakeside to take pictures of the sunset.
By the Lake
"Hey, is that a Leica camera, mister?"
A girl in yoga pants walked over, holding a camera.
Lin Can took a good look—those yoga pants were hugging her curves hard. Big floor plan, if you will.
Any girl who dared to travel alone by RV and wear yoga pants in the middle of nowhere? Definitely not your average.
"Yeah, are you into photography too?"
"Yup! Can I check out your camera?"
"Sure, here."
The yoga pants girl took the camera. "Wow~ I love this model, and the lens too. But I can't afford it. Mind if I take a photo with it?"
"Go ahead."
"Hey handsome, how do I adjust the focus? I'm just getting into photography. Could you teach me?"
"Sure, here's how…"
Inside the RV
Qiao Meina had changed into comfy home clothes—sports shorts that showed off her long, fair legs, and a tank top under a #10 Slam Dunk jersey. She tied up her long hair and tucked it into the jersey, creating the illusion of a shoulder-length bob.
She stood in front of the mirror, gave herself a spin, and couldn't help but feel she had a bit of Akagi Haruko's vibe.
She snapped a selfie, posted it to her Moments with the caption: "Where's my Sakuragi?"
Humming "I Want to Shout I Love You", she brought the dishes down to the foldable table under the RV's awning. All that was left was to wait for Chu Qingning and the others to return from shopping.
Mood: fabulous.
"Lin Can, come take my picture—"
As Qiao Meina turned around, her "first love bob" flipping lightly, her eyes fell on the lake—and what she saw wiped the smile right off her face.
Lin Can was sitting very close to that yoga pants girl. She was playing coy, asking for photography help, constantly fidgeting and posing.
Akagi · Qiao Meina · Haruko's smile faded.
She wasn't the hesitant type. She was bold and direct. No words needed—her long legs under the jersey moved straight toward them.
The yoga pants girl was perched on a rock, legs crossed, showing off her perfectly toned side profile.
"Handsome, take a pic of me, pretty please~"
"Nope!"
Qiao Meina walked up and blocked the camera lens, giving the girl a cold glance with full "main girlfriend" authority.
Then she turned to Lin Can, clearly unhappy.
"Who are you?" the yoga pants girl asked, annoyed.
Qiao Meina wrapped her arms around Lin Can's and rested her head on his shoulder. "Why don't you guess who I am to him?"
The girl scoffed, "Tch," and walked off toward her own RV.
Qiao Meina scoffed back, muttering, "Wearing yoga pants every day just to flirt with guys. Trash. And you're still staring?"
She stepped in front of Lin Can, blocking his view of the girl's peachy yoga pants butt.
Your big sis has one too, okay?
Why stare at someone else's?
Lin Can chuckled, "Meina-jie, you're overreacting. She's just a beginner in photography asking for some advice."
"I know I'm overreacting."
"Then why still act like that?"
"Because…"
Qiao Meina let go of his hand and stood in front of him.
The sunset bathed the rippling lake in golden light. A gentle breeze stirred Lin Can's white T-shirt and Qiao Meina's hair, along with her Slam Dunk jersey.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, lifted her head confidently, and looked him straight in the eye.
"Because… I can't accept you taking pictures of other girls in front of us four."
That was just who she was—stubborn, unreasonable, but completely sincere.
"Alright. I won't shoot anyone else from now on."
Lin Can replied, lifted the camera, and click—captured the "Akagi Haruko" in front of him.
He turned and walked along the lake.
"Let me see how it turned out."
"Nope."
Lin Can held the camera up high.
"Give it!"
Qiao Meina jumped but couldn't reach.
So she stopped walking, stared at his tall back, took a step back, and charged forward.
At the lakeside, beneath the setting sun—
The girl leaped up and landed squarely on the tall boy's back.
Click—
Lin Can pressed the shutter, capturing a moment frozen in time:
Himself, and the "Akagi Haruko" Qiao Meina playfully trying to grab his camera from his back.