Chapter 73: The Mere Mention of Snakes Strikes Fear

After running for a long time, just as Meng Yi’er was about to give in from exhaustion, Yan Yichen spotted a faux stone landscape inside the fenced area on the left side of the hotel. Luck was on their side: there was a narrow passageway within the artificial rocks.

A perfect place to hide!

Delighted, Yan Yichen didn’t hesitate. He pulled Meng Yi’er along and slipped inside.

The space within the rock formation was narrow and elongated, so cramped that Yan Yichen needed to stoop slightly to fit. Beneath the rocks was a small pool, with water trickling continuously from the top into its depths.

The stone walls and ground along the passage were slick with moisture, thin layers of moss growing in patches, making it slippery and damp.

Meng Yi’er let out a long sigh. She was weary and overheated, her cheeks flushed an adorable pink, her pale forehead beaded with tiny drops of sweat.

She leaned against the stone wall, fanning herself with her hands and gulping down breaths of air. Beneath her modest, old-fashioned clothing, her full chest rose and fell with each heartbeat, so rapidly that Yan Yichen could almost hear her heart pounding.

“It’s so cool in here... Do you think... they’ll find us now?” she asked, her voice breathy.

Yan Yichen gazed at her, a faint smile flickering in his dark eyes as a deep, quiet laugh escaped him.

Meng Yi’er looked up at him, puzzled and slightly annoyed. “What are you laughing about now?”

He shook his head, amusement lingering in his expression. After glancing around, he leaned toward her ear and whispered, feigning calm, “This place is so damp—do you think there might be snakes?”

“Snakes? Ah—!” Meng Yi’er shrieked, leaping up and throwing herself into Yan Yichen’s arms.

Of all creatures, snakes terrified her the most. Just the mention of them made her blood run cold. For her, the fear was no exaggeration.

Without hesitation, Yan Yichen wrapped her tightly in his embrace, his smile deepening.

But as Meng Yi’er heard the laughter rumbling in his chest and felt the tremor from his barely suppressed amusement, it dawned on her.

She broke free from his arms, took several steps back to put a safe distance between them, and glared at him furiously. She lashed out with fists and feet, cursing, “Yan Yichen, you liar, you scoundrel—!”

Yan Yichen dodged her blows, jumping aside. “I never said there definitely were snakes. You scared yourself. You can’t blame me for that.”

“You did it on purpose to frighten me…” Meng Yi’er’s eyes grew misty, and her voice wavered with a sob. “It’s all your fault. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be in such a mess. It’s always like this—nothing good ever happens when you’re around. From now on, stay far away from me. I never want—”

Suddenly Yan Yichen moved closer, pulled her into his arms, and clamped a hand over her indignant, accusing lips. “Shh, keep your voice down. Do you want them to find us again?”

Only then did Meng Yi’er notice the rising clamor outside. Nervous, she immediately fell silent.

The noise grew louder as the fans milled about nearby. Fortunately, their hiding spot was well concealed; no one found them, and before long the crowd drifted away.

Watching them leave, Meng Yi’er shot Yan Yichen an exasperated glare and snapped, “Mmph... Yan Yichen, get your hand off me.”

“All right, but we still can’t leave yet. We need to make sure they’re really gone before we come out,” he said, releasing her.

Newly freed, Meng Yi’er acted on impulse and stomped hard on his foot.

“Ah—!” Yan Yichen yelped in pain.

“You little brat, not this again?”

“Hmph, serves you right…” Meng Yi’er lifted her chin proudly, casting a sidelong glance at him, her face smug with satisfaction.

Seeing pain flicker across his usually calm and indifferent face, her anger finally began to subside.