Chapter 280: A Night of Endurance

Lin Xiao’s face remained impassive as he raised his hand and flicked Huang Caixing on the forehead. “Is that really something you should be asking?”

Huang Caixing clutched her forehead, pouting with grievance. “Why can’t I ask?”

“You just shouldn’t.”

Lin Xiao tossed out the response, then closed his eyes and refused to say another word.

Lin Xiao’s dismissive attitude only stoked Huang Caixing’s curiosity further. Fully returning to her usual lively self, she grabbed Lin Xiao’s arm and shook it vigorously. “Brother Lin, come on, tell me! Between me and Princess Taiping, whose figure is better?”

No matter how much she shook him, Lin Xiao’s body remained immovable, and his eyes stayed firmly shut.

After a while, seeing that she couldn’t get a reaction from him, Huang Caixing reluctantly gave up.

“Hmph, boring. You don’t understand a girl’s heart at all.”

She glared at him with feigned annoyance, turned away, and sulked in silence.

Time passed, and as Lin Xiao meditated with his eyes closed, he felt a soft weight lean against his shoulder. Turning to look, he couldn’t help but quietly chuckle.

Huang Caixing, sitting beside him, had unknowingly fallen asleep.

Lin Xiao reached over to pick up their dried clothes from near the fire and gently draped them over her. His movements were slow and cautious, careful not to wake her.

Her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of her breathing, completely unaware of Lin Xiao’s actions. Whatever she was dreaming about must have been pleasant, as a sweet smile appeared on her lips, and she smacked them lightly in her sleep.

“Dreaming, huh?”

Lin Xiao found himself admiring her adaptability. In such harsh conditions, most ordinary girls wouldn’t even be able to fall asleep, let alone dream.

Yet Huang Caixing was not only sleeping but enjoying herself. Judging by her expression, she was having a wonderful dream.

Lin Xiao shifted her to lie next to Yuan Yu, covering both girls with all their clothes. Watching the two beautiful girls sleep peacefully and listening to the raging storm outside the cave, a rare calm settled over Lin Xiao’s heart.

Sitting cross-legged beside the fire, he closed his eyes and focused, entering a meditative state.

The night deepened.

“Big Brother Lin… Brother Lin…”

A faint voice suddenly reached Lin Xiao’s ears.

Startled, his eyes snapped open, and a sharp light flashed through them like lightning in the sky, illuminating the dim cave for an instant.

It was Yuan Yu. Her face was flushed, and her lips were cracked.

“I’m… I’m cold…” she murmured.

Holding one girl in his arms while being pressed against by another from behind—it was indeed a dreamlike scenario. But if he could only look and not touch. Every moment was a test of endurance for Lin Xiao. The more beautiful Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing were, the more difficult it became for him.

“It looks like I won’t be sleeping tonight,” Lin Xiao thought wryly.

Time slowly passed.

By dawn, the rain had eased, though it continued to drizzle. The soft patter of rain outside added a poetic touch to the cave’s atmosphere.

“Mm…”

Huang Caixing let out a sleepy mumble and opened her eyes. Still groggy, she momentarily forgot her surroundings and stretched luxuriously as if she were at home in her bed.

“You’re awake?” Yuan Yu’s soft voice sounded nearby.

Huang Caixing turned to see Yuan Yu sitting cross-legged in the corner, fully dressed. Her small face was flushed, though it wasn’t clear if it was from illness or something else.

Blinking hard, Huang Caixing stared at Yuan Yu’s face for a while before finally shaking off her drowsiness.

Sitting up straight, she exclaimed in surprise, “YuYu, you’re better now?”

Yuan Yu nodded lightly, her face reddening further as she gestured at Huang Caixing. “Hurry and get dressed. You’re… exposing yourself.”

Huang Caixing looked down, her face immediately flushing scarlet. Fully awake now, she scrambled to put her clothes on.

Once dressed, Huang Caixing noticed Lin Xiao’s absence and asked, “Where’s Brother Lin?”

At the mention of Lin Xiao, a flicker of something passed through Yuan Yu’s eyes. She replied softly, “Brother Lin is outside.”

“Good. I was worried he’d left us behind,” Huang Caixing said, patting her chest in relief. Her tone was casual, showing no memory of the previous night. “By the way, how did you get better so quickly? Weren’t you really sick yesterday?”

“Are you unhappy that I’m better now?” Yuan Yu avoided her gaze, her blush deepening as she recalled an embarrassing scene upon waking. “Let’s head out quickly. Don’t keep Brother Lin waiting.”

“Fine.” Huang Caixing jumped to her feet, pulling Yuan Yu along as they left the cave.

Outside, Lin Xiao stood atop a large rock not far from the cave entrance, his figure poised against the backdrop of misty mountains. His movements were fluid, his silhouette reminiscent of a soaring dragon as he practiced his daily exercises.

Even from ten meters away, the two girls could hear the deep, resonant sound of his breathing.

They remained silent, not wanting to disturb him.

Twenty minutes later, Lin Xiao finished his routine. Leaping lightly from the rock, he landed effortlessly in front of the girls.

“How did you sleep?” Lin Xiao asked, smiling at the two slightly disheveled but radiant girls. “I just saw the rescue team. We can head down the mountain now.”

“Already?” Huang Caixing didn’t seem particularly thrilled at the news. Instead, she looked reluctant. “I still wanted to climb to the summit.”

Yuan Yu rolled her eyes. “Let’s go. Auntie must be worried sick after not hearing from us all night.”

Huang Caixing pouted but didn’t argue further.

Lin Xiao returned to the cave to gather their belongings. Then, taking the girls by the hand, he led them down the mountain.

When they reached the site of yesterday’s landslide, they found a team of rescue workers who safely escorted them to the mountain’s base.

The base was crowded with vehicles, mostly ambulances, as injured individuals were loaded into them one after another.

Lin Xiao’s Porsche Cayenne, parked safely at the roadside, remained untouched by the storm. A graceful figure paced anxiously beside it, scanning the surroundings.

Lin Xiao’s sharp eyes spotted the figure from afar.

Turning to Huang Caixing, he said, “Your mother’s here.”

“Where?” Huang Caixing tiptoed to see.

“Near the car,” Lin Xiao replied, quickening his pace with the girls in tow. “Let’s not keep Auntie Xin waiting.”

As the three drew closer, Huang Xinyu saw them. Relief and joy spread across her face as she waved at them excitedly.