Zhan Qipei couldn’t be bothered with Xu Moqian and began to focus on grilling.
Upon seeing this, Yu Yangqi also came over to help and specifically grilled a portion for Ni Yue.
Once again, several beautiful fireworks exploded in the sky, and at the same time, a birthday song started playing in the park. Yu Yangqi, pushing a cart with the birthday cake, arrived next to Ni Yue.
He just looked at Ni Yue and finally said four words in a reluctant tone.
Ni Yue didn’t pick on Yu Yangqi’s attitude and simply said thank you.
Except for Zhan Qipei, everyone present came up to Ni Yue to wish her a happy birthday.
Ni Yue responded to each one with a smile and moved to the cart to cut the cake.
Qiao Jing suddenly noticed Zhan Qipei, who was pressing his lips tight and refusing to speak, and tugged at the man’s sleeve.
"What’s the matter with you? You haven’t wished Ni Yue a happy birthday yet."
Zhan Qipei furrowed his brows deeply. In his heart, he was somewhat reluctant because he already regarded Ni Yue as a thorn in his eye.
But since Qiao Jing pointed it out, and he wasn’t someone to hold grudges over petty issues, he reluctantly approached Ni Yue.
He squeezed out four stiff words.
Ni Yue scoffed and thanked him, though it was clearly hard for her to do so.
"Well, thank you indeed! Having Young Master Zhan wish me a happy birthday must be quite a challenge."
To avoid another head-on conflict between the two, Qiao Jing quickly intervened and handed the cake-cutting knife to Ni Yue.
"Let’s cut the cake, Xiangxiang is about to fall asleep."
She had noticed during the barbecue that Lin Xiuxiang was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open.
She felt a deep sympathy for her at that moment because her pregnancy had also started making her drowsy, causing her to get sleepy early in the evenings.
She had already reminded Lin Xiuxiang to let Tang Yan take her home to rest, but the latter insisted on staying to accompany Ni Yue in cutting the cake before she would leave.
Now Ni Yue noticed Lin Xiuxiang and immediately began to cut the cake, looking apologetically at her.
"Sorry about that, I’ll start cutting now, no dilly-dallying."
Lin Xiuxiang forced herself to open her eyes, managing to look somewhat more awake.
After the cake was distributed, Lin Xiuxiang hurriedly ate a few bites and then left with Tang Yan.
Qiao Jing watched as the two of them departed and finally diverted her gaze back.
The cake was quickly divided up, and Xu Moqian and Zhan Nanqing stood up, getting ready to leave as well.
Zhan Nanqing looked at Qiao Jing before leaving and, seeing that they had no intention of leaving, asked in confusion,
"Aren’t you guys leaving?"
Xu Moqian also stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at them.
Ni Yue paused in eating her cake and looked at Zhan Nanqing with a puzzled face.
"Why leave? We’ll go after finishing the cake."
After hearing Ni Yue’s words, Yu Yangqi suddenly realized he hadn’t mentioned the plan to hike up the mountain to her.
Knowing full well it wouldn’t work if he spoke up, he looked at Qiao Jing with pleading eyes, frantically signaling her to speak.
With no choice, Qiao Jing pursed her lips and slowly started to speak,
"Ni Yue, let’s go hiking up the mountain to watch the sunrise later. We’ll stay overnight on the mountain. Everything we need has been prepared."
She saw the urgency in the younger brother’s demeanor, as if he was terrified she wouldn’t help and speak out.
How could she not fulfill a promise she made?
Zhan Nanqing and Xu Moqian, who hadn’t left yet, formed the same thought in their minds when they heard these words.
Zhan Nanqing first glanced at the pitch-black hill behind the park, and subconsciously swallowed.
"Qiao Jing, can I go with you guys?"
Despite the pitch darkness of the back mountain and the occasional howling wind, her fear seemed to fade at the thought of being with Qiao Jing’s group.
But the thought of being with Qiao Jing and the others made her feel less afraid.
Xu Moqian also spoke up.
"Sister Jing, I want to go too!"
Yu Yangqi waved his hand, trying to dismiss the two.
"Go where? Young Master Four, just go home. I only bought two tents, one for me and one for the boss, and they’re not very spacious. You can still come if you want, but you’ll have to sleep in the bushes."
Xu Moqian frowned and sized up Yu Yangqi from top to bottom.
He didn’t finish his sentence before Yu Yangqi quickly interrupted him.
"Don’t talk nonsense, just go back!"
It was then that Xu Moqian had a sudden realization and understood Yu Yangqi’s intention.
"Alright, alright, I’m going now; don’t rush me."
After dropping that line, Xu Moqian left with a stride, not forgetting to drag Zhan Nanqing along with him.
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Ni Yue stood there stunned as the two walked away, then turned back to look at the forest, now shrouded in darkness.
"Uh... although I’m not afraid, it’s so dark. How will we climb up? And it’s still so early. How about we rest at a nearby hotel for a bit and set off when it’s almost dawn?"
Yu Yangqi hurriedly spoke up to squash Ni Yue’s idea.
"I’ve already bought the tents. We can go straight to the mountain and spend the night; and don’t worry about the cold at midnight, I’ve got sleeping bags too."
Halfway through his sentence, he paused, remembering he was speaking on his own behalf, and quickly brought Qiao Jing into it.
"It was the boss’s idea; she said she wanted to see the sunrise and that she’s never camped outdoors before. She thought it would be fun and suggested it."
Ni Yue didn’t believe Yu Yangqi at all and turned to Qiao Jing, asking,
"Xiao Jingjing, is it true that you want to climb the mountain? If it’s your idea, then I’ll accompany you."
Qiao Jing hesitated for a moment, and just as she was about to answer, she saw the pleading look in Yu Yangqi’s eyes.
She sighed silently in her heart and replied,
"Yeah, I want to see the sunrise."
What could she do when it came to her sworn younger brother? She had no choice but to help him chase after Ni Yue.
Only then did Ni Yue agree and stood up.
"So are we going mountain climbing now?"
Qiao Jing glanced at Yu Yangqi, tossing the question his way while helping to smooth things over.
"Ask Yu Yangqi for the details; I was too busy yesterday. He was the one who helped prepare everything."
Yu Yangqi immediately picked up on the topic.
"Right, I’ve got all the climbing gear ready. We’ll start climbing now, then take a short rest before continuing."
Ni Yue responded with an "Oh."
Seeing Ni Yue agree, Qiao Jing breathed a sigh of relief, then felt someone approaching from behind.
She didn’t move, knowing that Zhan Qipei had brought the backpack over.
Zhan Qipei first took out a jacket and handed it to Qiao Jing.
"It might be cold on the mountain top; wear some more."
Qiao Jing took the jacket and quickly put it on. Then Zhan Qipei handed her knee pads,
Qiao Jing paused, looking somewhat helplessly at Zhan Qipei.
"I don’t need these; it’s not that extreme."
Zhan Qipei, seeing that Qiao Jing refused to wear them, silently knelt down beside her and personally helped her put on the knee pads.
Ni Yue couldn’t help but click her tongue twice upon seeing this.