“Time to leave.” Huo Jinyao held her hand and went outside. “Let’s go home first.”
“Huo Jinyao?” What was he going to do?
“I’ve got a better plan.” Huo Jinyao spoke in a soft but assuring voice.
Su Qingsang glanced at him and finally chose to trust him.
“What’s your plan?”
“She accused you of pushing her downstairs, right? We don’t have to confront her at the moment. After all, there are so many reporters waiting inside. You’ll only get into an argument no matter what you try to tell. They love chaos. So we’d better not make things more complicated.”
Li Rongrong had nothing to do, so she had plenty of time to linger, but Su Qingsang did not.
What Huo Jinyao wanted was a knockout blow.
“You’re right.” That was why she wanted to confront her. How could she…
“Qingsang,” Huo Jinyao stopped. He turned and looked at her seriously. “Do you trust me?”
Su Qingsang watched his expression, biting her lip. At last, she nodded firmly.
“I do.”
It was hard for Su Qingsang to trust anybody. However, once she said so, it meant she really trusted Huo Jinyao.
Huo Jinyao smiled and gave Su Qingsang a hug. “Qingsang, believe me. I’ll make her come forward and admit that everything she did was on purpose to frame you.”
How was that possible?
Li Rongrong had told everyone the exact opposite. Would she go back on her word?
“You just said that you trust me.”
Su Qingsang nodded with some hesitation. Huo Jinyao held her hand. “Let’s go home.”
“Home?”
“Or how about going to hang out now?! I know there’s a mountain called Jingshan in Lin City, and it must be very beautiful in the autumn season. Do you want to go there with me?”
The Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed. Perhaps the maple leaves had already turned red during the late autumn. That promised to look great.
“I…” Su Qingsang looked at her feet. “I’m wearing heels today.”
“It doesn’t matter. I can buy a new pair of shoes for you later. I heard that the mountain is not very high.”
“That’s true. I went there once with my classmates. However, it was not in the autumn. Speaking of which, I’ve never seen what the Jingshan Mountain looks like in the autumn.”
“What are you waiting for? Let’s go then.”
Huo Jinyao set off at once and looked very relaxed. Su Qingsang had to give in. She followed him and got into the car.
They bought a pair of comfortable shoes, some snacks, and water in the vicinity.
It was about ten kilometers from Lin City to Jinshan. That was not too far.
This so-called mountain only reached an altitude of 1,000 meters south to the city. Since it had some famous attractions, a road had been built halfway up the mountain years ago.
They pulled into the parking lot on the mountainside and had to hike up the rest of the way because there was no means to reach the top but a stairway path.
Su Qingsang stepped out of the car first. She took a deep breath with the fresh wind blowing around her.
“This feels so soothing.”
The weather was good. It was cool and dry and the breeze was blowing gently. Everything was lovely.
Huo Jinyao got out of the car too. He came up to Su Qingsang. “Come on. I’ve never been here before. You’ve got to be my guide.”
“No problem.”
Being here helped Su Qingsang take her mind off things. She bounded ahead.
Huo Jinyao followed her, carrying the bag containing the snacks and water.
The stairs were steep. Su Qingsang started to feel tired after a while.
“You can slow down. We’re not in a hurry.” After the Mid-Autumn Day, the temperatures had settled.
Huo Jinyao walked up to her and reached out a hand. “Come on, grab my hand.”
Su Qingsang stood panting. Huo Jinyao’s stamina made her jealous.
“You… Aren’t you tired?”