Hiking?

Tang Ao was suddenly startled, feeling a shiver down his spine as the children's song "Little White Boat" echoed in his mind. Looking at Li Shiyun, he felt a chill run through him. "You... you're not planning to invite me to go hiking, are you?"

Li Shiyun's face turned bright red in an instant, and her gaze at Tang Ao was filled not only with shock but also with seven parts delight. "You... how did you know?"

As she spoke, her voice grew softer, and her eyes reddened with a hint of grievance. "I... I thought you had forgotten."

???

Tang Ao's mind buzzed. "A promise?"

Li Shiyun nodded like a little chick pecking at grains, her hands clasped together. If her colleagues, who saw her every day, witnessed this shy and delicate demeanor, they would all have their jaws drop in disbelief.

Known for her toughness, fearlessness, and strictness, Li Shiyun was regarded by her colleagues as an iron-willed woman, even tougher than the men around her. She had never shown a hint of gentleness, even when receiving awards or commendations. She had always kept a stern face and never smiled!

Only in front of Tang Ao did she reveal this soft and tender side of herself, showing the gentle, feminine aspect of her personality without reservation.

"Tomorrow is my 24th birthday. You once promised that no matter how busy you were or how far away you were, you would come to my birthday party on time. Yesterday... I thought you had completely forgotten. But not only did you remember my birthday, you even secretly found out that my 24th birthday party is being held at the old Li family residence in the mountains!"

Li Shiyun felt like she was about to be overwhelmed by a wave of love.

Right now, she wanted nothing more than to rush up and hug Tang Ao tightly, just like how she wanted to embrace him under the stars, talking about everything from poetry and philosophy to the meaning of life...

In just an instant, Li Shiyun had already planned out what kind of couple's urn she and Tang Ao would use after a lifetime together.

Tang Ao furrowed his brows, looking at the blissful Li Shiyun, unsure of what to say.

But Li Shiyun, now in high spirits, couldn't stop herself from talking. "Don't worry, I've already spoken with our grandfather. As long as you attend my birthday party, you will be the most honored guest at the event. You don't need an invitation, and you can freely enter and leave the Li family estate!"

Next to them, Zhou Qiao'er's frown deepened, her brows almost knitting together.

First a marriage contract, then asking if she had a chance, and now saying he was the most honored guest. Even a fool could see that Li Shiyun was trying to steal her man.

And she was doing all this even after Tang's mother had publicly declared that Zhou Qiao'er and Tang Ao were a couple.

Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone Zhou Qiao'er, who was a proud woman by nature. It wasn't just Tang Ao, whom she truly liked from the bottom of her heart—she wouldn't give up anything, not even a toy bear or a toy watch, to Li Shiyun!

"Honey~ Aren't you going to introduce me to such a good friend?"

Zhou Qiao'er said sweetly as she casually wrapped her arms around Tang Ao's right arm, just like a couple deeply in love.

Glancing at the gentle-looking but fiercely determined Zhou Qiao'er, and then at the battle-ready Li Shiyun, who had slightly puckered her lips, Tang Ao realized something was amiss.

[Wait a minute!]

[This isn't how the story is supposed to go!]

[The one who should have the freedom to enter and leave the Li family estate during Li Shiyun's birthday party should be Ye Chen! So why has that privilege been given to me now!?]

No one knew better than Tang Ao how valuable and advantageous this privilege was.

In a small, inconspicuous courtyard of the Li family estate lay a crucial item for Ye Chen!

It was here that Ye Chen would win the favor of the reclusive Li family patriarch, who had been in seclusion for a hundred years. He would then learn the ancient and powerful technique known as the "Nine Heavens Thunder Step." From that point on, Ye Chen would become invincible, and no enemy could withstand this move.

And during a conversation, Ye Chen would learn that the "Nine Heavens Thunder Step" was merely one of the weaker techniques in the Li patriarch's arsenal. The patriarch also possessed a true ultimate move—the "Wild Chicken Fist." Although Ye Chen repeatedly requested to learn it, the Li patriarch refused to teach it, and the technique was lost forever with the patriarch's death. It was one of the greatest regrets in the story.

Before the Li patriarch's death, he was the undisputed powerhouse of this world. It was only after his passing that Ye Chen became invincible!

[Tomorrow is a crucial day!]

[I have to attend this birthday party. The female leads are all rebelling, and if I don't go, who knows what kind of trouble they'll stir up? I need to be there to keep the situation under control for Ye Chen!]

With this thought, Tang Ao nodded at Li Shiyun. "Don't worry, I will definitely attend your birthday party tomorrow!"

Hearing Tang Ao's affirmative answer, Li Shiyun beamed with joy, especially after learning that Ye Chen would also be present. She was filled with excitement.

Ye Chen, the scoundrel who repeatedly crossed her bottom line!

If she didn't bring him to justice, Li Shiyun would feel that she hadn't fulfilled her promise to become a good police officer who fights evil!

As long as Ye Chen dared to show up, she would expose his true nature in front of everyone at the Li family estate. She would bring him to justice right there, and only then could she confidently stand beside Tang Ao and tell him that she had fulfilled the requirements of their marriage contract!

"Don't worry, Brother Tang Ao, I'll do my best!"

Li Shiyun said as she grabbed Tang Ao's other arm, just like Zhou Qiao'er had done earlier.

"By the way, those thugs who bullied you—I've already reported them, and my colleagues will be opening a case soon. I'll personally see to it that they're brought to justice!"

As a police officer, this was Li Shiyun's greatest pride, and she firmly believed that Tang Ao would appreciate her dedication to justice.

Tang Ao hesitated for a moment, thinking about those thugs who were rare and valuable as antagonists, and quickly waved his hand.

"This matter isn't urgent, no rush! Heaven has its cycles of retribution, and the bad guys will get what's coming to them. We can take our time with this!"

Tang Ao didn't want those thugs to get caught before Ye Chen had a chance to show off!

But his words made Li Shiyun blush:

"Brother Tang Ao, are you worried that I'm overworking myself? Don't worry, I'm in great shape! And... I'll definitely take good care of myself, and I can take care of and protect you too!"

Tang Ao couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

[Such a wonderful girl. It would be such a waste for her to end up with Ye Chen. What kind of extraordinary man would be worthy of someone as remarkable as Li Shiyun?]

[Anyone who marries a woman like Li Shiyun would feel so secure. In a situation like today's, if she were around, she'd have dealt with those five thugs in no time.]

Zhou Qiao'er, feeling a pang of jealousy at Tang Ao's thoughts, couldn't help but feel sour inside but didn't know how to express it.

If she revealed that she could hear Tang Ao's thoughts, he might start avoiding her!

But...

Looking at how intimately Li Shiyun was holding Tang Ao, even more tightly than she was, Zhou Qiao'er couldn't stand it!

The more she tried to hold back, the more frustrated she felt. Retreating wasn't an option; it would only make her feel even more aggrieved!

Tang Ao was hers!

No one could take Tang Ao away from Zhou Qiao'er!!!