"Meiji, don't worry," Dubian Che resolved.

The same promise had made to different people before, he would never break his word.

Jiutiao Meiji extended her right hand, her index finger pointing at Dubian Che's forehead:

"From today on, love me truly."

"From today on, love you truly."

Jiutiao Meiji's finger slid from his forehead down the bridge of his nose and all the way to his lips.

"Remember what you told me today." Her finger pressed against Dubian Che's lips.

Her slender and fair finger continued downward, gliding off Dubian Che's chin, and as it did, Jiutiao Meiji's long hair fluttered as she turned to face Kiyono Lin.

"Kiyono Lin, you once said that your rival was not me, but Dubian Che's sense of responsibility. So, what about now? From now on, it's more than just a sense of responsibility."

Before the gloomy-faced Kiyono Lin could speak, the most authentic emotion hidden deepest in Jiutiao Meiji's heart made her say the following sentence:

"I won."

All around, it was silent, the boat spinning in the center of the lake.

The reflections of the white cumulus clouds in the water stirred ripples like the wind sweeping at an altitude of eight thousand meters.

"It surprises me," Kiyono Lin said in a steady tone, "that you're actually willing to share Dubian Che with someone else."

"Share?" Jiutiao Meiji sneered dismissively, "They're merely tools for reconciliation with Dubian, two worthless lovers, also eligible for sharing?"

"I am surprised that you are willing to reconcile with Dubian Che."

"It's because I am a greedy woman, no longer content with just him not leaving me."

"Am I also part of the reason?" Kiyono Lin asserted, "Without my threat, you would have decisively dealt with those two people, because even if it made Dubian Che hate you, he still wouldn't let you go."

"Who knows?" Jiutiao Meiji said with suggestive depth, "Maybe even without you, I would have made the same decision."

"Fine, whatever, I admit you're ahead for now."

"Only leading for now?" Jiutiao Meiji laughed, "You still have the same overconfidence. You think you're the only one who understands Dubian Che? You've lost, loser!"

"...Loser?" Kiyono Lin incredulously repeated the word.

Dubian Che pretended not to hear and admired the clouds in the sky, which resembled Ying Lili.

"There are some things I don't want to say," Kiyono Lin stood up, brushing her long hair from her shoulder, "but to prevent you from being swayed by temporary victory, it seems necessary to speak."

"The struggle of a loser?" Jiutiao Meiji, with her arms folded, met her gaze with a smiling face.

"Los..." Kiyono Lin took a deep breath, "Since you're not being polite, then don't blame me."

"Say it." Jiutiao Meiji was unconcerned.

"Dubian Che fell in love with Mayi Asuka because either she stays with him or she dies;

Dubian Che fell in love with Xiaoquan Aonai because of Xiaoquan's ten-year perseverance;

Dubian Che is with you because you threatened his parents' lives, temporarily."

Then, Kiyono Lin said with a cold laugh, the final statement:

"Dubian Che fell in love with me genuinely, without any external factors."

"Not only that," Jiutiao Meiji said coldly, "Even if I allowed him to keep those two women now, the person he loves most is still you."

"You're quite self-aware."

"So what?" Jiutiao Meiji laughed, unlike at any time before.

It was as if she had stepped out of a tunnel full of scheming and emerged onto a sun-drenched countryside path.

"Even after killing him twice, he still fell in love with me, let alone now. The past is completely gone, do you think he can resist my charm?"

Jiutiao Meiji stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Kiyono Lin could clearly see her own reflection in Jiutiao Meiji's eyes.

"You and those two other women," Jiutiao Meiji whispered, "I will make him forget them all, I want all of his love."

"Is this what you want now?" Kiyono Lin, in a voice as low as hers so only the two of them could hear, responded, "I've had it from the beginning and now, I will slowly take it back. Don't cry, Meiji."

"If you lose, don't come begging me; the quota for a lover is full, Lin."

After rowing, the five gathered on the shore.

"I have a suggestion," Dubian Che said.

The four looked at him.

"Let's move the tents over and camp by the lakeside on the mountaintop tonight. We camped on the plain last night, how about lakeside camping tonight?" he asked with a smile.

"Great idea!" Mrs. Jiutiao nodded, "But please handle the heavy luggage."

"Of course."

"What's going on?" Mrs. Kiyono asked with a smile, "Coming back from rowing, I feel Mr. Dubian's mood has improved a lot."

"Meiji said she loves me," Dubian Che said with a smile.

"Meiji, you're so bold!" Mrs. Jiutiao pretended to be surprised and sighed.

Jiutiao Meijie responded with a contemptuous snort, which neither affirmed nor denied.

Mrs. Kiyono glanced at her daughter, Kiyono Lin, who wore an expressionless face.

Dubian Che was incredibly happy, even excited.

Before today, he had only ever gone on a daytime date with Mayi Asuka once, the day he moved, to Liberty Hill.

As for Xiaoquan Aonai, although they were already lovers, they hadn't done anything beyond hugging that lovers should do; they hadn't even seen a movie together.

But from now on, he wouldn't need to make special trips outside of Shinjuku District, away from Chiyoda District.

In the end, he reconciled with Jiutiao Meijie, and from that moment on, they were of one heart and truly equal, becoming a real couple.

Dubian Che suddenly felt grateful to his past self who went to Ochazuke.

How could there be such wonderful things in the world?

He used to think that there was a lifetime of insurmountable distance between him and Jiutiao Meijie; he used to think he would have to sneak around forever with the affairs of Mayi Asuka and Xiaoquan Aonai, but when the two matters came together, everything suddenly became clear.

Perhaps fate had truly determined everything a long time ago.

The five of them began moving luggage, setting up camp by the lakeside again.

Dubian Che was full of energy and didn't care if his exaggerated physical strength was noticed; he would carry everything in one go as long as it was manageable.

"It's incredible," Mrs. Jiutiao remarked as she watched Dubian Che handling the heavy load, "Our Jiutiao Family has found an incredible son-in-law; our descendants' genes will be even better."

"I can't promise you that!" Dubian Che said with a laugh, "I'm just a child of an ordinary farmer; suddenly my genes have improved with me."

"As long as he's not ugly, that's fine, but he must be intelligent," Jiutiao Meijie stated her requirement.

"Meijie!" Mrs. Jiutiao said disapprovingly, "You're a girl; you shouldn't be involved in such topics."

Jiutiao Meijie said to Dubian Che, "I'll sleep with you tonight."

"How shameful," Mrs. Jiutiao turned her head to Mrs. Kiyono, "Don't spread this around, or the Jiutiao Family's noble reputation will be gone."

"We'll see how I feel," Mrs. Kiyono said with a laugh.

At noon, they barbecued by the lake.

Instead of using a prepared grill, Dubian Che built a fire pit with rocks.

It was a blessing in disguise; although Jiutiao Meijie's "Dubian Che, you're amazing" wasn't meant as praise, he completed Task One and obtained the camping gift pack.

Dubian Che "fishing," "foraging," "barbecuing," among the three Master Level skills, he chose "barbecuing."

The beef, marbled red and white, looked beautiful and tasted fresh and juicy dipped in sauce and pepper salt, without being greasy;

The pork belly appeared delicious just by looking at it.

Cooked to a golden brown on both sides with bursting fat and a somewhat crispy texture, it went perfectly with a big gulp of drink;

The Wagyu belly meat, with a perfect ratio of fat to lean, was so fragrant that even the fish came to the lakeside, gaping towards them.

After eating their fill, Mrs. Kiyono put on a straw hat and said in a melodious and pleasant tone, "Let's go nap on the hillside, and sunbathe!"

The group leisurely made their way to a hillside covered with wildflowers.

The two ladies chatted on the blanket, ate fruit, and had Jiutiao Meijie and Kiyono Lin draw pictures for them;

Dubian Che lay back on the grassy ridge, hands behind his head, looking at the changing clouds for a while, then at the two focused on drawing.

Around two o'clock, the two ladies fell asleep.

Kiyono Lin sat under a white birch tree, knees bent, reading a book;

Jiutiao Meijie lay next to Dubian Che, her head resting on his chest, the two cuddled together.

"How much do you love me?"

"Very, very much."

"How many 'verys' is very, very?"

"Forever."

"How long is forever?"

"Always."

"And how long is always?"

"As long as the hillside flowers bloom and wither."

"That's it?"

"I'm talking about a hundred times blooming, a hundred times withering."

Dubian Che's lips touched her face, and among the grass and flowers, their lips met.

The hillside, filled with many wildflowers, bathed in the warm sunshine of upcoming June.

Jiutiao Meijie fell asleep at some point, and Dubian Che quietly closed his eyes as well.

Being with Jiutiao Meijie felt very relaxed for the first time.

Her slender body leaned into his arms, their arms intertwined, her cheek rubbing against his neck.

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